Daily Devotional – July 8

Microbiology

Not so long ago, scientists discovered that eating undercooked pork could cause an infection from a parasite called trichinosis. This parasitic worm can infest pigs and be passed on to us when we eat insufficiently cooked pork. When someone eats pork with this parasite, digestive juices dissolve the cyst, releasing the parasite larvae into the body. These larvae penetrate the small intestine walls where they grow, mate, and produce more parasites. Yuck! The adult female can produce thousands of larvae that enter the bloodstream and then burrow into the muscles and other tissues.

The best way to protect against this parasite is to kill it off before you eat pork. This can be done either by freezing the meat below 5 degrees Fahrenheit for 21 days prior to eating pork or making sure the internal temperature is at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking. Also, today’s hog farms are meticulous, preventing the trichinosis parasite altogether. Did the Israelites know about this prevention? God knew the problems with eating undercooked pork, so He prohibited His people from eating pork in order to keep them safe. In fact, it has been found that those who followed the Israelite’s dietary rules were far healthier than other cultures that did not. God always has our best interests at heart even though we may not understand the specific reasons.

And the swine, .... it is unclean unto you : ye shall not eat of their flesh

~ Deuteronomy 14:8

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – June 8

Microbiology

Every microsecond, every cell in your body is converting food to usable energy in order to run the chemical processes of your body. The primary source of the cell’s energy is a chemical called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Your body literally makes and consumes an amount of ATP equivalent to the entire weight of your body each day. This ATP is then converted into the various chemicals and components needed to keep your body operating. So, where does all this ATP come from? Inside the mitochondria within each of our over ten trillion cells are little spinning molecular motors that operate at close to 99.99% efficiency (gasoline motors operate at about 35% efficiency.)1 These ATP generating motors are so small that 100,000 of them would have to be lined up end to end to reach across 1 millimeter. Also, they spin at 1000 RPM while spewing out ATP molecules.

But where do these motors come from?

1. These motors are made using information coming from the DNA molecule.
2. In order to open the DNA molecule, energy from ATP is needed.
3. In order to make the ATP, the motor is needed.

The information needed to make the motors is in DNA. It takes the motor’s ATP to open the DNA, but we can’t make the ATP unless the information on how to make the motor is provided. Complicated isn’t it! All the parts, processes, and instructions needed to be present and fully functioning from the beginning. The more we learn about the operation of our bodies, the more we see that an incredibly intelligent Designer made every cell within our bodies.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

~ Psalm 145:21

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – May 24

Microbiology

Certain bacteria love to live in the mud, but they do not like oxygen. So, they need to know which way is down, that is, away from oxygen found in higher concentrations nearer to the surface of the mud. Large creatures use gravity to know which way is down, but bacteria are microscopic and do not have any apparatus to sense direction of gravity’s pull.

A graduate student studying these mud-loving bacteria noticed that they would congregate on the north side of the microscope’s slide. So, he placed a bar magnet on the opposite side of the slide, overriding earth’s magnetic field. Sure enough, the bacteria swam to the other side, thinking it was north. In the northern hemisphere, the further north one goes, the more a compass needle dips toward the center of the earth; at the North Pole, the needle dips straight down. If a bacteria had an internal magnetic compass, it would not only guide itself north, but it would have the ability to sense which direction was down and away from oxygen within a mud layer.

Upon further investigation, each bacterium was found to have molecular sized particles of magnetized iron (magnetite or lodestone), arranged in a line along the axis of the cell. Each piece of magnetite was roughly cubic and only about 50 nanometers (or one millionth of a millimeter) on each side. Mankind has never been able to make magnetite particles this small! Since that first discovery of bacteria having a built-in compass, dozens of varieties have been found displaying this same magnetic response. Bacteria with compasses; Jesus loves to surprise us with His creativity!

The north and the south thou hast created them….

~ Psalm 89:12

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – May 8

Microbiology

We would not have chocolate if macroevolution was true.

Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao plant, but in order to make these seeds, the cacao flower must be pollinated by the tiny chocolate midge. This pinhead-sized “fly” is the only known insect that can work its way into the intricate cacao flower. According to evolutionary theory, flowers developed long before pollinator insects existed. Yet, without insects to carry pollen from plant to plant, there would be no fruits, seeds, or chocolate. Of course, insects do not know they are pollinating; the pollen just happens to stick to them as they move from flower to flower. Often it is the flower’s beauty or the flower’s smell that attracts the insects.

Evolutionists theorize that flowers started out drab and had no fragrances. Apparently, these early, boring plants studied the surrounding insects and then engineered their flowers to attract the insect in order for pollination to take place. Does this make sense? How did they get pollinated before the insects appeared? This “theory” simply cannot be true!

Flowers would need to be pollinated from the very beginning - if not, they would most likely go extinct. Flowers were designed with beauty and fragrance from the beginning to attract pollinators. Just as God’s Word says, He made flowers, which are plants, on day 3 of creation week and pollinators (flying creatures such as insects) on day 4. Chocolate testifies to a Creator - not to evolution.

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

~ Genesis 1:29

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – April 28

Microbiology

For centuries, barnacles--crustaceans that live inside their exoskeletons--have frustrated ship owners because they like to glue themselves to ship hulls. It is difficult to remove them because their glue is so tenacious. But how does a barnacle’s glue stick to a wet surface?

There are two steps needed for a barnacle to adhere itself to an underwater surface: first it needs to clear the water away, and then it cements itself to the surface. The barnacle larva, which is the active swimming stage of a barnacle, releases an oily droplet to clear the water from the surface to which it wants to stick itself. Then, the larva releases a phosphoprotein adhesive. In essence, a super-glue!

Scientists are studying this two-step process in hope of being able to manufacture the glue for surgical use. We make great claims on how scientifically smart we are, but we can always improve our science by having a better understanding of how God made the identical thing in nature. Who knows, the next time you have surgery, “barnacle superglue” may be used!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped….

~ Psalm 28:7

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – April 9

Microbiology

Do you realize that the evolutionary view of molecules-to-man can have a detrimental effect on scientific advancements? The latest example was the belief in “junk DNA.” For over twenty years, it was widely accepted that less than 2% of the coded information on the human DNA molecule was used to produce proteins (little molecular machines within the cell).1 Thus 98% of the human DNA sequence was assumed to be useless, leftover junk from our evolutionary past. This was accepted evolutionary dogma for many years, so scientists had no incentive to look for a purpose for this supposed “junk coding.” Thus, evolutionary preconceptions slowed scientific advancement in this area of genetics for decades.

Dr. Francis Collins (head of the Human Genome Project) stated in his book, The Language of God, that roughly 45% of the human genome is made of repetitive flotsam and jetsam and that this junk provides “compelling” evidence for the evolutionary origin of humanity. Yet, we can now conclusively show that essentially all the DNA’s coded sequence (including repetitive sections) serves multiple purposes and functions.

God doesn’t make junk, not even junk DNA!

Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

~ Isaiah 29:16

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – March 10

Microbiology

In the last decade, it has become apparent that bacteria are far more varied and versatile than any other kind of creature on Earth. Scientists estimate there is somewhere between 10 million and 1 billion different species of bacteria and have discovered that they are essential for all forms of life – including us! Bacteria help digest the food we eat, provide nutrients, prevent diseases, and produce oxygen. It has also been discovered that bacteria can readily exchange DNA fragments with other bacteria. Because they reproduce so rapidly, this allows the bacteria to test different defenses and environments, capabilities, and strategies for survival. Those that don’t succeed die out while characteristics with an advantage prosper.

So why do bacteria vary so widely? Evolutionists teach that changes in the environment drive bacteria to change; however, that is not true. It is the internal programming of the bacteria that allows them to vary in order to thrive in a wide variety of environments. Evolutionists use the fact that bacteria can transfer DNA coding from one type of bacteria to another as proof of evolutionary advancement, but don’t be fooled by the sleight of hand. What they call evolution is just bacteria doing what they were programmed to do. No one has ever identified a microbe in either the laboratory or the fossil record which is evolving into another kind of creature. They are always clearly identifiable as bacteria.

