Ask The Animals

"Ask the animals" Job says, "and they will teach you; the birds of the air and they will tell you . . . who among you does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" From the humpback whale, who offers a glimpse into God's mystery; to the elephant, who models God's fiercely protective love and compassion; to the blackbird, who opens our eyes to the song of joy that sings through the cosmos, the animal kingdom is a treasure trove of images of our Creator. In this beautifully illustrated collection of essays, readers will find surprising connections and much food for thought. Ask the Animals is a wonderful resource for private devotion or group study.

The twenty-four true stories in this book show that animals have their own individual personalities, likes and dislikes -- and, often, spiritual lessons to share. In fact, Dr. Ogden-Avrutik believes that animals can be spiritual gifts, put in our path to help us grow. Time after time, she and her human clients are granted surprising insights into the wisdom and emotional life of the animals they love. These heartwarming stories celebrate the loving bond between humans and their animal companions, and show what wonders are possible when we stop to listen to what our animal friends have to tell us.

Examines the life of a particular animal and draw lessons of the divine for our own lives. Each chapter has accompanying scripture passages for reflection, prayer and meditation. This work is a resource for both private devotions and group study.

Ask the animals, and they will tell you. Birds, beasts, and creeping things swarm throughout the Bible’s pages. Despite their prevalence, most biblical scholars have viewed them merely as metaphors, passive objects, or background embellishment to the human experience. This collection seeks to move beyond this traditional view of biblical animals by engaging the growing interdisciplinary field of animal studies. Contributors Peter Joshua Atkins, Jared Beverly, William P. Brown, Margaret Cohen, Jacob R. Evers, Michael J. Gilmour, William “Chip” Gruen, Dong Hyeon Jeong, Brian Fiu Kolia, Anne Létourneau, Robert R. MacKay, Suzanna R. Millar, Timothy J. Sandoval, Robert Paul Seesengood, Ken Stone, Brian James Tipton, Arthur W. Walker-Jones, and Jaime L. Waters showcase the breadth and depth of inquiry that animal studies can foster in biblical studies as well as what animal studies can gain from a more rigorous engagement with biblical texts. Together the essays offer an animal hermeneutic that supports the flourishing of all creatures.

How can some animals change color, when we can't? How can they grow new limbs when one gets broken? How can they hear sounds we can't hear, or predict a storm long before we can? If you want to know the answer to these and many other questions, just ask an animal! This brightly colored, kid-friendly, hardcover reference book is packed to the gills with trunk-fulls of animal information. Animals use different skills to perform these extraordinary feats, so for each question, there are answers from several creatures, each of whom has developed his or her own special skills. On each page there is a box explaining how humans try to emulate these animal super-skills, with varying degrees of success! The book is divided into four sections, each dealing with different aspects of animal skills. Chapters on the physical traits and feats of animals, their senses, their climates and habitats, and their extreme skills will leave readers with a plethora of details about their friends in the animal kingdom. Complete with a glossary and an index, this is a handy reference book for any curious child.

This compilation of essays asks various animal who designed them. Full of interesting and well-researched information on each animal, these essays allow the animals to become our teachers. A second section asks questions of the earth, so Nature is again the teacher. The entire book is in response to the challenge in the Bible to "Ask the animals" in Job 12. Makes a great bed-side book because it can be read in one page segments. Essays range from the exotic fish which has a fishing pole on its head to the common yet amazing dog. This book may be enjoyed by all ages. It will be an eye-opener for many people who haven't taken the time to appreciate how awesome many creatures are. For example, did you know that the Scarab beetle navigates using the stars or that the giraffe contributed to the space program? This book would make the perfect gift for someone questioning intelligent design. It will inspire and inform those who already see God's handiwork in Nature.

Draw closer to God and creatively unlock more of the Good Book! Your relationship with God is unique. Shouldn't your Bible reflect and celebrate that bond? In this introduction to Bible journaling, you'll discover meaningful ways to combine art, heart and scripture--from backgrounds to hand-lettered verses to beautiful full-page drawings. No expensive supplies or artistic skills are required...only a desire to honor and enhance your spiritual life. To guide your creative worship experience, this book provides: • Prompts to engage you with the text, then visually interpret Scripture in words and pictures • Basic techniques for working with colored pencils, watercolor pencils and watercolor paints • 21 step-by-step tutorials for drawing trees, flowers, skies, mountains, maps, water, light and other popular themes • Tons of inspirational page samples and suggested verses to illustrate • Downloadable icons and technique videos available on the author's website Whether you're new to Bible journaling or looking for fresh ideas, this book will lead you on a rewarding spiritual journey. Success is not measured in the complexity or polish of the art, but in a deeper, more personal connection with God. "Our lives are busy, and we leave a trail of things-we-should-remember on the ground behind us. Instead, scoop them up and journal them. Preserve the lessons vital to our growth as Christians." ~page 12

In the tradition of James Herriot, Bruce R. Coston's first book is a warm, funny, and amazingly fulfilling celebration of the wonderful world of animals as seen through the eyes of a small-town veterinarian. The patients are an eclectic and surprising cast of characters who display incredible bravery and nobility at times, and unbelievable goofiness at other times. There's the dog that resurrected itself from death. There's Daphne, the transvestite cat who taught Bruce to be a cat person. And the owners are no less engaging, ranging from the angelic to the squeamish, teaching Bruce what it really means to be an animal doctor. Readers will gain insight into the pathos and passion, the mundane and incredible, the thigh-slapping humor and the crushing sadness of a vet's life as he seeks to mend and restore people's treasured companions. Written with great warmth, this book imparts a deeper understanding of the pets that enrich our daily lives.