Saturday, February 9, 2013

Useless Body Parts

Vestigial Organs


What is the deal with all these Useless Body Parts?  So I don't need my tonsils, appendix, and pinky toe?  Really they don't serve a purpose?  Evolutionist would love us to think that, but the list of vestigial organs in humans has shrunk from 180 in 1890 to 0 in 1999.  If that theory has been largely shot down in the world of Human Anatomy how much more in the field of zoology.  




First, it is in principle not possible to prove that an organ is useless, because there is always the possiblity that a use may be discovered in the future. This has happened with over a hundred alleged useless vestigial organs which are now known to be essential.
 
Second, even if the alleged vestigial organ were no longer needed, it would prove devolution not evolution. The creation model allows for deterioration of a perfect creation. However the particles-to-people evolution model needs to find examples of nascent organs, i.e. those which are increasing in complexity.

Wings on birds that do not fly?


There are at least three possibilities as to why ostriches, emus, etc have wings:

a) They derived from smaller birds that once could fly. This is possible in the creationist model. Loss of features is relatively easy by natural processes; acquisition of new characters, requiring new DNA information, is impossible.
b) The wings have a function. Some possible functions, depending on the species of flightless bird, are: balance while running, cooling in hot weather, warmth in cold weather, protection of the rib-cage in falls, mating rituals, scaring predators (I’ve seen emus run at perceived enemies of their chicks, mouth open and wings flapping), sheltering of chicks, etc. If the wings are useless, why are the muscles functional that allow these birds to move their wings?
c) It is a result of ‘design economy’ by the Creator. Humans use this with automobiles, for example. All models might have mounting points for air conditioning, power steering, etc. although not all have them. Likewise, all models tend to use the same wiring harness, although not all features are necessarily implemented in any one model. In using the same embryological blueprint for all birds, all birds will have wings.

Pigs with two toes that do not reach the ground?


 
 Does this mean that the shorter toes have no function? No one has demonstrated this. Pigs spend a lot of time in water / muddy conditions for cooling purposes. Perhaps the extra toes make it easier to walk in mud (a bit like the rider wheels sometimes seen on long trucks which only touch the road when the truck is heavily loaded). Or perhaps the muscles attached to the extra toes give strength to the ‘ankle’ of the pig.

Why do male humans have nipples?

This is answered in Bergman and Howe’s book “Vestigial Organs” are Fully Functional (below right). Males have nipples because of the common embryological plan followed during early embryo development. Embryos start out producing features common to male and female — again an example of ‘design economy’. Nipples are a part of this design economy. However, as Bergman and Howe point out, the claim that they are useless is debatable.
What is the evolutionist’s explanation for male nipples? Did males evolve (devolve) from females? Or did ancestral males suckle the young? No evolutionist would propose this, so males nipples are not evidence for evolution or evidence against creation.

Why do rabbits have digestive systems that function ‘so poorly that they must eat their own feces’?

This is an incredible proposition. One of the most successful species on earth would have to be the rabbit! The rabbit’s mode of existence is obviously very efficient (what about the saying ‘they breed like rabbits’?). Just because eating feces may be abhorrent to humans, does not mean it is inefficient for the rabbit! Indeed rabbits have a special pouch called the cecum, containing bacteria, at the beginning of the large intestine. These bacteria aid digestion, just as bacteria in the rumen of cattle and sheep aid digestion. The rabbit produces two types of fecal pellet, a hard one and a special soft one coming from the cecum. It is only the latter which is eaten to enrich the diet with the nutrients produced by the bacteria in the cecum. In other words, this ability of rabbits is part of their design; it is not something they have learnt to do because they have ‘digestive systems which function so poorly’. It is part of the variety of design which speaks of creation, not evolution.

Legless lizards

It is quite likely that the legless lizards, etc. could have derived from the original created kind, and so the structures would be consistent with this. ‘Loss’ of a structure is of no comfort to evolutionists as they have to find a mechanism for creating new structures, not losing them, and there is no such mechanism to explain how evolution from ‘amoeba to man’ could occur. Genesis 3:14 suggests that snakes maybe once had legs. Brown (CRSQ 26:54) suggests that monitor lizards may have been the precursors of snakes.
Adaptation and natural selection are a biological fact; evolution is not. Natural selection can only work on the genetic information present in a population of organisms—it cannot create new information. For example, if reptiles have no genes for feathers, no amount of selection will produce a feathered reptile. Mutations in genes can only modify or eliminate existing structures, but not create new ones. If in a certain environment a lizard survives better with smaller legs, or no legs, then varieties with this trait will be selected for. This might be more accurately called devolution, not evolution.

The Appendix

It is known that the appendix contains lymphatic tissue and has a role in controlling bacteria entering the intestines. It functions in a similar way to the tonsils at the other end of the alimentary canal, which are known to increase resistance to throat infections, although once also thought to be useless organs.

Hip bones in whales


These bones are alleged to show that whales evolved from land animals. However, Bergman and Howe point out that they are different in the male and female whales. They are not useless at all, but help penis erection in the males and vaginal contraction in the females.  Also it is well known that the tail motion is quite different in sea mammals compared to most fish - mammals such as whales motion their tales up and down where as fish sway side to side, giving additional purposes to a whales hip. 

Teeth in embryonic baleen whales

Evolutionists claim that they show that baleen whales evolved from toothed whales. However they have not provided an adequate mechanism for scrapping one perfectly good system (teeth) and replacing it with a very different system (baleen or whalebone). Also, the teeth in the embryo function as guides to the correct formation of the massive jaws.


Transcript from: ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove?by Dr Don batten and Dr Jonathan Sarfati (Creation.com)


The ART of Agreeing to Disagree

Handling Differences

Sadly, the above sentiment is true, in many of our social circles.

Nothing new under the sun.  Since the early church, if not before, followers of Christ have disputed differences.  So how are we to handle our differences, convictions, bents, preferences, opinions, etc...  It is essential that we wrestle with this before we go any further in our "Re-Buffering Blog".  

THE ESSENTIALS to our faith must be a place of unity & fellowship.  What are the essentials?  

God's rescue plan thru the Messiah being the ONLY WAY to restore the broken. 

Scripture being the final authority in the Christian life.

Fullness of Jesus being the Messiah - fully God, fully Man.

Real bodily Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Return of Jesus.  

Faith in Christ, Thru Grace alone - not by our own merit, leads us not only into the rescue plan, but thru the rescue plan.

The Church (God's People) is God's continued plan to be a witness of His rescue plan.

To be sure there are other essentials we could highlightThese are topics worth our animated differences, to which the objective absolute Truth(s) must be settled & agreeable if we are to have any authenticity to our Unity of Faith as Christians.

That being said, there are a plethora of NON-ESSENTIALS.  Issues and topics that we may have a difference of opinion, conviction, or bent.  There is freedom in the fellowship of believers to debate these topics, but the way in which we share our differences maybe more important than the topics themselves.

 The principle passage to guide us thru the non-essentials is rooted in Romans 14.

Attached below is a video link by Dr. David Seifert who paints an adequate picture of The Art of Agreeing to Disagree, (Worth your 50mins)

              Christians Agreeing to Disagree

Romans 14
 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters (Non-Essentials). One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Unicorns

Mythical or Biblical?


Most of us have seen documentaries of this creature - the elusive Narwhal - Unicorn of the Sea.



We would not debate that it exists, but what about the Unicorn of the Land, (and or air if you picture Pegasus with its wing span)?  Where does the evidence lead?  What is our persuasion?  Have there really been Unicorns in existence?  Lets take a quick look at some biblical references to the unicorn?
I know it seems a little archaic to some of you but we will use the KJV to help contest some additional points. 

Numbers 23:22,24:8

God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Deuteronomy 33:17

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.


Job 39:9, 10

Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Psalms 92:10, 29:6, 22:22

But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.


He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 

Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Isaiah 34:7

And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

So there is no denying the case for unicorns existing in the bible.  But just what were these animals.  It is key to remember that the original text was written in this case (O.T.) Hebrews, and that our KJV English translation is at least two steps back to the original.  The in-between text is the Latin common language of the people - Vulgate.  In the Latin text there are 5 different words that are being used.  Rinoceros, Rinocerotis, Rinocerota, Unicornium, Unicornis all are translated as Unicorn in these 9 passages.  This sheds some light on our debate, that and the changing definition of unicorn in the last 200 years.  

Websters (New World Dictionary) - UNICORN - a mythical horse-like animal with a single horn growing from its head.

Websters (Original 1928 Dictionary) - UNICORN - animal with one horn; the monoceros. This name is often applied to the rhinoceros.

Difference in 200 years - NOTHING about a horse, NOTHING about a horse-like animal, NOTHING about a mythical animal, NOTHING about a fictitious creature, NOTHING about Greek mythology.  Rather most often applied to the RHINOCEROS!

Websters (Original 1928 Dictionary) - RHINOCEROS - nose horn... of two species, one of which the unicorn has a single horn growing almost erect from its nose... There is another species with two horns the bicornis, they are natives of Asia and Africa.

If the definition of Unicorn has changed in the last 200 years then it doesn't make any sense to apply that modern translation to a 400 year old translation (1611 KJV)!

I know some of you are a little disappointed because you were hoping to see this ...




Instead we brought you this ...



Look back again at the Deut. 33:17 passage.  

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

... referring to the prophetic word spoken over Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.  To illustrate the greatness of one brother compared to the other, Moses used the symbol of a unicorns horn.  And if you check the foot note on the Unicorns it is actually a single unicorn possessing more than one horn.  This completes the illustration that Moses was trying to picture.  The greater horn would stand for Ephriam and his brother Manasseh was represented by the other horn.  Concluding the Prophetic word spoken over Joseph and his two sons back in Genesis.

Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great (referring to Manasseh): but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he (referring to Ephraim), and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

How persuasive is that!  Unicorns & Rhinoceros in the bible.  To be sure there are other theories but this seems to be the most sound!

The following video may help bring some closure to this question as we Rebuffer the Answer.  PLEASE WATCH - ITS WORTH YOUR TIME!



Many modern translations substitutes "Wild Oxen", however the Deuteronomy passage seems to clarify the descriptive unicorn to be more like a two horned Rhino, you decide for yourself ...  What ever the creature was the scripture and its contexts persuades us to believe that it was not a mythical one, but rather a fierce beast that may or may not still be in existence.  It may have been among the species of antelope, ox, buffalo, or other family, but I'm inclined to believe it best fits the description of a Rhino.

  

Buffering - Again

Oh, the Dreaded Buffering Symbol.


Buffering happens when your computer smooths out all the pauses and scratches that may occur during your video data download.  That is the simple purpose of this blog to smooth out many of the oddities that are difficult to transfer into our postmodern times.  The bible still proves to be most relevant.  And it's authority and influence continues to stand the arduous tests of skeptics, doubters and nay-sayers.  However, no question is a dumb question, and no doubt is necessarily unfounded, soo... we want to offer a reasonable explanation for the incredible Hope that is withIN us.




The following Rebuffering blog was spawned out of a discipleship course (Transfer) that we have been running with a core group of our students @ Faithbridge, (Park Rapids, MN).  Our recent studies, Breeze Thru the Bible, Christian Apologetics, and a number of other in depth studies, such as the every growing field study in archeology and astronomy, have surfaced a number of skeptical questions that we have one by one Buffered with Truth.  The purpose of this blog is to share bits and pieces of our overwhelming findings as we answer the skeptics questions.  To be sure these questions are just as much practical as they are theological.  We aim to live out 1 Peter 3:15.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer (Rebuffering) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."



________________________________________


Examples of Skeptical Questions 
that we will spend some time Rebuffering...
  Tattoos, Piercing, Branding, etc... what should be our convictions on these once taboo prohibitions?

Slang, Swearing, Sarcasm, and Cynicism what is a mature follower of Jesus do with these?

Wasn't there gambling, luck, and dice used in the bible... doesn't that justify our usage of it now?

Zombies, Demons, and Satan - himself how do we maintain a healthy sense of skepticism?

Elisha called down a mauling of youth by some wild bear(s) is that justifiable?

The great deluge (flood), was it really world wide in scope? Refresher course on theories?

What is the deal with the "Q" source?  And why does it appear that the Gospels are not in Harmony?

Are we to really believe that there were Giants in the Bible?  Nephilum who are they?

Unicorns in the Bible?  Are you kidding me?  Where is there any proof?

________________________________________

These are just a random assortment of questions that we have dealt with, there are many more to which we will press into as we offer up credible answers & theories to the questions that surface...

Ultimately there is still an element of Faith in all our studies.  Even the most noted skeptics, atheists, and doubters have Faith in something(s) or some one(s).  Our contention is that God continues to prove himself to be Trustworthy and reveal-er of all Truths

Looking forward to your comments and input 
phil.fsmwired@gmail.com

Friday, February 1, 2013

Retreats/Events

An Archive of 
Specialized Retreats / Events
from Faith Student Ministry [FSMwired]
following extended outreach efforts
like Tri-Game-Athon TGA
Concerts, Rush of Fools, FCA events etc...
[initiated by students for students]

QUARTERLY
FSM began developing 3 Discipleship Intensives Retreats
Supplemented with our Summer Mission & Summer Camp Opps.


MONTHLY
FSM developed rotating outreach - the Last Weds of Every Month
it became known as Exhibition Night & re-branded eXpo Night

WEEKLY 
FSMwired rotated through a Weds Morning / Weds Night
Sun. Transfer (Intensive) / Sun Serial that were key Teaching Series
FSM kept a 4 - 6 year running student profile, what we believed 
were the essentials for Students before Launching

So here is the FSM Archive on Specialized Retreats
[Discipleship Intensives - since 2006]

-------------------------------------------------------------
SPRING 
PROGRESSIVE RETREATS
---------------------------------------------------------------

2006 Equipping Student Leaders for "THE WAY" of Life



 


2007 the Song of Solomon "S.O.S" Save Our Ship


2008 adaptation "SECRETS" of THE VINE

2009 adaptation from the "DREAM GIVER


2010 BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGY 101-401


 

2011 the Song of Solomon "S.O.S" CRAVE


2012 the STAR OF BETHLEHEM



2013 the DREAM GIVER


2014 the  ULTIMATE DINOSAURS



2015  THE SONG" More Than a Coming of Age, Purity Retreat




2016 FULLY DEVOTED Q & A ~ Rebuffering.blogspot.com


 2017 the ACTS of Jesus thru the Spirit / Apostles


2018 Northwoods Coffee House BELIEVE ME Christian Filters
 
One Nation Under God

2019  THE SONG" More Than a Coming of Age, Purity Retreat





2020  NOT SO HOLLYWOOD CINEMA CRITIQUE
[The Filter of a Christian World View]




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FALL RETREATS
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lake Geneva SHOUT ~ 1990's
Foston QFM EXTREME FAITH
Camp Shamineau FALL FLING ~ 2000's
Faithbridge FALL FORWARD
Camp Lebanon FALL FIRE 2010's


2012 Fall FROG - Fall Progressive Retreat

2013 Fall Forward Focus




2014  THE REV UP RETREAT
[REVELATIONS: Things that WERE, ARE, ARE TO COME]




2015  THE MINOR PROPHETS Midnight Vigil
[Major Truths from Minor Prophets]




------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
WINTER RETREATS
----------------------------------------------------


2017  THE WINTER ADVENTURE 
[FSM Intensive]

2017  THE WINTER ESCAPE 
[Park Rapids Area Youth Network]


 
Beware of Christians

2018  THE SKIT GUYS 
[Park Rapids Area Youth Network]
Featuring our own ~ Avery Wolff [TAKE 1]

Featuring our own ~ Avery Wolff [TAKE 2]

2019  THE EVIDENCE Progressive Retreat
[Archaeology & More]



2020  ~ PROVERBS ...Wisdom Series  
[JobEcclesiastes, Song of Songs]

 




Image result for PROVERBS CHART THE BIBLE PROJECT



------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER RETREATS / CAMPS  BONUS

----------------------------------------------------
Directing other Retreats & Camps
Student Ministries / Missions / Camps
Adult & Couples Retreats


~ CROW RIVER Canoe TRIPS
~ Canoe Trips Upper MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRIPS
~ CUYUNA LAKES [Miniature Boundary Waters]
~ Lower MISSISSIPPI RIVER TRIPS

2010  THE DiO 10 Discipleship Intensive NEHEMIAH


2010  The PASSPORT To Your Freedom In Christ
[Faithbridge Leadership Retreat] 
 

2011  The EPIC STORY Teen Challenge
[Camp Joy] 

2011  The JOURNEY TO THE LOST WORLD 
[Camp Lebanon]

2013  The TIME CAPSULE Teen Challenge
[CAMP JOY] 

2014  THE WINTER WIPEOUT ~ Yield
[Miracle Bible Camp]



2014  FSM SUMMER ROAD TRIP World View Recon Mission



LINK



2016  A WEEKEND OF FIRSTS Senegal
[Renewal Conference - World Venture West Africa] 



2017  The RECON MISSION Native Mission & Canoe Trip 




2017  The GAME ON 
[Camp Lebanon]  Link to CAMP ADVENTURES 2017

 


2018  The NIGHTS OF THE LORDS TABLE 
[Camp Lebanon]  Link to CAMP ADVENTURES 2018

  

2019  The Lake Oz REJUV  Couples Camping Retreat