Daily Devotional – December 24

History

In 1991, a 3,000 year old frozen corpse was found in the Austrian-Italian Alps. This “ice-man” was named Otzi. Along with his frozen corpse were found a longbow of yew wood, a framed backpack, copper ax, dried fruit, other foods, a first aid kit of birch bracket fungus (which is a powerful pharmaceutical), and a fire-making kit that included flint and ores for making sparks. His last meal was goat meat and bread cooked over a charcoal oven. Otzi doesn’t sound like a stone age brute, does he? In actuality, sophisticated, intelligent human beings have always existed.

But the surprises didn’t stop there. Scientists also found a strain of ulcer-causing Helicobacter pylori within his body that is essentially identical to what we find today in Central and South Asia. This H. pylori has not changed for thousands of years! Otzi had an ulcer just like modern man, and it was caused by the same bug Helicobacter pylori.

Otzi, the ice man, fits the true history of the Bible. Adam and Eve and their descendants were intelligent people. After the Flood, the Tower of Babel was built; God confused their languages, and people were scattered across the face of the Earth. Otzi was one of those descendants.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

~ Genesis 11:8-9

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional – December 18

History

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama! A century ago, the world marveled at the engineering of the Panama Canal, but it would not have been built if not for a devout Christian military doctor named William Gorgas. The French had started to build the 50-mile-long Panama Canal through the ridges and mountains that separated the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, but many of the workers died of yellow fever, and the French abandoned the project. The leading scientists of the day believed the disease was spread by air from surrounding marshes and filthy slums. The reality was much different; yellow fever came from the bite of a mosquito Aedes aegypti - the same mosquito that now carries the Zika virus.

Against the conventional scientific wisdom of their day, William Gorgas and Walter Reed did careful experimentation to find the mode of disease transmission. They even had volunteers sleep in the noxious excretions of yellow fever victims for a week; no one died. Then they studied the habits of the mosquito A. aegypti. It never traveled more than 200 yards from its birth place AND laid eggs only in fresh water. Armed with this knowledge, Gorgas was assigned to the Panama Canal project. He immediately ran into roadblocks as the majority of doctors refused to believe or accept his conclusions. It took President Roosevelt’s private doctor encouraging the President to enforce Gorgas’ methods. So began the largest public health project in the history of the world up to that time. A massive effort was begun to kill the mosquitoes by fumigating houses and putting screens on windows, lids on cisterns, and even floating oil on standing water. The war succeeded! Once the mosquito that carried yellow fever was killed off, the focus shifted to engineering the Panama Canal.

Gorgas was a Christian who understood that the truth is often opposed. Gorgas knew he was fighting “settled science.” Today, we have greatly benefited from Gorgas’ determination to do true science, but we are still fighting a battle for truth as only evolutionary thought is allowed throughout our public school systems. We, too, need to fight “settled science” and keep the truth in front of people.

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

~ Proverbs 16:9

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional – December 17

History

It seems very counterintuitive that if I throw a stick it would return to me, but that is exactly what a boomerang does. When the English arrived in Australia, they noticed that the Aborigines had several types of throwing sticks - some of which returned while others did not. It was not until 1822 that this fascinating device was described and given an English name: the boomerang.

How does a boomerang return to its thrower? The boomerang’s arms are curved on the top and flat on the bottom - creating an airfoil. As the boomerang moves through the air, its wings create lift, just like an airplane. As it spins, the edge of the forward spinning wing creates more lift than the opposite arm. This causes the boomerang to tip, resulting in a principle known as gyroscopic precession. This uneven lift causes a constant turning pressure that then causes the boomerang to return to its thrower.

The boomerang is not some primitive object made by some primitive man, but it was made by an intelligent person capable of using sophisticated aerodynamic principles. Boomerangs are a testimony of mankind’s brilliance from the moment of creation.

For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

~ Job 8:8-10

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional – December 15

History

We often think that man was primitive in the past. But, then, how do you explain some of the technology of the past? For example, the ancient Egyptians had a blue-colored pigment that was both beautiful and intense, not even fading with severe sunlight exposure. This paint colorant was used by the ancient Egyptians and then passed onto the Greeks and Romans. Yet, during the “dark ages,” Europeans lost the knowledge of how to manufacture this paint (about 1100 years ago). It was not until the 19th century, when Pompeii was uncovered, that a small pot of this pigment was found and analyzed, allowing us to regain this knowledge. Egyptian Blue is calcium copper tetrasilicate. The paint samples contained silica, calcium oxide, and copper oxide. These compounds were mixed together in precise proportions and heated to 1650 degrees Fahrenheit (900 degrees Celsius) for many hours to produce the brilliant, durable, blue pigment.

The ancient Egyptians used chemistry to create an intense, non-fading, blue colorant. Primitive? Hardly! God created Adam genetically perfect and with the maximum human intellect. In Genesis 4:20-22, mankind is described as having knowledge of livestock, metalworking, and music. After the Flood, the tower of Babel was built, and man was dispersed. Some of Noah’s descendants moved to Egypt and brought with them the knowledge and technology of the pre-Flood world. This explains why ancient civilizations seemed to spring up overnight, like in ancient Egypt. This Egyptian blue is a testimony that man was highly skilled right from the beginning - giving proof that the Genesis account is true.

He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron…

~ Genesis 4:20-22

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – December 6

History

Scientists agree that James Clerk Maxwell’s (1831-1879) greatest contribution to science was his brilliant 913 page treatise on the mathematical unification of electricity with magnetism. This forever changed the world of physics and is the foundation of radio transmissions, television, computers, space travel, and all modern electronics. Maxwell stands at the forefront of the most brilliant scientists who ever lived, and his legacy is the modern world we all enjoy. Some physicists have shown that even atoms can be explained as the result of the movement of charges and that matter itself is really an electrical simulation – all based on Maxwell’s equations.

Although Maxwell lived a short 48 years, he was also responsible for mathematically explaining Saturn’s rings as a massive cloud of particles. He made major contributions to the fields of statistics, astronomy, gas theory, color theory (producing the first color photograph), and thermodynamics. As a contemporary to Charles Darwin, Maxwell soundly rejected naturalistic explanations for life stating, “No theory of evolution can be formed to account for the singularity of molecules, for evolution necessarily implies continuous change…” A prayer written by Maxwell stated, “Almighty God, who has created man in Thine own image, and made him a living soul that he might seek after Thee and have dominion over Thy creatures, teach us to study the works of Thy hands…”

A deeply sincere follower of Jesus Christ, Maxwell used his faith as the foundation from which he made his great discoveries. Do not be deceived that belief in creation is a detriment to scientific advancement … the very opposite is true. Maxwell had this verse inscribed upon the entrance to his science laboratory at Cambridge University:

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

~ Psalm 111:2

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

Daily Devotional – November 5

History

Have you considered that ancient man was intelligent? Archaeologists recently examined some stone tools that were made by Neanderthal man. They found that the Neanderthals had made superglue! The wooden handles were glued to flint knives by birch pitch superglue. This adhesive was made by a dry distillation method that is difficult to reproduce even using modern manufacturing methods.

Smoldering birch bark must be heated to between 644 - 752oF and oxygen must be excluded to keep the resin from bursting into flames. If the temperature were lower than 644oF, the birch resin would not form the glue. If the temperature were above 752oF, it would blacken, form carbon, or burn. Making superglue from birch bark took some know-how! Were the Neanderthals bumbling, primitive cavemen as evolutionists have taught for years? Hardly! God made man intelligent from the beginning.

Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: …

~ Genesis 4:22

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 13

History

Evidence of a worldwide flood can be found in the historical records around the world. In Mexico, the Toltec Indians have an account of “the first world” lasting 1,716 years before being destroyed by a great flood. This great flood covered even the highest mountains. Only a few people escaped this world-wide flood in a “toptlipetlocali,” which means a closed chest. After the flood, these few people began to multiply and built a very high “zacuali” or tower. During the time they were building the high tower, the languages were confused. Does any of this sound familiar to the same history we find in Genesis?

The Toltecs began with seven friends and their wives who spoke the same language, crossed great waters, lived in caves, and wandered 104 years until they came to “Hue Hue Tlapalan” or southern Mexico. This all took place 520 years after the great Flood. Of course, the most reliable Flood account is found in the Bible. When the biblical genealogies are counted, we find that the pre-Flood world lasted 1656 years, and the languages were confused at the tower of Babel about 100 years after the Flood. The Toltecs historical account is amazingly similar to the biblical account!

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

- Genesis 11:8-9

Daily Devotional – October 7

History

The Ice Age had different effects around the world. In the northern latitudes, there were ice and cold with countless blizzards. In the middle latitudes, there were heavy rains. During the Ice Age, the Sahara Desert region was a well watered place with a patchwork of rivers and lakes supporting subtropical flora and fauna. The Sahara Ice Age art has literally thousands of figures etched into rocks; depictions of tropical and aquatic animals, gazelles, cattle, crocodiles and men fishing along these ancient lakes. Geologists were surprised to find bones of elephants, buffalo, antelope, rhinos, giraffes, and other animals in this area. Also found were many bones of aquatic animals such as hippos, amphibians, crocodiles, fish, and clams, showing that this desert was once well watered. Satellite ground-penetrating radar revealed an old drainage network in the Sahara; several of the channels were the size of the Nile River Valley. During the Ice Age, many places in the middle latitudes received much rain, and therefore, had a wonderfully lush environment. For example –

• The Great Basin in the area of Nevada, USA, was also once well-watered and lush. During the Ice Age, the Great Basin area had 120 lakes. The Great Salt Lake remains from what is now called Lake Bonneville; it was six times larger and 800 feet deeper than present day Great Salt Lake. The ancient shorelines can be seen on the surrounding hills and mountainsides. Lake Bonneville was the size of Lake Michigan .
• Eastern Pakistan and northwest India were once a beautiful grassy and forested land, as compared to the now-dried-up Sarasvati River. In fact, in Vedic literature, the Sarasvati is memorialized as a large river.
• Eastern Turkey was quite different in the past. Sargon of Agade of Mesopotamia, the world’s first great military leader, had to put down some strife in the then-Hittite territory in Turkey. He and his army had to hack through jungles full of wild game and exotic birds. Today, no jungles are found within thousands of miles of this area; it is an arid region.
• In South America, Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains had a port city of huge megalithic blocks, Tiahuanaco. It is now a desolate wasteland without vegetation located five miles from the receded shoreline.

During the Ice Age, it was rainy with lush vegetation. During the one and only Ice Age, caused by Noah’s Flood, the middle latitudes were well-watered. After the Ice Age, these places experienced a great drying out. This was the REAL climate change!

Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.

~ Job 37:11-12

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – September 24

History

As difficult as it is to imagine, during the Ice Age, people were measuring and mapping the globe. The Piri Reis map, dating from 1513, has an accurate rendering of Antarctica and its coastline. It was not until 1949 that sonar mapping discovered where the coastline is located - underneath 5000 feet of solid ice. Yet, this map and another drawn by Oronteus Finaeus in 1531 showed Antarctica with mountain ranges, rivers, and bays prior to becoming covered by thousands of feet of snow and ice.

These two maps were a compilation of information that was moved from the Library of Alexandria in Egypt to Turkey before that great ancient depository of knowledge was destroyed by fire. The Turkish cartographers wrote on these maps that their source maps were made by the ancient seafarers, Phoenicians. Antarctica was officially “discovered” by the Russians in 1818 AD, or should I say, rediscovered! During the Ice Age, the very warm ocean floodwaters (from the fountains of the deep, volcanism, and plate tectonics) would have kept the coastline of Antarctica free from ice for centuries. Eventually, as the oceans continued to cool, great ice sheets covered it, as we find it today.

The one and only Ice Age took place just after the Flood (2348 BC) and is believed to have lasted about 700 years - 500 years to build up and 200 years to melt down. This would have provided ample time for the ancient explorers to sail the seas and map the globe before Antarctica was permanently covered by ice. These maps provide EXTREMELY convincing evidence that the biblical understanding of Earth’s history is correct.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

~ Psalm 107:23

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – September 15

History

If there was an Ice Age ending only about 3500 years ago, shouldn’t the ancient cultures have a remembrance of it? We find just that in the ancient people groups’ legends. They speak of “the Great Cold” or “evil winters.” The Mayans of Central America record in the Popol Vuh that their ancient ancestors had sailed to their land from the east during a time of black rain and constant twilight. This would be consistent with rampant volcanic upheavals during the Ice Age bringing ash in the rain and constant twilight (dense cloud-cover). The ancient Avesta writing coming out of western Russia describe the early Ice Age as “Ten months of winter are there now, two months of summer, and these are cold as to the water, cold as to the earth, cold as to the trees… There all around falls deep snow, that is the direst of plagues.” These are not the only people groups that described this event. Here are some others: Toba Indians in South America, the Incas, the Tarahumara of northern Mexico, the Araucanians of Chile, the Mataco Indians of Argentina and many more. Many of these cultures associate the Flood with the subsequent period of cold, earthquakes, volcanoes, periods of darkness, and continual cloud cover. The Mayan Popol Vuh records that after the Flood there was “much hail, black rain and mist, and indescribable cold.” Another Mayan source says “sunlight did not return till the twenty-sixth year after the flood. These people knew about the Ice Age and wrote of their experiences. All this fits perfectly within the biblical worldview!

Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.

~ Job 37:9

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.