Strange Critter, Part Mammal, Marsupial and Reptile

While all living things defy evolution, some do it more clearly than others. The Echidna is one example of a creature that obviously challenges evolution. This Australian marvel is often called the Spiny Anteater. However, it has little resemblance to anteaters in other parts of the world.

Echidnas are classified as monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. While the adults have no teeth, a hatchling Echidna escapes from its egg with an egg tooth.

Adults have a long snout and an even longer sticky tongue that catches ants. The hatchling is protected and nursed in a marsupial-like pouch. As it grows it develops the long spines of an adult.

If the Echidna sounds like a strange creature, its mating habits are even stranger. At mating time Echidnas form "trains." A large female leads the train, followed by up to seven males, the smallest being the last car of the train. They walk single file until the female finds a tree she likes. Then the males dig a trench around the tree and seek to drive each other out of the trench. Only the victorious male is allowed to mate with the female.

To recap, the Echidna is a animal that burrows. When it is attacked, the echidna will curl itself into a ball using its spines as defense. The echidna's spines cover the top of its body. Their nose is very sensitive, they use this to find food, then they use their long sticky tongue to catch ants, worms and other insects. The Echidna's average weight is 5 pounds.

Some interesting facts about the Echidna are:

* Echidna?s scientific name is also known as Spiny Anteater!
* Echidna's live over 45 years!!!
* An Echidna can lift objects twice its weight!!!
* Echidnas can swim!!!
* Looks very similar to a Porkupine!!!
* Found all over Australlia!!!
* Has no teeth!

With its mammalian, reptilian and marsupial features, the Echidna challenges evolution. Evolutionists would have a hard time explaining what forces would produce a creature that is apparently related to no other. The best explanation for the Echidna is that it is the work of an infinitely creative and powerful Creator.

2010 Christian Nature

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. Psalm 111:4

References: Science Frontiers, p. 129

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Magpies Actually Recognize Themselves!

And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. 2 Chronicles 9:23

When you look in a mirror you are conscious of seeing yourself. Bottlenose dolphins, elephants and primates in general have also shown this ability, but that’s about it.

Since social birds, like magpies, have larger brains than other birds, researchers wanted to find out if they would recognize themselves in a mirror. To do this, researchers placed a mark on the animal that can only be seen or touched when they look into the mirror.

Most animals would have no idea that the creature in the mirror was themselves.

Many animals would simply look behind the mirror and be puzzled. Even if they didn’t, their lack of recognition of themselves would become evident when they did not seek to remove the unnatural spot from the image in the mirror.

Researchers found that most magpies recognized the image in a mirror as themselves and sought to remove the unnatural mark from their own body while looking in the mirror. When given a choice, most of the magpies also preferred the compartment with a mirror in a two-compartment cage. The minority of magpies that didn’t recognize themselves in the mirror preferred the compartment without a mirror.

It should be clear that attributes such as consciousness, wisdom and knowledge cannot be created by accident and chance. Only God could grant these things as His creatures need them.

References: sciencenews

2010 Christian Nature

O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Psalm 71:17

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Ancient Wall Confirms Biblical Story of Solomon's Temple-Building

Ancient Wall Confirms Biblical Story (Watch)

A section of an ancient city wall has been revealed in archeological excavations in Jerusalem.

Some are saying the finds confirm the biblical account of the city dating to the time of King Solomon.

Dr. Eilat Mazar said pottery shards found at the site date the walls to the 10th century B.C. That is 3,000 years ago when the Bible says Jerusalem was ruled by King Solomon.

Some archaeologists say the biblical stories of Kings David and Solomon are just a myth. But others, like Mazar, say the Old Testament account found in 1 Kings is absolutely true.

"It's the first time that we have a city gate and fortification line from the time of King Solomon," Mazar said. "This is a 10th century, most beautifully preserved section of the city wall and all the findings that we have in hand indicates about the 10th century, that sits so well with the biblical version."

A part of the gate and fortification line is located just outside the walls of Jerusalem's Old City. It lies next to what used to be the ancient Jewish Temple Mount.

Today, the area houses the Muslim's gold-capped Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

2010 Christian Nature

(Read the entire story of Solomon building the Temple in I Kings, chapters 5 and 6)

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One Object In Two Places at One Time

Resurrection Deniers Take Notice: Quantum Mechanics Shown to Work, Proving One Object Can be in Two Places at Once

Experiment was based on "Schrodinger's Cat": a situation where a cat is placed inside a steel chamber alongside a vial of acid and a small amount of radioactive substance. If one atom of this decays during a test period this will break the vial and kill the cat. According to quantum law, the cat was alive and dead in a super-position of states while the chamber was closed. The state of the cat is only decided when the chamber is opened and the cat is observed; it is the observation or measurement itself that affects the outcome.

