Drought

Drought has been in the Midwest for more than a year. Photo January 28th 2013

This is a photo of the river with sandbars appearing in the low river.

We just received 1.4" of rain the last 2 days. Will this rain cause the river to rise at least 2' to cover the sandbar?

Hiking back out here at lunch today I see the river has risen a little but not enough. Photo January 31st 2013

In the Old Testament Omri was an evil king of Israel, he did more evil than all the kings that reigned before him. And his son Ahab reigned afterward. And this son Ahab did more evil even that his father.1 Kings 16:25,30. It is with this dire situation that Elijah shows up and says, "As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 1 Kings 17:1

When drought comes I wonder if this is the judgment of God. I don't know if it is or not, but it is good to keep a humble heart before the Lord.

Bark Contrast

Chinquapin oak is on the left and Eastern Cottonwood is on the right. This is a contrast between 2 very different types of bark. Cottonwood is rarely seen in these woods on the hillside. They are found along the creek bottoms.

Cottonwood germinates easily and it is not rare to see large patches of ground of pure cottonwood seedlings. It is my guess that the trees are about the same age showing the faster growth of the Eastern cottonwood. At one point this hillside may have been cleared and this cottonwood started on a bare patch of ground.

This unusual occurance of cottonwood brings to mind the occurance of Christ  birth in my heart. I was a child and accepted the Lord because of John 3:16 being explained to me.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His ^[a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Woodpecker Holes

If you look closely at these American basswood trees you can see lines of horizontal hole drilled by woodpeckers. They will eat sap in the spring. They eat insects found around and in the bark.

They also engage in drumming to announce their territory or to attract a mate. They don't have a song to anounce their presence. If these trees are hollow they may have been drumming on this tree.



You don't hear a woodpecker unless he is working. We should have this kind of industry.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:58