Almost a year?!

     The first post of 2013! Haha...I think it's a little late to mention "new year's resolutions". Nevermind those. I have been to a few places this year, did some photography, and am still honing my skills on astrophotography. So in good fashion, the first post of (late) 2013 will be of a re-shoot of the Andromeda Galaxy, which is located about 2.5 million light years from Earth. I am amazed at how far technology has come and that it has allowed us a glimpse of the heavens that previous generations before us never had the honor to experience.


 

Orion Nebula-M42

The constellation Orion has some very cool objects located in it. The Horsehead Nebula and M42, which is also called Orion's Nebula. I couldn't image the Horsehead because my guiding hasn't been figured out yet and my exposures were limited to about...1 minute. That object requires alot more time so I went for M42 instead. There is alot more data to be captured, but for the first attempt on this object, it turned out better than I expected!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abortion 180

This video has been out for a little while now. It's called "180". It's a short video on the Holocaust and Abortion. They make some very strong relations between the two. I highly recommend that everyone watches this. That's all I will say for now,later on down the road I will make a post about my thoughts on abortion. Watch the video!

Recent Astrophotos

These turned out not to bad for being unguided shots! From top to bottom: Andromeda Galaxy, Whirlpool Galaxy, Trifid and Lagoon Nebula. I can't wait to get back to the states and go shooting some more. Sooner than later, I'm going to make a time lapse, so...keep an eye out!

The Lagoon Nebula

So, I know all my followers of this blog have been waiting for this, a deep sky photo! All of...or maybe one of you (or am I the only?) haha. This hobby is by no means easy, but is rewarding once you get some decent results you are looking for. Last night my mom and I went out and did some night sky viewing and photography. It was one of the best looking night skies I have ever seen, my breath was taken away. The Milky Way stretched all the way from the north east to the south west. My words won't do it justice but...it was absolutley amazing. I've never seen such detail! A little over 30 miles away from city lights, we set-up next to an observatory. I can see why they set up there, haha. It took about 30-45 minutes to get everything set up, aligned and ready to go. By that time, the stars were out and I was itching to get started!

We did some viewing first, the views provided were very very nice, crisp and clear. Staring into the heavens we spotted M13 the Hercules cluster, the Lagoon nebula, the Trifid nebula, the Swan nebula, Helix nebula, M51, Bode's nebula, the Veil nebula, Wild Duck cluster, Andromeda galaxy, and a variety of other spectacular objects. I was like a kid opening presents on Christmas day, literally, I was jumping around in excitement! I tried my hand once again at imaging, going for the Lagoon nebula first (and only picture I got that night that turned out). So here it is, 5x1min exposures at ISO 1000 and 2x30sec at ISO800 stacked in DeepSkyStacker and stretched in CS5.

God is simply awesome and His majesty is revealed in His creation.

TED

I commented on a Yahoo article about this movie "TED". Here is what I said:

"I've watched plenty of commercials/previews for this movie TED. And from what I saw, I was disgusted, utterly disgusted at the immature humor this movie has to offer. I can't believe people actually laugh at this stuff...Being only 24 years old, it's sad that I can recognize the dumbing down and immaturity of americans through stupid devices such as Macfarlane's retarded humor. It's time to grow up people...seriously, cut this crap."

I may be young, and still immature at times...but things like this raise my blood pressure. I used to laugh at things like this, back in middle school and high school, but ever since being saved, I can't even bring myself to smile at this junk...it's utterly repulsive to me.

These comments I received prove my point:

"Hahahah aww you mad your parents abandoned you when you were little and you grew up all alone with no friends? Sucks to suck!"

"Hold on now, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but Blue25... has to be the greatest troll out there."

"blue25 was to busy bluing number 26 to even watch the movie"

"Uh oh!! We got one of those guys who thinks they are superior to everyone else! You just go in your corner and be miserable,we'll watch Ted again and laugh!"

"Blue25 is a registered sociopath"

"I bet Blue25 watches Jersey Shore"

"If you truly are a 24 year old that is actually disgusted by this movie, you are not a man. FACT! Men don't whine and especially don't whine about a movie like Ted. Don us all a favor and move to France."

I find it extremely sad that people can laugh at such garbage. I can forsee Americans becoming like those in the movie "Idiocracy". Movies such as TED and many others like it, using sexual perversion, constant cursing, blasphemy, drugs and violence, produce in people even more ungodliness. If a Christian were to watch a movie like this and laugh? Well, I couldn't imagine one would...I am very well aware a person does not have to go out and watch these types of movies and I'm not trying to come across as "holier than you" because I'm pretty sure some of the movies I've seen and that I like, could also fit in a category that would be deemed unacceptable. But there's that sanctification process that should be taking place, where if you were to watch a movie and it troubles you as to where it wouldn't have before you were saved. I guess one thing to keep in mind, as I, being the foremost person who should be keeping this advice, is to think about what it is you are doing and watching, and then asking yourself," Would I do this before God?"

Persecution

   I read an article today on the Christian News website and it was about an Arizona preacher who is facing possible jail time for holding a private worship meetings in his own place. Aside from the obvious fact that this once great country of America is falling to it's knees, our freedoms are going with it. Persecution of Christians are on the rise. Now, it's no where near the persecution of Christians in other countries such as Romania, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Africa, but when we take a glance at their governments, (or lack thereof) it is very reminiscient of what ours is starting to become (without going into politics, which is one of my weaker areas, but it's kind of hard not to notice when you are falling off a cliff). With that, the tolerance towards Christians vanishes. America is the last great country where freedom of religion still reigns, but like I said for the Christians, who are singled out, our freedoms are going away. I'm sure if this Arizona preacher was that of Islamic faith, everything would be just fine and dandy. It's sad when people can hold giant superbowl parties and make tons of noise, getting drunk off their butts, but when your holding a Christian meeting in your house, on your own property, you get thrown in jail. Please Pray for this brother and his family, they have done nothing wrong.

   I suggest picking up the book, "Foxe's Book of Martyrs", one can catch a glimpse on what persecution was like throughout the ages. Even today we see these types of persecutions, tortures, imprisonment, beatings, beheadings, burnings...of course you don't hear this kind of stuff on the news, but biblical prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. When this persecution comes to America, and I promise you it will, the goats will be seperated from the sheep.

The apostle Paul warned us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12.

Jesus Christ said,"If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

   We need to stay strong and pray for those who are enduring these tough times. Pray for God to keep the church strong and for brave men and women to stand up for what's right and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are actively being persecuted, keep Philippians 3:8-10 in mind,"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faiththat I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." Praise God for He is good.


Here is the article for the story and a link from Gotquestions about persecution:

http://christiannews.net/arizona-preacher-facing-jail-time-for-holding-home-worship-meetings/

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-persecution.html