REPORTER'S NOTE: Though you must forgive my lack of scientific and theological expertise, I couldn't help but be enthralled by this news. If science has proved an object can be in two places at once, it seems it would be applicable to both the Trinity (The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one) but also—as referred to in the "Schrodinger's Cat" experiment above—Christ's resurrection. In other words, the "state of Jesus" was decided when the stone of His burial chamber was opened. He is alive! -Teresa Neumann

(California)—The Daily Mail reports that the mind-bending laws of quantum mechanics, where tiny atoms and molecules can effectively be in two places at once, have been applied to a visible object (billions of times larger than previously tested before) for the first time by a U.S. team from the University of California led by Andrew Cleland.

After describing in scientific detail how the researchers conducted their experiment, the report explains that it was based on a "real-life version of 'Schrodinger's cat'—a famous thought experiment devised by the physicist Erwin Schrodinger."

According to the article, the experiment describes a situation "where a cat is placed inside a steel chamber alongside a vial of acid and a small amount of radioactive substance. If one atom of this decays during a test period this will break the vial and kill the cat."

Schrodinger reportedly said according to quantum law the cat was alive and dead in a super-position of states while the chamber was closed, and that the state of the cat is only decided when the chamber is opened and the cat is observed; it is the observation or measurement itself that affects the outcome.

The latest experiment is important, the report notes, as it proved that the principles of quantum mechanics can apply to everyday objects as well as atomic-scale particles.

Read this article in its entirety by clicking on the link provided.

Claire Bates - The Daily Mail

2010 Christian Nature

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matthew 28:1-10

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How to Attract Wildlife to Your Backyard!

Today, March 27, my friend John Riutta (otherwise known as the "Born Again Birdwatcher") will be speaking on the topic of backyard wildlife at the Oregon Garden.

Garden Time sent Judy Alleruzzo and her camera crew to interview him about the presentation.

If you live in Oregon, you can watch him on television. If you don't, you can watch him on this video and learn tips on how to attract wildlife to your backyard!

Enjoy the video, and visit his blog!

2010 Christian Nature

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What Astrologer Knew You BEFORE You Were Born?

Judging by the number of newspapers that carry daily horoscope columns, astrology continues to be very popular. Unfortunately, even many Christians have more than a passing interest in astrology.

Interest in astrology goes back thousands of years. And so do God's warnings for His people to stay away from astrology. However, it is only within the last 30 years that science has subjected astrology's claims to careful testing. Recent studies have turned up all sorts of problems with astrology.

For example, as the earth rotates, it also wobbles. As a result of that wobble, the zodiac upon which astrology is based has changed by nearly one entire constellation in only the last 2,000 years. Astrologers have never accounted for that change.

Likewise, studies have shown that horoscopes themselves are inaccurate. A study of men reenlisting in the Marine Corps from 1962 through 1970 showed that their astrological signs were just as likely to be ruled by Venus, the planet of love, as they were by Mars, the god of war. In a study of nearly 3,000 couples, researchers found that astrologically incompatible signs were no more likely to be divorced than astrologically compatible signs.

The Bible opposes astrology for a more important reason than that it is false science. God warns His people away from astrology because it encourages us to trust in created things, like the stars, instead of the true God who made us and loves us.

So many created things ask for my trust, a trust which belongs only in God. When I am tempted to place my trust in something created, I want see what I am doing and cling once again only to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for forgiveness.

One of my favorite songs says, "I don't know who holds tomorrow, but I know Who holds my hand." God is never taken back by any thing that happens. He had foreknowledge of it before it happened. Psalm 139:15-16 says,

¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

What astrologer can say that?

References: Science 84, June. p. 80., Holy Bible

2010 Christian Nature

“You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers; the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from these things that shall come upon you.” Isaiah 47:13

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Need SuperGlue? Grab a Worm Fast!

While materials scientists are always interested in super-strong glues, they are especially interested in super-strong glues that harden under water. It turns out that a small marine worm called the Sandcastle Worm has a few things to teach them.

The Sandcastle Worm builds itself a tube-like shell by gluing together sand particles and bits of shell. It is the glue it uses that is of interest to scientists. This amazing glue not only hardens under water, it hardens in 30 seconds!

