Trees and Oxygen

A recent letter to the editor, in our local paper, complained that we should be careful not to cut down trees, because we need them to provide Oxygen for us. The author was, no doubt, well-intentioned, but wrong.

It is true that photosynthesis, carried out by trees and other green plants, releases Oxygen. But, as the Wikipedia article on the Atmosphere of Earth tells us, about one-fifth of the earth's atmosphere is Oxygen. As this article tells us, it would take about 2,000 years for us to use up all the Oxygen in the atmosphere, if no more were released by photosynthesis. (We would become extinct much sooner than that, if photosynthesis ceased, because we would run out of food.) The article also tells us that the Oxygen released by forests is almost entirely used up by those same forests. This is because, to obtain energy from stored plant material, most organisms use cellular respiration, which takes up Oxygen, and generates Carbon Dioxide. Even trees use cellular respiration to release the energy they store through photosynthesis..

The letter might much better have warned us that indiscriminate tree-cutting would be expected to mean that less Carbon Dioxide was taken up by photosynthesis, and, hence, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would increase. The result would be that the atmosphere would be less likely to allow heat radiation to pass through it, which would contribute to global warming. (See this Wikipedia article on Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.) Burning fossil fuels is the main culprit in the recent increases in CO2 in the atmosphere, but cutting forests is the second largest contributor.

Thanks for reading. Be glad that there is Oxygen enough to breathe, and be careful to save as many green plants as possible, so that global climate change can be slowed down.

 

Sunspots 465

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:
Computing: Wired has some interesting thoughts on replacing car mirrors with cameras.
Literature: A short, but excellent review of the Tales of Goldstone Wood books, by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. I am reading the sixth one of these at the moment.
Philosophy: A review, by a philosopher and Bible scholar, of God's Not Dead (the movie).
Politics: (sort of) The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has produced a Living Wage Calculator. It is apparently adjusted for each county in the US.
From WBUR, in Boston: A report on how increasing income inequality should not be a surprise, based, in part, on Jane Austen and Balzac.
National Public Radio reports on a retiring congressman who says that $174,000 a year is not enough for a member of Congress. He may be right.
Science: NPR on the importance of whale poop to ocean life. It's critical.
  Image source (public domain)

The Harbinger

The Harbinger (which I have not read, and probably won't) has been gotten a lot of attention. As I understand it, it is a book which says that the US should repent and turn to God, and also claims that there is prophecy relating to the current situation in the US.

There are plenty of Christian critics of The Harbinger, who agree with the repentance part. But hey disagree with the methodology, in particular the claim that the US has some sort of special covenant relationship with God, and that Isaiah 9:10 is about the US. Here's that verse, from the public domain World English Bible:

“The bricks have fallen,

but we will build with cut stone.

The sycamore fig trees have been cut down,

but we will put cedars in their place.”

As I understand it, the book claims that this is a prophecy about the fall of the World Trade Center, on September 11, 2001.

Here are some such criticisms: 
The Berean Call says that the central claim in the book is that the U.S. has a special relationship with God, hence prophecy in Isaiah applies to us. We don't have such a special relationship. The review also says that the book's publisher has published other books which are perversions of scripture.

Light House Trails also has concerns about the "special relationship." It also says that George Washington's swearing in was on a Masonic Bible. And "So, while Cahn may be technically right in referring to harbingers as secrets, he should be cautious of ... [suggesting] that these findings offer new revelation contrary to what has been laid down in Scripture. ... there are a great many people who would be delighted to learn that the Bible is really nothing more than a code book to be deciphered ..."

Biblical Integrity has a number of criticisms, all serious, including: Saying that God has never put a "hedge of protection" around any country but Israel, and "... if America enjoyed God’s hedge of protection, then what about Pearl Harbor? ... In the War of 1812, Detroit was captured by the British and Washington D.C. was captured and burned. Mexico invaded Texas in the Mexican-American War. In 1993, the World Trade Center was bombed by foreign nationals with the intent of taking down both towers. Was God’s hedge of protection not in place when these breaches occurred? If not, when was it put into place or put back into place?"
The web page questions the significance of fallen bricks.
The web page points out that Cahn's book mentions speeches by then Senator Tom Daschle and former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards, but completely misinterprets their intent.
" ... the Isaiah 9:10 Effect is presented as an inviolable principle that once set in motion, the corresponding prescribed outcome is inevitable. Furthermore, it is discussed as if it were completely biblical, yet nothing even remotely similar to this theoretical principle is mentioned or implied anywhere in the Word of God."
Points out that the stock market downturn of September 29, 2008, does not even rank in the top ten of such downturns, when measured by percent, and asks why Cahn doesn't suppose that God was judging us in 1929, when the stock market really crashed.

Not As it Looks reviews the book, and refers extensively to a book-length critique of The Harbinger, by David James. Here's a web page, excerpted from that book by James.

This web page was modified, by expanding the links given above, on December 14, 2014. Previously, the links were merely listed. Here's a page listing a number of reviews of The Harbinger. I haven't read them, but suspect that they are all negative.

Thanks for reading.

Does the Bible really say that? Excerpt from my book, 30

[Continuing a chapter on End Times prophecy.]

The Tribulation

What about the evidence for a seven-year tribulation, immediately after the rapture? Not all dispensationalists hold to a seven-year tribulation, or to a tribulation right after the rapture. For more information on the different views, see the Wikipedia article on The Great Tribulation. However, belief in a seven-year tribulation, right after the rapture, seems to be most common view.

Where does the idea of a tribulation come from? Partly from the words of Christ:

Mark 13:3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 6 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and will lead many astray.

7 “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be troubled. For those must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 But watch yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them. 10 The Good News must first be preached to all the nations. 11 When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. 14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 15 and let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house. 16 Let him who is in the field not return back to take his cloak. 17 But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies in those days! 18 Pray that your flight won’t be in the winter. 19 For in those days there will be oppression, [The New American Standard, English Standard, Revised Standard, and American Standard versions use “tribulation,” rather than “oppression,” in Mark 13:19. The King James, the New Living Translation and the New International, respectively, use “affliction,” “anguish,” and “distress.”] such as there has not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. 20 Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 21 Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it. 22 For there will arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 23 But you watch.

“Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 24 But in those days, after that oppression, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 25 the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out his angels, and will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

28 “Now from the fig tree, learn this parable. When the branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near; 29 even so you also, when you see these things coming to pass, know that it is near, at the doors. 30 Most certainly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch, keep alert, and pray; for you don’t know when the time is.

This prophecy of Christ, like the prophecies about his early life, discussed at the beginning of this chapter, seems to have two meanings. It apparently refers to the end times, but also to another, more immediate time. I checked the StudyLight page on Mark 13:19, the verse from above where “tribulation” occurs. That web page has links to over a dozen commentaries or study helps on the verse. The majority of them indicate that the tribulation mentioned here was the destruction of Jerusalem, a relatively short time after Christ’s death and resurrection. It is possible that it also refers to a tribulation during the end times, or to both situations, but the main meaning seems to have been the destruction of Jerusalem.

The above is an excerpt from my recently published e-book, Does the Bible Really Say That?, which may be obtained free of charge, or purchased from Amazon for $0.99, which is the lowest price Amazon lets an author set. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.

The previous post in this series is here. God willing, the next post in this series will continue a discussion of this topic, prophecy. Thanks for reading.

The Resurrection of Christ - a theme throughout the Bible

 

A larger version of the graphic above should be available from my Flickr photostream. Use the graphic as a link. The quotation in smaller type is this: "The resurrection isn't just a surprise happy ending for one person, it is instead the turning point for everything else." - N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: HarperCollins, 2008, p. 236.

It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of the resurrection! Thanks for reading. The resurrection is mentioned in many places in the Bible. Here are some of them. All scripture quoted is from the public domain World English Bible. First, from the Old Testament:
Job 19:26 After my skin is destroyed,
    then in my flesh shall I see God,

Psalm 16:10 For you will not leave my soul in Sheol,
    neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption.
49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will receive me.
71:20 You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles,
    you will let me live.
    You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 

Hosea 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
    I will redeem them from death!
    Death, where are your plagues?
    Sheol, where is your destruction?

