Please let me share a story with you. The picture above is of myself and Dr. Charles Stanley, he’s Charles to me, at his 80th birthday celelbration in Atlanta Friday night. He had just presented me with a copy of his beautiful new book “I Love To Tell the Story”, a compilation of some of his finest work from the past 40 plus years as a serious photographer.  Wow, what an honor, I’m amazed, and very humbled!  Now it’s time for the story, and please stick with me, no matter how self aggrandizing it may sound, it won’t end that way!

 

Well over 40 years ago I was a young photographer, who desperately wanted to become a great photographer.  I was a beginner and like all of us, I was not very good at the start.  A nice man that was trying to help me become a better photographer advised me to study the work of successful photographers, and I did.   The more I saw of good work, the more I wanted, even more desperately, to become really good! I worked very hard and, of course,  with hard work my photography improved.  There was one big problem, I wanted to be really good for the wrong reasons.  I wanted to feel like I was somebody, and I didn’t love myself very much!  Over time the Lord showed me that my worth was not based on what others thought of me, but on His sacrifice for me!

 

Once I started to do my photography with the right motives, it took off.  In the last fifteen years things have really come together, I produced 5 books, two of which were runaway best sellers, I was named a Fellow by the North American Nature Photographers Association, I had an image in a portfolio of images than won the Pulitzer prize, I started a workshop company, (the GAPW) that went on to being the top rated nature workshop company in America, and became friends with many of the most successful photographers in America, and several around the world.  I’ve spoken in front of thousands of people and  have had my share of standing ovations, and Friday night my dear friend Charles Stanley thanked me for writing the forword for his new book, with tears welled up in his eyes!  I realized God had allowed me to touch someone else’s life!!!

 

The point of my story is that none of this would have ever happened had I not turned my talent, career, and much more importantly, my life, and my heart over to God.  I have not shared this story to recount the meager accomplishments of my life, but to encourage you to know that there is a much more important reason to give your heart fully to Him.  Success, even when it is considerable, is not worth one minute of true peace and joy.  Success can’t give you peace or joy, it can make you temporarily happy, but not joyful. I want you to read what the Holy Spirit gave me to write about Charles for his book, trust me, only God can deliver these thoughts.  Charles is the kind of man, I hope to become someday, these words express truth about his life.

 

As a life long photographer I’ve greatly enjoyed seeing and sharing in the vision of others.  What is in a man’s heart, will find it’s way into the images he makes.  The extraordinary work in this book is a testament to the heart of Charles Stanley. 

 

I’ve been honored to call Charles one of my best friends, for many years.  We’ve shared great photography adventures together and he has had a profound impact on my walk with our Lord.  I, and many others of Charles friends in photography, have encouraged him, for years, to produce a book of his favorite work.  I’m so pleased to see this project come to fruition.  Charles is a masterful story teller, teacher, and mentor, and in this book you get a glimpse of his vision of God’s great creation. 

 

For decades Charles Stanley has taught and inspired Christians all over the world in their daily relationship with God.  Now you can share in this intimate look at his passion for photography, and share in the great joy God has given him through the practice of this craft.  We learn in scripture that God desires to not only meet our needs, but also to give us the desires of our heart.  I know that God has blessed Charles with the renewing pleasure of photography in his life.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy your journey through this wonderful collection of Charles work.  In it you will discover the authenticity of a man, whose heart belongs fully to God, and whose vision has been inspired by that relationship.

 

I promise, you will be blessed.

 

                                                                                                                                       Bill Fortney

                                                                                                                                       Galations 2:20

 

So, a man, who had a dream, and never deserved it, saw it come true, and was yet, blessed beyond belief,  by a loving Heavenly Father, who everyday, makes me feel truly honored, utterly amazed, and unbelievably humbled.  I pray the same, for everyone reading these words.

 

the pilgrim

I’m feeling especially joyful this morning.  I’m headed down to Atlanta to call on a client and attend the celebration tonight for Dr. Charles Stanley’s 80th birthday. I’m so happy to get to do that with a friend I love so much.  Charles has been such a strong influence on me through out my constant need for growth as a Christian.  Of course, he has been that for millions of others, but I’m so happy to call him my friend.  I will be so thrilled for him, to see so many show them their great love and respect for him, after he has given so much to our faith.  It will be a wonderful evening I’m sure, and my prayer is that it is even better than he has anticipated!

 

I’m also feeling great joy because of His answer to my prayer for a ministry.  I’ve wanted so desperately to have an effective way to serve Him, and it was along time coming.  O.K. that’s not entirely true, we all have a way to serve Him, to love others as He has loved us.  I’ve been trying to do that all my life, but I wanted something more, but God was silent for a very long time.  I battled the fear that I was not adequate to serve Him, and I’m not, but that was not what the long wait was about!  God knows when we are ready, and I believe we are ready when we realize we will never be ready!!  When we know that it is only through Him that we can ever hope to be adequate for service to Him.  Thankfully He loves us and desires for us to serve Him, but He loves us so much, He won’t throw us into deep water, when we can’t swim!

