Veggie Flutes and other Musical Instruments

Ok, we have had some pretty ‘heavy’ posts recently -- what with folks dying and the AIG State of the Union Address and the update about the Providence Training Center in Kenya.

So, today, this will be a ‘fun thing’.

I got another email (oh no, not another email) from a couple whom I have known for years and who are accomplished professional musicians. So, the fact that they clued me into this is even more amazing.

What is it this time? Well, they told me about a guy who makes instruments out of vegetables and plays them! No Kidding! There are several YouTube videos of him doing this. I have selected 3 for you to see. So, watch them in this order.

First, a 2 minute 30 second video about how he makes the ‘instruments’.
HERE’S THE LINK.

Then, he plays “London Bridge is Falling down” on a Carrot Ocarina. 1 Minute 31 seconds. HERE’S THE LINK.

Finally, the big finale and my friend’s favorite of all he does. Are you ready for this? It is “Angels we have heard on high” played on a broccoli. 1 Minute 47 seconds.
HERE’S THE LINK.

Providence Training Center - Kenya Update

Friday May 22, we posted an article about the Providence Training Center in Kenya and requested prayers for the folks that were traveling there to assist in its ministry.

Well, that group is back and my friend has sent an email report of the trip and how your prayers were answered. Here are excerpts of that email.

“My Dear Friends & Family...

“It’s been a busy three weeks since we returned from Kenya as there has been a lot of “carry-over” business from the trip... plus life in general.

“First I want to thank you for your effective prayers. Because of them the trip was the most seamless one yet... no lost luggage, no sickness, no accidents, no delays, no vehicle problems, no mud, no relationship problems, etc. ... ...

“Next I want to apologize for the lengthy report I have attached. My daughter keeps telling me never to send more than one page because nobody will read it, and I’m sure she’s right. However, in order not to reinvent the wheel, I am sending you the report requested by my church ... with all its details. It has subtitles so feel free to read only what interests you, but don’t miss the last section on “Property Search” for the big news of the trip. The pastors’ comments in the “Celebrating with the Pastors” section also highlight the need for the school.

“Things continue to move along one step at a time. What a thrill it is watching God work! ... ... “Go ye into all the world” has taken on a personal meaning for me (Mark 15:16).

“Thanks for going along with me.”

Well, that was the ‘short version’ of the trip report. To read the more detailed report that was prepared for the Church, CLICK HERE.

The AIG State of the Nation address

The AIG State of the Nation address is now online.

Thursday night June 25, Ken Ham of Answers In Genesis presented a live internet video address about the State of the Nation.

I tried to watch it along with about 85,000 others. But, alas, even with a high speed connection, there was a lot of ‘starting and stopping’ of the feed. Finally, I gave up and hoped that they would repost it. Well, good news. It has been reposted and is now available to view for free. It still does some stopping and starting, though not as bad as previously. I guess the current s & s is because lots of folks are still trying to listen to it.

So, you ask, What is it about? Why are so many still watching it?

Well, as stated on their website: “...It is important to realize that although America has more Christian resources and Bible colleges than ever in its history, the nation is on a spiritual downward spiral. What has happened? Why is the church not reaching the culture today as it has in the past? ...”

This video is about an hour in length and well worth watching. I don’t know how long they will keep this online, so don’t put this in your “I think I will do this later” category. Watch it now! HERE’S THE LINK

Dogs ! And what we can learn from them!

Emails, Emails. What would we do about emails ?

The other day I got an email about what dogs can teach us regarding relationships.

For example, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
• Enjoy every moment of every day !

Then today, I got an email about Monk, the Kingdom dog, who understands obedience and what a dog’s obedience can teach us concerning our relationship to God and authority. You will love this video. It is about 4 minutes long. HERE’S THE LINK.

And while looking at that video, I saw another really amazing video, about 2 minutes long. In it, the dog is not only obedient, It can even count! HERE’S THE LINK.

3 More “Famous’ Folks have Died and entered Eternity!

Ed McMahon Dead at 86
Farrah Fawcett Dead at 62
Michael Jackson Dead at 50


Deaths of famous people get our attention. Some are ‘old’, others ‘young’, often too young.

But, regardless of age, and whether ‘famous’ or not, they and we will sometime die. And THEN what happens? Is death the end? Or is it the beginning of an eternal afterlife?

For some, death is the beginning of eternal bliss in heaven. For others, death is the beginning of eternity in Hell and eternal suffering! Where did these 3 go? And where will you go? And why?

