Our Amazing Creator: Part III

Our God, is an amazing Creator.

He created the basilisk:

No, basilisks cannot paralyze or kill people with their stares, as they can in the world of Harry Potter, but they do have a pretty fantastic ability.

Concerning these lizards, there are four species of basilisks which reside in Central and Southern America. The brown basilisk is actually an invasive species, which has been introduced to Florida, and has adapted to the colder winters by burrowing itself into leaf litter for warmth. As Dr. Ian Malcolm says, “Life, uh, finds a way.” Though luckily, these lizards are not as ferocious as a T-rex or a Velociraptor.

Basilisks are also known as the “Jesus Lizard,” because they can run on water. When fleeing from a predator, such as a snake or a large bird, the basilisk can run at a velocity of 4.9 feet per second for about 15 feet, before they sink and have to swim on all fours. They are able to do this thanks to the buoyancy created by the flaps between their toes, which produce a larger surface area and pockets of air. Unlike Peter, these reptiles are able to run on water not because of faith, but because of the creative features which their Creator has blessed them with:

“There’s Always a Bigger Fish”

There are mixed feelings in the Star Wars community when it comes to The Phantom Menace. Though I do have an opinion, I’m not going to add to the debate within this blog. Instead, I would like to briefly focus on a truth that Qui-Gon Jinn says during his adventure, “There’s always a bigger fish.”

VBS: A World of Tape and Cardboard

Today, is the last day of our VBS (Vacation Bible School). The theme is Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus. The kids learning that when life gets rough or scary, Jesus is there with them, and he will rescue them. It may not be in an instant, but he will save them.

It’s been a pretty neat week, with lots of laughs and smiles from the kids, with evidence of how cool it is when a project is put together by many people with different skills and talents, and with many opportunities that the teens have taken to step up and to ‘Do Hard Things.’

Like a Moth

Most people do not like bugs. Just the word makes them squirm and remark with, “Gross!” There are only a handful of these creepy crawlies that the average person likes, such as ladybugs, praying mantises, and the colorful butterfly. However, many do not like their close relative–the moth. True, their larvae do dine on clothes, but there are some moths, like the luna moth, that are just as beautiful, if arguably not more, than their cousins.

One interesting thing about moths, is how they’re attracted to light. Not only to porch lights, but even to bug zappers and to campfires. Moths are so attracted to bright light, they will follow it even if it kills them. Scientists have some theories of why these insects have this bizarre behavior, believing they may possibly use the moon to navigate and these other light sources throw off this instinct; however, they are only theories, with scientists still searching for the answer to this mystery.

There is a phrase that is connected to this behavior, “like a moth to a flame,” which describes dangerous behaviors, such as greed, lust, and gambling. However, what if we look at this phrase from another perspective? What would it be like, if we were willing to chase after God like how a moth chases light? Not merely satisfied in seeing Him from a distance or reading descriptions about Him, but truly desiring to get close and personal with Him? even if it causes us physical harm, or even, forfeit our lives?

90-Second Thoughts

So, what happens when your lying in bed, trying to fall asleep with the aid of Youtube (to distract your brain from thinking and planning) when you see flashing lights between the crack of your curtains? Why, you go and check it out, of course. And what happens when it hasn’t rained in a while, and you see clouds in the sky and flashes, and you’re hoping it isn’t heat lightning? Why, you slip on your swimming trucks, because your other shorts are in the wash and you don’t want to put on pants that need buttoned or zipped, and you run downstairs–out the door to watch it. And then for a moment get freaked out by a lamp post because its shadow looks like a person, and by the moving shadow of your curtains because they look like another person. (The same window a couple of weeks ago, that when you opened, you saw a mamma rabbit and one of her babies nibbling on grass in your backyard.)