Benchmark

Like the iron pipes driven into the ground to mark property boundaries, these benchmarks (a.k.a. azimuth marks) can be easy to overlook, even if you know where they are supposed to be.  But once found, they mark with certainty the latitude and longitude of their location.  A true "you are here" reference point!

This one is on Deer Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park and without knowing much about them, I took this photo as we enjoyed a lunch break at the summit.  I was struggling to figure out the arrow which I just knew had to point north.  But which I also knew could not be true unless my map reading skills had completely left me AND the sun had taken to rising somewhere other than in the east.  It turns out that the azimuth arrow's job is to point to a "triangulation station".  And from that you can determine true north (not magnetic north, mind you) in order to orient your surveying project.

Leaves me pondering the "remove not the ancient landmark" and "follow me as I follow Christ" scriptures.  And the "laboring in doctrine" and "searching the scriptures" ones.   I'm thankful for the whole counsel of the Word and a "cloud of witnesses".

Essentials

This one is for my fellow flying fans. The above cockpit instrument cluster provides the most basic information essential for flight.  It has fewer gauges than a Cessna 172 shot from a similar angle. Any guesses as to "make and model" of the airplane pictured? Note: to the observant there are a couple of indications that make it clear this is not a single-engine four-seater; partial credit for identifying them.

More importantly, do you know the essentials of the gospel?  Paul stated it very simply in I Cor. 15:3-4: 1) Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, 2) He was buried, and 3) He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

So, while there is much we can and should learn from the Bible, we'd do well to adopt Paul's credo: "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (I Cor. 2:2).