| THE LAKE TRAIL A Trail of Enlightenment, Encouragement and Illumination Latest edition February 14, 2009  Welcome, Hiker, to the Lake Trail ! There are indeed hundreds of lake and river trails throughout the western United States. While on this particular trek you'll be allowed an extraordinary journey along a prime selection of those trails, hiking among some of the most distinguished God-made monuments on the earth. You will learn how these true monuments were formed a mere 5000 years ago by the prevailing waters of a cataclysmic, global deluge; the great Flood of Noah. (time approximate; 2460 BC) Amidst these vast, spiritually enlightening areas of creation, as you discover the real significance of water, you can become truly nourished from the things which God has made. This particular nourishment will serve to dramatically increase your understanding of God as well as that of yourself... Each of us have positive abilities and special purpose, creatively designed just to befit us. We also share in a most significant common purpose. The privileged time you're about to spend along the Lake Trail may serve to greatly illuminate your thinking in each of these critical areas of knowledge... We will be taking several day hikes (perhaps a few nighttime ones as well) onto the Lake Trail, and we're most enthused that you've chosen to hike this particular Trail of Truth along with us. All you have to do now is put your Bible, perhaps a notepad, some drinking water and a few snacks into your daypack, bring along a hiking stick and we'll be on our way! Oh, yes—don't forget your mental camera — Got everything?... Let's go hikin'...  ¤ Raindrops ¤ Waters' Wonders ¤ Canyon of Worry ¤ God and Arches ¤ Into the Monuments ¤ The Way of the Eagle ¤ Campfire at Canyon Spring
He gives rain for the earth, and sends waters for the field... (Job 5:10) We're hiking in the rain today... It is indeed a special time to hike. The wine country of northern California has been drenched with rain for several weeks now. Hard rain, soft rain, intermittent rain, rain mixed with wind—you name it, we've had it. It has been of course a remarkable display of Gods' handiwork; from the medley of downpours, to a variety of impressive cloud formations, explosions of thunder and breathtaking streaks of lightning as well. — Some folks don't like rain. Perhaps they would do well to consider it under a different light. — Rain can be a needed comfort to the soul; inspiring, soothing, having a tranquil and even medicinal effect, whether you're under a tin roof, an umbrella, or just walking under the hood of a raincoat or poncho. Even very intense rain can be captivatingly exquisite. Rain always has a purpose. Appreciating rain is something we learn to do through an understanding of its creator. The first rains in history came upon the earth about 5000 years ago, as a prelude to the great Flood of Noah. These rains served to save Noah and his family (1st Peter 3:20,21), and subsequently reshaped the earth geographically as we now know it. Our current weather regime serves to develop our seasons, water the earth and cleanse the air that we might enjoy the natural splendor of the extraordinary planet upon which we live. Following any given rainstorm we may have the good fortune to observe a rainbow; God's reminder to us of the great Flood, and a reminder of His promise to never again destroy the entire earth with water (Genesis 9:12-17). I find then that while under the blanket of any type of rainy weather there comes a time to remember, to reflect, and to give thanks... I have often sat on the back porch during this year's rainy season. Just the sound of the rain against the roof, or on the surface of the ground, has indeed served to calm my spirit and relax my physical body during these trying times in which we are now living. I have on occasion donned my old army poncho and hiked some distance from home here during times of the heavier downpours. I have a little park nearby that has a small lake within its borders, where I like to go and say my prayers and commune with God. Rainfall serves to make these special times of meditation even more glorious... The rain on my face is a welcome embrace from the Lord. I long to walk with Him in the rain as with a close friend. I quite often think of my children during these encounters with the rain. Of course, they are no longer children. In fact they are all grown up and each have their own families. Yet, I continue to be with my adult children in spirit, knowing that the pure, sweet scent of rain is like pleasant conversation with them. I always thank God for blessing me with their spiritual presence. Though they are physically distant they are truly near. I hold them and embrace them in the rain as the Lord embraces me. Thus, rain is certainly once again a comfort. I have been attracted to rain from my youth. Bold thunder and lightning have always thoroughly impressed me. During my army basic training, in 1963, I once marched twenty miles in a heavy downpour of rain with fellow soldiers, set up camp amid lightning and thunder, and then laid on my back in a pup-tent, contemplating the wonder of that everlasting rain as it beat rhythmically on the surface of my cozy little shelter. It was quite inspiring and definitely medicinal after that long day's march. The Lord has most graciously passed that simple appreciation onto my family... I received a card from my daughter (Carrie) recently. There was no special occasion—she just has a habit of doing very thoughtful things for me once in a while. Anyway, there was a picture of a heavy rainstorm on the front of the card, with a young girl (a duckling in human form) smiling