Daily Devotional – October 21

Biology

Have you considered how reindeer (caribou) survive in extremely cold climates? Sure, they are the only deer with fur on their noses, but they also eat moss! That’s right, moss. Most animals do not eat moss because it contains little nutritional value, and it is hard to digest. But moss contains a special chemical that keeps fluids (such as reindeer blood) from freezing inside the reindeer. You could say that eating moss is like adding antifreeze to the reindeer’s radiator - keeping these animals from freezing on the coldest of days. Do we say manmade antifreeze happened by accident and chance? Then, why would we say reindeer antifreeze happened by accident and chance?

Make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

~ Psalm 105:1b-2

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 20

Cosmology

Our Sun is remarkably unique. We do not have a run-of-the-mill star that lights our planet, but an exceptionally distinct star. The Sun is in the top 10% by mass as compared to other stars in the neighborhood of the Milky Way galaxy. This makes it perfect for sustaining life on Earth. If it were the size of super-giant Betelgeuse (in the constellation of Orion), it would engulf the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars). If it were as bright as Rigel (25,000 times brighter than the sun), it would emit too much radiation. If it were smaller, it would not support life on our Earth. If our sun were in a multi-star system (small group of stars gravitationally bound to each other), it would cause the Earth to experience extreme temperature variations. Most observable stars are part of multi-star systems.

The Sun’s position in the Milky Way galaxy is also perfect. Our Sun is located on the outer edge of one of the spiral arms - far away from common inner galaxy star explosions (supernovae). Our Sun is an exceptionally stable star whereas other single stars of the same size, brightness, and composition have violent ejections called coronal mass ejections about once every 100 years. In 1989, the Sun experienced just one of these superflares - causing a huge disruption of the power grids in northern Quebec. Yet, this was a small superflare as compared to other stars; they produce superflares 100 million times more powerful than the ones that blacked out Quebec. If the Sun ejected such a superflare, the Earth’s ozone layer would be destroyed, and all life on Earth would be wiped out. Our Sun is remarkably unique! Praise the Lord! Because it is so stable, so ideally located, so ideally sized - it is the perfect sun, ideally made by God for us - the crown of His creation.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.

~ Psalm 113:3

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 19

Microbiology

In the salty marshes off the East Coast of the USA, “farmer” snails live. They cut long gashes down the blades of the cord-grass. As they slice, they leave their droppings along the cut, and the gash soon has fungus growing on it. This fungus is then eaten by the snails – allowing them to thrive on the special nutrition supplied by the fungus. In experiments by biologists, without eating this fungus, the snails hardly grew, and twice as many of their young died. These snails need the fungus in order to flourish. How does evolution explain these snails’ farming technique? How did snails know they needed this fungus for better health? How did snails exist prior to farming it? If those snails did exist without the fungus, why grow it? The Creator knew what these snails needed in order to flourish and provided them with the knowledge to farm in such a manner.

Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;

~ Psalm 147:1a

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 18

Design

When we look at any object, how do we know whether it is designed by intelligence or the product of natural forces? How can we KNOW whether or not a living organism is the result of natural forces or intelligent design?

For that matter, how can we scientifically prove whether any complex object, such as an airplane, is the product of intelligent design or chance occurrences? Very few people have ever seen an airplane constructed, so how can we know it did not make itself? This may seem like a silly question, but there is actually a very simple way to know the truth. A passenger jet is capable of flight yet is made from thousands of complex parts that –

• Do not occur naturally • Have individual components incapable of flight
• All have to be present and arranged in specific positions to allow flight to take place

Thus, an airplane could not have made itself. It is absolutely obvious that an airplane was designed, constructed, and assembled by an intelligent source for the purpose of flight. In the same way, a living cell is made up of millions of non-living parts that –

• Do not occur naturally outside of a cell
• Are not themselves alive
• All have to be present in specific locations in order for the cell to be alive

The simplest living cell far exceeds the complexity of a jet airplane because a cell can reproduce an exact copy of itself – no manmade machine is capable of this feat. Both the airplane and cell were designed by intelligence. The airplane by man’s intelligence, the cell by God’s intelligence!

The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

~ Psalm 104:31

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 17

Biology

What is one of the most ravenous carnivores in the ocean? Children immediately respond – “A Shark!” But they are wrong. It turns out to be a starfish! A single sea star (or starfish) can devour 12 clams a day.

As the starfish creeps over the ocean floor, it finds its primary food source - bivalves such as oysters and clams. It then crawls on top of the clam, wrapping its arms around each half and pulls. At first, the clam’s muscles keep its shell tightly shut. The starfish’s numerous tube feet, which act like suction cups, keep the pressure on. Slowly, the clam tires and it opens up - just a bit. At that exact instant, the starfish thrusts its stomach (which looks like a parachute) out of its mouth and slips it inside the clam.

The starfish stomach begins to digest a tasty clam meal while inside the clam’s own shell! After eating, the stomach returns with its contents to the starfish. Aren’t you glad that we do not eat our food this way! Imagine eating dinner - you thrust your stomach out of your mouth, onto the table, and digest the food right there! When finished, you would pull your stomach back in. I hope you can stomach one of the most remarkable methods of eating in the world. God loves to show us His creativity!

Great things doeth He, which we cannot comprehend.

~ Job 37:5b

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 16

Biology

Sharks are coldblooded animals. These type of creatures take on the surrounding temperature. So So how do great whites, common threshers or shortfin mako sharks keep their internal core temperature some 13-48 Fahrenheit ABOVE the waters in which they swim? These sharks have their own build in heat-exchangers!

The heat created by their muscle activity is moved to vessels that flow by the gills; water can be very cold as it flows by the gills, which extract oxygen. These very small blood vessels make a mesh (rete mirabile) of capillaries causing the heated blood to flow next to the cold (oxygenated) blood. As this happens, heat is exchanged to the incoming cold blood, keeping the shark warm. Now with heated and oxygenated blood, the shark is able to swim in cold waters at high speeds. These sharks have their own built-in countercurrent heat exchangers!

We use heat exchangers in much of our technology - such as refrigeration and air conditioning. Would we say this technology happened accidentally over millions of years? Then why would we say it happened by accident in a shark? God knew sharks would have to swim fast even though some would live in cold waters. To solve the problem, He designed them with heat exchangers.

Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.

~ Psalm 105:2

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 15

Biblical Accuracy

Babylon was both an empire and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. The Bible proclaims more than 100 prophecies concerning this city. One prophecy states that she will never be rebuilt. Today, Babylon is still in ruins, a mound of rubble haunted by jackals, vipers and scorpions. But let’s consider two specific prophecies about Babylon that are seemingly contradictory. Jeremiah 51:42 states, “The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof” while Jeremiah 51:43 states that Babylon will become, “a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness.” How could Babylon be both covered with water and be a dry desolate desert?

In 1811, an archeologist named Claudius James Rich wrote a book titled Narrative of a Journey to the Site of Babylon, in which he made the following observation, “For the space of two months throughout the year the ruins of Babylon are inundated by the annual overflowing of the Euphrates so as to render many parts inaccessible by converting the valleys into morasses.” After the water subsides, the site becomes a dry, parched desert. Both prophecies are true! Babylon is both covered with waves and a dry desolate ruin that has never been rebuilt. God gave us more than 2,000 prophecies in order that we may believe His promises. His one great future promise is “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16b), and “he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36b). God’s word is true, and it will come to pass.

Thy word is true from the beginning:

~ Psalm 119:160

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 14

Biology

One of the most bizarre looking creatures in the world today is the star-nosed mole of North America. It got its name from 22 “tentacles” hanging off its nose. This star-shaped structure is more sensitive to touch than an elephant’s trunk. The star structure contains more than 25,000 projections that send messages via more than 100,000 nerve fibers to the brain. Since the mole lives in total darkness, the star tentacles function very much like our eyes - but use touch instead!

The bottom pair of tentacles has the highest density of nerve endings, acting like our central vision. The other tentacles act like our peripheral vision, allowing the mole to pick up the big picture. The mole uses these 22 tentacles to “scan” the environment with a rapid series of touches, too fast for our eyes even to see. In one laboratory test, a star-nosed mole was able to find five pieces of earthworm in a single second!

Evolutionists believe that these tentacles evolved over time by accident and chance. If the star-nosed mole did not have his tentacles from the beginning, how would he have found his food? If he found his food without his tentacles, why would he have needed to evolve these tentacles? He was already eating! God designed the star-nosed mole from the beginning with its unique “seeing system.”

O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known;

~ Habakkuk 3:2

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.

Daily Devotional – October 13

History

Evidence of a worldwide flood can be found in the historical records around the world. In Mexico, the Toltec Indians have an account of “the first world” lasting 1,716 years before being destroyed by a great flood. This great flood covered even the highest mountains. Only a few people escaped this world-wide flood in a “toptlipetlocali,” which means a closed chest. After the flood, these few people began to multiply and built a very high “zacuali” or tower. During the time they were building the high tower, the languages were confused. Does any of this sound familiar to the same history we find in Genesis?

The Toltecs began with seven friends and their wives who spoke the same language, crossed great waters, lived in caves, and wandered 104 years until they came to “Hue Hue Tlapalan” or southern Mexico. This all took place 520 years after the great Flood. Of course, the most reliable Flood account is found in the Bible. When the biblical genealogies are counted, we find that the pre-Flood world lasted 1656 years, and the languages were confused at the tower of Babel about 100 years after the Flood. The Toltecs historical account is amazingly similar to the biblical account!

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

- Genesis 11:8-9

Daily Devotional – October 12

Biology

Did you realize that baby giraffes wear “baby booties” during birth? A mother giraffe is pregnant with the baby for 15 months. When she is ready to give birth, she does not lie down, but remains standing, and the newborn baby drops six feet to the ground! With such an abrupt entrance, the baby giraffe enters the world.

The baby giraffe needs to arrive in the world immediately prepared to run from lions, hyenas and leopards. This means that the baby giraffe’s hard hooves have to be ready for use at the moment of birth. So, how is the mother protected from the baby’s sharp hooves during the birthing process? God in His wisdom has given the baby giraffe protective gelatin socks that cover the hooves. You could say that God has given the baby giraffe “baby booties” to protect the mother from the baby’s hooves in the birth canal as the baby is being born. As the baby giraffe walks around, the gelatin sloughs off the hooves. Evolution would say these gelatin socks happened by accident and chance over millions of years. This makes me wonder how many giraffe mothers had their insides ripped up by the exposed hooves before some random process covered them with gelatin? God knew what giraffe mothers needed protection, and what the baby giraffes needed to be ready to run immediately after birth, so He created “baby booties” to help them both!

[He] doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

~ Job 9:10