Wednesday, April 27, 2005

From the page: "Curious. Jesus updated the Ten Commandments in his most famous speech, the Sermon on the Mount. In it, one finds the Eight Beatitudes. Why don't we ever hear about nailing those somewhere? Here's why: It's not simply the law in the Ten Commandments that attracts fundamentalists. Rather, it's the syntax. The authoritarianism of so many "Thou Shalt Nots."

The syntax of Jesus' Eight Beatitudes is not so easy (Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the peacemakers). These words invite the kind of hard questions that Jesus loved to tweak his followers with. How are they blessed? And why? It's just like Jesus to leave us with questions instead of answers."

Here is a link to my favorite book about the Sermon on the Mount

Fox explains in his book: "The Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world--whether it be the physical body, the common things of life, the winds and the rain, the clouds, the earth itself--is amenable to man's thought, and that he has dominion over it when he knows it."

Easy to say, hard to do.

Friday, March 04, 2005


These photos of our February 2005 vacation to South Island, New Zealand run in reverse order, the last picture is on top, and the first picture is on the bottom.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

All images © 2005, David F. Traver.

You can't go to New Zealand without seeing millions of these guys. Posted by Hello

Another random rose in Akaroa Posted by Hello

A random rose in Akaroa Posted by Hello

Another beautiful small garden in Akaroa Posted by Hello

A typical yard in Akaroa Posted by Hello

View from our hotel in Akaroa Posted by Hello

Monday, February 28, 2005


Dusky dolphins jumping all at once at Kaikoura. A hundred more were not in frame.

This must feel great

This one did 50 flips Posted by Hello

Dusky dolphins Posted by Hello

Sperm whales

Whale on the move Posted by Hello

A sperm whale making a rainbow Posted by Hello

View from the hotel Posted by Hello

Saturday, February 26, 2005


Elk seen on the way to Dunedin

When it rains, all the waterfalls turn on Posted by Hello

Returning from the Tasman sea Posted by Hello

In the morning Posted by Hello

The sound at dusk Posted by Hello

Friday, February 25, 2005


Milford Sound - overnight cruise Posted by Hello

On the way to Queenstown Posted by Hello

Many lakes Posted by Hello

Wednesday, February 23, 2005


Franz Josef Glacier. Receding so fast, the vegetation cannot keep up.
 Posted by Hello

At this point I am still a long walk from the face of the glacier. Posted by Hello

The Franz Josef Glacier. On local television they said it was "melting like a popsicle in the sun." Posted by Hello

On the footpath to the Franz Josef glacier Posted by Hello

Waimakariri River Posted by Hello