DO BIRDS TRULY MAKE MUSIC?
Song of Solomon 2:12
"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."
The Bible speaks of bird calls as songs, as most of us do. However, evolutionary theory has led some scientists to say that we are merely assigning human meanings to the calls of birds. They say that the bird calls have nothing to do with real music.
Ornithologists have known for some time that bird songs use the same musical scales as our music. Decades ago it was noted that some of Beethoven's work could be heard from the European blackbird. The music was the same as the opening rondo of Beethoven's "Violin Concert in D, Opus 61." Since these birds pass their songs from generation to generation, Beethoven could have gotten the lilting music from the forefathers of today's European blackbird! The songs of some species, like the song sparrow, follow the form of a sonata, beginning with a strong theme, then the theme is musically played with, and for a finish, the original theme is then repeated. Mozart had a starling as a pet. Once, having heard Mozart play his "Piano Concerto in C Major," the starling not only imitated it, but changed the sharps to flats! Mozart exclaimed, "That was beautiful!" When the starling died, Mozart held an elaborate funeral for it. Eight days later he wrote "A Musical Joke," which contains the same elaborate structure found in starling song.
Do birds make true music, as the Bible says? Contrary to what some evolutionists say, Beethoven and Mozart certainly thought they did.
Lord, I thank You for the gift of music, and I await the music of heaven. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 4/15/00, pp. 252-254, "Music without Borders."
Song of Solomon 2:12
"The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land."
The Bible speaks of bird calls as songs, as most of us do. However, evolutionary theory has led some scientists to say that we are merely assigning human meanings to the calls of birds. They say that the bird calls have nothing to do with real music.
Ornithologists have known for some time that bird songs use the same musical scales as our music. Decades ago it was noted that some of Beethoven's work could be heard from the European blackbird. The music was the same as the opening rondo of Beethoven's "Violin Concert in D, Opus 61." Since these birds pass their songs from generation to generation, Beethoven could have gotten the lilting music from the forefathers of today's European blackbird! The songs of some species, like the song sparrow, follow the form of a sonata, beginning with a strong theme, then the theme is musically played with, and for a finish, the original theme is then repeated. Mozart had a starling as a pet. Once, having heard Mozart play his "Piano Concerto in C Major," the starling not only imitated it, but changed the sharps to flats! Mozart exclaimed, "That was beautiful!" When the starling died, Mozart held an elaborate funeral for it. Eight days later he wrote "A Musical Joke," which contains the same elaborate structure found in starling song.
Do birds make true music, as the Bible says? Contrary to what some evolutionists say, Beethoven and Mozart certainly thought they did.
Lord, I thank You for the gift of music, and I await the music of heaven. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 4/15/00, pp. 252-254, "Music without Borders."
THE TREE WITH NOTHING TO OFFER BUT ROT
Genesis 1:11b
"Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so."
The chempedak tree is found in Malaysia. It is closely related to jackfruits in the mulberry family. The chempedak tree produces edible fruits that are about a foot long.
Researchers studying the chempedak were surprised to discover that they bloom irregularly. One tree was watched by researchers for five years before it bloomed! While the flowers smell like watermelon, they offer no nectar to entice pollinating insects. Moreover, the insects that do pollinate the chempedak tree do not eat any of the pollen. What, then, attracts the two species of gall midges that pollinate the flowers? The answer: a fungus that attacks only the male flowers of the tree. The midges like to eat the fungus, so they crawl on the male flowers as they eat the fungus, picking up pollen. Then they go to the clumps of female flowers looking for more fungus, inadvertently pollinating them. This arrangement in which the tree depends entirely on a fungus to attract pollinators is unknown in any other species. This raises the question of how such an arrangement could have evolved. Without both the midges and the fungus, the first chempedak tree would have been the last. All three elements in this interrelated system had to have come into being at the same time.
The chempedak tree bears witness to a rapid creation of the interdependent plant and insect world where living things had to wait, at most, mere days for the other creatures it depends on to come into existence, just as Genesis reports.
Dear Father, with the creation I will bear witness that You are Creator. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 3/18/00, p. 182, "Tree pollination needs male-only rot."
Genesis 1:11b
"Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so."
The chempedak tree is found in Malaysia. It is closely related to jackfruits in the mulberry family. The chempedak tree produces edible fruits that are about a foot long.
