“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV)
Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) ©WikiC
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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV)
Southern Yellowthroat (Geothlypis velata) ©WikiC
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Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) ©WikiC
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Jim with Komono Dragon at Lowry Park Zoo
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 KJV)
Dan and I have been privileged to have close friends over the years. As you move to new locations, the Lord helps you develop more “best friend” relationships. Here, Jim and Phyllis, have become more of our “best friends.” Yesterday, Jim (James) Foster, went home “to be with Our Lord.”
Jim and Phyllis Looking at Baby Gallinule at Lake Hollingsworth
Over the years, Jim and Phyllis have joined us in some of our birdwatching adventures, and so, in honor of those great times together, I’d like to share some of those photos. This is also, to help ease the loss we feel at his “home going.”
Dan, Jim and Phyllis at MacDill AFB Shore
Jim is enjoying the delights of heaven and of being in the presence with the Lord. It is those of us here, that are sad and happy at the same time.
Jim and Emma Foster – Work Day 2011
Also, you are familiar with our great stories from Emma Foster. This is her grandfather. She, and all of her family will appreciate your prayers.
Jim and Phyllis were always ready and willing to volunteer for VBS and other events at church. Most of the time, it was in the kitchen area.
Jim with Pastor Pete and Emma at Window
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 KJV)
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.
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
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
In case you missed the last few Vacation articles:
Blue-crowned Laughingthrush (Garrulax courtoisi) at Cincinnati Zoo by Lee
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10:23-25 NKJV)
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My Faith Still Holds by the Faith Baptist Orchestra. (Used With Permission of Faith Baptist Church)
(Music and photos are used by permission. If copied, you must obtain permission also.)
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Laughingthrushes are members of the Leiothrichidae – Laughingthrushes Family.
See:
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Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) One of “Darwin’s Finches” ©Wiki
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 KJV)
Link to a very interesting and thoughtful video about Evolution Vs. God. Worth watching. This was produced by Ray Comfort.
Evolution Vs God DVD
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But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)
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Globe-Skimmer
Interesting Things – Dragonfly gave a lot of detail about the Dragonflies. Now the researchers have produced some very interesting details about their migration. According to the “Mail Online”, they have longest migration by insects. They “fly 11,000 mile round-trip over ocean.” and the “BCC-Earth News” also has an article about their incredible journey.
From the BBC Earth News: “Every year, millions of dragonflies fly thousands of kilometres (11,000 miles) across the sea from southern India to Africa.
So says a biologist in the Maldives, who claims to have discovered the longest migration of any insect.
If confirmed, the mass exodus would be the first known insect migration across open ocean water.”
They go on to mention the Monarch Butterfly’s migration is much less lengthy, only traveling around 8,600 miles round-trip.
Round-trip of Dragonfly from Mail Online
What an amazing feat these dragonflies perform. Below are the links to the articles, but what a fantastic Creator we have. As you read the articles, you cannot but be amazed by the way they were programmed to sense the weather patterns, knowing when the rains would be there, etc. There is no way this just happened without a designer.
O LORD, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. (Psalms 104:24 NASB)
Longest insect migration revealed by BBC Earth News”
Longest insect migration ever as dragonflies fly 11,000-mile round-trip over ocean” by Mail Online
Lee's Birdwatching Adventures Plus 