Waterville 

Praised be the Maker of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens! Before the world began, God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless and to be full of love. ~ Ephesians 1:3-4 Some species of ground nesting birds gather on what is called a lek at the beginning of the breeding season. The purpose of the gathering is to show off. The males put on their best performances for the females. Some literally strut their stuf

And so they set off, proclaiming repentance as they went. They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. ~ Mark 6:12-13 Mockingbirds certainly deserve their name. They are in a family of birds knows as mimics. This family includes Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers, but Northern Mockingbirds are the most likely to be familiar since they enjoy urban habitats. All of these species will imitate, or mimic, other sounds, primarily the songs of oth

“My daughter,” Jesus said, “your faith has saved you; go in peace and be free of your affliction.” ~ Mark 5:34 Ever wonder where Chimney Swifts lived before there were chimneys? Some species are so accustomed to living with humans that we added “house” to their names like House Wrens, House Finches, and House Sparrows (who are weaver finches, not sparrows by the way). There is no question that we humans have changed and are constantly changing the environment around us. The r

We seem to have nothing, yet we possess everything! It would be a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—if you’d open your hearts as widely to us as we do to you.~ 2 Corinthians 6:11, 13 In the week between finals and commencement from seminary, I did the most natural of things, I competed in the World Series of Birding! It was during that time that the commencement preacher called my house with a question. Dr. Kirk Jones wanted to know if sparrows actually tremble when the