Thomas Trock

Mountain Cathedrals: The Outdoors From a Different Perspective

Moon Stars Sky

Clouds I – The Dust of His Feet

The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. … The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. – Nahum 1:3, 5 NIV From a scientific aspect, clouds are collections of small ice crystals and/or tiny water droplets. Because these droplets are so small, they can in fact float in the air. The actual formation of a cloud …

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Sunset Over the Mountains

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10 There is more than one reason we see vivid colors in a sunset or sunrise. The sun’s light must pass through a greater thickness of the atmosphere when the sun is low on the horizon vs when it is overhead. During a sunset, such as the one pictured above, light from the sun is dispersed or scattered in the earth’s atmosphere. The shorter wavelengths of light – found in blue and violet colors – are …

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Northern Lights II

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers–the moon and the stars you set in place– what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? – Psalm 8:3-4 NLT The heavens declare His righteousness, And all the peoples see His glory. … Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart. – Psalm 97:6, 11 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared …

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The Big Dipper and the North Star

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. – Psalm 32:8 NLT For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. – Psalm 48:14 NIV The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. – Isaiah 58:11 NLT ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not …

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Northern Lights I

Photo by Julia G But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. – Psalm 19:1-2 Northern lights (aurora borealis) are a sight to behold. They can vary in color and intensity on any given night. Usually seen in Alaska and other places in the north, in 1859, these lights …

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Full Moon and the Ridge Saddle

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” – Luke 12:40 NLT So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. – Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. – Psalm 90:12 NLT On an early summer morning walkabout, Cosmos the Wonderdog and I were alone on a trail near our home. As I glanced up at a mountain on the other …

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Night Sky

Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. – Psalm 123:1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains–where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2 NIV Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? – Psalm 113:5-6 NIV Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. …

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Sunrise Over the Mountains

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20 NLT Not too long ago I chatted with someone who told me he did not believe there is a God. I appreciated his honesty. So, I asked him what he thinks when he looks outside …

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Comet

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26 NIV In July of 2020, many in the northern hemisphere were treated to a sighting of the comet Neowise. Comets are made up of dust, rock, and ice. According to NASA, when this comet was near the earth, it was about three miles wide as it spewed its tail of visible gasses for …

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Lunar Eclipse

And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall …

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Eclipse

I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Acts 2:19-21 I find it interesting that an eclipse could bring so many people together – close together – in peace and harmony. People of different races and beliefs, standing in awe of something the Lord orchestrated in …

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Peace

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:19-21 Peace seems to be a pretty evasive thing for a lot of people …

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God is Not Fair

  Blood moon over the Pacific Ocean The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. Acts 2:20      I heard this statement recently as someone spoke about God and His mercy: “God is not fair”. I had to think about that a bit, and I after pondering it a while, I think the person was right.      I have read in the Bible where God said that everyone has sinned. If I’m honest, I know I have. In addition, although I’ve travelled a …

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The Work of His Hands

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Psalm 19:1 NIV      Sometimes when I can drag myself out of a warm sleeping bag to view the coming day, the rewards are many. On this chilly September morning in the Rockies, the clouds swirled overhead for a brilliant display of creativity. I knew my camera wouldn’t be able to fully capture the experience, but I tried anyway. At least for a little while.      Mostly I just worshipped. I would have found it difficult not to.      To think that the God of …

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Wisdom Beyond Ourselves

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9      I’ve hiked this canyon a few dozen times over the years, but on this chilly morning I never saw it look quite like this. Wind swirled around us and tried to strip away what warmth we had. I drew my fingers back into fists inside my gloves to keep them from going numb.      I’d thought I’d had a good alternative plan before we left the house this morning. I figured that if it …

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