creation Archives

August 11, 2026August 10, 2026

Solar Eclipse Design

On August 12th, 2026, a total solar eclipse will pass over Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. A partial eclipse will be visible across parts of the northeastern United States just before 2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. Within the band where totality is visible, it will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks our view of the Sun. Because of the Moon’s unique size and distance from Earth, its shadow can almost precisely cover the Sun when they align. That precision allows us to briefly see the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere that extends millions of miles from the Sun’s surface. Normally, the corona is invisible because the bright light of the Sun’s photosphere, the visible surface, overwhelms it.

During a total solar eclipse, the corona and white streamers extending far from the Sun become visible. At the same time, pink loops, or prominences, can appear around the Moon’s edge. These are giant structures of ionized hydrogen plasma suspended above the Sun’s surface by its magnetic field. I know from experience that witnessing a total solar eclipse is exciti n g. More than that, it’s also an opportunity for scientific investigation. During such an eclipse in 1919, scientists confirmed Einstein’s theory that gravity can bend light.

We earthlings are blessed by the design of the Sun and Moon and their locations, allowing us to witness and be inspired by a total eclipse of the Sun. How can we know exactly when and where a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse will appear and how long it will last? Only because of the design of our solar system. We can see solar eclipses and predict when they will occur because God has created a solar system that is predictable and well organized.

August 4, 2026August 3, 2026

God’s Design of the Central Nervous System

One of the great mysteries of science has been the properties of human beings that separate them from all other living things. Pharmacist and pastor Shawn Arstein wrote that modern tools of medical research show that God’s design of the central nervous system “affects mood, motivation, memorization, pain, pleasure, action, response, love, and fear—and it also regulates the heart.” He said the miles of nerve threads that connect body parts from head to toe illustrate how God “is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6).

The fall of Adam and Eve demonstrates how sin affects the central nervous system (CNS), causing neurological instability. In Genesis 3:10, Adam says, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Fear, hiding, and blame-shifting resulted. The story of Cain in Genesis 4:1-12 also shows CNS instability, with anger, murder, denial, being downcast, and panic.

Adam’s rebellion altered his nervous system both physically and spiritually. In Genesis 2:17, God had told Adam, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will certainly die.” What did God mean by that? Adam didn’t drop dead from physical poisoning. The key to understanding this death lies in the term “naked” in verse 25. God’s design of the central nervous system involves myelin surrounding the axons of neurons, insulating them and allowing electrical impulses to pass at a faster rate. According to Arstein, severing the Spirit from the image of God is like leaving the central nervous system stripped of a protective layer, allowing a short in a wire. Adam and Eve looked alive, but the connection with God vanished, making them feel vulnerable in their nakedness. Simultaneously, the knowledge of evil brought anxiety, fear, and chaos. Nakedness demanded a response, and fig leaves provided the first coping strategy for stability.

Because of God’s design of the central nervous system, the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23 enable humans to battle evil, resulting in changed behavior and stability. Achieving that stability, however, requires effort. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Seeing God’s design of the central nervous system and how He helps us, as Christians, to walk in the light instead of in darkness (1 John 1) is essential for our growth as children of God.

Reference: godandnatureasa3.org 2026 #2

August 3, 2026August 2, 2026

The Pale Blue Dot

The picture above is the “Pale Blue Dot” photograph, taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1990. At the time, Voyager 1 was 3.8 billion miles (6 billion km) from Earth and moving away. The camera was about to be shut down to save power, since it was not going to fly close to any planet as it was leaving the solar system. Before shutdown, the mission commander ordered the probe to take 60 images to form a “Family Portrait of the Solar System.” Thirty-four minutes after it took this picture, the camera was shut down forever. In the picture, the Sun is below, and the pale blue dot you can barely see in a sunbeam is planet Earth.

This year, prominent atheists became upset by astronaut Victor Glover’s words aboard Artemis 2 during its historic trip around the Moon. Some even expressed concern about the “separation of church and space.” However, when he spoke from space, he seemed to receive approval from the other astronauts, but not from atheists on the ground. Some of Glover’s words that apparently upset atheists include, “You’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe. You are special. In all of this emptiness, this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe, you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together.” The pale blue dot is not insignificant.

