IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
Psalm 6:6
"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears."
The miracle takes place in the blink of an eye. Literally.
Every time you blink, you bathe the surface of your eye with a miraculous fluid called tears. Tears are not simply a salty water solution. They are made of water, but also have oils, electrolytes and sticky carbohydrates called mucins. In addition, they contain antibacterial and antiviral substances. One of these substances is called lysozyme. Any bacteria or virus that finds itself in tear fluid has a 95 percent chance of being dead within ten minutes. That blink of an eye keeps the surface of the eye properly moisturized so that our vision remains clear. Without this moisturization, your eyes would become red and painful, and, if untreated, you would probably go blind. Tear fluid also provides needed oxygen to the surface of your eyes.
But perhaps the most amazing property of tears is even more unexpected. Humans are the only creatures that cry emotional tears. Studies have shown that the ability to produce tears and cry actually helps us cope with emotional situations. There are some inherited diseases which make people unable to cry tears. Studies have shown that people with this disease cannot deal well with stress.
Tears are a blessing in many ways. But we also remember that God has promised to wipe away all our tears when we reach heaven.
Father, I thank You for the gift of crying tears, and I thank You that You have promised to wipe away our tears in heaven. Amen.
Creation in the Crossfire, 8/02, pp. 3-4, Jerry Bergman, "Design of tears: an example of irreducible complexity."
Psalm 6:6
"I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears."
The miracle takes place in the blink of an eye. Literally.
Every time you blink, you bathe the surface of your eye with a miraculous fluid called tears. Tears are not simply a salty water solution. They are made of water, but also have oils, electrolytes and sticky carbohydrates called mucins. In addition, they contain antibacterial and antiviral substances. One of these substances is called lysozyme. Any bacteria or virus that finds itself in tear fluid has a 95 percent chance of being dead within ten minutes. That blink of an eye keeps the surface of the eye properly moisturized so that our vision remains clear. Without this moisturization, your eyes would become red and painful, and, if untreated, you would probably go blind. Tear fluid also provides needed oxygen to the surface of your eyes.
But perhaps the most amazing property of tears is even more unexpected. Humans are the only creatures that cry emotional tears. Studies have shown that the ability to produce tears and cry actually helps us cope with emotional situations. There are some inherited diseases which make people unable to cry tears. Studies have shown that people with this disease cannot deal well with stress.
Tears are a blessing in many ways. But we also remember that God has promised to wipe away all our tears when we reach heaven.
Father, I thank You for the gift of crying tears, and I thank You that You have promised to wipe away our tears in heaven. Amen.
Creation in the Crossfire, 8/02, pp. 3-4, Jerry Bergman, "Design of tears: an example of irreducible complexity."
NEW SCIENCE BASED ON AN OLD TRUTH
Job 36:22
"Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?"
While the development of a new science is helping mankind, it says something that many scientists did not intend to say. The science is called biomimetics. As the name suggests, biomimetics is based on the idea that if we copy designs found in nature, we can often improve our own technology.
For example, a Japanese company developed special swimsuit material for the Beijing Olympics that provides less resistance in the water. Taking a cue from the swift marlin, the company developed material with imbedded polymers so that it mimics the marlin's skin's absorption of water. Schools of fish swim in a beautiful unison ballet without ever running into each other. Nissan Motor Company is studying fish schools to discover what it might do to build cars with better anti-collision equipment. Solar cells and light-emitting diodes certainly could be more efficient. Engineers learned that moths see so well in the dark because their eyes have special convex-concave design. That design means that the moth's eye surface reflects two to three-tenths of a percent of the light that hits it. Standard plastic film reflects four to five percent of the light hitting it, making the moth's eye much less reflective.
Whether biomimetics intends it or not, in looking to the creation to improve our designs, it recognizes the Creator as the Source of all knowledge.
Father, the Source of all knowledge, we thank You for sharing Your knowledge with us. Help us to use it well. Amen.
The Nikkei Weekly, 5/31/10, p. 17, "Preserving biodiversity benefits society, business, helps secure future."
Job 36:22
"Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?"
While the development of a new science is helping mankind, it says something that many scientists did not intend to say. The science is called biomimetics. As the name suggests, biomimetics is based on the idea that if we copy designs found in nature, we can often improve our own technology.
For example, a Japanese company developed special swimsuit material for the Beijing Olympics that provides less resistance in the water. Taking a cue from the swift marlin, the company developed material with imbedded polymers so that it mimics the marlin's skin's absorption of water. Schools of fish swim in a beautiful unison ballet without ever running into each other. Nissan Motor Company is studying fish schools to discover what it might do to build cars with better anti-collision equipment. Solar cells and light-emitting diodes certainly could be more efficient. Engineers learned that moths see so well in the dark because their eyes have special convex-concave design. That design means that the moth's eye surface reflects two to three-tenths of a percent of the light that hits it. Standard plastic film reflects four to five percent of the light hitting it, making the moth's eye much less reflective.
Whether biomimetics intends it or not, in looking to the creation to improve our designs, it recognizes the Creator as the Source of all knowledge.
Father, the Source of all knowledge, we thank You for sharing Your knowledge with us. Help us to use it well. Amen.
The Nikkei Weekly, 5/31/10, p. 17, "Preserving biodiversity benefits society, business, helps secure future."
DINOS ON ICE?
Job 38:29
"Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?"
