Summer Time

Sparrows in a Hurricane

So maybe they aren't sparrows and maybe they aren't in a hurricane, but they are sleeping peacefully among a mass of screaming kids (and some adults) in the Explorikeet exhibit in the OKC Zoo. A hurricane may well be preferred to them. My life has seemed like something of a hurricane lately. The roof is coming off and the winds are howling at the door and I am trying with all of my might to hang on to the things that are so dear to me. My strength has been fading recently and I feel I am at the brink of being swept away. I know God has a plan for each of us. Letting go, not in the sense of ceasing to go out but in the sense of relinquishing total control and trusting that His Spirit will not lead me anywhere that I cannot endure. It might also require me to trust that I may be closest to my God in the eye of the storm. This picture reminded me of my wife and my Savior -- both of whom stand beside me and promise to hold me up when I feel my strength fade. I pray God give me the strength, courage, wisdom and humility to submit to each of them.

Discipline

I am so proud of my kiddos and the hard work they put in to their athletics. Looking at our lives and the amount of time we spend preparing, learning, practicing and training for these sports is a little alarming and I know that we fall on the conservative side of the spectrum. Make no mistake, we have fun together in that time of preparation and play and appreciate the discipline and fitness our children receive from these activities.

I can't help but wonder, though, if I am doing enough to translate that discipline and fitness over into the spiritual lives of my children. I hope and pray that I can do a better job of putting as much or more emphasis on this aspect of our lives and the discipline and commitment required to be spiritually secure.

Random

No thoughts with these... Just some interesting pictures I took at the Anatole Dallas at the LTC Convention. This was the atrium area. It was a very pretty place with all kinds of room to run and play or sit and enjoy the peaceful evening.This photo was of the chapel in the complex at sunset. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to take this shot. In retrospect, I probably should have left the building in silhouette during post, but I can live with these results from a first attempt at something new.

From a Child's Eye

To see the world through the eyes of a child... I wish I could do that more often. Thanks to a good assistant, Dustin, for laying down on the ground and trusting me not to kick him in the face while we took this picture. I watch them play in parks and courtyard, bedrooms and living rooms, and even in the car. Anything can become a toy. I love the way they can find a way to simply enjoy themselves no matter where we are.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. Unless you become like this little child, you will not enter the Kingdom." There are so many ways in which we look at children and treasure the cuteness, but pass it off as something they will grow out of. I pray that I may be able to bottle the nature of a child; that pure dependence and trust and be able to imitate the freedom with which they live and find joy in all things around me. I will try to take myself less seriously, laugh uncontrollably, run and jump and play in the grass, swing as high as I can and jump out... well let's not go too far. I do want to enjoy each moment. We spend far too much time wishing away the week and looking for Friday that I fear we waste valuable moments given to us by God.

A Couple of 1st Time Experiments

These are 2 firsts for me. The lightning shot was not a great storm and not a great location, but I learned a lot from playing around out there. I look forward to getting out in another one to get that shot of lightning that will take your breath away. Both of these were taken in April of 2010. The train was a little disappointing because I wanted it to look more like I was on the tracks. I hadn't gotten my zoom lens yet and was afraid I would unawaringly allow the train to get too close with a short wide angle lens. The next one I get a chance to take will undoubtedly be much more dramatic.

One Stands Out

Be holy therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect. God calls us to be set apart from the world around us. He does not call us to be merely good people. There are many worldly people who know nothing of God yet manage to be good people -- but they are not holy people.There is to be something about God's people that is decidedly different -- something that people see and know not only that we are different than the rest but that we are Christian. Too many times we see that we are standing out and are in obvious opposition to the world and make an attempt to be a little less bold. We draw back and try to blend in without being worldly. My charge to each of us is to stand out in a way that brings glory and honor to the one who created all things.

New Life

While the Cotton Woods spawn many thoughts and feelings unpleasant for a lot of folks, especially those with allergies, they mark a time in Oklahoma that is possibly the most beautiful time of the year in that area. The coming of Spring sparks colors and blooms from the Bradford Pears and Redbuds that put on quite a display.

God offers us New Life as well, an opportunity to start fresh with new blooms and blossoms. He prunes away the old and dead and leaves the new to thrive. May my God continue to work on me so that I may produce something that is far more pleasing to him than these flowers and trees. May they serve as a reminder of what he has promised to do for us and through us.

I Long to be a Sheep

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thu art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (KJV)

God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even though the way goes through Death Valley I am not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the House of God for the rest of my life. (MSG)

The Lighthouse

So these first posts will come a little quicker than the ones later. I have to catch up to current times, and I am sure the blogging fever will subside and I will become less and less excited about something that is new and fun at this point. That seems to be pretty common to life in general... Even our spiritual walk. There are times when something is new spiritually, and my excitement level rises to another high point. It doesn't take long to fall back into the ruts that have been in place for so long. This picture reminded me of the Acappella song appropriately titled "The Lighthouse." This was also taken at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City. The lighthouse is a beacon in the darkness. It warns of impending danger. It alerts the captain of unseen traps that may cause significant damage.God has placed a lighthouse in our lives as well. Jesus is the lighthouse. He has saved us from the rocks of sin. He has shone His light into the world, but the darkness does not understand it. Why would the darkness understand something so contradictory to its nature? If we trust the lighthouse, why do we continue to forge ahead into the rocky waters in front of us. I pray that I continue to recognize not only the Lighthouse, but the light it emits. I pray that the same vigor that once clutched our spirits when we began our journey in baptism will once again take control. I pray I may regain the pure, faithful and totally dependent trust in the Light and the Lighthouse as I try to guide my ship safely home.

Peace.

The Journey Begins

So, this is where my photographic journey began; on the shores of the beautiful Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, OK. We had just purchased our Nikon D3000 with our tax return and had made a trip out to ride bikes around the lake. I will begin with this one in order to give myself a baseline to judge my own improvements and see from where I have come.

It is truly amazing to me how much of God's majesty I miss. In fact, until I started looking at everything as a photo op, I would say I missed most of it. Scenes such as these pictured above are hard to miss, but the more subtle scenes can often be even more dramatic. I pray that every day we are privileged enough to breathe is one that we spend -- use rather -- in taking notice of the beauty that is around us each day.