Fascinating

What do you find fascinating? I love science-especially Biology. I also love how God speaks through things in His creation – all things great and small. From the Alps to each individual snowflake atop of them, the Creator calls. So, let’s listen. I hope to find and share some fascinating things here from time to time.

May 5, 2011-

My friend Roxanne once gave me a card with an interesting poem on it. I was reminded of it by our trip to the beach in California. I found 58 sand dollars!

Legend of the Sand Dollar

Upon this odd-shaped sea shell,
a legend grand is told
About the life of Jesus, the most
wondrous tale of old.

Its center markings plainly show
the storied Guiding Star
Which led to tiny Bethlehem,
three wise men from afar.

Five wounds suffered by our Lord
from nails and Roman spear
When he died upon the Cross
are wounds shown plainly here.

Within the shell, when opened
five Doves of Peace are found
They celebrate this legend, so may
Peace and Love abound.

Author Unknown

Here’s another version:

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

There’s a lovely little legend
that I would like to tell,
of the birth and death of Jesus,
found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,
you’ll see that you find here,
four nail holes and a fifth one,
made by a Roman’s spear.

On one side the Easter lily,
its center is the star,
that appeared unto the shepherds
and led them from afar.

The Christmas Poinsettia
etched on the other side,
reminds us of His birthday,
our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,
and here you will release,
the five white doves awaiting,
to spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me,
to help us spread His Gospel,
through all Eternity.

Author Unknown

 

Sarah is studying Biology this year.  If you want to see some really cool stuff, stuff that will test your belief in Darwinian Evolutionary THEORY (Oops! Did I say that out loud?! ;)) or strengthen your faith in the Creator, check out the motor on bacterial flagellum! Fascinating. Fascinating flagellum! 

Do a search for “Darwin’s Black Box” by Micheal J. Behe and investigate “irreducibly complex” systems. I found this article very interesting: http://www.allaboutthejourney.org/irreducible-complexity.htm

Of course there is much controversy surrounding this idea, but such conflict reminds me of this:

Romans 1:20-22 (Amplified Bible)

²⁰For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], ²¹Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.²²Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves].

Here’s something else that I’m reminded of:

¹⁹For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope²¹that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.²²For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ²³And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. ²⁴For  in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.