Tag: NASA

Breaking (Old) News

Why does everyone’s creation stories, from ancient myths onward, talk about there being water in the beginning? And why is this important for the Christian who believes the Bible is God-breathed?

Dale Pollard

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Romans 1:20 

For a moment I want to walk through some newer findings in the realm of secular based science that match the biblical narrative perfectly. 

WATER WAS PRESENT IN THE EARLIEST STAGES OF THE UNIVERSE 

According to Tel Aviv University & NASA researchers (2016): 

 “Astronomers have long held that water—two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom—was a relative latecomer to the universe. They believed that any element heavier than helium had to have been formed in the cores of stars and not by the Big Bang itself. Since the earliest stars would have taken some time to form, mature, and die, it was presumed that it took billions of years for oxygen atoms to disperse throughout the universe and attach to hydrogen to produce the first interstellar ‘water.'”

However, they go on to say, 

“…new research poised for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letters by Tel Aviv University and Harvard University researchers reveals that the universe’s first reservoirs of water may have formed much earlier than previously thought…” (via https://www.aftau.org).

In Genesis (1.2ff), we read that the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. 

Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.” 

There are countless ancient myths from around the world that somehow include this not-so-coincidental detail that in the very beginning, water was present. Whether or not God intended for that element to speak to something other than its order in the account of creation, it’s fitting. God is the maker and maintainer of life— and water is absolutely essential for life to exist. We’re physically alive because of it and we’re spiritually saved through it (I Peter 3.21).

 It’s a thread that satisfyingly runs through the entirety of scripture and it seems as though science is finally beginning to catch up with what God told us thousands of years ago. 

The Cosmic Ocean

Dale Pollard

We’re climbing a rope which hangs from heaven. Occasionally we feel a gentle tug reminding us that truth is tied to the end. For the time being, we’re left with a plethora of puzzles to ponder and countless mysteries to mull over. The Bible’s not boring. It’s mankind’s one and only peek behind the spiritual veil. Every once in a while we seem to be gifted with a discovery that further bolsters biblical claims. 

In an article by Robotics and Automation News (2021) they cover an interesting astronomical discovery and it’s incredible. They write the following, 

“Space agencies like the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), among others, invest millions of dollars in searching for water on other planets. So, when water was found in a gaseous state near quasar (a massive black hole), it was indeed a big deal! Yes, scientists have discovered a huge cloud containing more water than what exists on Earth! In fact, it’s 140 trillion times more than the Earth! Two teams of astronomers from NASA discovered water in a reservoir in 2011. It is one of the largest and most distant water reservoirs detected in the universe.”

In the beginning there was water. The Bible opens with a depiction of what was before there was anything at all. 

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen.1.2). 

Interestingly enough, there’s no mention of the Spirit of God creating the water itself. Now, this doesn’t mean that God didn’t create the water but it also leads the mind to connect God and water together. Water is a common thread that runs throughout scripture and we have examples of the Lord using this essential element to bring, sustain, and also take life. Science keeps running into God no matter how often it tries to run away from Him!

A Light In The Dark

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail

Wherever light is, there is no darkness. That almost sounds silly and maybe a little obvious. Light and darkness in the Bible often depict the concept of good and evil but nowhere is the impression given that the dark is equal to light. In both the Old and the New Testaments, we find the concept of light and darkness. It represents the believers and the nonbelievers and it also represents good and evil. Biblical writers understood God to be the ultimate Light— the ultimate goodness of the world. When John refers to Jesus as “light” in his gospel this is the concept that he is trying to get across. Jesus is pure. He’s a beacon of hope— he is Light. Strangely, scientists are still baffled by light. NASA spent a mountain of money attempting to come up with a color so dark that it could even consume light but it just isn’t possible. 

No darkness can stifle the light of Jesus.

To this day He is shining bright through His followers to ensure that this dark world can see Him and that means we have an important job to do. In gospel of John, we find this profound statement, “…the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). At this point John begins another section on light and more is revealed about the two contrasting realities. There is the light, who is Jesus, and those who did not love the light because their deeds were evil. The reason they rejected the Light was because they were separated from it by their own wickedness. Evil is done with ease in the dark and we tend to fool ourselves into thinking that we are hidden and secure under its cover. 

Alaska’s crime rate significantly drops in the summer because the sun shines continually, but in the winter months the crime rate is much higher. It’s easier to get away with evil in darkness. Notice the bold statement following this, “Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:20). Light exposes the wickedness, and exposure is not something an evil person desires.

 Today lights are used by doctors to shine down your throat, in your ear, and to expose any potential problems. We have automatic porch lights and flood lights as well as “brights” for those backroads. Jesus is here to expose the sins of others and welcome those that come to Him. This also goes to show that an individual can claim to love the Light, while living in darkness— this person hates the Light. Action speaks louder than words and in a spiritual sense this could not be more accurate. Do your actions reflect that you love the Light? 

Dale Pollard

Space & Scripture 

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail

THE WAY UP THERE

Dale Pollard

“If you held a grain of sand on the tip of your finger at arm’s length, that is the part of the universe you are seeing — just one little speck of the universe…”

NASA Administrator  Bill Nelson

Isaiah Chapter 40

“Surely you understand who made the earth. It is the Lord who sits above the circle of the earth.” 

V.21b-22a

“He rolled open the skies like a piece of cloth…He stretched out the skies like a tent to sit under.”

V.22b

Lift up your eyes on high and see: 

“who created these? Who created all those armies in the sky?

Who knows every star by name?

“He is very strong and powerful,

so not one of these stars is lost.

Surely you know the truth.
Surely you have heard.

The Lord is the God who lives forever!”

V.26-28a

Launching Audacious Dreams

Neal Pollard

I was too young to remember any of the Apollo missions (the first moon landing was six months before my birth). As a child of the ’80s, I remember the NASA space shuttle missions (there was a total of 135 of them) including the two disastrous ones. In 2021, a new era is underway. This one is being driven, not by government, but by private funding. This new chapter in space flight and exploration is a space race between well-known billionaires, Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic), Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin), and Elon Musk (SpaceX). I missed Sir Richard’s flight in the rocket plane, Unity, on July 11th. But this morning I watched the entire maiden voyage of Bezos’ rocket, New Shepard, as he reached a height of 66.5 miles in the suborbital flight carrying Jeff, brother Mark, and both the oldest and youngest people to fly into space (Oliver Daeman is 18 and aviation pioneer Wally Funk is 82). From take off to touch down, the flight took 11 minutes.

These new ventures, like their predecessors, are sure to fire the imagination of the next generation, develop new technology, and generate national pride. The new frontier, for now, seems to be to launch space tourism. It dawned on me that those bankrolling these ventures and putting in the time and manpower to realize these goals creates multiple challenges to overcome.

It’s hard. 
It’s expensive.
It’s risky.
It’s frustrating.

Sure, there was a little flight training for the four passengers of New Shepard (classroom instruction, demonstrations, and practice), but the company website adds these facts: “Blue Origin has been flight testing New Shepard and its redundant safety systems since 2012. The program has had 15 successful consecutive missions including three successful escape tests, showing the crew escape system can activate safely in any phase of flight” (Source). Today’s flight was originally slated for 2018 (Source). Fortune Magazine says that Bezos has spent $5.5 billion of his own money on Blue Origin to this point (Source). Why expend the effort, money, energy, and risk? Men like these billionaires have proven they know what sells and how to turn a profit, but it also taps into the daring and adventure of the human spirit.

The dreams and visions of Joel 2:28-32, fulfilled on Pentecost when the church was established, are the miracles, signs, and wonders by which the apostles proved the truth of their message. In context, those dreams and visions were specific, supernatural demonstrations of the Holy Spirit. But Jesus wants us to share His dream and vision, first articulated in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We call it the Great Commission. He spelled out the game plan for His apostles in Acts 1:8. Start local, move regional, and end up global. Share the gospel. Reach the lost. Grow the church. Over and over and over again! We’re going to have to dream big and conjure of visions of great things. We serve the same God the apostles did.

But, audacious dreams are hard, expensive, risky, and frustrating. They require us to change and grow. They cost us time, talent, and treasure. They may cost us friendships and relationships. They will include failures and misses as well as successes and hits. Yet, we are reaching higher than even outer space. Our ultimate goal is heaven! 

As impressed as I am with these billionaires’ ambitions for outer space, we are children of the Creator and heirs of the Most High. His resources as infinite. His promises are sure. His mission is clear. Let’s launch ambitious dreams for Him. Lost souls are counting on it! 

Creative Commons: January 23, 2019: NS-10
Platform: New Shepard
Location: West Texas Launch Site
Photographer: Blue Origin

CHANGING YOUR ORBIT

Neal Pollard

On September 16, 1991, the space shuttle Discovery dodged a chunk of a Soviet Cosmos rocket.  It came within 10 miles of the van-sized debris.  If Discovery had not changed its orbit, it would have been so close a call that it would have been yet another tragedy for our then active space program.  Mission commander John Creighton said it was “very simple” to maneuver, but absolutely vital to ensure the crew’s survival.

When I mention “conversion” in a spiritual context, what do you think about? Following his mention of Elijah’s exemplary prayer life, James ends with a big dose of encouragement.  James uses the word translated “convert” or “bring back.” It is an active word, meaning we cause one to change his or her belief or course of conduct, with a focus on that one then turning in the right direction.  The end result, conversion, is the state of their having done that.

To me, it is a blessing to see somebody back in attendance and being involved after they have been away from the Lord and His church.  It would be better for a brother or sister to never fall away, but it is definitely a joy to see one have the determination and courage to come back home.

Doesn’t heaven view it the same way? Jesus says in one of the “lost parables,” “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:7).  In conversion, one is changing what their life is orbiting.  It is no longer sin and self, but God.  What a blessing to see someone go from a path of destruction to the way of life! May this perspective drive our actions in reaching out to our “erring brethren.”