The New Life Podcast

Seeing God in Nature (Ep. 30)

Luke Evans & Devon Patton Episode 30

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0:00 | 49:43

In this episode, Pastors Luke Evans and Devon Patton talk about the wonder of animals and nature and how God is in all the details with the help of some live animals from Critter Caravan.

SPEAKER_03

Welcome to the New Life Podcast with Pastor Devin and Luke. It's so disrespectful. Oh, just kidding. It's we are so glad that you're here. We hope that you enjoyed Last Pod. Oh, big podcast. Pastor Mark. Huge, viral. Viral. Viral. It was great. Leadership. Learned all about it. And we know that there are probably some of you that you watched last week for the first time because Pastor Mark was on. And so you decided to tune in again. And so we appreciate it. And uh prepare to be let down. Um no, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. We have some awesome stuff planned for today. We do? We do. We have some incredible.

SPEAKER_01

They haven't told me they they figured out.

SPEAKER_03

We have an awesome, we have a we actually have another guest today, and it's gonna be awesome. It's not Spencer, for those of you wondering. People have been asking, and people also have reached out and said he needs to you guys really pick on Spencer, and then my dad really gave him a rough time. He said some nice things. He did do that. He did, he did. He did, he said some nice things at the end because that's what we do. We we we tear down to build up. Right. Correct. I like it like a muscle. That's how you grow. How about that? I didn't know that. Yeah, clearly. Um, but don't laugh a little too hard. No muscles, no muscles.

SPEAKER_01

Sky's weak. Yeah, whatever. We're just glad that uh summer 2027. I'm ready for it. Next year. Yep. He's locked in. Not this summer. This summer I completely unlocked or locked out.

SPEAKER_03

He's locked in. Yeah, no. You have a fun fact for today that we heard? I don't have a fun fact. I have a question for you.

SPEAKER_00

You literally said, Oh, I'm the best fun fact.

SPEAKER_03

I no, no, no. It's more of like a thought. I was driving home the other day pretty late, and so I was thinking about things um just about life in general. Why so late? I was just doing I was just out. Alright. Don't worry about it. Stop asking questions.

SPEAKER_01

Just needed a few minutes to myself. No, but I was out driving late. Thought of this, right? Okay. Okay. I love these. These are is there a better or more important like adjective to describe something than business?

SPEAKER_03

Water shoes. Okay? I think a more descriptive. No, you heard me wrong. I did.

SPEAKER_01

I said was a more important adjective. So these are water shoes. We'll just stay on the topic of shoes for now. But like baby shoes. Yeah. Babies are important, sure.

SPEAKER_03

Not more important than water. No. Bowling. That's just a sport. Right. Bowling.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Hiking. Hiking. That's a cool activity, but it's not that important.

SPEAKER_03

Cement shoes. What's cement shoes? Like the mafia. I never heard of that before. That's how they drowned people, you know.

SPEAKER_01

Water shoes, though. Yeah. Water, dude. 70% of the earth. I don't think you know what an adjective is. That's an adjective.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely not.

SPEAKER_01

Water shoes. What would be how would I be describing these shoes?

SPEAKER_02

Water shoes, right? That's an adjective would mean that the shoes are made of water. Okay, then whatever. What is it? Adverb or something?

SPEAKER_03

Adverb is the name as a noun acting as an adjective? Yeah, it's just a noun. Okay. It's just a fake noun. A fake adjective. Acting as an adjective with a disguise on. Whatever it is. But also you're saying water water shoes. Yes, water shoes. What about water skis? Exactly. But water, I just thought of water shoes as that, and I'm like, that's the most important adjective that we could ever add to something. Water way to describe it is adding it before a thing is water. Is water. Because it's the most important thing in this world. Water bottle. Yep. Bottle of water. Water.

SPEAKER_02

I'm so confused. AirPods. Air.

SPEAKER_03

We need air. Ground hog? Ground. We need the groundhog. Which is why the goat, Air Jordan. Air Jordan, see? You need air. We need air. Can you think of something more important? Nope. No. Can't. Bodies are 70% water. And we need air to breathe. 70 and 70, that's 140%. Nothing's beating that. Can you is there something that's something that we can think of with water and air in the same in the same thing? No, I don't think so, dude. Come on. That sounds crazy. Right? That's too much.

SPEAKER_02

That's too much.

SPEAKER_03

Like an air water gun or something. Yeah. And now you've added gun to it, too. Now we're really talking. Yeah. So that's what I think about at night.

SPEAKER_01

That's the dumbest thing of all time.

SPEAKER_03

Your brain is just a dude. The other thing I was thinking about, I don't know if we want to know this. No, yeah, let's let's hear it. The other thing I was thinking is, is it possible? This might already exist. But I wonder if you could change on a GPS, because I was driving, obviously.

SPEAKER_01

And it's like when you look at the directions and it's like exit 43 for 3.7 miles and then get on Route 1. Can you go into your GPS and like change it to what you know it to be?

SPEAKER_03

Like, what's that called where it's like me and my dad would say, like, oh, it's the Walmart exit, and it's exit too. Right, like a landmark. A landmark instead of exits. Oh, I always tell you. I always tell people that. I'm like, oh, wiffle ball exit. Like, you know what that is. Exactly. But I couldn't tell you the number and gave me a hundred guesses, I couldn't tell you.

SPEAKER_01

So I'm like, why can we not do that on my GPS? Like if directions were more like that.

SPEAKER_03

It was like drive to like he was explaining. Whoa, sorry. Aye. He was he was explaining. Wait, it's a dog. He was explaining that gas station that I went to, that car wash to me, and he was like, it's exit this and Ansonia. And I was like, dude. And then he was like, no, take a left and when you see the gas station, it's but and so like that. I think I think most people's brains work like that much better. How awesome was that car wash? Listen, we don't have an advertisement for today. Okay. We do kind of, but not a paid one. Yeah. What's it called? Optimo? Optimo. Optimo?

SPEAKER_00

Optimo. Well, they're all military. You guys ever been to Op Demo?