The glue comes from a special gland in the Sandcastle Worm. While it hardens quickly, after several hours it becomes like leather. After analyzing it, scientists identified several of the proteins that are responsible for its properties. They also found that half those proteins are either very negatively or very positively charged.

Attempting to mimic the glue, scientists mixed together some of the same charged proteins to see if they would bond broken bone together in a wet environment. Their glue not only bonded the bone together, but remained neither acid nor alkaline which is crucial for materials used in living bodies. Scientists also report that the glue is not poisonous.

As we study how God created things, we are learning better ways to do things. This is surely evidence that an intelligent Creator is responsible for the creation.

But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you....Job 12:7

References: Science News Online

2010 Christian Nature

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Little Pink Anna's Hummingbird Breaks All Speed Records!

A peregrine falcon diving toward its prey reaches a relative speed of 200 body- lengths per second. This is close to the 207 body-lengths that the space shuttle travels as it enters our atmosphere. Thus, the peregrine falcon was thought to easily be the fastest dare-devil bird on Earth.

Scientists have now discovered that a little pink male hummingbird called Anna’s Hummingbird is the real Top Gun among the birds. As part of its mating ritual, a male hummingbird will try to impress a female with his speed and acrobatics.
First, the male will fly up to about 90 feet above the ground. Then, he begins a power dive. As he nears the female, he pulls up, ascending again. During that near-miss pull-up he experiences more than nine times the force of gravity. His relative speed during descent is 385 body-lengths per second. That’s almost twice the peregrine falcon’s relative speed, it’s faster than the space shuttle entering the Earth’s atmosphere and is more than twice the relative speed of a jet fighter running with afterburners!

Watch a slow-motion ballet of Anna's Hummingbird!

Girls, don't you love the courtship antics of this record-breaking hummingbird? Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a man be willing to go to such lengths to woo us?

The wonders of God’s creation are still being discovered, and I still love making them known to my readers. But God’s greatest wonder is His love for us though His Son, Jesus Christ. It tops the little pink hummingbird's record!

References: Science News

2010 Christian Nature

Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Job 9:10

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So You Think a Frog Can't Play An Instrument?

While many creatures create structured music - shall we say, songs - it was thought that only Man makes use of objects in the environment to get specific tone qualities. In other words, it was thought only Man makes musical instruments. That claim has now been challenged by a frog!

Borneo’s tree-hole frog is nowhere close to man on the evolutionary chart. Research shows that this frog searches out specific tree-holes filled with water. It is from such holes that the frog sits in the water and sings its song to attract females.

Of course, these cavities and the amount of water in them vary from tree to tree, providing differing resonances from hole to hole. To deal with this, the frogs have been observed raising and lowering their pitch until they get a resonance. Once they find resonance, they begin singing in earnest.

To test this, researchers placed a frog inside a pipe where they could change the water level, thus changing the resonance pitch. Every time they changed the water level, the frog would search for and find the new resonance pitch.

Evolutionary theory would never predict that a frog would learn how use something in its environment as a musical instrument. However, the Bible says that music is a gift from our Creator Who can give it to any creature He wants.

Personally, I'm enormously grateful for the gift of music He gave me!

References: Science News, 12/7/02

2010 Christian Nature

“And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God.” 1 Chronicles 16:42

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Phages Make Bacteria Sick! Yay!

It may come as good news to learn that the bacteria that make us sick can get sick too. Somehow it seems only right that they get a little of their own medicine, so to speak. And it may well be that making disease-causing-bacteria sick is just the medicine we need. (Photo is a phage.)

The fact that bacteria have their own microscopic enemies was first discovered in 1925. Antibiotics were far in the future, so scientists began to learn about the bacteria's enemies in order to start some real germ warfare against other germs. They hoped their efforts would lead to cures for pneumonia, tuberculosis, cholera and diphtheria. But no one was able to perfect a treatment that worked.

Today our much more advanced medical research has again become interested in this subject, since more bacteria seem to resist our best antibiotics. Research is centering on viruses called bacteriophages (phages), which literally means "bacteria eaters."

An hour after a bacteriophage has infected a bacterium and reproduced within it, it kills that bacteria and moves on to others. In recent tests, bacteriophages have proven more effective than antibiotics in curing some livestock infections. And since they are alive, bacteriophages (phages) are passed from one animal to another, sharing the disease resistance.

Once again we are learning from our Creator how to ease human suffering.

Isn't it cool that God enabled mankind to learn how He has made things so that we have less suffering in this life?

References: Science 84, June. p. 66.

2010 Christian Nature

“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” Romans 8:22

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If You Can't Move Your Thigh, You're A Bird!

