There's a storm out there folks! Are you watching the news these days? Feeling the tension yet? Are you trusting in our government to fix the problems that have grasped our nation?
I have learned that no matter what political persuasion you are from that there is no party of politicians that will fix this world.
They are corrupt in general. They have sold us out. Please, ... I am not saying that every last one them are evil but I am saying that evil isn't divided along a single party line. I tend to trust none of them ... because it is so difficult to distinguish between the good and the corrupt. You have to be on your guard watching these people in congress. So, I DO believe we need to remain active calling out those who are corrupt on either side that we CAN identify. Where are the real leaders out there?
The problems we are facing as a nation and a world are so large. I often steer clear of the news media for months because of the overwhelming feeling of anxiety they seem to be forcing on us. Do you feel the pressure?
I tend to pick up a news network that is far more positive when I feel the heat from the world. I could quote many scriptures from the Bible that speak of the things that are watching take place today. The Bible speaks directly of the coming world turmoil but it also speaks of the ultimate triumph of the Lord.
I have had all the negative news I can handle for today so I want to encourage you with a passage of scripture that is usually only mentioned around Christmas found in Isaiah 9:6,7:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
One day the corruption will be over and Jesus will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. That's the government I trust!
Where is your hope today? Is it in your 401k, your bank account, real estate investments, your portfolio? Where is your anchor when your world is getting rocked? Do you trust in yourself and your power or do you lean on His everlasting arms?
As for me:
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
God bless you this weekend.
NikonSniper Steve
Showing posts with label Text. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Text. Show all posts
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Passing On A Torch Of Life
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
then my heart will be glad;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.
25 May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes keep to my ways,
Proverbs 23:15-26 (NIV)
then my heart will be glad;
16 my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth and do not sell it;
get wisdom, discipline and understanding.
24 The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him.
25 May your father and mother be glad;
may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 My son, give me your heart
and let your eyes keep to my ways,
Proverbs 23:15-26 (NIV)
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Parenting From The Desk Of Solomon
Parenting was a ride. Everyone of our five kids could tell you about the battle from their perspective. Most times, instruction was heeded without conflict. As they got older, there was a unanimous revolt. It's just the nature of life. It started with grumbling but in some cases turned into a full declaration of war.
I am proud that our kids were confident enough to confront me ... but it didn't always win me over. In fact, it rarely did. Especially if it wasn't extremely polite, respectful and full of curtsying. So, I think you get it ... winning me over was really really rare.
I was and remain a bit of a block-head. Oh, I am told I have made progress but it still falls short. Luckily I am 99% percent done with parenting in this area. As I have aged, I really have evaluated what is worth the fight. Some fights of the past are very embarrassing now. Some fights, I am VERY proud to have fought. It's true, there were far too many battles. Some wouldn't even be worthy of my notice now. Yet, there were others ... Oh, how I wish I was more aware of what was happening.
I now know discipline from a childs perspective, from a parents perspective and even from an observing grandparents perspective. None of these vantage points are very fun to experience ... for very different reasons. Now, if you are still young, you may not understand the struggle of the last two perspectives I mentioned ... but I trust time will reveal to you why they are all difficult.
Forgive me here. I need to say this in the clearest way I can in two words.
DISCIPLINE SUCKS!
Can we agree on that at least in principle?
But, I want to also say there is such value in discipline. I want to quickly look at the upside of discipline because I think the downside is very clear to us all ... AND let me also say that the lack of discipline is far worse. I believe that it might take a bit of growing up for some of you to see the truth of this ... but stick with me here.
So, I want to make some general statements.
You didn't discipline my kids. Why? Well, first of all, you didn't want to go to court over it. But, bigger than that ... you were not deeply invested in my kids lives.
When you hear that my kid screws up ... you may think, Oh well, that's too bad, but in no way do you feel like getting involved in the situation. You are not their Mom or Dad. That's also why I don't get too worked up when I hear that your kid screws up. I can feel bad for you but they are not my responsibility.
Godly discipline DEEPLY communicates the responsibility of love. The lack of discipline tells your child that their failure is of no consequence to them or to you. It communicates a definite lack of love.
