THE ANTS' ROAD DEPARTMENT
Psalm 5:8
"Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face."
You're driving down the road and all of a sudden traffic slows to a crawl. Finally, you get to the cause of the slowdown – a big pothole in the road that causes people to slow down and drive around.
Some ants have the same problem. A species of army ant found in Brazil sends out hunters every morning. They travel, several ants wide, looking for other ants – even things as large as scorpions – to attack and return to home base. However, paths in the Brazilian jungle can be rough and even have potholes. When the ants encounter an ant-sized pothole in their road, one choice might be to slow down and narrow their path to get around it. Researchers say that such slowdowns can cut the amount of food delivered home by thirty percent. So, instead, the first ant to encounter such a pothole measures it. If the hole is his size, he fills the pothole with his own body. If the pothole is small, a full grown ant will leave it for a smaller ant to fill.
While God gave these army ants this ability to efficiently overcome obstacles in their path, He has done far more for us. When Scripture talks about making our ways straight before the Lord, it is speaking of Christ's righteousness which is ours by grace through faith.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for the gift of Your righteousness. Help me always treasure and live in this gift. Amen.
Science News, 6/2/07, pp. 340-341, S. Milius, "Pothole Pals."
Psalm 5:8
"Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face."
You're driving down the road and all of a sudden traffic slows to a crawl. Finally, you get to the cause of the slowdown – a big pothole in the road that causes people to slow down and drive around.
Some ants have the same problem. A species of army ant found in Brazil sends out hunters every morning. They travel, several ants wide, looking for other ants – even things as large as scorpions – to attack and return to home base. However, paths in the Brazilian jungle can be rough and even have potholes. When the ants encounter an ant-sized pothole in their road, one choice might be to slow down and narrow their path to get around it. Researchers say that such slowdowns can cut the amount of food delivered home by thirty percent. So, instead, the first ant to encounter such a pothole measures it. If the hole is his size, he fills the pothole with his own body. If the pothole is small, a full grown ant will leave it for a smaller ant to fill.
While God gave these army ants this ability to efficiently overcome obstacles in their path, He has done far more for us. When Scripture talks about making our ways straight before the Lord, it is speaking of Christ's righteousness which is ours by grace through faith.
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for the gift of Your righteousness. Help me always treasure and live in this gift. Amen.
Science News, 6/2/07, pp. 340-341, S. Milius, "Pothole Pals."
AN ELEGANT QUILT OF RELATIONSHIPS
Psalm 104:16-17
"The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house."
There are many incredible designs around us that are unlikely to exist if everything is the result of mindless chance. Many birds eat insects through the summer. While such high protein diets like this are good in mating and reproductive season, they do not prepare the birds to survive the cold weather of winter.
What they need to do is build a layer of fat both for calorie storage as well as insulation. So, as winter nears, the berries that have been growing and ripening all summer on various shrubs become more numerous. The high sugar content of the berries' juice helps the birds to quickly build up fat. The freeze on cold fall mornings even helps to increase the sugar concentration in the berries. Even more amazing is that the various types of berries eaten by the birds ripen in a staggered fashion so that berry season is long and the supplies are always available. For example, as the elderberry supply is just about consumed, highbush cranberries are in production. Often, the summer's hatchlings' plumage doesn't reach full color until they eat the various pigments in the berries, and those pigments are incorporated into the new feathers. In exchange, the birds spread the seeds in the berries.
All of these complex, interrelated systems depend on each other in an elegant, fine-tuned design.
Father, thank You for the beauty and song of the birds which bless and enrich our lives. Amen.
http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_this_story?sid=64091192, 10/14/09, Val Cunningham, "Why bushes are better for birds."
Psalm 104:16-17
"The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house."
There are many incredible designs around us that are unlikely to exist if everything is the result of mindless chance. Many birds eat insects through the summer. While such high protein diets like this are good in mating and reproductive season, they do not prepare the birds to survive the cold weather of winter.
