The Goldilocks Principle: The Earth is Designed for Us by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

 

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=5653

The Goldilocks Principle: The Earth is Designed for Us

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

Do you recall the story of Goldilocks from your youth? She struggled as she sought the right porridge, chair, and bed, but in the end, her discoveries were “just right.” The Goldilocks Principle in secular cosmology is a recognition by scientists that the Earth appears to be “just right” for life to exist on it. Leading science magazines routinely run articles updating their audiences on the hunt for other Goldilocks planets with just the right conditions for life to exist upon them as it does on Earth. The Earth appears to be designed for us.

Atheistic philosopher Paul Ricci summed up the Teleological Argument for the Existence of God well when he said, “[I]t’s true that everything designed has a designer…. ‘Everything designed has a designer’ is an analytically true statement.”¹ There are an infinite number of examples of design that present themselves to us when we study the natural realm—a problem for Ricci and his atheistic colleagues, to be sure. Manuel Canales, Matthew Chwastyk, and Eve Conant wrote an article in National Geographic titled “One Strange Rock: 13 Things that Make Life on Earth Possible.”² “Earth is well equipped as a planet and ideally placed in our solar system and galaxy to support life as we know it,” they explain.³ What kinds of features make Earth so special?

• If the Earth’s rotation axis was tilted differently…: “A change in the rotation axis of the Earth…would be catastrophic. The number of the seasons would change and their duration. If the rotation axis became parallel to the orbital plane, as for Uranus, we could have winter in the Northern hemisphere for 6 months followed by summer. The Sun would set on the entire Northern hemisphere and not rise again for 6 months.”⁴
• If the Earth was spinning faster…: “Hurricanes will spin faster…and there will be more energy in them.”⁵ A faster rotation speed by only 10% would translate to so much water bulging around the equator, that all equatorial land would be flooded while the sea level at the poles would lower.⁶ Human and animal life would be forced to live closer to the poles, which would result in catastrophic extinctions.
• If the Earth’s orbit was closer to the Sun…: If the average distance from the Sun was “reduced by only about three-tenths of a percent,” disastrous atmospheric changes would occur, including “sea-level rise, increases in extreme weather, species extinctions and agricultural disruptions.”⁷ As it makes its elliptical path around the Sun, the Earth bends from its straight course “only one ninth of an inch” every 18½ miles.⁸ “If the orbit changed by one-tenth of an inch every 18 miles, our orbit would be vastly larger and we would all freeze to death. One-eighth of an inch? We would all be incinerated.”⁹ In fact, the Earth’s perfect distance from the Sun is called the “Goldilocks zone,” “where it’s not too close and not too far from the sun for water to be liquid on its surface.”¹⁰ Earth’s temperature is “not too hot or too cold.”¹¹
• If the Earth had less water…: About 75% of the entire area of the Earth is covered by water. If there was less water on the Earth, it would suffer from the drastic temperature changes seen in deserts—extremely hot during the day and extremely cold during the night. Most of the Earth does not have this problem, due in large part to the fact that the Earth has so much water on it. Water has a high specific heat capacity, which means that water can hold a lot of heat—way more than almost any other natural substance on Earth. Water can store a lot of heat or lose a lot of heat without its temperature being drastically changed, causing it to act like an air conditioning unit for the Earth, keeping its temperature relatively constant. A different liquid other than water or less water would make Earth inhospitable for life.
• If the Earth was like other planets…: Citing the work of University of Washington’s Peter Ward, Stanford University’s Kate Maher, NASA’s Karina Yager, and the University of Idaho’s Jason Barnes, Canales and his colleagues highlighted that Earth “recycles life-friendly carbon over time,” has an “ozone layer to block harmful rays,” “a big moon to stabilize our axial wobble,” “varied surfaces [to] support many life-forms,” and a “magnetic field” that “deflects solar tempests.” Earth is “situated safely away from gas giants”—if it were closer, their “powerful gravity could cause disastrous fluctuations in Earth’s distance from the sun.” The star of our solar system—the Sun—“is a stable, long-lasting star,” as opposed to less massive, allegedly younger stars that are “often unstable and are prone to blasting their planets with bursts of radiation.” Earth has “the right stuff to host a dynamic core” (i.e., sufficient radioactive elements to generate a “churning core” and protective magnetic field that could, theoretically, last for billions of years). Earth has “giant planets that protect us from afar,” like Jupiter, whose size and gravity protect “Earth from overly frequent collisions that might trigger extinctions.” Zooming out further to the scale of the galaxy, we observe that “our sun offers protection from galactic debris,” “our galactic path steers us clear of hazards,” and “our location is far from stellar crowds,” reducing the “risks to Earth from gravitational tugs, gamma-ray bursts, or collapsing stars called supernovae.”¹² Truly Earth is just right for us—as though it was made for humans.