I can't love your kid like you can! You can't love my kid like me. You directly react to things if its your kid in the headlines ... because of the love you have invested in them. You want their best at all times in all situations. In fact, you may even demand compliance to some things with little or no grace for error. What compells you to do this when it's your kid and not mine? It's the responsibility of love being acted out. I will admit that sometimes it is hard for your kid to immediately see that Mom or Dad is freeking out because of love. But it's there! As a parent I am confident that I can stand before God on the basis of my motives for correction ... even though my methods were often off track. I was motivated by the responsibility of love to communicate discipline (no matter how science-fiction that ever got). We can regret our methods but still have the correct heart attitude for our kids.
We can weep together for each other when we are in trial and pray for each other but it's always more difficult for the actual parent going through the fire.
Here is a biggie I had to learn!
I can't love your kid like you can.
You can't love my kid like me.
We can't even possibly love our kids like God does! He is perfect. God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't get worked up over the wrong things. He has known our children much longer than us. God knew them when it all began, before you, before me.
When a person places their faith in Christ they become a child of God and they begin a relationship of deeper love. You choose to no longer be a child of the world, but to be HIS! (1 John 3).
It is with that perspective that I read this passage this morning. Godly minded discipline snuck up on me here. Look at the context in which it was mentioned.
Proverbs 3:1-12
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
How great is our patient and loving Father in heaven?
Have a great weekend!
NikonSniper Steve
I am proud that our kids were confident enough to confront me ... but it didn't always win me over. In fact, it rarely did. Especially if it wasn't extremely polite, respectful and full of curtsying. So, I think you get it ... winning me over was really really rare.
I was and remain a bit of a block-head. Oh, I am told I have made progress but it still falls short. Luckily I am 99% percent done with parenting in this area. As I have aged, I really have evaluated what is worth the fight. Some fights of the past are very embarrassing now. Some fights, I am VERY proud to have fought. It's true, there were far too many battles. Some wouldn't even be worthy of my notice now. Yet, there were others ... Oh, how I wish I was more aware of what was happening.
I now know discipline from a childs perspective, from a parents perspective and even from an observing grandparents perspective. None of these vantage points are very fun to experience ... for very different reasons. Now, if you are still young, you may not understand the struggle of the last two perspectives I mentioned ... but I trust time will reveal to you why they are all difficult.
Forgive me here. I need to say this in the clearest way I can in two words.
DISCIPLINE SUCKS!
Can we agree on that at least in principle?
But, I want to also say there is such value in discipline. I want to quickly look at the upside of discipline because I think the downside is very clear to us all ... AND let me also say that the lack of discipline is far worse. I believe that it might take a bit of growing up for some of you to see the truth of this ... but stick with me here.
So, I want to make some general statements.
You didn't discipline my kids. Why? Well, first of all, you didn't want to go to court over it. But, bigger than that ... you were not deeply invested in my kids lives.
When you hear that my kid screws up ... you may think, Oh well, that's too bad, but in no way do you feel like getting involved in the situation. You are not their Mom or Dad. That's also why I don't get too worked up when I hear that your kid screws up. I can feel bad for you but they are not my responsibility.
Godly discipline DEEPLY communicates the responsibility of love. The lack of discipline tells your child that their failure is of no consequence to them or to you. It communicates a definite lack of love.
I can't love your kid like you can! You can't love my kid like me. You directly react to things if its your kid in the headlines ... because of the love you have invested in them. You want their best at all times in all situations. In fact, you may even demand compliance to some things with little or no grace for error. What compells you to do this when it's your kid and not mine? It's the responsibility of love being acted out. I will admit that sometimes it is hard for your kid to immediately see that Mom or Dad is freeking out because of love. But it's there! As a parent I am confident that I can stand before God on the basis of my motives for correction ... even though my methods were often off track. I was motivated by the responsibility of love to communicate discipline (no matter how science-fiction that ever got). We can regret our methods but still have the correct heart attitude for our kids.
We can weep together for each other when we are in trial and pray for each other but it's always more difficult for the actual parent going through the fire.
Here is a biggie I had to learn!
