Post by Bobby Kintanar on Nov 4, 2010 5:25:58 GMT
Dear Friends and Birdnuts.
Before reading this short message, I beg your forgiveness for the rather"holier than thou" attitude this article might engender in your thoughts - that is not what this is all about. My friends, this is a wake-up call and a reality check for all of us, nothing more.
As the Christmas season approaches, I just feel the need to communicate a concern that has been nagging at me since the inception and subsequent healthy growth of this forum. To wit:
1. Most of us have spent horrendous amounts of money on camera bodies, lenses, accessories and such, in our quest to come up with better and better photos of our avian subjects - not to mention the time, effort and resources we spend to go to birding sites.
1.1 Have we ever considered Christ's message to share what we have
with the less fortunate? As we spent and splurged on our passionate
pursuit for excellence, did we take a portion of our extra income to
help out a neighbor, a friend or even a complete stranger with their
daily need to survive, or were we quick to deny their pleas for help
even if we did have the resources to alleviate their situation?
1.2 Are we building up treasures in heaven while we exist here on
earth? Or are we just wasting time and resources on a vain pursuit
of personal glory and satisfaction without regards to Christ's
message of "feeding His sheep and His lambs?"
2. It is now not just a passion, but an obsession to some birdnuts.
2.1 As this thread is addressed to the Christian brethren, have you
realized that most of your time is spent on birding activities and
little time for anything else? Has the pursuit of Christ been replaced
by the pursuit of a "lifer" in your heart? Have we made an IDOL
of this hobby, rather than making it an avenue for increasing our
appreciation of the Creator, rather than the creation?
These are the two important points that I would like to share with you. Please do not think me a religious fanatic for putting this down on electronic paper for you to read and perhaps be convicted. I have done this out of love and concern for all my fellow birdnuts who claim to be Christians, but may have somehow lost their way. Consider this a "Watchman's Call" - lest He comes "like a thief in the night" and find us asleep.
All the best to you,
Bobby K.
Before reading this short message, I beg your forgiveness for the rather"holier than thou" attitude this article might engender in your thoughts - that is not what this is all about. My friends, this is a wake-up call and a reality check for all of us, nothing more.
As the Christmas season approaches, I just feel the need to communicate a concern that has been nagging at me since the inception and subsequent healthy growth of this forum. To wit:
1. Most of us have spent horrendous amounts of money on camera bodies, lenses, accessories and such, in our quest to come up with better and better photos of our avian subjects - not to mention the time, effort and resources we spend to go to birding sites.
1.1 Have we ever considered Christ's message to share what we have
with the less fortunate? As we spent and splurged on our passionate
pursuit for excellence, did we take a portion of our extra income to
help out a neighbor, a friend or even a complete stranger with their
daily need to survive, or were we quick to deny their pleas for help
even if we did have the resources to alleviate their situation?
1.2 Are we building up treasures in heaven while we exist here on
earth? Or are we just wasting time and resources on a vain pursuit
of personal glory and satisfaction without regards to Christ's
message of "feeding His sheep and His lambs?"
2. It is now not just a passion, but an obsession to some birdnuts.
2.1 As this thread is addressed to the Christian brethren, have you
realized that most of your time is spent on birding activities and
little time for anything else? Has the pursuit of Christ been replaced
by the pursuit of a "lifer" in your heart? Have we made an IDOL
of this hobby, rather than making it an avenue for increasing our
appreciation of the Creator, rather than the creation?
These are the two important points that I would like to share with you. Please do not think me a religious fanatic for putting this down on electronic paper for you to read and perhaps be convicted. I have done this out of love and concern for all my fellow birdnuts who claim to be Christians, but may have somehow lost their way. Consider this a "Watchman's Call" - lest He comes "like a thief in the night" and find us asleep.
All the best to you,
Bobby K.
