Bushfire at Warrumbungle National Park

Over the last couple of days a terrible, horrific bushfire has impacted on the Warrumbungle National Park, Siding Springs Observatory, 33 homes and numerous rural buildings near Coonabarabran in New South Wales, Australia. The bushfire is believed to have burnt out some 500 000 hectares and now has a fire front of over 100km in length.

Obviously the fire is a terrible tragedy for the people living in the region, as well as the natural wonder that is the Warrumbungle National Park. This fire was started by lightning strikes in a major heatwave currently being experienced in Australia. The tinder dry conditions and gale force hot winds have fanned the blaze and even now as I write, the bushfire is again threatening homes in the region and is expected to burn for weeks. 

The Warrumbungle National Park is one of my favourite places in Australia and I have visited the region many times. It is a sad and tragic disaster in more ways than one. 

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Quotation: Worship – Jeremiah Burroughs

‘All things in God’s worship must have a warrant out of God’s word, must be commanded; it is not enough that it is not forbidden, and what hurt is there in it? but it must be commanded – When we come to matters of religion, and the worship of God we must either have a command, or some-what out of God’s word, by some consequence drawn from some command, wherein God manifests his will; either a direct command, or by comparing one thing with another, or drawing consequences plainly from the words, we must have a warrant for the worship of God, &c. – When any creature is raised in a religious way above what it hath in it by nature, if I have not Scripture to warrant me, I am therein superstitious – we must be willing worshippers, but not will worshippers. You see how severe God was to Nadab and Abihu, for but taking other fire, than that which God appointed, to offer up incense, though there was no direct commandment against it, &c.’

‘In the matters of worship God stands upon little things; such things as seem to be very small and little to us, yet God stands much upon them in the matter of worship. For there is nothing wherein the prerogative of God doth more appear than in worship, as princes stand much upon their prerogatives – There are things in the worship of God that are not written in our hearts, that only depend upon the will of God revealed in his word; which were no duties except that they were revealed there. And these are of such a nature as we can see no reason for, but only this, because God will have them – Though men would think it a little matter, whether this fire or that fire, and will not this burn as well as that? but God stands upon it – When Uzzah did but touch the ark, when it was ready to fall, we would think it no great matter; but one touch of the ark cost him his life. There is not a Minim in the worship of God, but God stands mightily upon it – For a man to gather a few sticks on the Sabbath, what great matter was it? but God stands upon it. So when the men Bethshemesh did but look into the ark, it cost the lives of fifty thousand and seventy men, &c.’

Lagoonia

Today, after ending my 6 month break, I’m posting a link to a new game that I have come across called Lagoonia. Lagoonia is the new browser game from InnoGames. The game is set on a South Pacific Island following a plane crash. The player has control of up to 15 individuals in the game, with the focus being on survival and social interaction with other players. Various tasks are performed, such as building a fire, shelters and gathering food, etc.

Lagoonia is still in beta, so there are still bugs being sorted and it continues to be developed. There is an introductory video for the game, which follows, as well as a link to the game site.

http://en.lagoonia.com

BUSHFIRE SEASON HAS ARRIVED

On Friday I was visiting the Bulahdelah Cemetery in order to photograph headstones for my family history research. I decided to go up to Bulahdelah after work, it being only a short journey from Tea Gardens.

What I had noticed over the last week or so was that as the temperature had begun to rise so the number of bushfires and controlled burns had increased around the area dramatically. In fact, there have been quite a lot of bushfires burning around the area. Though this photo was taken on Friday, bushfires are continuing to burn around the place, driven by the very strong winds and dry conditions that currently exist. There is a massive fire burning over toward Nelson Bay by the look of it, as there are huge plumes of smoke in that direction.

This photo was taken from the Bulahdelah Cemetery toward Alum Mountain, where the fire was burning. The air throughout the area, from Tea Gardens to Bulahdelah, was full of smoke and there was a thick smoke haze. I wouldn’t say the air was choking, but every breath certainly had the taste of summer upon it.