The beauty of creation

[*Light* 336]

These are some remarkable photos. I'm sure we've all heard Atheists complain about how they do NOT see artistic beauty in Creation. Oh really? Then why is is that some of the BEST artists in the world have a knack for drawing pictures of mountains, trees, rivers, etc.? 

[*Light* 336]

I've heard a very popular and well respected bible teacher and Pastor make the claim that there is NO water, animals, blood or flowers in the Eternal State. I could not follow the logic of his response to someone who had asked him a question about eternity. What does the bible say?

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the WATER OF LIFE freely.  (Revelation 21:6)

The Greek word for "water" here is the same as the word for "water" in Greek everywhere else.  Is this the best water ever? Indeed!  It is the "water of life".  But saying it's not water is not something justified by any orthodox canon of interpretation. No animals in eternity?  Scripture doesn't say that -- anywhere. We know they have spirits.  We know that in the case of human beings and angels, no spirit ever goes out of existence.  Even the rebellious ones are preserved (albeit in the lake of fire).  I would argue that all animals are going to be somewhere in the new heavens and the new earth -- they did not have free will and so are not liable to the penalty of the lake of fire for rejecting the Gift of Jesus Christ.

No flowers?  The tree of life bears twelve types of fruit continually.  Fruit, in the experience God has given us by the way He has created things, is always preceded by flowering. That argues for flowers on the tree of life (which does have leaves), and if so, why would God not have flowers in eternity? We can't say for certain; but saying "NO" is definitely not authorized by scripture and runs against the evidence directly. No blood?  Perhaps. Our Lord told the disciples that He was not a "spirit" because a "spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (Lk. 24:39).  So in other respects the resurrection body is like the old one -- only much better by far.

I would also contend that we can fly and move through walls. Our Lord did the latter and was able to move to the third heaven and from place to place instantly; our body will be like His. There is a GREAT deal about what is coming that we do not know and cannot say for sure. We are given enough to know that it will be wonderful beyond imagination; For now we see through a glass, darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12), that our motivation in this life to do what God wants us to do is not unfairly overwhelmed by thoughts of eternity. But we do know that there is much to learn and that it will be amazing. But as it is written:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9) 

God Bless!

[EvangAlived 6]

On 9/23/2017 at 12:09 AM, OLD fashioned preacher said:

Back to NW Kansas

 

 

Nice.  Is that a GMO (God made organism) sunflower on the left?  It look like the sunflowers know something that one doesn't since they are all facing the other direction. 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and follow the Sun of Righteousness ... 

[Rebecca 555]

This is an older picture of a sunrise I took a few years back. I'm slowly getting photos onto my computer, so hopefully I'll be able to add more soon!  

Edited October 25, 2018 by Rebecca

[EvangAlived 6]

On 4/6/2018 at 5:53 PM, HappyChristian said:

I have no idea where this was taken, but it was on a science facebook page. Isn't this a great shot?

The bush burns but is not consumed ...

[Alan 2,955]

On 10/25/2018 at 4:51 PM, Rebecca said:

This is an older picture of a sunrise I took a few years back. I'm slowly getting photos onto my computer, so hopefully I'll be able to add more soon!  

Rebecca,

Glad to hear that you're getting more photos on your computer. We are looking forward to more of your photos !!!!

Alan

[Rebecca 555]

Here are a few more sunrises, from 2013. I don't get up that early anymore, but I should, the beauty is definitely worth it. 

[HappyChristian 3,456]

Beautiful, Rebecca! Definitely something for which getting up early is worthy!

These leaves are from our maple leaves. My dad planted 6 maple trees when he cleared the land here. He wanted to use the leaves to fertilize the garden through the winter. There is one red maple. The other 5 are all green during the spring/summer.  There aren't loads of leaves on the ground, but there are leaves all over - and the size of the leaves from the non-red maples is unbelievable!  This red leaf is about the size of a man's hand.  The other one...! Maybe a sasquatch hand? LOL (for those who don't know - I'm kidding about the sasquatch...I think...snicker  ).

T

 

[Alan 2,955]

The Hoopie Bird is an very unusual bird. It is not normally on the Eastern coast of Taiwan but is generally on the smaller islands off the west coast of Taiwan. We were able to see it twice. The Hoopie bird has a very distinctive crown and body coloring.

Hoopie Bird

 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Alan
formatting

[DaveW 3,831]

I have some great kids.

They sent my wife and I for a short break 'down south' to a town on the south coast called Denmark.

The view is to the Southern Ocean.

[DaveW 3,831]

There were roos all over the park. Not at all scared.

If you look closely at this young lady roo you will see that she has a Joey in her pouch - legs sticking out.....

[Alan 2,955]

On 11/28/2018 at 5:54 PM, DaveW said:

There were roos all over the park. Not at all scared.

If you look closely at this young lady roo you will see that she has a Joey in her pouch - legs sticking out.....

Dave,

Great photos! Keep them coming.

Also, I noticed that thus far Rebecca did not push the "like" on the photo with the young lady roo and her Joey.

So, I asked Rebecca why as it is a great photo. She said that she was waiting. So, I said, "Are you waiting for the Joey to come out?"  Hahaha!!!

Alan

Edited November 29, 2018 by Alan
doubled word

[Rebecca 555]

I guess I have to go ahead and "like" the kangaroo photo, since I got called out on it! haha!  It's a great photo Dave, if I had been there, I'd have probably taken about 1,000 photos! I can't resist taking photos of wild animals. 

I'm blessed with getting to live close to the ocean, so I often take pictures of the sea and any wildlife that I come across. Because my proper camera is having issues, I've been using my phone camera, which doesn't often take great pictures, but this picture of a sea urchin actually came out great, so I'm pleased with it. 

[Rebecca 555]

There are wild monkeys living in the mountains, and occasionally they come out of the mountains and I see them walking along telephone wires. This is a photo of a monkey I took recently.

This is a picture of a monkey from a few years ago:

 

[Invicta 1,503]

Beautiful evening over Kent

Edited December 27, 2018 by Invicta

[Alan 2,955]

Invicta,

Thanks for the photo.

The English, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland countryside are all beautiful!

Alan

Edited January 8 by Alan
spelling

[Rebecca 555]

Happy New Year!  

 

[Rebecca 555]

A curious crab! 

[DaveW 3,831]

1 hour ago, Rebecca said:

A curious crab! 

Love his cute "smiling face"..... 

[HappyChristian 3,456]

I took this picture with my cell phone. It was cloudy today, a bit. The mountains around here are beautiful, no matter if the sun is shining or not.

[Rebecca 555]

Yesterday I had taken a walk around some tide pools and by chance happened to startle a puffer fish, which I only noticed because it had puffed up due to my startling it. I managed to get a photo of it before I moved and it apparently thought it was no longer 'trapped' and so deflated and swam away. I wasn't able to get a photo of it deflated. It amazes me that it has such an unusual defense mechanism. I have seen them un-inflated in aquariums before but this was the first time I've seen one puffed up and in its natural habitat. I believe this one is a White-spotted puffer. 

[Rebecca 555]

This is an Orange-banded Pine Moth, apparently it's in the Tiger Moth part of the the moth family. Photo taken by Alan:

 

Here is a photo of a Tiger Moth I took a few years ago:

 

Edited February 18 by Rebecca

[Alan 2,955]

Just thought I'd show some of the natural beauty of a field of flowers in a field near Hua Lien, Taiwan.

Mrs. Alan and her Chinese friend, Julie.

The large sign reads in English, "Peace in the Year of the Rabbit."

[Rebecca 555]

What a beautiful field of flowers! 

 

I have had a few cactus plants for about six-ish years now, usually they have a few blooms on them once in awhile. However, this month one of them has the most blooms I've ever seen!  Eight flowers, one is smaller and beneath the larger ones. Interestingly, the blooms close up at night and open during the day. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rebecca 555]

The beautiful east coast of Taiwan!  

Photo by Alan

 

 

 

 

A view a little higher up and facing the ocean. 

Photo by Rebecca

Edited July 1 by Rebecca