Category Archives: Interesting Things

Parrot Mountain’s Prayer Garden

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And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (Matthew 14:23 KJV)

The Prayer Garden at Parrot Mountain is very peaceful and lovely. Thought I would share some of those photos this time. At the entrance there are two angel statues and then as you enter.

Angel

Angel

There are three crosses and some signs with verses:

Parrot Mountain Landscape and Signs

Three Crosses and Signs

As you go in further there are more signs, a garden tomb with an angel and a place where the Savior was lain. More signs and walkway with sculptures in them. Here are more of the photos of this area of Parrot Mountain.

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Parrot Mountain in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Fellowship in the Smokies
Peaceful Stream
Salmon-crested (Moluccan) Cockatoo at Parrot Mountain
Are You Missing Something?
Sharing The Gospel

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Peaceful Stream

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Trees along the Roaring Fork Drive

Trees along the Roaring Fork Drive

The trees have not turned that much yet, but the two videos below are just relaxing to watch. In about two weeks or so the leaves should really be at prime.

He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. (Psalms 78:16 KJV)

But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (Amos 5:24 KJV)

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11 NKJV)

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Fellowship in the Smokies

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Mountains from the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center Lodge

Mountains from the Tuckaleechee Retreat Center Lodge

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1Jn 1:7)

We just spent four nights at the at Tuckaleechee Retreat Center in Townsend, Tennessee. They call it “Fellowship in the Smokies.” We were at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, near Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Those two towns are very “tourist” minded and have many attractions that have little to do with the beauty of the area. It is hard to see the commercialization of such a beautiful area created by Our Lord.

The Tuckaleechee Retreat Center is the national headquarters of the Children’s Bible Ministry. They open up a couple of weeks this time of the year for visitors, like a big group (13 couples) from our church and a few from other churches. We are fed a fantastic breakfast, have an informative time and then are free for the rest of the day.

Stream on Roaring Fork Nature Drive

Stream on Roaring Fork Nature Drive

Dan and I went into Gatlinburg to the Roaring Fork Auto Nature Dive to see some birds. One turkey seen, one Pileated Woodpecker heard, and a small waterfall later, we finished the drive.
Cars and people were everywhere and needless to say, we were somewhat disappointed.

Back at the Lodge, we had great fellowship with our friends and some new ones we met. We ate out at some nice restaurants with our friends and just had a relazing and enjoyable time.

The roads are very curvy in the mountains and I said, “I’m not going back over those mountains into Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge again.” It was hurting my back somewhat.

Stream through the park - SMNP by Lee

Stream through the park – SMNP by Lee

The next morning, I was told about Parrot Mountain, with lots of Parrots. Other birds also. Run by Christian people and from a “Christian Perspective.” Have you ever heard of “eating crow”? Well, I swallowed my words and went. :) Am I glad we went.

You will have to wait until we arrive home in a few hours. Then I can get the photos ready. I have had the blog on “auto-pilot” this week and am glad WordPress lets us schedule articles for the future. (The only day not scheduled was this one.)

Taken Friday morning before we all left.

Fellowship in the Smokies — at Tuckaleechee Retreat Center.

Fellowship in the Smokies — at Tuckaleechee Retreat Center.

Tuckaleechee Retreat Center

Children’s Bible Ministry

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Plus – Amazing Dolphin Show

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Pacific White-sided Dolphin by Ian

Pacific White-sided Dolphin by Ian

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature). (James 3:7 AMP)

A friend sent me this link to a Dolphin Show in Israel. This is one reason my blog’s name ends with Plus so I can add “non-birdie” things.

Here are some more of the fantastic creatures that the Lord has given mankind. Enjoy!

Full-screen is best.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28 KJV)

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Interesting Things – Echida ~ From Creation Moments

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Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus) ©WikiC

Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus) ©WikiC

WHAT’S PART MAMMAL, MARSUPIAL AND REPTILE?

“He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.” (Psalm 111:4)

While all living things defy evolution, some do it more clearly than others. The echidna is one example of a creature that obviously challenges evolution. This Australian marvel is often called the spiny anteater. However, it has little resemblance to anteaters in other parts of the world.

