Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | October 2, 2023

Do I Believe This?

The Gift That Keeps on Giving!

The Bible promises all Christians:

“8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10

A wonderful fact about this gift is it keeps on giving, year after year and continues even after time, as we know it, has ceased to exist!

As Christians, we have been created anew in Christ Jesus, in 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 it is revealed:

“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

The Bible goes on to explain, in Galatians 2:20, the lives we live as Christians are not ours, they belong to Jesus Christ!

” 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

It is vitally important to be sure our world view is based on these facts; their reality should shape all we think and do! We must be ever mindful we are to live by faith and not by sight!

7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7

The New Testament devotes a great deal of its message to providing instructions on what we should do and how we should do it. God has given us extraordinary blessings which are ours as his children; it is up to us to claim those blessings and let them work through us “so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Our Lives

I rejoice in the thought that I am a very small part of God’s creation; I further rejoice in the thought that my very existence is dependent upon a deliberate act of God, from moment to moment, which permits my existence to continue!

I recognize that the Triune God is the only true reality and all else is nothing more than his creation which exists at his good pleasure! I have written more on this in the essay, “What is Reality?”

In light of these facts, I am totally amazed that he has selected certain individuals to serve as his representatives to his creation, given them a place in his family, and sent the Third Person of the Trinity to indwell them now and forever.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll seek to explore the numerous gifts our gracious creator wants his representatives to enjoy. I encourage you to participate in this journey of praise and rejoicing with the sincere expectation that you too will fully share in these gifts our creator has made available to you!

Next, Do I Believe God’s gift of peace.


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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 25, 2023

Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior is God’s Answer to Man’s Sin Problem!

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 25, 2023

The Human Aging Phenomenon

Cake art by Adele Bower

What is the Reality of Aging?

I have found it interesting to watch contemporary efforts to combat aging; if you use the web to search for anti-aging products, within seconds around 4,090,000 hits will be produced. The effort to stop or reverse the aging process is a really big business!

This is all a massive amount of self-deception as there is really no product that can stop or reverse the aging process! While there may be some products that can appear to conceal the process, there is no product that can really accomplish that goal.

The truth of the matter is aging is a natural part of the human experience from the moment of conception to the day we leave our mortal bodies behind! You’ll notice I avoid the word die as the Bible explains we are immortal by nature and will never die!

While it is true that we will leave our mortal tents behind, our living essence is created in the image of God and will never die! The Bible goes on to explain our days in this tent have been foreordained by God. In Psalms 139:16 it is written:

16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

A related topic would be the reduction of telomeres as the body ages; it appears we have a built-in timer that determines how long a cell will replicate. I have written more on this topic in an essay on aging.

Perceptions of Aging

In the very young, aging is an important achievement in life. It is not unusual for a child to carefully point out that they are their age plus one-half as they move toward their next year of life. If they are ten and one-half, they are quick to point that out!

They sometimes mention they are not a baby anymore but have grown far past that point in life. Most ten-year-old boys would be horrified if their parents wanted to dress them in baby clothes and take them out in a baby stroller with a pacifier stuck in their mouths!

Being a teen-ager is cool but being in your 20’s is even better; now you’re an adult and can live life the way you want!

Somewhere, over the next fifteen or twenty years, a certain apprehension begins to develop as one realizes that time is passing at an ever-faster rate. There are observable changes that are starting to take place that are not altogether welcome.

This is where the “anti-aging” products begin to increase in importance. Whereas in one’s youth, getting older was a badge of honor, now it is becoming something else. To varying degrees, based on the individual, steps must be taken to delay the changes that seem to be coming with increasing rapidity.

While some societies have a high regard for the wisdom and experience the years can bring; others see aging as an increasing sign of irrelevance. If you’re old you’re out of touch with the present reality!

In such societies, one must do all one can to stop or reverse the progression into the age of irrelevance.

The Inevitability of Aging

As soon as we are born, we are all in the process of aging; there is no alternative other than the death of our mortal bodies, or tents as the Bible calls them.