from under an umbrella. The caption read; Even on the rainiest day,... I then opened the card where the caption was completed; You bring the rainbow ! My daughter had added a short, handwritten note within the card; telling me that she missed me, hoped to see me soon, and thought of me often. I haven't asked her, but I am sure that a rainy day back there in Ohio prompted her to send that blessing, which now remains, sacred, atop a shelf at my desk. Rain. Once again, a time to remember, to reflect, to give thanks, and a time to increase your understanding as well. It has given me much insight into the untold pleasures related to being aware of God. I hope you too have learned to be sensitive to the wonder of rain. It is, without question, a heavenly cure for the weary, lonely soul. Respect it. Enjoy it. Learn from it and honor it. God will indeed bless you. "Hear, Oh earth, the words that I say! My teaching will fall on you like rain; my speech will settle like dew. My words will fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants." (Deuteronomy 32:1,2)
On that day, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened... (Genesis 7:11) Before we hike any further on the Lake Trail, it would be really good for you to understand (if you don't already know) just how all of our lakes and rivers got to be where they are; geographically. The more popular scientific opinion of today tends to obscure the true origin of our water sources, and we wouldn't want you to have a shaded picture of what actually took place here. Our purpose on this trail, as well as our purpose on the High Sierra and Desert Trails, is to help you to understand more about God through the things He has made. Since the Lake Trail is the mother, so to speak, of the remaining trails, we will endeavor to paint an overview of water formations here, where it all began. Note: This particular teaching could have been included on the Trail of Time, yet we are concerned here on the Lake Trail with the earth after the great Flood, mainly because it is the post Flood earth that you're most familiar with. (For a look at the geophysical and geographical condition of the pre Flood earth, or the origin of plants, animals and mankind, you'll want to hike the Trail of Time through both the In the Beginning and Mirror Lake trail junctions.) The great worldwide Flood of Noah took place about 2460 BC. Most Biblical students know that when God commands something, it happens. Exactly how it happens is sometimes a scientific mystery. For the great Flood, one theory is that God allowed several meteors to hit specific areas of the earth, causing a 23½ degree tilt on its axis. This tilted position of the earth, which we now have, accounts for the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the two poles and for the seasons of the year. The collisions of the meteors may have brought about violent cosmic revolutions on the earth which resulted in the great Flood. The largest meteorite crater discovered to date, within this country, is in Arizona. It is a half mile wide and 600 feet deep. It was caused by a meteorite, one mile in diameter, that probably disintegrated upon impact. Fragments of it can still be found in the surrounding desert by using a metal detector. There could however be much larger craters below the earth's surface, now of course unrecognizable; filled in and buried by Flood sediments. It's time now to gather the paints and brushes of your brain together and begin to create the following mental picture as I relate its particular details to you: We can see on our planet seventeen very strange features, which can now be systematically explained as the result of a cataclysmic, global Flood, whose waters erupted from subterranean chambers, with an energy release exceeding the explosion of ten billion hydrogen bombs! This explanation (The Hydroplate Theory) shows us just how rapidly major mountains formed. It explains the widespread coal and oil deposits, the rapid continental drift. Why, on the ocean floor, there are huge trenches and hundreds of canyons and volcanoes. It explains the formation of the layered strata (layers of soil and rock) and most of the fossils. The frozen mammoths. The "so called" ice ages, and major land canyons, especially the Grand Canyon. The pre Flood earth probably had only one very large super continent, covered with lush vegetation. The earth may have been surrounded by a large vapor canopy, much like the canopies which surround Venus and Jupiter. The climate of the earth was subtropical, about 72° F year-round, and storms, cold temperatures, snow and rain were unknown during the 1,656 years that the earth existed prior to the great Flood. Within the canopy the earth was much like a giant greenhouse. There were seas and major rivers. The mountains were smaller than today's, but perhaps 9000 feet high. According to the hydroplate theory, the pre Flood earth had a lot of subterranean (below ground) water, about half of what is now in our oceans. This water was contained in interconnected chambers, forming a thin spherical shell about half a mile thick, perhaps ten miles below the earth's surface. The Bible refers to this subterranean water when it speaks of a "mist" that came up from the ground and watered the whole earth. Todays' water geysers, found throughout the world, are but a remnant yet profound evidence of this initial system. Increasing pressure in the subterranean waters stretched the crust of the earth, much like a balloon stretches when the pressure inside increases. Failure in the crust began with a microscopic crack which grew, in both directions, at about three miles per second. The crack, following the path of least resistance, encircled the globe in about two hours. As the crack raced around the earth, the overlying rock crust opened up like a rip in a tightly stretched cloth. The subterranean water was under extreme pressure because of the weight of the ten miles of rock pressing down on it. As the rock crust opened up, the water then exploded violently out of the rupture. Along this globe encircling rupture fountains of water jetted supersonically, up to almost twenty miles into the atmosphere. The spray from these enormous fountains produced torrential rains such as the earth has never experienced, before or after the Flood. The Bible states that, in one day, all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened (Genesis 7:11). Scientists believe that the "windows of heaven" being opened was indeed a collapse of the encircling vapor canopy, and that some of the water descending from this canopy met with water jetting upward from the rupture into the cold stratosphere, where they both froze into super cooled ice crystals, producing some massive ice dumps; burying, suffocating, and instantly freezing many animals, including the frozen mammoths of Siberia and Alaska. The high pressure fountains eroded the rock on both sides of the crack, producing huge volumes of sediments that settled out of this muddy water all over the earth. The sediments trapped and buried plants and animals, both large and small, all over the earth, forming the fossil record. The erosion continued to widen the rupture. Eventually the width was so great that the compressed rock beneath the subterranean chamber sprung upward, giving birth to the mid oceanic ridge that wraps around the earth like the seam of a baseball. The continental plates, the hydroplates, still with lubricating water beneath them, slid down hill away from the rising mid Atlantic ridge. After the massive, slowly accelerating continental plates reached speeds of about 45 miles per hour, they ran into resistances', compressed and buckled. The portions of the hydroplates that buckled down formed ocean trenches. Those that buckled upward formed mountain ranges. This is why the major mountain chains are parallel to the oceanic ridges from which they slid. The hydroplates, in sliding away from the oceanic ridges, opened up very deep ocean basins into which the flood waters eventually retreated. On the continents, each bowl shaped depression or basin was naturally left brim full of water, producing many post Flood lakes. The Flood and its receding waters formed some of the most beautiful hiking country in the world. Some refer to it as wasteland. I think they need to rethink their conclusions... Within this continent alone; Death Valley, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, the deserts of the great southwest and many other "monuments", to include our great mountain ranges as well as other wonders, all places that you will at sometime visit here on your journey into Hiking the Trail of Truth. I have referred to all of these captivating, scenic places as; Waters Wonders. Water is the most powerful force on the earth, as you have seen, able to move entire mountain ranges and carve deep canyons or vast deserts in their place. It is also the most life sustaining source on the earth. Nothing can live without it. It is an ingredient in every living plant and creature on the face or in the depths of the earth. In profound addition, water makes up the majority of the human body.— Modern science has finally discovered that all of the other chemicals which make up the human body are found in the very dust of the earth... The Genesis writings of the Bible are indeed fact. How and why would anyone ever doubt? It is indeed wise to think on these things as you hike about Waters Wonders. God will teach you all that you need to know. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)
In His hands are the deep places of the earth... (Psalm 95:4) We're hiking into one of the most spiritually rejuvenating places on the earth right now; Grand Canyon, Arizona, one of the world's greatest wonders formed by Noah's flood. Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon? My very first visit here was with my son, Mitch, in 1986. Gazing into the canyon over its south rim, both for the first time, we were in awe; actually speechless for about twenty minutes or more, only able to wonder regarding its vastness and its overwhelmingly captivating hold on both our thoughts and imaginations. Grand Canyon's miles of steep walls are colorfully lined with myriad shades of reds, pinks and browns. There are massive buttes and mesas throughout the formation over its ten mile width and along its approximate ninety mile length. It is also hundreds of feet in depth. Carved very rapidly some 5000 years ago, during the great flood of Noah, it continues to remain a geologic mystery to the unbelieving. They have no concept of the magnitude of water force that once flowed through this area. Only a very limited flow of water runs through it now, what they've duly named the Colorado River. Nonetheless, in spite of what they do not really know about it, in spite of their inaccurate teachings on its age, its geology and its history, and, in spite of the National Park Service's misguided tours and flawed literature, it remains a place of extremely great beauty and year round inspiration, even for unbelievers. Though unworthy to witness such splendor that the canyon displays I have, by the grace of God, been allowed to visit there many times since that first visit with my son, one of which was with my daughter in 1996. Pictures and postcards can give you some idea, but to be there in reality is an inspiringly breathtaking, humbling, just-a-picture-won't-do experience. On another note, it is here within this most impressive wonder of God that I would like to share with you what I have learned about the anxiety we call worry.