Jewel # 321 (May 28, 2018)

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Elf Owl

Barn Owl

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Owl’s World (Part 1)

“God created . . . every winged fowl after his kind: And God saw that it was good.”

(Genesis 1:21

Although there are many varieties of owls throughout the world, we are not very aware of them, mainly because most of their activities are carried on after dark.  For centuries owls have been a symbol of wisdom.  However, geese, crows and ravens are all smarter than owls.

People can recognize an owl by its large broad head with a ruff of feathers around its large eyes.  This ruff covers enormous ear openings.

Most owls spend much time perched on tree branches at dusk or through the night, but some hunt during the day as well, yet manage to keep well hidden.  In many ways they are useful to man, helping to control rats, mice and other rodents, as well as insects that damage crops.

Their flights are as silent as a shadow, yet amazingly accurate.  In the darkness their sensitive ears pick up the faint sounds of mice or other rodents on the ground below them.  They fly directly to their victims, capture them and then have dinner.

Owls’ extremely sensitive, large eyes see remarkably well in almost total darkness.  Both eyes point forward, unlike the eyes of most birds.  They are not able to move them sideways; instead, they must swivel their heads to follow a moving object.  Their heads turn quickly, and this has resulted in the mistaken idea that the owl can turn its head completely around.

There are a great number of varieties, from the smallest 6-inch elf owl to the largest 24-inch great gray owl.   We will look at a few more of these interesting birds later.

We will begin with the barn owl.  This fairly large owl is sometimes called the monkey-face owl and makes its home in any convenient place—from a hollow tree or up to the top of a church steeple.  However, it usually nests in barns or other farm buildings and lives peacefully with nearby pigeons.  It has long, slender legs and wings that spread 3 feet in flight.

The barn owl is a pretty bird, with a heart-shaped face and dark eyes.  Its body is snow-white  below with spotted back and wing feathers in tones of golden or chocolate browns.  Like all owls, it has a strong sharp beak and pointed, vicious talons on its four-toed feet, with which it catches its prey.

Being an expert mouse catcher, a barn owl also hunts for other rodents, frogs, lizards, sparrows and even blackbirds, never seeming to satisfy its huge appetite.

As we consider these unusual birds, it is good to remember the Bible verse that says, “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9).  This includes you.  

Have you ever thanked Him for His goodness and kindness to you? 

Love you all - Grandpa   

Jewel # 320 (May 20, 2018)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

Rhinos — Ugly and Mean!

“Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy stable?

. . . Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great?”

(Job 39:9,11)

The unicorn is mentioned several times in the Bible.  While no one knows for sure, some think it refers to the rhino, perhaps because the word “rhinoceros" means “nose-horned.”  All rhinos have horns—some have two while others have just one.  These horns actually are not made of bone but are made of hair-like fibres growing tightly together and are very tough and strong.

The rhinoceros is the third largest land animal.  The white rhino of Africa (the largest) can be 15 feet long, over 6 feet tall and weigh 3.5 tons (7000 pounds).  Its massive head has large, trumpet-like ears and huge nostrils on an ugly, wrinkled snout with two horns.  Its hide is thick, tough and warty.

The Indian rhino (the one we see in most of our zoos) weighs two to three tons.  Its loose skin hangs in folds and is the home of many parasites, which attract birds know as ox-peckers.  These birds may spend all day on a rhino’s back and sides, providing considerable relief as they dig out and eat the troublesome parasites.  The birds also give warning calls when other animals or people approach.  This is another example of the Creator providing benefits between two creatures that are nothing alike.

These beasts are truly vicious and short-tempered.  They will charge anything crossing their path, be it an animal, person or even a car or train.  Although they look clumsy on their short legs, they run as fast as a horse.  It is a terrifying experience to be charged by one galloping at top speed, its feet pounding the ground while it snorts loudly through flared nostrils.

The African black rhino is the fiercest of all.  Its front horn, with which it defends itself, is two to three feet long.  Its eyesight is poor, but a strong sense of smell and extra-sharp hearing make up for that problem.  They are lightening fast when charging and extremely dangerous when wounded.

Rhinos are often hunted for their horns, which sell for high prices on the black market.  Natives who like to cary daggers with handles made from the horns also hunt them.  Although protected by the governments of Africa and Southeast Asia, poachers kill great numbers illegally just to get the horns.  It is feared these animals may someday become extinct unless the poaching can be stopped.

When those who have accepted the Lord Jesus as Saviour are with Hm in heaven, we will learn and understand why such creatures as rhinos have been given a place in His creation.  Meanwhile we can say, 

“Thou art worthy . . . for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Love you all - Grandpa       

Jewel # 319 (May 11, 2018)

“And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I

make up MY JEWELS.”

(Malachi 3:17)

To my dear grandchildren

The Spectacular Humpback Whale (Part 2)

“Behold, God spreadeth His light upon the world, and covereth the bottom of the sea."

(Job 36:30)

On both the Atlantic and Pacific seacoasts, great numbers of people gather each year to watch the migrations of the humpback whales.  They sometimes see whole schools breaching (leaping into the airing and landing with a great splash), as if competing with one another.  At other times, they are seen lob-tailing  (standing on their heads with the rest of their bodies in the air), waving their big flukes (the lobes on their large tails) and making huge splashes when they drop back to the surface.  Frequently, they lift their tails above the water and smack them down, making tremendous waves.  No wonder people gather by the thousands to see these performances!

Playful by nature, like porpoises, some of these giants will play tag with a large boat for an hour or so, coming up on one side, swimming underneath and popping up on the other, to the amusement of all on board.

The 6000 - mile migrations end in warm, shallow bays where the calves are born underwater.  Some of these new calves are as long as 13 feet.  Usually a female “nurse” is on hand and helps the mother push the newborn  up to the surface for its first breath of fresh air.  Isn’t it amazing that the little one has been given an  instinct by the Creator so that it doesn’t inhale  water right after birth and drown?  After breathing in fresh air for the first time, it drops back under its mother, and, again, a God-given instinct tells it to nurse her warm, rich milk.  While nursing, it must return to the surface for air over and over again, but each time continues its nursing until its hunger is satisfied.

The bull whales have a large number of cows and calves for which they are responsible, but when danger comes, they usually swim away, leaving the cows to take care of themselves and their calves.  That’s not very brave of them, is it?

As in the past, humpbacks are still a target for the whaling industry.  However, in 1966 a legal suspension of hunting activity was made to protect them.  Their numbers have recovered to approximately 80,000 worldwide now.

It is interesting that in the Bible where the ocean is spoken of, it says, “There is that leviathan [whale], whom Thou hast made to play therein” (Psalm 104:26).  So we see that the Lord God, the Creator, intended whales to enjoy their playfulness, just as boys and girls do.  And He is pleased for children to be happy and playful, as long as the are also obedient, kind and thoughtful of others.  True happiness is one of His great gifts and comes from faith in Him and His Word which tells us,

“Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20).  

Is this true of you?  

Love you all - Grandpa