Daily Archives: March 29, 2013
Rarely does this ever happened, actually it has never happened until this morning! I just got an email from a person that really took me to task about my last three posts about tripods, bags, and choosing the gear best for you!
First, I answered him with all the courtesy and kindness I could pull together. You never know what is happening in someone’s life to make them so angry they feel they have to lash out, so I certainly don’t want to make things worse for them. Everyone has valid opinions, or at least valid for them, and I respect that.
Secondly, brand loyalty can make some people very upset if they feel you’ve stepped on their toes, I understand that as well. Since I only work for one company, Nikon, I do not represent, or get favors from any other companies I mention when talking about photography products on my blog entries. Some companies, whose products I use, and buy with my own money, do sponsor His Light Workshops, but Jim or I would never promote any product or service that we have not already used and been very happy with on our own, before any sponsorship is agreed to. I never assume that because someone shoots something other than a Nikon that they are a bad person, or have made a bad choice, we all need to choose our gear based on what is best for us, and what we like. I have no problem with that at all.
Third, this person did say something that frustrated me, in fact frustrated me enough that I felt compelled to right this blog entry for all the rest of you, and anyone, even if it’s only one person that may hold the same opinion. He said, “Who made you the god of photography to dictate to all of us, what we need, or don’t need, or should buy^&!%@#$E@!:@!!!”
My response to that for the record:
I write this blog, principally to share my love and devotion to Jesus Chrsit, My Savior. I try to bring message of encouragement and hope to my fellow brothers and sister in Christ, and to those that do not know Him. I hope to urge those that do not know Him to come to know how deeply He loves th, and how He longs to have them as a member of His family. That has always been, and continues to be my number one goal on this blog, and in my life. Everything else comes well after that!
Why write about photography at all then??? It is what I know best, I didn’t say what I know better than anyone else, just what I love and enjoy and like to share about. I am just one more photographer out there having fun and enjoying the process. I do not see my self as any more, or any less than that. Everything I share is “my opinion“, that’s all. Now the other reason I write about photography is that I believe God has given me a ministry to photographers, the people I know best and spend the most time with. Am I qualified to offer the kinds of suggestions I make on this blog? That is for you to decide, but again, for the record, these are my so called qualifications? I have been a working professional photographer for over 43 years, I’ve taught workshops with and have become friends with many of the greatest photographers of our age, that certainly has allowed me to learn a great deal from them. I have studied photography and the equipment we use with great fervor for many years, it is obviously a passion for me. As a member of the industry for the last 30 years, I’ve had access to, and learned from some of the best people in the photographic industry and have salted that knowledge away as well. I’ve authored or co-authored five books, three of which have been best sellers. But still, when I share the kinds of things I share here it is my opinion, my view, my thoughts, and ideas, it has never been, and never will be considered by me, to be, words from on high! I do not care what camera, bag, tripod, you use, as long as it is bringing you great joy in the process of making images!!!! When I re-read my blog entries about gear choices I can see how some people would feel I am projecting an air of authority, but It is not that, it is that I have strongly held views, but once again, they are simply my views. Anyone that does not accept them is certainly free to disagree, and I welcome that. It all comes down to this, I do not write this blog with the hope of upsetting anyone, but to be helpful. I apologize again to the man that wrote me the note, just please know if you come here, this is what we do here.
Have a great Easter,
the plilgrim
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This entry was posted on Friday, March 29th, 2013 at 3:57 pm
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Today’s In Touch Devotional is my best chance of sharing the importance of this day in the Christians Life, allow me to share it;
Romans 6:8-11
New Living Translation (NLT)
8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Destined for the Cross
When you saw the title for today’s devotion, I imagine that you thought it was about Jesus. If so, you’re half right. The cross is always about Jesus, but believers are also destined for sacrifice and death.
“Death to self” happens at the moment of salvation, when we are crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). The old self dies, and we are given a new nature as the Holy Spirit comes to live within us (John 14:17). At times it takes a bit longer to get to the sacrifice—the moment when we hand over to God everything we love and value.
God doesn’t stop at salvation; His purpose is to conform believers to the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:29). So He gives us a new nature—then we can experience freedom because Jesus has triumphed over sin. But in order to live as God intends, we must be willing to give Christ the centermost position in our lives. As a result, the Lord calls us to the cross on a daily basis to lay down the things that might distract us from our purpose to serve and follow Him.
Don’t misunderstand what it means to be destined for the cross. God isn’t going to take away everything and leave us as lonely paupers. Putting our valuables on the cross—whether they are possessions, people, or dreams—frees us from the attachments of this world.
When we lay down worldly attachments, our self-esteem isn’t tied to “stuff” and our sense of acceptance doesn’t come from people. We are complete in the Lord. Or as Paul said, we are “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). Enjoying a new life in Christ is worth a daily trip to the cross.
May you and your family be blessed this Easter Weekend, and may God hold you in the palm of His mighty, loving, and nail scarred hands,
the pilgrim
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This entry was posted on Friday, March 29th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
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