False Alarm.

Tip: Set up object shots on a plain, neutral color background to make your subject pop.

Do you believe that God is in control? I know anyone who considers themselves a Christian would jump to say yes, but stop for a moment. Think about it. Are you part of the masses that are freaking out about this upcoming election?

Not only that, but do you, like many others, complain about and badmouth our current leadership? Do you make snide remarks and call them bad names? Sure, they don't uphold your ideals, but that does not justify blatant disrespect- whether they are in the room to hear it or not.

Luke 6:45 says, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

So, the question now is, what does your speech indicate about what's going on in your heart these days? We must continually stop and consider this question. Alongside that, take heart and know that those in office are not a mistake. God has said so Himself:

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1-2)

Oh, where do we begin? The rubble or our sins?

Tip: When photographing abandoned buildings, try to position yourself near a window to take advantage of ambient lighting; it is much more enchanting than harsh bulb light.

This abandoned room reminds me of the lyrics of one of my favorite popular songs:

I was left to my own devices
Many days fell away with nothing to show

And the walls kept tumbling down
In the city that we love
Great clouds roll over the hills
Bringing darkness from above

But if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
Nothing changed at all?
And if you close your eyes,
Does it almost feel like
You've been here before?
How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

The bridge of the song states this:

Oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?
Oh oh where do we begin?
The rubble or our sins?

The song is titled Pompeii, and it depicts a vibrant culture that was bent on vanity and living large. Enamored with their entertainment, beauty, and success, these ancient people never would have imagined that their gorgeous city would be ground to a halt within a few hours. I imagine whoever once lived in the room pictured above never would have imagined it standing there the way it is today, either.

What about us? Do we, in our fast paced societies, ever stop to contemplate the fact that our lives and accomplishments are not everlasting? Do we take time out from our day to day lives to seek out the knowledge of the One who is everlasting and apply His counsel to our lives?

Because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

would have none of my counsel

and despised all my reproof,

therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,

and have their fill of their own devices.

For the simple are killed by their turning away,

and the complacency of fools destroys them;

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure

and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.

-Proverbs 1:29-33

A Peek At Heavenly Worship

Tip: Pay attention to your point of focus. What is there about your photo that will draw in the viewer's eye?

Christians have an amazing connection to one another. Have you experienced it? Have you seen it?

I may never have met you in my life, but if you are one of God's followers, there is always bound to be that spark of excitement upon getting to know you. I've seen people open their wallets, their homes, and their lives to welcome and help their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. 

It is amazing. I have particular people in my life who are from all around my country and the world who I have grown close with and would go out of my way to see and do things for- all because of our common ground in the Lord. These people, despite having seen me in person merely a handful of times (if at all), are always ready to help, pray, and have great conversations- and I am always glad to return the favor. 

The book of Romans says a lot about how we ought to relate to our fellow Christians. The verse below sums up all of the Bible's teachings on friendship rather well:

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:10-11)

Continue on, my friends. Show brotherly love, honor each other above yourself, and be fervent and  zealous servants of God above all else. Knowing people who uphold these principles is like having just the tiniest glimpse into the fellowship and worship we will one day experience in Heaven.

Why Do You Believe?

Tip: Consider the background. Is it relevant to your image? Or does it distract?

Have you ever thought about why you believe what you do? It's easy to jump out and say "Well of course! It's in the Bible." While this is a perfectly legitimate reply and reason, one must stop and think before they blurt it out. Have I actually read this? It is easy to fall into second-hand belief, especially if you were raised being taught certain things. Hearing someone you trust talk about scriptural truths can easily take the place of searching the Bible for yourself, and this should not be.

Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." [emphasis mine]

We are called to test and discern what is the perfect, good, and acceptable will of God. How do we do this? By reading the Bible. If we do not take the time and responsibility of searching the scripture thoroughly for ourselves, yet claim to know God's word, it is like someone who receives a post card or watches the Travel Channel and acts like they have been to the location spoken of. You can learn a good amount of information second-hand, and it may well even be true information, but until you go there yourself, you can't really know the place. 

The above is true with the Bible also. You can read many good, theologically sound books, hear sermons, and talk with well educated friends. These are all fine and good resources for broadening our understanding of scripture, but until you open your Bible and read it for yourself, you cannot fully know exactly what God has said.

What doctrines and beliefs of God and His workings do you cling to in your mind? Have you read the scriptures that back these up (in full context)? If not, I challenge you to do so. 

Biblical Joy #2

Tip: Use sun-spots/lens flare carefully and sparingly. It can either add a great mood or a big distraction to your image.

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

If you've ever heard the popular worship chorus, the above verse may seem almost cliche as it repeats over and over again in your head. Starting a new day might seem just as repetitive. Wake up, go to work or school (or both?), eat, sleep, repeat. Maybe have time to see a few friends or family members here or there. Maybe have time to read a short paragraph or two about God alongside part of a Bible verse, if you can squeeze it in.

If the above sounds at all like how you live your life, it's no wonder joy is a rare thing to come by!

Just slow down and think about it for a second: God made today. He made it, and the fact that you are alive to see it is a gift from Him. We've lived so many days that we do not realize what miracles are continually happening around us: our body parts all work together to keep us functional, the sun comes up, the earth and planets properly rotate to make the days and nights and seasons happen. This stuff could not be without God upholding it all and allowing it to keep working.

Be in awe. Worship God with amazement. Know that He has let you come this far for a good reason, and pray that you may seek Him more each day that He lets you wake up. Never let yourself complain about the miracle of another day, whatever happens to become of it.

A Lesson From Skiing

Tip: If you are tired of your snow photos looking like basic black & white images, add a little blue filter to change it up.

Recently I got to experience the privilege (and pain) of downhill skiing. It was a spectacular day of learning, both in regards to the sport and other lessons gained from it. One of the biggest lessons I learned on the slopes that day is that some things just shouldn't be tackled alone.

As much as our culture tells us we must always be autonomous, there are some places in life where that just is not a wise choice. There were times when I fell that my legs and skis got so badly tangled that I couldn't move an inch without the assistance of someone else to detach my feet from the skis. Without help, I likely would have injured myself trying to get back up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 has some very relevant insight on this: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Likewise, the Christian life is not meant to be lived alone either. Proverbs 27:17 states that "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." and Psalm 34:3 says "Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" Then there is the famed command of Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Can we do any of the things talked about in those verses if we are trying to take on life while distancing ourselves from fellow believers?

3 Overlooked Lessons From The Great Flood

Tip: When photographing in potentially dangerous situations, come prepared with emergency items and the knowledge of how to save yourself if you get in a pinch (or even better: a friend who can help). If you aren't prepared, leave.

Nearly every year, there comes a period of time when the river rises and the snow melt carries in lots of extra water and debris to the valley in which I live. Flooding is a good reminder of the one great flood that God once sent, back in the times of the book of Genesis.

Typically, when the flood of Genesis is mentioned, people automatically think of Noah and the animals all crammed onto a boat floating around, ending with the rainbow of God's promise to never again wipe all living things from the earth. While these are key aspects of the account, there are other lessons that can be gained. Here are a few:

1.) God is not required to show us mercy as we live in sin. 
The whole reason this all happened was because "The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time." (Genesis 5:5). While He has promised never to exterminate all living things from the earth, do note that He can and has struck down smaller groups and individuals as He has seen fit (remember Ananias and Sapphira? Acts 5:1-11; Also, the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah- Genesis 19:1-29)

2.) God does choose to show mercy to some people.
"So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:8). God could have chosen to lump Noah in with everyone else and call humanity a waste as a whole, but Noah honored God in his living and the Lord chose to let him and his family continue on.

3.) Numbers are Irrelevant.
To many groups, having a large number of attendees means the difference between a church that is "alive" and a church that is "dying". That simply is not the case. Nowhere in scripture does it say that you must have a big Bible study or belong to a mega-church to be spiritually fruitful. When God sent the great flood to wipe out the races, notice that out of all the people in the world at that time, he only saved eight - "On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark." (Genesis 7:13). Also, again referring to the account of Sodom & Gomorrah in Genesis 19, notice that the Lord only saved one family. As Matthew 18:20 states, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Thank God that He has shown you mercy though you don't deserve it. Thank Him that He chooses to at least save a few people. Thank Him that He shares His presence with us and will bless even the smallest groups of people.