Hummingbirds

The New World tropics are heavily populated by numerous hummingbirds. There are as many as 91 species of hummingbirds found in Central America. Costa Rica alone is home to more than 50 species of hummingbirds. The hummingbirds come in all varieties of colors. They sport a profusion of decorative features. The hummingbirds are equipped with various types of bills. There are so many types of hummingbirds in Central America that it seems that the bird watchers have run out of common names. Some hummingbirds found in these tropics include those with these intriguing names: hairy hermit, violet saberwing, green crowned brilliant, constant starthroat, adorable coquette, charming hummingbird, and purple-throated mountaingem.

These many hummingbirds are uniquely equipped by the Creator with bills especially suited for harvesting food from flowers of a particular size and shape. There are hummingbirds with short bills, long bills, straight bills, curved bills and combinations of these types. There is a species of hummingbird with a sharp beak. The purple-crowned fairy uses its sharp beak to cut holes in the base of a flower blossom and siphons off the nectar.

The variety of hummingbirds is stunning. Most are are beautiful. The males of some species have long streamer tails. Some are bedecked with mustachios, beards, visors or helmets of feathers.

These tiny high-speed creatures are a marvel of nature. They beat their wings in cycles as fast as 79 times each second. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can generate power on both foreword and backward wingstrokes. These abilities allow the hummingbirds to remain stationary in the air or even fly in reverse. Their heart will beat as fast as 1,260 beats per minute. Their respiration's are as rapid as 273 each minute.

To say, "You eat like a bird" as a description of a light eater is quite a mistake -- especially in the case of the hummingbird. In order for this tiny creature to function at such a fevered pitch and expend so much energy it requires and extraordinary amount of food. One experiment with the white-eared hummingbird determined that it consumed 856 per cent of its own weight in food and water over a period of 16 hours. This seems to be an exception to the "laws" of the jungle where the food supply is so very short. To compensate for the limited food supply and to keep from exhausting their food reserves the hummingbird's metabolism slows dramatically at night. Their temperature drops until they are in a state similar to hibernation. In this condition the hummingbird is incapable of flight, and if disturbed may not be able to fly for as much as one hour.

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."

Joseph Addison

 

A man stayed in his house as a flood engulfed his town. Two men in a rowboat came to his house and offered to take him to safety. "No thank you", the man said, "God will help me".

As the waters rose, the man retreated to the second story of his house. Now, two men in a motorboat came by and offered to rescue him.

Again, the man declined, saying, "No thank you, God will help me." As the waters rose still higher, the man retreated again to the rooftop of his house. A helicopter came by, and someone inside it threw down a rope, urging the man to grab it and be pulled up into the helicopter. Once more, the man declined and said, "No thank you, God will help me."

Whereupon a mighty voice called out to the man, "You idiot! I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat, and now a helicopter. What
more do you want me to do?"

From Lorne Strang

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QUALITY ASSURANCE PIPING SPECIFICATIONS

All pipe is to be made of a long hole, surrounded by metal centered around the hole.

All pipe is to be hollow throughout the entire length.

All pipe is to be of the very best quality, preferably tubular or pipular.

All acid-proof pipe is to be made of acid proof metal.

Outer-diameter of all pipes must exceed the inner-diameter. Otherwise, the hole will be on the outside of the pipe.

All pipe is to be supplied with nothing in the hole so that water, steam, or other stuff can be put inside at a later date.

All pipe is to be supplied without rust, as this can be more readily put on at the jobsites.

All pipe is to be cleaned free of any covering such as mud, tar, barnacles or any form of manure before putting up, otherwise it will make lumps under the paint.

All pipe over 500 feet in length must have the words "Long Pipe" clearly painted on each end so that the fitter will know that it is a long pipe.

All pipe over two miles in length must also have these words painted on the middle so that the fitter will not have to walk the full length of the pipe to determine if it is long pipe or not.

All pipe over six inches in diameter is to have the words "Large Pipe" painted on it, so that the fitter will not use it for small pipe.

All pipe fittings are to be made of the same stuff as the pipe.

All pipe closers are to be open on one end.

No fittings are to be put on pipe unless specified. If you do, straight pipes become crooked pipes.

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ON THE RIGHT COURSE

One night the captain of a tanker saw a light dead ahead. He directed his signalman to flash a signal to the light which went.....

'Change course 10 degrees South.'

The reply was quickly flashed back...

'You change course 10 degrees North.'

The captain was a little annoyed at this reply and sent a further message.....

'I am a captain. Change course 10 degrees South.'

Back came the reply....

'I am an able-seaman. Change course 10 degrees North.'

The captain was outraged at this reply and send a message....

'I am a 240,000 tonne tanker. CHANGE course 10 degrees South!'

Back came the reply....... 'I am a LIGHTHOUSE. Change course 10 degrees North!!!!'

