Spring is definitely here - and out here it brings its own special set of problems. This season is dry and getting hotter all the time. Out here in the 'bush' (country area to all you northerners!) there is a big problem with bush-fires. We need to control-burn regularly. Our native 'gum' trees don't die with fire, but a big fire through the bush is impossible to control and very frightening. Every little district has its own bush-fire brigade staffed by volunteers who are residents in the district. As well, each land owner is expected to keep his/her property regularly burnt - controlled of course. We only have about an acre and a half of bush - but that's quite enough to keep clean! And I have been doing several good burns over the last few days. Its done now but only just in time as the summer fire ban has gone on today - very early! That means no more fires without a permit - and there are HUGE fines.
The scientists say that the Australian landscape/environment developed as it is today because of fire. We have a number of trees and plants that only germinate after fire has gone through - the seeds actually need that kind of heat to burst out of their casings. (Although there are ways to 'trick' them in the kitchen!)
I'd like to think that there will be a little part of the earth made new that will look a little like the Australian bush - but I do wonder how the Lord will achieve that. The natural world is wonderful but it is hard for us to imagine without all these detrimental things that we are so used to.
May His coming be soon!

Mikk, Surely all of the plants and animals we now know of will be in the New Earth. After all, God created every one of them in the beginning! Since sin entered this world, they adapted to survive the environmental changes it caused. Once God makes the earth anew for us, they will certainly be here just as they were before sin cursed our world, wouldn't you think?

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The Lord is the strength of my life and my portion forever.

Mikk, yesterday at church we were priveledged to see the very 1st Australiasian News downloaded from the satelite. In it there were clips of the Australian outback. It was wonderful to see, as it is so different from here in NZ, and reminded me of our trip last December. Yes, I loved the Australian bush, loved walking through it, just as I love our own NZ bush. In heaven, no doubt, we will have all the different kinds that there are in the world, and we won't need a bush fire to regenerate them! I always feel sorry when I hear that there is a fire over there, I think of all the animals trapped. Our children always loved that story of Skippy the Kangaroo.

Zita

Sorry I didn't answer you right away, but I have been away for the week giving a friend some help in her little one teacher school.
The reason for the control burning is so that it DOESN'T get so hot or so big that the animals can't escape. That's why it takes extra time and effort to do it properly. I had trouble even keeping it going this year - it was quite wet underneath - but of course that's no guarantee that it won't dry out during the summer and become a real hazard.
Great that the Aussie news came down on the satelite last week. I missed it unfortunately. I marvel at how God can use all the technology. Don't know if you remember years ago in NZ we couldn't get any of our programs on radio. (I don't know what its like now!?) My family were living up the far north of the north island of NZ and when the atmospheric conditions were right across the Tasman Sea we could hear HMS Richards speaking from a station in Newcastle, NSW. I thought that was wonderful!
btw I did lots of bush walking in the north island as a child. Loved it! BUT heaven will be even better! Can't wait for it!

Cathy - I put a reply up to Zita last evening - and its still not visible. Is it just my browser or does it not appear on yours either? I'll rewrite if necessary.
Thanks
mikk

I can read your reply ok Mikk and yes there is something special about the NZ bush walks.
I was brought up in the bush, as my father cut tee tree for a living, and Mum would help him, so I got to exploring the bush every day.Today it holds a very special place in my heart, and I find it very rewarding to just sit meditate and pray.

Zita

Nice to see some posts here again. I have some great memories of walks we did in NZ when I was a child. One of the hardest but most interesting was up to the Ketatahu Springs (I'm not at all sure of the spelling after all these years!) on the side of Mount Tongariro. That was a really tough one - we had several tries to get right up to the springs - once we children just got too tired and once the mist came down on the mountain and Dad decided to get us down fast! I remember the fun of running down!
Another fun treck was out to the gannets at Cape Kidnappers out from Hastings. And NOW I hear that there are vehicles to take you out there! How things change!
I hope that SOMETIME I might get back to NZ to see some of the things I remember.

Mikk, I guess if you managed to get back you would be amazed at the changes here!
there is nothing like going back home and seeing the progress.
Here in canterbury, the walking tracks are just mushrooming, and the mountain bike tracks are springing up everywhere, until we get a storm which drops the pine trees on the tracks.
Wonderful memories shared here. Yes,Cape Kidnappers - great place, got to keep up with the tourists who haven't time to walk anywhere.

Joy and Peace
Zita