Researchers studying the chempedak were surprised to discover that they bloom irregularly. One tree was watched by researchers for five years before it bloomed! While the flowers smell like watermelon, they offer no nectar to entice pollinating insects. Moreover, the insects that do pollinate the chempedak tree do not eat any of the pollen. What, then, attracts the two species of gall midges that pollinate the flowers? The answer: a fungus that attacks only the male flowers of the tree. The midges like to eat the fungus, so they crawl on the male flowers as they eat the fungus, picking up pollen. Then they go to the clumps of female flowers looking for more fungus, inadvertently pollinating them. This arrangement in which the tree depends entirely on a fungus to attract pollinators is unknown in any other species. This raises the question of how such an arrangement could have evolved. Without both the midges and the fungus, the first chempedak tree would have been the last. All three elements in this interrelated system had to have come into being at the same time.
The chempedak tree bears witness to a rapid creation of the interdependent plant and insect world where living things had to wait, at most, mere days for the other creatures it depends on to come into existence, just as Genesis reports.
Dear Father, with the creation I will bear witness that You are Creator. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 3/18/00, p. 182, "Tree pollination needs male-only rot."
THOSE CLEVER WHALES, DOLPHINS AND SEALS
Psalm 148:7
"Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths…"
Scientists have long wondered how deep-diving creatures such as the whale and the dolphin can dive so deeply on one breath. It takes a great deal of energy for a seal, for example, to dive 1,200 feet deep and then return to the surface. Scientists computed that one breath should not be able to provide enough oxygen to burn the muscular fuel necessary for such dives.
In one attempt to learn how deep-diving sea creatures do what seems to be impossible, researchers even built a robotic fish. Their studies of how the fish swam indicated that gliding would not conserve a deep-diving creature's energy. However, scientists have finally been able to attach video cameras to deep divers and have discovered their secrets. The cameras were designed to show scientists exactly how the animals moved. They found that these animals actually do save energy for their return to the surface by gliding into the depths. To their surprise, researchers saw that as the animals descend water pressure squeezes their bodies into a smaller volume, making them more dense. The pressure also flattens air sacs in their lungs, further helping the animal to descend. These effects help save oxygen reserves for hunting and the return to the surface. Scientists marveled at how clever the animals are.
No one has even seen cleverness result from the chance forces that supposedly drive evolution. Intelligent design comes from an intelligent Designer, our Creator God.
Dear Father, help me to glorify You with my actions. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 4/8/00, p. 230, "How whales, dolphins, seals dive so deep."
Psalm 148:7
"Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths…"
Scientists have long wondered how deep-diving creatures such as the whale and the dolphin can dive so deeply on one breath. It takes a great deal of energy for a seal, for example, to dive 1,200 feet deep and then return to the surface. Scientists computed that one breath should not be able to provide enough oxygen to burn the muscular fuel necessary for such dives.
In one attempt to learn how deep-diving sea creatures do what seems to be impossible, researchers even built a robotic fish. Their studies of how the fish swam indicated that gliding would not conserve a deep-diving creature's energy. However, scientists have finally been able to attach video cameras to deep divers and have discovered their secrets. The cameras were designed to show scientists exactly how the animals moved. They found that these animals actually do save energy for their return to the surface by gliding into the depths. To their surprise, researchers saw that as the animals descend water pressure squeezes their bodies into a smaller volume, making them more dense. The pressure also flattens air sacs in their lungs, further helping the animal to descend. These effects help save oxygen reserves for hunting and the return to the surface. Scientists marveled at how clever the animals are.
No one has even seen cleverness result from the chance forces that supposedly drive evolution. Intelligent design comes from an intelligent Designer, our Creator God.
Dear Father, help me to glorify You with my actions. Amen.
Notes: Science News, 4/8/00, p. 230, "How whales, dolphins, seals dive so deep."
LIMA BEAN SELF DEFENSE
Psalm 20:1
"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you�"
You may not think of plants as being intelligent on any level since it appears that they just sort of sit in the soil and grow. However, we have done a few Creation Moments programs on plants that try to poison or repel a predator. Now we will see that the lima bean employs an even more sophisticated defense strategy that not only warns surrounding lima beans of the attack, but also calls in defenders.
