Monthly Archives: July 2011

I figured that would get your attention. Sad looking, don’t you think? The lens was given to me by a friend that thought I could find something useful to do with it, 20 years ago. I finally did. This lens is really broken, the front element is smashed, the internal focusing and zooming racing’s are jammed, it’s pretty much useless. I hate to tell you this, but spiritually, that describes many of us.
We are broken on the inside. Without the Lord we roam around aimlessly, being attracted to anything that glitters. We stumble into danger, and find ourselves involved in activities that most certainly would bring destruction to us. Whatever struck this lens did so with sudden and unyielding impact. That is the same way the enemy attacks us. His sole purpose is to destroy us, and keep us as far away from Jesus, as possible.

As I share my faith in Jesus Christ with others, the people I find the hardest to reach are those that, “seemingly” have everything. They have material possessions, live in nice homes, have
attractive families, good professions, and they may even be admired in their communities. What you can’t see from the surface, is the emptiness. When getting everything you ever wanted still doesn’t give you a sense of satisfaction, something is wrong. What’s wrong is that your trying to fill up your life with the wrong things. I remember early in my photography career an incidence that provided a strong message to me. As a high school teacher, just having gotten bitten by the photography bug, I longed for a Nikon F. At the time the Nikon F was the end all, be all for a photographer. I saved and saved, worked extra jobs, and finally saved up the $300. (yep, back then that’s what the top pro film SLR cost), anyway, I finally scrapped it together and ordered my first Nikon pro body, I even got the black one. A few days later it arrived and I tore the box open and held my coveted prize in my hands. I remember after a few hours the stark reality that it was just a camera. It was great camera, and I took a lot of memorable images with it, but it did not fill the empty space in me.

All of us are empty at the center of our being and the hole is the shape of God. Nothing else will fill us, satisfy us, sustain us. You can look high and low, far and wide, but nothing brings the joy and peace that He does. I once told a dear friend who was running from Jesus, that he could run for as long as he wanted, but he would still end up in the same place, on his knees before the Son of God. Eventually He did, and now He is in the very presence of the Master, Himself. I thank Jesus, every day, that my friend did not die lost.

My lens could possibly be repaired if parts could be found. It would be a major undertaking, and even after all the work, it might not ever be like new again. The brokenness that we face, can not
be repaired either, it can only be made, truly New. Jesus didn’t say, follow me and I will make things better, He said, “I will make you a new creature.” We all have a choice to make, we can remain as we are, broken, lost and without any hope, or we can ask Jesus into our hearts and ask Him to make us “truly new.” I have many regrets about my life, but turning to Jesus is not one of them, it was the best decision of my life.

Am I right? If you are filled with doubt, there is only one way to find out, the next step is yours.

Allow Him to bless you,

the pilgrim

Break Through (from the Promise Keepers)

Break through, break through all my doubts,
Break through, break through all my fears,
Break through so that I may worship You.

Oh, break through, break through all my pain,
Break through, all my guilt and my shame,
Break through like only you can do.

You are brighter than my darkest night,
Stronger than my toughest fight,
Just touch one touch from you my King my Friend,
and I’ll never be the same again, break through…….

*Photo Note: Nikon Coolpix P300.

My pastor Tim delivered another powerful sermon Sunday morning based again on the book I’ve been sharing from, John Bevere’s, Extraordinary. Walking through the house this weekend I looked down from the balcony over our great room and saw this striking shadow. I thought at the time that I photographed it, how vital it is to step out of the shadows and into His light. Then Tim
delivered a message I just had to share. I am going to go out on a limb and say this is the most important and helpful thing I’ve shared for the last two years, buckle your seat belts and get ready.
If you’re a believer and not living in victory, or don’t know Him, but want this life, this is for you.

“You are more than you have become……”

Colossians 2:6-7 New Living Translation

 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

We get wisdom in two ways, naturally and supernaturally. Natural wisdom is important, but supernatural wisdom comes from our Heavenly Father. A spiritual person seeks and lives by this
God given supernatural wisdom. Supernatural wisdom comes by revelation. Three sources are available to us to seek this wisdom; 1. The Word of God, the Bible, 2. Counsel form Godly people, and 3. Prayer. If you are starving, spiritual sustenance comes from the Word of God.

The scripture above outlines the six vital steps to coming into true wisdom;
(1) Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord.
(2) Continue to follow him.
(3) Let your roots grow down deep into knowledge of Him
(4) Build your life on Him as your foundation.
(5) Develop your faith by becoming strong in His Truth.
(6) Be overflowing with thankfulness and praise for Him.

Is your life a yo-yo, up and down, two steps forward and two steps back? A life built on Him can steady your faith and path. Faith allows us to feel security even when there is none in this world.
Once you have experienced this triumphant – extraordinary life, how could you be anything but thankful and filled with gratitude.

So, who are you? Who do you want to be? Who has God made you to be? Accept His gift,
and then grow in it. You may soon look in the mirror and see someone you never thought you could be. Once you reach that sublime place, you can reach out and show the way to others.
You can trust me, when I tell you that, that is what God wants for you.

Step out of the shadows and into His light.

the pilgrim

Kenny Rogers’ new Gospel album has a wonderful song that tells it all:

“PEACE”

I have come from so far away
Down the road of my own mistakes
In the hope you could hear me pray
Oh, Lord keep me in your reach

How I’ve longed through these wasted years
To outrun all the pain and fear
Turned to stone from my uncried tears
And now it’s Your grace I seek

Love won’t compromise
It’s a gift, it’s a sacrifice
My soul renewed and my heart released
In You I’ll find my peace

Oh wondrous child of whom the angels sing
Know my joy, feel my suffering
Shining star make this love you bring
So bright that I may believe

That my way will not be lost
From now on, ’til that river’s crossed
My soul renewed, my spirit free
In You I’ll find my peace

*Photo Note: D7000, 24-120 AF-S VR.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend yesterday after I got back from the power lunch. He asked me if I ever thought I was, “sticking my neck out” , being so open about my faith? I understand the question and to be honest it has crossed my mind that all actions have consequences, but I don’t do much more than think of it that way. I said, “May I ask you a question?” He said sure, so here was my question to him, “Pretend that you were in grave danger and someone came to your rescue, and lost his own life in a successful attempt to save yours. Now
his family has asked you to speak at his funeral and tell the assembled people, what a courageous thing he did for you, would you refuse?”

There was a lot of silence after the question, he finally said, “I think I see your point!” Do you risk people being turned off when you openly share your faith? Sure, but when you consider that God sent His only Son to die for me, and Jesus willingly did, how could I not be a witness to that fact?
It’s more than that though. We all want to be loved and God loves us with a love that goes well beyond our understanding. I’m reading a devotional book with my wife called, Extraordinary.
This wonderful book is all about the extraordinary life God wants you to have. The author brings up a wonderful point in one of the first chapters. It is hard for us to believe that God really loves us as much as He does. I know who I am, and knowing that it is almost impossible to believe that
God, “could” love me that much. The author said, it would stand to reason that God would not make a bad deal. He would never give up His only Son to die for us if He didn’t think we were worth that kind of ultimate sacrifice. A stunning thought! That God loves you so much that He was willing, and in fact did, allow His Son to die so that you could be forgiven and given eternal life.
What kind of love would lead to that decision, the kind God has for you.

Am I sticking out my neck? Not near as far as Jesus did………….

Have a blessed weekend,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: Giraffe in East Africa, Nikon F100 camera and 300mm lens, Fuji Velvia.
Image processed with, you guessed it, Nik Color Efex 3.0 – Glamour Glow.

Today I ran up to Georgetown to meet with three professional photographers that have been working with me on a very special project. Above, from left to right, Jim Begley from Corbin, Ken- tucky (my home town also), Jim Haverstock, from Bloomington, Indiana, the pilgrim, and Chuck Summers, from Pikeville, Kentucky. It turns out Jim H. was attending a meeting in Covington,
Kentucky which made all of us only a couple of hours away from each other so we agreed to have a planning meeting in Georgetown, where of course, Fava’s happens to be. More on Fava’s later.
We had a great meeting in a coffee shop that used to be a bank, above we are seated in the best place to meet, the vault…..

We had a great meeting and
no one had to drive an excess-
ive distance. While we met
about the project and talked
about cameras and lenses, we
also got a chance to shoot some
cool stuff in the coffee house.
I love the coffee mug to the
right, oh how true. Meeting
in a bank vault was a first for
me, certainly felt safe.

The meeting was important
business, but the fellowship was
all pleasure. I’ve been working with these three men for some time and the work we are accomplishing has been wonderful, and the friendships have really deepened. Just in case you
are not aware of who these guys are, please let me tell you a little about each of them. Jim Begley is one of the top HDR photographers in America and a great teacher. He has worked with me on
several workshops in the past and will be involved in many more. Jim Haverstock is a former
police detective, and now a very successful freelancer specializing in travel, nature landscape,
and Americana subject matter. It’s good to have former law enforcement involved with a group like this! Not sure what the guy in the green shirt does? Chuck Summers in a very successful nature photographer with three books to his credit, his most resent, Kentucky, Unbridled Spirit, has been
a very successful release.

In spite of a serious meeting, we never let work stand in the way of great burger, and Fava’s is the best in the east. Mine today was pushing really hard to top the 4.85 pickles it got during the NASCAR assignment a couple of weeks back. When there is work to be done, do it with friends,
and then enjoy life! On the way home Jim and I stopped by Murphy’s Camera to talk about a future program they have requested. Keeping in touch with clients, and friends doesn’t have to be boring.

Thank you Lord for a job that let’s me work with great folks, like these guys….

Be blessed,

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: All images with the Nikon Coolpix P300.