Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

O.K. first, I had my stress test over the last 6 hours. Don’t know much yet, but my Doc said I did very well on the stress test part, and the scan results usually follow the performance on the treadmill. I think the entire staff was shocked I didn’t die in the first 2 minutes on the treadmill.
I will share with you, when they share with me.

Today I would like to cover a little equipment news and then share a story of encouragement. First
the new replacement for the P7000, (the P7100), arrived today, and I have some initial observations.

The body is more rounded
and has some added pads
that makes hand holding
easier and more comfortable
I mentioned earlier that,
this one has a LCD on
the rear that folds out so
that definitely adds to the
usefulness. The big change
and for me it is a huge
change is this model is
fast, the shutter to actual
image time is very fast.
I loved the P7000 but was
wooed away by the P300 because of the speed at which it operated, now the P7100 is even faster! Wow, an answered prayer, I loved everything about the P7000 but this camera is far more usable. I will give it a full run down and shoot some images in Reno next week and will report back, but expect it to be a stellar report, I can already tell, I’m going to love this camera.

Now a little story, I hope you will enjoy, and I will warn you up front, there is a moral. About a month ago I got a card from a friend in Virginia informing me that her husband, a long time photographer friend, had passed away. I was sad to loose this buddy and sorry for his wife for her loss. She said in the card that she had no idea how to sell his camera gear and wondered if I would help. I gave her a call and told her about a large, well known camera dealer that specialized in used gear and suggested she send them a list and then let me know what they said before she did anything. I also ask to send me a list and I would start working on what she had to help her out. A week or so later she called and told me they offered her two thousand for everything. I was shocked, I felt the gear was easily worth twice that or more. I suggested she let me put out some feelers and see if I could help her sell it. Now let’s take a short break, at this point I’m just trying to help the widow of an old friend. You might say trying to offer an act of kindness.

Now let’s run back the calendar nine years. I’ve just accepted the job as a tech rep for Nikon and one of my best friends in the company says, “sell all your gear. “ I said, but I’ve collected my stuff for years, he said and you will get a consignment of all the latest stuff, plus digital is coming fast this is the time to sell you old film gear. So I sold it all, after it was all gone started regretting immediately that I sold my Nikkor 400 f 3.5. It was super sharp, not too big, and would have worked great with my current digital SLRs, so for the last 9 years I’ve hunted high and low for another. Problem was mine was new, out of the box, when I bought it, I mean mint, the chance of ever finding another like that was almost impossible. I’ve searched and searched, but most of the ones I’ve found were beaters (really used hard), and just not what I wanted.

Back to my friends widow. Going through the list, to my shock, I found that he had a 400 f3.5,
the pictures she sent me indicated it was in nice condition. I called her back and told her she had some nice pieces of equipment and I would like to start the bidding on one of her lenses. I checked
around and found what was the going price for a 400 f 3.5 in good condition and made her an offer, turns out she had the matching TC-14B, which was also something I wanted so I upped the offer and, long story short, you can see it in the opening image at the top. Now, soon I will be posting a number of pieces that you may want to consider, really good gear, in mint shape, so you too, if you need something, can help her out.

Now the moral, God asks us to treat others as we would want to be treated. When I got the card from my friends wife, I thought about how I would hope one of my photographer friends would do the same for Sherelene someday. I didn’t think any of the equipment would be anything I needed or wanted, but when we step out in kindness and offer His love to those in need He has interesting ways of showing us that we have pleased Him. I have to admit that when I got the card, I first thought, “I hate that my friends has died, but I really don’t have time to deal with this right now.”
Then the Holy Spirit said ever so gently, “What would you want your friends to do if Sherelene had written any of them?” It wasn’t hard at all to pick up the phone after that reminder. To be truthful, I’ve really enjoyed talking with her, and hearing more about her late husband who I do
miss.

In the events of everyday life, you will hear a voice urging you to do something for others. Sometimes it will come at a time when you just are covered up with life’s cares. Don’t say no,
when He calls, always answer, yes Sir. Obedience is about being willing to share God’s love,
compassion, and grace with those, He chooses. Trust me, the rewards will be far greater than
a 400 f3.5……….

the pilgrim

Postscript: Thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for the calls, emails, and comments on the blog, and I know you guys, many more than contacted me, were praying. You just may have to pay for those prayers, I just may stick around for a little while. Truly I’m so blessed to have friends like your guys and gals…….

I’m going in for a stress test tomorrow morning. Seems the old body continues to remind me that mortality is inevitable. I’ve had a few instances that have given my doctor some concern. I prefer to think that it is more, caution, either way, I’m fine with it. I fully expect them to find the spells to have nothing to do with my heart, but then I’ve been surprised before, so we’ll see.

About four years ago I had some tests and when I came out of the mild sedative, my doctor looked concerned and Sherelene had been crying. I knew what was coming, had heard it before. “You have cancer.” The best part was that my doctor got to see, first hand, what faith is all about. I answered him calmly and in a matter of fact manner, “o.k. what do we do now?” My doctor actually said to Sherelene, “ I think he’s still not completely with us.” I was, I’m just not afraid of leaving this earth. I am not expecting bad news, but I’ve had bad news before, and I’m still here, and I will be here until God is ready to take me home.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m having a great time, and love my family, and friends, but no one ever said this would last forever. I have the glorious promise that whatever God does it will be to His honor and glory. Given a choice, I’m having too much fun to say goodbye, but then to be with Him will be divine. I’m not sharing this to evoke sympathy, or cause alarm. I certainly would be happy to have your prayers, but mostly I want to share how wonderful it is to know you can trust it all into His hands.

I’m sure later tomorrow I will write a blog saying another false alarm, but I will not complain regardless. I’ve lived the most incredible life, that has been filled with the most stellar family, and friends. I’m ready to serve Him here, or worship Him there.

Till later,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: D7000, 70-300 AF-S VR.

Over the weekend, I watched a great college football game between Baylor and TCU. Texas Christian University was highly rated and no one expected Baylor to be able to stay in the game with them, except Baylor. Baylor shocked everyone, (the last time they had beaten a top ten team was over 20 years ago), by building a big lead. Then also, as everyone expected, TCU roared back and got very close, late in the game. The quarterback for Baylor who had played an incredible game, breaking a number of school records, threw an interception that allowed TCU another chance at a win. On the sideline, dejected, he saw TCU take the lead on a field goal. With only a minute to go, he went back into the game that he felt he had lost for his team. In the huddle his teammates told him that he was their leader, and that they were going to win the game with him leading them, just like he had, all night long. With one minute on the clock they drove down the field, kicked the winning field goal, and shocked the top rated TCU team, and the national media.

God loves us so much that he gives us teammates, people we can count on, people that will be with us even when we think we’ve let them down. For 42 years I’ve vacillated between being a good husband, and a failure, but many, many times, I’ve come back to the huddle dejected and down on myself, and Sherelene has said, you lead and I’ll follow, and sometimes when I couldn’t lead, she has. Teammates.

Thank God for a teammate I know I can always count on…….. and the God that gave her to me.

the pilgrim

Colossians 3:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
If we have given our lives and hearts to Him, we are commanded to live for Him. To honor Him in all we do.

Why? Because when we consider what He has done for us it becomes the desire of our heart to honor and worship HIm.

When? Not monthly, not weekly, not even daily, but every moment of our lives we are to honor Him.

Where? Everywhere. At home, at work, on vacation, under the sea, and high in the air. Everywhere you go, do all, as unto Him.

How? We must honor Him with His:
1. Love. Unconditional love for others, just like His love for us. He gave His life for us.
2. Compassion. Deep care and concern for others welfare and condition. His compassion.
3. Grace. Love given freely and unmerited, just as He gave His to us.
4. Forgiveness. Let it go, give it to Him, forget it, just as He forgave us.
5. Power. We could never accomplish His mission for us in out own strength, but He, through the Holy Spirit can enable us to accomplish all He requires of us.

In scripture it says that He not only forgave us, but that he threw our sins as far as the east is from the west and, remembers them no more. Let me share a wonderful story;

There once was a young girl in a Mexican village and she told her parents and friends that Jesus
was visiting her and talking with her. Soon there was stir of interest in her wonderful stories of what Jesus was saying. The Catholic Priest was concerned about these stories and called the young girl in and asked her about her visits with Jesus. In order to prove to everyone that his
child was not actually being visited by Christ, he asked her to ask Jesus a question the next time He visited her. The question was what sin did He just confess to Jesus. Several days later the Priest called the little girl and asked her to come back in. He asked if she has seen Jesus since they had last talked. The little girl said, yes she had, and the Priest asked what Jesus and said when she asked what sin the Priest had confessed. The little girl said, He said, “I forgot”. That may have not been what the Priest expected, but it was the correct answer. He not only forgives us, he even forgets our sins.

God wants you to Live Large.
Large in a Never Ending Hope. 1 Peter 1:3-4 : 23
Large in Mercy & Grace. Titus 3:5
Large in Love. 1 John 4:7
Large in Overcoming Evil. 1 John 5:18
Large in Victory. 1 John 5:4

Come Just As You Are

Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
come and live forever

Come just as you are
Hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever

Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again

Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever

Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again

Come and see
Come receive
Come and live forever

Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again
Life everlasting
Strength for today
Taste the living water
And never thirst again

Come just as you are
Don’t you hear the spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see
Christ my King
Come and live forevermore

Today’s blog was written in response to an email I got from someone that attended the class I taught at Dury’s last weekend in Nashville. The person thanked me for coming and sharing with them and sharing my faith openly. They said it was rare to see someone be so open to share their faith public-ally. My Savior gave me a new life and desires for me to “Live Large”. It could be no other way. I could not bare to fail HIm.

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: Painted brick wall in my hometown, Nikon D3x, 70-300 AFS VR.