This Tuesday (the 29th) is World Heart Day. How will you celebrate? The World Heart Federation has some recommendations, such as being active, saying “no” to tobacco, living your best life, and fulfilling your dreams. As for me, I thought I would celebrate by reminding my friends (and the rest of you) how incredibly our hearts were designed!

What is one amazing feature of the human heart?
It pumps blood through arteries under the skin, covering about twelve thousand miles per day, enough to wrap around Earth every two days.

Think about that! If you sat in a boat at the Prime Meridian in the Gulf of Guinea, a little south of Ghana or Togo in Africa, and I said, “Ready, set, go!” and you travelled by boat, train, car, bus, or whatever means necessary, and arrived in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, some 2000 miles east of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Sea, you would have travelled approximately the same number of miles as your blood travels throughout your body in one day. (This “visual” might be more incredible if you were holding a globe, but even if you pull out an atlas or find an interactive map online, I think you would be pretty amazed by this!)

God designed your heart to support your body in fascinating ways! Here are some more quick facts about that ticker you were given:

• To protect your hard-working, blood-pumping muscle and keep it in place in your body, God double-bagged it: first, in a serous pericardium, which is a sac that is attached tightly to your heart; and then in a fibrous pericardium which anchors your heart to your diaphragm. Together, these make up the pericardial sac.
• Your blood is always flowing through two separate circuits: one to bring the blood to the lungs to filter out carbon dioxide, and one to transport the blood from your lungs to the rest of your body. That means your amazing heart actually has two pumps in one!
• God built a regulator into your heart that keeps it beating both continuously and consistently. Your heart beats without you telling it to because it is part of your autonomic nervous system. If your heart stopped beating, or if it beat too slow or too fast, the consequences could be just as deadly as having no heart at all. So, in the right atrium of your heart, God built in some very special muscle tissue called the “sinoatrial node,” which sends electric signals to cause your heart to contract as it should.

Wow! It’s no wonder David wrote in Psalm 139:14, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (NKJV).

For me, the science of the heart is fascinating, especially when considering the Designer Who created it with such irreducible complexity. But I’ve gotta tell you, the whole time I’ve been studying the resources and writing this article, I keep singing the hymn “Since Jesus Came into My Heart,” lyrics by Rufus H. McDaniel (1914):

What a Wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart;
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart.
Since Jesus came into my heart,
Since Jesus came into my heart;
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Is Jesus in your heart today? Have you surrendered your life to Him? If not, it would be a great day to visit this website to learn how to make that a reality! This is the very best heart-healthy choice you will ever make in your whole life.

Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/humanBody/heart.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.

Today is the start of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, also known as the Jewish New Year, or the Feast of Trumpets. Did you know there are many Christians, especially Messianic Jews (Jewish people who believe in Jesus as the Messiah), who are inclined to believe that the Rapture will coincide with the blowing of the shofar (trumpet) at this holiday? There are a lot of interesting aspects to this belief, but I am not a theologian and am not going to attempt to weigh in on that, one way or another.
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This I do know: Jesus, Who came once to die for all men (and women), will be coming back to claim those who have believed on Him. And I also know there will be a judgment day, and it would be a terrible thing to arrive at that day without having your name written in the book of life. Or, as Hebrews 10:31 puts it, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!” (HCSB).

Of all of my 49 Fun Facts, I think the answer to this one may have been just about the hardest one for my students to memorize, and yet, I have one student who, to this day—four years later—can recite this Fun Fact word for word. And to be honest, if he couldn’t recite any of the other 48, I am blessed to know I at least impressed this particularly important one on him:

Who is Jesus?
Fully God and fully man, Jesus is the Creator incarnate Who stepped down into creation to die on a cross to redeem us for eternity. His New Testament words repeatedly confirm the Creation account as told in Genesis.

When discussing or debating on the topic of origins, Creation apologists often point out the difference between observational science and historical science. Truth be told, there is no person on the planet who was around to see (observe) the forming of our universe, planet, or the first human beings. So, we rely on historical data to make determinations. For Christians, we know that there actually was Someone Who did observe the beginning: the Creator Himself. This is why His own words in verses such as Mark 10:6, which says “But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female” (HCSB), are so key to seeing that Jesus—fully God—confirmed the veracity of the historical account of Genesis. And this is why this Fun Fact is included in the set of 49.