Why should those words distress anyone? Many early scientists explored creation because they believed in an orderly universe created by an intelligent God. Many astronauts have said that being in space gave them a spiritual experience as they realized that Earth reveals design and purpose. Many leading science popularizers have tried to tell us that science destroys Christian belief. Richard Dawkins, Bill Nye, Michael Shermer, Lawrence Krauss, and others have written popular books arguing that science makes belief in God unnecessary and implausible. The truth is that scientific discoveries continue to support belief in God and challenge atheism.

Astronomer Carl Sagan was partially responsible for the picture of the pale blue dot, and he popularized the term in his book by the same name. He wrote, “Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all its vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.” He also said that Earth is such a tiny pale blue dot in the universe that it shows we have no privileged position in the cosmos. Sagan was a brilliant man, but he overlooked the fact that Someone did come from elsewhere to save us. Victor Glover knows that is true. He said that we are not a lonely cosmic accident, but instead, we are loved, and those who believe in Jesus Christ agree.

July 28, 2026July 27, 2026

Dragonflies and God’s Design

Imagine what this world would be like if there were no controls on the number of bugs we have to contend with. Insects are part of the food chain on our planet, but there is a difficult balance between insects as food for birds and fish, and making life miserable for humans. God has given us dragonflies to control other insects.

Dragonflies live in various environments, from wetlands to desert pools to mountains, on every continent except Antarctica. There are 3012 species known to science, and they demonstrate God’s genius of design. To catch and eat other insects, dragonflies must be fast enough to outfly them. One dragonfly species has been clocked at 60 mph (96 km/h). They must also make quick turns, and researchers have found that they can experience 9 Gs when turning to catch prey. If a dragonfly gets upside down, it can right itself in .2 seconds.

Dragonflies have a wingbeat of 30 times per second, and their eyes can take in their surroundings and process 200 images per second, allowing them to capture and eat various insects. Dragonflies have virtually no enemies at any stage of life. In the nymph stage, they have gills, so they develop underwater and feed on mosquito larvae, among other things. Unlike most other insects, dragonflies produce relatively few offspring, helping maintain the balance between predator and prey.

Scientists study dragonflies to improve flight technology, and they amaze us with their complexity and design that allows them to be insect predators. In Job 38:39-41, God challenges Job to explain how various forms of life find food. Everywhere we look, we see that a wonder-working hand has gone before. Romans 1:20 tells us that we can know there is a God through the things He has made, and the dragonfly is an example of that truth.

July 27, 2026July 26, 2026

Marine Fungi – God’s Solution for Ocean Pollution?

Marine Fungi – God’s Solution for Pollution

One of the great challenges facing humanity today is the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans. Polyurethane plastic is among the most prevalent and harmful pollutants in our oceans today. Researchers have found marine fungi that decompose plastic and turn it into food. Up to 60% of the fungi researchers have found in the ocean have some ability to eat plastic.

Research continues to see whether marine fungi can break down other forms of plastic, such as polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Since less than 1% of ocean fungi are documented, our knowledge is very limited. Dr. Anthony Amend at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa says, “Fungi possess a superpower for eating things that other organisms can’t digest.”

The basic point of this ministry is that science and faith are 100% supportive of one another. There is no conflict between science and faith, and every scientific discovery supports that. We continually see support for the statement in Romans 1:20, which says that “we can know there is a God through the things He has made.” From the galaxies of outer space to the simple cells of marine fungi, we see this truth demonstrated.

Climate change and environmental issues are problems that can be solved by scientists and Christians working together. We need to encourage Christian young people with an aptitude for science to get involved in learning more about God’s creation. That is one of the goals of this ministry.

Reference: Discover Magazine for Summer 2026, page 20.

July 21, 2026July 20, 2026

Genetic Evolution Is Not the Answer

God told Noah and his sons: “…BE FRUITFUL AND INCREASE IN NUMBER; MULTIPLY ON THE EARTH AND INCREASE UPON IT” (Genesis 9:7). Scientists who study genetics tell us that this command is impossible by genetic evolution alone. When evolutionary anthropologists calculate how long it would take for humans to spread throughout the planet by genetic evolution, they find it would require at least 88 million years. No one believes that humans have existed on Earth for that long, so genetic evolution is not the answer.

