A Pastoral Word. . . Unconceived Wonder
Pastor Kevin Freeman
January 9, 2025
Sometime last year, while surfing the web, I stumbled upon a “clickbait” article with an intriguing title about world wonders that have been discovered through Google Earth. People have used Google’s eye-in-the-sky viewing ability to find previously unknown wonders on earth. Here are some examples:
In Greenland, grainy images revealed two rivers in the far North. Sarah McNair-Landry, Erik Boomer, and Ben Stookesberry went on an expedition to find them. They kite-skied over 600 miles across the frozen land and then paddled the waters. These are the northernmost waters that people have paddled.
Film producer Sergio Neuspiller was in Argentina scouting new filming locations when he discovered the spinning island called “El Ojo.” This circular island sits in a slightly wider circular lake. A combination of wind, current, and methane gas in the water help the land float and spin.
The world’s largest natural arch was found with the help of Google Earth! Locals knew about this land bridge spanning the Buliu River in southern China, but Jay Wilbur led a team on a rafting trip to locate and measure the arch. It is nearly 400 feet long, over 100 feet longer than the previous record holder in Utah!
Google Earth has helped people discover a meteorite crater in Egypt, an entrance to a cave containing early human skeletons in South Africa, and a hidden rainforest in Mozambique. It’s humbling to think that, despite all we know about this incredible world, new wonders continue to amaze. Discoveries shift our own understanding and expectations.
Our life expectations can shift, too. Having entered 2025, we may think we know what to expect, but new wonders have yet to be experienced. Perhaps God has a new endeavor for you to undertake – one that will fill you with joy. Maybe this year’s events will leave you dazzled with God’s imaginative creativity. Are you looking forward to that?
Isaiah 64:3 describes God performing “awesome works that we did not expect.” Paul quotes a later verse in this chapter, writing, “What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
The same God at work among His people in ancient times is at work among us in 2025! Let’s look forward to what God will bring us. I encourage you to be ready to respond to God’s prompting this year. It could be an unconceived wonder that God is bringing you to increase your delight in Him.
Your partner in ministry,
Kevin Freeman
In Greenland, grainy images revealed two rivers in the far North. Sarah McNair-Landry, Erik Boomer, and Ben Stookesberry went on an expedition to find them. They kite-skied over 600 miles across the frozen land and then paddled the waters. These are the northernmost waters that people have paddled.
Film producer Sergio Neuspiller was in Argentina scouting new filming locations when he discovered the spinning island called “El Ojo.” This circular island sits in a slightly wider circular lake. A combination of wind, current, and methane gas in the water help the land float and spin.
The world’s largest natural arch was found with the help of Google Earth! Locals knew about this land bridge spanning the Buliu River in southern China, but Jay Wilbur led a team on a rafting trip to locate and measure the arch. It is nearly 400 feet long, over 100 feet longer than the previous record holder in Utah!
Google Earth has helped people discover a meteorite crater in Egypt, an entrance to a cave containing early human skeletons in South Africa, and a hidden rainforest in Mozambique. It’s humbling to think that, despite all we know about this incredible world, new wonders continue to amaze. Discoveries shift our own understanding and expectations.
Our life expectations can shift, too. Having entered 2025, we may think we know what to expect, but new wonders have yet to be experienced. Perhaps God has a new endeavor for you to undertake – one that will fill you with joy. Maybe this year’s events will leave you dazzled with God’s imaginative creativity. Are you looking forward to that?
Isaiah 64:3 describes God performing “awesome works that we did not expect.” Paul quotes a later verse in this chapter, writing, “What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
The same God at work among His people in ancient times is at work among us in 2025! Let’s look forward to what God will bring us. I encourage you to be ready to respond to God’s prompting this year. It could be an unconceived wonder that God is bringing you to increase your delight in Him.
Your partner in ministry,
Kevin Freeman
Source: https://golfvertex.com/7-incredible-world-wonders-discovered-on-google-earth/
Image source: https://vcptravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1655743017_502_The-Eye-Argentinas-Mysterious-Circular-Island.jpg
Image source: https://vcptravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/1655743017_502_The-Eye-Argentinas-Mysterious-Circular-Island.jpg
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