But it wasn’t just Jesus’ words that confirmed Genesis. All throughout the Bible (God’s Word, inspired by Him), the writers had an obvious belief of the events of Genesis. They believed them to be historical, and that their impact was ongoing, with spiritual and theological consequences. In Psalm 8:3-4, David wrote, “When I observe Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place, what is man that You remember him, the son of man that You look after him?” (HCSB). In Proverbs 3:19-20, Solomon wrote, “The Lord founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By His knowledge the watery depths broke open, and the clouds dripped with dew” (HCSB). In Amos 4:13, Amos wrote, “He is here: the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, the One who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. Yahweh, the God of Hosts, is His name” (HCSB). And John starts his gospel with, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created” (John 1:1-3 HCSB).

Indeed, the writers of the Scriptures knew and confirmed the Creation account of Genesis. They knew that God was there at the beginning and will be at the end. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the Almighty One. He is the Advocate, the Bread of Life, the Deliverer, the Good Shepherd, the Great High Priest, Faithful and True, the King of Kings, the Lamb of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Redeemer, the Rock, the Son of the Most High, Yeshua, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is truth. And He is love.
That’s who Jesus is. But why do we need Him?

Those last two attributes for Him (truth and love) have a way of confounding people. Last week, in my post, “The Value of a Man,” I mentioned the culture we are living in, and how the message of the world tells us we can make all our own choices now: choose your own ethnicity, your own gender, your own age, your own value. But the sad truth is that message hasn’t just fallen on the ears of people who have never believed in God. It has fallen on the ears of many professing Christians. A message wrapped in a bow of love. Jesus is love. And love covers it all. You be you, love is love, and Jesus will love you no matter what. Jesus will love you no matter what, but the Bible also tells us that God will not be mocked. Paul says in Galatians 6:7, “Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap” (HCSB).  One way that we mock God is by knowingly or intentionally sinning, taking advantage of His promise of forgiveness. 1

Although the writers of the Old Testament confirmed the Creation account of Genesis and foretold the coming of the Messiah, many of the people around the time of Jesus’ birth misunderstood the prophecies. They were looking for a strong king and mighty warrior to save them. Many confused His second coming for His first and overlooked the humble Jewish Carpenter.
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In the same way, many people today are overlooking the fact that Jesus is not just love. He is truth. Not only is He truth, but He taught truth. In Matthew 5-7, Jesus delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount, a collection of instructions not just for the people of that day, but for all His followers from that day until He comes again. He taught us how to pray, how to love, how to give. He told us of the promises of blessings. He told us how He had come to fulfill the Old Testament law. But He also taught against hatred, against murder, against lust, and against sexual immorality. And He ended by describing those who listened to His words: anyone who acts on them He described as “a sensible man,” and anyone who doesn’t as a “foolish man” (Matthew 7:24-26).

Jesus came because of His great love for us, and, as Paul said in Romans 5:8, “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (HCSB). But Jesus was more than love. He didn’t accept us as sinners, condemned for all eternity. He didn’t condone our sin, and He still doesn’t today. He loved us enough to save us from our sin, from the terrible wrath of God, and from eternal damnation.

This is a story that started in Genesis. Death did not exist before Adam sinned. Romans 5:12 says, that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned” (HCSB). God’s holiness and justness demanded a consequence for sin, and only Jesus could be that sacrifice. He was blameless, without sin. But just as importantly, He was a human, in the flesh, who could be our Kinsman Redeemer. That’s why it had to be Jesus. Love was the atonement for our sin, the substitution for our death penalty.

Love was not a license to sin. Let’s not misunderstand, lest we overlook His return, whether it coincides with Rosh Hashanah this year, another year, or not at all. Eventually, He will be coming, and no man knows the hour. The apostle Peter tells us “the Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 HCSB).

If you are a Christian who has wandered down the path of the world’s wisdom and bought into the compromise of sin, take heart. Like the church in Ephesus, repent: “You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:4b-5a HCSB).

And if you have never placed your faith in the one true living God, today is the best day to do it. You can visit this website for step-by-step instructions and information to get you started on your relationship with Him.

Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/people/jesus.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.