SPEAKER_03

It's about Spanish. It's I mean, it that's basically what it is. What is Optimo? Demo. I don't know. In Spanish. This guy It's not a word. It is Spanish. It has to be a Spanish word. He doesn't know Spanish. Never heard optimo. Optimum. Oh. You should have said that. Nah. Look it up in Spanish.

SPEAKER_02

That is, yeah, yeah. That's what I'm saying. What's optimum? It's a Spanish word for optimum. Ideal. Yeah. Or very best. Optimal. Optimal is an English word. That's why I said it.

SPEAKER_03

It's optimo. They are the best. It is. Alright, so. They sent me to this gas station in because I was like, man, I need a car wash. But I don't like I always go to the one, you know, where you just drive through it, whatever. And but my in the inside of my car needed to be washed. But I'm not trying to pay $150 for some you know teenager to come detail my car at my house. You know what I mean? Yeah. That sounds so I went there. Weird anyway. 30 Yeah, that did sound weird. Um that's always what it is. The traveling details are always kids. Yeah, it's a kid with a barted hose in the He's like, Hey, do you have a hose hook up anywhere? You know, like it's we don't need all that pressure washer you got from Home Depot. Too much. Yeah. So I pull up so these you know, Spencer and Mateo both told me about it, and so I went yesterday because I need and it was like $35. $36, dude. When I tell you my car, they they washed it, then they hand washed it, then they dried it, then they hand dried it, then they did the whole inside. My car looks brand new.

SPEAKER_01

But if you have dude, they're like pushing through cars like everyone.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, they were they were cleaning the inside of four cars. We there was I was sitting at the picnic table, they were cleaning four cars at once. Oh, there was at least 15 or 16 people working there. When I went there, I didn't go there, but I went to the gas. One stuff. One guy taking the money, two guys doing the spraying, then two girls doing the washing, then another like six, seven, eight, nine people. Holly, dude. Crushing it. Yeah, it was awesome. I sent my wife today to it. Summer was like, where's that gas? I was like, go, go, go do it.

SPEAKER_01

Just go. It's right next to wherever. I'm sure that's what you said.

SPEAKER_03

But I literally texted her and I said, put put it, plug it into GPS and go. It's the one behind the gas station. The one connected, because I guess there's more than one. That's all I need to do. If you're listening and you work or have at Optimo or own it, we'll shout out to you. Thank you. Thank you. There was one other thing that I just had wanted to talk about before we get into what we're gonna get into today, and that is your hair situation. Oh, okay. I know we talked about your leg hairs last week on the podcast, but we're hearing through the grapevine that you are thinking about shaving your head. I would love to shave it. Or at least cutting it fairly. Nah, dude, I'd do like a like a Justin Timberlake justified vibe. Like justified. Like a Justin Bieber, like that kind of vibe. Exactly. Not like a skin fade on the side or like just a skin. Like a number two or a number three, just blend the beard. Blend the beard, maybe, dude. I'll do it if you do it. I'm like that. Nicole, if you're watching, we will. That's the problem. Nicole is not like the uh short hair. So even when I like trim my beard too low, she's like no, summer doesn't like when I shave my beard either. But uh we've we're gonna shave both your heads. Not on the pod, but we're gonna do it. So dude, can we do it on the pod? If you guys, if I'm not sure, I don't think people would really care to see that, honestly. But you guys know.

unknown

What's up?

SPEAKER_03

Nicole Nicole just murdered Devin for shaving his head. We're gonna do it. It's gonna be awesome. Alright. But okay. What do we want to talk about today? Today, sorry, that was too loud.

SPEAKER_01

Um, I would like to talk about nature. I love nature. I love nature too. We've talked a little bit about it here and there on the podcast for eagles and such. Some fun facts. Eagles, man, that's way back. That's a thrill.

SPEAKER_03

And then my dad last week gave us the whole uh I've I've got a couple texts from people saying they're never eating honey again. Yeah, which I was more into it. B story for that bee story. And then he showed me some video of some fish. Did he show you that video of that fish that makes that like display in the sand just so that the lady fish will come fertilize it? And then like, I mean, it's I mean, I'm talking this guy is making this guy making this thing in the sand. It's in it's incredible. Nature, man.

SPEAKER_01

So nature and wonder, um, like losing our wonder and and how we do that and and how we get it back.

SPEAKER_03

Our wonder for God's creation for nature. So, to do that today, we wanted to invite a very special guest. Yes, and we will. What did you have a verse quick before? Nope. I'll share that during the time. Oh, alright, cool. We got a special guest today because we're gonna talk about nature, we're gonna talk about wonder, and we're gonna talk about the awe. Don't bump your foot with my foot, dude. Kick uh we're gonna talk about the awe of all that God has created and all that he's done. And to do that, I'm a visual learner. I know you are also a visual learner. We've seen the places your brain can go without visuals, so we thought it would be I'm not wrong, I'm not wrong. What does that? We mean this guy's this guy's brain is a scary place sometimes. That's all. No kidding. We thought it would be awesome, and so we got a little help from one of our friends at the church. Oh, yeah. To bring in a couple of things that we could see and learn from. And so Priscilla is here. Some of you might recognize her. Priscilla, come have a seat on the on the couch. What? We're supposed to. Oh, so Priscilla is here and she's gonna come sit on the couch in a minute. And we're back with a very special guest. I awkwardly introduced her before, but Priscilla is here. Hi, Priscilla. Hi, Priscilla. Hello, we're so glad that you're here today. Priscilla works for Critter Caravan. She also uh is a huge part of our church here at New Life, and she was on the worship team, and she works in youth, and she's involved in young adults, and she does so many incredible things. And kids, right? Do you help with kids ministry? I love kids. Okay. Okay. All right. That was great. I'm gonna say this start. Yeah. It sounds a lot better when you say that than if me and Devin had said that. Teenagers come to your house for car detail. I mean, we do, okay. Uh so Priscilla has the podcast has opened so many doors for us and blessed us so many ways, but this might be the best way. Sorry, Papa, sorry, Dad. This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to either of us. Yeah. Um, every single time Critter Caravan comes to the preschool, we run across to see it. Um, I've had them for my kids' birthday. No, it was last week, dude. I didn't nobody told me. But I don't have a kid in preschool anymore. Oh god. Um I've had them for my kids' birthday. And if you are ever looking for a kid's birthday party, Critter Caravan is awesome. But Priscilla is here. Hire Priscilla too. She does a great job. And we're gonna see, we're gonna see some animals. We are. We're gonna be in awe and wonder of God's creation. We tried to ask beforehand, like, hey, which ones, but we just said, hey, we'll let Priscilla start and decide on camera what what to start with. Yeah. So please.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, so uh normally this is catered for kids, but you know, this is pretty good too. So let's do it. So we're gonna start with Africa. Uh normally I have a giant map, but we're gonna be doing just uh freestyle, I guess. Let's do this thing.

