"FAITH and Unfinished Business"

Comments about God, faith, joy, sorrow and growth

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Intended, Prepared, Accomplished and Maintained

An Example of Intelligent Design

Intended, Prepared, Accomplished and Maintained

(Facts copied from Moody Press)


The Dromedary Camel (Arabian Camel) dwells in harsh conditions. Water is hard to find, travel is extensive, and food can be scarce as well. The climate is exhaustingly hot, and dry. A camel is equipped and may be required to carry heavy burdens and to answer to a demanding master. This master is capable of training such an animal as no other can be, and adjust his needs to what the camel can do.


When hungry, and nothing organic is available, a camel can survive on your leather bridle, a piece of rope, your tent . . . or your shoes. His mouth is tough enough to manipulate a cactus.


The camel’s 80 lb hump is filled with fat- fuel for his body. It is not filled with water, as some believe. Is it just coincidence that this animal is able to survive in the very conditions in which he is found to live?


No food, no problem. The camel survives on the fuel reserve in his own body.
When the camel does get to water, he can consume 27 gallons in 10 minutes.
It travels to the camel’s stomach, where it is almost immediately absorbed by every part of his body. Though when scientists tested his stomach only 10 minutes after drinking the water, it was empty.


In a day, he can carry 400 lbs across 100 miles of hot dry desert, and never stop for food or drink. In fact, he can go 8 days without water. But by then, he has lost 227 lbs. – without being ill. The camel’s billions of cells have lost their water, and are flat. So he looks flat. The camel’s blood is 94% water, just a human’s blood contains. Without water, heat and sun rob only a little water from his blood, losing up to 40% of the water, and still he remains healthy. After obtaining water he regains the 227 lbs he lost!


When humans or most animals lose only 5- 10 % of their body’s water, they can become blind, deaf and insane. At only 12% loss, your blood thickens to the point your heart cannot pump it any longer. A camel can survive and even thrive on much less body water.


A camel also retains water in unique ways. A specially designed nose that saves water traps warm, moist air from the lungs and absorbs it in the nasal membranes.


The system works to cool the animal as well, at as much as 18 degrees cooler that than the rest of his body.

If the camel developed from a sea animal to this remarkably opposite creature, would he then magically acquire every single feature necessary and specific to his environment?

The camel has specially engineered sand shoes for feet. Wide hooves get even wider when stepped on. Each foot has two long, bony toes with tough, leathery skin between the soles, are a little like webbed feet. They don’t sink in the soft sand, and are capable of taking heavy loads.

Nostrils containing special muscles are able to close the openings to keep out sand, but still allowing air to breathe. Eyelashes arch over the eyes like screens, keeping out sand and sun. Yet the camel can see clearly. An inner eyelid acts like a windshield wiper cleans off any specks that get in the eye.


As the camel grows, special knee pads form over his front knees. They allow the camel to fall – onto his knees, to lower himself in a lying position.


The camel is equipped with many supplies the desert family can use. Rich milk that makes butter and cheese, thick fur that sheds and is woven into cloth, and young camels are a rich source of meat.


The camel, need to survive long periods of time without life sustenance. So he was designed for a specific job. His body endures the time, and supplies extra reserve. The camel must combat stinging sand. So his body was designed for the job. The camel must tolerate intense heat and dry environment. Yet his body was precisely designed to meet the challenge. He often is required to bear burdens much heavier than those other animals can carry. His feet were designed to handle it, in an environment where it was necessary, part to counterpart.

He is required. He was designed to handle it. The Dromedary camel – was partnered with a people who would need him for the task. People who lived in the same conditions as he. His cousin, the Bactrian Camel lives in extreme weather conditions in the deserts of Asia, where he co-habits with the indigenous people. Specifically matched.


How could these fine details have accidently collided into being? How could the resulting creature develop the particulars necessary for his environment before the fact ? This animal did not explode into the amazing package that it is. Atoms did not split and multiply until it accidentally grew parts essential for a camel.


