I Want to Walk on the Water

Stepping Out in Faith: Embracing the Journey of Obedience   Stepping out in faith when God nudges you should feel like the boldest and most assured step you will ever take, right? So, why does obedience sometimes feel like a freefall? A plunge, even? The Weight of Obedience  Perhaps because: The outcome is not yet known. The skepticism feels intrusive. The change is uncomfortable. The failure would be humiliating. Obedience is defined as “submission to another authority” and being “in accordance with,” a phrase which itself means acting “in a manner conforming with.” The Essence of Obedience Obedience is: Letting go of control. Letting go of pride. Letting go of constraints. Letting go of misconceptions. Letting go of expectations. Obedience is letting go with unrestrained motion. It is the commitment to move forward on the path to which God is calling you. It is, nevertheless, Thy will be done—conforming, not to the world or their opinions, but to Jesus. Obedience is the...

Few creatures in the ocean are as mysterious and fascinating as the octopus. With its eight flexible arms, remarkable intelligence, and ability to transform its appearance in an instant, the octopus is a true master of disguise and survival. Whether hiding in plain sight or darting through rocky crevices, this extraordinary animal never fails to captivate those who encounter it. Recently, I read a remarkable article about a research team led by Peter Godfrey-Smith from the University of Sydney who discovered that octopuses intentionally throw seashells, rocks, and silt. The published findings in 2022 were based on footage from "Octopolis" in Jervis Bay, Australia. The footage documented female octopuses hurling the undersea objects at other octopuses. While exploring this information, I also found reports where researchers witnessed octopuses slapping innocent fish as they swam by. This bad behavior did not appear to be related to hunting but rather seemed to result from anno...