Daysprings of Glory

'Humanity is submerged in materialism'

2012-01-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

Humanity is submerged in materialism; occupied in everything save the mention of God; speaking of everything save the heavenly kingdom; hearing of everything save the call of God. ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ~ An iris at Filoli, San Mateo County, Calif., 2011. © Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Excerpt, Divine Philosophy, p. 56, © the Bahá'í International Community.

'O Son of Spirit'

2012-01-26T13:38:00.000-08:00

'So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth'

2012-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

Water lily photographed in the Pool of Enchantment at the de Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park in summer 2011. © Glenn Franco Simmons. All rights reserved. The photo has been severely reduced to facilitate fast Web loading and to discourage unauthorized use. Upon printing, this copy would be very blurry. Please click for a larger size (in most browsers).

'In the garden of thy heart, plant naught but the rose of love'

2012-01-24T16:27:00.000-08:00

Photo © Glenn Franco Simmons. Excerpt © Bahá'í International Community.

'Know thou of a truth'

2012-01-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

'The well-spoken word'

2012-01-22T14:31:00.000-08:00

'Free thyself from the fetters of this world'

2012-01-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

This rose's name is Secret and the photo was taken at Filoli in San Mateo County, Calif. 40. O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more. ~ Bahá'u'lláh ~ © Photo by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Excerpt, Bahá'u'lláh, The Persian Hidden Words, © the Bahá'í International Community.

'The object of my adoration'

2012-01-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

This dahlia was photographed in Golden Gate Park's Dahlia Garden next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose providence is my companion, Whose love is the cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace, Whose nearness is my desire, Whose

'The language of kindness'

2012-01-14T15:37:00.000-08:00

'Burn with loving kindness'

2012-01-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

This photo was taken at the Sunnyvale Community Center near the museum, in the courtyard in spring 2011. © Glenn Franco Simmons/The Flower Photographer. All Rights Reserved. Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone. Let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path. ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ~ © Photo by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Excerpt, Paris

'Plant not but the rose of love'

2012-01-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

'A new garden hath emerged'

2012-01-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

© Photo by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Excerpt, The Persian Hidden Words, © the Bahá'í International Community. Royal Amethyst, a fragrant rose, photographed at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. 18. O YE DWELLERS IN THE HIGHEST PARADISE! Proclaim unto the children of assurance that within the realms of holiness, nigh unto the celestial paradise, a new garden hath appeared, round which

'Thy Paradise is My love'

2012-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Dahlia photographed in Golden Gate Park next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

'Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-12-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Photographed in Golden Gate Park's Dahlia Garden next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

'Love is patient' ~ 1 Corinthians

2011-12-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Photographed at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. © Photo, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0, by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons.

'Spears into pruning hooks'

2011-12-28T11:34:00.001-08:00

I changed the purple letters at bottom to white to provide an easier read. The full gallery, featuring type in both white and purple is available in my Fragrant Flower Photography gallery titled "Swords into Plowshares." Photos are free. They cannot be used for commercial purposes.

'Drops of one sea' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-12-24T10:22:00.001-08:00

Click on photo to clearly see words. Photographed at the Golden Gate Park Dahlia Garden, next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. Focus is on the drop of water. By Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Photo remains copyrighted but is released under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. Here is an excerpt that provides a bit more context to the excerpt on the photo. "... May you be of those who have believed

Swords into Plowshares ~ Isaiah

2011-12-20T17:39:00.000-08:00

Photographed in Golden Gate Park's Dahlia Garden next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. This photo, and one without the phrase "If not now, then when," can be downloaded for free at my Fragrant Flower Photography Web site hosted by Photoshelter, a site used by amateur and professional photographers to store and sell their photos. However, mine are free, although donations are

'Blessed are they' ~ The Beatitudes

2011-12-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

Photo, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0, by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons Going to church as a child and reading The Bible, among much of what stayed with me the most was The Sermon on The Mount, including the promises I still believe in, The Beatitudes. This is my dahlia tribute to them, starting with Matthew 5:3,4.

'Close one eye' ~ Baha'u'llah, Persian Hidden Words

2011-12-19T17:09:00.003-08:00

Persian Hidden Word #12. Dahlia photographed in Golden Gate Park's Dahlia Garden next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flower by Glenn Franco Simmons.

'God is Love' In Many Languages

2011-12-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

"God is Love." Photographed at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Please click for full size. This photo will be available on Fragrant Flower Photography under "Quotes."

'Let deeds, not words be your adorning' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-12-17T16:51:00.001-08:00

Click for larger size. To allow for faster page-loading, this photo has been severely reduced. For the full size, please visit my Web site, Fragrant Flower Photography where you will find this and other Arabic Hidden Words. My photos are free, although I accept donations at Fragrant Flower Photography to help pay for costs. A brief exlanation of The Hidden Words by way of Bahaikipedia: “There

'Sanctify' ~ Baha'u'llah's Hidden Word 59

2011-12-16T14:46:00.001-08:00

Persian Hidden Word 3: 'In the garden of thy heart'

2011-12-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

Click for larger size. It's available on Photoshelter in the Persian Hidden Word Gallery for free downloads in all sizes.