— When personal worry is at its deepest chasm, I liken it to the very bottom of this Grand Canyon wonder, with its high, insurmountable walls of despair on either side... The base of the canyon is only available by river access, or by pack trails and steep foot trails from the high rim. Bottom line is; once you are down in the canyon itself, there looms a long and difficult way out. Its precipitous walls look much higher from deep down in there and the view of the sky above is quite limited. If you were physically unable to climb or you had no means of which to navigate the river, it would surely be the end of your world. A canyon of grief. A deep, unyielding pit of despair. A place where vultures gather to await the demise of an injured animal or to feed on the carcass of a lost and defeated soul. Do you realize that worry, in the spiritual realm (or within your heart), can indeed erode a canyon of this size and magnitude; length, width and depth, seemingly inescapable, into your life... complete with a gathering of ravening vultures and all? — Worry is a subtle destroyer of life. The anxieties developed through worry can plunge one into grievous sins; throwing us into a pit that we find may be extremely difficult to escape from. This pit over time becomes a deeply carved canyon which takes an exceedingly great toll on our emotions, our physical well-being, our personal life and our handling of relationships with other people. Jesus advised us not to be anxious about our lives (Luke 12:22-30). He asked if all of our daily worries would add anything to us or make things any better for us.— No, they won't! — In my own life I have learned through much experience the absolute futility of worry. I learned this truth late in my years and then realized that I had dealt recklessly with life in my youth because of it. I am now paying a great personal price for the sins of worry, as well as other failures. It could be worse. If God had chosen to, He could have killed me a long time ago. Yet, even with my foolishness, He has been merciful. He has lifted me out of the difficult canyon of worry, grief and despair on many occasions. Yes, we do get trapped in this deep place more than once—it is our nature. God is the only sure way out! Dig and claw as we may to find our own way, there just isn't any other way to freedom. My advice for your proneness to worry is to talk to yourself first thing every morning. Tell your anxious spirit to slow down! Seek God's help... Since His mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), you should be able to leave the worries of yesterday right back there in yesterday. He gives you the freedom to do that. You do not have to worry about tomorrow either. He has given and will continue to give you everything that you will need (Luke 15:31), so, again, don't worry about anything (Philippians 4:6) ! He throws down a rope (trust) and gives you the choice as to whether or not to climb up out of that canyon of worry. Choose wisely and grab hold of the rope... Climb up out of that canyon; pray to God earnestly today that you will cease from worry and its "neighboring sins". If you are a Christian, you are without a doubt in God's hands. Remember that! Repeat that thought to yourself over and over until it sinks in. There is truly no need for fear, or doubt, or worry. Trust in Him... Once you realize that, do that, and are up out of the canyon, take off your backpack full of those old worrisome burdens. Coil up the rope He threw down to you and strap it to the pack, then hand pack and all to the Lord. He will carry it from now on—upon His shoulders willingly, as you now begin and continue to walk with Him! (Psalm 55:22) He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge. (Psalm 144:2)
He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number... (Job 9:10) Arches National Park is still another distinguished monument of our Creator, one that definitely leaves you in awe over the great power of water. I have visited this area many times in recent years and it's good to be back here and even better that you are here with me. God has indeed left some real images of art for us to view here. Some of them are actually humorous (don't think for one minute that God doesn't have a sense of humor). Our hike through this area will confirm these things for you in a most remarkable way... The initial flood deposits in this area (about 2460 BC) consisted of a vast number of hills and mounds of good quality clay which were, just a brief time later, reformed and finely sculptured by the turbulence of receding waters. God indeed left some profound shapes here. I call it the "check this out, folks" display of Gods' handiwork. The carvings here are most impressively representative of the human race and of the animal inhabitants of the earth. There are some Biblical students who believe that this area is the remains of an ancient city, that the sculpturing is the work of men. That's a possibility but not a probability. The secular opinion of course is that Arches was eroded into these shapes by wind and water over billions of years. We know that idea is absurd; an absolute impossibility in the mind of the true Christian, since the earth itself, as we know it, is just over 6000 years old. My personal opinion is that God challenges mankind here at Arches, but in a kind and humorous way. Knowing that we should be able to see His mind in these works here (Romans 