Interesting Things from Smiley CentralEchidnas are classified as monotremes, which are egg-laying mammals. While the adults have no teeth, a hatchling echidna escapes from its egg with an egg tooth. Adults have a long snout and an even longer sticky tongue that catches ants. The hatchling is protected and nursed in a marsupial-like pouch. As it grows it develops the long spines of an adult. If the echidna sounds like a strange creature, its mating habits are even stranger. At mating time echidnas form “trains.” A large female leads the train, followed by up to seven males, the smallest being the last car of the train. They walk single file until the female finds a tree she likes. Then the males dig a trench around the tree and seek to drive each other out of the trench. Only the victorious male is allowed to mate with the female.

With its mammalian, reptilian and marsupial features, the echidna challenges evolution. Evolutionists would have a hard time explaining what forces would produce a creature that is apparently related to no other. The best explanation for the echidna is that it is the work of an infinitely creative and powerful Creator.

Prayer:
Dear Father, Your unlimited creativity fills me with joy. Amen.

Notes:
Science Frontiers, p. 129, “Echidna Eccentricities.” Photo: Western long-beaked echidna. Courtesy of Matma Rex. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)  ©Creation Moments 2015 (with permission)

Echidna ©WikiC

Echidna ©WikiC

Lee’s Addition:

Thinking about this photo and how the Lord created this critter to be protected brings several great passages to mind:

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:28-30 NKJV)

For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. (Proverbs 3:26 NKJV)

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Psalms 121:3 NKJV)

I would love to show you a Puggle, the name for a baby Echida, but I couldn’t find one that gave permission to use. Click this link to see one, Those in Awana, know the name “Puggle”

Lord Bless Your Day!

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Creation Moments – Echida

Creation Moments

More Interesting Things

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“SUPERB,” “SPLENDID” AND “LOVELY” – Re-post Plus

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“SUPERB,” “SPLENDID” AND “LOVELY”

“I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.” Psalm 50:11

There are 13 species of a brightly plumed little songbird known as the fairy wren. The birds are found in Australia and New Guinea. So colorful are their feathers that the various species go by names like “superb,” “splendid” and “lovely.” However, even more noteworthy is the birds’ unusual behavior.

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) by Ian

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) by Ian

A male courting a female will bring her a flower petal. The petal usually matches his color or is a deeply contrasting color. Normally a perky little bird with an upright tail, when courting he lowers his tail and creeps around close to the ground. As he twists his body back and forth, he puffs out his cheek feathers. If the female accepts his courting, she builds their nest alone, lining it with bright parrot feathers. While they mate for life, they are not known for fidelity to their mates.

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Juvenile and Female ©WikiC

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) Juvenile and Female ©WikiC

When mature, females will go off on their own, but males may stay with their parents for a year or more. Their main duty is to guard the family nest. If danger approaches the nest, the guard will puff up his wings, lower his tail and scuttle through dry grass, pretending to be a mouse. The idea is to lure the predator away from the nest.

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Female by Nick Talbot

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) Female by Nick Talbot

The beauty and unusual behavior of these little birds testifies to more than God’s creativity and love for beauty. They remind us of the beauty that was lost to God’s creation when it was tainted by man’s sin. Thankfully, some of that beauty that was lost can return to our lives through the forgiveness of sins that is found in Jesus Christ.

Prayer:
Dear Father, I thank You for the beauty of Your creation and for giving me the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Notes:
Natural History, 11/94, pp. 56 62, “Faithful Philanderers.” Photo: Superb blue fairy-wren. Courtesy of Benjamint444. (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
©Creation Moments 2015 used with Permission

Lee’s Addition:
Here are some more photos of the Fairywrens from their Creator:


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Creation Moments
“Superb, Splendid and Lovely”
Interesting Things
Fairywren Family
Wordless Birds
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EGGS-ELLENT EXAMPLES OF DESIGN

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“And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” (Job 11:18)

Over the years, Creation Moments has brought you countless examples of plants and animals that appear to have been designed because they really were designed! Nowhere is this easier to see than in the design of bird eggs.

African jacana chickAs we mentioned on an earlier program, the shape and coloring of bird eggs are no accident. God designed them that way for a specific purpose. Today we’re going to mention two other design features seen in some bird eggs.

