Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

It is my belief that people look at life in one of
two ways; they believe, or want to believe it
has meaning, or they believe it does not. If
you believe it does not, I feel sorry for you. Life can be difficult and if you have nothing to hope for or believe in, it is even tougher.

Psalm 84:10

10 A single day in your courts is better
than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
I believe that life has great meaning, that God
has a plan for us, and that plan is for our good
not for our destruction.

I believe that living for God means you will
exhibit:

Kindness
Compassion
Forgiveness
Grace
A desire for justice
Actions to help others
Faith
Hope
Charity
A genuine love for others
A desire to obey Him
A drive to serve Him
A goal to become selfless for Him

That’s a good start. How do we know if we are making progress in our spiritual growth?

Hoe many of these things are happening in your life?

Are you increasingly aware of your sinfulness and weaknesses?

Do you respond quickly to sin in your life and is it followed by genuine repentance?

Do you see trials as opportunities for growth?

Do you view serving Him as an opportunity
rather than a burden?

Do you view everything as coming from God?
If He is sovereign? Then He either sends it or allows it.

Do you desire to spend more time in prayer
and worship?

Are you eager to share with others what Christ is doing in your life?

Do find your awareness of Him is spreading to all times and places in your life? Not just in church.

Do you desire to spend more time in fellowship with Him?

Lord, I seek your face and your presence in all that I do. Search my heart and show me any impediments to my relationship with You.

the pilgrim

*Photo note: All D700, 24-70 and 70-300
All HDR, last two with Topaz digital filters.

Special Thanks to my dear brother Charles Stanley for the insight from his book, Pathways to His Presence.

Since Wednesday night I’ve been served up a endless supply of football games, high school, college, and Pro. Normally this would be a great thing. I will openly admit to being a football
fanatic. I will watch any two teams play, even if I’ve never heard of either one, but in the past five days I’ve come to some conclusion, and I’m calling a “time out.” While I love to see grown men put on a helmet and try to knock the living daylights out of each other, (it’s a guy thing), some of what I watched, and heard makes me wonder how much football has to do with everyday life, especially everyday life as a Christian.

So what has me so worked up about the game I “normally” love? Let’s start with Saturday’s college match ups. Boise State has been the loved and pulled for underdog all season, undefeated and whipping up on every opponent, there was much talk about them maybe getting to play for the national championship. Boise State had hardly lost a single game in three years. Well they lost in the last minutes to Nevada and they have disappeared from the radar. The be all, end all, one day, and of no interest the next day. What kind of a message does it send to kids that if you have one loss, slip up one time, you’re no longer worth talking about. Yes, they played a weaker schedule than many of the other contenders, but “Come On Man”, this is really a brutal wake-up call. The sports media loves a winner, and has no use for anyone that slips and falls, and can’t re-tell the story of that downfall too often.

Another great example of the media’s obsession with kicking someone when their down is Steve Johnson, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. (Disclosure; Steve Johnson played his college ball at Kentucky, my alma mater, so I have a somewhat vested interest). So what did Steve do that was so bad. He plays for the Buffalo Bills who have had a bad season, they are 2-8, however the rookie receiver from Kentucky has been a real bright spot for this struggling team. When the Bills took the much higher ranked Pittsburgh Steelers into overtime Sunday, Steve dropped a pass in the end zone, in overtime, that would have given Buffalo the win. Since then it has been one of the most re-run highlights from all the games Sunday. It shows the media loves to show failure, and then offer endless opinions about it. Steve is a young man and he hasn’t helped his case any by tweeting that he praises God constantly and wonders aloud, publicly, where God is now, and what he is suppose to learn from this.?

Let me tell you all what we can learn from all of this: Come On Man! It’s a game, it’s fun, but it’s not the end of the world. If Steve had caught the pass they would have won one more game and would be 3-7 whoopee! They still couldn’t make the playoffs if they paid somebody off! Come on Steve, there “is” something to learn from this; you’re not perfect. You will drop a pass every once in a while, it’s called a bad day, or a cold ball, it’s not called God has abandoned you……. Check the record guys and find me the receiver that never ever dropped a pass, ever, in their entire career. Yes it hurts, yes it would have been a lot better if you had caught it, but that’s life, and football. Boise State, you have a lot to be proud of, think about that instead of not playing for the national championship. Here is a good question for you, who won the National Championship in 2003? See how important it is, I bet only one in a hundred of you knew the answer! I sure don’t……..

O.K. while I’m reading the right act to all these perpetrators, lets thrown one at me as well. Kentucky lost to Tennessee for the 25th or 26th straight time, (not sure anymore how many we’ve lost to them). During the game I acted very poorly when they scored and even worse every time we blew it, which was pretty frequently during the game. Even though I was raised in a home where Tennessee was paramount to the devil, my fathers favorite saying was, “My two favorite teams are Kentucky and whoever is playing Tennessee”. I still know better than to let, “A GAME” get me that worked up. I’m ashamed and repentant.

Come On Man!!!!!!!!!

the pilgrim

If you are not familiar with ESPN NFL coverage they have a segment where people do something stupid and then all the announcers say with great emphasis, Come On Man……..

* Photo note: Shot with the D7000 and the 60mm Micro Nikkor lens. Light from a table
lamp.

I wish everyone of you that share this journey, with me, could drop by and have steaming mug of hot chocolate by the fire. This weekend Sherelene and I started our Christmas decorating and I just wanted you to see the warm welcome that awaits you. Now this is just an earthly home, can you imagine what our Heavenly Father has prepared for us!

I have to admit to being a total child about Christmas. I can’t wait to decorate and play Christmas music through out the house. My musical tastes run far and wide, on any given moment you may hear Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, John Denver, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I’ve got a lot Mannheim Steamroller, and some light jazz as well. The fire place is roaring anytime it is cold enough, and I’ve been known to leave the door open to make cold enough……. There is always room on the leather couch and I may have one of the largest collections of Christmas movies on DVD’s, you’ve ever seen. I would love to watch one with you, I have a bunch of favorites including, I bet, some of yours…….

O.K. what’s going on here???? Actually, it’s really simple. We celebrate this season because Jesus was born, and came to teach us, love us, and save us. My attempt to paint a picture of sincere hospitality, warmth, and acceptance, is a very poor substitute for the invitation He offers to each of us.

As we start into the Christmas season I hope you will take His invitation to heart. And by-the-way,
if you’re near Corbin, you are welcome in my home as well……..

The first of many Merry Christmas wishes…………

the pilgrim

*Photo note: D7000, 12-24 AFS lens, 1/2 second @ f8, ISO 400.

Still in Thanksgiving mode. Was thinking today just what an incredible list of shooters I’ve had the pleasure to stand in the field with and enjoy God’s great creation. I’ve learned so much from these photographers both as a shooter and as a man. This is a very tricky exercise, but I just have to say thank you. The first few names are friends that are no longer with us, so I can’t say thank you face to face, maybe someday on the other side. John Netherton, Bill Siliker, Galen Rowell, Frank Miller, Hugh Morton, and Wendland Rice all fall into that group. Many other “famous photographers” are on the list as well; John Shaw, David and Marc Muench, Art Wolfe, Bryan Peterson, LL. Rue and Len Rue Jr., Jim Brandenburg, Jim Sugar, Larry West, Scott Kelby, Matt Kloskowski, Tom Blagdon, Kevin Adams, Cliff Zenor, Jim Clark, Bill Durrence, Jeff Foott, Adam Jones, Bob Krist, David Middleton, Mark Boris, Wayne Lynch, Jack Dykinga, Frans Lanting, Don Nelson, Vinny Colucci, George Lepp, Tom Mangelsen, Pat O’Hara, Tony Sweet, Neil & Susan Silverman, and Rob Sheppard.

Then there are all the great friends like myself that may not be famous but are wonderful shooters and very dear friends like Chuck Summers, Stan Burman, Chuck Barnes, John “Snake” Barrett,
Frank Danitti, Charles Stanley, George Theodore, Ted Keller, Ron Pinkenburg, Chico Simich, hey this list could go on forever, how blessed I am.

The key is to thank God for the great people he places in our lives. Spend a moment this weekend recalling all those people you are so happy God placed in your life…

Thankful,

the pilgrim