The stories of Enoch and Elijah don't mention resurrection, but they must have given the Israelites food for thought about an after-life:
Genesis 5:22 Enoch walked with God after he became the father of Methuselah three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. 23 All the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. 

2 Kings 2:11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

The story of Enoch might be interpreted as God allowing Enoch to die at what, in those days, was a short life. But it can be, and probably was, interpreted as Enoch being taken to be with God, whether the Israelis had a concept of heaven or not.

Elisha raised a boy from death in 2 Kings 4. (Links to scripture are to the English Standard Version.)

These eight references seem to be the only ones in the Old Testament that indicate there will be a life after death. It's no wonder that the Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection. (According to the Wikipedia article on them -- see the link in the previous sentence -- they did believe in Sheol. That wasn't really a resurrection. According to the Wikipedia article on Sheol, the inhabitants were "entities without personality or strength.")

The New Testament has many more references to resurrection. All four of the gospels tell about the resurrection of Christ. There are also stories about people being brought back to life, which isn't exactly the same thing, since these people must have died again, later in life, but is a strong indication that death is not the end of strength and personality. There are many predictions that Christ is going to return, which would make no sense if He had ceased to exist. The Widow of Nain's son was raised to life in Luke 7.  The daughter of Jairus was similarly raised in Mark 5. Then, of course, there's the raising of Lazarus, in John 11. As part of that story, Jesus told Martha that He was the resurrection and the life, and asked her about her belief in a resurrection. There are other occasions, in the gospels, where Jesus spoke about a resurrection, or His own resurrection. Matthew 16:21-23 is one such example. An examination of the remainder of the New Testament follows. In some of these books, there are several references to the resurrection. Only one from each book is included. This post probably leaves out important scriptural evidence for the importance of the resurrection. Feel free to comment, mentioning more passages, please.

Acts begins with the experience of the disciples with Jesus after the resurrection. There are further references to Christ's resurrection in the book:

This is part of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost: 2:29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

The religious authorities tried to suppress preaching about the resurrection: 4:1 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 2 being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

But that tactic didn't work: 4:33 With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all.

Paul spoke so much about the resurrection that the philosophers at Mars Hill thought he was proclaiming two gods, one being the resurrection: 17:18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection. 

Paul begins Romans in this way: 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God, 2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 

1 Corinthians contains Paul's great discussion of the importance of the resurrection, in chapter 15.

2 Corinthians includes this passage, which assumes that there is a life beyond this mortal one, for believers: 5:1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; 3 if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. 4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. 10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

When the Bible speaks of the Final Kingdom, it is also speaking of the resurrection. Christ, and resurrected believers, couldn't have an existence past this life if they were permanently dead. Galatians begins with a statement about the resurrection of Christ, and speaks of an age to come, and of eternity: 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2 and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Ephesians has this wonderful statement about the power that God used in raising Jesus from the dead: 1:15 . . . I . . . 16 don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.

In Philippians, Paul speaks of the resurrection indirectly, by pointing out that Christ, who died for us, is, and will be, supreme: 2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Paul reminds the Colossian church of how Christ's resurrection shows His power: 2:13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross; 15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

The Thessalonians evidently had some questions about End Times. Here's part of what Paul wrote, in his first letter to that church, explaining some of what the Risen Lord will do: 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

In Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, he firmly states that Christ hadn't returned yet, as some thought, but will come. He isn't dead forever! 2:1 Now, brothers, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to him, we ask you 2: not to be quickly shaken in your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by letter as from us, saying that the day of Christ had come.

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul summarizes what the Son did: 3:16 Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:
God was revealed in the flesh,
    justified in the spirit,
    seen by angels,
    preached among the nations,
    believed on in the world,
    and received up in glory. 

Second Timothy includes this reminder: 2:11 This saying is faithful:
“For if we died with him,
    we will also live with him.
12a If we endure,
we will also reign with him.
 
Paul reminds Titus that the Risen Lord is returning: 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;

There is no mention of the resurrection, direct or implied, in Paul's short letter to Philemon.