1 In the Bible mockery is a behavior and attitude shown by the fool (Psalm 74:22), the wicked (Psalm 1:1), the enemy (Psalm 74:10), the hater of knowledge (Proverbs 1:22; 13:1), the proud (Psalm 119:51; Isaiah 37:17), and the unteachable (Proverbs 15:12). A mocker goes beyond mere lack of judgment to making a conscious decision for evil. Mockers are without a spirit of obedience, teachability, discernment, wisdom, worship, or faith. 1
  https://www.gotquestions.org/God-is-not-mocked.html

     OK, I’ll admit it. I’m a romantic when it comes to Christmas. It gives me such joy to hear Christmas songs about Jesus on secular radio and in the stores. I find myself singing Christmas songs all day long. “O Come Let Us Adore Him,” “O Holy Night,” “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,”…all the traditional songs. One of my favorites is more contemporary. It’s “Immanuel” by Michael Card. The lyrics, the musical arrangement and his voice; to me it’s the perfect Christmas song.

     When we think of the Christmas story, we remember Jesus as the baby in the manger. We can quite easily forget that this is the same Jesus that spoke Creation into existence. His perfect Creation was ruined by our sin and he willingly chose to become our Savior. Such perfect love. The Word of God, the Great Creator, humbling himself to become human; the Word made flesh for us.
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     Christmas time makes it easier to share with others the birth of Jesus. And to talk about why we need a Savior in the first place.  As you prepare for parties, guests, presents and holiday foods, take a few moments to read the Christmas message in Luke 1:26 through Luke 2:40. Then turn to John 1:1-17. Jesus the baby and Jesus the Word made flesh. Immanuel, God with us.
 
     Merry Christmas from all of us here at Truth of Genesis!

     Do you ever wonder why the Bible says so much about blood in connection with salvation?  We read about the blood sacrifices in the Old Testament and about the blood of Christ in the New Testament.  Scripture tells us a lot about what the blood does, has done, and will do.

     In Exodus 12:13 the blood of the sacrifice applied to the doorposts protected the Israelites from the death angel who passed over the dwelling with blood applied.  First Peter 1:1-2 tells about the cleansing work of the blood of Christ in Christians.  Hebrews 9:22 instructs us that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

     The Bible also shows us that redemption comes only by the blood of Christ, it atones, or covers our sins in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:10) and now removes our sins (Romans 5:9-10).  And, Hebrews 10:19 offers us fellowship and communion with God since we can boldly enter the Holiest place, the throne of the Father, through the blood of Jesus.

     But, why blood?  The first clue comes from looking into the original Creation in Genesis.  When God created animals and man, they were made with “nephesh”, or life.  This is the soul, or consciousness principle.  In fact, nephesh is translated as soul 428 times, as life 119 times, as person 30 times, and as creature 9 times.  This is clearly different than plants.  Plants had no nephesh and are understood not to be “alive” in a Scriptural sense, but rather they were metabolic machines to produce food for the nephesh creatures – living animals and mankind, as confirmed in Genesis 1:29-30.

     Man was distinctly different from all other animals in that God created man with the eternal image of God.  Another difference is that the source of nephesh in animals is the ground, but the source of nephesh in Adam was God’s breath.  But a difficulty arose.  When man sinned against God, he became separated from God and began to die, as God had warned (Gen 2:17).  The penalty for sin was death.  And since man was an eternal being, this could only mean eternal death.

     In Leviticus 17:11 it says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that make an atonement for the soul.”  The life of the flesh is the nephesh of the flesh, which was in the blood.  We get a glimpse of this mystery about the blood when God told Cain that the blood of murdered Abel was crying out to God from the ground (Gen 4:10).  Again, in Isa. 53:12, Christ poured out His soul unto death – here “soul” is “nephesh”.

     Also, in the Leviticus text, atonement for the soul is the atonement of the nephesh.  Nephesh is translated as both “life” and “soul” in the same sentence.  There is a wealth of scientific and spiritual truth here.

     Modern science did not realize this fact until about 1620, when scientist William Harvey, a godly Christian man, discovered the circulation of the blood that maintained biological life, both by carrying nourishment to all parts of the body, and carrying away its wastes.
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     The spiritual truth is even more significant.  The “life” of the flesh is actually its “soul”, for “life” and “soul” both translate the same Hebrew word (nephesh) in Lev 17:11.  When blood was offered, it was thus the offering of life itself in substitution for the life of the sinner who deserved to die.