What amazes be beyond the devised creation in the camel, is the underlying element of care that was needed. I believe the creator cared enough about this not-so-attractive creature to make him feel comfortable in his uncomfortable surroundings. He cared enough to give him specific and magnificence tools. He cared enough about the people of this land to pair them with a dedicated and capable servant.


Again, I prefer to believe – with sound reasoning- that an intelligent designer intended his creation, prepared it for its explicit circumstances, accomplished the goal, and maintains his needs even now.


John 1: 3 says, "All things were made by him and without him was not anything made that was made."

[Facts by Bob Devine from Moody/September 1981 (Moody Press). ]


April Boyer

12 comments:

  1. That is a common misconception made concerning evolution. "Fine details" didn't and do not "accidentally" collide into being. Besides, that is describing abiogenesis.

    Atoms splitting as you describe, are also the process of fusion, not life or inanimate objects, for that matter. Atoms existed first, then molecules, etc.

    If one takes the time to study geology, physics, biology and evolution, the evidence is inarguable. These theories do not discount nor count for a deity or deities. Evolutions simply explains how life continued AFTER it began.

    ~ Anyvoril

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  2. I misspoke in that context. Of course, you can look at it this way: God created all that there is; including any science that is, and was, and continues. The point is - God cared, and carefully designed each and every atom. There is no evidence in HIS science-text book, that He created animals that changed or adapted to different environments. I prefer His version, I stated my opinion, I stand by faith.

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  3. So, and I ask this without malice nor intent to offend - you prefer faith in a book which may or may not be written by the authors stated . . . and that a god (I am assuming Yhwh?) created everything that we can hear, touch and feel? Even when there is no evidence to suggest that any such thing could happen?

    ~ Anyvoril

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  4. I have to ask - why? Why put yourself through that sort of torture of feeling you're not worthy except proverbally covered in blood by a god-man that supposedly died a torturous and needless death - which, btw, the death it self was not a sacrifice, since that supposed god-man was "resurrected".

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  5. However, to add to that answer: I do believe that creation is proof, and that prophecy I see fulfilled is proof enough. My evidence is the Word itself.
    Thanks for your comments.

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  6. To answer Andre
    I have to ask you 'why not' believe ? Have you found something that gives you more hope?
    The only torture I have endured was self-inflicted. I gave it up to Jesus, and there is no more. The sacrificial blood that covered my sin set me free from eternal death and damnation. I don't have to worry about not being worthy. Jesus Christ has made me worthy.
    He suffered because he came to earth as a flesh-covered man. He felt the pain and the humiliation just as any other man would. He did not look forward to the torture and death, or in leaving his friends/brothers in such a way. He had a choice. He chose to make the sacrifice because he loved us, and did not want to see any of us suffer the payment for sin. He took it on himself.

    It boils down to this. You choose. You choose to believe what the bible says, or you do not.

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  7. You're certainly correct. One does choose to believe. After all, that is what belief is - but it is almost a physical choice, since when you and your brain wakes up in the morning, you begin to believe again. You cannot go every second of the day making a conscious effort to believe - our brains simply cannot do that.

    However, even an atheist such as I can believe in certain things. I believe that the sun will appear each morning, or at least the light from it, because that is what I have been accustomed to seeing it do during my memorable lifetime. Not once have the sun not appeared. Therefore, I believe that it will. It hasn't given me a reason otherwise. Things that occur repeatedly give reason for belief.

    I have found the equivalent of the "peace of mind" that you describe. I don't need the soothing ritual of prayer and meditation or the numbing effect of believing a comfortable myth. I also get the full sense of camaraderie found amongst a congregation of friendly, like-minded believers. What I don't have to deal with is the exclusivism of the "us-versus-them" mentality (which is likewise an age-old source of false comfort).

    The best place to find it, I believe, is in the family and amongst friends.