Dozens of such examples could be illustrated.¹³ In the words of famous skeptic and science writer Michael Shermer, who has a monthly column in Scientific American, “The design inference comes naturally. The reason people think that a Designer created the world is because it looks designed.”¹⁴ Agreed.

Endnotes

¹ Paul Ricci (1986), Fundamentals of Critical Thinking (Lexington, MA: Ginn Press), p. 190.

² Manuel Canales, Matthew Chwastyk, and Eve Conant (2018), “One Strange Rock: 13 Things That Make Life on Earth Possible,” National Geographic, 233[3]:78-87.

³ Ibid., p. 78.

⁴ Sten Odenwald (no date), “What Would Happen if the Rotation Axis of the Earth Changed?” NASA Image Education Center, https://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/ask/q278.html.

⁵ Sarah Fecht (2017), “What Would Happen if Earth Started to Spin Faster?” Popular Science, https://www.popsci.com/earth-spin-faster.

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ Victoria Roberts (2017), “Even Tiny Changes in Earth’s Orbit Would Yield Global Catastrophe,” The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/science/earth-orbit-sun-catastrophe.html.

⁸ David Peck Todd (1906), A New Astronomy (New York: American Book Company), p. 383.

⁹ “Everyday Science” (1981), Science Digest, 89[1]:124.

¹⁰ Canales, et al., p. 81; cf. J.R. Minkel (2007), “All Wet? Astronomers Claim Discovery of Earth-like Planet,” Scientific American, April 24, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/all-wet-astronomers-claim/.

¹¹ Canales, et al., p. 81.

¹² Canales, et al.

¹³ See the various “Design” topics in the “Existence of God” category on the Apologetics Press Web site—www.apologeticspress.org.

¹⁴ Michael Shermer (2007), Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design (New York, NY: Henry Holt), Kindle edition, p. 65, ital. in orig.

The Foolishness of Atheism by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

 https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=4158

 

The Foolishness of Atheism

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Atheists are fond of claiming that their way of thinking is logical, reasonable, and intellectual. They maintain that they are open-minded and refer to themselves as free thinkers. Unlike Christians, who are allegedly delusional, irrational, blind, and absurd, atheists consider themselves utterly rational, sensible people who follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Yet atheism says that everything came from nothing. Atheism says that an explosion caused exquisite order. It says that random chances produced precision and that life popped into existence in nature from non-life. Atheism says that the design of the human eye is a delusion, while the design of a camera is apparent. Atheism says that fish and frogs are man’s distant forefathers and that intelligence is the result of non-intelligence. Atheism alleges that either man is on the same moral plane as a moose, or he actually evolved a sense of morality from amoral monkeys. Atheism spends multiplied millions of dollars and countless thousands of hours in search of extra-terrestrial life, which has never been found.

When atheism is stripped of pompous proclamations and arrogant allegations, its naked soul is seen for what it really is: weak, illogical, unscientific, and worthless. Atheists blindly believe that, for example, life came from non-life. Rather than accept what scientific experimentation has repeatedly concluded over the past 200 years (that in nature life comes only from life and that of its own kind), atheists remain committed to a disproven theory. Man has never witnessed mindlessness bring forth intelligence. He’s never seen something come from nothing.

While trying to convince others he is galloping confidently atop a stallion called Common Sense, in truth, atheism stumbles on the back of a donkey called Foolishness. Is there any wonder why David said, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1)?

For since the creation of the world His [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools (Romans 1:20-22).