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A man walks into a restaurant.  After sitting for a few minutes, he hears a voice say, "Nice tie."  He looks around but doesn't see anybody near him, so he forgets about it.  Some time passes and he hears the same voice say, "Nice shirt."  This time he looks everywhere; behind him, up and down the aisle, under the chair, everywhere he can think to look, but he doesn't see anyone.  A few minutes later he hears, "Nice haircut."  He can't stand it any more, so he calls the waiter over and tells him he has been hearing this voice but can't figure out who is speaking. 

The waiter says, "Oh that...that's the peanuts;...They're complimentary."

Time to Smile ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE E-MAIL ALERT SERVICE

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Mr. Smith was terribly overweight, so his doctor put him on  a diet.  "I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for 2 weeks.  The next time I see you, you'll have lost 5 pounds."

When Mr. Smith returned, he had lost nearly 20 pounds.  "Why, that's amazing!," the doctor said.  "Did you follow my instructions?" 

Mr. Smith nodded.  "I'll tell you 'though, I thought I was going to drop dead by the end of that 3rd day." 

"From hunger, you mean?" 

"No, from skipping!" .

Time to Smile ZONDERVAN PUBLISHING HOUSE E-MAIL ALERT SERVICE

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TRUE FACT ...

Humans begin laughing at two to three months of age. Six year olds laugh about 300 times per day, while adults laugh from 15 to 100 times per day.

SOURCE: NYT, Dr. William F. Fry, Stanford University

The closest anyone ever comes to perfection is on a job application form.

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~ Love Made Visible ~

 
"Who is responsible for this?" the pastor asked. "I can't believe that no one has taken care of it. I have been getting phone calls for two days. I didn't know what to tell them."

For longer than anyone can remember the old Gospel Church atop the hill in Reddington Valley served as a beacon for those who were lost. Not just spiritually but even as a landmark for giving directions.

"Turn down Main Street and head toward the brightest star in the sky.

You can't miss it," a traveler would hear.

You see, on top of the old church steeple was a big bright star. It was all one piece and lighted by a huge light bulb. They actually had placed it up there as part of a Christmas display and never took it down.

But two days ago the bulb burned out.

The entire town was lost without it. It seemed that the locals were all turned about at night. The confusion started when someone passing through happened to stop the mayor to ask for directions.

"I looked up and pointed to the star. It wasn't there. Thinking I was facing the wrong way, I turned around looking for it but couldn't find it," he said. "I think that guy is still riding around town."

Soon the phone started ringing at the old Gospel Church. People wanted to know what happened. The problem was even the Pastor didn't know.

That star was just always there. He had no idea who kept it lit or where the light bulbs were. That is, until the phone rang late that afternoon.

"Pastor, I'm hoping you can help us," the man said. "This is Police Chief Robertson. We just got back from the Delaney house. We found old Jim Delaney dead. It seems he's been dead about two days."

"I'm sorry. I must tell you that I'm not familiar with the man," the Pastor said.

"No one seems to be," the Chief replied. "There are no known relatives or friends available."

"Well, if it's a burial service you are looking for, I'd be pleased to do it," said the Pastor.

"That would be great. But there is something else. I'd like for you to come by in about an hour if you can. The house is up the dirt road on Bishop's Hill across the valley from your church."

"I'll be there," he replied.

The Pastor arrived just as Chief Robertson pulled in. "What is it you wanted me to see, Chief?"

"Come inside. I think you'll need this stuff."

As they entered the home you could see stacks of unopened mail along with various books scattered about. "Over here, Pastor. I believe this is for you."

There on the mantle of the fireplace was a box with a small white envelope attached. It said "From the star keeper to The Gospel Church".

The note inside it read:

To whom it may concern:

Back in 1950 my beautiful wife Mildred became ill. We could not afford to place her in a home so for her remaining months on this earth, I took care of her. Before her illness she attended your church every Sunday. It was so very frustrating for her not to be able to, once she got sick. But every Sunday I would position her on the front porch so that she could see the church across the valley.

It was that Christmas someone placed a star on the steeple. Every night Mildred would say her prayers while gazing out at that star. I had just pushed her chair over to the window that night.

She was barely able to breathe. As I pulled the shade up I heard her quietly say, "The star. The star is gone." As I turned around she slumped over with one last sigh. The star indeed was not lit that night.

After her burial I approached the Pastor and made a deal with him. I agreed to keep the star lit for as long as I am alive as a memorial to my wife.

So many people had loved that image during the holidays that he agreed to it. I am near my journey's end. The church can sell my property and all I own in exchange for a favor. I have provided enough light bulbs in this box to keep the star lit a few more years. The key to the church door is inside this envelope. Please find someone who can take on the task of keeping the star lit after my death. I loved my wife so very much. I want that star to serve as an example of what love can be.

You can say you love someone, but it's not until you show it, that love is made visible.

-- Jim Delaney

"When did you say he died, Chief?"

"Two days ago according to the coroner."

"That's when the star burned out, Chief."

The pastor looked down for a moment, then looked back up, "Consider it done, Mr. Delaney," said the Pastor. "Consider it done!"

—by Bob Perks