To help answer those questions, we recently posted a link to a Bible study entitled: “What happens when you die?” If you haven’t read it, now might be a good time to ponder this thought.
HERE’S THE LINK

Also, we recently posted a link to “Dying Testimonies of Saved and Unsaved .” As far as I know, we haven’t heard the final words of these 3 who recently died. Those words would give us a clue as to where they went (to heaven or to hell). But, we do know the dying words of many many others. If you haven’t yet read this free on line e-book, you really should. It is most enlightening and frightening. HERE’S THE LINK.

ICR Yosemite Creation Tour Sept 12-20,2009

The Vacation suggestion for this week is a tour by ICR (Institute for Creation Research) to Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes. It is a bus tour and will be Sept 12-20, 2009.

Having personally been on 3 ICR tours in the past, though not this one, the 3 I did take were great, so there is no reason to think this will not be likewise.

According to the ICR website description of this tour: “Highlights include Half Dome, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tuolumne Meadows, a gondola ride to the top of Mammoth Mountain, Glacier Point, and free time to enjoy day-hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, bicycling and overlooks.”

The lectures will be given by experts in their fields (Geology, etc.), travel will be by ‘luxury coach’, and hotels and motels will be in Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Mammoth lakes.

Details, prices, early bird discount info (before July 6), and other details are on the website. HERE’S THE LINK.

Old Man Feeds Seagulls! Why?

Recently another email made the rounds with a most amazing story. It tells of an old man feeding seagulls. Now that might not sound very ‘exciting’ to you. But, it is truly amazing and is definitely a must read.

But, it is even ‘better than that’ because when you find out who this old man was and why he was feeding the seagulls, you will be astounded and will want to know even more.

And, indeed, there is so much more. I found another website that tells ‘the rest of the story’ and it is truly amazing. The link to the ‘rest of the story’ is at the end of the story itself. So to get started, HERE’S THE LINK.

Do you need Tracts?

While chatting with a friend recently, she mentioned that she felt that with the way things are these days, she wanted to alert more folks regarding salvation and was very interested in handing out tracts while doing this.

If you are similarly interested, may I suggest you check out this website because the tracks they have are reallllllly awesome and effective. I have personally used them and can attest to the fact that this site is reputable and the tracts are wonderful.

One of the helpful features about this site is that you can click on the individual tract and it will become big enough to read on line so you don’t have to wonder what each tract says.

There are so many good tracts that you might want to start by getting one of the starter kits or perhaps the Tract Sample pack. That was how I started. Anyway, HERE’S THE LINK

Already Gone

Why are 2 out of 3 young people leaving the church?

Why does attending Sunday School makes their exit even more likely?

“What does the age of the Earth have to do with the exodus of young people from churches?

These and other important questions are addressed in the new book, Already Gone, by Ken Ham.

“Ken Ham, ... says a major study he commissioned by a respected researcher unveils for the first time in a scientific fashion the startling reasons behind statistics that show two-thirds of young people in evangelical churches will leave when they move into their 20s. ... and finds church youth already are "lost" in their hearts and minds in elementary, middle and high school – not in college as many assume. “

I have not yet read this book -- it has just been released -- but I have read reviews about it and it is definitely on my ‘must read’ list and should be on yours also.

To read one of those reviews HERE’S THE LINK.

Happy Father’s Day

As you no doubt recall, shortly after mother’s day, we posted a great article that was in the Register-Guard Newspaper of Eugene, Oregon. If you haven’t yet read it or want to read it again, Click Here.

And, that talented writer has done it again.

This time it is about Dads and is titled ‘Why we love Dad.’ It is another great article (this guy can write !) HERE’S THE LINK

Birds from Dinosaurs?

Thinking again of the birds that were in the Scripture tree yesterday, reminds me of the folks who have been saying that birds evolved from Dinosaurs. Of course, that is ridiculous and laughable if you stop and think about it.

And, guess what-- a recent “paper in the Journal of Morphology presents the research of two Oregon State University scientists who don’t agree with the evolutionary dogma on bird origins.”

Even though these two researchers are evolutionists and still believe that birds evolved instead of being directly created by God, at least this is one more presupposition (birds from dinosaurs) that is being challenged. And well it needs to be.

A.P. Galling of AiG–U.S. has written an interesting article summarizing the research of the OSU Scientists and explaining some of the ramifications of what this means. This is a really interesting article. Be sure to check it out. HERE’S THE LINK.

The Scripture Tree

This was another email sent to me that is too good to not share.
I don’t know who did this web page but it is amazing.

When the tree comes up, you will see it has a zillion flowers on it. Click on a flower to read a verse. Then click to close it and click on another. What a wonderful concept.
HERE’S THE LINK

The Holy Land Experience

It is Thursday so it is time for another ‘vacation suggestion’. And this time I would like to suggest that you visit the Holy Land Experience Theme Park, located in Orlando, Florida.