 

The Fool by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

 

https://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=930

The Fool

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Perhaps many Americans are unaware of the extent to which atheism and agnosticism have blanketed the country. Virtually every department in our state universities has been infiltrated by godless, humanistic presuppositions. Study and research are conducted from an evolutionary, relativistic framework that either jettisons the notion of God altogether, or dilutes it sufficiently to effectively nullify the biblical representation of deity. The psalmist anticipated all such behavior centuries ago when he wrote: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’ ” (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).

Because of their inability to discern spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14), the Soviet cosmonauts looked out of their spacecraft in the 1960s and, in ridicule, asked, “Where is God?,” echoing again the words of the psalmist: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where now is their God?’ But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:2-3). Pride is a deadly pitfall that blinds one to the truth: “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God’ ” (Psalm 10:4).

But the Universe “declares” the plain work of the Creator (Psalm 19:1). Would we not consider a person a “fool” were he to pick up a watch and proclaim, “There is no watchmaker”? Though he had never empirically encountered the creator and designer of the watch, the mere existence of the watch proves the existence of a watchmaker. It takes very little investigation to see that a watch is a crude, simplistic instrument compared to the glorious, complex chronometers of the Universe. Those who see “the things that are made” and deny the very One Who made it all are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

Recognition of the existence of the Creator should lead a person to pursue His will. One may express verbal belief in the existence of God while being a practical atheist. Such a person professes, “There is no God” by his or her actions. By failing to be devoted to God, even while considering oneself to be a Christian, he or she is denying the Lord (1 Timothy 5:8; 2 Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:16). One can deny His great act of love, mercy, and grace (Titus 2:11-12; Hebrews 2:3). One can forget and ignore the great dissolution to come (2 Peter 3:10-12).

Who desires to be a fool? Who really wants to live a foolish existence? The wise, insightful, noble person is the one who examines the evidence and draws the warranted conclusion (Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Only a fool would affirm: “There is no God.”

"THE GOSPEL OF MARK" The Death And Burial Of Jesus (15:33-47) by Mark Copeland

 

"THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

The Death And Burial Of Jesus (15:33-47)

 

INTRODUCTION

1. Following a night and morning of torture and ridicule, Jesus was crucified - Mk 14:53-15:25

2. For six hours as He hung on the cross, the mockery continued - Mk 15:26-32

[We come in our study of the gospel of Mark to the time of our Lord’s
death and burial.  Let us use this time to reflect upon the details of
those events, beginning with...]

I. THE DEATH OF JESUS

   A. THE DARKNESS...
      1. Lasting from the sixth hour (noon) to the ninth hour (3pm) - Mk 15:33
      2. The significance?  Several possibilities:
         a. A sign of mourning
         b. A sign of judgment
         c. A veil covering the shame of the crucifixion

   B. THE CRY OF AGONY...
      1. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" - Mk 15:34
      2. A proverbial expression of distress from Ps 22:1 - ZIBBC
      3. It is possible that citing the first verse of the psalm refers
         to the entire psalm - ibid.
      4. Psalms 22 begins with bitter despair, but ends with supreme confidence - ibid.
      5. This interpretation does not deny the real anguish that Jesus
         experiences but understands his cry as an expression of trust
         that God will intervene and ultimately vindicate him - ibid.

   C. THE MOCKERY AND SYMPATHY...
      1. The mockery seen earlier continues - Mk 15:35-36; cf. Mk 15:29-32
      2. Yet one offers a gesture of sympathy (sponge full of sour wine) - Mk 15:36

   D. THE DEATH...
      1. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last - Mk 15:37
      2. "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit" - Lk 23:46
      3. He "yielded up" His spirit (suggesting a voluntary death) - Mt 27:50
      4. Some suggest He died from a ruptured heart, others that it was
         dehydration and loss of blood

   E. THE CURTAIN OF THE SANCTUARY...
      1. The veil of the temple torn in two from top to bottom - Mk 15:38
      2. Likely the veil separating the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place
      3. Perhaps indicating the end of the Old Covenant, and beginning
         of the New - He 10:19-20

   F. THE CENTURION...
      1. Observing the manner in which Jesus died, confessed faith in Jesus
      2. "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" - Mk 15:39

   G. THE MINISTERING WOMEN...
      1. Looking from afar - Mk 15:40-41
         a. Mary Magdalene
         b. Mary (wife of Clopas) the mother of James the Less and Joses - Jn 19:25
         c. Salome - the mother of the sons of Zebedee (James and John)  cf. Mt 27:56
         d. Many other women - including Mary the mother of Jesus - Jn 19:25
      2. Women who had followed Jesus
         a. Ministering to Him in Galilee - cf. Lk 8:1-3
         b. Coming with Him to Jerusalem

[Jesus is now dead, His body mangled as it hung on the cross.  Mark now
records for us in his gospel...]