    But what belief is this that you speak of that would give me more hope than I already have? Again, like belief, hope is a conscious effort, and one can hope towards many different actions, things and goals. Ultimately, it's up to an individual to help themselves reach that goal, with support of others. Of course, those pesky laws of physics can often get in the way of a goal or action.

    More on the existence of god(s) and the afterlife later. Thanks for the interesting conversation so far! ;)

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  8. I believe that on rising every day, my system of faith is renewed- especially if I continue to draw strength from Christ Jesus and His word, in communication. It is easy to believe in what is seen, and in what is expected from experience. It is quite another to believe by faith alone. To believe by faith means to give up ourselves. The choice I’m speaking of is the initial choice.

    Yet, if a dedicated dieter, or an athlete must make choices every part of every day to either ignore the chocolate cake, or to keep moving to stay healthy, then why shouldn’t our brains be capable of consciously making the effort to believe what - ever we believe? But as we grow, the belief, the faith becomes part of us, it is a part of our make-up; just as dieting or running is a part of the dieter’s changed life, or the runner’s pattern for life.


    What occurs repeatedly for the believer in Christ (no matter what denominational name you give him) is the peace, the answers to prayer, the growth in wisdom and knowledge, the improved life-style, the lifting of burdens, reasons for joy, hope for a future beyond death. Those are reasons for belief.

    [It’s great to have a support system and mutual admiration. Nothing wrong with that. I’m sorry you don’t find comfort in prayer or meditation. How can you, when you do not believe in anyone greater than yourself - in which to receive comfort?

    If your reference to ‘exclusivism’ refers to a one-God belief system, sorry I cannot change your opinion of that. It is taught in my bible, my expert source for all that I believe in, what I am stand on - that there is one true God. The same is true for other religions that exclusively believe in their own god/gods. I chose to believe in one source of power, light and bread - instead of believing in multiple sources of that have offer nothing but “making myself better by being better”. I admit to being fallible. God is my strength, inner and outer.
    “Us vs Them” ? It sounds like you have been beaten up emotionally and are bitter of the outcome. But speaking for only myself, I am not trying to compete with anyone, nor am I in any way superior.


    [But what belief is this that you speak of that would give me more hope than I already have? ] You ask “Why should I put myself through the torture of feeling unworthy . . .” in response to my comment that I choose to believe in a book, and in a God that created everything. I answered yes, and that gives me my hope. I can’t imagine something or someone that can offer more hope, more answers, more peace. If you are truly at peace within your self, I congratulate you. But as a fallible human being, we are not designed to endure alone. I believe we need a supernatural help.

    [Thanks for the interesting conversation so far! ;) ]
    Thank you! I don’t know how we can continue in this forum atmosphere. Maybe others will comment. I’ll try. But I think you know that I am set in my belief, and can’t be changed or expect to be changed by scientific or social conclusions. I also cannot continue to use this same space for lengthy answers. I’ll see if I can set something else up.

    Care,
    AprilB

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  9. Fair enough. I too will look into alternatives. ;)

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  10. I appreciate the sincere gentility of this very open, from-the-heart "conversation" and look forward to reading, perhaps participating in the future continuation. Smiles~Marilyn Sue

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  11. Yes Anonymous there is a God and science proves it. I've studied both sides of the evolution/creation coin. There is more scientific evidence to prove creation or intelligent design. In order for this world to exist many factors must be set in motion together. For example plants and bees, without bees plants can't procreate, they can't even produce fruit without the bees to pollinate them. This cannot happen with evolution, the fish would crawl up on land to find it barren. Why? Because the bees had not evolved, so the fish that crawled out of the water would die for lack of food.
    How many years has it been since scientists in laboratories have tried to create life? Over seventy years and all they've been able to do is change what already exists. That is not creating life. If they can't do it in a lab how could it happen by an accidental mixture of substances. Even Darwin knew he was wrong. Read what he wrote toward the end of his life. He said that he thought fossil evidence would prove his theory, but realized it never would. I could give you a list of reasons why it took intelligence to create this world, but you should do the research. People want to believe in evolution.
    ang dee

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