This morning, Gene Veith's blog pointed me to a very interesting article in the Washington Post about why no two snowflakes are the same.We’re talking about real snowflakes, which have something on the order of a quintillion molecules. (That’s the number 1 with 18 zeros.)
Consider the math, which Libbrecht helps explain using a bookshelf analogy. He points out that, if you have only three books on your bookshelf, there are only six orders in which you can arrange them. (That’s 3 times 2 times 1.) If you have 15 books, there are 1.3 trillion possible arrangements. (Fifteen times 14 times 13, etc.) With 100 books, the number of combinations increases to a number that is far, far greater than the estimated number of atoms in the universe.
An ordinary snowflake has hundreds of branches ribs, and ridges, all arranged in minutely different geometries. To be sure, lots of snowflakes have fallen in the world, but not nearly enough to render two identical snowflakes a reasonable possibility.
To be sure, this should not surprise those of us who believe in the amazing creativity of our great Creator. Nevertheless, stop and think about this for a moment. A septillion snowflakes fall every year. And not one of them evolved out of nothing! No, each one was deliberately and no doubt delicately designed and created by God. The same God to whom we may come in prayer with our confessions, our concerns, our thanks and our praise. What a truly amazing God we serve!Libbrecht estimates that around a septillion — that’s a 1 with 24 zeros — snowflakes fall every year. (Online Source)
Okay, now that you've pondered the intricacies of the snowflake, here's your week in review (kind of):
- Alright, who had 6 years in the pool? Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher are divorcing. Please feel free to take a moment to process this mind-numbingly un-shocking news.
- The Catholic diocese has been approved to buy the Crystal Cathedral. So that building will go from being filled with false, destructive, New Age and mystical teachings to being filled with...false, destructive, New Age and mystical teachings. Well, no one likes change.
- In the midst of such deceptive teachings, Apprising Ministries reminds us that the cross has always been the answer.
- It's good to see a victory for those who support "traditional" marriage (you know, marriage the way God has defined it)!
- Patricia King makes me cringe and cry and...well, laugh. But in the end, I'm so glad to finally have learned of the "entrepreneur anointing."
- At the Cripplegate, Jesse Johnson discusses pastors and tithing.
- Dan Phillips from Pyromaniacs wrote two important articles this week regarding the Elephant Room debacle. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
- Steven Furtick is excited about Mark Batterson's new book, The Circle Maker. Does this mean we have to draw a circle on the ground before we can pray for the sun to stand still? I'm so confused!
- "The most terrifying truth of Scripture is that God is good."
- Please share the above Gospel presentation with as many people as possible.
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