Creation on Display

Yesterday (Monday) I went to the Ft. Worth Botanic Garden and the Stockyards on another wonderful photographic field trip. Even though it was 100-plus degrees in North Texas, I came away from the trip with a number of pictures that show various elements of God's creation -- from animals to plants to patterns. I've posted a few in a slideshow below.

The Call to Do Nothing

"How can I kill the ones I'm supposed to love? My enemies are men like me."

Songwriter Derek Webb sings those words in the chorus to his song, "My Enemies Are Men Like Me." What Webb is saying in the song is that even though many of us enjoy watching conflicts -- real and imagined -- as they unfold on TV, what we fail to realize is that Jesus has called us to love our enemies and bless those who insult us. Our enemies are broken people just like we are, with the same problems and the same basic needs. They, like we, need a Savior.

I've been learning a lot about the Kingdom of heaven lately and one thing that I've come to understand is that the new weapons of fighting are not weapons at all -- and we are not meant for fighting. We are meant for trusting. Blessing those who curse, Paul elaborated, is the greatest insult we can give an enemy. To think... not fighting back is more powerful than a knuckle sandwich! By doing nothing in retaliation, we are actually denying our opponent the satisfaction he or she is looking for in a fight.

And when their guilt sets in... oh, man, is it ever convicting. Just a thought stirred up by a song.

I might add:

"We can point our guns at the other side
and with our mouths let insults fly;
But to turn the cheek the other direction
Is the strongest gesture of godly aggression."

All Creatures of Our God & King

I took a field trip with a friend to the Ft. Worth Zoo today, a majestic place of atmospheres, animals, and all around good fun. Seeing the varieties of creatures reminded me of the beauty of God, particularly how that beauty can be seen in creation. We entered a parrot cage where parakeets, parrots and the odd pigeon were flying around and it took my breath away. There were yellow birds and blue birds; red birds and gray birds; bigger birds and smaller birds; all flying representatives of the beauty and intimacy of the King.

Enough chatter from me. Here's a slideshow of some of the creatures we saw as captured through my lens. Enjoy!

An Upside Down World

Have you ever had one of those moments when a truth you learned as a kid ... and always kept with you ... suddenly becomes new again? What about a Bible verse you've always known but never fully understood until now?

Lately, I've been wowed by the makeup of the kingdom of heaven. You know, the first shall be last, the poor shall by rich, the meek shall overcome the proud, turning the other cheek, picking up your cross, etc. Jesus came and turned the known world upside down. He said all the wrong things and, as N.T. Wright famously wrote, He "blessed all the wrong people." He flipped their concept of righteousness and in the process revealed the true way of righteousness. The true way doesn't seem glorious. But the true way is the only way to pure glory.

Blessed are the poor in spirit...
Blessed are those who mourn...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are...

As Christians living in a hostile culture, we often want to play by that culture's rules. We want to fight back when attacked. We want to boast of our accomplishments. We want to have a church building that's way bigger than the other church buildings. We're not looking at the world from an upside down perspective. We want to interact with the world right side up. But in doing so we are becoming like the world and not like our Lord. He stayed upside down and called you and I to do the same.

I know I'm not doing it as well as He'd like. So I keep on trying. How are you doing?

A Day in the Park (or Garden)

Here are a few snapshots from today's trip to the quaint little/big city of Grapevine, just across the lake from good ole Flower Mound.

Behold... A Video Blog Sequel!

Yet Another Favorite Picture

This one was taken at the Dallas Arboretum on April 5. I don't know why it appeals to me but I remember exactly what I was thinking when I saw the water fountain pictured here. "Gee, that's a pretty cool spiral. I guess I ought to take a picture." So I did. It's not the best picture I've ever taken, but not the worst, either. It just happens to be a picture I like.

Sometimes photography doesn't take great planning. All it takes is a willing heart and an opportunity. Just like the Christian life. If our hearts are willing to serve the Lord, He will provide us with opportunities to serve. A photographer prepares his or her camera, tripod/monopod, lenses, etc. in hopes that he or she will find the right picture opportunity. Sometimes it comes. Sometimes it doesn't. But the photographer is prepared nonetheless. So we should be. Identify your spiritual gifts and get them ready for service. Pray for open doors and then start looking for them. If the lens of your heart is open to the Lord, then He will provide a picture-perfect opportunity.