Do you think birds evolved from dinosaurs? Seems like a ridiculous assumption to me, but maybe that's because I believe the Bible which says God created the birds!

Countless television programs, museums, textbooks, and popular articles tell us that the birds evolved from dinosaurs. It now appears that this claim is even less credible!

Researchers at Oregon State University have made a fundamental discovery about how birds breathe. Unlike other land animals, birds have immovable thigh bones, and they walk and run by bending their knees. All other land creatures can move both their thigh bone as well as bend their knees to walk and run. This included the dinosaurs and other theropods from which birds supposedly evolved.

Birds need twenty times as much oxygen as cold-blooded animals. To supply this need, birds are designed with unique lungs and supporting musculature. Researchers found that if birds had the usual muscle structures and could move their thighs, their high-performance lungs would collapse. Even the evolutionists at Oregon State University said that this makes it unlikely that birds evolved from dinosaurs, and they added that birds appear earlier in the fossil record than the theropods from which they supposedly evolved!

There are other transition problems associated with bird evolution that are seldom mentioned. For example, reptiles are cold-blooded and birds are warm blooded; yet, this major transition has seemingly been overlooked.

Of course, the Bible has always taught that birds were specially made by God and did not evolve from any other creature.

References: Science Daily. June 16, 2009,

2010 Christian Nature

And God created ... every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:21

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The Slave-making Ant You Don't Want to Know

If someone asked you what dulosis was, would you be able to answer him? Well, dulosis is slave making, and not just people do it.

There is a species of ant that, although quite small, makes slaves of yet smaller ants. This slave-making ant makes its nest inside acorns, and unlike the species they enslave, they have chemical weapons and powerful jaws. [notice the jaws?]

While they enslave the smaller species, they don’t seem to do much else, including caring for their own young.

They get their captives by raiding the nests of the smaller species, stealing larvae and pupae. Once these ant babies mature in the acorn, they are expected to do all the work, including taking care of the slave-makers’ eggs.
Wow! Sounds a lot like my own childhood!

Evolutionary scientists have said that such ants could not evolve resistance against their enslavement. However, now they have learned that the slave ants do indeed resist. Once the slave-maker’s eggs mature to the pupa stage, the slave-ants will neglect them or even eat them. This is behavior they do not do in their own home colony.

Researchers say the slave-maker ant queens lay enough eggs. However, between 60 and 80 percent never make it to maturity when cared for by captive slaves. Such population reductions help reduce future raids on their home colonies – home colonies they have never seen! Clearly, an altruistic objective.

Fortunately, God was looking over me in my own childhood, and I have come out of the abuse fairly whole. I give all credit to Jesus who willingly made Himself a sacrifice for me when I was in bondage.

References: sciencenews and God's Battered Child: Journey From Abuse to Leader

2010 Christian Nature

I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 34:1

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Don't Trust That Slippery Slug!

“You are what you eat.” We’ve all heard the saying. It doesn’t mean that if you eat a lot of chicken, you’ll literally become a chicken. But now science has discovered a creature for which the saying is literally true, in part, right down to the genetic level.

The green sea slug called Elysia chlorotica is more than just leaf-shaped. It eats algae and after a couple of weeks doesn’t need to eat for the rest of its year-long life. It actually photosynthesizes its own food by stealing the genes for photosynthesis from the algae it ate.

However, geneticists knew that the genetic information it steals from the algae only gives it one-tenth of the DNA it needs to code for the proteins needed to continue to be able to photosynthesize. In search of the answer to this mystery, scientists closely studied the slug’s DNA. They discovered that the missing genetic information was indeed to be found in the slug.

What’s more, this information was identical to the algae’s genetic information. In other words, the slug steals all of the genetic information necessary for photosynthesis. Scientists are mystified as to how the slug accomplishes this wonder!

Of course, it’s no mystery when you know that the same Creator Who designed DNA also designed the sea slug who can selectively steal it.

References: newscientist

2010 Christian Nature

Every moving thing that lives shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Genesis 9:3

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It Takes a Tiger Moth to Fool a Bat

When one thinks of clever creatures, moths are probably not the first creature that come to mind – in fact, they probably don’t come to mind at all!

Researchers at Wake Forest University raised some bats from infancy in large cages. Their purpose was to carefully control the growing bats’ diets and study their responses to various prey.