II. THE BURIAL OF JESUS

   A. THE TIME OF THE BURIAL...
      1. "when evening had come", likely late afternoon - Mk 15:42
      2. "the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath",i.e., Friday - Mk 15:42

   B. THE REQUEST FOR THE BODY...
      1. Made by Joseph - Mk 15:43
         a. From Arimathea (the city of Ramah, city of Samuel)
         b. Prominent member of the council (Sanhedrin)
         c. Who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God
         d. A rich man - Mt 27:57
         e. A disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews - Mt 27:57; Jn 19:38
      2. Together with Nicodemus - Jn 19:38
         a. A ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night - Jn 3:1-2
         b. Also a member of the council - Jn 7:50
         b. Who brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds

   C. THE CONFIRMATION AND RELEASE...
      1. To convince Pilate that Jesus was dead - Mk 15:44
      2. Confirmed by the centurion, the body was released - Mk 15:45

   D. THE BURIAL...
      1. The body was wrapped in fine linen - Mk 15:46
      2. Laid in a new tomb hewn out of rock, located in a garden - Jn 19:40-42
      3. A stone rolled against the door of the tomb

   E. THE WOMEN...
      1. Mary Magdalene and Mary of Joses observed where He was laid - Mk 15:47
      2. They left, prepared spices and fragrant oils, then rested on
         the Sabbath - Lk 23:55-56

CONCLUSION

1. Thus Jesus, the Son of God, gave His life for our sins and was buried;
   but the story is not over, in our next lesson we will read of His
   amazing resurrection from the dead...

2. Until then, remember what we should learn from this death of
   Jesus... - cf. He 12:2-3; 1Pe 2:21-25

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

Celebrating Senior Saints by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

 https://thepreachersword.com/2020/10/01/celebrating-senior-saints/#more-17413

 Celebrating Senior Saints

Today is the “International Day of Older Persons.”

According to the National Holiday Calendar, the United Nations began in 1948, the year I was born, “seeking the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by older persons.”

In 1982 the U.N. adopted the “World Assembly on Aging” to “highlight the situation of older people.” Then in 1990, the U.N. issued a proclamation that October 1st would be designed as the “International Day of Older Persons.”

The U.N. didn’t define “older persons,” so I won’t either. Someone quipped that an old person is 15 years older than you are. Yet, we all know that as we age, at some point, our bodies, and often times our minds, are not what they were in our youth.

But “older persons” don’t have to be put on the shelf or discarded and replaced by youth. The Bible offers this encouragement to senior saints.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,
–Ps. 92:12-14

Fresh. Flourishing. Bearing fruit. I like that. And it’s true. Age doesn’t necessarily negate our ability to make significant contributions to society, our families and the Lord’s cause.

Dee Bowman in his fine little book, “The Joy of Growing Old in Christ” wrote, “Aging often produces some limitations as to what a person might do. But aging does not mean that a person cannot do anything.” He offers the example of Peter Roget who invented the thesaurus at age 73. And Grandma Moses whose crippling arthritis prevented her from embroidering began painting at age 76. Three years later, her art was hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Former gas station operator and restaurateur, Colonel Harlan Sanders, was penniless when he retired at age 65. But his secret recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken made him his first million at age 73. By the time of Sanders’ death, at age 90, there were an estimated 6,000 KFC outlets in 48 countries worldwide, with $2 billion of sales annually, increasing to $4.2 billion in 2019.

The Bible speaks of God’s use of older people. Moses and Aaron were 80 and 83 when they led Israel out of Egypt. Joshua was close to 80 when he began his conquest of Canaan. Caleb was 85 when he boldly marched into the promised land and proclaimed “Give me this mountain.” Daniel served God in his youth, but was over 80 when he was made Governor of Babylon and later thrown into the lion’s den. And the apostle Paul who referred to himself as “the aged” was still writing letters, preaching the gospel, and witnessing for Jesus even from a Roman prison in his latter years.