The Bible seeks to calm our fears when God reveals the truth of our situation for born-again Christians. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 it is written:

“5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”

I’m ninety and one-half and proud of it; I have made peace with the realities of aging that I live with every day. I’ll admit that there are challenges to life at 90 and 1/2 years but I understand these challenges have come to pass!

I delight myself in knowing that all my times are in the hands of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I rejoice in the sure knowledge that he is working all things together for my good; this is his promise to me, and I believe it without any reservation!

Rather than waste our time worrying about the inevitable; I’m convinced we would be much better off following God’s advice to us in Philippians 4:4-9 where it is written:

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 16, 2023

Big Changes for September 2023?

What, if Anything, is about to Happen?

Today is Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the 10 “Days of Awe” the observance of the two highest holy days in Judaism. A week later, the High Holidays reach their crescendo with Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Once again, a search of the internet for information on the prophetic significance of September 2023 will produce many results relating to prophecy and the end times.

There seems to be an abundance of discord and strife all over the world; the Bible has foretold that in the end times things would get worse. Paul’s warnings in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and Romans 1:18-32 are being played out in life all around us.

Whether or not these are the times referenced by Paul, the descriptions seem to be a good fit with what is being observed today. It is becoming ever more difficult to simply watch network television as subject matter, both nationally and locally, tends toward the disgusting and distasteful almost without exception.

There are also other signs that have been foretold that seem to be proliferating all around us; the question that comes up is, are the September Jewish feasts included in those signs?

The Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah

It so happens that the Jewish civil new year observance, Rosh Hashanah, started on September 15th at sundown; this signaled the beginning of the Jewish year, 5784. This is often referred to as “The Feast of Trumpets” and is one of the last three Jewish Fall Feasts awaiting fulfillment. It is the first day of the 10 “Days of Awe” which conclude at Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Is this a Feast of the Church or a Feast of Israel? Pentecost had a direct application to the Church as that was the day the Holy Spirit indwelt believers for the first time and the church came into existence.

As of this point, I’m of the opinion the Feast of Trumpets applies to Israel, not the Church.

The Rapture

One thing I feel confident about is no prophecy remains that must be fulfilled before the Church can be called home. This means the rapture could happen at any time. I have previously prepared a timeline which I still believe to be the best information I have been able to find. It includes some speculation that is based on Scripture and I show it below.

Nothing that I have seen recently compels me to change any of this timeline. I’m of the opinion that October will arrive on schedule and without any life changing events; we certainly don’t have long to wait to find out what the Lord may or may not have planned for the 2023 Feast of Trumpets. (Click on the timeline to enlarge.)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | September 1, 2023

Ninety Seconds to Midnight! From Both a Secular and Biblical Perspective We Are Living in Dangerous Times!

How are You Reacting to the Multitude of Events Happening in the World Today?

The Media today, bombards us with too much information about events happening all over the world! The great majority of which are very negative in nature and can seem unacceptably disgusting!

Wanton abuse of power at all levels of government coupled with outright criminal activities on the part of government officials, failure to enforce, or even obey the laws of the land all contribute to a sense that everything is out of control.

Widespread homelessness along with looting and unrestrained criminal behavior makes normal life seem almost impossible in some locations and is resulting in mass evacuations of major metropolitan areas as conditions worsen!

Even more alarming is the rate at which all this seems to be accelerating in scope and intensity! Some may likely wonder how and why is this happening now?

A Biblical Warning

The Bible warns of a time of trouble that will come in the last days; in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 it is written:

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

I am of the opinion that we are living in those last days and are witnessing the perilous times referenced in the Bible. I think it entirely possible that my wife and I will be included in the rapture; I certainly hope that will be the case; I like the idea of our going home together!

While the eventual removal of the church is an absolute certainty, what remains uncertain is when it will happen. I know God’s timing is perfect and am delighted it is all in his hands!

As Christians, what should our attitude be toward world events; reading about the end times is much easier that living through them!

A Christian Perspective on the World

There is one fundamental fact Christians must always recognize; when we were born again, we became new creations, the old had gone and the new had come once and for all!

Our entire frame of reference had undergone a dramatic transformation; we were given a new Father, a new family, and a new home! We had been made members of the royal priesthood, and appointed as ambassadors who are representatives of the Creator of the Universe!

