Quote: "The first assumed that it is difficult for life to be formed but easy for it to evolve, and suggested there were 361 intelligent civilisations in the galaxy. A second scenario assumed life was easily formed but struggled to develop intelligence. Under these conditions, 31,513 other forms of life were estimated to exist. The final scenario examined the possibility that life could be passed from one planet to another during asteroid collisions - a popular theory for how life arose here on Earth. That approach gave a result of some 37,964 intelligent civilisations in existence.

Of course the model was created using several major assumptions, none of which have been proven to be factual. The first assumption is that planet Earth is not unique in the universe. Most extra-solar planets have been discovered through indirect methods, such as detecting a 'wobble' in a star's orbit, or the periodic dimming of a star's light as the body passes between it and the Earth. But so far no extra-solar planets have been found to be actually capable of supporting life. The second assumption is that life is capable of spontaneously arising from non-living matter. That has been proven to be scientifically impossible. The law of Biogenesis states that life can only come from life. Yet evolutionists must assume that not only was this gulf bridged in the past, but that it is being bridged in the present. The third assumption is that if life evolved on planet Earth, then it must have evolved elsewhere. It has been calculated that the probability of a single protein molecule arising by chance is about the same as if you had a solar system filled with blind men who all solve the Rubik's cube puzzle at exactly the same time. The probability is so low it is considered a mathematical impossibility. The research goes on to state that even if there were advanced alien civilizations akin to that of mankind, that contact with them would be virtually impossible. The distances involved are simply too vast, even for radio communications. And that is assuming that we could communicate with them in a method that these extra-terrestrial life forms would understand, and that they would be benevolent creatures who could be reasoned with.

Why all the interest in extra-terrestrial life? Last year NASA announced that they believed Martian soil may have the potential for sustaining life. But that notion was later disproved after it was discovered the soil contained a highly toxic chemical called perchlorate, and that Mars was most likely incapable of supporting life. There were also announcements by the Vatican and Lutheran Church stating that the discovery of extra-terrestrial life would not be incompatible with their beliefs. But the Bible teaches us that the Earth is unique and that it is the only planet in the universe that was designed to support life (Isaiah 45:18). And the Bible teaches us that mankind is the pinnacle of God's creation, that he was created in the image of God, to be steward over everything that God has made (Genesis 1:26-27). If extra-terrestrial life was found to exist on other planets, it would severely undermine the truth of the Scriptures, which are the very foundation upon which our faith is built. Just as the theory of evolution has sought to undermine man's prime position in God's creation, so the discovery of extra-terrestrial life would shatter any remaining beliefs about our unique place in the universe. Mankind would just be one of many intelligent races in this universe, and a relatively young and insignificant one at that. As I stated in the previous article, it's the same for homosexuality. If Christians can be forced to admit that it is okay for men to marry men and women to marry women, then God never created a man and woman in the beginning, and you may as well just throw out the rest of the Bible. That is what it comes down to. And that is why despite there being a zero percent chance of anyone ever coming into contact with an extra-terrestrial civilization, the 'possibility' of the existance of extra-terrestrial life is constantly kept alive in the media.

But there is good news. Extra-terrestrial life does exist. Maybe not on other planets. But the most intelligent Being in this universe will someday make an appearance in the skies above planet Earth (1st Thessalonians 4:17). The Bible is true. Jesus Christ is coming back. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you had your sins forgiven? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Source BBC, CNet, Wired

A blazing fireball that streaked across the skies of the northern hemisphere was spotted by hundreds of people on Thursday night. Police received a number of emergency calls after locals reported hearing a distant 'boom'. Witnesses reported seeing an object flying across the sky emitting a brilliant light. The space rock glowed a number of different colours as it came down, and it lit up the sky as it began to disintegrate in the atmosphere. Thursday's sighting was unique in that the incident was also recorded on police camera. Astronomers believe the meteorite could have weighed around 1 to 10 tonnes, and that fragments of the rock might have fallen close to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border.  

Quote: "More than 400 people reported seeing the object, said Alan Hildebrand, co-ordinator of the Canadian Fireball Reporting Centre at the University of Calgary. This is by a large margin a record response and it was a tremendous help in narrowing down the fall area, he added. The scientist estimates the rock that hurtled into the atmosphere likely weighed between one and ten tons. Such large fireballs are rare, he said, with only a couple streaking over Canadian skies a year. "This is literally a billion watt bulb in the sky," he said. "That doesn't happen every day. This thing was illuminating the ground over hundreds of kilometres."

Astronomers recently called for increased funding to be spent on asteroid detection, after an asteroid was discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Although Thursday's meteor may have posed no danger to life on Earth, astronomers fear it may be only a matter of time before mankind is faced with a significant threat. The prophecy of Revelation foretells of a coming day when a meteorite the size of a mountain will enter earth's atmosphere. Fragments of the object may come down on Mediterranean sea area, causing much devastation as a result. The news media reported today that scientists are debating as to whether a massive meteor strike could have caused a massive tsunami in Hudson bay over 2300 years ago. But the Bible predicts that such a scenario will reoccur during the tribulation period, when a meteor will come down on the sea and a third of sea life will be wiped out. A third of shipping will also be destroyed by the tsunami that will ensue. 

Revelation 8:7-9
The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

This event is also unique, in that God has warned us about it in advance, so that men might have an opportunity to repent of their sins and turn to Him for salvation. People may blame God for the unfortunate things that befall them, but man bears the ultimate responsibility. It is our sin that has made this world the way it is today. We only have ourselves to blame. I remember people saying, "Where was God in the Asian Tsunami?", when 250,000 lost their lives. I'll tell you where God was. He was on the cross suffering for our sins, so sinful man could have eternal life in heaven. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once said of the war, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". Never in human history was so much owed by so many to One Man. Jesus Christ gave His life for yours, so you could go free. He died for you. Trust in Him for salvation today.

Ecclesiastes 8:8
There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Job 33:24
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

Astronomers have called on the Australian government to increase spending on asteroid detection in the southern hemisphere, after an asteroid detected on Monday morning was discovered to be on a collision course with Earth within a period of twenty-four hours. The asteroid measured only around a few metres in diameter, and burned up in the skies above Sudan at 2:46 am on Tuesday morning. The objected was spotted by the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Tucson, Arizona. Within hours NASA experts had computed its orbit and published details of its expected trajectory through Earth's atmosphere. Although the asteroid was small and would most likely disintegrate well before impact, astronomers feared that the fireball could be mistaken for a ballistic missile, and so sought to ease tensions by publishing the information well in advance. It is the first time in history that scientists have been able to predict a meteor strike on Earth before it has taken place. But many experts believe that up until now we have been relatively lucky, and that had this particular asteroid been any bigger, it could have posed a serious threat to a city or nation.

Quote: "Professor Francis says most large near-earth objects have been mapped, but astronomers have identified only about 10 per cent of medium and small-sized asteroids. He says the Australian hunt for unidentified near earth objects has begun again, thanks to American funding. But it's only a small operation. "Well we've probably got lucky. We probably got lucky in the sense that we didn't search and nothing hit us since," he said. "But if in two years a city gets destroyed by a southern asteroid, then the government's decision will look pretty stupid. But we may have got lucky."

