I have a question: What is a Christian?
John is speaking about John the Baptist: ‘ He was not the light, but told people about the Light, Jesus, who lights every person that comes into the world.’ John 1: 8,9
Then this is what Paul says: ‘ I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ lives in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ died in vain.’ Galatians 2:20,21
But then Paul points out personal choice by saying this:
‘ Don’t be deceived God is not mocked what a person plants as seeds they will reap. For those who follow sinful behaviors will have corruption; but those that live by the Spirit of God will have everlasting life.’ Galatians 6: 7,8 (Sandy’s understanding. Read these verses for yourself and decide what a Christian is?)
This post will take a path of a rainy night and continue on a rainy morning. The night has the castle, church and the town in Christmas lights. The storks are near where they get food and rest.
This post is like a show and tell.
The church of Silves in the background with a tunnel of green lights in the foreground.
The castle with its three stars and turrets lit to show their tooth like festive edging against the night sky.
Silves welcomes all of us this Christmas period.
Now the storks. Why don’t they leave this town as they once did? Well it has stayed warmer and 7 miles west of Silves is a rubbish dump with enough to keep them happy.
Here are a few looking for frogs. They eat small mammals and birds, too.
The rubbish dump was silent but as a truck came past a large number of birds rose up into the air. They looked like sea gulls but maybe amongst them were a few storks. Press on the photograph, your trained eye may spot the storks.
My question then was, what if the dump got full and closed, and the warm winters weren’t that warm, would the Storks, having lived here so long, know how to migrate? This is the answer I found. Yes, they would! All storks start with an instinctive ‘compass’ and develop a ‘ detailed map’ through experience. The whole thing of migration is amazing. They use the pattern of the stars, landmarks like mountain ranges and coastlines. Storks don’t like crossing large areas of water and use thermals to rest their large soaring wings.
It will be interesting to see what happens to these birds over time.
Here is one alone with their back to us in the rain. This nest looks relatively new as some are stacked high with sticks. Their preference is to keep the same nest and same partner but add a few more sticks.
Today was beautiful and I had a break from using the camera. More rain is on its way for tomorrow.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