Humans occupy as much of the planet’s dry land as all other mammals combined. Evolutionists attempt to solve this problem by saying it is due to “cultural evolution,” meaning that as cultures evolve, humans find ways to adapt to new environments.

Since genetic evolution is not the answer, a biblically sound approach is to accept that a combination of social cooperation, language, creativity, and intellect allowed humans to cover the planet many times faster than would be possible by genetic evolution. We can credit that to God creating humans in His image with those abilities.

The spread of humans over the entire planet is due to the way God created us, and is not an accident. The bigger issue now is how we can control our numbers and efficiently use the resources for survival that God has made available on Earth.

Reference: Scientific American for July/August 2026, page 17.

July 16, 2026July 14, 2026

The La Brea Tar Pits Tell Us About Life

One of the world’s most important fossil sites is the La Brea Tar Pits, located just off Wilshire Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles, California. La Brea is Spanish for “the tar” and refers to oil that pushes up through narrow cracks in the rocks from as deep as 1000 feet underground. As the lighter-weight oil, gas, and other volatiles evaporate, what is left is asphalt, usually covered with water, creating a death trap. When an animal came to drink, it would sink into the asphalt and be unable to escape. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in North America 13,000-plus years ago.

In many cases, as an animal struggled to free itself from the tar, it would be attacked by a predator. The predator would also get stuck, and both the predator and the victim would sink into the tar and die. Then, a bird that ate dead animals, like today’s vultures, would land on the carcass and also get caught.

Most of the fossil remains of the animals found in the La Brea Tar Pits are not animals that exist today. They include saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, giant ground sloths, giant short-faced bears, dwarf pronghorns, American lions, various insects, and even extinct plants. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in the past, not the animals and plants that are abundant on Earth or indigenous to California today.

No dinosaur remains have ever been found at La Brea because they were already extinct. No sea creatures or plants from the age of the dinosaurs have been found. The La Brea Tar Pits provide no evidence to support a 10,000-year limit to Earth’s age nor any evidence that they resulted from the flood of Noah.

Denominational creationism based on religious dogma is not supported by the Bible or physical evidence. The dispensationalist teaching is destructive to the faith of young people who have visited places like La Brea. The Genesis account is undated and is not designed to give a detailed history of life on our planet. The very first verse of Genesis tells us that God created the Earth – not when or how. The La Brea Tar Pits tell us about life in North America during a limited time in Earth’s history. We must speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. The Bible is God’s word, and adding to it only dilutes its value and does not help us understand the past.

Reference: Smithsonian magazine April/May 2026, pages 79-87.

July 15, 2026July 14, 2026

How Many Insect Species?

You probably think insects are everywhere, and you would be correct. You will not find a single home in the United States, or anywhere else, that does not have ants, beetles, or spiders. The truth is that we could not live without insects because they fill many beneficial roles in the ecosystem. For the past four decades, scientists have estimated that there are about six million insect species. However, a new study published in June 2026 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has revised that estimate upward – a lot! How many insect species are there?

Nobody knows for sure, but the new research estimates that there are 14 to 20 million species. That is SPECIES, not the total number of insects. There are “thousands of billions” of individual ants crawling around the planet. Coming up with a total number of individual insects would be impossible, but the number far exceeds the number of people. Don’t let that bother you because they are essential to life on this planet.

The diversity of insects is also amazing. Some are so small we may not even see them. Some fly, and others crawl. We never see some of them because they live as parasites inside other insects. Many clean up organic waste in our environment. Others pollinate our crops. I am sure there are some that you would rather do without, such as flies and mosquitoes, but even they have a purpose. At the same time, you probably appreciate the beauty of butterflies.

One thing is certain. Insects are the most diverse and pervasive group of animals. Only God knows how many insect species there are, but those who study them are discovering new species every year.

Reference: popsci.com

July 14, 2026July 13, 2026

What Is a Star-Filled Sky Worth?

What is a star-filled sky worth? When David wrote his psalms, he sat under a star-filled sky without the problem of light pollution from city lights, satellites, or reflective mirrors in the sky. What would it be like if there were tens of thousands of mirrors in low Earth orbit reflecting sunlight down onto various dark areas of the planet?

A California company called Reflect Orbital (we reported on it earlier) hopes to put at least 50,000 mirrors in orbit by 2035 to reflect sunlight onto various customers on Earth’s surface. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has just given them permission to test the idea by launching their first space mirror into orbit.

