Blog Header - April 8, 2009

Today’s blog header originated as a photo of the Potomac River near the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I photograph the Virginia, Maryland, and DC Fast 50 event each year from this location. It’s a beautiful spot and an enjoyable evening.

I obviously played with this photo quite a bit in Photoshop. I’ve always loved the color pink and really liked the result of this photo manipulation, so I thought I’d post it here for a few days.

Washington, DC, is a wonderful city to visit and a great place for history and photography. It’s a bit rough working there because the traffic is horrendous, but having grown up in the shadow of Washington, DC, I have never tired of the many things this city has to offer.

Easter portraits

A couple days ago our friends Joe & Abigail asked if we could take some quick photos of their family. They wanted to send an Easter photo to their family and friends. So they came over, I grabbed my camera, and we went outside to take a few pictures. Kim managed to wrangle the baby away from them, but she gave her back when they left.

The two photos here are from that 15-minute photo session. They’re such a good-looking family. Were we ever that young?

Awesome pictures from my wife

Kim was a chaperone on David's recent field trip to Washington, DC. She's such a great photographer that I just thought you might like to see her pictures. This blog post includes a few pictures of the Capitol building.

The Rich Have Much to Learn

This is a neat idea from a church in Denver. Use the pause button feature so you can read the captions. You can also just click on a photo in the tray to disable the auto-forward.

Unusual politics

Perhaps we should begin fundraising to send Barack Obama to intern with this Canadian Mayor. I think he could learn a thing or two. In fact, maybe all our politicians should be required to do a stint with this Mayor before they seek public office.

Did I hear that right? Her city is debt free? Wow!

Blog Header - April 5, 2009

Today's blog header is a photo of the front door and front porch (can you call that little thing a porch? - maybe "stoop") of our house. The small cast iron and wood bench is actually a portrait prop my wife used in her pre-school portraiture a couple years ago. It looks great in front of our house, although normal sized people can't really sit in it.

I recently saw a book called The Garden of God. It was a simple gardening journal written over many years in the life of a man who loves work around his house—beautifying it with shrubs, plants, and flowers. His compelling argument is that God has given us inredible beauty in the natural world and that our enjoyment is greatly increased when we notice and appreciate that beauty. He encourages folks to decorate their houses and yards with plants and flowers as part of God's command for man to "subdue the earth."

I believe this author has it right. And, although you can't see it in this photo, we have a beautiful shrub and flower garden to the left of the door. It was carefully planted a few years ago by our good friend, Peg (who also helped plant flowering shrubs and bushes all around our house). Walking to our front door is like entering an oasis in the desert. It is God's garden—or at least part of God's garden—and we love it.

The weekend's here (April 3, 2009)

I love Animusic. This stuff is amazing. If you really want to get your socks knocked off, hit the play button on the this video. Then, when the video begins to roll a new button (“HQ”) will appear. Click on the HQ (High Quality) button. This is my favorite piece by Animusic.

Here's the trailer for Animusic's first DVD:

"The Federal Government stands behind your warranty!"

HT: Cindy Kunsman

A humble minister of Christ

I am reading "Letters of Spiritual Counsel: The Letters of Samuel Rutherford" and am amazed at the humble spirit this minister of Christ displayed. I think we have all become much too full of ourselves and forget that our value is in the fact that we are God's image bearers. We have no value apart from Jesus Christ. It is all too easy for us to begin to think that we are better than others, when in fact we are the same—all of us being in need of an eternal Savior.

To John Fullerton
Of Carleton in Galloway

Worthy and Much Honored,

Grace, mercy and peace be to you. I received your letter from my brother, to which I now answer particularly.

I confess two things of myself, first, woe is me, that men should think there is anything in me. He is my witness, before whom I am as crystal, that the secret house–devils that bear me too often company, and that this sink of corruption which I find within, make me go with low sails. And if others saw what I see, they would look by me, but not to me.

Second. I know that this shower of free grace behaved to be on me, otherwise I should have withered. I know, also, that I have need of a buffeting tempter, that grace may be put to exercise, and I kept low.

Worthy and dear brother in the Lord Jesus, I write that from my heart which you now read. I avouch that Christ, and sweating and sighing under His cross, is sweeter to me by far, than all the kingdoms in the world could possibly be. If you, and my dearest acquaintance in Christ, reap any fruit by my suffering, let me be weighed in God’s even balance, if my joy be not fulfilled. What am I, to carry the marks of such a great King! I have gotten the wale and choice of Christ’s crosses, even the tithe and the flower of the gold of all crosses, to bear witness to the truth; and herein find I liberty, joy, access, life, comfort, love, faith, submission, patience and resolution to take delight in on waiting. And, withal, in my race He has come near me and let me see the gold and crown. Let no man think he shall lose at Christ’s hands in suffering for Him.

I doubt not but my Lord is preparing me for heavier trials. I am most ready at the good pleasure of my Lord, in the strength of His grace for anything He will be pleased to call me to; neither shall the black faced messenger Death beholden at the door when it shall knock. If my Lord will take honor of the like of me how glad and joyful will my soul be. Let Christ come out with me to a hotter battle than this and I will fear no flesh. I know that my Master shall win the day and that He has taken the order of my suffering into His own hand. I have not yet resisted to blood.

Oh, how often am I laid in the dust, and urged by the tempter (who can ride his own errands upon our lying apprehensions) to sin against the unchangeable love of my Lord! When I think upon the sparrows and swallows that build their nests in the church of Anwoth, and of my dumb Sabbaths, my sorrowful, bleated eyes look asquint upon Christ, and present Him as angry. But in this trial (all honor to our princely and royal King!) faith saileth fair before the wind, with topsail up, and carrieth the passenger through. I lay inhibitions upon my thoughts, that they receive no slanders of my only, only Beloved.

Now my dearest in Christ, the great Messenger of the Covenant, the only wise and all–sufficient Jehovah, establish you to the end. I hear that the Lord has been at your house, and has called home your wife to her rest. I know, Sir, that you see the Lord loosing the pins of your tabernacle, and wooing your love from this plastered and over–gilded world, and calling upon you to be making yourself ready to go to your father’s country, which shall be a sweet fruit of that visitation. You know “to send the Comforter” was the King’s word when He ascended on high. You have claim to, and interest in, that promise.

All love, all mercy, all grace and peace, all multiplied saving consolations, all joy and faith in Christ, all stability and confirming strength of grace, and the goodwill of Him that dwelt in the Bush be with you.

Your unworthy brother,

Aberdeen, June 15, 1637

Blog Header - April 1, 2009

Today's blog header is a photo I took of our pastor's daughter almost 15 years ago. Suzanna wanted senior portraits that were unusual and asked if I would take some portraits for her. We spent the day taking studio shots and then running around to various locations doing a variety of formal, informal, and casual portraits. This shot was taken while Suzanna was taking a break. It's in the Prince William Forest Park in Northern Virginia—the park where my sister was married.