SmileyCentral.com

Interesting Things from Smiley Central
The first are the eggs of the African jacana. These long-legged shorebirds build a flimsy nest that floats on water. When the male jacana lands in the nest to incubate the eggs, the whole nest sinks into the water. It’s a good thing, then, that God created the eggs to be waterproof. This is a design feature the eggs must have had from the very beginning.

Common Murre (Uria aalge) colony ©USFWS

Common Murre (Uria aalge) colony ©USFWS

Or take the eggs of the common murre. According to BBC Earth, “The eggshells have cone-like structures that make the eggs ‘self-cleaning’.” This is useful, they say, because murre colonies are tightly packed and the eggs get showered in bird droppings. “When water lands on an egg, its water-repelling shell causes the water to gather into spherical drops” which then roll off the egg and clean it.

We could mention many other design features of bird eggs, and we will share these with you in the future. But we close today’s program with praise to the God of creation who cares for all of His creatures – especially you and me!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my heart overflows with praise when I look at Your creation and think about what You accomplished in just six days! You are awesome in every way! Amen.

Notes:”The 13 birds with the most amazing eggs,” BBC Earth. http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150319-the-birds-with-super-powered-eggs. Photo: African jacana chick. Courtesy of Magnus Manske. (CCA 2.0 Generic)

Used with permission of Creation Moments ©2015

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African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) by Lee

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) by Lee

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Are Dinosaurs Extinct? (Re-post)

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Here is an interesting Creation Moments Minute from Creation Moments:

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. (Job 30:29 KJV)

We see these quite frequently in the Zoos. Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa has one we have watched, but he usually just lays there and looks around. The one in the video surprised me that they can run that fast.

This one was taken at the Palm Beach Zoo in Florida last year.

Kamodo Dragon Palm Beach Zoo by Lee

Kamodo Dragon Palm Beach Zoo by Lee

The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. (Isaiah 43:20 KJV)

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The Silence of the Owls – Creation Moments

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Great Horned Owl - Lowry Pk Zoo by Lee

Great Horned Owl – Lowry Park Zoo by Lee

THE SILENCE OF THE OWLS

“There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow:” (Isaiah 34:15a)

Interesting Things from Smiley CentralWhat makes owls so good at catching prey as they fly through the night sky? Part of the credit obviously goes to their amazing eyes that are able to see with such clarity in low-light conditions. But owls also have another design feature that allows them to sneak up on their prey without being noticed. Owls, you see, were designed to fly in virtual silence.

The authors of the book Discovery of Design point out that owls have an uneven forward fringe on their wings. Unlike the sharp, well-defined edge on most birds, the uneven fringe decreases air turbulence and produces less noise. In addition, the feathers covering the owl’s wings, body and legs are velvety soft. This helps to dampen and absorb the sound of rushing air.

Airplane designers are now exploring these features to create quieter military and commercial aircraft. Thanks to the owl, engineers are looking into a retractable brush-like fringe for airplane wings and a velvety coating on the landing gear.

In the book’s introduction, the authors point out that inventors and design engineers frequently look to nature for inspiration. But as creationists, they emphasize that the designs found in nature are not the product of evolution. Rather, the designs were embedded in the material universe by supernatural acts of creation. The purpose of these designs was not only for the benefit of living things but also so they could be discovered and put to use for the welfare of mankind.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, the creation not only inspires designs that benefit mankind, they inspire us to worship our Creator! I am filled with awe as I learn more about Your creation. Amen.

Notes:
D. DeYoung and D. Hobbs, Discovery of Design: Searching Out the Creator’s Secrets, pp. 9-10, 66-67 (Master Books, 2012).

©Creation Moments 2015

Lee’s Addition:

Isn’t it amazing the different items and ways of doing things that come from observing the Lord’s Creations?

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) by Nikhil

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) by Nikhil

Little Owl (Athene noctua) by Nikhil Devasar

Little Owl (Athene noctua) by Nikhil Devasar

Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu) by Peter Ericsson

Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu) by Peter Ericsson

Screech Owl Magnolia Plantation by Lee

Screech Owl – Magnolia Plantation by Lee

…the short-eared owl, …; the little owl, the fisher owl, and the screech owl; the white owl,…(Leviticus 11:16-18 NKJV)

All are part of the “do not eat” list.