The fact that dinosaur fossils are found in the Arctic suggests that there have been catastrophic changes on this Earth since those dinosaurs lived. Some of the changes, like the worldwide flood, are even described in the Bible.
More evidence of these cataclysmic changes are being found in Antarctica. Today, Antarctica is the coldest, driest place on Earth. Winds can rage at 200 miles per hour. Yet, under the ice, scientists are finding fossilized plants like ferns, pine trees and even ginkgoes. These finds provide evidence of a much warmer climate. But the fossilized remains of animals provide evidence of a considerably warmer climate. Fossils of three species of dinosaur have also been found. One has been named Cryolophosaurus or "cold-crested lizard," and was about 23 feet long. Another, Glacialisaurus, or "frozen lizard," was also about 23 feet long. A smaller dinosaur with spikes – named Antarctopelta or "Antarctic shield" – was about 13 feet long. These fossils were found in the same sedimentary flood layers as dinosaurs around the world. These fossils and the record of magnetization of various layers of rock provide evidence that Antarctica moved south to its present South Pole location during the year that it was covered with flood waters.
Even though God has allowed great cataclysms to strike the Earth, He has never left His own without His love and care.
Father, in the face of dire predictions about catastrophe, teach me to take comfort in Your fatherly care. Amen.
Answers, 7-9/10, pp. 46-51, Buddy Davis, "Dinosaurs on Ice."
Job 38:29
"Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?"
The fact that dinosaur fossils are found in the Arctic suggests that there have been catastrophic changes on this Earth since those dinosaurs lived. Some of the changes, like the worldwide flood, are even described in the Bible.
More evidence of these cataclysmic changes are being found in Antarctica. Today, Antarctica is the coldest, driest place on Earth. Winds can rage at 200 miles per hour. Yet, under the ice, scientists are finding fossilized plants like ferns, pine trees and even ginkgoes. These finds provide evidence of a much warmer climate. But the fossilized remains of animals provide evidence of a considerably warmer climate. Fossils of three species of dinosaur have also been found. One has been named Cryolophosaurus or "cold-crested lizard," and was about 23 feet long. Another, Glacialisaurus, or "frozen lizard," was also about 23 feet long. A smaller dinosaur with spikes – named Antarctopelta or "Antarctic shield" – was about 13 feet long. These fossils were found in the same sedimentary flood layers as dinosaurs around the world. These fossils and the record of magnetization of various layers of rock provide evidence that Antarctica moved south to its present South Pole location during the year that it was covered with flood waters.
Even though God has allowed great cataclysms to strike the Earth, He has never left His own without His love and care.
Father, in the face of dire predictions about catastrophe, teach me to take comfort in Your fatherly care. Amen.
Answers, 7-9/10, pp. 46-51, Buddy Davis, "Dinosaurs on Ice."
THE LONELY, BOLD TRAVELER
Psalm 107:8
"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
Even life that exists where sunlight never reaches nevertheless gets its nutrients as a result of photosynthesis. Furthermore, no matter what the organism, it always lives in some sort of community with other organisms.
Now a bacteria has been discovered that breaks both of these rules. The organism, nicknamed "the bold traveler," was discovered living in water-filled cracks in a South African gold mine. It lives nearly two miles below the surface. And it shares its habitat with no other species. Since there's no other life down there, and they are totally cut off from the surface, scientists wondered how they managed to get energy to carry on life. Further study showed that the creatures are able to get energy directly from the radioactive decay of the uranium that is found in the rock into which the mine is cut. They are also able to extract carbon, which is essential to life, directly from carbon dioxide. They can also secure nitrogen, also essential for life, and which it extracts from surrounding rocks. Scientists also say that the creature cannot handle oxygen.
This discovery again illustrates the limitless creativity of God. We rejoice as we see that He is not limited to creating life that lives in what we call the "normal" way.
Father, we rejoice and marvel at the wonders You have brought into being, the greatest of which is our salvation. Amen.
New Scientist, 10/9/08, Catherine Brahic, "Goldmine bug DNA may be key to alien life," http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14906-goldmine-bug-dna-may-be-key-to-alien-life.html
Psalm 107:8
"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
Even life that exists where sunlight never reaches nevertheless gets its nutrients as a result of photosynthesis. Furthermore, no matter what the organism, it always lives in some sort of community with other organisms.
Now a bacteria has been discovered that breaks both of these rules. The organism, nicknamed "the bold traveler," was discovered living in water-filled cracks in a South African gold mine. It lives nearly two miles below the surface. And it shares its habitat with no other species. Since there's no other life down there, and they are totally cut off from the surface, scientists wondered how they managed to get energy to carry on life. Further study showed that the creatures are able to get energy directly from the radioactive decay of the uranium that is found in the rock into which the mine is cut. They are also able to extract carbon, which is essential to life, directly from carbon dioxide. They can also secure nitrogen, also essential for life, and which it extracts from surrounding rocks. Scientists also say that the creature cannot handle oxygen.
This discovery again illustrates the limitless creativity of God. We rejoice as we see that He is not limited to creating life that lives in what we call the "normal" way.
Father, we rejoice and marvel at the wonders You have brought into being, the greatest of which is our salvation. Amen.
New Scientist, 10/9/08, Catherine Brahic, "Goldmine bug DNA may be key to alien life," http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14906-goldmine-bug-dna-may-be-key-to-alien-life.html
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