Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 70

"Psalm 70:
This psalm has apparently been detached from the end of Psalm 40 where it appears as verses 13 through 17.
Perhaps the motive behind this was for separate use in the temple

worship, just as one might take part of a hymn today and use it as a chorus.

Verses 1-5:
The speedy destruction of the wicked, and the preservation of the godly.

Psalm 70:1 [Make haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Psalm 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Psalm 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.
"Aha, aha":
Rejoicing at his calamity and distress.

Psalm 70:5 But I [am] poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: Thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying." 

BooksOfTheBible

Christ's way vs. Muslim way of Forgiveness

Christ's Way

If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

....and from Jesus Christ, 

....the firstborn from the dead, 

To Him who loves us and has washed us 

from our sins by His blood,...

1 John 1:9/Revelation 1:5

Islam's Way

"Muslim object of VENERATION, built into the eastern wall of the Kaʿbah (small shrine within the Great Mosque of Mecca) and probably dating from the pre-Islamic religion of the Arabs. 

It now consists of three large pieces and some fragments, surrounded by a stone ring and held together with a silver band. 

According to popular Islamic legend, the stone was given to Adam on his fall from paradise and was originally white but has become black by absorbing the sins of the thousands of pilgrims who have kissed and touched it. 

In 930 it was carried away by the fanatics of the Qarmatian sect and held for ransom for about 20 years." 

Britannica

Creation Moment 4/18/2026 - Last Years of Hawkins

And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Colossians 1:17

"In their 2010 book, The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow set out to answer a big question: “Is the apparent ‘grand design’ of our universe evidence of a benevolent creator who set things in motion — or does science offer another explanation?”

Briefly stated, the term “fine-tuned universe” refers to the fact that the universe appears to have been set up “just so.” Its properties,

including the initial conditions and laws of chemistry and physics, along with many otherwise inexplicable constants embedded therein, are all set within extremely precise tolerances which must be “just so” for life to exist. To all appearances, it manifests a “grand design” from which intelligent design theory infers the prior existence of a designing mind.

The thesis of The Grand Design, as stated in the closing chapter, is, “Because there is a law like gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing,” i.e., no designer required. Interestingly, the plot of the pop 2014 movie God’s Not Dead hinged on John Lennox’s philosophical dismantling of this exact claim. Lennox never appeared in the movie, but his rather simple refutation did lead to two subsequent documentaries after lead actor Kevin Sorbo became intrigued with his work.

In some ways, the forthcoming film The Story of Everything, out on April 30, offers an answer to that question, though not at all an explicit response to it. While Lennox does appear in the film and comments on The Grand Design, The Story of Everything takes up Hawking’s and Mlodinow’s thesis on their own turf, so to speak. From the perspective of physics, does their “another explanation” add up to a viable case for the universe creating itself out of nothing?

The short answer, according to philosopher of science Stephen Meyer, is, no.

*Hawking proves the singularity, doesn’t much like its implications, because it seems to point to a kind of creation event, so he spent much of the rest of his career attempting to circumvent the conclusion of his own proof. 

*And in the process, he developed these quantum cosmological ideas through a tiny loophole.

Ironically, though, as Meyer and others go on to explain, even the quantum cosmological model has “theistic implications.” Moreover, it still implies the prior existence of a mind behind the universe." EN&V

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 69

"Psalm 69:

This psalm gives extensive expression to one of the major themes of the psalms: which is undeserved suffering.
This psalm expresses the feeling of any believer who is being horribly ridiculed, but it uniquely refers to Christ.

I. The Pray of Desperation (69:1-28).
A. The Description of His situation (69:1-3);
B. The Reason for His Situation (69:4-12);
C. The Hope for His Situation (69:13-18);
D. The Reproach of His Situation (69:19-21);
E. The Revenge for His Situation (69:22-28).
II. The Promise of Salvation (69:29-36).

“Title”:
According to Shoshannim”: The name of a tune.

Psalm 69:1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto

[my] soul.
Psalm 69:2 I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
Psalm 69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Psalm 69:5 O God, Thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from Thee.

Psalm 69:20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Psalm 69:21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Matthew 27:34 They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when He had tasted [thereof], He would not drink.

Psalm 69:27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into Thy righteousness.

Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous."

BooksOfTheBible

Creation Moment 4/17/2026 - Coherence Theory & Darwinians

....every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

Judges 21:25

"Pragmatism takes very odd forms. One pragmatist philosopher says pragmatism means being loyal to Darwin. 

I guess he meant that pragmatism is the practical or philosophical

conclusion which results from being a Darwinist. “Fish evolved fins because they work.” But if you say that Darwinism just is true, you seem to be talking about something different from whether Darwinism works (whatever that means).

But of course, the consensus theory folks don’t really mean that truth is what we all agree about. What they mean is that truth is whatever people like them agree about.

The coherence theory says the truth is internal to your set of assumptions; they don’t need external validation, they just have to hang together. 

--This is a lunatic view.--

To consider a single example, many people with paranoid schizophrenic delusions can give extremely coherent explanations of why they are really Napoleon, or why they are really poached eggs, or why everybody is really out to get them. The various claims all hang together. But the paranoid schizophrenic is wrong. He’s not Napoleon. He’s not a poached egg. And no, it isn’t true that everyone is out to get him. But he can’t tell, because he refuses to make contact with reality outside his own set of assumptions.
That’s the problem with the coherence theory." 

EN&V

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 68

"Psalm 68:
Though no superscription is found in this psalm, most interpreters

agree that it was written when the ark of the LORD was transferred from the house of Obed-edom to the new location on Zion’s mountain.
The writing of this psalm may have come out of David’s jubilant restoration of the ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.

I. A Fanfare of Commendation (68:1-6).
II. A Reflection on Faithfulness (68:7-18).
III. An Acclamation of Majesty (68:19-31).
IV. An Invitation to Praise (68:32-35).

Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let them also that hate Him flee before Him.
Psalm 68:2 As smoke is driven away, [so] drive [them] away: as

wax melteth before the fire, [so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell [among them].
Psalm 68:24 They have seen Thy goings, O God; [even] the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary." 

BooksOfTheBible

Creation Moment 4/16/2026 - Arguments for the existence of the soul

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

Genesis 2:7

Behold, all souls are mine; ... the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 

Ezekiel 18:4

"Powerful arguments for the existence of the soul.
These include basic awareness of the self, unity of consciousness and the soul, free will, and sameness of the self over time.

“The soul is an immaterial or spiritual substance that is

characterized by and unifies mental properties or states and that animates or enlivens its body;---the view that the ‘I’ or self is an immaterial or spiritual substance with the attributes of consciousness and which is not identical to anything physical, including one’s body or any of its parts (e.g., its brain).”

Jonathan Loose argues that explaining consciousness and the self by denying they exist, as materialism does, “seems as obviously false as any position could be”. 

In order to esteem the ‘life scientific’ (i.e., scientific activity and reasoning), materialism should be rejected, according to Loose, since it renders reasoning and observations unjustified, and the accomplishments and aspirations of scientists incoherent." 

CMI

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 67

"Psalm 67:

This national psalm of thanksgiving expresses the gratefulness of the people to God and their confidence in His continued blessings.

I. The Prayer for Divine Mercy (67:1-2).
II. The Plea for Universal Worship (67:3-5).
III. The Prospect of Divine Blessings (67:6-7).

Psalm 67:1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause His face to shine upon us; Selah.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth His love toward us, in that,

while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 67:2 That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 67:5 Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.
Psalm 67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
BooksOfTheBible

The "Really" File - (Big Tech Blasphemy)

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Acts 8:20

"A tech company is leveraging Americans’ desire for a deeper connection with God by offering an AI-generated avatar of Jesus Christ that charges by the minute.
The New York Post reports that the Southern California-based

company Just Like Me allows users to join video calls with an AI-generated avatar of Jesus Christ. Like other religious AI tools emerging in the marketplace, the platform offers words of prayer and encouragement across multiple languages. The avatar remembers previous conversations, though its lip movements do not always synchronize perfectly with its speech.
Chris Breed, CEO of Just Like Me, described the attachment users can form with the technology. “You do feel a little accountable to the AI,” he said. “They’re your friend. You’ve made an attachment.”
Christian software engineer Cameron Pak has developed criteria to help believers evaluate apps designed for Christians. 

From the "Really" File

His standards require that such tools clearly identify themselves as AI and “must not fabricate or misrepresent Scripture.” 

Pak also insists that “AI cannot pray for you, because the AI is not alive.” He created a website called faith.tools featuring curated Christian apps he believes meet these standards, including a sermon translator and an AI coach for overcoming lust. “AI, especially if you give it all the tools that it needs, it can be so helpful. But it also can be so dangerous,” Pak said.
Beth Singler, an anthropologist at the University of Zurich who studies religion and AI, noted that some models have been shut down or revised after generating misinformation or raising data privacy concerns.” Breitbart

REALLY?

Papal Notes - Will African Muslims Bend the Knee?

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; 

and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
Revelation 13:3

"Pope Leo XIV's visit to Africa marks a significant moment in the Catholic Church's outreach to the continent. His journey includes stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, where he will 

focus on themes such as peace, interreligious dialogue, and the need for reconciliation. 

The Pope's message is one of hope as he seeks to build bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds." 

msn

Creation Moment 4/15/2026 - grin2a, schizophrenia & Romans 8:22

Due to Sin----the breakdown of everything including the genome---For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Romans 8:22

"A newly identified gene mutation appears to disrupt a brain circuit that helps us update our understanding of the world. When this system fails, the brain may cling to old ideas even when reality changes.

In experiments with mice, researchers showed that this mutation interferes with the brain’s ability to adjust decisions based on new input, a problem that closely mirrors cognitive symptoms seen in schizophrenia.

The mutation occurs in a gene called grin2a, previously linked to schizophrenia in large genetic studies. The findings suggest that targeting this circuit could eventually help improve cognitive function in some patients.

“If this circuit doesn’t work well, you cannot quickly integrate information,” says Guoping Feng, the James W. and Patricia T.

Poitras Professor in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT, a member of the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, and the associate director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. “We are quite confident this circuit is one of the mechanisms that contributes to the cognitive impairment that is a major part of the pathology of schizophrenia.”

The researchers traced the problem to a specific brain region called the mediodorsal thalamus. 

This area connects to the prefrontal cortex, forming a circuit that supports decision-making and flexible thinking.

Neurons in this region appeared to track how valuable each option

was, helping guide choices. The team also observed different patterns of activity depending on whether the mice were exploring options or committing to a decision.

Only a small percentage of schizophrenia patients carry mutations in grin2a. However, the researchers believe this circuit may represent a shared pathway that contributes to cognitive impairment across different forms of the disorder." 

SciTechDaily

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 66

"Psalm 66:
Though a psalm of national thanksgiving for some occasion of great

deliverance, it also contains the king’s personal note of thanksgiving at the end.
The psalmist rehearses some of the major miracles in Israel’s history and testifies that God has always been faithful in the midst of serious troubles.

I. Communal Hymn of Praise to God (66:1-12).
A. For Future Glory (66:1-4);
B. For Previous Faithfulness (66:5-7);
C. For Continual Protection (66:8-12).
II. An Individual Hymn of Praise to God (66:13-20).
A. Through Fulfilled Vows (66:13-15);
B. For Answered Prayer (66:16-20).

Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Psalm 66:2 Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious.
Psalm 66:6 He turned the sea into dry [land]: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him.

Psalm 66:13 I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay Thee my vows,

Psalm 66:14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me].
If I regard iniquity in my heart. If, having seen it to be there, I

continue to gaze upon it without aversion; if I cherish it, have a side glance of love toward it, excuse it, and palliate it;
The Lord will not hear me.
Q: How can He?
Nothing hinders prayer like iniquity harbored in the breast; as with Cain, so with us, sin lieth at the door, and blocks the passage."
BooksOfTheBible/Charles Spurgeon

Ralph Waldo Emmerson & Hindu Influence

Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

2 Corinthians 6:17

"Ralph Waldo Emerson may be regarded as the founding father of New Thought. 

He was much influenced by his reading of the Hindu scriptures. He wrote: "In all nations there are minds which incline to dwell in the

conception of the fundamental Unity. This tendency finds its highest expression in the religious writings of the East, and chiefly in the Indian Scriptures, in the Vedas, the Bhagavat-Gita, and the Vishnu Purana. . . . I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavat-Gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us".

Emerson delivered a lecture on “The Oversoul,” at the Harvard Divinity School in 1844. He talked of a ‘divine presence’ that permeates the whole creation and all living things. 

The close parallel between Hindu scripture and Emerson’s

enunciation here is unmistakable. 

Emerson was settled in Concord, Massachusetts, which now boasts an impressive Emerson Museum. Leading Transcendentalists in Massachusetts included Henry David Thoreau, Phineas Quimby, Margaret Fuller, Palmer Peabody, James Freeman Clark, and Mary Baker Eddy. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore founded the Unity Church in 1889 with headquarters in Missouri." 

UniversityOfWestFlorida

Creation Moment 4/14/2026 - Or Maybe Uranus and Neptune were DESIGNED that way

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:2

"Deep within the distant ice giants of our Solar System, familiar elements may behave in unfamiliar ways.

The deep interiors of ice giants such as Uranus and Neptune may contain a previously unknown form of matter, based on new computational research by Carnegie scientists Cong Liu and Ronald Cohen.

Data on Uranus and Neptune show that their interiors likely contain layers of unusual “hot ices.” These layers sit between the outer

hydrogen and helium atmospheres and the inner rocky cores. Scientists believe they are made up of water (H2O), methane (CH4), and ammonia (NH4), but under such extreme conditions, these materials may take on unfamiliar forms.
At very high pressures and temperatures, matter can behave in unexpected ways. This is why scientists use both experiments and theoretical models to explore what might exist inside these planets.

Their results point to the formation of a structured hexagonal lattice, where hydrogen atoms travel along spiral-like paths. This motion creates a quasi-one-dimensional superionic state.

Superionic materials fall between solids and liquids.

In these systems, one set of atoms stays locked in a crystal structure while another set moves freely through it.
“This newly predicted carbon–hydrogen phase is particularly striking because the atomic motion is not fully three-dimensional,” Cohen explained. “Instead, hydrogen moves preferentially along well-defined helical pathways embedded within an ordered carbon structure.”

The directional movement of hydrogen in this material could affect how heat and electricity flow inside planets. This, in turn, may influence how energy is distributed, how well these regions conduct electricity, and how scientists interpret the magnetic fields of ice giants.
The study also shows that even simple chemical systems can develop complex structures under extreme conditions, expanding what researchers know about matter at high pressure and temperature." SciTechDaily

--Rather than developing their own "complex" structures as inanimate, non-thinking objects----MAYBE they were DESIGNED with supersonic materials?

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 65

"Psalm 65:
The psalm has a simple purpose: to express thanksgiving for rain and

harvest, an appropriate subject in a farming economy.
The setting is a celebration at the tabernacle, perhaps at Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring, or the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles, in the fall.

I. Praise for Spiritual Blessings (65:1-5).
II. Praise for Natural Blessing (65:6-13).
All the praise the LORD receives from this earth is from Zion, being the fruit of the Spirit of Christ, and acceptable through Him.

Psalm 65:1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed [is the man whom] Thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto Thee, that] he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, [even] of Thy holy temple.
Psalm 65:9 Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, [which] is full of water: Thou preparest them corn, when Thou hast so provided for it."
BooksOfTheBible

Creation Moment 4/13/2026 - Feeble Attempt by Darwinians to Misuse Snowflake Uniqueness

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 136:16

"Some evolutionists will point to examples of self-organization in crystals or snowflakes as proof that unique, one-of-a-kind designs can come about through natural processes.