SPEAKER_02

Natural.

SPEAKER_04

It's all like me when I was little talking to my iPad, doing like a YouTube channel.

SPEAKER_03

Exactly. That's pretty much what we do. What's in there is just that is so close to you. I hope it's a good one.

SPEAKER_04

We're gonna start with Australia.

SPEAKER_03

You just said Africa.

SPEAKER_04

I know, sorry, it was a teaser.

SPEAKER_03

Alright, she doesn't have her map.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I can't I don't I only learned my continents when I started doing this job, so that's that's fine.

SPEAKER_03

Probably not something you want to know.

SPEAKER_04

Whoa! Look at that! Dude, this is Puff, a bearded dragon.

SPEAKER_03

Boy or girl.

SPEAKER_04

It's a girl, and she is a lady with the beard. The kids love it when I say that. I hope you love it.

SPEAKER_03

A bearded lady, dude. She's like looks like she wants to eat you, dude. Look at the way she's looking at you. Can I feed her?

SPEAKER_04

Are you okay with holding a worm?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, of course. Dude, this is what we're talking about. You don't get this kind of content just anywhere, okay? I puff legs for you. Joe Rogan doesn't have bearded dragons on there. Little friend. Yeah, so that is a straight up dinosaur. Dude, that's crazy. Look at the face on that thing.

SPEAKER_04

So Puff is pretty cool when we have to keep because we have three other bearded dragons, and we have to keep them separate.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. Please don't kiss it.

SPEAKER_04

You might get Salmonel. Um, so we have to keep them separate because when they look at each other, they go crazy. They go like this.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, really? Oh, like they want to fight? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

And start like headbutting the glass and everything.

SPEAKER_03

Does their beard come out? Exactly, yeah. Try to try to aggravate it and make its beard puffy. You're really gonna feed it right now? Oh, that's yep, that's a worm. Oh, gosh. You want some worm? He's gonna bite you?

SPEAKER_04

Maybe they have little teeth.

SPEAKER_03

How it's not gonna do it. He's stage fright. He's got stage fright. Did you drop it onto my leg?

SPEAKER_01

Do you want to hold puff?

SPEAKER_03

Nah.

SPEAKER_04

You love animals so much.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. Puff's a sweet. I like warm-blooded animals. Hi, sweet baby. She is cute though.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she doesn't drop her tail or anything. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, she's a big thing. What does drop her tail mean?

SPEAKER_04

Like, whenever some lizards, when they're really scared and they see another predator and they're running away, they drop their tail and then it regrows, but she doesn't drop it or regrow it. Like drop it, like it falls off. Yeah, and then it keeps squirming, so then it looks like another animal.

SPEAKER_02

Do you want to pet her? Wait, where does it drop? Like, or where would it drop? Like, there's like notches. No, I know. Like, what click what's the case?

SPEAKER_03

Hey, dude, the skin is like like an old lady. Like the bottom of my foot. You gotta go. She needs a pet. This guy's having a crazy day today, dude. Bye, Puff. Bye, Puff. And Puff does a little dance, too. Good job. There's animals in here, dude. Sorry. Do I need to wash my hands? It's like a live hand.

SPEAKER_04

Don't touch her face.

SPEAKER_03

Oh. Okay. All right. You want me to get a hand sensor? No. We'll do it after. We don't mind. We're not scared. Gonna go eat some. We're in awe of God's creation.

SPEAKER_04

Okay, so now we're going to Africa.

SPEAKER_03

Ooh.

SPEAKER_04

Africa.

SPEAKER_03

Nah, this is what I think this is the one I don't want anything to do with whatsoever.

SPEAKER_04

You can say a lot about this.

SPEAKER_02

No. No!

SPEAKER_03

Look at that thing, dude. I'm not kidding. It's huge. How did that fit in there? They curl up in a little cool. Coil up. Have you ever seen a snake before? This is so comfortable. Yeah. This is crazy.

SPEAKER_04

That is a belt of conjunction. So this one's hugs.

SPEAKER_01

Hi hugs.

SPEAKER_04

She's very, very threatening.

SPEAKER_01

Hi hugs.

SPEAKER_04

And she's a ball python, and they're the friendliest snakes ever.

SPEAKER_03

I want one of these so bad.

SPEAKER_04

I used to be so scared of them, but it's pounding out of my chest.

SPEAKER_03

You want it on your neck? I'm not even joking. That thing is. Give you a big fluffy hug. It is freaking me out.

SPEAKER_00

Devin.

SPEAKER_04

Wait, don't lean on it yet.

SPEAKER_03

If it started just choking him out right now, what would we have to do? Keon. What? Why was it? I can say anything.

SPEAKER_04

Is it for like jellyfish or something?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Where's her head? Why didn't you just say that?

SPEAKER_03

Because they don't like the because the noise is a noise. That's if they bit him with venom.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, so they're super, super friendly. They're not venomous. No.

SPEAKER_03

I think she's camera shy. Her hair, her head is way back.

SPEAKER_04

Like casually? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, here she comes. Wait. She was coming to say hi.

SPEAKER_04

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03

It just touched the back of his neck.

SPEAKER_02

Hugs?

SPEAKER_04

You see how friendly?

SPEAKER_02

Is she slimy?

SPEAKER_04

No. Just cold, because they're cold-blooded.