I have been a couple of times (before it was recently purchased by TBN) but have not visited it since TBN acquired it from the group that originally developed it. So, I don’t know what, if any, changes have been made, but would assume it is much the same as before. And, if it is, then you will love it also. I personally found it to be fun, educational, interesting, and uplifting.

Of all the exhibits, I was most impressed by the 2/3 size replica of the Wilderness Tabernacle and the recreation of what went on in the tabernacle.

My next ‘most favorite thing’ was the Scriptorium. Also the model of the city of Jerusalem at the time of Christ was really interesting. And there are other exhibits, and outdoor performances that were impressive.

Bottom line, this is a place you really need to visit.

To go to the website to learn about the exhibits, hours of operation, ticket information, and etc. HERE’S THE LINK.

Does God really exist? ... Who made God?

“Does God really exist? How can we know? If God made everything, who made God?”

These questions have surely been asked by everyone at one point or another in their life. And the answers to these questions are not only needed and important but will also have a bearing on where we spend eternity. So they are not just questions for intellectual debates. They are really questions that impact our destiny.

Some folks have written complicated and technical answers and I will post a link to one or more of those more technical responses on future postings.

But, today, let’s start with an easy non-technical explanation.

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis wrote a very interesting and easy to read article about these questions. It was first published in Creation Ex Nihilo, 20(3):32-34, June-August 1998. Recently it was republished on the Christian Answers website. I think you will find it not only personally useful, but, if you teach a SS class, a small group Bible study, or do counseling, you will likely find this article very helpful and might want to use it with your group .

So, without further ado, HERE’S THE LINK

Basic anatomy 'baffles Britons'http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

It looks like the US is not the only country reported to be lacking in basic educational knowledge.

An article was posted on the BBC website Friday June 12, 2009, titled “Basic anatomy 'baffles Britons'.”

This article tells about a recent survey done by King’s college London which reveals that “Many people in the UK are unable to identify the location of their major organs,...”

People were asked to locate the heart, kidneys, pancreas, and other organs.

What they answered is astounding! HERE’S THE LINK.

Dating of “oldest pottery” from China is based on assumptions

As reported on BBC news June 1, 2009, “Pottery recovered from a cave at Yuchanyan in Hunan Province, China, is hailed as being the oldest known.”

But, is it really as old as the secular scientists are saying (i.e. between 18,300 and 15,430 years old)? Are the “secular world view” assumptions about Carbon Dating correct or do they need to be questioned? Does the “young earth worldview” have anything to say about carbon dating?

I found a great article by Tas Walker which discusses these assumptions and points out how evidence is actually consistent with Biblical history rather than the longer time periods assumed by the secular worldview assumptions.

The article also explains why the secular assumptions about Carbon dating are not as reliable as we have been led to believe. This is a very interesting and informative article. Be sure to check it out. HERE’S THE LINK

Today is FLAG day !!! Is your Flag flying?

Flag Day in the United States commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

The interesting history of how Flag Day ultimately came to be observed annually is given in a short article on Wikipedia. HERE’S THE LINK

Famous Star (Betelgeuse) Is Shrinking

A National Geographic article dated June 10, 2009 says that Betelgeuse (pronounced almost like "beetle juice"), a red supergiant star in the constellation Orion, is shrinking.

Where have you heard of Betelgeuse? Well, if you watched the entire video that contained the information about Laminin that we referenced on Weds. May 6, 2009, you would have seen this humongous star in that video. The fact that it is shrinking, or so they say, is odd, but, even in a ‘shrinking state’ it is still humongous!

The National Geographic article is, of course, written from a ‘secular worldview,’ saying that Betelgeuse is 8.5 million years old, etc. But, considering that, it is still an interesting read. HERE’S THE LINK

And while we are on the subject of Betelgeuse, you really should watch the entire talk by Louie Giglio titled ‘How Great is our God’ and not just the end which talks about Laminin. The first part of the talk is, among other things, about Betelgeuse.

I bought the DVD a year or so ago and found it fascinating and excellent. But, guess what, it is now on the internet for free (on YouTube). So, if you want to watch it in 5 parts on YouTube, and I suggest that you do so, HERE’S THE LINK to part 1 (the first 10 minutes) to get you started.

The entire video is about 50 minutes. This first link is 10 minutes. Then you can click on the additional parts (parts 2,3,4, and 5).

Again, to read the National Geographic article HERE'S THE LINK

and to view part 1 of the How Great is our God video HERE’S THE LINK

Salt Sneezing Lizards

Awhile back (March 25, 2009) we referenced an article about Frozen Frogs. If you haven’t yet read it or want to review that interesting article, HERE’S THE LINK.

Now we find that God has also made Salt Sneezing Lizards ! Wow. What next ? Anyway, this is another of God’s amazing creatures. HERE’S THE LINK

Another Vacation Suggestion

It is Thursday so it is time for this week’s vacation suggestion.

And this time, instead of getting in a car and going on a road trip to some distant location, how about considering a closer place. By this I mean, going to the movies.

Personally, I almost never go to the movies because most movies are immoral and ungodly or, if not that, then shallow and insipid. But, from time to time a good movie is produced. And perhaps some will be this summer.

So, how can one find out which movies are ‘ok’ and which should be avoided?

Well, recently I received an email from the K-House (Koinonia House) - their eNews for June 02, 2009. In it was an article which will help me, and hopefully you, in making these ‘what to see’ decisions. The email they sent covered other topics not pertinent to this. So, I have cut and pasted the part entitled: “TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE? THE MOVIE QUESTION - I found it most helpful and think you will, too. HERE’S THE LINK.“

Isn’t the Bible Full of Errors?

Likely you have been taunted by folks saying that “the Bible is full of errors.” I know I have. And when I ask them to name some, usually they get very quiet or they mention something that is a misspelled word or ... -- well, you get the point.

Bottom line is that most of the time they are just parroting the concept they have heard from teachers, professors, and others. They have been told that the Bible is full of errors and believe that without having really found any on their own since they haven’t even taken the time to read the Bible.

But, there are also some folks who are honestly serious about this and do think the Bible is full of errors. How do you answer these folks? Well, I found an article on the net that gives a concise explanation of how to respond to these questioners. HERE’S THE LINK

Imprecations in the Psalms

According to an article I read recently, at least 20 of the Psalms contain imprecations.

I had always wondered about such Psalms and why they were present since God is a God of Love.

This article clearly explains what imprecations are (in case you are wondering) and why they are in the Bible.

Since this very short article is so clear and makes so much sense I want to share it with you. It is definitely a ‘must read’.
HERE’S THE LINK

No more Comments !

Hi all. This is a news flash to let you know that comments are being discontinued as of today.

Why? Well, of course you know. The posts don’t get many comments but last night on checking them, I discovered that there were quite a few that were totally beyond the pale.

So, alas, since some have abused, all will be denied the opportunity to make comments.

I feared this would happen so when this blog was started, comments were not allowed. Then some folks (‘good commenters’) said they wished they would be allowed, so they were. Until now.

So, now it is back to square one -- i.e. NO comments. Sorry.

Ravi Zacharias on Prayer

If you are not acquainted with Ravi Zacharias and his ministry, you should be.
He is one of those rare intellects who is being used by God in a powerful way. From time to time I catch his radio program and I heard him speak in person several years ago in Alabama. Born in India, he now lives in the US, so he has that British English accent that is charming. But it is not his accent but the profundity of his thoughts and words that will enthrall you.

A very good example of one of his talks/lectures/whatever is the National Day of Prayer keynote address that he presented on May 1, 2008 in Washington, DC. Even though that was a year ago, it is still excellent and I highly recommend that you read it. HERE’S THE LINK

Christian Worldview Survey results

Barna has done another very interesting and important survey concerning changes in Worldview among Christians over the past 13 years

In the survey, Barna gives this definition of a “Biblical worldview”:

“For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.”

Amazingly, the results of the Barna survey revealed that

“...only 9% of all American adults have a biblical worldview... “

“... of ‘born again Christians’ less than one out of every five (19%) had a Biblical Worldview.”

“... one pattern emerged loud and clear: young adults rarely possess a biblical worldview.

“...less than one-half of one percent of adults in the Mosaic generation – i.e., those aged 18 to 23 – have a biblical worldview, compared to about one out of every nine older adults.”

This is all truly astounding and is a key to understanding the seismic shift that has occurred in the morals, ethics, etc. that we see all around us.

To read the most insightful article about this survey
HERE’S THE LINK.

Today is D-Da y - Is your flag flying?

June 6, 1944 -- D-Day -- The Invasion of Normandy

D-Day, the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, is truly one of the most bloody and storied battles in WWII or, for that matter, in any war. According to Wikipedia, 10,264 Allies (USA, UK, and Canada) and between 4-6000 of the enemy (Germans, etc) were killed, wounded, missing, or captured ! WOW. Freedom comes at a very costly price!