Among the prey offered were Tiger moths. In the caterpillar stage they eat plants which make them unpalatable even as moths. As moths, when a bat is near, they emit a series of clicks. A bat will try to eat the moths only once, spitting out the foul-tasting insect almost immediately after biting it. When the bats were offered a different but equally foul-tasting species of Tiger moth, a few of the bats tried the new species despite their “don’t eat me” clicking sounds. They quickly learned to avoid the new species as well.

Researchers also offered the bats tasty Milkweed Tussock moths. While tasty, these moths click like the tiger moths when approached by a bat. Three of ten bats tried these moths, but the other seven wouldn’t touch them. These tasty moths managed to fool most of the bats into thinking that they were the unpalatable Tiger moths.

Good doesn’t usually mimic evil, but Scripture warns us that evil will mimic good.

References: Science News, 6/23/07

2010 Christian Nature

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:14

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Capuchins Don't Monkey Around

We were once told that tool use is what separates man from the animals. Then it was discovered that some animals use tools. Now, scientists have learned that these animals do more than just grab something from their surroundings; they look for something that would be needed to do the job.

Primatologists studied tool use and selection among wild capuchin monkeys in Brazil. First, they observed natural tool use among the monkeys. They noticed that when monkeys wanted to crack open a nut they examined several types of stones. When they had a choice between a hard rock or a softer sandstone, which would be likely to break, they preferred the harder stone after examining both rocks.

One monkey was observed examining two stones of the same hardness and then selecting the larger one. Then he placed a palm nut on a fallen log and cracked the nut open with a rock. Stone selection also varied depending on what type of nut was being cracked open.

Man isn’t separated from animals by tool use or making. Rather, he is separated from animals because he was made to have a personal relationship with God. He is also responsible to God for his actions.

References:science news

2010 Christian Nature

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15

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Sugar, Sugar, and a Little Hot Sauce!

Plant seeds are distributed by a number of ingenious methods, including wind, water, mammals and birds. Plants that rely upon these creatures to distribute their seeds often attract them with tasty fruit surrounding the seed. However, tasty fruit contains sugar and other substances that many other creatures also find inviting. Yes, the problem is, everybody likes sugar and that includes insects, molds and fungi, all of which are useless as seed distributors. Some plants make up for this problem by producing large amounts of fruit, just to ensure that some are reproduced.

It has long been said that “hot” chili peppers use spice to deter non-seed distributors from contaminating their fruit. Researchers have now confirmed this and report that the “hot” taste in these chili peppers comes from the amount and types of chemicals in them called capsaicinoids. They studied the Capsicum chili plants in Bolivia that have a range of capsaicinoids.

A common fruit pest in this part of the world is a sap-sucking bug whose mouth parts commonly infest plants with a black fungus. Researchers surveyed infestations in different plant populations and analyzed the quantity of capsaicinoids they contain. Sure enough, the hotter peppers had measurably fewer black mold infestations than the more mild peppers.

In providing these plants with protection from pests, God has also provided us with useful and pleasant spices.

Father, thank You for not only providing protection for productive plants but for giving us useful spices as well.

References: sciencenews 8/12/08

2010 Christian Nature

And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary. Exodus 37:29

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Give That Iguana a Tissue!

Most people know that if they are stranded at sea without fresh water they should not drink sea water. While we need salt, the amount of salt in sea water would kill a person more quickly than thirst. Have a little too much salt on your popcorn and your kidneys will filter out the extra. But to do so, they need extra fresh water.

The marine iguanas of the Galapagos islands drink too much salt water every day. They feed on the algae that grow in sea water, but they lack a good freshwater supply to flush the salt out using their kidneys. Since God knew what kind of environment this iguana would one day be living in, He gave the marine iguana a special gland.

Located in its head, it removes excess salt from the iguanas’ blood and holds it. Periodically, the iguana will sneeze, expelling the salt-saturated fluid. As it dries it leaves a salty crown on the top of its head that dissolves back into the sea during the next swim. Several other reptiles also have salt glands, but each of these work very differently. This means that evolutionists must explain how these salt glands evolved at least ten times.

God gave the marine iguana these unique glands because He knew what they would need for the life He gave them.

References: Answers, 3-4/09

2010 Christian Nature

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Matthew 6:26

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Star Smellers?

Can mammals that spend time in the water smell odors under water? Of course they can, but no researcher is going to take a big sniff under water to find out!

Being able to smell helps us to learn important information about our surroundings – smells can attract or warn of danger. But it has always been thought that semi-aquatic animals could never smell odors under water.

Animal researchers at Vanderbilt University were aware that water shrews and star-nosed moles release bubbles constantly when they are under water, but they didn’t know why. The star-nosed mole is amazing by itself. Its nose has 16 pink tentacles, giving this strange-looking creature its name. So they watched the animals under water on high speed video.