 

It never ceases to amaze me, how much He loves us, and how much He desires for us to serve Him, but even with all that desire on both His and our part, He knows what is best, and He will never put us in a place where failure is assured.  When He finally opened the door for me, with this blog and  His Light Ministries, He had brought me to the place He could use me.  Don’t misread what I’m saying, I’m not implying that I had grown to some powerful status, actually quite the opposite, I had been knocked to my knees, and He allowed  me to understand that it is only through His wisdom, power, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that any of us can ever effectively serve Him.  Today I’m sharing our new logo because of my great joy about what is happening, happening because of Him, not me.  Jim and I have already seen miraculous things happen through the blog and the workshops, and we are anxiously waiting to see what He will do next.  I don’t know much, but I do know a few things for certain; God loves us, He is always, always looking out for our best interest, he can and will  make the right things happen in our lives to draw us closer to Him, and after all, that is the greatest thing that can ever happen in this life!   He only asks one thing in return, that we accept Him and accept His forgiveness.

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

The other day I wrote a piece based on Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Daily Devotional on accountability. Today’s devotional was a valuable lesson on what characteristics we should seek in a partner or exhibit ourselves if we are asked to serve in that capacity for a brother or sister in Christ.  I think this is too valuable not to repeat, so thanks Charles for the words of wisdom!

 

An accountability partner is able to perceive what we can’t see when blind spots and weaknesses block our vision. Such a person serves as a tool in God’s hand to promote spiritual growth, and he or she watches out for our best interest. When choosing this type of confidant, look for these characteristics:

 

1. Godly. A person who walks in the Spirit will offer genuine wisdom based on biblical principles rather than personal opinion.

 

2. Trustworthy. No matter what you share with this individual, you must be certain that he or she will keep everything in the strictest confidence.

 

3. Accepting. He or she must allow you to be yourself–frailties and all–and not try to remake you into someone “perfect.”

 

4. Courageous. A good accountability partner will lovingly confront you with the truth, even when it hurts (Eph. 4:15).

 

5. Forgiving. When you make mistakes, trust is built through mutual forgiveness.

 

6. Edifying. Don’t choose someone with an overly critical attitude that will make you feel worthless. Love edifies and builds up (Eph. 4:29). It never destroys.

 

7. Encouraging. You don’t want someone with a checklist, who judges or acts like a prophet. Instead, choose someone who takes great joy in encouraging you.

 

We all can benefit from someone who is able to say what we need to hear without making us feel threatened. Answerability provides checks and balances that promote spiritual growth and protect us from pitfalls. If you don’t already have an accountability partner, pray for that person today.

 

I want to serve my Heavenly Father in any way He desires me to serve, I know part of His desire for me is that I be accountable to my close brothers and sisters in Christ and to be willing to do t he same for them if asked.  This is not something I could ever do in my own strength and wisdom, only god could provide these characteristics that I might serve another.  It is wise to seek god to build you up to the task of being His servant in this way.

 

I pray that we will all have enough wisdom to know that the ultimate wisdom, and power comes from Him!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

There has been, understandably, a great deal of interest in the D600 and it was made even more exciting when DXO released their test of the new camera’s sensor.  After my test yesterday I was not shocked to see that it was rated in third place of all sensors tested, right after the D800 and D800E!!!  I have added a link for you here:

 

p://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Publications/DxOMark-Reviews/Nikon-D600-sets-high-bar-for-sensor-image-quality

 

 

After yesterday’s test, I’ve shot a good deal more and have some additional thoughts!

 

(1.)  The D600 is very similar to the D7000 in one important way, the shutter release is very soft and predictable, and the D600 is, along with the D7000 very quiet.  Every time I’ve used the D7000 over the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed it’s handling, and I’m convinced that the same tactile pleasure will exist with the D600.

 

(2.)  The Bracketing function is a little different but still very usable, three shots at .3, .7, 1, 2, or 3 stop differences.  So three shots at  a 2 stop increments would be a 5 stop range, I will run some tests, but I feel it will be good for most HDR applications.  I hand held a three shot HDR in terrible light and I was thrilled with the results, admittedly not a great shot but the camera handled it  well!  Below that shot is a very close crop on the license plate, shows just how much this sensor resolves!

 

 

That is a 100% crop out of a handheld HDR shot!!!  Pretty amazing….

 

(3.)  If you’ve ever carried a pro camera body you know how heavy it an be at the end of the day, the D600 will be a lot easier to carry all day!

 

(4.)  The menu options have been very enhanced in the new model, with lots of cool features that will make the camera easy to use in the field.  The U1 and U2 settings let you set up special camera settings for different kinds of photographic situations that can now be selected at the turn of the dial!  In addition the Auto ISO works very well and can be set up for your style of shooting.

 

(5.)  While the D800 certainly has more resolution, images from the new D600 are both very clean, and exceptionally sharp, rivaling the D800.

 

It is not my policy to tell my friends and readers what they should buy, but I feel confident that those that need a full frame camera will definitely want to give a D600 a spin before deciding, I’ll give it the highest praise I can give a product, I’ll be spending my own money for one….

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim