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win |win|
verb ( winning ; past and past part. won |wən; wän|) [ trans. ]
1 be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict) : the Mets have won four games in a row | [ intrans. ] a determination to win | [with complement ] the Pirates won 2–1.
2 acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor : there are hundreds of prizes to be won | [with two objs. ] the sort of play that won them the World Cup.
• gain (a person’s attention, support, or love), typically gradually or by effort : you will find it difficult to win back their attention.
• ( win someone over) gain the support or favor of someone by action or persuasion : her sense of humor had won him over at once.
• [ intrans. ] ( win out) manage to succeed or achieve something by effort : talent won out over bureaucracy.

The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, The UConn Huskies won the NCAA Basketball National Champions hip. Auburn won the National Championship in College Football. Today I will listen to announcers pontificate all day long about who will win the Masters. On TV last night I saw clips of a wild eyed Charlie Sheen proclaiming he was “Winning, Winning!”

Is any of this really winning? By the strict dictionary definition above, it is. So reading the definition carefully, should winning be our obsession? In a game or a contest, it probably should be, but what about our lives. Jesus prescription for our lives what very different than a sports analogy.

Christ taught us to put others before ourselves, to turn the other cheek, to forgive those that sinned against us, all pretty foreign concepts to “the world”. He said no greater sacrifice can be made than to lay down your life for your brother. Jesus said to not forget those in prison, or the widows, or the children. He said if someone asks for your coat, give him your shirt also. When asked by Peter if you should forgive seven times?, Jesus said, “No, seventy times seven.” Even after being beaten, and accused of crimes he did not commit, while hanging on the cross, he said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” I know what you’re thinking, the same thing I was thinking as God gave me these words to write, “how could I ever do this???!!!” The answer is simple, I can’t. Only by the Grace of God and with His strength, could I ever even come close to any of these commands from Him. Here is the great joy of walking with Him, He never asks anything of you that “He” can’t do, through you……..

Winning is about you doing better than the the other guy, serving God is never about that, it’s about helping the other guy win………….

the pilgrim

P.S. Pray that I and my team will help everyone coming to this weeks workshop, “the winners.”

It’s a term that goes all the way back seafaring travelers of the past, for me it also goes to my being a powered parachute pilot, we often call our chutes a sail. This morning it applies to yet a third thing, God has placed wind in my spiritual sail. Next week after I’m paroled from golf prison I have the incredible pleasure of doing a workshop with a group of truly great people, many of whom I have the honor of calling friends. The anticipation of that fellowship palatable. I want to openly thank God for His generous blessing of these friends.

Jim Begley is my co-leader and one of the finest men I know. Jim is a gentle spirited, soft spoken guy that carries a huge photographic stick. Jim is wonderfully blessed with great talent and has
a servants spirit, with his willingness to share. Jim has become a dear, trusted, admired, brother,
and one of my favorite people to just hang out with in the field.

Homer Fortney is my only remaining immediate family member, my brother (both genetic and spiritual), and one of my very best friends in the world. I never get enough time with Homer and to have him coming to the workshop thrills me to no end. Homer is a man of many talents and I love him dearly. He’s a great shooter with camera or a gun.

Ricky Skaggs has been a true gift from God for many people, including me. A supremely talented musician, and performer, 14 time Grammy winner, but to me he is just, Ricky, my brother, fully devoted to the Lord. Many people talk a great game, Ricky lives it every day, it is a pleasure to call him a friend and brother. Ricky is also a very, very good shooter and getting better everyday!

Jim Haverstock is one of those Christian brothers that can simply make your day just by standing next to you in the field shooting. Jim has the most beautiful spirit, and exudes God’s endless love.
Every time I get to be with him it makes my day. As shooters go, few can top him.

Ron Pinkenburg has been a very close friend for many, many years. Ron’s character and wisdom were a guiding light to the Great American Photography Weekends for most of it’s existence. Ron is the kind of man that if you were ever in trouble you would know that your call to him would not go unanswered. Once again, a very capable photographer.

Chuck Barnes and John “the Snake” Barrett, have become close associates and wonderful co-leaders to Jim and I. They both have talents and abilities that would make any workshop provider proud, great guys too. I appreciate their wonderful service to my participants and their impeccable shooting skills. Chuck is a killer sports shooter and Snake is a wonderful generalist.

Tim Isaacson is a dear buddy and the photo instructor for Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Tim will help us with one of the next American Series slated for sometime next year at Lynchburg!
Tim is very good shooter and wonderful guy that all our attendees will enjoy getting to know.
Tim is, like Jim, a soft spoken guy, but well worth getting to know as a friend.

The attendees at this event include some of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of having at any kind of event. To a person, they are talented, generous, and imminently likable. I know that they will learn a great deal from each other as they are all very talented photographers.
I simply can’t tell you how excited I am to be with each one of them……

So why am I going on like this. It’s called praise. I thank God everyday for an incredible wife and partner, a loving family, and friends that are more precious than any earthly treasure. Great friends and associates. I read in a book recently that a man only needs three things to have happiness; (1) Something to do, (2) someone to love, and (3) something to look forward to. God has given me all of that, and His love, and that has turned my happiness into peace and joy……..

Today’s Prayer; Father, thank you so very much for the countless blessings you have bestowed on my life and my loved ones. I thank You for the opportunity to serve You by reaching out and loving others with Your never ending, eternal love. I thank You that when I was not worthy of Your love, You still gave it freely to me. It is way beyond my comprehension that You could love us so much and bless us so deeply. I know I will never be worthy of your grace, but Father use me to reach those that don’t know you and encourage them to come to You and give their lives to You for Your safe keeping. Father, please bless and protect each person that is coming to our workshop, please cover them with your protection as they travel, protect them spiritually, and prepare their hearts for what You have in store for them. Amen

the pilgrim

*Photo Note, Yep, D7000 and 24-120 again……..

How long can you hold your breath under water? When we were kids that was one of the big games we played, but no matter how long you could go, you had to come up for air eventually.
Believe it or not, there really is a spiritual lesson in this silliness. You must come up for air, you must connect with the Lord and refill you spiritual lungs. We were not designed to work apart from God, and when we try to, we find out just how short of breath we can become. Think about it, if you didn’t need God, why would you make any attempt to follow Him? I’ve had non believers ask me why does “your” God demand a relationship? God does not demand anything, He invites us to know Him, accept Him, and live under His divine protection and blessings. I’ve got a question for them, “Why would you turn down such a great deal.”

We all need love, God gives us the ultimate love. We all need acceptance, God give us the greatest acceptance. We all need security, and there is not real security without Him! God offers us all we need, all we desire, (that is ultimately good for us), all we could ever dream of, and more. Too many people are afraid of the God of the Old Testament, fire and brimstone, plagues and all of that. Well the God I serve is a God of Love, He is Love. He is the kindest, most understanding, most forgiving Father you have ever had. He loves you so much that He is always watching over you. He knows the plans He has for you, and they are for your good, not evil. The only force in the universe that can really harm you, try and steal your soul, has already been defeated by Him. In His word He promises us that at any sign of danger we can run under His protective arms and find shelter, the same arms that crafted the universe. Just imagine, the Most High God, loves you so much that He knows everything about you, and nothing can get past Him.
After all that He gave up His only Son, so you might be completely forgiven for all your sins.

Hope that encourages you to become best friends with Him, He’s waiting for you call!

blessings,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: D40, 18-200 AFS VR, f5.6 @ 1/160th of a second, ISO 200
Turtle Farm, Grand Caymans, 2007

It was the name of a book, and then a movie, God is my Co-Pilot, but they got it wrong. God is “the” pilot. I find it interesting that the longer I go in my walk with Him, the more I realize that He, and only He is in charge. It seems many people, even some believers, think that God is there to help out when we can’t do it ourselves. That makes God a contract advisor. Nothing could be further from the truth. My dear shooting buddy, Charles Stanley, once asked me, “Do you know how to make God smile?” His answer, “Tell Him your plans…..” God is not interested in how far you can get before you need Him, He wants you to need Him constantly. The first time I was taught that, I thought that kind of surrender to Him would be a sign of weakness, actually it is quite the opposite. Releasing your life into God’s Hands is the wisest thing you can do. After all, God has always had a plan for your life, why not let Him be in charge. This doesn’t mean that you lay in a corner, in a fetal position, just waiting on Him. It does mean that you keep in constant communication with Him, always open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I’ve been assembling some praise and worship music for the upcoming workshop in Shaker Village, one of my favorites is the song my Casting Crowns, Who Am I, it answers a lot of questions about our position and relationship with our Heavenly Father. I know I’ve published these lyrics before, but they are always worth another reading.

May God richly bless your day and your life…….

the pilgrim

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wandering heart.

Bridge:
Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again.
Who am I?
That the voice that calmed the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.

Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I’m calling,
Lord, you catch me when I’m falling,
And you’ve told me who I am.
I am yours.
I am yours.
I am yours.

Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
Cause I am yours..
I am yours..

* Photo Note: D7000, 24-120 AFS VR f4 ISO 400 – f8 @ 1/640th of a second.
T-28 Trainer.