1:18-20), knowing that He is going to have the so-called experts come up with all kinds of explanations here, and knowing too that He is going to delight those who have true understanding (His own children), He allowed that this area, later named by men as Arches National Park, would be a monument to the creativity of God, and perhaps a preview of the eventual history of mankind in the United States...Take a close look... There are a myriad of shapes here. Of the animals there are elephants, horses, cattle, sheep and rams, lions, coyotes, and birds such as the eagle. Of men there are the images of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other figures of the Revolution. There are infants in the arms of women, patriots marching and casualties of war. Abraham Lincoln is giving an oratory at a podium. There are civil war soldiers lurking about and slaves huddled in fear. There are statues of American Indians, while on a considerably larger scale are the scar-faced profiles of Indian warriors and chiefs. There are also groups here and there which appear to be a diversity of people engaged in prayer. Then there's Park Avenue; walls of rock that resemble downtown New York City. There's indeed much more to be found here, and it doesn't take any stretch of the imagination to do so... The famous Delicate Arch, the location of which is indeed an inspiring hike over red rock, looks like the torso and legs of a bowlegged cowboy wearing a pair of chaps. He may have been whole at one time, as there is a lot of broken rock in the valley just below him. In a canyon just behind this arch is a group of women standing around a well. There are huge bowls that resemble pottery here and at other locations throughout the park as well. There are rocks that resemble pueblos and still others that resemble castles. Depending on the time of day, the shadows created by the sun making its way through the park serve to highlight this grand display of artwork in a diversity of ways. Towering spires, pinnacles and balanced rocks perched atop seemingly inadequate bases are among these scenic spectacles. Then there are the many and varied arches themselves... There are more than 2,000 arches within the park, ranging in size from a three foot opening (the minimum considered an arch) to the longest one, Landscape Arch, which measures 306 feet from base to base. Some of the arches are extremely tall, with huge spans, and you will seasonally find an occasional rock climber atop them. I myself enjoy viewing the clouds through the archways as they pass behind providing an excellent backdrop, continuously changing their exquisite formations. I once photographed the moon during daylight hours through the span of a lengthy arch. It was indeed an impressive photo for an amateur; postcard material for sure. After sunset many arches throughout the park provide unique views of the evening stars through their open archways.— Why so many arches? God likes arches. He is not unlike us in having favorites; the first thing He gave us after the great flood was an arch... Remember the rainbow? Again, there's much to see in this unique area of land where most of this particular composition of clay, over the last 5000 years or so, has hardened to stone. All of the clay formations in the area look as if they were baked in an oven. Indeed, the suns' heat over a period of time is surely responsible for this work. Perhaps it only took a few years after the formations were born to accomplish this. Geologists have numerous theories on this particular aging process, but only God knows. Modern geology does not take into consideration that God made all things, therefore, their conclusions require great scrutiny. All I know for sure is that the entire area is a most remarkable display of His handiwork (Psalm 95:5, Proverbs 26:10, Isaiah 45:18, Acts 17:24). Thanks for taking the time out of your day to hike here with me through this outstanding red rock country... I hope you too were inspired! It is certainly a great place to wander through, to allow your mind to take the time to ponder the wonder of God in His unequalled creativity. It is a place to meditate deeply on all His works and to consider, within our finite minds, the infinite height and breadth of His wisdom. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3)
Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders... (Psalm 105:5) If you've never hiked Monument Valley, well, it's time you did. These impressive wonders, sacred to the Navajo nation, are located in an area of about ninety-two thousand acres, which is just a small part of the nearly 16 million acre Navajo Indian Reservation of the great American southwest. The monuments themselves are scattered across the landscape from northern Arizona into southern Utah. The elevation here is high desert country, from about 5000 to just over 6000 feet or more above sea level. The first thing you may want to take note of on your trek through this land, if and when the wondrous awe generated inside you ever settles down long enough for you to do so, is to note the height of the various monuments. For the most part they are all very close to the same height above ground. The floor of the valley presently consists of small, rolling hills and flatland, mostly hardened clay and sandstone (similar to the terrain of Arches National Park). The monuments themselves are composed of a tightly compressed mixture of the terrain found at ground level. The point is that during the Great Flood, about 5000 years ago, when the soft and hard rocks, clay and other materials were first deposited into the area at the height of the Flood, this 92,000 acre land mass was laid out as fairly level terrain, equal to the now existing height of the monuments themselves. Since the area is so large and the monuments are some distance from one another, a view of the region from Muley Point in Utah, about 15 miles west of Mexican Hat, may help you to better understand what actually took place here. If you've never been there, just concentrate on what I am about to describe to you—hopefully you'll get the picture. The receding floodwaters, as they were passing through this recent deposit with great force, washed, to a considerable depth, all of the loose sediments away while the more rigid deposits held their ground. Tremendous masses of sediments as high as the current monuments were moved from this area as they were in all areas of the world during a five month period of water recession from the unimaginably high crest of the Flood. Though the more rigid deposits remained immovable, they were however shaped dramatically by the commanding persistence of retreating waters—the profound strokes of the Artist's brush. All of the monuments within this vast area have shale, pebble and sand deposits at their base. The bases themselves are gradually contoured outward. When the high volume of receding waters significantly decreased, which according to the Biblical record took a minimum of five months, the bases of the monuments continued to remain under water for a period of time, which accounts for the watermarked contour visible on the base of each monument. The entire valley was a seemingly endless lake, while the newly formed monuments, at varying distances from one another, protruded up out of the shallow waters over several miles. What an overwhelmingly awesome sight it must have been! A smaller version of this 'picture in time' exists still to this day, about 300 hundred miles to the west in the Lake Mead area, where separate red rock monuments protrude out of the waters there. Similar monuments are found in the water at various areas along the Colorado River, however, with the recession, the remaining floodwater in Monument Valley, which stands at a considerably higher elevation, was draining out—slowly decreasing. Over a period of time the earth eventually dried up in this higher area (Genesis 8:14), and Monument Valley was born. It is indeed an inspiration to hike among the monuments of Monument Valley. When I do this I try to contemplate what actually took place here during its formation. The thought of it overturns the imagination. It is, of course, sacred ground. I couldn't look at it in any other way, nor can the local Indians. Then again, all of the planet earth is sacred ground to the Christian, or at least it should be. But it is here, in this obviously immense moving and shaping of land, in this place where widespread, diversely yet harmoniously sculptured sentinels give glory to the One who formed them, where I fall on my face with exceedingly great thanksgiving in awe of the untold wonder of God, our Creator. Who established the mountains by His strength, being clothed with power? You, who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves and the tumult of the peoples. They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs, yet, You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice. (Psalm 65:6-8)
Does the eagle mount up at your command and make its nest on high? (Job 39:27) I've spotted Eagles at different times while on my hikes along these various trails, both in the deserts and in the mountains. Perhaps we'll have the good fortune to catch a glimpse of one today. I was hiking along Rush Creek near June Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada a few summers back. It was there in a somewhat remote and picturesque area of the high country that I had a most unique encounter with a Golden Eagle. The Greek word for Eagle is aetos, which means to blow as the wind or become one with the wind. The Psalms teach us that the way of an eagle in flight is too wonderful to understand (Psalm 30:18,19). I had just rounded a bend in the trail when I saw the Golden. She was soaring at eye level, above the canyon, just about 30 feet west of where I was journeying along the high trail. It was a very large Eagle, so I judged her to be female. She was incredibly close to me. She slowed, almost stopping in mid-air. She was riding the wind, correcting for every deviation of its velocity, all the while seemingly investigating me. She was looking right at me! At one point I believe, or at least would like to believe, that our eyes actually met. It's hard to tell if they're looking directly into your eyes, but just having the Eagle behold me was an honor in itself. I didn't move a muscle or even twitch a finger. I was thinking, 'the good Lord has indeed blessed me in allowing me to witness such a grand and glorious wonder so close at hand. I am indeed humbled by His kindness!' I was suspended in time, hopeful that the encounter might last a little while longer. I was overwhelmed at the Eagle's control—fascinated by it. Then, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye she dipped a wing and turned off, headed down along the canyon to pick up speed. I estimated that she was flying somewhere between 50 and 60 miles per hour. I soon caught her in my binoculars and tracked her until she was out of sight. How majestic and graceful she was! I've known Eagles to attain speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while in a dive. They can hold those speeds while maintaining focus on the object at which they are diving. They are so well coordinated they can avoid in flight collisions at that speed and can actually drag just a fraction of an inch of talon across the