SPEAKER_03

You should hold her. She's very, very calm.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. She hasn't eaten in like two weeks.

SPEAKER_03

Really? Yeah. So she's hungry. Bro, why would you hand someone a snake and say, oh, they haven't eaten in two months?

SPEAKER_04

They only eat once a month.

SPEAKER_03

They only eat once a month? What do they eat? Because it's in captivity, or does actual snakes only eat once a month?

SPEAKER_04

Um, well, they digest super slowly, so they're full for a very long time.

SPEAKER_03

Wow. She's so strong. Like alligators and crocodiles.

SPEAKER_01

You could just feel her.

SPEAKER_03

All the reptilian. No, not at all.

SPEAKER_01

Mateo, you should hold her.

SPEAKER_03

She's really good. Grab a hold. What's her name again? Hugs. Hugs. She's moving awfully quickly. I'm I'm not gonna lie.

unknown

She wants to get out.

SPEAKER_02

Wow, I hate this.

SPEAKER_03

Bro, get out of the shot.

SPEAKER_02

I can feel it growing in my hands.

SPEAKER_04

But you see how friendly she is? She's just a snake, guys.

SPEAKER_01

She's she's so bad.

SPEAKER_03

I want a python so bad. Snakes get a bad rap. I will say that. They get a bad rap. Look at this. What is he saying? The guy who's trying to catch the one. Have you guys seen that? The guy in like Instagram who goes, he's trying to find the 20-foot python or whatever. The one that's the one that jumps on. Yeah, Dream says me that all the time. Oh, oh, oh, she's gone. She's gone. She's coming back out to see. Shout out, Drew.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, this one, she ran away once. She escaped the cage.

SPEAKER_03

In the house?

SPEAKER_04

In the house, but we found her. Yeah, she was yeah.

SPEAKER_03

She escaped the cage and she was in the house.

SPEAKER_00

That'd be Luke's worst thing. Oh my god. That is the scary thing.

SPEAKER_03

Hugs is gonna just haunt me in my dreams tonight. I like hugs. I'd give her another one.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, we have another one named Fluffy and another one named Kisses. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

These are really funny names.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

It's children's show. It's a children's show.

SPEAKER_00

This one's name is Joker.

unknown

Joker.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. This one's name is Fang.

SPEAKER_03

You guys want a whole devil?

SPEAKER_04

Okay, so this one's also from Africa.

SPEAKER_01

Can we do that one next?

SPEAKER_04

Because I feel so bad for him.

SPEAKER_01

He wants to get out of there so bad.

SPEAKER_04

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Is it making a noise? Yeah, it is. This one's hissing. Oh.

SPEAKER_04

It's grunting.

SPEAKER_03

It's an albino.

SPEAKER_04

Yes, it is. So this is chestnut. He poops a lot, so I'm gonna have to put a little diaper on him really quick.

SPEAKER_00

Chestnut. Hi, chestnut.

SPEAKER_04

And chestnut is a hedgehog, and he's super friendly.

SPEAKER_03

We got a hedgehog on hedgehog road. How about that, huh?

SPEAKER_04

Because they're nocturnal, so that's why he's a little bit more.

SPEAKER_03

Why am I up right now? Dude, look at his face. He kind of does look like a big Oh my gosh. What's his name? Chestnut. Oh, I was gonna say hedgehog. That's what he is. Sonic.

SPEAKER_04

I told the kids that we spray paint him.

SPEAKER_03

Blue? He does look like is he like an albino? Are they always that color? I feel like they're darker than that. He's about to be a little bit more.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, he's a albino. We have to be a big thing.

SPEAKER_03

He's gonna try to cut him with the finger I pet the lizard with. I'm cooked, dude. Why don't we want to hold these animals? I don't want him to poop on me.

SPEAKER_04

I have diaper.

SPEAKER_03

I have diaper. I have diaper.

SPEAKER_04

Ooh, little hedge.

SPEAKER_03

So tell us where's this one from?

SPEAKER_04

His voice changed.

SPEAKER_03

Where's this one from?

SPEAKER_04

Africa.

SPEAKER_03

Why is he white? That's Cap. Are they always white? I feel like they're darker sometimes. No, they're not blonde. Why are you yelling? His ears are beautiful. Here, pass him over. Come here. You got him? He's super friendly. Come here, chestnut. Walnut. Macadamia nut.

SPEAKER_01

Can I give him my kiss?

SPEAKER_03

He actually looks he actually looks more like a macadamia nut coloring. I just love animals. For somebody who loves animals, just dropped him in with the snake, dude.

SPEAKER_00

Are you kidding me? Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_01

Also, do not show this episode live footage of me messing up.

SPEAKER_03

Just absolutely cooked. Yeah, this is the guy that's going to be able to do that. He's been trying to get out of here forever. What's his name? Walt?

SPEAKER_04

So this is Bubba.

SPEAKER_03

He does little things.

SPEAKER_04

So this is Bubba. Bubba is from South America. I had to make sure in my brain I was right. He's a red-footed tortoise. And he's 25 years old.

SPEAKER_05

Older than duty. They just ate both of you.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah. They could literally actually just recently, I think it was like last week, the oldest tortoise, which was 190, just passed away. And he was the living oldest tortoise. They're dinosaurs. Dude, I want to.

SPEAKER_03

You've literally said that for every single animal. I have a broad out.

SPEAKER_01

I have a friend who lives in Arizona, and they have a uh her and her husband, they have a tortoise that lives in their backyard. Just in the shills in their backyard. She was a kid. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Well, it'll probably live longer than her if it lives to 100 years old. Do you want to hold him? I just want to pet him.

SPEAKER_04

He's really, really cool. He can actually feel it when you pet his shell, too. Wow. This is the same stuff that's made out of our nails, too, keratin.

SPEAKER_03

Okay, but how do they know that? Like they asked the tortoise one day. Can you feel this? He was like. He did a mateo. He did a mateo. Full bow. Matt, you want to hold the bubba, dude? No. He's a heavy boy. But that's what we're talking.

