Topic(s): Science

Oilbirds are a unique species of bird. They dwell in caves, have dolphin-like sonar, navigate like a bat, have eyes like a deep sea fish, can hover like a kingfisher, and find food by smell. These birds live in Central and South America. Young oilbirds are able to fly in the dark of the cave from the first flight. They are not taught to do so. The oilbird eye is also very unique. It has three banks of rods, giving it more than any other vertebrate eye. Because of this it has a light gathering capacity greater than any other bird. This helps it when flying at night. Evolution is hard pressed to explain such a creature. (Creation, December-February, 2006, pp.38-41)
 
“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day” (Genesis 1:21-23).

Makes You Smile, Makes You Think

Topic(s): Humor

• He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I ever met.—Abraham Lincoln
• If you believe everything you read, you better not read. —Japanese Proverb
• I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity. —John Wesley
• The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.
• While driving through Buffalo after a heavy snow storm, a motorist noted a cop, waist deep in snow, directing traffic. Feeling sorry for him, the motorist called out “I’m sorry you have to work half buried in the snow.” The cop called back, “Don’t feel sorry for me, feel sorry for my horse!”
• “If you’re being chased by a police dog, try not to go through a tunnel, then on to a little seesaw, then jump through a hoop of fire—they’re trained for that.” —Milton Jones
   

Shaped for Glory

Topic(s): Encouragement, Pain & Suffering

During the Great Depression a good man lost his job, exhausted his savings, and forfeited his home. His grief was multiplied by the sudden death of his precious wife. The only thing he had left was his faith, and it was weakening.

One day he was combing the neighborhood looking for work. He stopped to watch some men who were doing the stonework on a church building. One of those men was skillfully chiseling a triangular piece of rock. Not seeing a spot where it would fit, he asked. “Where are you going to put that?” The man pointed toward the top of the building and said. “See that little opening up there near the spire? That’s where it goes. I’m shaping it down here so it will fit up there.”

Tears filled this good man’s eyes as he walked away. “Shaping it down here so it will fit up there” gave new meaning in his difficult situation.

Some who read this may be going through terrible troublesome times. You may be experiencing some heart-breaking sorrow. Or perhaps you are enduring some painful physical illness. Or it may be something else—maybe even too excruciating to talk to anyone about. The blows of the hammer and chisel hurt.

But hold to your faith. Don’t let your difficulties get you down. They are only temporary. Glory is coming. It’s the harsh blows to the outward man that often bring the greatest strength to the inner man. Keep praying. Keep believing. The Master has to do some shaping of us down here so we will be fit up there.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” —Romans 8:28
 

I'll Have to Miss These Sundays

Topic(s): Priorities, Worship

Dear God
I know worship is important, but I need to miss sometimes. I think I should be excused for the following reasons:

Christmas, New Years, July 4th, other holidays…………………….…………… 5
School beginning and closing………………………………………….………...… 2
Out of town ball games, tournaments…………………………………..………… 10
Family reunions (1 for wife, 1 for husband)………………………...…………….. 2
Anniversary………………………………………………………….......…………… 1
Sickness (1 per family member)……………………………………………...……. 5
Unexpected company, bad weather, Super Bowl, TV specials………………… 8
House and car repairs……………………………………………………....………. 3
Time change / alarm not working…………………………………….....…………. 4
Business trips and vacation………………………………………...……….……… 6

I see the total of 46 is a little high, but You can count on me the other Sundays, if
I’m not hindered.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” —Hebrews 10:25