2010: ?

Wow, it seems like it’s been quite a while since I last sat down and cranked out an article. In the meantime between this article and the last, I’ve been thinking about the future. This is a typical and often dangerous habit of many. 2010 is nearly upon us and the future has not turned out quite the way many have predicted. “Project Plowshare” was an effort to use atomic explosions in large construction projects. (boston.com) Many predicted that if dynamite worked well for demolition, nukes would get the job done in a fraction of the time. Speaking of jobs, the 40-hour workweek, mandated during the Great Depression, was supposed to have been reduced to 30 or even 20 hours. It was once assumed that we’d be retiring around the time our first gray hairs started to appear.
Scientists, learning more and becoming more curious about animal behavior and even animal psychology, speculated that if could figure out the vocabulary, we’d be speaking to dolphins and whales. There are probably people out there that do believe they can speak fluent whale or dolphin. I predict that in 2010, these folks will not be invited to many dinner parties. They certainly won’t be arriving to the parties in flying cars, often thought to be the next logical leap forward in common transportation. Many hypothesized that there would also be more marriage choices in 2010, including polygamy. They came close, but will receive no cigar.
As I have mentioned in several past articles, we can’t predict the future and don’t need to spend nearly as time worrying about it as we do. Jesus gives some great instruction on how to deal with worry in Luke 12. He tells us to avoid greed, consider God’s provisions for all of his creatures, give to others, and seek out the kingdom of heaven. Our personal futures often don’t turn out the way we would like them to. In God, they don’t have to. “God works for the good of those that love him.” (Rom. 8:28)

Conniving Kittens

Today I read an article (cracked.com) that proves to me that cats are indeed maniacal masterminds bent on world domination. I was a little shocked to discover that some of my cat’s adorable actions serve more purposes than making me say, “awwww” or get out the camera for a YouTube video. A recent study (that’s how you know it’s serious) revealed that people can tell the difference between a cat’s average meow and a meow that is pleading for food. Apparently, there is a remarkable similarity in frequency between this soliciting meow and a human baby’s cry. Cats adjust their meow to manipulate us! Another fact that I found disturbing is that when a cat rubs itself against you, it is not showing affection. It’s marking ownership! Powerful scent glands that a cat uses for communication are located on the tail, the side of the body, and the face. When a cat rubs itself on you, it is leaving its unique scent.
Cats, like many other animals, employ mimicry as a form of defense. When a cat puts its ears down, shows its fangs, squints, and hisses, it is trying to resemble a snake. It’s a fact that just about every member of the animal kingdom fears snakes, not just Indiana Jones.
Finally, you may have seen or heard of cats bringing dead animals to their owners. This is not simply the presenting of a gift. Cats do the same thing to their young to provide training. When your cat drops a dead bird on your foot, it is telling you that you are a terrible hunter and need to learn to feed yourself. In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul talks about false apostles. There are quite a few people attempting to win our loyalty. Whether an affiliation is to a political party, church, or simply a brand name, we have to be discerning as individuals. Instead of accepting everything on a whim or at face value, we should carefully make sure that everything we do is according to God’s will. If we are not identifying the truth, we are looking at Satan as an innocent kitten.