Missing Links

If evolution is true, then all animals and people slowly evolved from simple to complex over millions of years' time. If this is correct, we would expect to find, for example, not only fossils of reptiles and birds, but also creatures in the in-between stage, half bird, half reptile type creatures. However, these links are missing!

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Some evolutionists claim that the now-extinct bird called the Archaeopteryx is a missing link between reptiles and birds. Here are a few good reasons why God created Archaeopteryx as it was, not as a link between two very different types of animals:

• Archaeopteryxes had fully formed wings just like the birds of today. With perfectly designed airfoil wings, they were fit to fly! You wouldn't expect this if it were half reptile.
• Also, a fossil of a bird bone that dated back to the same time as the archaeopteryx was found. The fossil was even more similar to modern birds than the archaeopteryx. This was a startling discovery, since archaeopteryx was supposed to be the earliest bird, and if there was another bird living at the same time that was more "advanced" than the archaeopteryx, then the hypothesis is somehow incorrect!
• One feature that evolutionists say makes the archaeopteryx reptilian is the claws on its wings. However, several types of birds that are still living, namely, the Hoatzin, Touraco, and Ostrich, also have claws on their wings, and yet are not considered missing links. The archaeopteryx is just another bird with claws.

Archaeopteryxes, with their claws, and teeth, were birds. God created them as birds, and created reptiles as reptiles. The archaeopteryx is not a missing link, and never will be. The fossil record holds absolutely no evidence of links between types.

We have all heard of the links between monkeys and modern man, but have we ever been told the true story about these "cave men"?

• NEBRASKA MAN

The "Nebraska Man" was created from an artist's imagination from a single tooth that was discovered. Aside from the ridiculousness of making a whole man out of a tooth, the tooth was found to be that of an extinct wild pig.

• PILTDOWN MAN

A mandible and a portion of a skull were found in an English gravel pit by Charles Dawson in 1912. After the remains were advertised as "missing links" all over the world, the bones were found to be a fraud in 1953. The skull was human, and the teeth on the ape's jaw were filed down and chemically treated to look old.

• ORCE MAN

In 1982 an unusual bone fragment was discovered in Orce, Spain. A year later, the archaeologists declared that it was from a human child. If this was correct, then this would be the oldest human fossil in Europe. Some scientists created an entire man out of this fragment, called the "Orce Man." To the embarrassment of many, it was later found to be the skullcap of a 6-month old donkey!

• RHODESIAN MAN

The bones of three or four individuals were found in a zinc mine in what was then Rhodesia. Unfortunately the bones were taken out by the miners, not archaeologists. When the bones came to the British Museum of Natural History, they were reconstructed and displayed for many years. However, the museum staff who reconstructed the skeleton were not familiar with human anatomy, and since the hipbones were smashed, they displayed them as stooped-down figures. Not until some anatomists examined the skeleton was it shown to be just a modern man.

• JAVA MAN

Eugene Dubois, a Dutch anatomist, went to the Dutch Indies to look for fossils. On the banks of the Solo River, he found a human-like fossil of a tooth, the upper part of a skull, and a thigh bone. This "missing link" has been advertised for a long time. However, the tooth and thigh bone turned out to be human, and the skull was from a giant gibbon.

In encyclopedias, magazines, and other sources of information, these "ancient ancestors" are presented as if the bones found were actually the real thing. As a matter of fact, they still haven't found a single fossil of an ancient predecessor of man.

Of Music

I have always enjoyed music, and it has always filled me with wonder how the human voice can sing, using musical notes instead of the normal tones of everyday speech. From an early age I have played the bowed psaltery, and I am well acquainted with the basics of music theory. Despite these things, only just recently have I truly become interested in music. Last year I began learning to play the piano, and since then I have started learning to play a few other instruments as well. In addition, I have become interested in composing my own music, and in the past few months I have written four songs, and am currently working on several more.

Given my recent interest in music, I would like to present to you a simple classification of all music, that I believe is true and accurate. Although there exist many different styles of music in the world, when it all boils down there are only two types of music: religious, and secular. Allow me to outline the characteristics of both.

Secular music: Entertainment

The main characteristic of secular music as opposed to religious music is its purpose: to entertain people. Listening to music is very enjoyable, and is an activity that virtually everyone takes part in. Even though many people cannot play instruments, they all have their CD's and mp3 players.

Most secular music, in fact the great majority of it, is singing accompanied by musical instruments. Instrumental music without vocals exists as well, although it may not be quite as popular. With modern technology, many instruments can be blended together to make a very pleasing sound, and even electronic instruments can be used as well.

Because of its nature, the lyrics of secular songs should deal with things not concerned with God or Christianity. Such would make them religious songs, and using praise to God as entertainment is not right. This is not to say that secular music is sin, or that a Christian cannot be involved with it. It simply implies that we must be careful that we do not allow this class of music to mix with the religious type.

Religious music: Praising the Lord

As with the previous category, religious music is distinguished by its purpose. It is not intended for entertainment, but instead for praising God and edifying fellow Christians to continue walking in the light. In the sacred scriptures we read, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Colossians 3:16). Singing is a necessary part of our worship to God, something that He has instructed us to do.

Another great difference between secular and religious music is that the latter is always unaccompanied by instruments, that is to say, "a cappella". This has not always been the case, however. David wrote in Psalm 144:9, "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee." David here was not disobeying the Lord when he pulled out his psaltery, in fact, God commanded the Israelites during that time to use instruments in His praise (see Psalm 50). However, when that old covenant was nailed to the cross and the church was established, a new law was put in place (Colossians 2:14, Galatians 3:24). Christians today are under this new law, which clearly states that we are to sing with our hearts, not with instruments (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19).

When singing religious songs, our focus should be on the words, and how we are praising God or edifying our fellow Christians. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the singing (we should enjoy praising God), but our main focus and purpose should be to glorify God.

Is it really this clear?

After reading this, you are probably wondering whether things are really as cut-and-dried as I have presented them here. In a perfect world—yes. However, Satan has been working overtime here as well as in many other aspects to lure men from truth. In most denominations that claim to be Christian, instrumental music is a regular part of worship, and then there's "Christian rock" (an oxymoron, by the way). In these places, praise to God has been blended with entertainment, and men have brought in the instruments so that it would "sound better" (to whom? Certainly not to God). God asks us to sing from our heart, not from our guitar or piano. In the world, these two types of music are being blended together, and this, friends, is not acceptable!

It is easy to see that many people in the world, and even many of those who profess to be followers of Christ, do not understand the basic and fundamental difference between music for entertainment, and music for worship. I'm here to tell you that there is a difference, and that it does matter! Remember the words of Jesus Christ recorded in John 14:15, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." It is essential that we observe the instructions that God has given us in His word, so that we may be pleasing to Him and someday have eternal life with Him instead of eternal death with Satan.

Tropical Paradise

Across the sea among the trees
There lies the bane of every freeze.
The summer sun, the balmy air,
Demise of winter season bear.

Here on this lovely island warm
There dwells of bees an ample swarm.
And I, my own skin for to save
Shall jump into the nearest wave.

Although I would for aye here dwell
I do not feel completely well.
Perhaps it is the ocean breeze,
For every now and then I sneeze.

The Tale of Kutava (Part II)

(Continued from Part I)