     God abruptly illustrated this to Adam and his wife - that death was the penalty for sin when God slew an animal and skinned it, providing coats of skins to clothe them (covering their sin (Gen 3:21)) after pronouncing that they, too, would die (Gen 3:19).  Blood was first shed as a covering for sin in Genesis chapter 3.  No doubt, Adam and Eve wished they could return to that perfect fellowship they had enjoyed, but they had a problem.
 
     In fact, we all have a problem since we all sin.  How can we return to perfect fellowship with God without paying the full penalty?  That penalty is death; but because we are eternal beings, it is eternal death.  No man could pay for his own sin, get to the end of eternity, and then rejoin fellowship with God, because death is death, and forever is forever!  Also, no man can die for another man, for his blood would inevitably be contaminated by his own sin.
 
     In the Old Testament, the blood of a “clean animal” was required.  Animals do not possess the “image of God”, including the ability to reason about right or wrong, and therefore cannot sin.  Even such clean blood could only serve as a temporary covering and could not really “take away” sin.

     For a permanent solution to the sin problem, nothing less was required than that of the sinless Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.  Since His life was in His blood, He was “made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col 1:20).

     Only God can pay for your sin, and for my sin, to return us to perfect fellowship, because His eternal blood is not contaminated by sin.  But how could He pay for all sins, for everyone?  Because God is infinite, therefore His blood is also infinite in scope and power.  Therefore, He could pay for any number of sinful people.  He not only could, He did, proving His love is infinite!
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     What you must do to receive this forgiveness of sins is to accept this great, eternal, and infinitely powerful love gift that takes away your sins by the blood of the Lamb.  The provision has been made – now reach out and receive eternal life from God.  Ask Jesus to come into your life and heart.

Want to know more about a relationship with Jesus?  www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html

“Coffee,” “be you,” “be good to people,” “good vibes” read the shabby chic signs on the wall in the coffee shop where I sit. Attractive little things on the outside, but why be good to people? Why have good vibes? And isn’t it obvious that a person should be himself? Without truth behind words, they quickly lose their meaning. These phrases evoke emotions but dig no deeper than the surface and leave emptiness inside. Instead of finding fulfillment in truth, people grasp at food, sex, material belongings, and “spiritual” experiences in a desperate attempt to feel full. 

There must be something to fill that hole. There must be something so pure, so powerful, so satisfying that we will long for nothing else. Truth that conquers the lies of the world. But what if there was no hope of such? What if there was no knowledge of truth? Would I want to live in such a world? No, I think I would rather die. Where can thirst-quenching water and satisfying food be found?
  
The Bible makes 139 references to the word “truth.” I’d say that’s a good foundation. Some may quote the verse, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” in John 8:32. But many may skip over the knowing part and just see the freedom promised. But if we back up, just one verse, we clearly see where the truth comes from. “So, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
  
First, Jesus said. We must believe in Him. Later in the book of John we read, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” The way, the truth, and the life. That is the complete package. For those wandering aimlessly, He is the way; for those hopelessly seeking, He is the truth; for those desperate to find meaning, He is life.
  
Second, we must abide in Him. In this place of intimacy, we find sustenance. We abide in him through knowing him through his word. In this world today, we have taken God and His Word out of schools, out of public places, and sometimes even out of our churches. If we have refused to accept the truth of Christ, it is no wonder we are in the jumbled mess we are in today.
  
His creation still cries out his name, but do we as Christians? Do Christians forget their citizenship in heaven and instead also get trapped seeking fulfillment on this earth? 1 Peter 4:17 says, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”  We will be judged when Christ comes again. Let us live in the light of revealed truth. Let us not be afraid to stand firm and to share the truth in this broken world.  ​​

The story goes like this… An atheist sues the government claiming that their faith has no holiday celebrating what they believe.  The judge says that is not the case because atheists have a holiday that is on the calendar every year.  Puzzled, the atheist’s lawyer asks for clarification.  The judge replies, April Fool’s day is the “Atheists national holiday”!  Why?  Psalms 32:1, “The fool says in his heart, there is no god.”  Easter, also on April 1st, 2018, rises above the lesser day of pranks like the best steak rises above cheap, garbage filled hot-dogs.