We are living in a world and a nation that is in a serious state of flux; our society is hardly recognizable in some parts of the nation.

It appears the speed of change is continuously increasing; in virtually all areas of life, we see change as the new normal. What is troubling to me are the changes happening to the foundational principles upon which we have built our lives and our nation.

While circumstances are changing with lightning speed, Biblical truth remains steady and unaltered by this speed of change. The Great Commission still stands as a monument to eternal truth where it is written in Matthew 28:18-20,

“18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Not only do we have our marching orders, we have the promise that Jesus Christ will be with us to the very end of the age and that is where, I believe, we find ourselves today.

Satanic Deception

The Bible warns us about the dangers Christians will face in the end times; for example, in 1 Timothy 4:1 it is written:

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,”

Satan’s final effort will be to rule the earth from Jerusalem with a one-world government. This government will be set up three- and one-half years into the Tribulation and known as The Great Tribulation.

Satan will have been cast out of heaven and will indwell the antichrist who will establish his throne in the Temple in Jerusalem. This is the time spoken of by the Prophet Daniel and quoted by the Lord Jesus Christ.

“15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.”

The primary description of this period is found in the Book of Revelation where we see a large percentage of the earth’s population killed.

Satan is the prince of the power of the air and even now, is putting the foundation of his one-world government in place. It is evident to many observers that events are changing with great speed.

The danger of our situation today is being noticed by secular groups as well as those interested in Bible prophecy.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock

Unprecedented Danger”: Russia-Ukraine War Pushes Iconic Doomsday Clock Closest to Midnight Ever in its History.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Also Cite Bio-Threats, Nuclear Proliferation, Climate Crisis, State-Sponsored Disinformation and Disruptive Technology.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 24, 2023 –The Doomsday Clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight, due largely but not exclusively to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the increased risk of nuclear escalation. The new Clock time was also influenced by continuing threats posed by the climate crisis and the breakdown of global norms and institutions needed to mitigate risks associated with advancing technologies and biological threats such as COVID-19.

Rachel Bronson, PhD, president and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said: “We are living in a time of unprecedented danger, and the Doomsday Clock time reflects that reality. 90 seconds to midnight is the closest the Clock has ever been set to midnight, and it’s a decision our experts do not take lightly.

Never has there been a better time to live out Proverbs 3:5-6 in your life!

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 28, 2023

God’s Judgment on Sin, and the Three Eruptions of the Yellowstone Caldera! Conclusion

The Flood, God’s Judgment on Sin!

It is vitally important to recognize the flood was a voluntary action by the creator of the universe and had, very likely, a combination of natural and supernatural components!

The Bible indicates the flood came around 1,656 years after the creation of Adam; the early chapters of Genesis provide a brief summary of life before the flood, primarily focused on man’s sinfulness and God’s plan for redemption.

The passage of 1,656 years is a really long time; looking back now that many years, takes us back to 367 A. D. and reveals a world where the Roman Empire had recently been split into two parts; the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire.

The Bible does not reveal most of the details surrounding the flood; we can see from the results on the ground, the flood was a one-time event of unparalleled destruction. I have previously written on the flood in a six-part series that starts with, “The World Before the Flood.”

It is possible the volcanic activity, still visible on the earth, began a short time before the rains began. God had created a paradise and I believe there had been no volcanic activity before the flood era.

The reference to the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep involved a drastic disruption and rearrangement of the tectonic plates covering the earth. I believe all the volcanic activity attributed to millions of years took place at this time.

The massive outpouring of ash could have been instrumental in the destruction of the water vapor canopy that surrounded the earth. The North and South poles were immediately frozen over to never thaw again to the present time.

The ash blocked the sun and produced an extended cold period for several hundred years. At the end of this period, the earth settled into the pattern we have today.

Note the shovel handle in the center bottom of the picture as a reference for size.

(The photo above shows the mammoth elephant found on the banks of the Beresovka River in Siberia. The elephant had been flash frozen so quickly the contents of its stomach remained undigested. The stomach contained undigested ferns and flowers of a type subsequently unknown to that part of Siberia.)

