Monthly Archives: April 2012
This morning’s In Touch devotional from Dr. Charles Stanley is an appropriate one for us all. Let me share the opening scripture and the lesson.
Luke 22:31-34
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
The disciple Peter was a man of great faith and bold action. But as readers of the New Testament know, his brash style sometimes led him to make humiliating mistakes. More than once, this disciple had to wear the label of “miserable failure” rather than that of “obedient servant.”
We can all relate when it comes to falling short of expectations. Obedience to God is a learning process, and failure is a part of our development as humble servants. When we yield to temptation or rebel against God’s authority, we realize that sin has few rewards, and even those are fleeting.
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest. Through trial and error, he discovered that humility is required of believers (John 13:5-14); that God’s ways are higher than the world’s ways (Mark 8:33); and that one should never take his eyes off Jesus (Matt. 14:30). He took each of those lessons to heart and thereby grew stronger in his faith. Isn’t that Romans 8:28 in action? God caused Peter’s failures to be put to good use as training material because the disciple was eager to mature and serve.
God doesn’t reward rebellion or wrongdoing. However, by His grace, He blesses those who choose repentance and embrace chastisement as a tool for growth.
We would probably all prefer to grow in our faith without ever making a mistake before God’s eyes, but we cannot deny that missteps are instructive. Failure teaches believers that it is much wiser and more profitable to be obedient to the Lord. That’s a lesson we all should take to heart.
From In Touch Daily Devotional April 24, 2012
In my personal walk with Him, I’ve found myself falling short often, and down on my knees have come to see I cannot walk this walk in my own strength. Failure is a good thing when it leads us to know that we cannot do it alone. When I was a young Christian I rejected any thought of needing anyone else to succeed, even Christ, how foolish I was, and how many lessons of failure, and redemption it has taken to teach me the truth of the scripture, that I need Him, every moment of every day. It’s amazing what saying, “Lord I’m so sorry, and I know now I need You!” can do for your life……
the pilgrim
* Photo note: A young horse races the good race, Nikon D7000, 70-300 AFS VR lens 1/20th of second at f 4.8 ISO 1600.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
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As a football fan this is a big week, the NFL Draft is about to start. For seasons to come the decision made in this draft will affect individual teams desire and progress to making the Super Bowl, and countless individual football players lives will be affected as well! Naturally the sports talk shows and sports networks are all a buzz about who will go first, pretty much a knowns issue now, and who will take various top players from across the country.
I’m interested to know what will happen, but not riveted to the results, I am riveted to who is Number One everyday for me, Jesus. The deeper my walk goes into my relationship with Christ, the less worldly things matter to me. I love to talk cameras and lenses, sports, weather, travel and on and on, but honestly it all pales in comparison to the spiritual side of my life. Who wins a Super Bowl does not even compare to the hope of leading someone into life long relationship with Jesus!
Scripture teaches that we should turn our thoughts and minds to the things of God, not rejecting all that goes on in the world but realizing it is secondary in importance to our spiritual health. In the last few months I have been renting and watching Christian films more than the normal movies I have enjoyed in the past. I’ve found that centering my mind on things of God has made me a more peaceful and centered believer. I’m not saying that to have a closer walk with God that you have to reject everything that is not specifically about Him, but the more we dabble in the things that are purely of this world, the more worldly we become, and the more worldly we become, the further we drift from His plan for our lives!
It is a delicate balancing act to be His and live for Him and still not make those in the world feel rejected and judged. If you study the life of Christ, you will find that He did not go around placing judgments on people, He let them know how much He loved them, that forgiveness was available if they woulds ask for it and accept Him. He never twisted an arm, debated with people, or condemned them, He LOVED them!
Guess what, that is what He has called us to do as well, just love them!
the pilgrim
O.K. Yesterdays answers:
Top Shot of Buick Hood D4
Cadillac Hood ornament Coolpix P7100
Buick Eight Hood D7000
Airplane Tail D800
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This entry was posted on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
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This morning Tim did part two of his series “Who I am in Christ” He hit another one out of the park! This sermon was filled with factual encouragement right out of the word.
2 Corinthians 5:17
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Romans 8:1,2 I am free forever from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 I am assured that all things work together for good.
Romans 8:31-39 I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21 I have established, anointed and sealed by God.
Galatians 2:20 I am dead to myself; it is now Christ who lives in me.
Colossians 3:3 I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 I am confident God’s work in my life will be completed.
Philippians 3:20 I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy1:7 I am not a person of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.
Hebrews 4:16 I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
1 Peter 1:23 I am born again. My new life is not from my parents.
1 John 5:18 I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
When you fully accept Christ into your life He doesn’t want your best effort, your best effort will never be enough, He wants your complete surrender, nothing else will ever lead to the life He is wanting you to have!
the pilgrim
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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 at 6:19 pm
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I have been obsessing about camera bodies for some time, and the D4 and the D800 have just made things worse. We have so many great choices today, it is mind boggling! But that does not help me answer t he question of; “If you can only own a couple, which two do you own?” I had and interesting thought this morning and I want to share it with you.
If you were a NASCAR driver and you had a big race coming up, and you owned three cars, which would you drive in the race? If you were running in a marathon, which of your sets of running shoes would you wear? If you were going to a very important dinner with your wife, which suit would you wear? I think the answer in each case would be “your best one”. So if you are going to make photographs which camera do you use, your best one!
Now there is always the the question of which camera is best for which purpose, but I think we have explored that pretty thoroughly. ( * A quick note, I work for Nikon, I have always shot Nikons, even before I took a job with them, so I only talk about Nikon in my blog, that is not meaning any disrespect to Canon, Olympus, Pentax, Sony, Samsung, Leica, etc etc I just don’t know those other camera systems anything like as much as i know Nikon.) Back to my thought, If you shoot sports and do photojournalism a D3s or D4 are the best choice for you. For all the rest of us, we have a multitude of choices.
If I go out to make a photograph, I have one goal in mind, make the best photograph I can! Since I mostly do, landscape, nature, close-up, fine art, Americana, and travel work, I don’t really need the speed of a D4. I am most interested in image quality; sharpness, resolution, color quality, and to a lesser degree, low light ability. Based on that standard, as of today, one camera best meets those needs, the D800. Having said that, new cameras are alway being released, (that’s why I said today!) Who knows what the future will bring, interesting things I’m sure, but for right now I think the D800 is my ultimate FX camera. The top of the line DX camera from Nikon is the D7000 and I love that little camera, it is an exceptional camera, and for the money, a real value.
I have long suggested to serious photographers that shoot Nikon that they should own both a FX and a DX camera. It makes perfect sense to stretch the utility of your lenses. So without any further confusing developments, I think my two body system will be the D800 and the D7000 ( at least for today!!!!!)
O.K. Just for fun I will publish several photos below (all HDR shots from Old Car City and one not!), try to figure out what camera they were taken with, I will reveal the answers Monday!
Good luck!
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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
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