Seen in the garden recently. I was very pleased with how this photo came out as they are not very big. This is called an Aomon-itotonbo, it's scientific name is Ischnura senegalensis.
Click on the photo to see it enlarged.
14 July 2010
Itotonbo - Damselfly - アオモンイトトンボ - Aomon-ittonbo
Seen in the garden recently. I was very pleased with how this photo came out as they are not very big. This is called an Aomon-itotonbo, it's scientific name is Ischnura senegalensis.
Click on the photo to see it enlarged.
In the Garden
We have a little garden here in Japan, which we haven't done very much in. It was quite over grown when we moved in, but we did do quite a bit of weeding, but have not made a lot of impression on it. However, Mr. Nakanishi took it upon himself to be our gardener, and did work on it when he came down for Church services from Nobeoka each week. He grew vegetables in the main, although there were flowers from time to time as well.
This was one June day a couple of years ago. In the photo on the left is an orange tree. A fig tree is next to it. Then to the right is a camellia bush.
Now Hironori is working in the garden a little, and is growing some Japanese radishes (Daikon), and some beans.
The organge tree, not the usual oranges, but more like a natsu mikan, which is closer to a grapefruit in it's taste a little, had lots of flower buds, and we were hopeful for a lot more fruit this year, but the fruit which initially began to develop has dropped, so there is very little on the tree at the moment. Will have to see how many we get when they ripen. The kinkan (kimquat}tree is a mass of bloom at the moment, so that could be good news for those that like these little round orange coloured fruit.
The other plants that have done well this year are the mombresia, which seems to have spread a lot this year. Also the melastoma (Nobotan in Japanese) plant that we got from Michelle from Australia when she was here, has really developed into quite a big bush, in spite of having been cut back last year. It should flower well when the blooms appear.
This was one June day a couple of years ago. In the photo on the left is an orange tree. A fig tree is next to it. Then to the right is a camellia bush.
Now Hironori is working in the garden a little, and is growing some Japanese radishes (Daikon), and some beans.
The organge tree, not the usual oranges, but more like a natsu mikan, which is closer to a grapefruit in it's taste a little, had lots of flower buds, and we were hopeful for a lot more fruit this year, but the fruit which initially began to develop has dropped, so there is very little on the tree at the moment. Will have to see how many we get when they ripen. The kinkan (kimquat}tree is a mass of bloom at the moment, so that could be good news for those that like these little round orange coloured fruit.
The other plants that have done well this year are the mombresia, which seems to have spread a lot this year. Also the melastoma (Nobotan in Japanese) plant that we got from Michelle from Australia when she was here, has really developed into quite a big bush, in spite of having been cut back last year. It should flower well when the blooms appear.
08 July 2010
New Photos added to my Flickr collection
A new photo that I added recently from one of our walks in Heiwadai Park here in Miyazaki. To see more photos click on the photo:
The scientific name for this butterfly is: Arhopala genesa
It's Japanese name is: Ru-misu-shijimi ルーミスシジミ
The scientific name for this butterfly is: Arhopala genesa
It's Japanese name is: Ru-misu-shijimi ルーミスシジミ
Freedom in Christ – Part 2
In a previous blog when I considered this subject, I was asking for some thoughts and comments on how freedom in Christ worked in our lives, and in what sort of situations we could see it in practice. Some further preliminary thoughts have come to mind since then.
Someone did suggest that we really need to begin by asking what we mean by freedom. That, I suggest, is really the answer I am looking for, because if we can understand what freedom in Christ is, then we will be able to more readily know when we are experiencing it in our lives.
Last time I mentioned Rom.7 where we saw Paul’s struggle to live a good life in his own strength, only to find that there was a power at work in his life that was preventing him from doing what he knew to be right and instead doing what he didn’t want to do. He did not feel free at all and would have defined his position as a slave of sin. He says that Christ has set him free from that master and power, and so he is now able to live in a freedom that enables him and gives him a power, to do what is right and not do what is wrong.
One thing that did come up last time that would form part of a definition of this freedom in Christ is Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Our freedom, according to this verse is based on a choice. We choose to live in a certain way, and that freedom in Christ does not allow us to live according to the sinful or selfish nature that we still have resident within and with which the Holy Spirit is continually in conflict with (Gal.5:17). This freedom is not a disregard of rules and standards, doing as we please, but is rather a way of life characterized by love. It is putting others in a position of importance rather than ourselves (cf. Phil.2:3). Of course, we cannot live this kind of life in our own strength. We need the Spirit of God in our lives.