But ice crystals and snowflakes, no matter how beautifully designed they may appear, do not disprove the formula we discussed. 

Q: Why? 

A: Because (in our snowflake example) H2O already contains the natural ability to be arranged in various six-sided patterns when subject to below-zero temperatures due to its inherent properties. Water crystals always form six-sided shapes.

Q: How are snowflakes formed?
A: A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. As the ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals—the six arms of the snowflake.
That’s the short answer.
The more detailed explanation is this:
The ice crystals that make up snowflakes are symmetrical (or patterned) because they reflect the internal order of the crystal’s water molecules as they arrange themselves in predetermined spaces (known as “crystallization”) to form a six-sided snowflake. . . .

Q: So, why are no two snowflakes exactly alike?
A: Well, that’s because individual snowflakes all follow slightly

different paths from the sky to the ground—and thus encounter slightly different atmospheric conditions along the way. Therefore, they all tend to look unique, resembling everything from prisms and needles to the familiar lacy pattern.

Unfortunately for our naturalistically minded friends, the chemicals that make up DNA do not contain any special superpowers that could have caused them to arrange themselves into the most sophisticated coded language system we have ever seen. 

 DNA only contains information because of the arrangement it has, not because of the sugar, phosphates, and bases it’s made of." 

AIG

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 64

"Psalm 64:
The psalm is a prayer that the vicious plots of wicked men against the righteous might fail.
After seeing His justice at work, the righteous will be glad and trust all the more in Him.

I. The Malevolent Ingenuity of the Wicked (64:1-6).
II. The Memorable Reciprocation by the LORD (64:7-10).

Psalm 64:1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Psalm 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from

the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psalm 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words:
Psalm 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one [of them], and the heart, [is] deep.
Psalm 64:7 But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

Psalm 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of His doing.
There is coming a time when all will bow before the Lord.
Philippians 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
BooksOfTheBible

Hinduism & Western New Age

Wherefore come out from among them,

and be ye separate, saith the Lord,

and touch not the unclean thing;

2 Corinthians 6:17

"The “new age” is a movement that became popular in the West in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, it carried a clear Eastern pedigree, drawing from Hindu mysticism and Western occult teachings that appealed to the idealist counterculture then in the ascendancy. 

But over the course of the 80s and 90s New Age authors, writing for a Christian and Jewish readership, retained popular Sanskrit words in their books, such as chakra, but with a nonspecific spiritual

connection. 

New Age morphed from a quasi-religious movement to a loose spiritual philosophy with a strong marketing angle, aimed primarily at women, promoting health, beauty, inner peace and successful relationships. 

In India, It’s Just Hinduism. 

New Age cosmologies uphold a cyclical worldview wherein individuals, worlds, and the universe pass through multitudes of incarnations. 

Here the New Age borrows from the standard cosmologies of the Indian traditions, most notably Hinduism, which envision the cosmos passing through vast cosmic epochs, just as the individual moves from life to life. 

Again, this position also distinguishes the New Age from the conventional linear view of existence promulgated by the western religious traditions. This cosmology also reinforces the New Age propensity toward belief in reincarnation." 

HinduismToday/Patheos

Creation Moment 4/12/2026 - 100 trillion connections

I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

"The trend continues: as we learn more about the body, we realize it is even more complex than we once assumed.
Long-range chemical signaling in vivo is regulated by mechanical signals (Pillai et al., Nature Materials, 19 Jan 2026). This paper explains how brain development proceeds with touch-sensitive channels called Piezo proteins. The Abstract ends,

"...in vivo stiffening of soft brain regions induces ectopic Sema3A

production via a Piezo1-dependent mechanism. Overall, these findings demonstrate that tissue mechanics locally modulates the availability of diffusive, long-range chemical signals, thus influencing cell function at sites distant from the mechanical cue."

The human brain is described by neurologists as the most complex machine in the universe. One reason is that several hundred-million-dollar research projects have failed to fully map the brains’ 86 billion neurons, roughly 85 billion other cells and over 100 trillion connections.

These “other cells” include glial cells—non-neuronal nervous system cells that outnumber neurons and provide essential structural support, insulation (myelin), and metabolic regulation. The function of the brain is judged/considered by neuroscientists to be even more complex than its cellular composition because it gives rise to perhaps its greatest mystery: consciousness.

The challenge lies in understanding how cells composed of protoplasm enable us to be conscious beings with thoughts, ideas, memories and the ability to form mental images. How the brain accomplishes this remains unknown.

Neurologists now, as a result of new research, recognize that the human brain is even more complex than once thought. As the brain grows and develops, neurons grow long extensions, projections called axons, which connect to different regions of the brain. On average, each one of these neurons connects to thousands of other neurons, resulting in an estimated 100 trillion connections.

It is well known that neuron growth relies on chemical cues to help

guide neurons to their targets. However, new research has shown that the system directing neurons to their destinations is more complex than previously assumed: the brain’s physical properties help to shape these signaling pathways. For example, the physical characteristics of tissue can trigger the production of “guidance molecules” through a force-sensing protein called/known as Piezo1. This protein “not only detects mechanical forces but also helps maintain the structure of brain tissue. The discovery reveals a powerful link between the brain’s physical environment and how its wiring is built.”

This discovery adds an entirely new dimension to our understanding of brain development. It indicates that neural wiring may be influenced by an intricate combination of chemical signals, physical structures, and mechanical forces working together. Far from simplifying our understanding, this finding highlights yet another layer of complexity in how the brain is formed—underscoring how much remains to be discovered.

According to the authors, this discovery is so significant that it represents a “paradigm shift” in neurobiology—one that may require textbooks to be rewritten. So far the research team has avoided attempting to explain this newly identified system in evolutionary terms. 

As they wrote, “Despite the tremendous progress that has been made in understanding the brain, its staggering complexity means that we are still a long way off from fully understanding its structure and even further away from fully understanding the way it functions.”

*In light of this, it follows that we are now even further from being able to explain how such a system could have originate by some mutation natural selection driven evolutionary process." 

CEH

Meditation Upon the PSALMS Series: Psalm 63

"Psalm 63:
The location of the writing of the psalm is described generally as “in

the wilderness of Judah”
In deepest words of devotion, this psalm expresses David’s intense love for his ORD.
The psalm was written while David was in the Judean wilderness, either during his flight from Saul or more likely his flight from Absalom .

David writes from the perspective of these tenses:
I. Present – Seeking God’s Presence (63:1-5).
II. Past – Remembering God’s Power (63:6-8).
III. Future – Anticipating God’s Judgment (63:9-11).

Psalm 63:1 O God, Thou [art] my God; early will I seek Thee:

my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
The water that David is speaking of, is the Spirit of God.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Psalm 63:2 

To see 

*Thy power 

*and Thy glory, 

*so [as] I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.

Psalm 63:3 Because Thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise Thee."
BooksOfTheBible

Mindfulness Creeps into the West

Ever learning,

and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.....

2 Timothy 3:7

"Mindfulness is rooted in Buddhist teachings. 

Buddhism includes a journey toward enlightenment, and the concept of “sati,”—which encompasses attention, awareness, and being present—is considered the first step toward enlightenment. 

The emergence of mindfulness in Western culture can be attributed to Jon Kabat-Zinn. 

Kabat-Zinn studied mindfulness under several Buddhist teachers, such as Philip Kapleau and Thich Nhat Hanh. 

As mindfulness shifted into mainstream science and medicine, it

became a pivotal therapeutic technique; it was integrated into Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, among others.

Mindfulness encompasses two key ingredients: awareness and acceptance. 

Awareness is the knowledge and ability to focus attention on one’s inner processes and experiences, such as the experience of the present moment.

Acceptance is the ability to observe and accept—rather than judge or avoid—those streams of thought." 

PsychologyToday