Hebrews speaks of Christ as Risen High Priest, and a Priest who is, Himself, the sacrifice: 9:11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.

James speaks of the second coming: 5:7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Peter begins his first letter thus: 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
 
In his second letter, he looks forward to the Second Coming: 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

John's first letter also looks forward to the Second Coming: 2:28 Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
John's brief second letter mentions a reward, but does not directly speak of the resurrection. There is no mention of the resurrection in his third letter, which is also quite brief.

Jude refers to the Second Coming: 1:20 But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

This post closes with the next to the last verse in the Bible, from Revelation:
22:20 He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.

As N. T. Wright put it, "Take away the stories of Jesus’ birth, and all you lose is four chapters of the gospels. Take away the
resurrection and you lose the entire New Testament, and most of the second century fathers as well." 

Thanks for reading. Celebrate the Resurrection. Minor changes were made to this post on March 30, 2015.

Televangelists and how much they get paid

National Public Radio reported, yesterday and on April 1st (the link is to the combined report) about how some of the largest Christian entities take in millions of dollars, often with no accountability to anyone, except a controlling board, which may consist mostly, or entirely, of the leader's family. That's shameful. Some televangelists have lavish homes, fancy autos, and lots more. (scroll down in the report to see an aerial view of a "parsonage" valued at over six million dollars!) Apparently, based on NPR's research, at least one organization of this type gives viewers the impression that it gives much of the donations they receive to various charities, when, in fact, only about 5% of such money goes to hospitals, missions, and the like.

The Internal Revenue Service and the Congress have not cracked down on such behavior, and don't seem likely to do so in the future.

There are some prominent Christian organizations that are financially transparent, for example the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization, Samaritan's Purse, and Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries. See here for a chart of 30 prominent organizations, indicating which of them file with the IRS, and which don't, on the grounds that they are a church; which organizations have regular services - not all those who claim to be a church have regular services; which organizations are members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability; and a summary of any financial information (if such is available at all).

There is information available as to which charities are transparent, and how much of what they take in is actually used for the purposes of the charity. The ECFA, above, is a good place to start. The Better Business Bureau has information on religious (and other) charities. Also, see CharityWatch.

Jesus said this:
Matthew 6:19 Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Scripture quotations from the World English Bible, public domain) Senator Grassley said, in the report, said something like "Christ came into Jerusalem on a donkey, so why do these preachers have to go places in their own luxury cars and jets?"

Some people, I hope Christians, don't seem to pay much attention to that idea. It is true that Paul said this: Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. 1:16 The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; 1:17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

1:18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

So, even if someone is making a fortune for him or herself out of preaching, Christ can be proclaimed through such a person. But I wouldn't want to be that person. It's not up to me to judge others, but it is up to me to be a wise steward of the money God has allowed me to have.

Thanks for reading. Read the NPR article.

Sunspots 464

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

The Arts: Christianity Today has a review of Noah (the movie) with links to some other important reviews by Christians. (I haven't seen the film.)The reviewer concludes that two of the rumors going around about the movie are false. The characters do believe in God. It's not a flaming love nature, forget humans movie.
Christianity: A good article on "20 Things I wish I'd Known in My Late Twenties." (I'm past that, but most of the suggestions are still good)
Computing: Gizmo's Freeware has an article, "Twelve Really Useful Links You Need to Know to Stay Safe on the Internet."
From USA Today: "10 things you didn't know you could do with Android." (Phones, that is. And also some of them with an Android tablet.) And, yes, I didn't know about them. Some really cool stuff, such as unlocking the phone with your face . . .
Science: In God and Nature, a voice of reason on eating foods derived from Genetically Modified Organisms.
Wired has a Space Photo of the Day slide show.