Easter burst on the world-scene magnifying God’s love and leading humanity back on a clear path to Him.  Whereas April Fool’s day is another historical trick whose actual origin is doubtful.  Like atheism itself, grounded in evolutionary faith, interesting stories abound around the day but not much foundational truth.

One story has “All Fools Day” going back to 1582 when the French changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian.  The New Year began sometime during the last week of March and people who failed to make the switch to January 1st earned the jeers and jokes of the well-informed.   Another story says that the day replaces, Hilaria, a Roman celebration for spring and the end of winter.  The celebration boasted both get-ups and gags.  Weather fans suggest that it has something to do with the capricious weather during that time of the year which often fools us with snow overnight and fifty-one degrees by the end of the day! 

Like the evolutionary thinking, none of this is verified, and comes from the creative mind of man.  Regardless, the contrast of choices in worldviews this year couldn’t be clearer while at the time being immensely symbolic and relevant for our lives today.  Celebrate the most documented, studied, verified and life-changing event in history and faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus or join the fools.  The great evangelist and creationist Henry Morris said, “Indeed a wise person will ‘hearken’ unto good counsel and thus someday ‘inherit glory’.”

Easter is the celebration of a prophecy fulfilled, i.e. trusted and verified.  Its foundation is Genesis which tells us the need for a Savior, and is the bedrock of the gospel message.  That’s why creation and the cross go hand in glove.  Unfortunately, many who call themselves Christians have one foot in both worldviews.  Many “Christians” have been taught secular worldviews that use humanistic religion taught as science.  They don’t realize that the same peddlers of millions of evolutionary years also say humanism is not compatible with the gospel!
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Easter is the day to stop being a fool and kneel at the foot of the cross.  I say kneel because we need to acknowledge Him as Lord and repent of our sins.  No matter who you are, what you’ve done or believed in the past, Jesus is there to meet you.  As the Bible says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near”. (Isaiah 55:6)

The spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of Christ living among us today, and the celebration of “THE” gift which is the only gift which can keep on giving, the love and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

If you listen, really listen, to some of the best “religious” Christmas songs ever written they speak directly to the reason for Jesus being born and our need for a savior.  O Holy Night is such a song.  It begins…

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.  Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees!
 
It’s easy for us to get caught up in family, gifts and having a fun respite from work.  And there is nothing wrong with any of those things, I certainly love spending time with my family, both mine and my wife’s.  And one of my “love languages” is gifts so I love to give and receive thoughtful presents.

But what I want more than anything this Christmas, is the gift of each and every one of my friends and family coming to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, and for the ones who do know Him to have an even deeper and more profound relationship with Him.

Sharing Christ and affirming His Word is something that I, and most Christians, can get better at doing.  But there can be more to sharing Jesus than just wishing someone a “Merry Christmas”.  We need to also defend the truth of His deity and the authenticity of the biblical text.  Remember, Jesus is the Word.  All of the Word!

Truth of Genesis, and other biblical creation organizations, spend much time trying to help people see that perspective.  Through building on the foundation of the Gospel, Genesis, we hope that Christ may be glorified as Creator, Redeemer, Lord and Savior.  The goal is to show that real science and biblical interpretation confirm the accuracy of God’ word and therefore the Gospel of Christ.  As the song says,

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
 
I’m greatly encouraged by people like Karen who is a friend of our ministry.  She takes the opportunity of Christmas to give out apologetic or Christ affirming gifts and notes to people she knows.  This year Karen gave out the DVD “God vs. Evolution”.  By giving out faith affirming material, and learning how to defend the truth ourselves, we can help people reduce some of the barriers the secular world has attempted to build between people and the life giving message Jesus’ birth.

As you sing hymns this Christmas season, think about what Jesus really did by coming to earth on Christmas day.  He brought the light of truth into a dark and dying world as “THE” perfect gift. 

Make it a point at Christmas and throughout the year to build up people’s faith and the authority of scripture.  Give some gifts and send some notes of encouragement that do just that.

O Holy Night concludes with:

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
 
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year from Truth of Genesis!