They saw the creatures exhaling and then re-inhaling the bubbles at the rate of ten times a second. That led them to wonder whether the animals could be detecting odors under water. As a test, they placed food in the tank but separated it from the test subjects with a screen so there was no physical contact. As the animals were tested they excitedly targeted in on the food source, demonstrating that they were indeed detecting the odor of wanted food.

Since these creatures make their living under water, God has given them the amazing and surprising ability to smell under water.

References:rscc 2006/December

2010 Christian Nature

And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him....Genesis 27:27a

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Ants Are Sophisticated Farmers!

There are more than 200 ant species in the Attine family of ants. All of them farm for a living. And they are as sophisticated about their farming as any modern human farmer. They are found anywhere from the tropics to New Jersey. The specialization shown by these ants makes an evolutionary explanation for them impossible.

One example is the famous leaf cutting ants found in the tropics. Leaf cutters use the leaf pieces they collect to make mulch. Once the mulch is ready, they grow a fungus in it, which they eat. That fungus grew from a bit of fungus that was stored in a special pouch in the mouth of the queen who began that colony; in turn she brought it from the colony where she grew up. That she has this special pouch for seed material for her children is a witness to God's intelligent design.

The ants' digestive system is specialized, too, so that its waste is a ready-to-use fertilizer for the crop. The ants also weed their crop. Certain ants inspect the fungus ball searching for invading molds. When one is found, the ant will remove it. To make sure that she does not return any contaminating bit of the mold to her crop, the ant then cleans herself before returning to the crop. This, again, is a powerful witness to divine design.

The ants also generate herbicides and antibiotics which they use as needed on the crop, another witness to design.

Finally, they also prune their crop in a way that has been shown to improve its productivity. All these special design features and behaviors seem to have been put into one creature as a witness against evolution.

References: Science News, November 21, 1998

2010 Christian Nature

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

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7-Month Babies Know Basic Rules of Language

New research suggests that you might want to be careful about what you say around babies. As every parent knows, young children are sponges that easily absorb knowledge from their surroundings. Now, there is research that indicates that by seven months of age, infants have already absorbed the basic rules of language.

In this study, seven month old infants listened to a sequence of syllables in which the third syllable was the same as the first. One that was used was "ga to ga." After listening to different versions of the same pattern, the infants were given a new sequence in which the last two syllables were the same, such as "wo fe fe."

Researchers found that babies looked in the direction producing new sequences much longer, showing curiosity and surprise at them. Further study of the infants' responses showed that they were responding to new sounds and not just changes in the pattern of syllables. This study supports the idea that we are born with brain circuits that are, so to speak, pre-wired to learn and use grammar, say researchers.

The question for those who believe that we are the product of chance evolution is: How did we get pre-wired for learning and using grammar if we are the result of chance forces? The answer is, of course, that when God created us, He not only gave us the gift of language, but He gave us brains that are eager to learn language from infancy.

References: Science News, January 16, 1999

2010 Christian Nature

And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.Acts 2:6

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Not Every Gift Has Value - Dance Fly

Human bridegrooms are not the only males who give gifts to their intended. The birds and the flies do it, too. The bower bird woos his potential mate by building a hut for her and decorating it with bright objects.

The dance fly presents its intended with a gift, a gift that is essentially worthless. The courtship takes place early in the morning as the males swarm. Each courting male carries what looks like a balloon in its back legs. These shiny balloons are only a few millimeters in diameter. As far as we know, they are of no value to the female, being made of nothing more than the male's saliva. That may be why the females do not necessarily select the males with the largest balloon.

Why did God build this behavior into the dance fly? Perhaps it reflects nothing more than the incredible creativity and variety that God built into His creation.

Or perhaps it was to remind us that not every gift has value so that we would be doubly thankful for His good gifts to us. And His greatest gift to us was the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

References: Science News, v.155

2010 Christian Nature

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

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I'm a Spider and I'm a Vegetarian

In the perfect world that God created there were no meat eaters. In today’s sinful world it is hard to imagine meat eaters, like spiders, being vegetarians!

Some spiders have occasionally been observed tasting plants. The male crab spider has been seen tasting plant nectar. Some baby spiders eat spores that they find in their webs.

But now a small jumping spider that lives on acacia trees has been discovered that is vegetarian. Acacia trees are often home to vicious ants that protect the tree from other gnawing insects. In return, the tree offers the ants protection and tasty nectar. So the little jumping spider must constantly avoid the guard ants when it heads out for a meal of nectar.

One of their strategies for avoiding ants is to build their nests on mature leaves. These leaves are the least guarded on the plant. Researchers noted that they did observe four instances of a spider eating ant larva, but this was out of 140 feeding observations.

Our experiences in a fallen world do not begin to prepare us for what God is able to create, despite all the wonders around us. If it pleases God, He can make vegetarian lions, tigers and even spiders. Who of us would ever have thought of His plan to rescue us from sin through His Son, Jesus Christ?

References: Science News online, 8/12/08

2010 Christian Nature

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air... I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.Genesis 1:30

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Dogs - Designed As Man's Companion

When God told Noah that man could now eat meat after the Flood, He kindly filled the animals with a natural fear of man. However, He evidently left a few animals without that fear in order for them to be helpmates and companions for man.

The dog has been man’s best friend probably since before the Genesis Flood. Researchers recently tested whether Border Collies were intelligent enough to fetch an unseen item in another room simply by being shown a picture or model of it. Chimps and dolphins had also been tested for this ability and were unable to do it. Collies, both trained and untrained to “fetch”, were tested in their own homes. Eight toys they were to fetch were in a second room. Then the dogs were shown either an exact copy of what they were to fetch, a model of it, or a photograph and were told, “bring it here.” All retrieved their toy easily after being shown a model of it. Trained dogs did well when shown an exact copy, but the untrained dogs needed a little practice with this task. Some dogs were even able to fetch a toy when shown a full-sized photograph.

Not only does the domestic dog have no natural fear of man, but many of them can relate to us in very helpful ways. Read about Oscar!

Father, thank You for those animals which can be companions and even help us.

References: Science News Online, 3/21/09

2010 Christian Nature

And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air....Genesis 9:2a

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What? No Fruit Factory?

Have you ever seen a fruit factory? Probably not. Fruit isn't made in a factory! Maybe someday there will be a Willy Wonka Fruit Factory in a movie, but still, that will be make-believe. Fruit grows in an orchard! It is dependent upon life. There is NO fruit without life.

Fruit is not a car, or a computer, or a fur coat. Fruit is a living organism that grows! Most fruit has to have a vine or a tree to give it life until you pick it to eat.


John 15:4-5 says,

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

The only way that fruit is going to ripen and grow is in the right climate and with the right nutrients. Just like we can’t grow bananas in Alaska, we can’t grow and produce the fruit of the Spirit unless we’re in the place where the Spirit can produce His fruit in us. And that place is walking and abiding in the Spirit.

Now I suspect someone will be disappointed to learn there's no such thing as a "fruit factory". But I have good news. There's Someone better than a silly old factory! His name is Jesus and He made it possible for you to bear all of these spiritual fruits:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

Hey! That's a much better deal than a silly make-believe fruit factory!

2010 Christian Nature

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelation 4:11

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Evolutionary Model of Earth's Atmosphere Proven Wrong

According to the theory of evolution, the atmosphere of the very early Earth contained no oxygen, but it did contain carbon dioxide. When the plants and trees evolved, they lived on the carbon-dioxide as they still do today and, by metabolizing carbon dioxide, they released oxygen as a waste product.

When sufficient oxygen had been produced, air-breathing animals evolved, but this was supposedly a slow process. Calculations showed that by the time the dinosaurs were beginning to die out, 65 million evolutionary years ago, the Earth’s atmosphere only contained 10 to 12 percent oxygen. Today, the atmosphere is 21 percent oxygen.

But to complicate the issue, there is much fossil evidence of wildfires during this era. The researchers wondered whether the small amount of oxygen that was supposedly in the atmosphere then could support such fires under realistic conditions. Tests were carried out in an atmosphere containing 12 percent oxygen using paper, matches, wooden sticks and a candle. The results showed that none of these items will burn readily until the atmosphere contains a minimum of 17 percent oxygen. The evolutionary model of the early Earth’s atmosphere was proven wrong!

When God finished creating, He declared that everything was “very good.” That includes the design of the atmosphere with enough oxygen to support life, but not too much to cause fire to burn explosively.

Hmmm...

References: Science, 29 August 2008

2010 Christian Nature

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

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Secret Weapon of Sponges

One of medicine’s greatest challenges are those populations of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics.

The ocean is literally a soup of bio-germs, including bacteria, many of which can infect, sicken and kill a wide variety of creatures. These germs often form biofilms which protect them from antibiotics. Marine researchers were investigating the ocean bottom where something had killed all the marine creatures. In the midst of all this death they found a thriving marine sponge. Why wasn’t it dead like everything else?

Studying the sponge’s defenses, researchers discovered a chemical called ageliferin. Further study showed that this compound prevented biofilms from forming. What’s more, the chemical makes resistant germs once again susceptible to antibiotics. It has already been proven to re-sensitize bacteria that cause ear infections, food poisoning, whooping cough and a particularly nasty resistant bacteria that causes infections in hospitals.

While God gave us a perfect world, He knew that mankind would sin and bring disease and death into the world. So God provided antibiotics. But He also knew that some germs would become resistant to antibiotics. So He provided His creation with substances to solve that problem, too. Nevertheless, mankind’s primary problem is sin, and He provided us with the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world – one repentant sinner at a time.

References: Science News, 3/14/09

2010 Christian Nature

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8

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Intelligent, Playful Dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins have a reputation as intelligent, playful creatures. A newly released video shows just how intelligent their play is.

The video shows various dolphins creating rotating bubble rings which seem to hover in the water for a few seconds. The dolphins do this by first creating a water vortex with their dorsal fin. The ends of the vortex then come together into an invisible ring. Then the dolphin injects air from its blowhole into the spinning vortex. The vortex has enough energy to hold the ring from rising too quickly for play. Such a vortex bubble is about two feet across. However, dolphins might play with the vortex to create a smaller ring. Sometimes a dolphin will insert a smaller bubble ring inside a larger ring. They also create rings that flip vertically or even flip completely over. Sometimes a dolphin will create two bubble rings that collide and produce a third ring. The video shows one dolphin creating a large ring and watching it rise through the water. Just before the ring breaks the surface, the dolphin swims through the ring and leaps from the water.

Intelligence and such play as this are linked. Our Creator has not just shared intelligence and creativity with man. He clearly has shared some of His intelligence and creativity with His other creatures as well.

Watch Dolphins Play With Their Bubbles!

References: snopes

2010 Christian Nature

Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. Job 40:20

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Stressed Plants Emit Gasses

When they have a headache or perhaps a toothache many people take an aspirin. It turns out that many plants do almost the same thing when they are under stress.

The plants that do so, however, make their own form of aspirin called Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). This phenomenon has been observed in the laboratory, but never in nature until now.

Researchers studying air pollution set up their instruments near a California walnut grove. They wanted to see what gases the plants might be emitting. Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) was among the gases they detected. Researchers believe that the gas might have some immune function for the plants. It might also warn surrounding plants of a threat.

This finding may help farmers and others detect when plants are being stressed by lack of water, insects or disease. Until this finding, those caring for plants could only tell when a plant was stressed once the plant began to show visible signs of stress. With this information, those who tend plants will be able to apply pesticides, for example, in a more timely manner.

God gave us a perfect world where there was no need for medicines. But He knew we would sin and bring death and sickness upon the creation. So, being a loving God, He also gave us medicines to discover and ease our suffering.

References: Yahoo! News, 9/18/08

2010 Christian Nature

...and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Ezekiel 47:12b

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God's Non-stop Travelers - Godwits

Those who widely travel usually have interesting experiences to talk about. That is no less true of animals that migrate. A commonly known example is the monarch butterfly. In the fall, monarchs from all over North America head south to the same small patch of jungle trees in Mexico. Even more astonishing is that each generation finds this exact traditional wintering spot but has never been there before.

Scientists have recently discovered that another migrating creature has an even more interesting story to tell. Bar-tailed godwits, shorebirds with a wingspan of about 12 to 16 inches, summer in Alaska. But they winter in New Zealand, over 7,000 miles away!

As you mentally picture their route, you would be right to notice that there are very few places to stop and rest between Alaska and New Zealand. Researchers outfitted seven female godwits with tracking devices to learn more about their migration. They found that the godwits traveled the distance nonstop, without rest or even food or water. That’s the equivalent of a nonstop flight from London to Los Angeles, plus 1,000 miles more!

Godwits glorify God as Creator with their amazing migratory paths. As the first Christians scattered across the Roman Empire in fear of persecution and martyrdom, they spread the wonder of God’s love for us in the Gospel of salvation.

References: Science News, 11/22/08

2010 Christian Nature

There are many reasons why birds can fly and you cannot. Birds have a lightweight skeleton; your body is too heavy. Flying birds have strong muscles to control their flight; your muscles tire too easily. Birds have air sacs, light beaks, small lungs, and wings designed for flying; your body is simply shaped all wrong for flight. But the main reason birds can fly and humans cannot is that God created birds to fly from the beginning.

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