Swans are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans usually mate for life. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.In North America we have at least four swans: Mute (60”), Trumpeter (60”), Tundra (52”), and Whooper (60”). There is also a Black Swan of Australia and a Black-necked Swan in South America. Swans are large, long-necked waterbirds that have a short duck-like bill and short legs. Many are seen on ponds, lakes, reservoirs and coastal bays. The Mute Swans are semi-domesticated. The Tundra Swan is sometime split into two species, Bewick’s and Whistling Swans. The Swan is listed in Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the list of “unclean” birds.
And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier-eagle, (Leviticus 11:18 KJV)
The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, (Deuteronomy 14:16 KJV)
Mute Swan pictures (click on for larger view) taken at Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales. They were irritated because the worker was mowing the grass beside the water and they kept following him back and forth. They had their wings arched back in frustration, but we thought they were beautiful like what I think “angel’s wings” might look like.
The 15 species of Cranes worldwide are: Black Crowned, Black-necked, Brolga, Demoiselle, Eurasian, Grey Crowned, Hooded, Red-Crowned, Sandhill, Sarus(tallest flying bird-6’ tall), Siberian, Wattled, White-naped, and the Whooping Crane(tallest N. American flying bird-5’ tall). A link to pictures and information about these cranes is at: International Crane Foundation
Cranes are tall birds from 3 to 6 feet tall, with wingspans over 6 feet. They fly with their neck straight out and their long legs trailing. They chatter and call when flying. We have plenty of Sandhill Cranes here in Central Florida walking around the neighborhoods. They seem pretty tame sometimes and will eat out of your hand. They have been bringing a small flock of Whooping Cranes to Florida every fall that follow an Ultra Light Aircraft from Wisconsin. We have a few non-migratory Whooping Cranes in the area that I have seen in a cow field off US 27.
Sandhill Cranes and Babies in our yard
Cranes migrate by following known paths taught them by their parents, or substitutes. Migrating birds know when and where to go and when to come. When God created them, He put that information in them. Plans are for a future blog about migration.
Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. (Isaiah 38:14 KJV)
"So did I chatter - … The idea here is doubtless that of pain that was expressed in sounds resembling that made by birds - a broken, unmeaning unintelligible sighing; or quick breathing, and moaning. " Barnes Commentary
Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD. (Jeremiah 8:7 KJV)
"The instinct of the migratory birds leads them with unfailing regularity to return every spring from their winter abodes in summer climes (Son_2:12); but God’s people will not return to Him even when the winter of His wrath is past, and He invites them back to the spring of His favor."
Jameison, Faussett, and Brown Commentary
Sandhill Cranes(grey) at the Plate River and some Whooping Cranes(white)
Today I want to direct your attention to a subject that, as believers in a self-existent God, is vital for us to understand in today's culture. I'm referring to the "new atheism". Quoting from Al Mohler's book, Atheism Remix, "The New Atheists, are in their own way, evangelistic in intent and ambitious in hope. They see atheism as the only plausible worldview for our times, and they see belief in God as downright dangerous." Men such as Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) and Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything) are just two of the men that are actively and stridently spreading the New Atheist agenda. Allow me to quote again from Al Mohler's book as he sums up the argument. "Evangelical Christians simply cannot surrender biblical authority, propositional revelation, and biblical theism in order to meet the various challenges presented to us in the twenty-first century. In the end, the existence of the supernatural, self-existent, and self-revealing God is the only adequate starting point for Christian theology. God possesses all of the perfections revealed in Scripture, or there is no coherent theology presented in the Bible... The New Atheists are certainly right about one very important thing—it’s atheism or biblical theism. There is nothing in between.Let me challenge you to think through this matter from a biblical perspective, and as you do, may you grow more in love with Yahweh, our almighty self-existent God.
Yes, it is hard to believe, but Upward Soccer 2008 has ended. During Soccer season, my responsibility was administrating the Concession Stand. Allow me to share some of our 'consumption statistics' with you. During the 2008 Upward Soccer season the following was consumed:
900 bottles of Water
700 Hot Dogs
700 Hamburgers
1100 cans of soft drinks
400 bottles of Gatorade
300 bags of chips
Thanks to all who willingly spent their dollars in support of our Upward Sports Ministry.
The Dove is probably recognized by most people, even though they may not know which specific kind they are viewing. White doves are released at weddings and other special occasions. The symbol for the dove is displayed many times. The coo of the mourning dove is heard and most recognize a Rock Pigeon (formerly a Rock Dove). We do not have Turtle-Doves here in America; they are in the Orient, Asia, Africa and Europe. The dove family (Columbidae) ranges from about 6.5” to 12” and seem to be gentle. Doves tend to be monogamous and both male and female produce a “crop milk” to feed their young the first few days. Most birds regurgitate food for the young from the beginning. Doves do not make the most elabroate nests, often they are on the ground and flimsy. Many were domesticated and were used for sacrifices. They are considered “clean” birds in the Bible. There are at least twenty references to doves in the Word of God.