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Arizona-Senora Desert Museum – Critters

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Gopher Snake Desert Mus-Tucson by Lee

Gopher Snake Desert Mus-Tucson by Lee

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals, And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion; Also the night creature shall rest there, And find for herself a place of rest. There the arrow snake shall make her nest and lay eggs And hatch, and gather them under her shadow; There also shall the hawks be gathered, Every one with her mate. (Isaiah 34:14-15 NKJV)

In Arizona-Senora Desert Museum – Vacation, I showed you some of the cactus, flowers and scenery of the Desert Museum. Today its the “critters” turn to be shown off.

Deserts are of course dry and receive little rain. So, in God’s Wisdom, He created critters, walking or crawling, that are adapted to this kind of environment. Many of these, especially the snakes and poisonous things were in exhibits and not roaming free. I enjoy seeing snakes, but not when they surprise me on a trail.

Desert Tarantula – Male Az-Sonora DM by Lee

There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise: …The spider skillfully grasps with its hands, And it is in kings’ palaces.
(Proverbs 30:24-28 NKJV)

Here are a some of the photos we took of the “CRITTERS.” (I apologize, but I forgot to take the lens shade off.)

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Sunday Inspiration – Independence Day

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Bald Eagle (close up) LP Zoo by Dan

Bald Eagle (close up) LP Zoo by Dan

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. (Psalms 16:5-6 ESV)

Here in the United States, yesterday was celebrated as “Independence Day” or more commonly called the “Forth Of July.” The Lord has blessed the country through the years because the people chose to look to the Lord, the Creator, for guidance. Today is another story, but that is not the point of this article.

We really should be celebrating “Dependence Day” to thank the Lord God for giving us the privilege to be born and/or live here.

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16 ESV)

We are thankful for this country and while the Orchestra plays the “Military Medley” enjoy some of the sights of the Land of the Home and the Brave. These are just photos from some of our recent trips that make me appreciate our country. Many are military, but also museums, scenery from our great land of the free and nostalgia things from the past.

P.S. Other than the Eagles, I gave the birds a rest. :)

And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes), So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being; (Acts 17:26-28a AMP)

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“Military Medley” ~ Faith Baptist Orchestra

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Sunday Inspirations

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Tombstone Shootout – Vacation

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Tombstone AZ 2015 by Lee

After quickly passing through New Mexico, (NM Going West), Interstate 10 brings you to Arizona. While stopped at the Welcome Center, again to get maps and brochures, we were told to not miss stopping in Tombstone. We dove the about 25 miles south of I-10 to get there, but well worth the detour.

Have you not asked those who travel the road? … (Job 21:29a NKJV)

We both grew up watching “westerns” and even remember riding one of these as a kid. So, going to Tombstone brought back lots of memories.

Tombstone AZ 5-9-2015 (86)

They have a reenactment of the Shootout at OK Corral, so we watched it. I have a clip of the beginning of it, just to whet your taste. If you want to see it, go to Tombstone. At the end of the video is a Jester, or whatever you want to call him, entertaining some kids.

Many people were dressed up and after talking to several of them, not all were workers in the different businesses. Some where just townspeople who dress and come to town to just be part of the “happenings” like this man and his dog.

Local residents

Local residents

Thinking back, we never took a single photo of a bird in Tombstone. Either they were not around or we were just too busy seeing all the sites. Not to worry, there are plenty more bird photos to come. Stay turned! :)

“The very mention of Tombstone brings to mind images of the lawless Old West, gunfights at the O.K. Corral, epic feuds between the Earps and the Mclaurys and Clantons, Gold Rush fever and the promise of silver and gold. The heritage of the American West is still alive here today, where historic saloons, post offices and the famous Boot Hill cemetery stand restored and painstakingly preserved alongside more modern, tourist-focused recreations of period architecture.” From TripAdvisor

As Christians, we have a different type of “Fight” to get involved in:

The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14 NKJV)

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV)

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Tombstone, Arizona – Wikipedia

Tombstone Web

In case you missed the last few Vacation articles:

Good News