The movie, Saving Private Ryan, vividly portrays the awfulness of war and of this invasion in particular.

If you have seen that movie, you know more than you ever wanted to know about the D-Day invasion. For everyone else, or if you want a historical reminder, this article on Wikipedia gives a very good summary of what happened and how and why. HERE’S THE LINK

Update to the post of May 24, 2009

Thought you would want to know there has been a resolution, at least for now.

Specifically, “San Diego withdraws Bible study warning and says 'The weekly activity is within the scope of the residential use'.”
HERE’S THE LINK

What happens when a person dies?

This past Sunday night Flight 447, an Air France Air Bus A330-200 enroute from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean. Later we learned it had crashed into the ocean and 228 people had died. What caused this is still being discussed as searchers look for any pieces of the plane. What a tragedy !

When the 228 people (on vacation, returning to school, on work assignments, visiting family or friends, or whatever the cause of their journey), boarded the plane and settled into their seats for what they thought would be an uneventful and fun trip, NONE expected their lives to suddenly end.

So, what happens when a person dies? Is death the end of everything for that person? Does he or she, you or I, simply go to the grave and that is the end? Is there anything after death?

Bible Studies Net has a Bible Study that will help you answer that question. It was written several years ago but is still very applicable to this very tragic event. You will want to print it out and study it off line. HERE’S THE LINK.

7 Wonders Museum -- Mount St. Helens Creation Information Center

Another Vacation Suggestion










is the ‘7 Wonders Museum --Mount St. Helens Creation Information Center’ in Silverlake, WA. It is Located 9.5 miles E of Interstate 5, is easy to find and is open most days from 9 am to 7 pm. But it would be best if you call ahead so you won’t be disappointed. The phone number is on their website.

Last summer I personally visited this small but comprehensive museum. It is not as big or as impressive as the AIG Museum referenced last week. But, it is really a very very good museum! And it is FREE. (And in this economy, free is realllly good.)

The Couple that runs the museum love the Lord and love people. So you will receive a warm and sincere welcome. Whether you are one person, a family, or a tour bus, everyone receives the same ‘royal treatment’ in attention and explanations. They gave our little group of 4 their entire and detailed lecture about Mt. St. Helens, the exact same lecture they would give for a tour bus or for a packed room!

But, I digress. Bottom line. A visit to Mt St Helens is a MUST for anyone visiting in that area of the country. So since you will be driving by this museum on the way to the mountain, you DO need to stop and get the facts and details from a Creationist perspective of the events.

As explained on their website: “...This center relates how geological formations, such as those created by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, show that the earth may be only thousands of years old rather than billions. Many scientists now believe the best explanation for geological strata is that some catastrophe formed them. Creation scientists believe that the world-destroying Biblical Flood was the foremost catastrophe. Come and see the seven mountain wonders! “

Be sure to visit this museum if you are anywhere in the area. And whether you are able to visit in person or not, be sure to check out their website because they have tons of information on it which you will find invaluable. HERE’S THE LINK

In the Early Earth, Were All the Months Exactly Thirty Days Long?

Today our calendar is based on a moon cycle of 30 - 31 days per month with an occasional leap year thrown in for ‘good measure’ Kinda complicated if you ask me. But is this how it has always been?

Were the months in the early earth (ie. the pre-flood earth) the same length as they are now OR were all the months exactly 30 days long?

Many folks have thought and taught that the months in the early earth were not the same length as they are now and that they were 30 days long.

Indeed, this is one of many questions that I have often pondered. And I am not alone. Likely you have also wondered about this. And many scholars and theologians have as well.

Recently I found a very short but succinct article that discusses this question, so, rather than ‘reinvent the wheel’, and because I know you will be interested, HERE’S THE LINK.

The Fabric of space ? !

Seems like for the past 2 or 3 days we have been looking at God’s creation, and Space in particular -- for example the pictures on the cover of the Book: “Is your God too small” and the beautiful pictures made by the Hubble telescope.

And, likely you and I and most folks have thought of space as being something ‘empty’ or ‘empty nothingness’ or an ‘ether’ (as I was taught back when ‘dinosaurs roamed the earth’ and I was taking science courses) but an ‘empty nothingness’ containing stars, planets, etc.

But could this empty nothingness’ actually be some kind of material? --some kind of ‘fabric’? Hmmm.

Well, prepare to stretch your mind with this very interesting concept as you read this brief but thought provoking article: God’s Mighty Expanse..... by D. Russell Humphreys. HERE’S THE LINK.

God Created This and More

Above (pun intended) are several views from the Hubble before its repairs. Wonder what we will see from it next?