This time last year, a meteor that was estimated to be around 10 feet in diameter struck a remote village in Peru, leaving a impact crater around six metres deep and thirty metres wide. Locals reported hearing a thunderous roar and seeing a fireball flash across the sky. Many of the locals experienced nausea and vomiting after going to visit the site. Yesterday's meteor strike may be the first that was predicted in advance by mankind, but there is another that has been forecast to hit the earth. It's size and trajectory has already been mapped out, and the destruction caused by the impact already recorded. The book of Revelation predicts that a meteor, probably around a mile wide, will make impact in the sea (possibly the Mediterranean). A third of sea life will be wiped out, and a third of the ships will also be destroyed by the tsunami that will follow. The only detail that is not recorded for us is the date that this will occur. As we saw recently, astronomers are already calling for the United Nations to make preparations for such a scenario. Whether we will be able to predict this impact in advance or not, we are not told. But even if we could detect this asteroid in advance, there is no guarantee we could do anything to stop it. Have you made adequate preparation for this event? I'm not talking about taking out life insurance. When I was young I could never understand how life insurance worked. I used to think to myself, how can you pay money to someone to guarantee that you won't die? Now I realize that money goes to your relatives in the event that you do die. Life insurance won't save you in the day of judgement. I'm talking about taking out life assurance. There is only One Person that can give you that, and the price has already been paid in full. His name is Jesus Christ. He gave His life on the cross for you. He bore God's punishment for your sins, so that you could be forgiven and could have the assurance of eternal life in heaven. He is coming again to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation, to be with Him where He is (John 17:24). Why don't you trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation today.

Revelation 8:8-9
And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 

Source ABC

An international group of astronauts, cosmonauts and members of the space community has just completed their investigation on threat posed by space objects within a near-Earth orbit (NEO). The Association of Space Explorers published their findings last week, which are a result of two years of study on the asteroid threat. In their report, ASE have called on a global information network to be set up which will detect and catalogue NEOs, and report to a UN committee when a threat has been discovered. This committee would then advise member nations on what action to take in response to the threat, whether to prepare defences or co-ordinate evacuations. A second UN committee would liase with space-faring nations to deflect or destroy asteroids that posed a threat to the Earth. It's not the first time the ASE have called for a project like this to be set up. Two years ago ASE called for strategies to be created that would enable the world to deal with such a scenario. 

Quote: "The ASE's vision is first for a global information network, coordinated by the U.N., that uses data from ground- and space-based telescopes to find, track and rate the risk of near-Earth objects (NEOs). Currently, NASA is watching 209 NEOs, none of which is considered to be dangerous. But a threat is likely to be detected within the next 15 years, according to the ASE. "New telescopes coming online will increase these discoveries by a factor of 100," said Ed Lu, astronaut on space shuttle Atlantis. A new NEO Threat Oversight group would advise the UN Security Council about these risks. In the case of a threat, this group would help member states set defences into motion and, if such information came too late to act, coordinate the evacuations of cities at risk.

Within the last few years, the world has become much more aware of the threat posed by asteroids. Thanks to films such as Asteroid (1997) and Armageddon (1998) , people have become almost acceptant of the idea that a meteor could strike the Earth, causing massive devastation. Perhaps the recent interest in asteroids stems from the impact of Shoemaker Levi 9 on Jupiter in 1994. For the first time in history, the world watched as as parts of a comet collided with a planetary body in our solar system, leaving visible 'bruises' the size of Earth on the surface of the gas giant. I do believe Shoemaker Levi 9 was a warning to mankind, not necessarily to be busy in setting up asteroid-defence systems, but to acknowledge our Creator who holds the powers of the heavens in His hands (Psalm 8). The Bible states that in the last days these powers will be shaken (Matthew 24:29), and the stars of heaven will fall to earth as the fig tree casts her figs (Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:13). There is no doubt that the world is being prepared for the fulfillment of Revelation 8:7-9, when it seems that a meteorite around the size of a mountain will plunge into the sea, destroying much life. Will people look to UN committees to save them in the day of their calamity? Or will a man look to his Maker? The Bible says about the Lord Jesus, that "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not", John 1:10. Jesus Christ is the Creator. He made you. He loves you. He wants you to be with Him forever. Your sins have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2). If your sins are not forgiven, you will be eternally separated from the One Who created you. But Jesus Christ bore God's punishment for your sins upon the cross, so God could be righteous in forgiving you your sins and your relationship with Him would be restored. Our relationship with Him can be restored as soon as we believe on Jesus Christ for salvation. Why don't you trust Him for salvation today?

John 1:12
But as many as received him (Jesus Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

Source ABC News