'Two Visions'

2011-12-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

Please click for a larger size and sharper view. Will be placed on Fragrant Flower Photography in the Persian Hidden Words gallery soon. Commercial use prohibited. Printing is ok for noncommercial use.

'The Everlasting Beauty'

2011-12-13T10:52:00.000-08:00

Please click for larger size. Photo CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. Excerpt, The Persian Hidden Words, © the Bahá'í International Community.

'A Messenger of Joy'

2011-12-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

Photographed in Golden Gate Park in the Dahlia Dell next to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers.

Justice & Inequity

2011-12-11T14:15:00.001-08:00

Full-sized photos with Arabic Hidden Words on them are available at Fragrant Flower Photography's Arabic Hidden Words Gallery. Commercial use is prohibited.

Dear Dhaka Hackers

2011-12-10T11:47:00.001-08:00

Dear friends from Dhaka University in Bangladesh. Do you not have anything better to do than to hack? Shall I include all of your dedicated IPs and your IP ranges? Why don't you spend your time being more productive and peaceful and tolerant? Please be aware that your associates, if you have any, in the United Kingdom (in London on ISP Talk Talk), U.S.A., Canada (one IP in Toronto is a hacker)

Hackers Only Hurt Themselves

2011-12-09T10:45:00.001-08:00

Posted on WavesofOneSea as an explanation of missing archives. One of my Web sites, Waves of One Sea, is constantly being hacked by groups asserting their "devotion" to Islam, but their devotion is only to their own waywardness and how they besmirch the very name of what they purport to uphold. From "The Muslim Hackers" to "The Hackers Army" to "The Saudi Hacker" ~ from Al Mijifa, Al Kuwayt,

'No Captor Like Hatred' ~ Sayings of The Buddha

2011-12-01T16:11:00.001-08:00

Sayings of The Buddha ~ Free downloadable, full-sized images by Glenn Franco Simmons. Just click "Sayings of The Buddha" link.

'Be Content' ~ Arabic Hidden Word 18

2011-11-30T16:32:00.001-08:00

Click Arabic Hidden Word #18 to be linked to original image, which you may download for free on my Web site.

'Bestow My wealth upon My poor'

2011-11-25T07:50:00.001-08:00

Click Arabic Hidden Word 57 to be linked to original file, which is much sharper than this reduced version. All images on my Web site are free..

'With the hands of power'

2011-11-24T12:50:00.001-08:00

This photo is a low-resolution version of a full-digital version on my ad-free Web site, Fragrant Flower Photography. All my images are free, but they may not be used commercially without my written permission ~ especially because some contain copyrighted material that is not mine. Click Arabic Hidden Word 12 to be taken to the full-sized image. Add to your cart for free. The cart will show

'Give thanks unto the LORD'

2011-11-23T20:08:00.001-08:00

The full digital is available for free on Fragrant Flower Photography. This photo has been reduced considerably in terms of clarity. If you download this or other photos that I've taken, my only caveat is that it not be used commercially. There are no ads on my Web site, which is hosted by PhotoShelter. To download this image and others, it is easiest if you register for a free Photoshelter

'Love is patient, love is kind'

2011-11-23T11:08:00.001-08:00

I haven't yet posted this for download on Fragrant Flower Photography, but I will. It's my anniversary present to my lovely and beautiful wife Kathleen. Please click for a larger size. Because it has been severely reduced, check Fragrant Flower Photography a day or two after Thanksgiving 2011 to download it. The copyrighted photo may not be used for commercial use. Here is how it is licensed,

'Love is patient, love is kind'

2011-11-21T06:05:00.001-08:00

To see a larger image, click on this photo. This image is compressed and low resolution to enable quicker loading. To see and/or download this free image in full digital detail, visit Fragrant Flower Photography.

The Beatitudes

2011-11-20T12:09:00.001-08:00

A gallery for Bible excerpts has been started on Fragrant Flower Photography.

'To the eternal I call thee' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-11-19T08:10:00.001-08:00

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. The 71 Arabic Hidden Words are in one of my galleries and may be ordered for free in a variety of sizes, including original upload. The one featured above is compressed so it loads easier on my blog. Currently, they are on dahlias, but in the spring, I plan to add roses, daffodils, tulips, etc. Click Arabic Hidden

'Joyful tidings of reunion' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-11-18T20:40:00.001-08:00

Arabic Hidden Word 34. Please click at least two times for a larger size in most browsers. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

'O Son of Being!' ~ Arabic Hidden Word 12

2011-11-17T07:06:00.001-08:00

The link to a full gallery with all 71 Arabic Hidden Words is provided below. All the photos are free with one exception: Please do not use them for commercial use. Arabic Hidden Word Gallery (free photos) at Fragrant Flower Photography.

'O Son of Being: Make mention of Me on My earth'

2011-11-13T09:52:00.001-08:00

My photos with The Arabic Hidden Words on them are free at Fragrant Flower Photography (click link and it will take you to the FFP Arabic Hidden Words gallery.)

Magnificent Monarch Butterflies At Natural Bridges State Park In Santa Cruz & The Persian Hidden Words: An Exquisite Combination

2011-11-12T07:52:00.001-08:00

A Persian Hidden Word and Monarch butterflies: an exquisite combination. To view the free Persian Hidden Words album on my Fragrant Flower Photography Web site, click this link: Fragrant Flower Photographer/Free Persian Hidden Word Photos. To enable multiple downloads, join Photoshelter, which hosts my Web site, for free. It will be much easier to accomplish multiple-image downloads. I also

71 Arabic Hidden Words by Baha'u'llah

2011-11-11T16:58:00.001-08:00

Arabic Hidden Words (Free) ~ Free Images by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons.

No. 1 of The Arabic Hidden Words

2011-11-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

Click on the photo to be taken to the Flickr link where you may download one of a variety of sizes. The photo can be used for personal use but cannot be reused on the Web or used commercially.

Arabic Hidden Words Flower Photos Completed

2011-11-07T15:41:00.001-08:00

Arabic Hidden Words ~ Free images by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. I have completed all 71 of The Arabic Hidden Words. You can download all 71 if you desire. They cannot be used commercially.

Shrine of The Bab from lower terrace

2011-11-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

Shrine of The Bab at night

2011-10-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Shrine of The Báb from a terrace above it. The shrine, located on Israel's Mount Carmel, overlooks Haifa and Haifa Bay. Photo is copyrighted by the Bahá'í International Community. Please click on photo for a larger size.

Arabic Hidden Words With Flowers Nearly Finished

2011-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

Arabic Hidden Words - Images by Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons has completed 1-36, plus three others, of The Arabic Hidden Words.

The Arabic Hidden Words By Baha'u'llah ~ Free Photo Downloads On My Fragrant Flower Photography Web Site

2011-10-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

(Click here) Arabic Hidden Words - Images by (Click here) Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons

'Justice is My gift to thee' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

If you would like to download a much larger and full-resolution copy of this selection, please visit Fragrant Flower Photography, where you may download it for free. Just add it to your cart for a "charge" of $0.00, and you will be given a link at which you can download it. © 2011 Glenn Thomas Franco Simmons. All rights reserved. Internet and commercial re-uses are illegal without my written

'Put away the garment of vainglory' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-10-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Iran's Persecution of Baha's: What Happened To Never Again?

2011-10-25T15:56:00.001-07:00

'We created you all from the same dust' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-10-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

'Soar up on the wings of assistance' ~ Baha'u'llah

2011-10-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Iran's Repression Of The Baha'i Institute For Higher Education Continues As Draconian Sentences Enforced

2011-10-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

The persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran can be traced back to 1844 after The Báb ("The Gate," in Arabic) announced the imminent appearance of the Messenger of God ~ Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, as prophesied in the world's divine religions.* "Although Himself the bearer of an independent revelation from God, The Báb declared that His purpose was to prepare mankind for this advent," the

'The true lover yearneth for tribulation'

2011-10-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Although the inset on the photo says "buy," all of my Bahá'í-themed photos are free. However, to order them on my Web site, Fragrant Flower Photography, you have to go through a very short order process as you would if you purchased one of my non-Bahá'í-themed flower photos. No credit-card or Pay Pal information is necessary for the Bahá'í-themed photos. When you add the photo

Sun of Truth shines through the clouds

2011-10-22T20:04:00.001-07:00

Baha'is Throughout World Celebrate Birth of The Bab

2011-10-19T12:00:00.001-07:00

Shrine of The Bab © 2011 Marco Abrar/Bahaipictures.com. All rights reserved. The shrine is located on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It was recently restored and upgraded seismically. (Note: The following article explaining one of the Baha'i Faith's holy days, "The Birth of The Bab," is copyrighted by the Baha'is of the United States.) Inside, after retrofit. © BIC Slight edits regarding

Canadian Parliament considers The Persecution of Baha'is in Iran

2011-10-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

The seven Baha'i educators sentenced to prison are (top row, left to right): Mahmoud Badavam, Ramin Zibaie, Riaz Sobhani, Farhad Sedghi; (bottom row, left to right) Noushin Khadem, Kamran Mortezaie, and Vahid Mahmoudi. Photo © 2011 Baha'i International Community. Source: http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/411/Debates/017db_2011-10-05-e.htm#28 Source: Canadian Parliament 2011 No changes

The Bab Was Persecuted For Being The Promised Qaim

2011-10-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Shrine of The Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. Photo © by Marco Abrar/BahaiPictures.com Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad (Oct. 20, 1819 – July 9, 1850) was a Prophet and the Founder of the Bábí Faith. A 25-year-old merchant in what was then Shiraz, Persia (now Iran), He revealed himself to be the promised Qá'im (Mihdí). After His declaration, He adopted the title of Báb, which is Arabic for "Gate.

Deleted Photos & Posts

2011-10-06T13:28:00.001-07:00

Because of the potential for theft, I have had to delete most of my posts. I'll be adding the posts and stories back with photos that are lower resolutions. There were several thousand posts on my blogs, and I didn't have time to re-do each photo and replace them, so I started from scratch. My new flower photos are on the following Web site, where I will add the lower-resolution flower photos