"Amber" was a happy Akita and Ductch Shepherd mix (that's a guess!) that was brought to the animal shelter as a stray on June 2, 2020. No owner came to claim her and she was adopted into a new home on June 9. Her wonderful adopter sent an update: ​

In the midst of dry, heat-baked Tucson, Arizona there is a lush, green, water-filled oasis. This birding and wildlife hotspot is called Sweetwater Wetlands. Over 300 species of birds have been listed in this riparian paradise. Having visited three times, I was amazed at the number of birds and other critters that can be spotted in under an hour. It is a place of refuge and provision, even as the Arizona heat soars above 100 degrees.
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Sweetwater Wetlands is a man-made wetland created from reclaimed waste water that is pumped into a series of pools and streams. Willows and Cottonwoods provide shade and perches; a thick green, organic covering lies over the water’s surface; gravel paths circumnavigate the cattail, bulrush and willow lined ponds. Based upon the number of bird species, and the number of birders that visit the park, it is a welcoming habitat for all.

Even we humans need a welcoming refuge! History has always had its ups and downs; from times of prosperity to periods of drought and devastation. The United States alone, in its relatively brief history of existence, has fought in over 120 wars! And on the personal level, our lives can be filled with the vacillations of economic hardships, medical issues, and relationship dramas. It is for this reason that Jesus spoke the words, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
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But just like the man-made desert oasis provided by Sweetwater Wetlands, there is a God-made oasis in the parched desert of this world: that oasis is the church! Through all the riot and uproar of the centuries, the church has always stood as a beacon and refuge for ailing humanity. Like the reclaimed wastewater of Sweetwater, the church is filled with men and women whose once wasted lives have been redeemed, repurposed, and renewed by the blood of the Lamb!

As the nations rage and people plot in vain (Psalms 2), the church cannot be silent. We must stand together, as the church as has always stood, and welcome the weary into the refuge of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can quench the thirst of hurting man in this world, and in the world to come.

At this point, “the quarantine blues” has almost become an overused cliché. But being a bit of a self-isolationist even before coronavirus swept the world, there were days I didn’t mind the peace and solitude away from the hectic life. I was still able to keep my morning and evening appointments with nature, and some days those meanderings kept me a little bit longer, and took me a little bit further with some of the extra time on my hands.

But on my birding walk this morning, I was seeing blue! Not that melancholy mood that inspired an entire genre of music, but literally seeing some beautiful, vibrant blues in nature!

The azure dawn set the backdrop. My attention was first drawn by several Blue Grosbeak’s calling. The males, as the name indicates, are a deep blue. A bit further down the graven road, a Blue-gray Gnatacther frolicked while a Great Blue Heron took flight, passing right before my lens! An Eastern Bluebird was hawking insects while an Indigo Bunting sang in the tall pines. Blue bird blues! 

"Eli" was a happy pitbull puppy, about 8-months old, that was surrendered to the animal shelter on June 3, 2020. At first, the lady said he was a stray dog they had found. But another woman out in the car said he belonged to her brother. I can't figure out why so many people don't tell the full story when surrendering their pets. Perhaps it is to avoid some guilt or accountability. But it really hampers the shelter's efforts to re-home the animals when all the information about a pet isn't given at intake.  "Eli" proved to be a sweet pup and it showed in his video. He was adopted the day after being surrendered! ​

​“What kind of bird is that?” my young daughter asked, pointing up into the tree. “It’s a White-winged Dove.” After giving a short species account, I went on to explain, “For many, the dove represents peace. And in the Bible it often represents the Holy Spirit.”

When she asked what kind it was, I knew what she meant: she was asking what species of bird sat perched before us. But being a Christian that believes in the six-day creation account of Genesis, her use of the word “kind” brought another thought to my mind.
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The Bible reveals that on Days Five and Six of the creation week, God created all the living creatures. The text of Genesis one divides them into groups, or kinds, such as sea creatures, winged creatures, cattle, and beasts. And within those broad groups were a further breakdown of kinds. In other words, within the winged fowl, the birds could be categorized into smaller groups.

While Baraminologists (scientists that study created kinds) aren’t sure of the specific groupings, perhaps  the kinds of birds are similar to what you find the index of your favorite Field Guide: long-legged waders, ducks, seabirds and gulls, raptors, passerines, etc. Modern day science labels them by genus and species. The Bible calls them kinds.
But when it came to the creation account of mankind, the language of the Bible makes a change. As Adam awoke from the dust of the earth, the repeated phrase “after his kind” did not appear. Instead, we read, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27). From the very beginning, we can see the truth that humans are not broken down into different kinds, but all mankind is one kind! There was only one man in the beginning, and all others have descended from Adam.

Grouping people into kinds, or races as we call them today, is purely a human invention. And racism is most certainly a human invention! The Bible is quite clear that all humans are related; all are of one blood. “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26).

While most people know Charles Darwin’s book is titled, The Origin of Species, many do not know the full title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.” It was evolutionary theory that propelled the idea to divide human beings into races. Evolution teaches that the different “races” of people evolved at different times and rates, so some groups are more like their ape-like ancestors than others.

That is man’s system of taxonomy. But in God’s system, all men and women are of the same kind; all are of the same standing and worth no matter the differences in appearance. No single people group is better than another. All are equal. In fact, the value of something is based upon the price someone is willing to pay for it. Jesus Christ paid the price of His life and blood equally for all human beings.

​Race is purely a discriminatory classification system concocted by humans themselves. In God’s order, there is no such thing as race, and therefore absolutely no grounds for racism! “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:12-13).

"Copper" was turned in stray to the animal shelter on May 27, 2020. He didn't have a tag or microchip, but his owner called after seeing him on the adoption website. He was reunited with his family on June 2, 2020.

They say every dog has his day, and Murry finally got his! Murry was picked up stray on May 22, 2020. He was already neutered, but no owner ever came looking for him. Things were looking bleak because Murry needed to go to a home without other pets, and that severely limits things. But he finally found a match when a couple spotted his post in the internet and came to meet him. They didn't have any other pets at home, so Murry would have their undivided attention! He was adopted on June 1, 2020.

"Sky" was a pretty spayed blue Pitbull dog that was surrendered to the animal shelter on May 27, 2020. Her owner was being deployed by the military and couldn't take her along. She was adopted by a wonderful family the following day before I had a chance to even edit and post her glamour photos and video! ​

Whenever I have a short break at work (Walton County), or some spare time to sit on my back patio (Clarke County), I always enjoy just watching, or photographing the visitors. It does wonders for the blood pressure and calms the nerves! 

This feisty young ratsnake was taken out of a garage in Walton County, Georgia on an animal control call. Watch the video blooper at the end as he strikes at my face and hits my nose! 

Birdwatching. Birding. Ornithology. In most minds, those three terms conjure differing depths of avian appreciation. Bird enthusiasm ranges from the simple enjoyment of backyard birds, to submerging in state lists and big years, and even deeper into the intellectual fathoms of anatomy and natural history. The books upon the shelf range from Your Backyard Feeder to Latin Terms for Taxonomists.
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In the same manner, the Bible is book of unending fathomage. From inspiring daily devotionals, to word studies and commentaries, and into the depths of theology, the Sacred Writ can be enjoyed and experienced on so many different levels.

But is one level of devotee better than another? Is the ornithologist more serious or dedicated than a birder? Is the theologian more important than the lay congregant? Are we only dipping in our toes when we should be swimming deeper? Are we drowning in the depths and neglecting the satisfaction of the shallows?
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In reality, one can be all things, or be what one desires! In his chapter of Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White, David A. La Puma writes, “Find out what you love about birds and dive in; the pool of knowledge is deep and rich and full of others happy to help you along the way.” An ornithologist can still enjoy birdwatching just as a theologian should still delight in daily devotionals.

Our Christian life and experience, just like birding, should enjoy the shallows, wade into the depths, dive the deep ocean trenches, and swim back again. Just as you would enjoy cardinals and chickadees at your backyard feeder, or decide to tackle identifying the gulls, sparrows and peeps, enjoy your yearly reading plan through the New Testament and Psalms, and simultaneously sound the depths of Biblical wisdom and application. Find out what you love about the Word of God in this season of life and dive in. The only wrong thing to do is to completely dry up!

An animal control co-worker texted me after hours and said, “I’ve got one for you!” Along with that text came a photo of a nice sized Timber Rattlesnake in a five-gallon bucket. The dark, v-shaped chevron patterns ran in regular intervals down his body while an orangish stripe ran along his spine, head to (almost) tail. And at the end of his black-tipped tail were six rattles.

He was picked up on a rural farm property in Walton County, not too far from a recent clear-cut of several hundred acres. No doubt the logging activity drove him out towards human habitations. After some photography and a short video, for which it put on a nice show, I released him in a forested area not too far from where he was originally picked up. 

Multiple trips to the Okefenokee and I hadn’t seen a Pitcher Plant since 1997. So on this May 2020 trip I was going to find and photograph that signature swamp Sarracenia! From what I had read, some of the largest Hooded Pitchers – up to three or four feet – grow in the Okefenokee Swamp. Pitcher Plants are native to North America and found along the coastal plain from North Carolina down into Florida.

After three days of paddling and exploring the trails around the Stephen C Foster campground, I finally broke down and had to ask park staff*. “On the way out of the campground, about a quarter mile on the left, just under the 25 MPH sign I flagged off a small patch so the mowers wouldn’t hit them.” And sure enough, there they were! Perhaps I was imagining a more secluded and swamp-like scene to find these carnivorous vegetables, but a roadside ditch will do!