Monthly Archives: February 2014

 

Some years ago the Firestone Tire Company produced ads that quoted the idiom; “Where the Rubber Meets the Road…..”  It is a much used phrase, one of my favorites.  Now to matters of faith.  A dear friend of mine, someone you would know, a public figure in the world of photography, once said to me, I wish I could do what you do, I find it hard to openly share my faith!  My answer to him was that God uses each of us in different ways to accomplish the same goal, to express to the world how much He loves us!  Some do it by example, some by words, but not everyone is comfortable standing on a soap box, and announcing their faith.   I don’t think God prefers one over the other, I think He prefers that we Want to share His love.  He will guide us through the Holy Spirit on how to do, what He asks us to do!

 

This brings us to another key question;   “How do we position ourselves in our relationship with Him to be able to serve Him better?”  For me the answer to that came many years ago when I read a wonderful little book called, “Prison to Praise”  by Merlin Carothers.  The foundational principle in this book is to praise Him in all things.  You have great success, Praise Him, you have great defeats, Praise Him, you are in deep sorrow, Praise Him, you have doubts and fears, Prasie Him.  On first thought it makes absolutely no sense at all.  However, there is a wonderful, foundational principle in this act!!! God’s deepest desire is that we trust Him, that we truly know deep in our hearts that He is in control, and will never do anything that is not in our best interest!

 

Thus the scripture;   “For all things work for the good of those who love the Lord.”

 

If God is in all circumstances, and will ultimately bring what is is best for us out of them,  praising Him is an act of acknowledgment that we trust Him. Nothing pleases Him more than to hear us say, “I trust you Father.”   I often pray prayers that go something like this;   “Father I don’t understand this circumstance I’m in,  and I don’t like it very much,   but I know you will use it for my good, and it will bring glory to you, so I praise you Father for your goodness, faithfulness, and your love.”

 

As Christians this is where, “the rubber meets the road”!  Do we trust Him with our lives, our daily walk, our ups, and our downs?  Want to gain some “traction” in your walk with Him?  Tell Him you trust Him, and praise Him in all circumstances.  Then,  buckle your seat belt, the results will amaze you!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

For the past two years Old Car City has been the first of our workshops to fill up!  We are only three week from the start of this years event.  We have a small number of folks that will be joining us and we would love for you to join us too!  I’ve got two good reasons, the price has been dropped from $799. to $599. and I think even if we get a few more the group will be small and that is always great for the attendees.  The dates are Wednesday Evening the 12th to Sunday morning the 16th of March.  We will have three days of shooting in Old Car City and classroom work with a special emphasis on processing images of Americana subject matter like Old Car City!!  If you are into color, design, and old rusting cars, and trucks, this is heaven!  I’ve posted some additional favorite images of mine, all of which are right there waiting of us….. and thousand more shots to boot!

 

 

So if you think you might like to join us, please shoot me an email  ([email protected] )  or call (606) 528-6119.  We still have rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn for $99. per night!   It’s not to late to be at the first His Light Workshop of the season!!!  Jim Begley, Nick Coury, and I will look forward to fellowshipping with those that can join us!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

During the Super Bowl there was a ridiculously narcissistic song that backed up the Beats Headphones commercial by Aloe Blacc.  Even though it had a catchy beat, it was dead wrong!  It told us everything we need to know about  the thinking of the world, self glorification, self worship, self reliance!  When will we learn, God does not wants us to conquer our world, but for our hearts to be conquered by Him  I took the song and changed the lyrics, oh how I wish a Christian artist would re-record this song to be our anthem!

