Though normally dedicated to the subject of worship and the arts, I wanted to share a link to a friend's blog for those interested in the intersection between faith and science. My friend and long-time drummer, Dustin Wood, is a scientist in the field of herpetology. (No, this isn't the study of an STD!) Herpetology, according to wikipedia is concerned with poikilothermic, or cold-blooded, tetrapods. In English, reptiles and amphibians.

Herpetology offers benefits to humanity in the study of the role of amphibians and reptiles in global ecology, especially because amphibians are often very sensitive to environmental changes, offering a visible warning to humans that significant changes are taking place. Some toxins and venoms produced by reptiles and amphibians are useful in human medicine. Currently, some snake venom has been used to create anti-coagulants that work to treat stroke victims and heart attack cases.

Lately, Dustin has been working through a study of where science and faith intersect, and how they can bolster one another. He will be sharing these discoveries, among other things, in his blog, which I look forward to reading. I will give a warning to my friends that are a little more comfortable on the right of every issue and take a particularly literal view of "everything" recorded in Scripture. Dustin's conclusions may take you in places that stretch your comfortability, but trust me, it will make you think through these issues, which is always a good thing.

As much as we should be encouraging our artists and musicians to live out their faith in the marketplace of life, the church should also covet and encourage the few scientists we have to enter into dialogue with their respective sub-culture, offering a Christian lens through which to see the beauty that is creation, because it reflects a greater glory that is the Creator. Dustin's blog is called the Heartwood Harold and can be found here: Heartwood Harold.