‘I have told ye already of my great interest in the zintushe as a youth, have I not? Then I shall continue.
‘As I have mentioned, when I asked my father about the beasts and dragons of which the old tales told, he had doubt as to whether these ever existed. Although sorrowed at hearing this, I was all the more motivated to learn of these creatures, and my belief only grew. My young friends were also interested in them, though perhaps not so much as I, and we passed many joyful hours in the forest pretending that we were the great dragon slayers of old, making battle with imaginary beasts. However, with this I was not content, for I wished to know more about the zintushe, and most of all, I sought some piece of evidence, however small it might be, that the zintushe were still alive somewhere, perhaps in the great mountains beyond the river, or perhaps in those mysterious lands to the east, Tokmea and the rest.
‘At length I decided what I must do: go to the old man Zêstika and beg that he might impart upon me some of his vast knowledge of things long ago. No one knew his age, but it was agreed by all that he was the oldest person who yet lived in Stalshi. Of all the people I knew then, only he might know that which I longed to be sure of, that the zintushe were real.
‘Thus, the next month, I and all the other children gathered at the house of Zêstika upon the hill, for to hear another of his innumerable tales. This night he spake of the origin of the Kutvête, the high, snow-capped mountains of the south. He told how in those days, before men arrived on the shores of Ĝimlu, the entire land was flat, and all that grew was grass and small plants. Among the animals that lived there, there was peace. However, the chief of the llamas waxed angry, because the terimlae habitually dined upon one llama daily, and the llamas had nowhere to flee. Thus their chief appealed to the vesniqui, which in the tongue of my people is translated uslaelmike.¹ The chief of the llamas spake thus to the vesniqui: “I know that ye are skilled in building the mounds on which ye sit, lying in wait for your dinner. However, now it is we the llamas who are being dined upon. I beseech you, therefore, that ye come to our aid, and build for us hills, that we might hide among them and thus evade the jaws of the terimlae. Heretofore ye have built only small hills for your own purposes, but now I ask that ye build for us bigger, and we shall be indebted to you forever.”
‘Fortunately the vesniqui agreed to help the llamas, and through their cooperative labour they constructed the great range of mountains which my people call Re Kutvête. Zêstika explained to us that the vesniqui of that age were much larger than they are now, and this seemed to us a very reasonable explanation. To many this would seem like an unlikely story, but to us children it was accepted as absolute truth.
‘As the story drew to a close, we listened as Zêstika told of the final fates of the llamas and the terimlae. The llamas took refuge in the mountains built for them by the vesniqui, and of course, when men arrived in Ĝimlu, it was the terimlae that declined in number, as brave men such as Terimla Kon hunted them.
‘When Zêstika finished his story, a cry rose up from the children, as we begged that another tale be told us. This we did, though we knew our behest would not be granted. Zêstika arose, and bade us return to our respective homes. “I trust the tale beliked you, but ye must wait a month if ye desire to hear another tale.”
‘As the other children left to go home, I was last, and even when all had gone out, I lingered.
Zêstika looked askance at me. “Why tarriest thou, lad? I have said already that I shall not now tell another tale.”
“I am sorry sir,” I said, “I wished only with all despatch to ask some questions, if haply thou wilt.”
“What sayest thou, lad? Thou speakest as Tiáshivesen.”²
“I wish to know more about the zintushe, and the terimlae in particular. I have heard that these never lived, yet I believe they did—or wish to believe.”
“I see that thou seekest avouchment that the zintushe were real, dost thou not? Then hearken unto me, and I shall tell thee some of what I know.”
‘He motioned to me that I might be seated once again, and spake thus:
“I myself have not seen the terimlae, nor any of the zintushe for that matter. However, I shall tell thee that which I believe: the story which has been passed down to me from my fathers.
“Although I myself have never beheld the greatness of the êsna, nor seen the great claws of the terimla, my grandfather, Marnta-inta, whose father is not remembered, told me of the zintushe when I was your age, or perhaps younger.”
‘As I gazed upon the old man Zêstika, I could hardly imagine him ever being my age, much less having a grandfather! I knew then that he was about to tell me something from ages past, so long ago that I could not even fathom the years. He continued.
“When I was young, I asked the same question which thou now askest me: Do the zintushe still live today? What has now become of them? My grandfather told me that many long years had passed since the beasts were last seen in the land, and many years have passed since he told me this. However, he told me of a land across the sea, far away, from whence the zintushe came. He called it simply Re lu ĝiv re zintushe (the land of the zintushe). He also told me how that men such as Terimla Kon long ago would shout as their battle cry, ‘Ĝevishlêjak vonê eterĝu!, Return ye unto your home!’”’

Continue reading: Part III

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¹ These creatures (éanent in the tongue of Zéfelen) are ant-eating insects that build small hills in the dirt. They are common on both sides of the Specific Ocean.

² I did not understand this expression at first, but later Thareli, Kutava’s granddaughter, explained its meaning to me. The expression is one purely of Zéfelen, not Ĝimlu, and shows Kutava’s assimilation into that culture. It comes from an old tale of Zéfelen, concerning a messenger sent to warn a king of imminent danger. The messenger was unspecific in his speech and because of his lack of communication, he was not understood until the last minute, and the king barely escaped. The messenger Tiáshivesen was then punished by death. This tale is now told to children in Zéfelen, to encourage them to speak clearly and specifically.

The Wearing of the Gray

These are the lyrics to a song written shortly after the War Between the States.

The fearful struggle’s ended now, and peace smiles on our land
And though we’ve yielded, we have proved ourselves a faithful band.
We fought them long, we fought them well, we fought them night and day
And bravely struggled for our rights while wearin’ of the Gray!

And now that we have ceased to fight and pledged our sacred word
That we against the Union’s might no more will draw the sword
We feel despite the sneers of those who never smelled the fray
That we’ve a manly honest right to wearin’ of the Gray.

Our Cause is lost, no more we fight ‘gainst overwhelmin’ power.
All wearied are our limbs and drenched with many a battle shower.
We feign would rest for want of strength and yield them up the day
And lower the flag so proudly borne while wearin’ of the Gray.

Defeat is not dishonor; No, of honor not bereft.
We should thank God that in our breast this priceless boon is left.
And though we weep just for those braves who stood in proud array
Beneath our flag and nobly died while wearin’ of the Gray.

When in the ranks of war we stood and faced the deadly hail
Our simple suits of Gray composed our only coats of mail.
And on those awful hours that marked the bloody battle day
In memory we will still be seen a wearin’ of the Gray.

Oh, should we reach that glorious place where waits the sparklin’ crown
For everyone who for the right his soldier’s life lay down,
God grant to us the privilege upon that happy day
Of clasping hands with those who fell a wearin’ of the Gray.