Image source (public domain)

microrganisms and the Bible

Microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts and protozoa are very important. (So are viruses, but they aren't exactly alive, and won't be considered in this post.) Among other things that they do, they make Nitrogen available to other living things. (Nitrogen is an essential part of DNA, RNA, and proteins, so living things have to have it.) They help decompose dead things, so that the material they are made of can be used by other organisms, including humans. They cause diseases, including malaria, perhaps the disease that has killed more people than any other. They assist in various important processes, such as the production of ensilage (aka silage), the production of alcohol, and the manufacture of yogurt. They make it possible for bread to rise. Microorganisms living in our intestines also help us break down material, and some of them help us fight off certain diseases. The germs living in our intestines produce some vitamins for us.

In spite of their critical importance, microorganisms are not mentioned in the Bible at all. This is not surprising, since yeasts weren't discovered until 1680, and weren't believed to be living things until later, and bacteria weren't discovered until 1683. Protozoa were also discovered in the 1680's.

If there were six days of creation activity by God, on which day were the microorganisms created? The Bible doesn't say, of course, but the best guess for bacteria and yeasts is the third day, when the dry land, and land plants, appeared. (Genesis 1 doesn't mention plants living under water at all, and, if there were six days of creation, we don't know when they appeared, either.) As for protozoa, perhaps they were created on the fifth day, with water animals and birds.

Note -- Genesis 1 does not mention flying insects. Perhaps they were lumped in with the birds.

Were bacteria, and other microorganisms, important before the Fall? Again, we don't know. It is possible that decomposition took place before the Fall, and it is possible that bacteria helped the first humans digest their food. But maybe, before the Fall, decomposition didn't take place, and/or humans were able to digest their food without assistance. My guess is that defecation did take place before the Fall, and that decomposition bacteria would have been important then, but that's just a guess. Some scholars believe that animal death occurred before the Fall. (See here.)

I have posted on a related topic, mentioning most of the ideas above, a few years ago, here.

Thanks for reading.

Does the Bible really say that? Excerpt from my book, 29

[Continuing a discussion of End Times.]

Sometimes people try to identify the Antichrist. Hitler and Stalin were put forth as candidates years ago. One or more of the Popes also have been, at various times. Here’s a recent example, copied from a mass e-mail received during the 2008 Presidential campaign. Its purpose was to imply that Barack Obama was the Antichrist:

How long is the beast allowed to have authority in Revelations?

Revelations Chapter 13 tells us it is 42 months, and you know what that is. Almost a four-year term of a Presidency.

All I can say is "Lord, Have mercy on us!"

According to The Book of Revelations the anti-Christ is:
The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40’s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

I should point out something that Revelation says:

Revelation 22:18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, if anyone adds to them, may God add to him the plagues which are written in this book. 19 If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

Now, back to the e-mail. Here’s the passage referred to:

Revelation 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. 2 The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. 4 They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” 5 A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.

11 I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. 14 He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived.

Revelation 13 refers to a “beast,” and the Antichrist is not mentioned. Forty-two months is almost the term of a Presidency. But so are 39 months, and 45 months. So what? As to Revelation saying that the Antichrist will be of Muslim descent, John didn’t say that. He couldn’t have, as there were no Muslims at the time John wrote Revelation. Nothing in Revelation tells us how old anyone is, or will be. Mr. Obama did have some powers of persuasion, or he wouldn’t have been the nominee of his party, but so do a lot of other people. He probably wishes that his powers were stronger than they are. (Actually, Revelation 13 doesn’t mention powers of persuasion, just power.) Some people think that Mr. Obama is a deceiver, and a destroyer. Perhaps. He has his faults, and I have no wish to defend them, or point them out, in this space, but to claim that he, or any other prominent person, is the Antichrist is a real stretch. Whoever wrote this e-mail should have been much more afraid of having violated John’s command not to add to the Book of Revelation than he or she should have feared for the election of President Obama.

With the advantage of hindsight, we can now say that Mr. Obama served as President for more than forty-two months!

It is as foolish to claim someone is the Antichrist as it is foolish to predict a date for Christ to return.

The above is an excerpt from my recently published e-book, Does the Bible Really Say That?, which may be obtained free of charge, or purchased from Amazon for $0.99, which is the lowest price Amazon lets an author set. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.

The previous post in this series is here. God willing, the next post in this series will continue a discussion of this topic, prophecy. Thanks for reading.