Monthly Archives: April 2011

Driving from the Orlando Airport to my Marriott in Oldsmar last night I was driving the route that I usually take when my GPS said exit I-4 at the next exit. I had a moment of deciding did I really trust it to know a better way. It always gets me to the address I’ve entered and sometimes shows me a better route. Well, I trusted it and turned. I did get there, eventually. It took forever, but the driving rain, flooding, plus rush hour traffic might have been part of it. What do you trust? When you walk into a dark room in your home, and you reach for the light switch, in the dark and flip it, do you believe the lights will come on? When you pick up your camera, turn it one and hold it to your eye and push down on the shutter release, do you expect to hear it fire?

Most things in our lives, that we trust, we trust because the vast majority of times they work as we expected them to. Even though my GPS has led me a stray a few times, I still trusted it. It amazes me that so many people do not trust in God. My GPS failed me, my lights have failed to come on,
my camera has not fired when I pushed the shutter release a time or two a year. God has never failed me, period. Not everything God has allowed into my life has been pleasant, but I can think of nothing that has not proven, over time, to have been in my best interest.

God is faithful. God can be trusted. God loves you more than anyone has ever loved you. He gave up His only Son to give you everlasting life. In a world where we constantly trust in things that we know can fail us. Why would we not trust in a Heavenly Father that never has or will?

Today’s Prayer; Father, give us the faith that we lack to know you are completely, and totally trust worthy. Help us to know that if we fall you will catch us. Help us to understand that your love is real and deeper than we could ever understand. Father thank for giving up the most precious thing you have, to save us. Father forgive us for putting faith in things not worthy of that faith, and so often failing to trust in you. You deserve much better from us.

the pilgrim

P.S. Today the Close-Up Class tapings for Kelby Training get started, please lift me up in prayer.

Health Update: I’ve been on the road a lot lately and my weigh ins show me hovering around 214, my low point, but I’m loosing inches like crazy. My blood pressure is down from 180/95 to 130/75 and I’ve cut back to half my diabetes meds, so it is really working. I’ve gone from XXL’s to XL’s and they are getting loose…… I’ve still never exceed my weekly points on Weight Watchers for the four months I’ve been on the program! Thanks for your prayers, my friends, you’re holding me up……

I’m doing Monday’s post Easter evening as Monday will be another all day in airports days. This morning I was awakened right about sunrise time by a thunderous rolling sound. As soon as I was awake I realized it was thunder, but it resembled the sound of a giant stone being rolled away. I laid in bed and thought about what a sound that would have been on Easter morning over two thousand years ago. Just imagine being one of Jesus Disciples, how your whole world had come crashing down on you on Friday when you saw your Saviour die on a cross. I’m sure they thought they would rule side by side with Him forever, and then He was dead and buried.

The Easter story is the most important part of the life of Christ. Christ didn’t come to rule, but to serve. He lived so that we might have an example, and then sacrificed Himself to pay the debt for our sins. The thunder this morning was a glorious reminder of the reality of His resurrection. Jesus
didn’t have to give up His life for us, He chose to…….

Thank you Father for the greatest gift of all, Your Son, Jesus.

the pilgrim

Prayer Request: I’m taking a few vacation days this week to tape my newest Kelby Training
Classes on Close-up Photography, Parts 1 & 2. Please lift me in prayer. I am so honored to get to work with Scott, Matt an their great team, I want to do a class that will be worthy of their confidence in me. Thank you…….

*Photo Note: Nikon P300 Coolpix camera. Glamour Glow applied.

The results of the workshop just keeps paying dividends. Driving back form Nashville this morning I was overcome with a desire to burn even brighter for Him. I was listening to one of my favorite worship songs by Phil Driscoll and Debby Boone, this song will set you on fire. Thanks to my brothers and sisters, friends and pals for this past weekend, I’m still way to high to set up for a landing…….

Keep The Flame Burning

Lord, i find myself needing you like i have never before,
in all of the darkness around me,
everyday my hunger’s growing more.
Iit’s clear to me now, You are my only refuge,
my port in a troubled sea, help me to give my life
completely to You and make me only
what you want me to be,

Lord just keep the flame burning in my heart,
light my way with the fire of Your Spirit,
keep the flame burning in my heart and let it
spread to whoever comes near it
Lord, just keep the flame burning in my heart

Children, He knows what you are going through,
He suffered more than you’ll ever know,
He is drawing us closer and closer to him,
He’ll be back soon, woh, woh, you got to get ready to go


well, there is no time for complacency,
there is no room for compromise,
just walk straight and strong cause it won’t be
long till we see Him split the eastern skies

Lord just keep the flame burning in our hearts,
light our way with the fire of Your spirit,
keep the flame burning in our hearts and let it
spread to whoever comes near it
Lord, just keep the flame burning in our hearts

Lord just keep the flame burning in my heart,
light my way with the fire of Your Spirit,
keep the flame burning in my heart and let it
spread to whoever comes near it
Lord, just keep the flame burning in my heart.

Father, please keep my heart close to you, keep my heart on fire for you, give me the special love you have for all your children, and guard my heart and life for you. Thank you Father…. Amen

the pilgrim

* Photo Note: Igniting match, D7000, 200mm Micro-Nikkor lens, ISO 800, SB-900 fired wirelessly
by the Commander Mode in the camera. F22 @ 1/650th of second FP flash synch.

* Song available on iTunes under Debby Boone.

Sorry for the late post today, back in the office after the workshop and it was putting fires out all day long. Tomorrow I will be on the road all day so next post will be Friday. I’ve had time to reflect on the workshop and I’ve got something important to share. Life would be much less fulfilling without friends. I had such a great time with this group and they have quickly become some of my favorite photographers to hang out with. Not only are they exceedingly talented as shooters, but to a person they are just fun to be with. I was so proud to share their work in yesterdays blog and the more I look at their work the more pride I feel. It is certainly not because of me and Jim, these are just really gifted folks!

I thank God everyday for the people he has placed in my life, my wife and children and grandchildren. My associates and friends at Nikon, my church family, and these great photography friends. I often feel that I’m getting far more than my share of God goodness.
So I will just thank Him for His generous spirit and continue to feel blessed. To bless you I will share some more of their work…..

Blessings,

the pilgrim