Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

13 years, 3 months ago 2

This morning on Mike & Mike in the Morning,  (a sports show on ESPN), the talk was about Lebron James.  Last night he scored over 30 points for his 6th straight game and hit over 60% of his shots, a record in the NBA. The all morning discussion was is he now the greatest basketball player of all time toping Michael Jordan?  All of the sports basketball legends called in to debate who was the greatest! It was entertaining, revealing, and completely irrelevant.

 

I love sports, I love sports because it’s just a game, nothing more, nothing less  We hype it into the be all, end all, but in the end, it’s just a game!  The world would love for us to assign extreme value to things that are not so valuable.  Life is a contest where a heavy person skates on thin ice. We usually find ourselves on thin ice, because we willingly  skated out on to it!  There is a solution though, skate somewhere else!

 

Choose what you value carefully.  Make the decision to invest in something that will accrue great value, Him!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

13 years, 3 months ago 3

I love this camera bag tag, I have on one of my Domke bags.  I have long subscribed to this philosophy, that it’s the journey not the destination.  Spiritually, it’s both!  If we belong to Him we know the destination, the journey is all down here, and it’s all about how many will we take with us!!! The problem is do you have a plan on how you will try to get people to decide to want the same destination you are going to?

 

Can we tell people where they should want to go?  No, not really, most people will not listen to that kind of advise.  Can we scare them into a decision for Christ, some have certainly tried, but I don’t think that works as often as some people think it does.  It is always best to see how Jesus did it!  It is simple if you read the New Testament, He loved them until they couldn’t resist!!!  It may seem too simple but peopel don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care!!!  Christ proved it.  His love compelled others to want to know Him, and follow Him.

 

Are you compelling others to want to know your Heavenly Father?  Love is the Answer…..

 

blessings,

 

the pilgrim

13 years, 3 months ago 15

This morning it all hit home.  I was in my office watching numerous slide shows I will share in an upcoming slide show production workshop.   Earlier I had been answered countless emails and blog post comments with wonderful, warm, wishes for my birthday, my life, and the ministry.  I was overwhelmed with wonderful thoughts, and the security of knowing I have real friends, and then…. I showed the original show from America From 500 Feet, the book project I did with my son Wesley, ……. that broke the dam

 

All those great memories came flooding back of the incredible time I had doing this 14 month long project while driving 123,000 miles across America with Wes.  If all that was not enough Josh Groban’s wonderful rendition of  You Raised Me Up threw me over the edge.  I sat at my desk looking at the images, thinking about the wonderful comments, replaying the great weekend with Sherelene,  the fantastic visit with Homer, Jim, Nick, Jody, Kendall,  and friends at Photo Expo, and it all came to rest, squarely in the middle of my heart!!  I’ve been blessed beyond measure, far, far, far, more than I could ever deserve, or could have ever earned!

 

I can’t thank you enough for your kind words, and wonderful sentiments about His Light.  I’m married to the most wonderful woman, she’s far more than I deserve.  I have the best brothers and sisters in Christ, dear friends, great associates, and have lived a life many could only dream of, and in a few months will be a free moral agent to pursue my hearts desires, tempered only by God’s preeminent will, and my life with Sherelene!  Then the phone rang, and Chuck Summers reminded me of our lunch today, the blessings continue to flow!

 

As I watched the show over and over and let the words of this great song sink  in, I could do nothing but praise my Heavenly Father for the countless gifts He has given to me.  If you can get a copy of this on iTunes, please do, but for now here are the lyrics.

 

Once again thanks for your warm words, and encouragement!

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

 

The shot above was made at Churchill Downs as the trainers were exercising the horses before the Kentucky Derby, they run with such sheer joy and exhilaration, like we should in service to Him!

 

“You Raise Me Up”

 

 

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

 

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

 

 

There is no life – no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be

 

 

You raise me up… To more than I can be. 

 

 

13 years, 3 months ago 70

 

Today is my last day at 66!  Well 66 years of age, tomorrow I turn 67!  It is a milestone of sorts forme as my father died at the age of 66 and for many years, I’ve felt I wouldn’t last any longer than that myself, so if I make it until 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning I’ve made it!  Tonight at 9:00 p[.m. my dear friend Jim Sugar will turn the page to 67!  I love calling him and telling him I’m sure glad I’m not as old as him!

 

I hope I’ve grown older with grace, I hope I’ve grown wiser with age, more gentle in how I treat others, and I hope others understand that while I’m whiter around the beard, the fire for life still burns intensely  in my heart and spirit.  None of us knows how long we will be here, but I know however I am I’ll give it all I have for Him…..

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Just so happened that 66 was my football number in High School!