Cave Men and Dinosaurs

After the flood, the volcanic ash, suspended in the atmosphere, resulted in a much colder climate, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Genesis 11 records the building of the Tower of Babel, the creation of multiple languages and the dispersion of the people by language group.

Both the North and South poles were covered by ice and the freezing weather in the Northern Hemisphere caused the glacial activity in that area.

During this period, starting around 100 to 200 years after the flood, mankind spread out, some used caves for shelter where such shelter could be found. Dinosaurs had been included on the Ark, and, it appears, many were able to survive in the post-flood world. Since the word dinosaur was not invented until 1842 by Sir Richard Owen, earlier references to dragons permits some speculation on what they may have been. Sightings of dragons were reported all over the world.

A Brief Summary

The earth had been created as a sanctuary for both mankind and animals; man had been given dominion over the earth and its inhabitants. Adam, the first man, disobeyed a direct command from God and died spiritually, on the spot, along with all his descendants including you and me.

Dominion then defaulted to Satan and mankind became tenant farmers, inhabiting a planet controlled by Satan. After 1,656 years, God decided to judge the rampant sin that saturated his creation and killed off all but eight people including, Noah, his family and the selected animals that found refuge on the ark.

What had been an environmental paradise, experienced the devastating destruction of the world as it had been created; a devastation that would never be repeated. Since the flood, the world has remained essentially the same to this day.

Hope for the Future

The Bible describes a touching picture of God’s creation; in Romans 8:19-22 where it is written:

“19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

I’m convinced, God’s creation will be delivered at the end of the Great Tribulation and restored to an “Edenic-like” condition at the beginning of the Millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For more information on the pre-flood world, I encourage you to visit: “Answers in Genesis.” I would also like to express my appreciation for the book. “The Waters Above” by Joseph C. Dillow. (Out of print)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 21, 2023

God’s Judgment on Sin, and the Three Eruptions of the Yellowstone Caldera! Part 1

The Bible is a Masterpiece of Understatement!

I have often observed how the Bible can describe the most incredible events in the simplest of unadorned language. A case in point is the Genesis flood, where in Genesis 7:4 God reveals:

“4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”

We must look to the evidence that remains in order to complete the picture of what God did in the destruction of the world as it was. The evidence that remains paints a horrendous picture of violence and destruction that is almost impossible to even imagine.

Massive Destruction of Biblical Proportions!

It is estimated close to 9 billion people died when the earth was reshaped into the condition we see today. Since the flood, the earth has remained in a relatively stable condition with no major disruptions. The North and South Poles have remained great areas of ice, while the equatorial areas have remained tropical hot houses.

I have written more on the flood in a series that starts with, “The Garden of Eden.”

The world as we see it today, is the product of the Genesis flood; the mountain ranges, the canyons, the arrangement of the continents, the ocean boundaries, the distribution of the tectonic plates, the frigid North and South poles, all of the topographic features on the earth were shaped by the flood and the massive geological upheaval with which it was associated including the three eruptions of the Yellowstone Caldera.

While the earth has an abundance of evidence of a catastrophic event, the Bible limits it’s description to a bare minimum. In Genesis 7:10-12 it is written:

“10 And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood were on the earth. 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.”

I have read studies on the seaworthiness of the ark, questioning how the ark would handle large waves. I am of the opinion the Lord who spoke to the Sea of Galilee and said “Peace, be still,” would have had no problem surrounding the ark with calm, undisturbed water at the time of the flood!

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

The Waters Above the Firmament

Since the Bible’s mission is to focus on the fall of man and his restoration through the finished work of Jesus Christ, very little attention is given to unrelated matters such as the mechanics of the Genesis Flood. There has been, therefore, considerable discussion surrounding Genesis 1:6-7 where it is written:

“6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.” 

I’m of the opinion that the waters above formed a water-vapor canopy which surrounded the entire earth and provided a greenhouse effect which would have equalized the temperatures all over the earth; I believe this accounts for the mild climate at both the North and South Poles which existed before the flood. The canopy also served as a shield from solar radiation which was instrumental in the extended lifetimes recorded in Genesis.