What they need to do is build a layer of fat both for calorie storage as well as insulation. So, as winter nears, the berries that have been growing and ripening all summer on various shrubs become more numerous. The high sugar content of the berries' juice helps the birds to quickly build up fat. The freeze on cold fall mornings even helps to increase the sugar concentration in the berries. Even more amazing is that the various types of berries eaten by the birds ripen in a staggered fashion so that berry season is long and the supplies are always available. For example, as the elderberry supply is just about consumed, highbush cranberries are in production. Often, the summer's hatchlings' plumage doesn't reach full color until they eat the various pigments in the berries, and those pigments are incorporated into the new feathers. In exchange, the birds spread the seeds in the berries.
All of these complex, interrelated systems depend on each other in an elegant, fine-tuned design.
Father, thank You for the beauty and song of the birds which bless and enrich our lives. Amen.
http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_this_story?sid=64091192, 10/14/09, Val Cunningham, "Why bushes are better for birds."
DID NOAH'S FLOOD AFFECT MARS, TOO?
Genesis 7:11
"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life ... were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
One of the biggest headlines in planetary exploration in recent years was the confirmation that at one time Mars had water. Further exploration and study reveals evidence that there was once quite a lot of moving water on the surface of Mars.
With two rovers having sent back pictures and information from the surface, plus an orbiter exploring the surface, evidence of water action began to mount. At first, small features that looked like they were formed by moving water were discovered. Soon, it looked like that there was widespread water action in the southern hemisphere. Besides erosion, there is widespread evidence of the type of rocks that form underwater. Now, similar evidence suggests widespread water action in the northern lowlands as well. One of the most dramatic features could be the Mars version of the Grand Canyon. Called Valles Marineris, it is 2,000 miles long, 400 miles wide and five miles deep. It is so big, it can be seen from Earth with a good telescope. It would take catastrophic amounts of water to form such a canyon.
While the Bible doesn't say anything about the flood that would suggest Mars was involved, some creation geologists say that it may have been. Once thing is certain. This water action did not take place billions of years ago as those who believe in evolution say.
Lord, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word which judges sin and speaks the welcome words of the Gospel to us. Amen.
Acts & Facts, 9/10, pp. 12-13, Larry Vardiman, "News From the Red Planet."
Genesis 7:11
"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life ... were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
One of the biggest headlines in planetary exploration in recent years was the confirmation that at one time Mars had water. Further exploration and study reveals evidence that there was once quite a lot of moving water on the surface of Mars.
With two rovers having sent back pictures and information from the surface, plus an orbiter exploring the surface, evidence of water action began to mount. At first, small features that looked like they were formed by moving water were discovered. Soon, it looked like that there was widespread water action in the southern hemisphere. Besides erosion, there is widespread evidence of the type of rocks that form underwater. Now, similar evidence suggests widespread water action in the northern lowlands as well. One of the most dramatic features could be the Mars version of the Grand Canyon. Called Valles Marineris, it is 2,000 miles long, 400 miles wide and five miles deep. It is so big, it can be seen from Earth with a good telescope. It would take catastrophic amounts of water to form such a canyon.
While the Bible doesn't say anything about the flood that would suggest Mars was involved, some creation geologists say that it may have been. Once thing is certain. This water action did not take place billions of years ago as those who believe in evolution say.
Lord, I thank You for Your trustworthy Word which judges sin and speaks the welcome words of the Gospel to us. Amen.
Acts & Facts, 9/10, pp. 12-13, Larry Vardiman, "News From the Red Planet."
GOSSIPING PLANTS
Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
The venus flytrap senses a fly and, in less than a second, its trap springs shut. It will eat today. A new area of science is plant behavior. Plant behaviorists point out that plants, like the venus flytrap that interact with animals, have to move on an animal scale. We have traditionally thought of plants as inactive living things that just sit there. But as we learn more about them, we are beginning to discover that plants are much more active than we ever thought.
Other plants move as well, often when they interact with animals. But sometimes not. When a white mulberry tree opens its blooms, they open at half the speed of sound. But there's more than this to plant behavior. Scientists have learned that plants have memory, despite the lack of a nervous system or brain. Yet, when a leaf has mobilized its defenses against a predator in the past, it will do so more quickly the next time the threat returns. Previously we have talked about how plants communicate by emitting scents. When a leaf is attacked, a scent is emitted, warning surrounding leaves and plants. Scientists now call this "plant gossiping."