back of another bird, sending it spiraling to the ground in complete shock. I've seen them close their talons, as if making a fist, to strike their prey as they swoop on by. Pilots have reported seeing Golden Eagles in flight above fifteen thousand feet. Eagles have tremendous vision. You and I, according to medical science, have some two hundred thousand of what they call visual receptors, per square centimeter, within our eyes. The Eagle has 1.6 million receptors per square centimeter; eight times that of a human. That makes for an extremely high visual resolution or 'optical clarity' in simpler wording. Let me illustrate: Imagine sitting in the very last row of the Dallas stadium during football season—I mean who can afford closer seats, right? With a pair of binoculars I might be able to catch the main action of the game. From that same distance an Eagle can individualize every blade of grass on the playing field. An Eagle could read three-inch letters on a billboard one mile away. They can see small fish jumping out of the water five miles out to sea. They can spot fish in a swiftly flowing stream from thousands of feet in the air. They have remarkable vitality. An Eagle weighing about twenty pounds has enough strength in its talons to break both of the bones in a man's forearm by just grasping it firmly. Any small, unsuspecting prey would be crushed instantly under that kind of power. If you recall I had an operation on my stomach a few years back and I learned something about the Eagle's talons from my surgeon, after he had stitched me up. He informed me that surgical needles were modeled after Eagle's talons. They are specially crafted to pierce the flesh and not to tear it. I was thankful to the Lord that day for His unique design of the Eagle's talons, and for the both informed and skillful surgeon who knew how to use that particularly well-designed needle. When an Eagle soars it is not by his or her own strength. They effectively extend their great wings and are lifted by the rising currents of air. They just simply make themselves available to the wind. I too can soar within my own spirit like the Eagle, when I make myself available to God and yield to His Spirit. I have soared many times while just thinking about His greatness. I have danced atop desert mesas and high mountain peaks. I see His greatness and feel His presence in all of His wonders. I feel it with each breath that I take along these hiking trails. I can also reach out and touch a variety of His different works at any time. This particular uplifting of spirit has been identified as the Rocky Mountain High by a songwriter, but it is much more than that. I feel kindred to the Eagle in this way. The Eagle-brilliant, extraordinarily graceful, with incomprehensible control, incredible speed, supreme vision and commanding strength. It's no wonder then that God pays grand tribute to their majesty. How well I have learned through my own experiences the immeasurable value of the following Biblical teaching: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar (mount up) on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
He sends the springs into the valleys... (Psalm 104:10) The oasis at the south end of this particular canyon is a unique campsite. There's a pool of water there which has its source from an underground stream. It has been named simply; Canyon Spring. The water is cool and extremely clear this time of year. There are several tall yuccas around the pool, scattered artistically among varieties of painted brush, which serve to make the place a true haven of rest within the desert. It is surrounded by sandstone walls that reflect a mixture of evening shadows toward sunset and other even more distinct variations by moonlight. The pool itself acts as a mirror during this most noble display of shadows. These qualities of course make Canyon Spring a really great place for a campfire. A campfire without dancing shadows on the surrounding rock or fiery reflections from a body of water is just an ordinary old campfire. I should say however that any campfire is of significant value. But here at the Spring it's utterly significant. And if built properly, it is exquisite. You start by digging a small pit in the earth, circular, about three to four feet in diameter. If rocks are available you can place them around the edge of the circle as a firebreak. Rocks also absorb and reflect heat, which ultimately produces a warmer fire and allows hotter, longer lasting (all night) embers, ready to stir at breakfast to heat up the morning 'trail coffee.' Wad up about a half dozen pages of newspaper (one page per wad) and place them in the middle of the circle. Toilet paper or facial tissues do not work well. Writing pad paper, napkins or paper towels are okay, but newspaper works the best. Sprinkle some twigs or small kindling atop the wadded newspaper. Find a medium sized forked branch to use as a support for the next phase—building a teepee. A teepee generates a lot of heat in a short time and produces quick coals for heating up hot dogs or marshmallows. Construct the teepee's center support over top of the kindling you have just prepared; brace the forked branch by angling another branch or two into the yoke of the fork itself. Add branches on all sides, forming a teepee around the kindling and newspaper. Use small branches initially, then add a circle of larger logs, as your teepee will support. Now, light the kindling inside the base of the teepee in three or four places and you'll have a nice fire almost immediately, soon producing ample good coals for cooking or barbecuing. You may continue to stack wood in the teepee formation or choose to knock down the teepee to place a grill over the coals for barbecuing. The grill may be supported by placing rocks under each of its corners, or in any manner that renders it sturdy enough to support your food. You can reconstruct the teepee later by removing the grill after you've done your cooking. The teepee formation is best for the evening campfire and marshmallow roast. A teepee fire is uniquely elegant. It is particularly nice to stare at; its embers are affected by the slightest breeze and give a most radiant performance with their varied intensities. The teepee fire also displays exquisite shadow formations on the surrounding terrain. Most important, it is adequately warm and eminently inviting—a truly Native American campfire. I can now also inform you at my age that a good campfire is better than anything. We don't mean to keep you up too late tonight, but we wanted to point out some things to you while we still have the stars so incredibly visible above us. Canyon Spring is a great place to view them, that's for sure.— What actually is a star? Ever ask yourself that? Well, the sun is an average star, so it's a good place to start for descriptive purposes. The sun in all of its majesty is nearly incomprehensible. Its distance, as best we can tell, is about 93 million miles away from the earth. It is an immense ball of seething gases, about 864,000 miles in diameter. That diameter is nearly four times the distance from the earth to the moon. It is indeed a big one, but scientists tell us that there are stars out there over five hundred times bigger than the sun. Think about that, if you can! In dealing more with what we can see and almost imagine; if the sun could be hollowed out like a giant pumpkin, a million planet earths' could easily fit inside, just like so many marbles. But the sun is not hollow. It is an immense and fiery furnace where internal gas temperatures are measured and estimated to be in the millions of degrees. I for one can't even begin to fathom such intense heat. Scientists too are not really sure where all this extreme high energy comes from. There are theories and presumptions, but no one is absolutely certain what makes the sun shine. Each square inch of the suns' surface illuminates with the intensity of about three hundred thousand candles. Each square inch, mind you! This incredible energy production goes on day and night, summer and winter. It is estimated that only about one billionth of the suns' energy output actually hits the earth! The rest streams off into all directions of space, with no waste whatsoever. In just one second the sun releases more energy than mankind has produced since the creation, including all engines, power plants, and bombs ever constructed. This dramatic output energy of the sun illustrates what is also happening at this moment on innumerable other stars throughout our galaxy and beyond, over the entire universe. There is no energy shortage on the part of these beautiful lights in the night sky, the precise work of Gods' fingers (Psalm 8:3,4). The universe is perfect. It definitely was not caused by a big bang as the theory goes. Let me tell you how precise Gods' measurements actually are: There could be hazards in living as close to this star as we do. Along with the suns' necessary light and pleasant warmth, dramatic explosions on the solar surface bathe the earth in radiation. However, we are protected from disaster by multiple levels of safety shields. For example, when x-rays and gamma radiation from the sun, the most deadly of solar output, collide with certain molecules high in the earths' atmosphere, the radiation energy is absorbed and broken down to a harmless level. In addition, ultraviolet radiation is stopped by the ozone layer twelve to eighteen miles above the earths' surface. High speed fragments of atoms, also called the solar wind, are deflected by the earths' magnetic field away from the most populated areas and toward the far north and south regions of the planet. The 93 million miles that separate us from the sun also serves to insulate us from harm. If the distance were any less, the raging solar inferno would entirely vaporize the earth in an instant. If the distance were any greater, we would literally be an ice planet. If the expanse of space between us and the sun were not a vacuum, the explosive sounds on its furious surface would deafen us. The multiple safety features provided by our Creator result in our safely enjoying the benefits of sunlight. The sun of course is only one star. There are actually over one hundred billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone. Beyond the Milky way there are other galaxies of all shapes and sizes. Around one hundred billion such galaxies are now known to exist. If we should take the Milky Way as an average galaxy, the approximate number of stars within the known universe is then ten sec-tillion. Ten sec-tillion is the numerical equal of 10²² (meaning ten to the twenty-second power), or, 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. New instruments continue to probe deeper into space with seemingly no end in sight. The actual number of stars is indeed infinite, yet, may be only one page in Gods' register of the heavens. What an excellent way for the Creator to manifest His glory! The Bible teaches us that God determines (created and knows) not only the number of stars (which scientists have been unable to number), but calls each individual star by name (Psalm 147:4).  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the seas. Oh LORD, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth. (Psalm 8:3-9)
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