The vast majority of bacteria are either helpful or harmless, but a small percentage have degenerated into harmful organisms. Even this testifies to the reality of Scripture – death entered into creation because of our rebellion against our Creator, and even the smallest of creatures have become part of the penalty of death, which we brought upon ourselves.

But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

~ Proverbs 1:33

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – March 9

Microbiology

One of the most famous chemistry experiments ever performed was the Miller experiment - first reported in 1952. Over 60 years later this experiment is still presented in biology textbooks worldwide as proof that life formed by itself early in the earth’s history. In this experiment, a researcher named Stanley Miller circulated ammonia, methane, hydrogen, and water vapor through a tube and added sparks in order to cause amino acids to form (coined the “building blocks of life”). Yet, students are seldom told the rest of the story.

In order for these amino acids to form proteins, they must link up in a polymerization reaction that requires both ends of the molecule to remain reactive until the entire protein molecule has formed. Visualize a stack of Lego blocks – you can keep adding blocks to the top or bottom of the stack until a block with a flat, undented surface is added to either side. Then no more blocks can be added to that side of the stack. It is now no longer “reactive”. In the Miller experiment, a “flat topped Lego block” is always formed - it is called formic acid. Formic acid is the most common molecule formed during the Miller experiment. The instant formic acid reacts with an amino acid the molecules stop linking up. As a result, no useful protein molecules are ever produced in this experiment.

What this experiment actually demonstrates is that life could not possibly have formed in this way! When problems like this are not shown to students, it is deception, not education. So why is this experiment, which does not work to explain life, still cited in biology books over sixty years later? Textbook writers simply cannot accept the logical conclusion that life can only come from a Creator outside of the time, space, and matter universe. The correct explanation for the existence of life (creation by God) has been eliminated from the thinking of generation after generation of students reading such textbooks. Where does life come from? It’s still a mystery to evolutionists but not to Bible-believing Christians - life comes from God.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

~ Genesis 2:7

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

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – February 9

Microbiology

Bacteria are both the most diverse and the most numerous life forms upon earth. You actually have more bacteria on and within your body than human cells. The diversity of these bacteria continues to amaze scientists. Dr. Kenneth Nealson leads a team of scientists that has discovered a new type of bacteria--electric bacteria--which can survive on pure electricity. These bacteria have the ability to both deposit and remove electrons directly from surfaces as their “food”. His team has identified over 1000 varieties of bacteria which make use of electricity for survival. Six of these bacterial strains have the ability to survive on electricity alone. Electric bacteria should not “shock” us; God designs beyond our imaginations! Science now has an entire new area to “think God’s thoughts” and see how He has put it together. Even though these bacteria have a unique method of survival, they are made from biologically useful chemicals which have only been shown to exist and be produced by living cells. These complex bio-chemicals have never been shown to exist outside of a cell. So what implication does this discovery have on the origin of life?

• Electricity did not bring them alive; it is used for survival.
• These bacteria are made of complex bio-chemicals that only exist inside a living cell.
• The coded DNA information in these bacteria is so complex that it would be impossible for it to have written itself.
• There is no link between non-living chemicals and these bacteria. These distinct forms of life show no indication of turning into anything other than copies of themselves.

Yet the researchers who discovered these bacteria attribute their existence to “evolution”. In other words, they assume that they simply created themselves. They further speculate that similar forms of life have made themselves all over the universe. Billions of dollars are being spent to search our universe for any other signs of life. Yet not a shred of evidence has been found. In actuality, the diversity of life does nothing but demonstrate the power and creativity of the Creator of life. The more we learn about its complexity and diversity, the less excuse we have for ignoring God’s existence.

O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name:  make known his deeds among the people.

~ Psalm 105:1

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