SPEAKER_00

Right, so we're talking about big stretch. Superman. Superman. Superman.

SPEAKER_03

Like when Sonic the Hedgehog holds that turtle in the beginning. I've never seen that. No, that's how I watch it. That is crazy. No, like we're talking about the awe, right? And I know we've been looking at these animals, but like the fact that that shell is obviously there to protect him, but also he can feel that. And it's like made out of what our fingernails are like. He loves me. Or the hedgehog has those little spikes, like the the way that God designed these things. I like this guy. I'd be hanging out with him all day. Yeah, I think that's a good thing. I've seen them where they tie a balloon to him. Oh, yeah, make sure you know where they are. Because they're so quiet.

SPEAKER_02

He does look like an old man. Yeah, old man.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, he travels all over Connecticut to see so many kids.

SPEAKER_03

He does not want to go to the house. I love when they put him down and it takes forever to get around the surface.

SPEAKER_04

He knows where it is specifically, and he'll walk to it and he'll just lay on it.

SPEAKER_02

He is like an old guy. Yeah, he loves it. I love that guy. She's so smart, dude. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

They know what's up.

SPEAKER_04

Okay. For this next one, it's also from South America.

SPEAKER_03

Gimme that thing.

SPEAKER_04

The fluffiest animal in the world. And a little bit cranky. She's a diva. Her name's Pearl.

SPEAKER_03

Why'd you bring all the angry animals? Well, you just whacked her in the head with that door, man.

SPEAKER_00

I'd be angry, dude, dude.

SPEAKER_03

She's a whack. Dude, she's that's a she's a thick girl, huh?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she's yeah, she's a she is.

SPEAKER_03

Look at her. I've never seen one that big that thing when they bring her.

SPEAKER_04

She's so fluffy.

SPEAKER_03

What's her pearl? She's a chinchilla, correct?

SPEAKER_04

You won't be able to if you want to try to hold her? Because she'll run.

SPEAKER_03

You have to go through an eight-hour chip. No, yeah, don't hold her. We don't need her getting loose and no. Can you put her on my head so she can jump to you? No, he she just said you can't hold her. Why would she just rest her on your head? No means no. It is jumpy. Hey. Look at the I want to pet her. Hold on. Her tail is sick. Right? Have you touched her? No, hold on.

unknown

They're literally so soft.

SPEAKER_03

Come on, Spencer, get in on it. For those of you who are just joining us on audio, it's a chinchilla. Oh, yeah, I just realized that. Dude, if you're listening on audio, you ought to turn it off and put YouTube on. A snake, a hedgehog. Yeah, dude, that's crazy. We didn't even it is super full of the It is a white chinchilla if you're listening. Her name is Pearl.

SPEAKER_04

And she's a sassy diva.

SPEAKER_03

Yep. She got little hands like a little bit.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, they actually can jump like from super high up. That's why I said because yeah, they have on their bottom of their feet, they don't have nails. They have something called pads, and it's like trampolines that help them. It's like a recoil. Like, isn't that awesome? Nature. She's got recoil. And she literally knows not to go in water because and when they go in water, they're fur because it's so dense and they have so much of it.

SPEAKER_03

She needs water shoes.

SPEAKER_04

Oh, water. Come on.

SPEAKER_03

Come on. Come on. She needs those water shoes bad. Come on.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she'll literally avoid it fully, and she just takes so whenever she wants to cool down, she just takes dust baths. But like, how does she know? Dust baths? Yeah, like she'll roll around in dust or dirt, dry dirt.

SPEAKER_01

Does she know that's not making her more clean though?

SPEAKER_04

It makes her like fluffier. Like a blow, like she's getting a blow dry. Yeah, it's kind of like a dry shampoo, too.

SPEAKER_03

Like dry shampoo. Yeah. Good call. Or like that uh chalk people stuff my son puts in. Chinchillas as pets, right? Yeah. I knew. Uh yeah, they they sell me. It looks like a giant room. There were two sisters in youth group when I was a youth pastor that had a pet chinchilla. Remember uh Jasmine and Giselle. They were from Stratford. Remember that? They had a pet chinchilla. Chinchilla. Oh no, this is this thing is bigger than my dog. It actually might be. It is 1,000% bigger than that. Judah, bro. That thing is huge. Look at him. That's the biggest rabbit I've ever seen in my life.

SPEAKER_04

This is Bun Bun. Hi, Bun Bun. And he's a giant Flemish. And he's so friendly.

SPEAKER_03

Is he actually?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, he's very friendly.

SPEAKER_03

I thought you said because you've said that about everyone, but then you've also said that they're cranky and no, yeah, but he he's like the popular one.

SPEAKER_04

Everyone loves Bubba. But he's Bubba just gets overwhelmed with loud noises, but he's pretty relaxed.

SPEAKER_03

Dude, that's a chunker. Yeah, if you're if you're listening on Turn it on. Yeah, you gotta go turn it on. This is the biggest rabbit. Look at his claws, my gosh.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, he's so cute. Giant Flemishes, they can be up to 20 pounds.

unknown

Hi.

SPEAKER_01

I want you to be.

SPEAKER_03

He's twice the size of Judah. Never mind. Bigger.

SPEAKER_04

He's so cute. He's actually being really good right now.

SPEAKER_03

Aww, my nibble you again with the he's so he's so friendly. He's actually being really good right now. Usually he'd be nibbling you. He like We actually had a pet rabbit and it chewed up our whole living room. Yeah, they live. We had to give it away. Moses. Moses. Claire took him. He lives with the Duart family in their basement. And he's a menace, from what I've heard. What? Oh, look at him. He's so cute. Would he jump down?

SPEAKER_04

Um, he could. I think he's trying to right now.

SPEAKER_03

He's trying to see where he's gonna land, but make a big old rabbit stew out of that guy, huh?

SPEAKER_04

We had him not one.

SPEAKER_03

Oh my god. Come over here, bud. That's okay. Dude, I just wanted to attack you. That would be so funny. Why don't we just jump around? Jump. Jump. Jump. Jump. Everybody jump. You want him to hop. That is a massive, that is a massive rabbit. Yeah. They're from like England or whatever, right? Europe. Europe.