 

 

PRECHORUS                                                                        New Version
Stand up now and face the sun                                                Stand up now and face the Son
Won’t hide my tail or turn and run                                         Don’t leave in fear and run
It’s time to do what must be done                                          It’s time  to do what you must do
And be a king when kingdom comes                                      and belong to the King when the kingdom comes

CHORUS                                                                                  CHORUS
Well, you can tell everybody                                                     Well, you can tell everybody
Yeah you can tell everybody                                                     Yeah you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody                                                    Go ahead and tell everybody
I’m the man, I’m the man, I’m the man                                  He’s the Man, He’s the Man, He’s the Man
Well, you can tell everybody                                                     Well, you can tell everybody
Yeah you can tell everybody                                                     Yeah you can tell everybody
Go ahead and tell everybody                                                    Go ahead and tell everybody
I’m the man, I’m the man, I’m the man                                  He’s the Man, He’s the Man, He’s the Man
Yes I am (x3)                                                                           Yes He is! (x3)
I’m the man (x3)                                                                     He’s  the Man (x3)

 

VERSE 2
I got all the answers to your questions                                 He’s got all the answers to your questions
I’ll be the teacher you can be the lesson                                He’ll be the teacher you can be the lesson  

 I’ll be the preacher you can be confession                            He’ll be the Savior you can be confession’

I’ll be the quick relief to all your stressing                            He’ll be the quick relief to all your stressing

(This is my world)                                                                   (This is His world)

It’s a thin line between love and hate                                     He’s the line between love and hate
Is you really real or is you really fake?                                  He’s real, the world is fake!
I’m a soldier standing on my feet                                          I’m His soldier standing by His feet
No surrender and I won’t retreat                                           No surrender and I won’t retreat 

(This is my world)                                                                   (This is His world)

 

PRECHORUS                                                                       PRECHORUS
Stand up now and face the sun                                               Stand up now and face the Son!
Won’t hide my tail or turn and run                                        Won’t hide from Him, or turn and run
It’s time to do what must be done                                          It’s time to do what must be done
And be a king when kingdom comes                                      And be the King’s when kingdom comes!!!!

 

The beginning of victory, is surrendering to Him!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

Let me start by thanking all of you that have posted, emailed., and sent messages on Facebook about my surgery.  It would have been a lot tougher than it has been without your prayerful support and expressions of good wishes!  Unfortunately I come from a family with bad genes in terms of dental health.  Over my 68 years I’ve had numerous root canals, and teeth rebuild on posts.  In spite of all the efforts I increasingly have had less good teeth to chew with, so Tuesday I had all the rest extracted and today have a beautiful bright smile of straight teeth!  I also have a black eye and swollen jaws, but that will all get better, and I pray chewing is in my near future. I’m living on soup and Slim Fast!!!  No problem needed to drop a few pounds, maybe a few dozen!

 

Funny story; my father, William Pelle Fortney had dentures in his very early years, I’m guessing in his 30’s or 40’s.  He was one of the rare people that never had a minutes trouble or frustration with his dentures.  I used really envy him that he could drop off his dental problems at the dentists office and pick them up when they were fixed!!!

 

I don’t deal well with pain and my least favorite times have been in dental chair.  Sherelene once said of my pain management, if I had been Eve, there would be no human race!  Now no one knows if I will get used to this mouth full of marbles, but a man’s got to eat and chewing is part of the process.  I’m telling all of you this because those of you that I will see over the next months and years, I want you to know why I’ve learned how to smile.  Most of my life I’ve learned to smile without showing my teeth, except when I was wearing my hillbilly teeth!  Sherelene got braces some years back and has a beautiful smile and every time I looked at her glowing smile I wanted to give my best to the world I see every day.  I believe that a smile can say so much to someone, and I want to give everyone I meet the same acceptance and love, God has given me, and commanded me to share!  Nice teeth will make that easier.

 

So that is the mystery behind the surgery.  This morning I had my first check up since the surgery Tuesday morning and got a good report, things are progressing well, thanks for your prayers.  While I was out t his morning a took my X-E1 and a couple of lenses and tried to capture the overnight snow fall.  I hope you enjoy them.

 

Thanks again for being such a great group of friends!

 

 

 

So once again thanks fro covering me in your prayers like the snow graced the earth overnight. The affects of your prayers will last long after the snow has melted!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim