PIE-EYED PROBLEMS
Romans 8:22
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
The sea holds some of God's most creatively designed living things. Just as on land, the variety of creatures in the sea was much greater in the past. One good example of this is an extinct sea going reptile known as Ophthalmosaurus. A full grown Ophthalmosaurus was about 12 feet long and shaped like a dolphin. What made it unusual were its eyes. They were each about the size of a dinner plate.
Scientists estimate that Ophthalmosaurus could see its prey clearly even in the dim light that is available 1,600 feet below the surface. Based on its body structure, Ophthalmosaurus appears to have been a strong swimmer. Adding these facts together, scientists concluded that Ophthalmosaurus regularly swam deep in the sea to find prey or avoid predators. This led researchers to examine Ophthalmosaurus' bones more closely. When a diver rises to the surface too quickly, the nitrogen dissolved in his blood forms bubbles that can block circulation and destroy tissue. Scientists wanted to know if Ophthalmosaurus also suffered from this condition, known as the "bends." They searched for and found depressions in the joints typical of the bends.
While God's creation was initially perfect in every way, Adam's sin introduced imperfection and suffering. Even Ophthalmosaurus, deep in the sea, suffered because of human sin. Thankfully, God has given us a solution for human evil in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, I thank You for giving me Your Son's victory over sin, death and the devil. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
"My, What Big Eyes You Have," Discover, 1/00, p. 28. Photo: Ophthalmosaurus skeleton found in Peterborough, England. Courtesy of Captmondo. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Romans 8:22
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."
The sea holds some of God's most creatively designed living things. Just as on land, the variety of creatures in the sea was much greater in the past. One good example of this is an extinct sea going reptile known as Ophthalmosaurus. A full grown Ophthalmosaurus was about 12 feet long and shaped like a dolphin. What made it unusual were its eyes. They were each about the size of a dinner plate.
Scientists estimate that Ophthalmosaurus could see its prey clearly even in the dim light that is available 1,600 feet below the surface. Based on its body structure, Ophthalmosaurus appears to have been a strong swimmer. Adding these facts together, scientists concluded that Ophthalmosaurus regularly swam deep in the sea to find prey or avoid predators. This led researchers to examine Ophthalmosaurus' bones more closely. When a diver rises to the surface too quickly, the nitrogen dissolved in his blood forms bubbles that can block circulation and destroy tissue. Scientists wanted to know if Ophthalmosaurus also suffered from this condition, known as the "bends." They searched for and found depressions in the joints typical of the bends.
While God's creation was initially perfect in every way, Adam's sin introduced imperfection and suffering. Even Ophthalmosaurus, deep in the sea, suffered because of human sin. Thankfully, God has given us a solution for human evil in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, I thank You for giving me Your Son's victory over sin, death and the devil. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
"My, What Big Eyes You Have," Discover, 1/00, p. 28. Photo: Ophthalmosaurus skeleton found in Peterborough, England. Courtesy of Captmondo. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
LAW OF THE JUNGLE: COOPERATION
Hebrews 13:6
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
According to evolution, biological history is one of "red in tooth and claw." In this view, living things compete with one another. The fittest survive at the expense of the less fit. In a forest, this means that trees compete with one another for light, water and nutrients. Taller trees benefit from the light they prevent shorter trees from receiving. But as it turns out, the true law of the jungle is cooperation.
What goes on beneath the forest floor is essential to the forest itself. Tree roots gather water and nutrients from the soil. In addition, fungi live among the roots, feeding off the sap and other carbon compounds produced by the tree. In return, the fungi help make nutrients in the soil available to the tree. The picture of cooperation goes even further than this. Researchers have learned that the trees themselves cooperate with one another. This cooperation even exists between species. Researchers shaded some trees, leaving others in the sun. Tagging trees with different isotopes of carbon, scientists were surprised to find carbon compounds made by the sunbathed trees present in the shaded tree! The trees that were doing well were helping the trees that were not able to photosynthesize, even if they were a different species.
The true law of the jungle turns out to be cooperation. Rather than survival of the fittest, this cooperation between living things reveals a carefully designed creation made by a loving Creator.
You, Lord, are my helper. Help me to love others and help them as You have loved and helped me. Amen.
"Sylvan Symphony," Creation, p. 56. Photo: Lion and cub feasting on a cape buffalo. Courtesy of Luca Galuzzi. (CC-BY-SA 2.5)
Hebrews 13:6
"So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
According to evolution, biological history is one of "red in tooth and claw." In this view, living things compete with one another. The fittest survive at the expense of the less fit. In a forest, this means that trees compete with one another for light, water and nutrients. Taller trees benefit from the light they prevent shorter trees from receiving. But as it turns out, the true law of the jungle is cooperation.
What goes on beneath the forest floor is essential to the forest itself. Tree roots gather water and nutrients from the soil. In addition, fungi live among the roots, feeding off the sap and other carbon compounds produced by the tree. In return, the fungi help make nutrients in the soil available to the tree. The picture of cooperation goes even further than this. Researchers have learned that the trees themselves cooperate with one another. This cooperation even exists between species. Researchers shaded some trees, leaving others in the sun. Tagging trees with different isotopes of carbon, scientists were surprised to find carbon compounds made by the sunbathed trees present in the shaded tree! The trees that were doing well were helping the trees that were not able to photosynthesize, even if they were a different species.
The true law of the jungle turns out to be cooperation. Rather than survival of the fittest, this cooperation between living things reveals a carefully designed creation made by a loving Creator.
You, Lord, are my helper. Help me to love others and help them as You have loved and helped me. Amen.
"Sylvan Symphony," Creation, p. 56. Photo: Lion and cub feasting on a cape buffalo. Courtesy of Luca Galuzzi. (CC-BY-SA 2.5)
AMAZING WINTER MOTHS
Job 42:2
"I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
As fall comes to the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia, many birds head for warmer climates, and insects enter suspended animation. While it might appear that nature is shutting down for the winter, amazing things are happening. About 50 species of moths are awakening from spending the summer in suspended animation. Winter is when these moths are active, despite the fact that they don't have any of the biological antifreeze that some other creatures do. The metabolic costs of such chemicals would hamper their way of life.
Winter moths can live as they do - even though they freeze below 32 degrees Fahrenheit - because they emerge from the leaf clutter on the forest floor where temperatures almost never fall below 37 degrees. But when the air temperature rises above freezing, the moths emerge, shiver for several minutes to warm up, and look for food. Maple sap is among their favorite foods. One stomach full of this high-energy food provides enough energy for one of these moths to hibernate all winter. When active, they are able to increase their metabolism by over 8,000 times, using the same amount of energy that sustains them all winter, in a mere 30 minutes. Summer moths shed heat from the thorax, while winter moths conserve their heat with an entirely different heat exchange system.
Winter moths illustrate that there are no limits to what God can do. So if you are ever tempted to wonder how God could have made the entire creation in six days, just remember His winter moths.
I am comforted, Almighty Father, because You love me. Amen.
"Some Like it Cold," Natural History, 2/94, pp.42 48. Photo: Winter moth. Courtesy of © Entomart.
Job 42:2
"I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."
As fall comes to the temperate regions of North America, Europe and Asia, many birds head for warmer climates, and insects enter suspended animation. While it might appear that nature is shutting down for the winter, amazing things are happening. About 50 species of moths are awakening from spending the summer in suspended animation. Winter is when these moths are active, despite the fact that they don't have any of the biological antifreeze that some other creatures do. The metabolic costs of such chemicals would hamper their way of life.
Winter moths can live as they do - even though they freeze below 32 degrees Fahrenheit - because they emerge from the leaf clutter on the forest floor where temperatures almost never fall below 37 degrees. But when the air temperature rises above freezing, the moths emerge, shiver for several minutes to warm up, and look for food. Maple sap is among their favorite foods. One stomach full of this high-energy food provides enough energy for one of these moths to hibernate all winter. When active, they are able to increase their metabolism by over 8,000 times, using the same amount of energy that sustains them all winter, in a mere 30 minutes. Summer moths shed heat from the thorax, while winter moths conserve their heat with an entirely different heat exchange system.
Winter moths illustrate that there are no limits to what God can do. So if you are ever tempted to wonder how God could have made the entire creation in six days, just remember His winter moths.
I am comforted, Almighty Father, because You love me. Amen.
"Some Like it Cold," Natural History, 2/94, pp.42 48. Photo: Winter moth. Courtesy of © Entomart.
POTATO SELF-DEFENSE
Psalm 91:3
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
The Peruvian Andes gave the world the potato, which is one of the largest crops in the world today. The problem is, the modern potato is plagued by potato beetles and aphids, which also carry some viral diseases to the plant. Now a wild potato found in the Bolivian Andes is being studied because it seems to be quite resistant to these pests.
The Bolivian potato defends itself using tiny hairs on its leaves called trichomes. There are roughly the same number of tall and short trichomes on the leaves, and they work together to provide a complete defense system for the plant. The hairs are so closely spaced that even a tiny aphid cannot avoid them. The end of each hair has a sack filled with defense chemicals. The short trichomes release their chemicals only when disturbed. The longer trichomes continuously release their chemicals. When an aphid gets on a leaf, its legs cannot avoid coming in contact with the sticky fluid the short trichomes release. To make certain that the aphid collects enough of the sticky stuff, the plant also releases a chemical that agitates the aphid. This gooey liquid finally sets up into a hard mass, leaving the aphid to starve. It also appears that a scent emitted by one of the trichomes makes the leaves completely distasteful to potato beetles.