In his wonderful book, “The Winter of Life,“ Sewell Hall, who celebrated his 90th birthday this year, reminds us that “winter is not all bad.” It can be a pleasant time of remembrance, reflection, and pleasure just like we can enjoy the warmth of sitting by the fireplace on a snowy day, conversing with family and friends.

Senior Saints can still bear fruit in their latter days of life. Paul instructs older women to teach younger women. And the older men to conduct themselves as good examples to younger men (Titus 2:1-8). Older persons can serve as mentors to younger folks by equipping them in teaching classes, offering marital counsel, and sharing parenting advice.

Senior Saints can still bear fruit as they participate in benevolent work, often possessing resources to provide financial help to those in need. Retired people are some of the most hospitable. They know how to “edify one another” and “encourage one another.” Often, I have seen senior citizens get involved in various activities, making new friends, and using that as an opportunity for sharing their faith.

There are a number of men who are still effectively preaching the gospel, writing, and serving as Shepherds into their late 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s. These men and their wives bring a wealth of wisdom, a marvelous depth of Bible knowledge, and valuable spiritual experience that continues to bless God’s people.

By the way, today is also “International Coffee Day.” So recognize the contributions of “older persons” among us. Take them out for a cup of coffee. And celebrate senior saints.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

 

IS NATURAL BIRTH ESSENTIAL TO BE SAVED? BY STEVE FINNELL

 

http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2016/11/is-natural-birth-essential-to-be-saved.html

IS NATURAL BIRTH ESSENTIAL TO BE SAVED?  BY STEVE FINNELL

According to some, men must be born of natural birth to enter the kingdom of God. There are many who declare that Jesus said you must be born of the water (amniotic fluid) to enter the kingdom of God. What did Jesus say?

John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Was Jesus saying you must be born of natural birth (amniotic fluid) to enter the kingdom of God? Of course not.

Men do need to be born of the waters of baptism to enter the kingdom of God.

On the Day of Pentecost (2:22-41) the apostle Peter preached Jesus as a miracle worker. Peter preached Jesus as both Lord and Christ. Peter told them that God raised Jesus from the dead. When the three thousand believed, they where told to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins and that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. After the three thousand received Peter's word they were baptized in water and added the the kingdom of God on earth, which is the church of Christ.
Peter did not tell one soul that they had to be born of natural birth (amniotic fluid) to enter the kingdom of God. The church is the kingdom of God on earth. The requirements for entering the kingdom of God on earth are the same as for entering the eternal kingdom of God. You must be born of water and the Spirit.

The new birth (Acts 2:38) Water baptism and the Holy Spirit.
The new birth (Titus 3:5) Washing of regeneration (water baptism) and renewing of the Holy Spirit (born of the Spirit).
The new birth (John 3:5) Born of water(water baptism), and born of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit).


BEING BORN OF THE WATER OF NATURAL BIRTH (AMNIOTIC FLUID) IS NOT A REQUIREMENT TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

All Things Work Together for Good? by Sandra F. Cobble

 

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Cobble/Sandra/Fontaine/1933/allthing.html

All Things Work Together for Good?

"Everything happens for a purpose." Or does it? "Nothing can happen unless God permits it." Is that the same truth? "Does not the Bible say that 'All things work together for good'"? Does it really say that? Having heard these statements made recently by denominational friends, I decided to take a closer look. These statements do sound good. They were made to comfort and encourage one who had suffered tragedy. But are they true? Do they have a scriptural basis?

Did God arbitrarily cause the confusion of languages or did man take matters into his own hands and thus suffer the consequences? The scripture teaches that "the whole earth was of one language and one speech." Then man decided, "...let us build us a city ... let us make us a name..." The result was that the Lord said, "...this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Genesis 11:1-9).

Did God cause John the Baptist to be beheaded for a purpose? Was it not rather the result of sin on the part of Herod and Herodias? The scripture teaches that John had told Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Then the daughter of Herodias danced before Herod. Having pleased him, she obtained the promise that she could have that for which she asked. At the instruction of Herodias she asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Her request was granted (Mark 6:16-28).

