Guinea Feather

are guinea pigs related to birds or capybara?

their back feet only have 3 toes like a bird, they chirp and sing like a bird, they have the same style of fur that some birds have with their feathers. theyre similar. and the capybara looks like a giant guinea pig
idk im retarded so answer

Guinea pigs and the capybara are both caviomorph rodents, which means they share a more recent common ancestor with each other than either of them is to other rodents such as squirrels or beavers or mice. The ancestor of the South American caviomorph rodents rafted from Africa to South America when they two continents were closer together.

Scientists classify organisms on the basis of shared derived features, not on the basis of convergent similarities Rodents share with each other such important shared derived features as hair, continuously growing incisors and the mammalian middle ear. Birds, OTOH, lack hair, teeth and 2 of the bones that are found in the mammalian middle ear are found in the bird's jaws. Scientists have to decide whether it is more likely that the guinea pig and the capabara convergently evolved hair, the mammalian middle ear and their incisors, or whether the guinea pig convergently evolved a similar sound and the similar skin appendages as birds. BTW, birds have 4 toes on their hindfeet, not 3. Feathers (even if they look like hair) have a different structure than mammalian hair, being made from beta keratin instead of alpha keratin. Feathers also grow in a different way out of the skin than hair. Therefore scientists have determined that the features shared between the guinea pig and capybara are more likely to be shared derived characters and that the features shared between birds and guinea pigs are convergent similarities.

Your question is of course silly, but it is actually similar what we find in the real world. Some highly intelligent scientists made the same mistake that you did, and they claim that birds are descended from a dinosaur because both have 3 fingers, even though the birds have fingers 2-3-4 and therorpod dinosaurs have fingers 1-2-3. The two hands are therefore only convergently similar. Similar to your claim abuot bird feathers being similar to hair, some scientists claim that the dino-fuzz (which are probably collagen fibers) found on the outline of such dinosaurs as Sinosauropteryx are "proto-feathers". To compound their error, they misidentify some birds, such as Caudipteryx, Protarchaeopteryx, Microraptor and Anchiornis, as dinosaurs, and they misidentify such dinosaurs as Mononykus as birds. So, you are not a retard, and neither are the scientists who claim that birds are dinosaurs. You guys just made the tragic mistake of misidentifying convergent similarities as shared derived characters. It is not always easy to distinguish convergent similarities from shared derived characters, and even some award winning scientists sometimes make mistakes in this determination. However, there are some scientists who do take fewer steps to determine whether the taxonomic characters they use are likely to be convergent or not, and these scientists are therefore setting themselves up for failure. That is the real tragedy. By ignoring the pitfalls of convergent evolution, these scientists are wasting their careers supporting theories of phylogenetic relationships that are in fact based on the taxonomic equivalent of fool's gold.

Praying Through Disasters

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purposes for me” Psalm 57:1-2

Every day when we listen to the news we hear of disasters. They seem to be happening more frequently, and at times seem closer to home. Most of us have not been through a major disaster. But there are smaller crises that can affect us personally and are within our extended families, or within our city or nation. In these days we are even more aware of international and world problems such as global warming and terrorism. We were recently with a friend who works internationally informing people of the crisis of AIDs all around the world. The crisis is critical. As intercessors we must learn how to respond in prayer and in action when we hear of disasters and major crises in the world. We must be God’s watchmen in prayer and learn to find God as our refuge personally in hard times.

My husband, Norm, and I have traveled to over sixty countries. We have been in cities just like yours that later had a major, life-changing disaster. We were once in the beautiful city of Kobe, Japan that later was devastated by a large earthquake. We were in Rabau, Papua New Guinea that later was destroyed by a volcano. Now in Rabau, the entire city was prepared. Scientists were monitoring the movement of the earth in that area. They had a planned out method of escape for if and when the eruption would occur. They practiced and were ready. When the real thing happened, they all escaped unharmed.

We were later in Indonesia and Thailand where a few years ago a tsunami destroyed many cities and villages, killing thousands. This was unexpected, and nobody was ready for the magnitude of that disaster. Within our own cities, we hear of shopping mall shootings and neighborhood robberies. The truth is that not one of us is immune to the possibility of a disaster happening right where we live. Let’s learn to be alert watchmen who know how to pray now for our cities.

As we do, it’s important for us to realize that we don’t have to fear because of what is happening in the world. God does not want us to be shaken by the nightly news. The Bible says repeatedly that God is our refuge. The word refuge in Webster’s Dictionary means “that which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity, a stronghold which protects by its strength or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness, any place inaccessible to an enemy.” God wants us to depend on Him as our refuge. He wants us to hide in His closeness. He wants to be our strong place of refuge. It’s His design that we need a safe place of refuge. He knows that we need to feel secure and safe. He was David’s strong refuge in times of danger (Psalm 71:7; 73:28). David knew how to hide in God’s presence. That’s what He wants us to do. Picture a baby bird hiding under its parent’s feathers. Psalm 57:1 is the picture of us sheltered under the shadow of God’s wings. As you read Psalm 46, can’t you begin to experience the comfort of what David is saying?

Psalm 46 - A Psalm of Comfort

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.

Psalm 46 is a great Psalm for all those who need a refuge. It is written in the context of a big underwater earthquake or nuclear explosion. It shows us that we do not need to be afraid of natural disasters. Aren’t there times when you feel the pressure of what is happening on earth? I know I do. But God is our present help even in these times of great trouble. He’s not far away but right there with us (v. 1). Even a major disaster does not have to make us afraid. The center of security for all of us needs to be God’s presence. Even though the nations are in an uproar, we can feel secure because God is our refuge (v. 6-7).

The Psalm says that God brings desolation. He makes wars to cease, he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire (v. 8, 9). God does bring an end to injustice and pain. He brings healing and salvation to our needy world. Psalm 46 ends by saying, "‘Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (v. 10-11). God wants us to be still and know that He is God. He is in control. His presence is with us.

In light of all of this end-times turbulence, how can we prepare and pray through the disasters in the world? How can we help disaster victims through our prayers and our lives? In looking closer to home, how can we ourselves learn to trust God as our refuge during times of disaster? We read in Psalm 5:11-12, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Let’s practice the following:

How to Prepare and Pray Through Disasters

• Be grateful and thankful for your life and what you have - Learn to be extremely thankful every day. You don’t know what a day may bring forth. Appreciate life.

• Prepare the church in your city for whatever may come - I live in a city that has hurricane threats six months out of the year. In Virginia Beach, this last fall many came together for several days from 3-6 A.M. to pray for safety for our area. Every city needs to prepare for possible disasters just as they did in Rabau, Papua New Guinea.

• Face disasters victoriously - Don’t be overwhelmed or lose your faith in God if a disaster hits your city. Realize that God is greater than any disaster, and He will work it out for good. Pray this for disaster victims.

• Share the love of Christ with disaster victims by meeting their needs - When we had a hurricane in our city, we helped serve food through the Salvation Army. It was a great way to share the love of Christ.

• Trust God in the midst of disasters - This is the time for the church to arise and shine. This is a time to show others the peace of God through our lives by living out Psalm 46. Pray this for churches facing disasters.

• Grow deeper in your relationship with God now - Strengthen your prayer life and learn to be still, cultivating God’s presence in your life daily. Pray Psalm 46 for your life and others in your city or in disaster areas.

• Learn to be still - Study Psalm 46 and when it says “selah”, stop and think about what God is saying.

• Show forth godliness instead of evil - Be careful to live a godly life. What is inside will come out. In our neighborhood a few days after a hurricane, people began to get impatient and irritable. May the people of God shine His light even in the darkest of times.

• Live and prepare for the eternal - Learn to live for what is really important, which is not earthly possessions but eternal life. Narrow down your possessions, and learn to give things away.

• Pray for the salvation of souls and share our faith - During disasters and times of difficulties, people are open to the Gospel. They need hope, and you have the hope of eternal life. God is the refuge that everyone needs.

Don’t wait for a disaster to apply these truths. God wants each of us to stand strong now. He wants us to live for eternity and pray for the lost now. None of us is outside of the reach of a disaster. We all need to live passionate lives, preparing for our eternal home. Jesus deserves our lives now. Let’s live 100% for Him, grow in knowing Him as our refuge, and learn to be still. Let’s learn to hide in His presence on a daily basis. When we hear about another disaster on the news, let’s pray fervently for those victims. Let’s not fear disaster but be confident in the Lord. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your feet from being snared” Proverbs 3:25-26

It’s time to arise in prayer! The book, Intercessors Arise: Personal Prayer that Changes the World is an invaluable resource and learning tool that will enhance your personal prayer life a well as hold beneficial instruction for small-group settings and classroom courses. These 33 motivational teachings will help you release your potential in prayer through practical and personal application steps.

Written by Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International

About the Author

Debbie is the founder and director of Intercessors Arise International, a part of the ministry of Elijah Company, Inc. (http:elijahcompany.org). Debbie has worked in 60 nations and has written several books on prayer. Her latest book is called Intercessors Arise: Personal Prayer that Changes the World. For free weekly training in prayer, send a blank e-mail to intercessorsarise-international-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org

Intercessors Arise International

http://intercessorsarise.org