The Anomalous Warm Bubble Known as the Eocene

Contemporary scientific investigation has confirmed the climate at both poles was once almost semi-tropical. In their customary fashion, those devotees of evolution have followed their usual pattern and thrown millions of years into the mix in an effort to justify this “anomalous warm bubble known as the Eocene!”

(Anomalous is defined as: “Deviating from the regular arrangement, general rule, or usual method; abnormal.” Webster’s New World Dictionary)

In August of 2012, an article appeared in the Smithsonian Magazine, “Ancient Climate Change Meant Antarctica Was Once Covered with Palm Trees” “53 million years ago, Antarctica was so warm that palm trees lived along its shores.”

“Known for its expansive glaciers and the coldest temperatures on Earth, the Antarctica of today is a far cry from its tenure as a subtropical paradise 53 million years ago, replete with palm trees, summer highs near 25°C (77 F), and frost-free winters sitting near 10°C (50 F) despite the endless darkness.

Describing a recent study lead by Jörg Pross, Jason Palmer writes about the anomalous warm bubble known as the Eocene, noting that soaring atmospheric carbon dioxide levels drove the global average temperature to increase by 5°C.”

In another article from Reuters in October 2009:

“Palms grew in ice-free Arctic 50 million years ago: study

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent, Reuters Life!

3 Min ReadOSLO (Reuters Life!) – Palms flourished in the Arctic during a brief sweltering period about 50 million years ago, according to a study on Sunday that hints at big gaps in scientific understanding of modern climate change.”

I suspect the climates at both poles was more temperate than at the equator and consequently was more heavily populated. It is likely there are many more interesting discoveries waiting to be made at both poles!

Next time, the flood and its results.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 14, 2023

Yellowstone Caldera and the Great Flood

Old Faithful

Recently, there has been a considerable amount of discussion concerning the Supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park. It seems there has been an increase in the number of earthquake swarms and hydrothermal events in the park which have raised questions about the stability of the Supervolcano in which the park resides.

I will confess to an interest in volcanism and the movement of tectonic plates and usually check in daily on current events in that area. Hardly a day goes by without some reference to seismic activity somewhere in Yellowstone.

While I find the subject to be of great interest, I also find the typical geological reference to an old earth very annoying. I am totally convinced the Bible’s account of the creation of the earth to be valid and beyond question!

While the Bible does not give a specific time, it is reasonable to conclude from the evidence given, the earth is probably no more than around 6,000 years old. While we may not know the exact number, I’m convinced it is not in the millions or billions range as claimed by evolutionists!

According to evolutionary geology, the Yellowstone Supervolcano last erupted around 640,000 years ago after previously erupting 2.1 and 1.3 million years ago. Needless to say, I see those numbers as a rather fanatical flight of fancy, requiring a rather grand leap of faith in evolutionary theory!

There is no disputing the existence of the Yellowstone Caldera, it is there and active at this moment. How then can we explain its impact and when did it become active?

I believe we can get important clues from the Bible which can help us understand the reality of this natural phenomenon.

The Earth Before the Flood

At the time the earth’s creation was complete, God said in Genesis 1:31,

 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God had created a paradise for his creation, it provided a perfect environment for all its inhabitants. The earth had been surrounded by a water vapor canopy that enclosed the earth in a massive greenhouse which equalized temperatures and provided protection from solar radiation.

As a result, the earth was habitable from North Pole to South Pole with a life-friendly environment. Atmospheric pressure was higher and had an increased oxygen content!

The topography was relatively flat with hills probably maxing out around 6,000 feet in elevation. The Bible tells us there was no rain, the ground was watered by a mist that irrigated the land. In Genesis 2:6 it is written:

6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

The Bible reveals this perfect environment resulted in extended life spans that lasted hundreds of years.

Sin and Death Intrude on Perfect Environment

The Bible does not reveal the length of time before Adam’s tragic disobedience; it would appear it was rather sooner than later. I’ve written more on this in “The Garden of Eden”. God told Adam he would surely die if he disobeyed God’s command, and he died, spiritually, on the spot at the time of his disobedience.

The greater tragedy is Adam killed the entire human race at the same time; every human that would descend from Adam died spiritually at that same moment. In Romans 5:12-14 we read:

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 

With the spiritual death of Adam, sin would rapidly grow in his descendants until much later when God would observe in Genesis 6:5-8

“5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Next time, God’s Judgment on Sin Including the Yellowstone Caldera Eruption

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 31, 2023

The Very Best Reason to Rejoice!

Another inspiring and comforting devotional from Jeff Wells!

“How God Sees You
 
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.
Romans 1:7a

At the outset of Romans, Paul identifies his readers as having two fundamental traits:  They are loved by God and they are called to be saints.

They are loved by God.  The infinite, sovereign, eternal God of the universe loves them.  Despite their sin, their failures, their flaws, he loves them.  He loves them tenderly.  He loves them personally, fiercely, stubbornly and emotionally.  He loves them!

What if you saw yourself this way, as deeply loved by God?  Not because of who you are but because of who he is, you were tenderly loved by God.

Brennan Manning tells this story in his book, Lion and Lamb:

Several years ago, Edward Farrell, a priest from Detroit, went on a two-week summer vacation to Ireland to visit relatives.  His one living uncle was about to celebrate his eightieth birthday.  On the great day, Ed and his uncle got up early.  It was before dawn.  They took a walk along the shores of Lake Killarney and stopped to watch the sunrise.  They stood side-by-side for a full twenty minutes and then resumed walking.  Ed glanced at his uncle and saw that his face had broken into a broad smile.  Ed said, “Uncle Seamus, you look very happy.”  “I am.”  Ed asked, “How come?”  And his uncle replied, “The Father of Jesus is very fond of me.”

When you see yourself this way, you can smile a big smile!

Second, the believers in Rome are saints.  This word in the Greek language means “holy ones” or “holy people.”  Not perfect, but forgiven.  All of your sins have been charged to Jesus Christ, so they are gone from you.  Paid for.  Done.

You are a holy one.  Forgiven.  Right with God.  As blameless as Christ because you are in Christ.

What if you saw yourself this way – completely holy and blameless before God, rather than guilty and unworthy?

What could be more important than these two things – loved by God, holy before God?  Loved by God in a deeply personal way.  Holy before God in a fully legal way.

Perhaps you would do well to confess who you are, the essence of who you are:  “I am loved by God.  I am holy before God.  I am loved and I am holy.”

© 2021 WoodsEdge Community Church. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for any non-commercial use.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 21, 2023

That You are an Eternal and will Live Forever is a Given; the Important Question is Where will You Spend Eternity!

Your Answer to One Question Will Establish Your Destination Forever!

One of Satan’s most cherished deceptions is the notion this mortal life is the beginning and the ending of your existence; this is all there is, you die, and you’re gone forever, it’s all over for you!

Absolutely nothing could be further from the truth; every human that has ever lived is still alive somewhere in some form. The impact of being created in the image of God has far-reaching ramifications for everyone.

While it is true our physical bodies, the mortal tents, we occupy for a brief time, must be discarded by a process we call death, our living essence lives on and will never die!

The Bible gives Christians the promise of a heavenly body in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 where it is written:

“5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”

We are Born with a Severe Birth Defect!

Human beings are born spiritually dead which would easily qualify as a truly severe defect! The Bible explains our spirits died when Adam sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. This is explained in Romans 5:12 where it is written:

“12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

Sadly, everyone does include you and me and everyone born of a human father.

Are You Ready for Some Good News?

Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the Penalty for Your Sin!

Fortunately, Romans 5 also has good news; in Romans 5:6-9 we read:

“6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.”

God has once and for all dealt with the matter of sin as a barrier between God and man by sending his Son to die on the cross in our place! Now the only decision each of us must make, is our decision about Jesus Christ as Savior.

Life is One Big Pass/Fail Test!

There is only one question on the test; do you receive Jesus Christ as your very own personal Savior? If you say yes to this and look to Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you pass the test and will live forever as a part of the family of God.

If you say no and reject Jesus Christ as Savior, then you will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.

If you’ve ever wondered about the meaning of life, this is the short answer; there is nothing else in life that even comes close to this decision each of us are called on to make concerning our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!

 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

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