I (John) just let out a deep sigh. That we even need to explain how beauty is so absolutely essential to God only shows how dull we have grown to him, to the world in which we live, and to Eve. Far too many years of our own spiritual lives were lived with barely a nod to beauty, to the central role that beauty plays in the life of God, and in our own lives. How could we have missed this?
Beauty is essential to God. No-that's not putting it strongly enough. Beauty is the essence of God.
The first way we know this is through nature, the world God has given us. Scripture says that the created world is filled with the glory of God (Isa. 6:3). In what way? Primarily through its beauty. We had a wet spring here in Colorado, and the wildflowers are coming up everywhere-lupine and wild iris and Shasta daisy and a dozen others. The aspens have their heart-shaped leaves again, trembling in the slightest breeze. Massive thunderclouds are rolling in, bringing with them the glorious sunsets they magnify. The earth in summer is brimming with beauty, beauty of such magnificence and variety and unembarrassed lavishness, ripe beauty, lush beauty, beauty given to us with such generosity and abundance it is almost scandalous.
Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful. Stop for a moment and let that sink in. We're so used to evaluating everything (and everyone) by their usefulness, this thought will take a minute or two to dawn on us. Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful. Which is to say, beauty is in and of itself a great and glorious good, something we need in large and daily doses (for our God has seen fit to arrange for this). Nature at the height of its glory shouts, Beauty is essential! revealing that Beauty is the essence of God. The whole world is full of his glory.
(Captivating , pg 23-24, John Eldredge)
http://www.ransomedheart.com/more_dailyreading.aspx
The photo up top is from Chad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelta_d%27Archei These natural springs that used to flow into rivers and still have crocodiles. Eastern central and north Chad has some of the most interesting arches in the world. http://www.naturalarches.org/gallery-ChadPortfolio.htm Take time to watch the 12 minute video. Very well made recording of an adventure. God put some incredible beauty out in the middle of ??? for who to see??? I think He enjoys it Himself!
Population:9,657,000
Capital:N'Djamena; 797,000
Area:1,284,000 square kilometers (495,755 square miles)
Language:French, Arabic, Sara, Sango, more than 120 different languages and dialects
Religion: Muslim, Christian, animist
Currency:CFA franc
Life Expectancy:49
GDP per Capita:U.S. $1,000
Literacy Percent:48Chad Facts Flag
Landlocked nation in north central Africa, Chad consists of fertile lowlands in the south but is arid in the center and largely desert in the north. Since independence from France in 1960, Chad has suffered instability stemming mostly from tension between the African-Christian south and the Arab-Muslim north and east. A border dispute with Libya over the Aozou Strip went to the United Nation's International Court of Justice for arbitration; in 1994 the court ruled in favor of Chad. One of Africa's poorest countries, the start of large-scale oil production in 2004 helps the economy.
ECONOMY
•Industry: Oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate)
•Agriculture: Cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts; cattle
•Exports: Cotton, cattle, gum arabic
.—Text From National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition
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