The Lord Jesus also referred to being free in John 8:31-32. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Here a different concept seems to be presented to us. Knowing the truth will set us free. The context makes it clear that it will be freedom from sin. The disciple who is holding the teaching, that is, treating it with respect and obeying it will know deliverance from sin. The reason the disciple will be able to experience this freedom is because he has been delivered from slavery to sin, by being set free by the Son. But more is implied in verses 34-36 than just deliverance from slavery. Sonship is the position that the disciple now has. A slave has no permanent place in the home, but a son’s rights in the home are forever. Christ’s act of setting us free has brought us into the family of God. The Life Application Commentary on this passage sums it up well:
Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. It manifests itself in self-centeredness, rebelliousness, possessiveness, dysfunctional love, and addictive behaviours. Jesus can free us from this slavery that keeps us from becoming the person God created us to be. Even if sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving us, Jesus can break its power over our life. Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free (8:36). He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from the consequences of sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus' perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be. (from The Life Application Commentary Series Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
So to sum up these thoughts, we can define this freedom negatively by saying that freedom in Christ is being set free from the slavery that keeps us from becoming the person God created us to be. Positively, we can say that with our sins forgiven, and our consciences cleansed, we can now say ‘No’ to sin and temptation and choose to follow the way of truth in Christ. This is no longer a bondage, because our lives are now governed by the love of God within. To love God and our neighbour is not a burden, because love always has the good of the other at heart.
Someone did suggest that we really need to begin by asking what we mean by freedom. That, I suggest, is really the answer I am looking for, because if we can understand what freedom in Christ is, then we will be able to more readily know when we are experiencing it in our lives.
Last time I mentioned Rom.7 where we saw Paul’s struggle to live a good life in his own strength, only to find that there was a power at work in his life that was preventing him from doing what he knew to be right and instead doing what he didn’t want to do. He did not feel free at all and would have defined his position as a slave of sin. He says that Christ has set him free from that master and power, and so he is now able to live in a freedom that enables him and gives him a power, to do what is right and not do what is wrong.
One thing that did come up last time that would form part of a definition of this freedom in Christ is Galatians 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. Our freedom, according to this verse is based on a choice. We choose to live in a certain way, and that freedom in Christ does not allow us to live according to the sinful or selfish nature that we still have resident within and with which the Holy Spirit is continually in conflict with (Gal.5:17). This freedom is not a disregard of rules and standards, doing as we please, but is rather a way of life characterized by love. It is putting others in a position of importance rather than ourselves (cf. Phil.2:3). Of course, we cannot live this kind of life in our own strength. We need the Spirit of God in our lives.
The Lord Jesus also referred to being free in John 8:31-32. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Here a different concept seems to be presented to us. Knowing the truth will set us free. The context makes it clear that it will be freedom from sin. The disciple who is holding the teaching, that is, treating it with respect and obeying it will know deliverance from sin. The reason the disciple will be able to experience this freedom is because he has been delivered from slavery to sin, by being set free by the Son. But more is implied in verses 34-36 than just deliverance from slavery. Sonship is the position that the disciple now has. A slave has no permanent place in the home, but a son’s rights in the home are forever. Christ’s act of setting us free has brought us into the family of God. The Life Application Commentary on this passage sums it up well:
Sin has a way of enslaving us, controlling us, dominating us, and dictating our actions. It manifests itself in self-centeredness, rebelliousness, possessiveness, dysfunctional love, and addictive behaviours. Jesus can free us from this slavery that keeps us from becoming the person God created us to be. Even if sin is restraining, mastering, or enslaving us, Jesus can break its power over our life. Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free (8:36). He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from the consequences of sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. He shows us clearly the way to eternal life with God. Thus Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus' perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be. (from The Life Application Commentary Series Copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
So to sum up these thoughts, we can define this freedom negatively by saying that freedom in Christ is being set free from the slavery that keeps us from becoming the person God created us to be. Positively, we can say that with our sins forgiven, and our consciences cleansed, we can now say ‘No’ to sin and temptation and choose to follow the way of truth in Christ. This is no longer a bondage, because our lives are now governed by the love of God within. To love God and our neighbour is not a burden, because love always has the good of the other at heart.
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