When we see how much ability God has given even plants, we are led to realize, thankfully, that God has been even more generous to us.
Father, I rejoice and thank You for Your generous gifts to me, most especially for Your grace and forgiveness. Amen.
Science News, 6/20/09, pp. 16-19, Susan Milius, "No brainer behavior."
Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
The venus flytrap senses a fly and, in less than a second, its trap springs shut. It will eat today. A new area of science is plant behavior. Plant behaviorists point out that plants, like the venus flytrap that interact with animals, have to move on an animal scale. We have traditionally thought of plants as inactive living things that just sit there. But as we learn more about them, we are beginning to discover that plants are much more active than we ever thought.
Other plants move as well, often when they interact with animals. But sometimes not. When a white mulberry tree opens its blooms, they open at half the speed of sound. But there's more than this to plant behavior. Scientists have learned that plants have memory, despite the lack of a nervous system or brain. Yet, when a leaf has mobilized its defenses against a predator in the past, it will do so more quickly the next time the threat returns. Previously we have talked about how plants communicate by emitting scents. When a leaf is attacked, a scent is emitted, warning surrounding leaves and plants. Scientists now call this "plant gossiping."
When we see how much ability God has given even plants, we are led to realize, thankfully, that God has been even more generous to us.
Father, I rejoice and thank You for Your generous gifts to me, most especially for Your grace and forgiveness. Amen.
Science News, 6/20/09, pp. 16-19, Susan Milius, "No brainer behavior."
MEET THE HORROR FROG!
Psalm 20:1b
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee..."
Did you know that there are salamanders that can grow spines? They do this by forcing their ribs to grow through their skin. But a frog nicknamed the "horror frog" is even stranger.
When it is threatened, the "horror frog" breaks bones in its foot and extends the ends of the broken bone through its hind foot pads. The result is a catlike claw. The "horror frog" is actually a family of eleven frog species, nine of which are able to perform this grisly feat. Most of these species are native to Cameroon. One end of the broken bone is attached to a special muscle that pushes the bone through the foot pads. Once the threat is past, the bone claw pulls back into the foot and the tissue heals. To add to the "horror frog" aspect, these frogs also are hairy. The hair actually turns out to be hair-like skin growth. As unappetizing as they sound, they are prized for roasting and eating.
Before death came into the world, the "horror frog" would probably not have any need for claws to defend itself. Yet, just as God knew that we would need a plan for our salvation, He also knew that creatures like this frog could benefit from a method of defending itself. So He gave this frog this creative method of defending itself.
Father, protect me from all dangers in this life, both spiritual and physical, assuring me of Your presence. Amen.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13991-horror-frog-breaks-own-bones-to-produce-claws.html?full=true&print=true, 5/28/08, Catherine Brahic, "'Horror frog' breaks own bones to produce claws."
Psalm 20:1b
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee..."
Did you know that there are salamanders that can grow spines? They do this by forcing their ribs to grow through their skin. But a frog nicknamed the "horror frog" is even stranger.
When it is threatened, the "horror frog" breaks bones in its foot and extends the ends of the broken bone through its hind foot pads. The result is a catlike claw. The "horror frog" is actually a family of eleven frog species, nine of which are able to perform this grisly feat. Most of these species are native to Cameroon. One end of the broken bone is attached to a special muscle that pushes the bone through the foot pads. Once the threat is past, the bone claw pulls back into the foot and the tissue heals. To add to the "horror frog" aspect, these frogs also are hairy. The hair actually turns out to be hair-like skin growth. As unappetizing as they sound, they are prized for roasting and eating.
Before death came into the world, the "horror frog" would probably not have any need for claws to defend itself. Yet, just as God knew that we would need a plan for our salvation, He also knew that creatures like this frog could benefit from a method of defending itself. So He gave this frog this creative method of defending itself.
Father, protect me from all dangers in this life, both spiritual and physical, assuring me of Your presence. Amen.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13991-horror-frog-breaks-own-bones-to-produce-claws.html?full=true&print=true, 5/28/08, Catherine Brahic, "'Horror frog' breaks own bones to produce claws."
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