A potato may someday be developed that can save itself from the pestilence of aphids and beetles. But we cannot save ourselves from the pestilence of our sin. That's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.
Lord, I thank You that I can depend on You for my salvation. Amen.
Bombardier Beetles and Fever Trees, William Agosta, pp. 22 25. Photo: Sticky trichomes of a carnivorous plant, Drosera capensis, with a trapped insect. Courtesy of Noah Elhardt. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Psalm 91:3
"Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence."
The Peruvian Andes gave the world the potato, which is one of the largest crops in the world today. The problem is, the modern potato is plagued by potato beetles and aphids, which also carry some viral diseases to the plant. Now a wild potato found in the Bolivian Andes is being studied because it seems to be quite resistant to these pests.
The Bolivian potato defends itself using tiny hairs on its leaves called trichomes. There are roughly the same number of tall and short trichomes on the leaves, and they work together to provide a complete defense system for the plant. The hairs are so closely spaced that even a tiny aphid cannot avoid them. The end of each hair has a sack filled with defense chemicals. The short trichomes release their chemicals only when disturbed. The longer trichomes continuously release their chemicals. When an aphid gets on a leaf, its legs cannot avoid coming in contact with the sticky fluid the short trichomes release. To make certain that the aphid collects enough of the sticky stuff, the plant also releases a chemical that agitates the aphid. This gooey liquid finally sets up into a hard mass, leaving the aphid to starve. It also appears that a scent emitted by one of the trichomes makes the leaves completely distasteful to potato beetles.
A potato may someday be developed that can save itself from the pestilence of aphids and beetles. But we cannot save ourselves from the pestilence of our sin. That's why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins.
Lord, I thank You that I can depend on You for my salvation. Amen.
Bombardier Beetles and Fever Trees, William Agosta, pp. 22 25. Photo: Sticky trichomes of a carnivorous plant, Drosera capensis, with a trapped insect. Courtesy of Noah Elhardt. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
BRITAINS DINOSAURS
Genesis 8:19
"Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark."
Many lines of evidence support the Bible's claim that Noah saved two of every kind of creature on the Ark, including dinosaurs. This means that humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time rather than separated by millions of years, as evolutionists claim. Long before modern science discovered dinosaurs, many histories offered descriptions of these creatures.
Britain's history contains hundreds of stories about the large reptiles we now call dinosaurs. Even if many of these accounts are not accurate, it is unlikely that so many similar stories were invented. According to ancient historical accounts, a large reptile killed and ate King Morvidus in about 336 B.C. In 1405, villagers near Sudbury drove what they called a large dragon into a swamp after the creature terrorized the area. It had killed and eaten a shepherd, then proceeded to eat the sheep. It was said that it had a huge body, a crested head with sharp teeth and a long tail. As recently as a hundred years ago, the older Welsh residents of Penllin in Glamorgan reported winged reptiles that lived in a colony in the nearby woods. They were described as brightly colored and reportedly stole the villagers' chickens.
It would appear that the reason most dinosaurs became extinct after the Flood has as much to do with human expansion as it does with a cooler, dryer Earth. But these widespread stories are just what we would expect if the biblical history is true.
Dear Father, I praise You for Your mercy that saved mankind twice. Amen.
After the Flood, Bill Cooper, pp. 131 135. Photo: Hypsilophodon replica at Brussels Science Institute. The first fossil was found on the Isle of Wight. (PD)
Genesis 8:19
"Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark."
Many lines of evidence support the Bible's claim that Noah saved two of every kind of creature on the Ark, including dinosaurs. This means that humans and dinosaurs lived at the same time rather than separated by millions of years, as evolutionists claim. Long before modern science discovered dinosaurs, many histories offered descriptions of these creatures.
Britain's history contains hundreds of stories about the large reptiles we now call dinosaurs. Even if many of these accounts are not accurate, it is unlikely that so many similar stories were invented. According to ancient historical accounts, a large reptile killed and ate King Morvidus in about 336 B.C. In 1405, villagers near Sudbury drove what they called a large dragon into a swamp after the creature terrorized the area. It had killed and eaten a shepherd, then proceeded to eat the sheep. It was said that it had a huge body, a crested head with sharp teeth and a long tail. As recently as a hundred years ago, the older Welsh residents of Penllin in Glamorgan reported winged reptiles that lived in a colony in the nearby woods. They were described as brightly colored and reportedly stole the villagers' chickens.
It would appear that the reason most dinosaurs became extinct after the Flood has as much to do with human expansion as it does with a cooler, dryer Earth. But these widespread stories are just what we would expect if the biblical history is true.
Dear Father, I praise You for Your mercy that saved mankind twice. Amen.
After the Flood, Bill Cooper, pp. 131 135. Photo: Hypsilophodon replica at Brussels Science Institute. The first fossil was found on the Isle of Wight. (PD)
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