The first mention of the Dove is in Genesis 8:8-13 when Noah released her from the ark. She was released three times, but came back two times because she “found no rest for the sole of her foot.” They do not eat carrion as the raven does. Most are ground feeders and she had nowhere to feed that was dry. The second time she came back with an olive leaf, and then never returned the last time.
(Genesis 15:9, Leviticus 5:7 and 12:6-8, Luke 2:22-24) all refer the Dove and Turtle dove being used for sacrifices.
David was distressed and wrote “…Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalms 55:6 KJV)
Isaiah 38:14 says, “I did mourn as a dove…” We have a Mourning Dove.
The Lord used the dove when he told His Apostles, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matt.10:16)
The dove became a symbol of The Holy Spirit at Jesus’ Baptism (Mat 3:16; Luk 3:22; John 1:32).
There is more to be said, but when you find the Dove in your Scripture reading, you will have a mental picture of them. The Hymn writers have used the dove in songs like: Sunshine in My Soul – Eliza E. Hewitt, 1851-1920
There is springtime in my soul today,
For when the Lord is near,
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flow'rs of grace appear. Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove - Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Come, Holy Spirit, heav'nly Dove,
With all Thy quick'ning pow'rs;
Kindle a flame of sacred love
In these cold hearts of ours. Pictures are from Reinier Munguia (In Order-Mourning, Eurasian Collared, Ground, and White-winged Doves)
This past Sunday morning, Pastor Osborne preached a message entitled Exterminating Marital Pests from Ephesians 5:13-21. Here are the five destructive pests that Pastor Osborne pointed out.
The Pest of Confusion (v. 15)
Propaganda against marriage
Complexity of relationships
Immaturity
The Pest of Busyness (v. 16)
Irritability
Lack of Communication
Impatience; Preoccupation
Feelings of Disconnection and Distance
The Pest of Insensitivity (v. 17)
Calloused
Impervious to Your Spouse's Feelings
Inconsiderate (I don't care)
The Pest of Escapism (v. 18)
Running away from Responsibility
Running away from Pain
Running to a destructive habit
The Pest of Stubbornness (v. 19-21)
Holy Wedlock turns to Unholy Deadlock
Pastor Osborne closed with three steps to Exterminate the Pests in your marriage.
In Psalm 84:3 the sparrows are mentioned again, this time they are found making a home (nest) in the Tabernacle area. As mentioned in the first Sparrow article, they are known to make nest in many kinds of places. Let’s look at this verse in its context to understand a great blessing found here.
Psalms 84:1-4 KJV
(1) How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
(2) My soul longeth, yea even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
(3) Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
(4) Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
The commentaries have different views, but many agree that the sparrow has made her nest in the Tabernacle and is close to the altars. David’s soul is longing to be in the courts of the Lord and near the Lord. The sparrow is there, has moved in and is even raising her family there. I think he is envious of the birds because they get to spend so much time there and also they sing so often, praising God.
Do we yearn and long to spend time with the Lord, our Savior? Do we seek to be as close as we can get? Do we enjoy reading His Word, praying to Him, and attending church where we can learn, sing and praise, and have fellowship with other believers? I trust you can say a mighty, Amen!
Again we have a bird that is in a list of “unclean” birds. This time we will look at the Cuckoo. No. This is not the bird that pops out of your clock on the hour and sings. Let’s find out about the real Cuckoos.
And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, (Deuteronomy 14:15 KJV)
And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, (Leviticus 11:16 KJV)
Here in the U. S. we have a Black-billed, Common, Mangrove, Yellow-billed and Oriental, Cuckoos. The Common and Oriental Cuckoos have only been seen in Alaska. The Mangrove is seen along the mangroves of southern Florida and the other two like dense thickets, woodlands, orchards and along streams. Worldwide there are close to 100 species of Cuckoos. Our Roadrunner is the same family - cuculidae.
The cuckoos have a slender body with a downcurved bill and a long tail. Most of them have spots on the underside of their tails and the sexes are similiar. Many species of cuckoos have a habit of laying their eggs in another's kind of bird's nest and letting those parent raise the bird. The chick seems to hatch first and then either knocks the other eggs out of the nest or harms the new chicks. Other cuckoos raise their own babies.
You-Tube of Cuckoo Sound with pictures – one showing warbler feeding baby. (from Poland)
Swans are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans usually mate for life. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.In North America we have at least four swans: Mute (60”), Trumpeter (60”), Tundra (52”), and Whooper (60”). There is also a Black Swan of Australia and a Black-necked Swan in South America. Swans are large, long-necked waterbirds that have a short duck-like bill and short legs. Many are seen on ponds, lakes, reservoirs and coastal bays. The Mute Swans are semi-domesticated. The Tundra Swan is sometime split into two species, Bewick’s and Whistling Swans.
The Swan is listed in Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the list of “unclean” birds.
Mute Swan pictures (click on for larger view) taken at Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales. They were irritated because the worker was mowing the grass beside the water and they kept following him back and forth. They had their wings arched back in frustration, but we thought they were beautiful like what I think “angel’s wings” might look like.
Sunshine in My Soul – Eliza E. Hewitt, 1851-1920
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove - Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
