Signature of Creation
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Personal handwritten signatures bear unique characteristics of the signer. Ordinarily the distinctiveness of the signer is difficult to conceal. Handwriting experts have the ability to identify genuine as well as fraudulent signatures. Sources claim individual handwriting may reveal characteristics of the signer and do not change significantly over time. The term…
Read MoreBurgess Shale Discovery
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 A permanent plaque in the Canadian Rockies Yoho National Park reads: Burgess Shale was placed on the World Heritage list at the 1980 meeting of the UNESCO world heritage committee as a site of outstanding universal value forming part of the national heritage of mankind. Dating from Middle Cambrian time more…
Read MoreDoubt About Darwin
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Stephen C. Meyer’s Darwin’s Doubt (HarperOne, 2013) is sure to reignite lively discussions concerning intelligent design. Many scientists decry the ID concept unscientific, not to mention their underlying doubts that a Designer has worked in nature to produce our finely-tuned universe, earth’s first life, and the sudden appearance of new species…
Read MoreUniversal Permanence
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 How permanent is our universe? When God created man, did he intend their lives to continue on earth forever? Was human life on this planet the ultimate goal of the Creator? Do the millions of created animal and plant species exist as a supporting cast to enrich human life? Did the…
Read MoreDivine Master Plan
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Our personal theology involves far-ranging beliefs concerning fundamental realities about God. There is no aspect of life unrelated to theology because God is Creator of everything. Man’s ability to consider theology sets us far above all other life forms. The Image of God, possessed uniquely by humanity, enables us to contemplate…
Read MoreProgrammed Senescence
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Progressive deterioration of physiological function? Children cannot relate to an overwhelming fact of life of the human condition–senescence. The focus of children, instead, is to understand the reality of personal growth expected of them as they become older. Until children approach teenage, they focus on their own developing skills as students…
Read MoreAdvancing Senescence
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Discussion of the characteristics of life is usually linked to qualities of developing, growing, or flourishing. Not often is the topic of life’s decline mentioned in the same discussion. For this conversation, we will conflate the two concepts. If an organism is said to be living, it manifests the major characteristics…
Read MoreWhat is Life?
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Biology reference books list seven major characteristics of life. These sources draw sharp distinctions between living and non-living matter. These distinctions relate to the differences between interactions of matter, energy, and forces in the world of life and the world of non-life. What is the difference, we ask? As children, the…
Read MoreWalnut Sabbatical
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Our unusual title is suggested by the treasured black walnut tree in our northwest Illinois front yard. Over the years this tree has provided our family multiple levels of enjoyment. Apart from its provision of tasty treats when we take the time to break the tough shells we’ve saved, our beautifully…
Read MoreWorship Stimulants
By: Jim Virkler; ©2013 Our theistic belief system is supported by two God-provided revelations–the revelation of the world of nature (general revelation) and the revelation of scripture (special revelation). In our God discovery, these two revelations are not either/or but rather, both/and. Our blog has taken the stance that general revelation supports and clarifies the…
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