Monday, March 25, 2024

ALL THE ELEMENTS

With a degree in Chemistry, I observed the periodic table too many times to count. But, I did count 92 natural elements, which are the ones God created. Man has found a few more that were developed as the result of nuclear activity or in the laboratory.

And the elements can be categorized several ways: metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases, which are further divided into seven families and eighteen groups. They are also classified into four types of blocks that are: s- block, p- block, d- block and f- block, based on the valence electron in which the shell is located.

There’s more, but the beauty of the elements is their logical, unique qualities that have enabled men to organize and better understand both the elements themselves, and the resulting compounds both in nature and in the laboratory. Thus, all the chemicals and pharmaceuticals that have been developed, along with everything in nature, are a result of God’s creative, chemical wisdom. After all, everything is a chemical composition.

From where else could chemicals have arisen? Hydrogen is the simplest element. Did all the others evolve from it? There is no process that could have provided this. True, some elements degrade over time and can actually change into another. For example, Radiometric Dating compares amount of Uranium to Lead, or Potassium to Argon in order to determine the age of a compound. The shortcoming of this method is due to the unknown amount of the original element in the material being tested.

The above mentioned elements never degrade into a more reactive one, but only to a less reactive one, just like mutations in living things always lose properties from its parent organism, and don’t gain any.  The logical conclusion is that God created each element after its own kind, just as He created each animal after its own kind. Just as a dog has always been a dog, with a variety of breeds, so Carbon has always been Carbon, with a variety of isotopes.

The great thing about this is that we are alive because of all the elements and their resultant compounds that God has provided!

COPYRIGHT 2024 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

Monday, March 18, 2024

THE FALL OF AN EMPIRE

 

When historians look back at the USA, as we do at the Roman Empire, what will be the reasons they cite for its demise? Not that it will fall, but should it fail, what could be the cause or causes?

Due to the influx of foreign immigrants in the last three years, this may be a reason. Not the law abiding individuals who were truly seeking freedom from tyranny and looking for a better life, but the criminal element that has already caused death and pain and suffering to innocent Americans. In addition to gang members, there have been agents of our enemies who are here to set up terror cells to cause much destruction.

What about our national sins. The Bible is clear that judgment will come upon nations that ignore God’s laws. Of course “national sins” are simply personal sins committed by a large enough number of people to infect the entire country.

Hate itself is a sin, not just a crime. To hate those who look different than us, or those that believe differently, or those who vote differently – it’s all hate, which is revealed in a cancel culture mentality. Hate ultimately demands the death of the hated; but it also causes the death of the hater. God’s way is love – to treat others as we would want to be treated. Jesus said we can love even our enemies.

And there is the mistreatment of unborn babies and children. It says in Luke 17:2 “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Abortion, gender surgeries on minors, transgender behavior, and robbing girls of female only sports – the list goes on and on.

But the fall is not inevitable. The Bible also tells us the when its citizens repent and turn back to God; He will forgive and restore that nation to its former glory. The USA was a glorious, wonderful place to live and raise a family. Let us pray that it’s not too late!