Blog header - May 21, 2013

Blog header - May 17, 2013

This image has a wistful look that I really love. In these crazy days when the world seems to be encroaching in ways it never has before, this image seems so peaceful and happy.

Blogheader - May 12, 2013

I love the expression on this young girl’s face. I have always been particularly interested in spontaneous portraiture and candid photography. Kids are among my favorite impromptu models.

Mmm Bop!

It’s Friday and we need some music and some comic relief. Maybe we should combine them. Here’s Hanson:

Psalm 73

God Is My Strength and Portion Forever

A Psalm of Asaph.

1. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.
3. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.
5. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.
6. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.
7. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.
10. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.
11. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12. Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
13. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.
15. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17. until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.
18. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20. Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.
21. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22. I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
23. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength£ of my heart and my portion forever.
27. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Hump Day - Some music to get you through

Gravity Storm ... this one will get you through tonight into Thursday

 

And my all-time favorite from Steve Vai—“Tender Surrender”. This one will get you through the rest of the week and into the weekend. Just listen to it over and over and over!

Glenn Beck's call to stand against tyranny

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lenn Beck has become a hero to those of us who stand against tyranny. That would make him a favorite of our founding fathers as well. Unfortunately, many years of propaganda and misinformation from our public schools and a culture that has gone completely nuts have produced a terribly misinformed electorate. And this lack of understanding has, in turn, produced the current administration—the most anti-American and anti-Christian administration this nation has ever seen. I pray that God allows us another chance to recover.

But recovery will be difficult. And it will require those of us who know and understand American history to take a very strong stand.

Glenn Beck’s address to the members of the NRA this weekend touched on one aspect of the stand we must take. May God forgive us. May God intervene and heal our land.

Blog Header - May 5, 2013

I haven’t been posting my blog header photos for quite a while. And... I haven’t been posting nearly as often as I used to a few years ago. But I decided to post this header photo that has been up for the past few weeks. I am particularly fond of this one, even though I did not take this beautiful portrait.

My interest in angels began about five years ago when I began photographing tombstone angels in graveyards. There is something fascinating about the angels in graveyards. They seem to carry a tremendous amount of emotion. Some are sad... some are young and playful... some are introspective... some are flamboyant. There's a tremendous amount of variety, but so many of them are beautiful.

I’ve even considered doing some angel photography myself and creating a series of photographs of angels. I’d love to get input on this concept as I work toward a good focus in my mind about what I’m trying to accomplish with this series. But, for now... this photo is one of quite a few I have collected for inspiration.

Everyday brilliance

I

have noticed recently that when I focus on the negative stories in the news or the things in my own life that I perceive as negative, my quality of life drops precipitously. I have also noticed that when I focus on the positive stories and the good things... the blessings God has given me... the beauty of nature... the brilliance of my fellow man, my attitude and my quality of life skyrocket.

Perhaps it’s best to follow God’s guidance on this:

Philippians 4:8
...Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

And so, I commend to you the following: