Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

 

When I was in my very early 40’s,  some time ago, a dear friend gave me a wonderful book titled “The Second Half”.  It was  of course a football reference, suggesting that when a man gets to the mid point of life, he needs to re-access what his goals and commitments are to.  It was a very valuable book for me and was part of the turning point when I started to focus in on what I believe my purpose to be.

 

Taking the football analogy to the next step, and based on normal life expectancy figures, I am somewhere in the middle of the fourth quarter.  Being an avid football fan,  I know that many games are decided in the last ten minutes or so of the game.  You can flounder around and make a lot of mistakes throughout the first half, in the third quarter you need to keep it close and position yourself for closing the gap!  When the clock is ticking down during the fourth quarter it becomes critical, it is no time for stupid mistakes and fumbles!  In our spiritual life the same is true.  Let’s take a short break, If you’ve given your heart to Jesus the final outcome, for you, is already determined, you won, game over.  Your service however may be another thing, altogether.

 

When the clock is running down the most important battles must be won.  When I played ball, the fourth quarter was when  you hit the hardest, blocked the best, and wrapped up on every tackle!  If your goal is to lead people to Christ, this is when you want to be on top of your game.  That’s easy, trust in Him, and follow His lead.  Sometimes we want so bad to win people for Him, but we can’t in our own power, we have to leave it to Him.  Trust is hard until you see Him at work!  When you experience His overpowering love, you understand why you want to share him with those you love and have a burden for.

 

Well, the TV time out is over, got to get back on the field, there is a game to be won, and my coach is  calling the plays…..

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

I had to run down to our courthouse this morning and on my way crossing the street to the office I was visiting.  A Sheriff’s car was parked on the curb, I noticed this sign at the bottom of the cage in the back seat.  I was going to make an image with my iPhone, but when I came out, it was gone.  So I broke my own rule, walked past a shot, assuming it would still be there, when I returned!  But that is not the point of this entry.  I recreated the sign as close as I can remember it, above.

 

The point is, who ends up sitting in the back seat of a Sheriff’s car? I think we can agree that the occupants of that space are, more often than not, in trouble!  Maybe drunk driving or breaking and entering, maybe something worse. The officer who drove that squad car, obviously wanted his arrested individuals to focus on something that might make a difference!

 

If you think about it, we’ve all been in that back seat, at least symbolically.  Romans says, “We have all fallen short of the Glory of God”  That means that we are “all” sinners, just like that person in the back seat, maybe a different sin, but sinners none the less.  What we’ve done is not the issue.  What we do about it, is!

 

If someone asks me what they can do when they have gotten to the end of their rope, I say what the sign in the back of the cars says.

 

When you don’t know what to do, look for the Answer!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

In a couple of weeks the Faithful Friends will gather at Shaker Village, Kentucky!  I got it, who are the Faithful Friends and why Shaker Village?  After a person at5tends four His Light Workshops they become a Faithful Friend.  Our “Friends” get first info on future events, team clothing, and once a year a special event at no cost!  This Shaker Village get together  is this years event.  What makes these events so much fun is the chance to spend four days with some of your best friends, in a great location, and fellowship as good as it gets!

 

You may have noticed if you come here often, that I really have gotten in to old stuff, rusty stuff, and stuff that speaks to our history.  It is exciting to learn about your subjects, to find out how they fit into the story of our lives!

 

 

 

 

 

We will have a great time shooting all the great subject matter, and enjoying each other!

 

Start adding up those workshops and join us next year!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

One of the things about being a photographer is experiences alter our perceptions!  Recently I have been wanting to carry just as few key lenses and keep it light!  Then I did the workshop in Nashville and we shot a lot of different subject matter, and I constantly found what I wanted was back in the SUV or at the hotel!!!  Well I missed some opportunities because, well I didn’t have what I need with me.  When I shot Nikon, carrying everything meant forty pounds, maybe even more!!!  That was not possible, but with the Fuji X System I can actually manage to carry all the lenses in a small backpack that ways only 10.5 pounds.  So what can you put into a Lowepro Flipside Sport 10L AW?

 

Fuji X-T1 with battery pack and Really Right Stuff “L” bracket

55-200 f 3.5-4.8 LM OIS

56mm f 1.2

60mm Micro f 2.5

23mm f 1.4

14mm f 2.8

10-24 f 4.0

 

I always have a Fuji X-T1 with the 18-55  f 2.8-4 LM OIS and a RRS “L” Bracket and my RRS Tripod and B55H-LR ball head separately.

 

4 – NPW-126 batteries

Guru Gear SD Card Holder (with 11 – 32 gig cards)

Filter Holder with:  Nikon 5T & 6T Diopter  –  Canon 250 D Diopter 

 52mm Polarizer – 39mm Polarizer  – 49mm Polarizer

Jeweler’s screwdriver

A Think Tank rain cover

 

The new back up bag that will remain  in the FJ, a Think Tank Retrospective 5 :

 

Fuji X-E1 with 35mm f 1.4 lens

Fuji X100s with 23mm f2 lens

4 – WP-126 batteries

4 – NP-95 batteries

1 Remote Release

Eyelead Sensor cleaner

Lots of Zeiss lens cleaning wipes

Three Microfiber cloths

 

 

In a Accessory bag (Think Tank Speed changer) I have:

4 Chargers

Photographic Solutions Cleaning supplies

Tools

Close-up diopter from Rayonox 

Blower bulb

More Zeiss wipes

 

 

So my next trip, up to Shaker Village, I hope I will find  that this is the way to be prepared, we will see!!!???

 

Let me take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to the great folks that joined us in Nashville, what a wonderful group!!  A very special thanks to Ricky for being what he always is;  a super star, loving , kind, and a kick to hang out with!! My incredible team, Jim, Snake, Vinny,  Bob, the incomparable Nick Coury, and our newest and wonderful KelbyOne friend, Pete Collins.  But most of all, the blessings of a loving God, who once again brought some strangers together. and unleashed His Holy Spirit on us all!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Just for giggles, single click on the image and look at it close!  ISO 6400!!!!!

 

So…..what’s the point of owning a few dozen bags, and backpacks if you can’t rearrange them!