Blue Genes

[snopes]

After two early false starts, our pair of Lineolated Parakeets, Splash and Chine, finally came of breeding age. No longer did we discourage them from nesting—not that it had done any good when we DID try to discourage them!—and it didn’t take them long to find the nesting box I had given them and to lay another 6 eggs. Three of these hatched, and at last, Splash and Chine were proud parents.

We watched the babies grow with anticipation. We knew we would soon begin to see their adult plumage, and we already knew what color that would be: Dark green!

Why?

Because green is the dominant color for linnies, and although Splash is turquoise, Chine is olive, the darkest possible form of green. This pairing would produce babies that were visually green, but were carrying a recessive blue gene that could be passed on to their offspring. Or, as they say in the bird world, the babies would be dark green split to blue. Of course, it could have been possible for Chine to have been split to blue, but I already knew that both of her parents were green. There was no way she could pass on anything but green genes!

Imagine my surprise when two of Splash and Chine’s babies turned out to be blue!

I rushed to my computer and called up an on-line genetics calculator I was familiar with. I typed in the colors of the parents and pressed, “submit”. I had to have made a mistake somewhere, but where?

The results came back 100% dark green babies, split to blue.

Obviously Splash and Chine forgot to consult the genetics calculator before producing babies!

There was only one possible explanation to the dilemma. Chine must be split to blue. But how? I went back to my original records, and I was surprised to discover that although Chine’s mother had been an olive, one of her grandparents had been blue. The recessive blue gene had been passed down through the generations to my bird, who, when paired with a blue male, produced blue babies. Because I hadn’t made the effort to check the records earlier, I had been deceived into believing that Chine could only be a carrier of green, when in reality, she carried a hidden blue gene.

As I thought about this, it occurred to me that deception abounds around every corner, even within God’s church. We may think we have the answers. We may think we have been told 100% of the truth. But there may be a hidden “blue gene” lurking in what professed “people of God” are telling us. There may be some element of untruth mixed with the truth they are preaching.

In the days of Jeremiah, just before the fall of Jerusalem, there was a big problem with hidden “blue genes”. False prophets abounded, telling the people what they wanted to hear: that Jerusalem would NOT fall. And the people believed it. In fact, they LOVED these prophets! And they shunned the true prophet of God, Jeremiah.

Here is what God said about these false prophets: “’Therefore,’ declares the LORD, ‘I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. Yes,’ declares the LORD, ‘I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, “The LORD declares.” Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,’ declares the LORD. ‘They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them.’” (Jer 23:30-32 NIV)

Pretty harsh words, aren’t they? And what does God say He will do with these false prophets? “Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty says concerning the prophets: ‘I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.’” (Jer 23:15 NIV)

Ouch! These so called “prophets of God” might have been loved by the people, but in the end, their punishment was sure.

But how could the people have guarded themselves from these hidden “blue genes”? How could they have safeguarded themselves from believing the lies of these false prophets? God makes this very clear: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.” (Jer 23:17 NIV)

Okay, that’s easy, but how do we know if they are truly prophesying lies?

The prophet Isaiah gives us the answer: “To the law and to the testimony! If they DO NOT SPEAK ACCORDING TO THIS WORD, they have NO LIGHT of dawn.” (Isa 8:21 NIV)

Friends, if I had taken the time and effort to check into my bird records, I would have realized that there was a slight possibility of Chine’s mother being split to blue. I would have guessed that Chine herself might be carrying a blue gene. I would not have been surprised by blue babies. Likewise, it is only by taking the time to check what our pastors and teachers are telling us by taking it back to the Word of God for authentication, that we can avoid spiritual deception.

Don’t just take everything your pastor or a renowned author or speaker says at face value. Take it back to God, to the Word of God, for verification! Only then can we be sure of the true colors of these “babies”—that the words of professed men and women of God speak forth truth!

Don’t be surprised by blue babies! Take every professed “word of God” back to the TRUE Word of God for verification, and then, shun whatever does not contain 100% truth.

[DawnStorm]

This glurge is for the birds.

[Lainie]

The genetic analogy is particularly disturbing to me.

[glass papaya]

I was actually interested in this until I got to the God's church part.

Glurge doesn't come my way, so I didn't recognize it. That will teach me to read the forum title! lol

[Canuckistan]

Because I hadn’t made the effort to check the records earlier, I had been deceived into believing that Chine could only be a carrier of green, when in reality, she carried a hidden blue gene.

How is that deception? Glurger wasn't deceived on anything; the admitted lack of research created a false conclusion.

That's not deception. That's laziness.

So stop trumpeting the Word of God based on your deceiving story!

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Why on earth would someone so ignorant of cryptic genes be breeding anything?

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Ryda Wong, EBfCo.

Why on earth would someone so ignorant of cryptic genes be breeding anything?

I've often asked the same thing about some cousins of mine.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Canuckistan

How is that deception? Glurger wasn't deceived on anything; the admitted lack of research created a false conclusion.

The whole thing is both puzzling and creepy. Why does he care so much what color the bird is? If he cares so much, why doesn't he do the research? Who does he think has deceived him? The bird? Or -- gasp -- God?

[chillas]

Not as deceiving as a low-down, dirty deceiver.

[Spam & Cookies-mmm]

Of course, it could have been possible for Chine to have been split to blue, but I already knew that both of her parents were green. There was no way she could pass on anything but green genes!

Or, as they say in the bird world "I don't know what "recessive genes" means!"

[MapleLeaf]

After two early false starts, our pair of Lineolated Parakeets, Splash and Chine, finally came of breeding age.

Was I the only one who pictures a pair of birds shaped like kitchen floor tiles?

Maple"Linoleum parakeets"Leaf

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Ryda Wong, EBfCo.

Why on earth would someone so ignorant of cryptic genes be breeding anything?

Hey, going forth and multiplying is for the birds, too.

[izanami]

Originally Posted by glass papaya

I was actually interested in this until I got to the God's church part.

Glurge doesn't come my way, so I didn't recognize it. That will teach me to read the forum title! lol

I was the same I might try read it all tomorrow

[Elphie Fabala Fae]

Originally Posted by MapleLeaf

Was I the only one who pictures a pair of birds shaped like kitchen floor tiles?

Maple"Linoleum parakeets"Leaf

Hah, I certainly did. I pictured birds with ugly patterns on their vinyl wings.

[One-Fang]

Originally Posted by snopes

'Yes,’ declares the LORD, ‘I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, “The LORD declares.”

God makes this very clear: “something god apparently said"

Do I need to spell this out?

[kitap]

All I could think of besides "Are there really such birds as lineolated parakeets?" was "I wonder if they made the birds get married first, since unmarried sex is a sin?" Now I know my blood sugar's a little off.

[Lady Neeva]

Yes, there is such a bird. They're actually quite cute little critters. Look! Here comes the pair from the OP!

Yeah, I'm weird lol.

[DevilBunny]

Originally Posted by chillas

Not as deceiving as a low-down, dirty deceiver.

Jayne, in Out of Gas.

[BluesScale]

Ok, would all the browncoats here please raise their right hands? Wow! There are more of us than I thought.

ETR: 1 please too many, if there can be such a thing.

[TrishDaDish]

This thing reads like the novel Birdy, if William Wharton had a nervous breakdown and started writing glurge midway through it.

Trish "Trust me, the novel was way different than the movie" DaDish