Ben Nowak, the CEO of Reflect Orbital, suggests endless possibilities with sunlight not limited by geography or time of day. His company’s website says it could help search-and-rescue teams locate a missing person much more quickly. Another suggestion is that a city could have evenly lit streets without carbon emissions from electric-powered streetlights. Furthermore, construction projects could be completed in half the time because the crews could work safely through the night. And, of course, they also suggest mirrors reflecting sunlight onto solar arrays could extend their electricity-generating ability and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The question is, what is a star-filled sky worth? Many people visit dark-sky locations to enjoy the stars and the Milky Way at night. The Colorado Plateau in the southwestern United States spans Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico and is home to many of the best dark-sky locations. Places like Grand Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Great Basin National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Natural Bridges National Monument are locations where visitors see the night sky without major light pollution.

So far, the emphasis has been on the economic advantages that could be derived from placing mirrors in space to direct sunlight into various locations. But a team of researchers is attempting to put an economic price on the cost of the loss of dark skies and the impact on tourism. They’re concerned about the “decline in visitor satisfaction when environmental quality deteriorates.” Another factor that must be considered is the effect on wildlife in areas where those mirrors are beamed and the circadian rhythm of animals, plants, and people from the diffused light that is scattered out into a larger area. God has given us a beautiful night sky that the psalmist was able to enjoy thousands of years ago. It is already disappearing. Will that be completely lost to coming generations? What is a star-filled sky worth?

References: space.com HERE and HERE

July 13, 2026July 11, 2026

Creating Synthetic Life

On July 1st, 2026, the New York Times science story of the day was titled “This Cell Feeds, Grows and Reproduces. And it’s Manmade.” The story described a new effort to create a living cell from nonliving materials. Dr. Kate Adamala, a synthetic biologist, and a team of researchers at the University of Minnesota developed a synthetic cell with some of the capabilities of living cells. She calls it a SpudCell because, under the microscope, it looks like a potato, though much smaller, of course. Is this the breakthrough to creating synthetic life?

This project involved selecting about 100 protein types and simple molecules required by living cells and combining them into a molecular soup under laboratory conditions. The researchers also added genes borrowed from a virus and from E. coli bacteria. They selected 36 genes to perform basic functions, including copying DNA. After mixing these ingredients in the soup, they added building blocks to form membranes, since cells need them to hold their contents together. The bubbles that simulated membranes sometimes enclosed the right mix of genes, proteins, and other molecules needed to initiate some of the chemical reactions that occur in cells.

Then the researchers added “food.” As the cells were fed, they began to grow. Finally, the scientists added a special protein that caused the cells’ surface to bend, splitting them into two and producing a pair of molecules that kept growing. To simulate evolution, the researchers created mutated cells and mixed them with the original SpudCells. The mutated cells competed for food until the mutants eventually outnumbered the originals, thereby driving evolution.

Perhaps the biggest problem with the SpudCells is that they cannot make ribosomes, which are necessary to produce new proteins. The researchers had to add ribosomes, but in five to 10 generations, the ribosomes became defective and the cells “died.”

The result of this procedure for creating synthetic life is a very simple, cell-like structure capable of some of the functions of living cells. However, this “cell” came into being only because of the hard work of several researchers who supplied the necessary materials, none of which they had created. It seems to show that, with enough pre-created materials and precise scientific procedures, a simple cell-like structure can be created by intelligent agents. It does not show that life can create itself. The Bible told us long ago that an intelligent Agent has created time, space, and matter/energy and assembled some of the matter into living beings.

Despite what The New York Times or any other media outlet might indicate, this project does not make faith in God obsolete or disprove His existence. It demonstrates that the creation of life is not an accident. Dr. Adamala and Dr. Drew Endy, a synthetic biologist at Stanford University, have created a nonprofit organization called Biotic. The purpose is to share this process for creating synthetic life with other scientists to further improve it. Biotic will likely be in the news for years as it tries to perfect a living cell. Their first meeting of scientists is scheduled for Philadelphia in September 2026. Hundreds of leading scientists are expected to join, and Dr. Edy estimates they will spend hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade to create synthetic life.

References: nytimes.com, biotic.org, and biorxiv.org