Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

 

Thinking about life on the drive home from Atlanta last night I came to some interesting thoughts. I thought about just how much God has blessed my life, about how much I love my partner and wife, how much I’ve enjoyed my children and now what a great pleasure it is to have 6  fantastic grandchildren.  Then I thought about what as great time Jim and I along with Snake, Chuck, Scott, Matt and RC have had doing the workshops and sharing our faith!

 

Then I thought about how much I’ve enjoyed the great people of Nikon that have become such good friends, and how many wonderful customers I’ve worked with.  Then I thought about just how much more fun I’m having as a photographer than ever before!  I started thinking about all the great plans I have for this year, and next year, and hopefully the year after that!  I can’t wait to see Tuscany with Sherelene, and hit some more great beaches with her, and then watch each year as my grandchildren grow older.

 

I can’t wait to share God’s unbelievable love with others, to encourage  people He places in my path to trust Him and let Him change their lives forever.  I thought about how the simplest pleasures in life hold such a  strong attraction!  Sitting by the fire place on a cold winter’s night, reading a great book, and studying His Word.

 

I thought about how honored I felt to have Charles Stanley come to the booth in Atlanta and gave me a hug, and then to get a hardy handshake from Donn Jones, (the Tennessee Titans photographer),  and my dear brother Nick Coury.  I thought what good friends Scott Diussa, and Bill Pekala, Paul Van Allen, and all the “youngsters” at Nikon have become!

 

I thought most of all how unbelievable is is that one man, the most important man in history, came to earth, and died for me, so t hat I might be forgiven of my sins.  I thought all of this is not possible, for a man like me that deserves so little, but has been given so much.

 

I then drove in my driveway, hugged and kissed Sherelene,  and then set quietly by the fire and thought some more……

 

A blessed man,

 

pilgrim

I received this powerful and true message from my dear friend Richard Small this morning and feel it must be shared! This was presented recently to a congressional committee by a father of a child that was killed in the Columbine shootings. It was stated that it was not well received. Another black mark on our leadership in Washington, both parties……

 

COLUMBINE STUDENT’S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!

Guess our national leaders didn’t expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton , Colorado , was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They… were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:

“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.

“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA – because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question “Why?”
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

“Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs — politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA — I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter’s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!”
– Darrell Scott

 

Howl long will we ignore the real problems in our society and seek answers where there are none???!!!

 

Please pray for America,

 

the pilgrim

Well the Imaging USA show ends tomorrow, and I’m headed home for a day before I go to the next event.  This has been a bitter sweet event, spending time with a lot of great friends both at Nikon and industry friends for the last decade or more!  Monday of last week I turned in my letter announcing my retirement from Nikon as of July 1st of this year.  I will miss these folks, though I will certainly continue to see them, and I will miss the fellowship, but I’m very excited about the future with my Kelby Media buddies and Jim and the His Light family!!!  I’m even more looking forward to being home more and spending time with Sherelene after years of being apart over 230 days a year!!!

 

Life is full of new challenges, and new adventures, and I’m up for the next phase of my life.  Over the past few years God has made it so clear to me that He wants me to give myself fully to the mission He has started.  I’m enjoying sharing His love with others and always love to find and make new images while teaching to the great people He has placed in my path.

 

I’m going to ask you to do something for me.  Please pray that the following things happen over the next number of years;

 

1.  That I will stay humble before my Heavenly Father and seek to know His will for my life!

 

2.  That when I know I hear His voice that I will always be obedient!

 

3.  That I will be a great husband for Sherelene, helping her, and taking pressure off of her, as we adjust to this new life.

 

4.  That I will invest a lot of my new freedom with time in my children and grandchildren, family and friends.  Giving them the kind of love they have given over all these years of being gone.

 

5.  That I will spend more time in the word and prayer and on my knees seeking Gods direction.

 

6. That I will continue to seek what God would have me share with you, my friends……

 

Let me thank all of you that follow the blog and have prayed for me through the years, I commtt to continue to faithfully serve Him and you!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim