Puritan Corner - Stay away from the "pit"

"The best course to prevent falling into the pit—is to keep at the greatest distance."
by Thomas Brooks (1608-1680)
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: Proverbs 26:27

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 21

"Psalm 21:
The Psalm contains thanksgiving for the LORD’s deliverance (verses 1-7, assurance of the king’s future victories by his subjects (verses 8-12), and a final prayer (verse 13).

The first part (of Psalm 21), is a thanksgiving for victory; the last

part is an anticipation of future victories in the LORD through the king-general.

Two scenarios of victory provide a context for praise and prayer to the Commander-in-Chief of Israel’s king-general.
I. A Present-Past Scenario of Praise: Grounded upon Victories Accomplished in the Lord (21:1-6).
II. A Present-Future Scenario of Prayer and Praise: Grounded upon Victories Anticipated in the Lord (21:7-13).

Psalm 21:1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall He rejoice!
Though by the king here we may understand King David, who composed this Psalm, yet it may be much better explained of the King Messiah.

Psalm 21:2 Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.
The heart's desire of everyone who ever lived is to live forever.

Psalm 21:4 He asked life of thee, [and] thou gavest [it] him, [even] length of days for ever and ever.
The first part of the verse most likely pertains to preservation of life in battle, and the second part to perpetuation of the dynasty.
--We know that the gift of eternal life is from God.
--We also know that Jesus rose from the grave, paving the way for you and me to be resurrected unto eternal life as well.
Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Psalm 21:8 Thine hand shall find out all Thine enemies: Thy right hand shall find out those that hate Thee.
The Right Hand of God (Jesus Christ), has defeated His enemies and

our enemies. He defeated sin on the cross, and defeated death when He rose from the grave.

Psalm 21:9 Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of Thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in His wrath, and the fire shall devour them.
The word rendered "oven" means either an "oven" or a "furnace."
It is rendered "furnace and furnaces" in (Gen. 15:17; Neh. 3:11; 12:38; Isa. 31:9); and here.
"Oven" or "ovens," in (Exodus 8:3; Lev. 2:4; 7:9; 11:35; Lev. 26:26; Lam. 5:10; Hosea 7:4, 7:6- 7; Mal. 4:1).
It does not occur elsewhere.

The meaning here is that the wicked would be consumed or destroyed "as if" they were such a burning oven; as if they were set on fire, and burned up.

Psalm 21:11 For they intended evil against Thee: They imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able [to perform].
.... against the Lord, 

--whose law is transgressed, 

--and who is despised and reflected upon as a lawgiver."

BooksOfTheBible

Creation Moment 2/28/2026 - Uranus and the Glory of God

"The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has once again expanded our horizons, this time by mapping Uranus’s upper atmosphere in three dimensions. An intriguing article in Geophysical Research

Letters reveals the latest JWST atmospheric measurements, highlighting glowing auroral bands, unexpected dark regions, and the peculiar influence of Uranus’s wildly tilted magnetic field.

JWST Discovers the Vertical Structure of Uranus’ Ionosphere (Tiranti et al., Geophysical Research Letters, 19 February 2026)

The findings are not only fascinating from a planetary science perspective but also open the door to deeper reflection on the origins of such phenomena. The paper mentions several unexpected phenomena that defy earlier predictions.

Uranus’s Peculiar Orientation and Magnetic Field
Unlike most planets, Uranus rotates on its side, with an axial tilt of about 98 degrees. This unusual orientation means its magnetic field is not only tilted but also offset from the planet’s center. JWST’s

observations revealed that this lopsided magnetosphere directly influences auroral bands observed around Uranus, as well as regions of reduced emissions that defy simple explanations. Temperature estimates also defy previous measurements, as the planet’s upper atmosphere continues to cool, with temperatures averaging around 426 K, lower than previously measured.

Giving details on these observations and its similarities to other Jovian (fluid-dominated) planets such as Jupiter, the research team mentioned:

“We identify two bright emission regions at 50–110°W and 220–290°W, near the auroral regions. A distinct emission and density depletion occurs between 190–240°W, possibly reflecting magnetic topology influences, analogous to ionospheric dark regions at Jupiter” (Tiranti et al., 2026).

The depletion between 190–240°W suggests that Uranus’s magnetic field lines are arranged in a way that limits the precipitation of charged particles into the atmosphere in that region. Importantly, rather than being simply misaligned, this suggests that Uranus’s magnetic field is actively shaping atmospheric and ionospheric activity into structured, non-random patterns.

The parallel with Jupiter, where magnetic geometry produces auroral “dark regions”, is particularly noteworthy. Such structural similarities among fluid-dominated planets indicate that magnetospheric architecture follows coherent physical principles rather than chaotic processes. These ordered regions of activity and inactivity point to deeper systemic regularities governing planetary magnetic fields. For some, such coherence invites reflection on the orderly operations of natural laws.

More Conundrums for Consensus
Within the broader cosmological framework, often referred to as the Big Bang model, the universe is understood to have originated from an initial high-density state and to have expanded and cooled over billions of years. Planetary systems are then thought to form through accretion processes, in which dust and gas gradually coalesce into larger bodies.

However, certain features of Uranus, 

--including its unusual axial tilt, 

--complex magnetic topology, 

--and structured ionospheric behavior, 

present challenges to this framework: Tilted Axis Problem: From a purely naturalistic standpoint, as reported by NASA Space News

(2024), Uranus’s extreme axial tilt is often attributed to one or more massive collision early in its history. In this scenario, a large impactor struck the proto-Uranus, reorienting its rotation axis while allowing the planet to remain gravitationally bound to the Sun. 

*However, this hypothesis raises unresolved questions. An impact energetic enough to tilt Uranus by approximately 98 degrees would presumably have had significant dynamical consequences, potentially affecting its internal structure, satellite system, and long-term orbital stability. Yet Uranus today follows a remarkably stable orbit and maintains an organized system of moons and rings. Additionally, its magnetosphere, though unusually offset and tilted relative to its rotational axis, remains coherent and functional. While the configuration of Uranus’s moons and rings is often interpreted as consistent with a past collision and subsequent re-accretion, comparative studies note differences between Uranus and neighboring Neptune that are not easily reconciled within a single explanatory framework. 

In another article by NASA Space News (2024), NASA makes the following striking admission:

“One question that remains is why Neptune , Uranus’ sister planet, did not experience a similar collision. Both ice giants formed under similar conditions, yet Neptune does not have the same extreme tilt. This leads some scientists to consider alternative explanations, such as the possibility that Uranus once had a large moon that gradually shifted its axis over time.” 

Offset Magnetic Field: Another difficulty for standard planetary formation and dynamo models arises from Uranus’s highly offset and tilted magnetic field. Dynamo theory explains planetary magnetic fields as the result of electrically conducting fluid motion within a planet’s interior. Yet Uranus’s magnetosphere is markedly asymmetric, with its magnetic axis both significantly tilted and substantially displaced from the planet’s center.

Conventional dynamo models often predict more globally symmetric field geometries and relatively uniform ionospheric distributions. However, observations indicate that Uranus’s unusual magnetic topology channels charged particles unevenly, producing bright auroral emissions in some longitudes and pronounced depletion

regions in others. 

Although similar longitudinal asymmetries are observed in Jupiter’s magnetosphere, Uranus’s extreme offset and geometry remain unexplained. These recurring anomalies suggest a deficit in the conventional dynamo and accretion-based explanations, as they cannot account for observed magnetic asymmetries.Cooling Atmosphere: Uranus’s upper atmosphere continues to cool, contrary to expectations of equilibrium over billions of years. 

As Tiranti et al. confirm:

“Our observed profiles show a modest temperature enhancement between 3,000–4,000 km, followed by a reduced cooling rate at higher altitudes, which is consistent with heating occurring below or near the exobase…The observed temperatures suggest that Uranus’ thermospheric energy balance cannot be explained by collisional heat transfer alone. In a purely collisional regime strong spatial gradients and cooling with altitude would be expected, as energy is deposited locally and transferred efficiently to neutrals. The weak longitudinal gradients and elevated temperatures at high altitude imply additional heating or redistribution processes such as gravity wave dissipation or thermal conduction.”

This observation underscores unresolved tensions within contemporary planetary models, raising broader questions about how fully current long-age formation scenarios account for such atmospheric anomalies. The authors note that Uranus shows a “modest temperature enhancement” around 3,000–4,000 km, followed by a reduced cooling rate at higher altitudes. 

These findings indicate that Uranus’s thermospheric energy balance is more complex than previously assumed. In a strictly collisional regime, one would expect stronger spatial gradients and more pronounced cooling with altitude. These puzzles highlight the limits of the simplified atmospheric models currently common in naturalistic explanations. Standard planetary frameworks are currently unable to sufficiently account for the fine-tuned anomalies observed in planetary systems.

More Evidence for A Young Universe?
The cooling of Uranus’s atmosphere is particularly intriguing when considered in light of a young solar system model. If Uranus were billions of years old, its atmosphere should have reached thermal equilibrium long ago. The continued cooling may therefore suggest a shorter timescale, consistent with a universe measured in thousands rather than billions of years.

The study itself acknowledges the mystery of the temperature anomalies:

“Uranus remains part of the broader ‘giant planet energy crisis,’ where the upper atmosphere is observed to be much hotter than expected based on solar input” (Tiranti et al., 2026).

Such unexplained heating and cooling trends point to gaps in conventional cosmology, but they also resonate with the idea of a universe still young, dynamic, and intentionally ordered.

In addition to this, the persistence of magnetic fields across planets poses a challenge to old-universe models. Magnetic fields decay over time, and yet Uranus’s field remains strong and complex. This aligns more naturally with a young universe, where magnetic fields have not had sufficient time to dissipate.

Intelligent Design Features in Uranus’s Magnetosphere
The JWST findings reveal auroral bands shaped by Uranus’s tilted magnetosphere. Although often admired for their aesthetics, auroras represent far more than this, as they result from the interaction of solar wind with planetary magnetic fields, dissipating energy and protecting atmospheres from erosion. Uranus’s unusual auroras may serve energy regulation functions, channeling charged particles in complex patterns in ways that stabilize its atmosphere.

The precision of the ‘strange’ behavior may suggest this, as the authors note:

“The vertical distribution of number density appears largely uniform across longitudes, except for a localized decrease in density around 190–240°W… linked to variations in magnetic field topology” (Tiranti et al., 2026).

Such precision in how magnetic fields shape atmospheric behavior updates scientists’ understanding of how physical laws lead to atmospheric structures in unexpected ways.

Uranus Declares the Glory of God
The James Webb Space Telescope’s mapping of Uranus’s upper

atmosphere has unveiled a planet of profound mystery. Its tilted axis, offset magnetosphere, and cooling atmosphere challenge conventional cosmology. From the perspective of a young universe, these features make sense as part of a system that is still dynamic and fresh. From the perspective of design, they reveal purpose in what might otherwise be dismissed as anomaly.

Psalm 19:1 reminds us: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Uranus’s tilted axis and warped magnetosphere, far from being meaningless oddities, can be seen as part of a grand design that points to intentionality in creation.

Uranus’ unique properties stand as a testament to the intricacy of creation and remind us that the cosmos is not merely the product of chance but the handiwork of a Creator who delights in complexity and order. 

As we gaze upon Uranus through the lens of JWST, we are reminded that science and faith need not be at odds. Instead, they can converge in wonder at the mysteries of the universe, mysteries that ultimately declare the glory of God." CEH

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 20

"Psalm 20 there is first a petition for the king (verses 1-5), then the divine assurance that victory is certain (verses 6-8); finally, the psalm closes with a prayer (verse 9).

Psalm 20, in anticipation of a military campaign, commemorates a 3-phrased ceremony that is regularly conducted by the people in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief on behalf of the king-general.
I. An Offering of Their Prayers (20:1-5);
II. A Confirmation of Their Confidence (20:6-8);
III.A Reaffirmation of Their Dependence (20:9):

Psalm 20:1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
The “day of trouble” can be a day of opportunity for the LORD to

demonstrate His glorious power for those who know and worship Him.
Psalm 20:2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
“From the sanctuary … out of Zion”:
These are designations about the place of God’s symbolic presence in the ark which David had recaptured and installed in a tabernacle on Mt. Zion.
Psalm 20:9 Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call."
BooksOfTheBible

Creation Moment 2/27/2026 - What one would expect from a DESIGNER

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, 

and He that formed thee from the womb, 

I am the LORD that maketh all things; 

that stretcheth forth the heavens alone;

that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself; 

I have made the earth, and created man upon it: 

I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, 

and all their host have I commanded.

Isaiah 44:24/45:12 

"Evolutionary theory predicts a living world crowded with substandard
designs. But the latest science has discovered just the opposite — designs so advanced they are at the limit of the possible." 

Discovery

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 19

"Psalm 19 naturally falls into three parts: God’s revelation in

creation (verses 1-6), God’s revelation in the law (verses 7-11), and the response of the man of faith (verses 12-14).

The point of the first six verses is that the heavenly bodies are objective proof that a powerful, creative God exists.

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.
The heavens are God’s preachers in the sky who proclaim 24 hours a day the truth that exists (verses 1-2); furthermore, they speak a universal language (verses 3-4).
Now when the sun gets on the horizon, may we think that the powers

of darkness prevail, and the evidence of His faithfulness grows dim. But throughout the twenty-four hours He leaves not himself without witness. To those who fear that their way is hid from the Lord, and that His watchcare is withdrawn, He says: Isaiah 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these, that brings out their host by number: He calls them all by name; by the greatness of His might, and for that He is strong in power, not one is lacking. As far as the lights of heaven shine, so far goes the message of God’s mercy. As unsearchable as the expanse of heaven is the length and breadth and height and depth of His infinite love; and as free as is the vision of God’s glory to the eyes of men

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the

simple.
On the other hand, God’s special revelation is His law.
It is described by five synonyms: “law, testimony, statutes, commandment,” and “judgments” (verses 7-9).
His law is precious and desirable (verse 10).

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
The man of faith can respond only with a prayer that he be kept from both hidden sins (verse 12), and willful sins (verse 13); that what he says may be acceptable to the Lord; and that even what he thinks may be pleasing to God (verse 14).

The human race stands accountable to Him because of His non-verbal and verbal communications.

In the light of these intentions, Psalm 19 eloquently summarizes two prominent vehicles of God’s self-disclosure.
I. God’s General Self-Disclosure in the World (19:1-6). 

A. The Publication of the Skies (19:1-4b);

B. The Prominence of the Sun (19:4c-6).
II. God’s Special Self-Disclosure in the World (19:7-14).
A. The Attributes of the Word (19:7-9);
B. An Appreciation for the Word (19:10-11);
C. The Application of the Word (19:12-14).

Psalm 19:12,13 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults]. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
Every day speaks to the following one, even as the day that went before it spoke to it, and each day has its own message. Its history is an echo of the voice of God, and if man had but ears to hear, he

would perceive that the things which happen from day to day proclaim the presence and power of God. And even night, with her impressive silence, reveals the Most High in the solemn hush and stillness. In the great primeval forests, the winds seem, with songs without words, to declare the presence of the Most High. There is something there, in the stillness of the night, as weird-like and so solemn, which has made unbelief retreat, and caused faith to lift up her eye, and see more in the heavens at night than she had seen by day: “Night unto night sheweth knowledge.”
BooksOfTheBible/Charles Spurgeon/E.J. Waggoner

Creation Moment 2/26/2026 - The answer to the question, “Who created God?” is simple

"The answer to the question, “Who created God?” is simple. 

Nothing and no one created God. 

By definition, God is the eternal, uncaused cause of everything else. He described himself to Moses as “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). He is “immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17). "
AIG

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 18

"Psalm 18 is a royal song of thanksgiving that rehearses God’s
deliverance of David from all of his enemies.
*It appears to be a popular version of the song in (2 Sam. chapter 22).

Between David’s opening (verses 1-3), and closing (verses 46-50), praises to God, his life with the Lord is described in 3 stages.
I. Prelude: His Opening Praises (18:1-3).
II. The States of His Life (18:4-45).
A. In the pit of Peril (18:4-19);

1. His desperation (18:4-5);

2. His defender (18:6-15);

3. His deliverance (18:16-19).

B. On a Course of Ethical Integrity (18:20-28).

1. The principles of the LORD’s direction (18:20-26);

2. The privileges of the LORD’s direction (18:27-28).

C. In the Turbulent Atmosphere of Leadership (18:29-45).

1. Military leadership (18:29-42);

2. Theocratic leadership (18:43-45).

III. Postscript: His Closing Praises (18:46-50). 

Psalm 18:1 I will love Thee, O LORD, my strength.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.

Psalm 18:4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

Psalm 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
Or "the cords of the grave", under the power of which he was detained for a while.

Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, [even] into His ears.

Psalm 18:7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth.

Psalm 18:10 And He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, He did fly upon the wings of the wind.
Or, upon the cherubims, that is, upon the angels, who are so called.

Psalm 18:19 He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because He delighted in me.

Q: WHAT is this “large place” in which the Lord sets those at liberty to call upon Him and put their trust in Him?
A: Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in

heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
---Here we have set before us the “large place,” and the size of it. The large place is the love of God which passes knowledge.

Psalm 18:46 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted."
BooksOfTheBible/E.J. Waggoner

Creation Moment 2/25/2026 - How to spot a "Missing Link" in Darwinism

Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 

Romans 1:22 NLT

"Some factoids gleaned from the reports: the ribosome contains “hundreds of thousands of atoms.” New Scientist said that the ribosome includes a “fact-checker” which “explains why nature

produces so few faulty proteins.” Ramakrishnan said, “we knew this was a large molecular machine that translated genetic code to make proteins, but we didn’t know how it worked.” 

It took many years of X-ray crystallography and other delicate techniques to determine the structure. “We still don’t know exactly how it works, but we have made a tremendous amount of progress as a direct result of knowing what it looks like,” he added.

PhysOrg, echoing an AP story, brought Darwin into the picture – albeit briefly. “Their work builds on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and, more directly, on the work done by James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, who won the 1962 Nobel Prize in medicine for mapping DNA’s double helix, the citation said.” 

 The article did not elaborate on the Darwin connection. 

 It appears to be a missing link." 

CEH

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 17

"Psalm 17 is one of three that bear the title “A prayer of David”.

After an initial cry to God (verses 1-2), David defends his character and motives (verses 3-5).
On this basis, he is able to offer his petition, which includes both a beautiful prayer for divine protection (verse 8), and a repulsive description of his would-be captors (verses 9-12).

David approaches the divine court with 3 clusters of appeals in seeking justice.
(1)Appeals Dealing with Response and Recognition (17:1-5).
(2)Appeals Dealing with Rescue and Relief (17:6-12).
A. His Need for Rescue is Presented (17:6-8);
B. His Need for Relief is Documented (17:9-12).
(3)Appeals Dealing with Retribution and Rest (17:13-15).
A. His Anticipation of Their Retribution (17:13-14);
B. His Assurance of His Own Rest (17:15).

Psalm 17:1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.

Psalm 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited [me] in the night; Thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my mouth shall not transgress.
Like Job, David did not claim he never sinned, but only that he was

innocent of the kind of sin that would warrant his present difficulty.

Psalm 17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.
“The apple of the eye”:
As a person protects that vital organ of vision, so God protects His people.

Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.
It is the inward reality which corresponds to appearing before Him in the sanctuary. “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness":

*David had already spoken of death as a "sleep" (Psalm 13:3).

*Now he speaks of "awaking."

Q: What awaking can this be but an awaking from the sleep of death?" 

BooksOfTheBible

SDA Issues: Infiltration of Marxist Thought into Adventist Institutions SEIRES PAGE

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,... Romans 2:8

 The Language of the Age and the Church

The Language of the Age and the Church

General Conference Statements

General Conference Statements

North American Division (NAD) and Unions

North American Division (NAD) and Unions

Universities and Health Institutions

 Universities and Health Institutions

Evidence of Critical Theory Influence in Adventist Higher Education

Evidence of Critical Theory Influence in Adventist Higher Education

Mixing the Sacred and the Profane

Mixing the Sacred and the Profane

Ellen G. White’s Prophetic Warnings

Ellen G. White’s Prophetic Warnings

Ideological Parallels: Marxism and Its Modern Expressions

 Ideological Parallels: Marxism and Its Modern Expressions

Conclusion

 Conclusion

Creation Moment 2/24/2026 - Hidden Cost Examples of Darwinism

A fool also is full of words: Ecclesiastes 10:14

"Evolutionary theory holds that chemicals self-organized into a primitive replicator. This developed over millions of years into a complex DNA-based common ancestor from which all known life, extant or extinct, descended.
Beginning in the late 19th century, 

--many thinkers applied Darwinian concepts to human society (‘Social Darwinism’). 

--In the 20th century, evolution became increasingly linked—through exhibitions, museums, media, and education—to narratives of scientific progress and human advancement. 

--It was simultaneously being used to argue against the existence of a creator.

Richard Dawkins famously wrote,
“It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or

wicked, but I’d rather not consider that).”
Writing in this distinctive literature genre, Jerry Coyne confidently added,
“To me, anyone who doubts the truth of evolution is either ignorant of the evidence, hasn’t understood it, or is in the grip of a religious ideology that simply won’t allow acceptance of the facts.”

The global saturation of the message that ‘evolution is a scientific fact’ may represent the most extensive—and most expensive—marketing campaign in history once all direct and indirect costs are considered.

Hidden Cost Examples: include 

--the evolutionary idea of ‘junk DNA’, which impeded the progress of genetic science for some 30 years.

--Also, the horrific social and human costs of the increasingly discredited idea that humans have many useless ‘vestigial’ organs. In addition to the way this removed incentives to look for their function, when such organs were actually removed for no good reason in years past it caused a great deal of unnecessary suffering."

CMI

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 16

"Psalm 16:
The attitude of the righteous man is described in life (verses 1-8) and death (verses 9-11).
1.In life, his attitude is one of trust (verse 1);
2.Gratefulness for God’s goodness (verse 2);
3.Delight in God’s people (verse 3);
4.Separation from idolatrous worship (verse 4; compare Exodus 23:13; Deut. 12:3);
5.Satisfaction in God’s gracious provisions (verse 5);

6.Satisfaction in God’s gracious provisions (verse 6);
7.Praise for the LORD’s counsel (verse 7);
8.And steadfastness in spiritual devotion (verse 8);
9.In facing death, the righteous man rejoices and is hopeful (verse 9);
10.He is confident that God will preserve him for the decay of death and that death will not result in his corruption (verse 10);
11.Rather, he will travel down the path of life, that is, the path leading to life, which will terminate in God’s joyful presence (verse 11).

David’s opening prayer is bolstered by two cycles of testimony.

(1) David’s Introductory Prayer (16:1);

(2) David’s Testimony (16:2-11).
A. His Testimony of Communion (16:2-4).

1. Its divine dimension (16:2);

2. It’s human dimension (16:3-4).

B. His Testimony of Confidence (16:5-11).

1. Its past and present dimensions (16:5-8);

2. Its present and future dimensions (16:9-11).

Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust.
“Preserve me”:
This is a frequent request begging God to protect the psalmist.

Psalm 16:5 The LORD [is] the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.

The word “lot” means circumstances, or the place in which God has put a person.

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
"My reins also instruct me in the night seasons":
The reins, according to Hebrew ideas, are the seat of feeling and emotion.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore."
BooksOfTheBible

SDA Issues: Infiltration of Marxist Thought into Adventist Institutions SEIRES: Conclusion

"Adventist education, preaching, and administration must guard against linguistic syncretism. The purity of doctrine depends upon

the purity of words.

The church must therefore speak with “the pure language” of heaven (Zephaniah 3:9, NKJV), refusing to let the dialect of the world redefine its mission.
The call of Revelation remains: “Come out of her, My people” (Revelation 18:4, NKJV)."
Dr. Adami A. Gabriel, PsyD

Creation Moment 2/23/2026 - Life: to display Ultimate Engineering

Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 

Isaiah 43:7

"The only explanation for why life is so optimally designed is that a
mind deliberately designed life to display ultimate engineering."
Brian Miller

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 15

"Psalm 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
“Tabernacle” and holy hill” are interchangeable terms that indicate the dwelling place of God and descriptively express intimate

fellowship with God (43:3; Exodus 40:34-35; Joel 3:17).
“Abide”:
Refers to a temporary condition; “dwell” is a permanent position.
The two words suggest a progression from guest to full-time resident in the presence of God.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

Verses 2-5: Those who live according to these verses “shall never be moved”.
In other words, they will be stable, solid, God-honoring citizens in this world who have nothing to fear.

Psalm 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh

righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
‘Uprightly” (sometimes translated “integrity”), conveys the idea of something that is whole, or wholehearted, and sound.

Psalm 15:3 [He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.
Is not a slanderer, a defamer, or a tale bearer." 

BooksOfTheBible

SDA Issues: Infiltration of Marxist Thought into Adventist Institutions SEIRES: Ideological Parallels: Marxism and Its Modern Expressions

Being filled with all unrighteousness, ... covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, ... debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Romans 1:29

"Classical Marxism interprets history as a conflict between economic classes. Modern Cultural Marxism and Critical Theory extend this conflict to race, gender, and identity. In each version, the world is divided into oppressors and oppressed; morality becomes defined by group struggle; redemption comes through social revolution rather than divine grace. (Fraser, 2019).

Crenshaw et al. (1995) argue that Critical Race Theory (CRT) views racism as embedded in systems and structures, emphasizing collective guilt and systemic reform. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives operationalize these ideas by mandating representational outcomes rather than impartial fairness (Mor Barak, 2005). Social Justice, in secular use, shifts focus from moral righteousness to political equality (Williams, 2020).

When Adventist institutions use these same terms, they may intend compassion, but the frameworks carry assumptions incompatible with the gospel:
Human Nature: Marxist thought denies the fall and assumes human perfectibility through social engineering.
Salvation: Redemption is achieved through revolution, not repentance.
Moral Authority: Truth is determined by social consensus or power dynamics, not by divine revelation.

Thus, to adopt the language of such systems is to begin to think within their worldview. Over time, theology becomes sociology; sin becomes inequity; salvation becomes activism; and the everlasting gospel is eclipsed by temporary causes."
Dr. Adami A. Gabriel, PsyD