Anyone who has ever worked with plants is familiar with spider mites. There are many varieties, but one of the most dangerous to the lima bean is the two spotted spider mite. These mites inject their saliva into a plant's tissues, dissolving them. One of the mites' biggest enemies is a carnivorous mite that feeds on these two spotted mites. These carnivorous mites are small and travel wherever the winds carry them. When two spotted mites attack a lima bean, the plant sends out a special chemical signal. When this distress signal reaches surrounding lima beans, they, too, begin to send the signal even though they are not under attack. The signal carries several messages to different species. Spider mites not on the plant being attacked are repelled from the area. On the other hand, any carnivorous mites that drift into the area will stay to feed on the two-spotted spider mites. As a result, the lima bean defends itself by sending specific messages to three different species!
The lima bean's intelligent defense strategy is difficult for evolutionists to explain. It is easily accounted for by a Creator Who cares about all His creatures.
Lord, thank You for defending me against sin, death and the devil. Amen.
Psalm 20:1
"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you�"
You may not think of plants as being intelligent on any level since it appears that they just sort of sit in the soil and grow. However, we have done a few Creation Moments programs on plants that try to poison or repel a predator. Now we will see that the lima bean employs an even more sophisticated defense strategy that not only warns surrounding lima beans of the attack, but also calls in defenders.
Anyone who has ever worked with plants is familiar with spider mites. There are many varieties, but one of the most dangerous to the lima bean is the two spotted spider mite. These mites inject their saliva into a plant's tissues, dissolving them. One of the mites' biggest enemies is a carnivorous mite that feeds on these two spotted mites. These carnivorous mites are small and travel wherever the winds carry them. When two spotted mites attack a lima bean, the plant sends out a special chemical signal. When this distress signal reaches surrounding lima beans, they, too, begin to send the signal even though they are not under attack. The signal carries several messages to different species. Spider mites not on the plant being attacked are repelled from the area. On the other hand, any carnivorous mites that drift into the area will stay to feed on the two-spotted spider mites. As a result, the lima bean defends itself by sending specific messages to three different species!
The lima bean's intelligent defense strategy is difficult for evolutionists to explain. It is easily accounted for by a Creator Who cares about all His creatures.
Lord, thank You for defending me against sin, death and the devil. Amen.
STUDY SHOWS AMERICANS ARE SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY
2 Timothy 1:13
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
A poll conducted by George Gallup reveals some alarming trends in Americans' religious thinking. First, the good news is that more than 80 percent of Americans desire to grow spiritually. Secondly, Christian religion continues to show wide popularity, with church attendance remaining steady over the last half century. Also positive is that people are seeking a more meaningful and deeper spiritual life. Gallup attributes this to the failure of materialism to satisfy the human heart.
However, Gallup's study found that there is widespread ignorance about the Bible, basic Christian teachings and traditions. Even more disturbing is that the study found that Christians generally don't know what they believe or why. As a result, Gallup found a widespread tendency to mix Christian and non-Christian beliefs. People tend to pick and choose what they want of Christianity, along with beliefs from other religions. For example, Gallup cites evangelical Christians who also believe in reincarnation. Here at Creation Moments, we frequently run into people who profess to be Bible believing Christians, and still believe that God used evolution to make the world we know today.
A good part of our ministry is to help people understand what the Bible says and to know why they believe it is true. However, that is a job that belongs to every Christian. When each of us takes this seriously, we will be able to offer others the true spirituality that so many are now seeking.
Dear Father, grant me a more complete understanding of Your Word. Amen.
2 Timothy 1:13
"Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
A poll conducted by George Gallup reveals some alarming trends in Americans' religious thinking. First, the good news is that more than 80 percent of Americans desire to grow spiritually. Secondly, Christian religion continues to show wide popularity, with church attendance remaining steady over the last half century. Also positive is that people are seeking a more meaningful and deeper spiritual life. Gallup attributes this to the failure of materialism to satisfy the human heart.
However, Gallup's study found that there is widespread ignorance about the Bible, basic Christian teachings and traditions. Even more disturbing is that the study found that Christians generally don't know what they believe or why. As a result, Gallup found a widespread tendency to mix Christian and non-Christian beliefs. People tend to pick and choose what they want of Christianity, along with beliefs from other religions. For example, Gallup cites evangelical Christians who also believe in reincarnation. Here at Creation Moments, we frequently run into people who profess to be Bible believing Christians, and still believe that God used evolution to make the world we know today.
A good part of our ministry is to help people understand what the Bible says and to know why they believe it is true. However, that is a job that belongs to every Christian. When each of us takes this seriously, we will be able to offer others the true spirituality that so many are now seeking.
Dear Father, grant me a more complete understanding of Your Word. Amen.
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