SPEAKER_04

Europe, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

He's really, really I wonder what even like a I guess like a fox or something could take that down. But it's so big. So cool.

SPEAKER_04

I know. Look, he's trying to get down.

SPEAKER_03

Oh. Oh. He wants to go back in his cage. Oh, he is. He's gone in his cage. He's done. He's like a bun bun. I've had enough. I've had enough of this. Wow.

SPEAKER_01

That's our last one.

SPEAKER_03

My gosh. What a what a day. Oh man. Day is the greatest 15 minutes. Hopefully Drew's watching this and saw that turtle. Day made. Am I right? Day made. Tortoise. Excuse me. Yeah, he's right there. Yeah, it's my bad. Sorry. Cage is still open. Sorry. Bubbles.

unknown

Bubbles?

SPEAKER_03

Bubba?

SPEAKER_04

Bubbles.

SPEAKER_03

No, the rabbit's name's Bubba. No, that's fluff.

SPEAKER_04

This is bun bun?

SPEAKER_03

A bun bun. A bun bun. All the same. Bun bun. Bun bun bubbles bubbles. Did Sai name all these? Yeah. It's the worst name right now.

SPEAKER_04

Do you want me to bring the snake back out so you would just have him on your neck this whole time?

SPEAKER_03

I mean, I'm down.

unknown

Are you okay with that one?

SPEAKER_03

As long as it doesn't come near me. If it starts, uh I'll strangle, I'll strangle the life out of that thing if it comes near me. What was your uh your verse? So my verse today. If the snake sees the Bible, it might get riled up.

SPEAKER_01

Oh boy.

SPEAKER_03

I wonder.

SPEAKER_01

Alright, so the verse that I have for today is Romans 1 20, for his invisible attributes. Bro, come on. Namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made, so they are without excuse. And so I just thought that that was cool. I said one of the coolest things about nature is not it's just not random chaos. It's orderly, it's purposeful. You guys aren't listening to anything. No, I am. I just it's getting can you still hear me? He's awfully close.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, she's awfully close to your name.

SPEAKER_01

Um my question is is like, as a culture, have we lost our sense of wonder?

SPEAKER_02

I'd say yes, and I think it's due to not being outside as much and not having as much like God creation connection. You know what I mean? Like people, animals, nature, like those types of things.

SPEAKER_03

Or just even a moment like this, I mean, as as goofy and as much fun as we've been having, like like obviously, like we have dogs or you know, pets at home, but like when you see things from around the world and then you hear about, you know, well, they do this because of this, or we they do this because it like he knows where his heating pad is, and their spikes only go there, or the bearded when he sees another one, it puffs like all these things, and you're like, or you know, that that thing on your neck only needs to eat once a month. Like that's crazy. You know, you start like a massage gunnery. It's like a weighted blanket. Yeah, it's very nice and comfortable. She is, I will say, because I I as you know, I do not like snakes, but she does seem very uh like loving. Very lovely. It's like weird. She's like resting her head like a yeah, like she does that, and it's also she is wandering. Yeah, she's wandering down the couch there. And if she gets on the floor and starts to come near me, I will stop that thing. She seems so loving. Also, because if you come near me, I will make you a belt.

SPEAKER_04

She really wants to be towards me, I guess.

SPEAKER_03

She did. I was gonna say when you handed her to Devin, she almost looked back at you like a like a dog or something. Like, are we supposed to be doing this? Yeah, she just wants to go to you. Do they have like memory?

SPEAKER_04

Um, snakes, they do, especially with their smell, because they smell with their tongues. That's why they put their tongues out all the time. And so, like, say when she goes on me, she'll put her tongue on me, and then she knows it's me because she remembers me.

SPEAKER_02

Dude, imagine if we smelled with our tongues. That would be. Yeah, that sounds horrible.

SPEAKER_01

Like, did the dog poop in the house?

SPEAKER_05

It's a person who's so stupid, dude. Oh, dude.

SPEAKER_03

Stop making sudden movements. She's gonna think you're attacking her, and she's gonna bite you.

SPEAKER_01

Alright, so my other last point is, and to kind of like wrap this up, is creation was never meant to replace God. It was just meant to point us to him. I saw that online today. Oh, that's good. So I thought that was good. It's like it's never meant to replace God. Like the awe and wonder that we have for nature should just point us to worship God, not just again, think, oh, how cool is that?

SPEAKER_03

Which we do, but it's like, oh man, this is not by accident. This is a divine creation by God. How big is God? How big is God? How small are we in the grand scheme of things as well, which is really, really cool. I'm trying so hard to pay attention and be serious, but her tail just wrapped like slowly around her neck. Like as you were talking, her tail just went, it's like venom. I'm just gonna walk downstairs holding her.

SPEAKER_02

But the the first one right now, bro. She's Matthew 6. She can smell.

SPEAKER_00

Sorry, we're it's impossible to be serious like this.

SPEAKER_01

Dude, what do I do if she really said she can characterize it?

SPEAKER_00

She is full on coiled.

SPEAKER_03

She's full on coiled around her. Is she strong? It looks like she's extremely strong.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, she has so many muscles throughout her body. Even her tail, like the thinnest part of her, can hold her whole body. Wait.

SPEAKER_01

No, that's cool, dude.

SPEAKER_03

She just walked down and be like, Hey, did you guys get the uh this morning? Did anyone lose this necklace?

SPEAKER_02

Go ahead, sorry, Matthew. Oh yeah, Matthew 6, I forget what the verse is, or yeah, what the verse is, but talking about you know, if he if he has the hairs numbered on your head and the lily, it's like how much more does he love you, right? So it's like, yeah, uh chinchilla knows not to go in water and do all this stuff, it's like, wow, I'm I'm gonna be alright. Yeah. Like God knows what I'm going through.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, if God created if God created like preset things in animals to keep them safe, like how much more well, like he says, you know, if the you know a single sparrow falls from the sky, how much more does he care about us? So like like you're saying, if he created designed a chinchilla to know, hey, I can't go in that water because I don't know, maybe they I don't they probably can't swim, obviously if they've never been in water, but like I can't go in there because it's gonna you know ruin my life if I do. How much more you know does he give us the tools to be able uh to you know make the right decisions and not get into a place where we dude is she like sleeping on you? That's actually pretty cute. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie.

SPEAKER_00

I can't like really turn my head, but Devin's like, that's the last thing that I wanted to say to you guys.

SPEAKER_01

No, I was gonna ask you, Priscilla, like since you've started to do this, like has it like that type of thing, like doesn't make you appreciate creation a little bit differently, or now that you've gotten closer with these animals, like I don't know, like, or you see how these kids react to it like oh my goodness, this is like I don't know. I would I think I'd be like reflecting myself on like oh man, maybe I should value this a little bit more.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, definitely. Because I, for example, I used to be so scared of snakes, like Luke, and then I started doing this, and I started just seeing how gentle they really are until they feel you know threatened.

SPEAKER_05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04

Um, and it made me just like appreciate how much just like God just equips us and he he just uses the things, he uses everything in order to protect us, and and even shows like through how this guy doesn't even have venom and he doesn't have fangs or anything like that, but he'll just launch and then wrap around and he knows to just like squeeze until like his prey rats, for example. He knows to squeeze until his heart the heart stops beating to then eat it, which is just like crazy, and then like also seeing how kids react to it too, and how much it's made me love children even more through this job and through being able to do this, it just made me like love kids and see how much they love nature, and it's just such a beautiful thing.

SPEAKER_02

Which is like we we talk about like childlike wonder, like you you read about it and write like childlike wonder. It's like going back to the basics, like like you said, sometimes we'll lose the wonder how to get it back or whatever. Yeah, but like it is really a crazy thing that Jesus came to Earth, die, like why?

SPEAKER_01

So that we could have well that's what we we were talking about beforehand, and then we've talked about it in youth before with our students, is like the wonder of salvation.

SPEAKER_03

Like that event, like what it is, like just in the sense of Jesus dying and like on a practical level, it's crazy. Like it really is, like it's it's uh it's awesome, it's it's insane. But at the same time, of like we had a God who created everything, who wanted a relationship so bad with us that he sent his son to die for us. Like at whatever point I forget that or lose that, it's like then we've missed the whole thing, obviously. But it's like that's the the wonder of that too, is like it's you I hope that we our lives reflect that of like, oh man, this is this is amazing. That God cares enough about me, loves me enough to want to send his only son to die for me so that I could have a relationship with him. Like, that's amazing. So I think that that it kind of intertwines with each other too. For sure. It's all it all brings us, everything I think everything God created is always meant to bring us back to that truth and to that point of like like you're saying, the awe of it all. And every time you put on a nature show or interact with an animal in person, or you know, even watch uh, you know, or or hear about those stupid bees last week and stuff, of like how God, you know, designed everything so intricately and so woven together that how how anybody could think, oh yeah, it just happened by accident. Like, you know, that thing just that thing was born and knew to wrap itself around something until it doesn't feel the heartbeat anymore, and then it knows, okay, now I can eat it. Like, like, yeah, that just happened by accident. Like, no, like it that's God's in the details, and that's what I intricate. And that's what it said. It was like nature shows us there's an author, it's not an accident. Like, and it was like, Oh, it's it's true. It's like, yeah, no, you could look at every little thing, fingerprints or snowflakes or whatever it is, like nature in general, like it's crazy.

SPEAKER_02

So I think of us and trees. Like we we breathe out. I mean, I can't look at you crazy because I said the most ridiculous thing at the start of this podcast ever. So no, like we breathe out carbon dioxide, they need carbon dioxide to breathe in, and then they give out oxygen and then we breathe in oxygen. So it's like a similar thing. Like, how do you not you think that just happened? No, I don't. Pre-cut oranges. What is that?

SPEAKER_01

What is that?

SPEAKER_02

I have no idea.

SPEAKER_01

Like you open an orange and it's just like sliced. Yo, what you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02

Isn't that true? Yeah, there's an overreaction.

SPEAKER_04

Yes, like looking at you.

SPEAKER_03

She was like, that was really loud. Could you please I haven't eaten in a month? Starving right now. What does she eat? She just mice rats, yeah. Rats. Rats?

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, rats in here.

SPEAKER_03

Like, yeah, like let's let a rat loose and watch her hunt. Can we do that? Or you still got those at your house? Oh, yeah. She needs a full entree. I'm losing her again. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, her tail's wrapped around your neck, so she's not she's not.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but where's her head? Am I about to sit on it?

SPEAKER_05

No, you're good.

SPEAKER_03

Whoa, don't Priscilla just punched her. Now she's really aggravated. Now she's really mad.

SPEAKER_02

She's back.

SPEAKER_04

And the fact that they like shed their skin too, and they don't have hands or anything like that to take their skin off, so they know to rub themselves on like rocks and stuff to get it off. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

She's gone.

SPEAKER_01

She's gone to Luke.

unknown

Luke.

SPEAKER_01

Come on, Luke. Come here, Luke.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, she's wrapped, she's gonna choke your arm out right now. She's trying to stay on. She should be safe.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Look at that. Like you're a tree branch.

SPEAKER_04

That's literally what they do in the wild.

SPEAKER_02

And the camouflage of it all, like how like they're specifically colors so that they can blend into their surroundings. Like that's crazy.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

She's thick in the middle, huh?

SPEAKER_01

Dude, she's so strong.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, she's super strong. Imagine what, like a 20. That's done. No. Like you're not getting out of that.

SPEAKER_04

No. They literally eat like alligators. What? Or like humans. Oh yeah. Yeah. Have you not seen them?

SPEAKER_03

They'll eat a whole like they'll eat a whole deer in one like one choke it out. One fell swoop.

SPEAKER_04

But what they'll do first is they'll stretch their whole body out next to the prey to see if they can fit their prey into the house.

SPEAKER_03

Have you never seen the movie Anaconda? Like, what are we talking about?

SPEAKER_04

It's actually, they literally unlock their jaw.

SPEAKER_03

Bro.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, look at that, dude.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, they they eat a whole deer, like in one bite.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my goodness. Dude, this guy.

SPEAKER_04

It's crazy.

SPEAKER_01

It's like Spencer with his Chipotle burrito. Hi, girly.

SPEAKER_03

Bro, I'm dead.

SPEAKER_01

Do you think Cy would want one? Oh, yeah. We go to the pet store all the time. He likes to go to the pet store and just look at the big snake fan, Cy.

SPEAKER_03

But not spiders. Not spiders. It was clear to tell us. Yeah, Cy came over yesterday, hung out with Uncle Luke for a while, and he was very clear to tell me that he doesn't even like Spider Man because he doesn't like spiders. He was like, I like the Hulk.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, he loves the Hulk.

SPEAKER_03

Oh. Oh, she's Now she's gonna wrap around your midsection. I don't think she's big enough for that. She's like, well, I could eat for months here. You ain't wrong, girl. We got some thick girls. Oh man, dude.

SPEAKER_00

Is this a uh one of those big trees in a redwood? Is this a redwood tree? That's huge.

SPEAKER_03

Well, Priscilla, we're very grateful that you came on. We know that you can't just do this for anyone. So thank you so much for being here. This is fun. This is awesome. What a treat. What a treat. And we do apologize if you are wa if you do normally listen, if you're normally a listener, uh, you're really missing out today. So we'd encourage you to go watch on YouTube and see all this incredible footage.

SPEAKER_01

I feel bad for Bubba, dude.

SPEAKER_03

He's just still trying to water down this tiny little thing.

SPEAKER_01

You should have just let him out in here.

SPEAKER_03

That would better be.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, true, but he might pee.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, that's well. Turtle tortoise pee, dude. I wonder what that smells like.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, that's too good.

SPEAKER_03

Oh my gosh. Oh man. Well, I am uh thinking it. I'm I'm grateful to Priscilla. I'm grateful for Critter Caravan. Again, book your next birthday party, your next event, family gathering, critter caravan. Priscilla comes, she brings a map of the world. She lays a big rug out, blanket out for the kids. She puts the animals on the blanket. It's it's it's awesome. It's awesome.

SPEAKER_04

I have a map and everything. I jump around.

SPEAKER_01

As the parents will like it, probably even just as much, if not more, than the kids. 1000%.

SPEAKER_03

Dude, it's it's so much fun. Like Devin. We love it. I did we did it for Sai's second birthday, it was the greatest thing we've ever done. Yeah, we've done it for one of Brody's birthdays. We did it during COVID. We did it for one of Brody's birthdays. And we go every year when it's at the preschool, we watch the chinchilla jump off people's face. And there's more animals too, right? Or is do you only have to be?

SPEAKER_04

Um well the only one that we're missing is the dove that does a high five. And then we're missing the fat-tailed leopard gecko.

SPEAKER_02

That's crazy. I still don't know how that what's going on.

SPEAKER_04

It lifts and then you just bop. Like, I thought there was a guinea pig. Oh, and a guinea pig, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

What's his name? There was, but now Hugs doesn't need to eat. Oh. What about the gecko? Yeah, throw that thing in there. A little battle royale.

SPEAKER_05

No, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Which one would win in the room? It'll literally drop his tail. This one. What did which one would win in a fight out of all these animals? Like we let them all loose right now and just let them find out. I don't know, that bunny's pretty big, but this human I would win.

SPEAKER_00

Just Devin scrapping on the floor with the animals and using the door to kill the animals.

SPEAKER_03

You against ten of those, who's winning? Oh, these guys. 100%. You against a ten footer. A ten footer. Just a single ten-footer.

SPEAKER_04

They're I like.

SPEAKER_03

She's not a zoologist.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I'm not sure how far.

SPEAKER_01

What's it called? How do you kill one of these? Choke them? Well choke it before it chokes you. Yeah. Where's its throat? Oh my god!

SPEAKER_03

Bro, you just kicked the mess out of something. What's in there? The bearded dragon is dead. Friggin' chestnut or whatever his name is.

SPEAKER_00

Like how you dude, that's how you killed the mop the mouse at our office. Dude, I booted that thing, dude. Did you actually kill it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

It ran across our floor, and Devin was like, wow.

SPEAKER_00

I was like, gold. Golas.

SPEAKER_02

I've never seen Luke more mad than when Spencer sent a video of the mouse running into his office, and he's like, sorry guys, I can't do anything about it.

SPEAKER_03

There's a mouse in my office and trying to catch it, he directs it into our office. But Devin just kicked it with his steel-toe boots. How fast do they travel? Well, because they're they travel, they're more in water, no? They hunt like traveling in water. Oh yeah. Pythons or anacondas. Oh, I'm thinking of anacondas. Yeah. Slow. One mile per hour. Hey. Down. Slow.

SPEAKER_04

Hey. It's just like they look like they're faster because they're like slithering.

SPEAKER_03

This is Devin runs, nope. What? One mile per hour. Guys are terrible. Man. What should I do with her? Take her home. Take her home. Bring her down. Wait, can we go scare Debbie when this is over with that? Can we go scare Debbie, please? I'll put it behind my back. I really like her. We've really bonded. Why aren't you getting a snake? She was she was connected. My wife would let me get the snake. Can't shave my head. Can't shave your head. Can't get a snake. What are we doing here? Am I living in North America? I live in a prison.

SPEAKER_00

I can't wait until she listens to the short now.

SPEAKER_03

Next week, welcome back to the solo new life podcast. Spencer got a camera. Yeah, Spencer finally got a mic. We have one free. Well, again, we hope that you have an incredible day as usual or night. Whenever you're watching, listening to this. Again, if you are watching listening, I would encourage you to go watch. Thank you to Priscilla. Thank you to Critter Caravan. Thank you to everyone that makes the New Life podcast happen. Thank you for watching last week with my dad on. We appreciate all the love that we got for that. And uh we hope that you stay in awe and in wonder of all of God's goodness and all of the incredible things that He gives. Amen.