Did God cause a tabernacle to be made unto himself for a purpose? Speaking to Moses, the Lord said, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it" (Exodus 25:8,9). And in Hebrews 8:5 we find, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." Thus, we see that God DID cause a tabernacle to be made for a purpose. And that purpose was that it might serve as a shadow of things to come.

Using these three examples, we can see that some things have happened as a consequence of man's own perverseness or sin. On the other hand, we also see that God did cause some things to happen simply for His own purposes.

We believe that God is just and righteous and abhors sin. Let us assume that God had a purpose in having John the Baptist beheaded. How, then, did God accomplish His purpose? Was it not through sin? Carrying this reasoning one step further, did God cause Herod and Herodias to sin that His purpose might be accomplished? And, still a step further, how can one be guilty of sin if he has acted at the control of God? Is this the just and righteous God in whom we believe? Is it any wonder that reasonable men who are not familiar with scripture may become atheists when they reason out this conclusion of the doctrine that God causes EVERYTHING for a purpose?

Then the question may be raised, "Though God may not cause everything to happen for a purpose, will not He work everything together for good?" Does not the scripture explicitly state that? Let us see what the scripture really says, "And we know that all things work together for good TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). Upon examination we find that this promise is ONLY to those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose!

When the ship which was to carry Paul to Italy was to depart from The Fair Havens, Paul admonished, "Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives." Those in charge refused to heed Paul's admonition. The ship was wrecked on the island of Melita. Paul loved God. He was called according to His purpose. God DID work all things together for the good of Paul (Acts 27,28).

But what about the owner of the ship? Did not he lose the cargo his ship was carrying? Were not the ship's supplies lost? Did not his ship suffer extensive damage? Is there any scriptural evidence that these losses were to his good?

And what about Herod and Herodias? Is there any scriptural evidence that the beheading of John the Baptist led them to repentance? Then, to what purpose? To fulfill prophecy? Then did God use sin to fulfill His prophecy? Is there not a difference in God foreknowing what would be the actions of men and it being His will for men to act in the manner in which they do? Think about it.

"He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit" (Proverbs 12:17). Paul admonished Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). All about us we hear well-intentioned persons "quoting" God's word. Often it is either misquoted, or taken out of context. Often the message conveyed by partial truth is directly or indirectly contrary to eternal Truths taught in the scriptures. Let us not be false witnesses of God's eternal truth. Let us be certain that the things we present as God's Word really ARE God's word. Let us speak the truth!

And the truth is that there is no scriptural evidence to prove that God causes all things which happen to mankind. Nor is there any scriptural evidence that God will work all things together for good to those who hate Him or to those who are not the called according to His purpose. But there IS scriptural evidence that God will work all things together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Sandra F. Cobble

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Something VERY special by Gary Rose

 

What a beautiful picture! A sleeping ( or is it just drowsy? ) cat; safe and secure in its bed. All tucked in and peacefully pursuing a glorious night of refreshing sleep. Obviously, someone cares for this cat a great deal!

And then I thought about us- human beings. Who cares for us? Family, friends or just care-takers? More than them all, God takes care of us.

Consider just these two passages of Scripture today…

2 Corinthians 11 ( World English Bible )

¹⁷ That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

¹⁸ Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

¹⁹ For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

²⁰ For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

²¹ I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

²³ Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

²⁴ Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

²⁶ I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

²⁷ in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

Hebrews 13 ( WEB )

^{5 ….} for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”

⁶ So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

I am continually amazed at the Apostle Paul. The things he said and did are almost a perfect example of a disciple of God. The only one that has been a greater servant of God than him is Jesus ( and that is saying a great deal )! About now, you may be saying to yourself: well, they were special and I am not. Yes, they were special and yes, you are special too. God looks after you and directs you to do the very best you can with the gifts that HE has given you. Remember that second passage…? God is OUR HELPER too.

I encourage you to be the best possible Christian you can be and to develop whatever gift you have been blessed with to its fullest. REMEMBER... GOD WILL HELP YOU TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL, FOR HE IS YOUR HELPER.

PS.. That “picture” at the top- well, its from a PENCIL DRAWING. Someone have been given a wonder gift from God; the “picture” is special and so is the gift God has given to you.

May God bless,

Gary