I can't love your kid like you can.
You can't love my kid like me.
We can't even possibly love our kids like God does! He is perfect. God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't get worked up over the wrong things. He has known our children much longer than us. God knew them when it all began, before you, before me.
When a person places their faith in Christ they become a child of God and they begin a relationship of deeper love. You choose to no longer be a child of the world, but to be HIS! (1 John 3).
It is with that perspective that I read this passage this morning. Godly minded discipline snuck up on me here. Look at the context in which it was mentioned.
Proverbs 3:1-12
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
How great is our patient and loving Father in heaven?
Have a great weekend!
NikonSniper Steve
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Reality Check At 53
Well, tomorrow is my birthday. I will be officially 53. I am sure that sounds young to some of you and dreadfully old to others of you.
My sons, Joel and Kyle, have been trying to get me to go to a football field with them to throw ball around again. I haven’t thrown a football at all in nearly a decade. Many of know you I played for years and at one time could actually toss a ball a fair distance and hit a moving target in stride. I spent more years catching and running with the ball but I was always pleased that I could chuck that pig about 57 yards till I was about 38 years old. Not too bad for an ex-receiver?
About a decade ago, I discovered that I couldn’t do that anymore. I had to warm up like crazy even to throw 30 yards or the pain in my shoulder would nearly kill me. If I was lucky, I was able to throw around 40 yards but I had trouble when a receiver tried to make a direction change to run to daylight. I just didn’t have the power to make the corrections and place the ball where it needed to go. Often, I would just drop my arm and hold on to the ball in quiet disgust (not always quiet) of myself.
I am getting older.
The worst thing about discovering that I couldn’t throw as well was that … I could still see everything that I should be doing clearly. My brain new exactly how to make the adjustment to make the throw. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
So, I haven’t showed up to that field with my sons yet. I will. But I am dealing with it in my head a bit before I go. I may have to warm up way too long and I am trying to prepare myself for only being able to throw 20 yards. If it’s worse than that … I can already hear my sons saying “Good afternoon, Madam, thanks for dropping by here before Mom forces you to go grocery shopping for her”!
Don’t think this aging thing is swallowing me up or anything. Because it isn’t! I’m OK. I am not one of those who is in depression over the coming of another birthday. Nor am I depressed that I am unable to make the practice squad for an NFL team.
I know some things in my future are on the down swing. And that’s OK! I think you get to some point in life and realize that some of the things you thought were important … really aren’t. In our parental youth, we can often fill our lives with activity and busy-ness by chasing after what we believe are the most important things in life. Only to discover that we had let more important things slide.
I do understand that there is by design a bit of a reality check as we age ... an awakening of sorts! It's ... HEY, I’m really not gonna live forever! This should be life altering when it hits you. I think you miss the point if you just keep doing the same things. So, here’s how I look at my life now.
In fourteen years, I will be 67. Lord willing! I am just picking a number out there in the future to make a point. Now, when you are 53, you DO realize that 14 years isn’t a long time from now. So, If someone were able to walk through a cemetery and see my name etched on a stone in 14 years … no one would say, “My, My, NikonSniper sure died young”. In fact, there are many people don’t even live till they are 53 years old. We aren’t invincible! In fact, I was thinking of getting a football jersey with the name “VINCIBLE” on the back because I realize my eternal destiny keeps getting closer.
Now … this isn’t said to be depressing or to be the “Debbie Downer” of the Internet! I am only saying this to state that I clearly realize that my time is short … so, I realize that the words I say now need to be a little less “willy-nilly” than my youth. I’m saying … I want to make sure that I maximize the communication of my love for my family and to do this by stressing what I know to be the most important decision they could ever make in this life. That is a clear and bold choice for Christ alone!
I also want to be clear with all whom I am fortunate enough to encounter in life’s remaining days. This includes you! Follow me here.
If I truly believe, AND I DO, that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12), shouldn’t I want to tell you? I mean, if I say I care about you, AND I DO, and I truly believe you might have missed the most important decision in life, … Shouldn’t I say something?
If I truly believe that a wrong choice for your eternal salvation would lead you to a horrible eternity, … Shouldn’t I say something? Not according to the world! The world wants me to shut up. I know that!
The world says, “Just tell people you care about them, even help them with a little cash when they are struggling (if ya have to), … but don’t try to tell them anything that will assist them in finding the source of real love and eternal treasure.”
You can call me a hypocrite! I fall on my face all the time. I’m not perfect. But I know the King of Kings. I know the Lord of Lords. I know the author of life. I know the deliverer of lost sheep. I know the One who lifts the broken-hearted. I know the ONLY way, the truth and the life. And one day He will make me cease to stumble. And Jesus can deliver you from whatever life’s trials are and grant you eternal life in His presence.
And if I don’t tell you about Jesus … I should be considered an even bigger hypocrite! If a “believer in Christ” ISN’T telling you about Him, you should be asking them, “Why”?
That is what is important to me in my remaining days here. I must declare to you that I can’t throw a football … but I know Jesus! I am not speaking to you today of fuzzy feelings. I am talking about the Lord who died for your sins, If only you will accept it and allow Him into your life.
No one will care in eternity that I could throw a football when I was young. The only thing that will matter there is what I did here with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. These are the most loving and caring words I can urge you to hear. The world insists I am not politically correct! But Jesus is ALIVE! Something happened 2000 years ago that shook up the world … and He is still ALIVE and coming again. I hope you will seek Him today.
Your friend.
NikonSniper Steve
My sons, Joel and Kyle, have been trying to get me to go to a football field with them to throw ball around again. I haven’t thrown a football at all in nearly a decade. Many of know you I played for years and at one time could actually toss a ball a fair distance and hit a moving target in stride. I spent more years catching and running with the ball but I was always pleased that I could chuck that pig about 57 yards till I was about 38 years old. Not too bad for an ex-receiver?
About a decade ago, I discovered that I couldn’t do that anymore. I had to warm up like crazy even to throw 30 yards or the pain in my shoulder would nearly kill me. If I was lucky, I was able to throw around 40 yards but I had trouble when a receiver tried to make a direction change to run to daylight. I just didn’t have the power to make the corrections and place the ball where it needed to go. Often, I would just drop my arm and hold on to the ball in quiet disgust (not always quiet) of myself.
I am getting older.
The worst thing about discovering that I couldn’t throw as well was that … I could still see everything that I should be doing clearly. My brain new exactly how to make the adjustment to make the throw. I just couldn’t do it anymore.
So, I haven’t showed up to that field with my sons yet. I will. But I am dealing with it in my head a bit before I go. I may have to warm up way too long and I am trying to prepare myself for only being able to throw 20 yards. If it’s worse than that … I can already hear my sons saying “Good afternoon, Madam, thanks for dropping by here before Mom forces you to go grocery shopping for her”!
Don’t think this aging thing is swallowing me up or anything. Because it isn’t! I’m OK. I am not one of those who is in depression over the coming of another birthday. Nor am I depressed that I am unable to make the practice squad for an NFL team.
I know some things in my future are on the down swing. And that’s OK! I think you get to some point in life and realize that some of the things you thought were important … really aren’t. In our parental youth, we can often fill our lives with activity and busy-ness by chasing after what we believe are the most important things in life. Only to discover that we had let more important things slide.
I do understand that there is by design a bit of a reality check as we age ... an awakening of sorts! It's ... HEY, I’m really not gonna live forever! This should be life altering when it hits you. I think you miss the point if you just keep doing the same things. So, here’s how I look at my life now.
In fourteen years, I will be 67. Lord willing! I am just picking a number out there in the future to make a point. Now, when you are 53, you DO realize that 14 years isn’t a long time from now. So, If someone were able to walk through a cemetery and see my name etched on a stone in 14 years … no one would say, “My, My, NikonSniper sure died young”. In fact, there are many people don’t even live till they are 53 years old. We aren’t invincible! In fact, I was thinking of getting a football jersey with the name “VINCIBLE” on the back because I realize my eternal destiny keeps getting closer.
Now … this isn’t said to be depressing or to be the “Debbie Downer” of the Internet! I am only saying this to state that I clearly realize that my time is short … so, I realize that the words I say now need to be a little less “willy-nilly” than my youth. I’m saying … I want to make sure that I maximize the communication of my love for my family and to do this by stressing what I know to be the most important decision they could ever make in this life. That is a clear and bold choice for Christ alone!
I also want to be clear with all whom I am fortunate enough to encounter in life’s remaining days. This includes you! Follow me here.
If I truly believe, AND I DO, that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven (John 14:6, Acts 4:12), shouldn’t I want to tell you? I mean, if I say I care about you, AND I DO, and I truly believe you might have missed the most important decision in life, … Shouldn’t I say something?
If I truly believe that a wrong choice for your eternal salvation would lead you to a horrible eternity, … Shouldn’t I say something? Not according to the world! The world wants me to shut up. I know that!
The world says, “Just tell people you care about them, even help them with a little cash when they are struggling (if ya have to), … but don’t try to tell them anything that will assist them in finding the source of real love and eternal treasure.”
You can call me a hypocrite! I fall on my face all the time. I’m not perfect. But I know the King of Kings. I know the Lord of Lords. I know the author of life. I know the deliverer of lost sheep. I know the One who lifts the broken-hearted. I know the ONLY way, the truth and the life. And one day He will make me cease to stumble. And Jesus can deliver you from whatever life’s trials are and grant you eternal life in His presence.
And if I don’t tell you about Jesus … I should be considered an even bigger hypocrite! If a “believer in Christ” ISN’T telling you about Him, you should be asking them, “Why”?
That is what is important to me in my remaining days here. I must declare to you that I can’t throw a football … but I know Jesus! I am not speaking to you today of fuzzy feelings. I am talking about the Lord who died for your sins, If only you will accept it and allow Him into your life.
No one will care in eternity that I could throw a football when I was young. The only thing that will matter there is what I did here with God’s Son, Jesus Christ. These are the most loving and caring words I can urge you to hear. The world insists I am not politically correct! But Jesus is ALIVE! Something happened 2000 years ago that shook up the world … and He is still ALIVE and coming again. I hope you will seek Him today.
Your friend.
NikonSniper Steve
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
NikonSniper 4000 Follower Drawing
Need extra storage space? Make sure you enter this NikonSniper drawing for a chance to win a Western Digital – My Passport Essential SE 1TB External USB Portable Hard Drive.
That’s right! When we cross the 4000 follower milestone in a few months, we will giveaway another 1TB Hard Drive in a continuing effort to say thanks to those of you who follow NikonSniper.
As I have said before, I wish I could give these to everyone to say thanks properly but I haven’t won a lottery yet. Your comments on this blog and all over the Internet on your own blogs about NikonSniper have been very encouraging and indeed humbling. Believe me, … I know I am not quite the photographer as some of you proclaim … but it is so nice to know it is appreciated. Many thanks to all of you.
Contest rules are simple!
1. You must be a listed follower of the NikonSniper blog. After the drawing, I will check to see if the winner is in the list of followers.
2. Respond to THIS post in the comments with the request, “Please enter me in the NikonSniper 4000 contest.”
3. Wait patiently. The winner will be drawn within days of crossing the 4000 follower milestone.
YES, you can win ... no matter where you are in the world. If you have an address we can send it to you. We have now had a winner in California of a 1TB Hard Drive and a winner of a 200GB Hard Drive was from far eastern Canada. And that’s like … way out there, EH! So, you can win no matter where on earth you live … unless of course, if you are one of my relatives. I don’t like kissin’ yer sister with a favor, so to speak.
Thanks again to all of you who make this blog interesting. You provide the words and meaning to many of the photos captured in my moments on the road. I have mentioned many times in the past that I do not comment on many photos on the blog because I like to hear what they mean to you without me explaining much about the photo. You all have a very different thoughts or stories remembered by the same photo and that’s where this blog truly becomes yours too!
Good luck and God bless you all!
NikonSniper Steve
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
See New Blog - A Purpose For Brokenness
Yesterday, I discovered a new blog by Alice Alfred called "A Purpose For Brokenness". Fellow bloggies, check out her posts called "Ugly October; The Month Of Loss" and "34 Years - For What?"
Alice writes very candidly about the struggle we all face for our hearts. Actually ... read everything Alice writes! I had tears in my eyes. I am convinced if you read these two stories you will want to follow this blog!
God is in a battle to get your attention and win your heart and soul. God loves you so much he will allow all kinds of trials so that you might call to Him. God is the ONLY ONE who is able to bring good out of bad situations. God is merciful and will bring victory if you will allow Him into your life.
Thanks Alice for being vulnerable! I want ALL readers of NikonSniper to see your blog and encourage you.
Alice, You write like David in the valley and on the mountaintop. We can FEEL your words! God will use you when you are real with people. Keep on running for Him! I am praying big things for you and you will write from more mountaintops soon. Read 2 Chronicles 15:7!
NikonSniper Steve
Alice writes very candidly about the struggle we all face for our hearts. Actually ... read everything Alice writes! I had tears in my eyes. I am convinced if you read these two stories you will want to follow this blog!
God is in a battle to get your attention and win your heart and soul. God loves you so much he will allow all kinds of trials so that you might call to Him. God is the ONLY ONE who is able to bring good out of bad situations. God is merciful and will bring victory if you will allow Him into your life.
Thanks Alice for being vulnerable! I want ALL readers of NikonSniper to see your blog and encourage you.
Alice, You write like David in the valley and on the mountaintop. We can FEEL your words! God will use you when you are real with people. Keep on running for Him! I am praying big things for you and you will write from more mountaintops soon. Read 2 Chronicles 15:7!
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Lord Jesus, NikonSniper Is All About YOU!
Dear LORD ... here is my prayer for this blog. I care not for the number of people that choose to follow it. I care that they hear the message of the saving grace and mercy provided by Jesus, your Son. I expect many to quit following the blog as a result of standing up for Christ!
Lord, we are in a battle for the eternal destiny of our souls. Every day people come here that have never seen this blog before. I pray that you will somehow use it for your glory! Call some of these people into the light of your Son, Jesus!
Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army in a world that seeks to distract us from you. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man or the Devil prevail against us in this hour of our need.
My camera belongs to you. Nothing but you is worthy of my utmost. I love you Jesus and I care for these people who come here to see things you have created. Bless them with open eyes to see YOU! In Jesus name, Amen.
NikonSniper Steve
Lord, we are in a battle for the eternal destiny of our souls. Every day people come here that have never seen this blog before. I pray that you will somehow use it for your glory! Call some of these people into the light of your Son, Jesus!
Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army in a world that seeks to distract us from you. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man or the Devil prevail against us in this hour of our need.
My camera belongs to you. Nothing but you is worthy of my utmost. I love you Jesus and I care for these people who come here to see things you have created. Bless them with open eyes to see YOU! In Jesus name, Amen.
NikonSniper Steve
Friday, July 15, 2011
Heaven And Other Wild Ideas
Heaven!!! ... Have you got your ticket?
Did ya ever just sit and wonder what heaven would be like? I am sure we all have different ideas. I bought one of those tickets for a lottery worth 162 million the other day. But even if I won ... it wouldn't be like heaven to me. It sure sounds real good and I would certainly find things to do with some of it but ... what's the point of thinking heaven is like winning 162 million when you have already lived most of your life.
I heard about a guy who won a big lottery when he was in his mid-eighties. He must have yelled, "Yee Haw", and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I think I would imagine having marmalade on toast was like heaven if I made it to my eighties.
"Bill! BILL! BILL! You won ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY-TWO MILLION dollars."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you say the marmalade was at the back of the bottom shelf or on the front of the top shelf? Have you got any of that WHOLE wheat bread?"
Heaven has to be a place where you are in your PRIME TIME. I know I ain't gonna look like this! My wings are gonna be sassy and big to carry me around! So if you're looking for me up there ... I won't be looking like Lumpey Rutherford from Leave It To Beaver. We will all be looking great compared to the mess we are now. As Billy Crystal used to say, "You know it's better to look good than to feel good" ... but in heaven you're gonna feel good too.
There are verses in the Bible that say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I liked translating that into the fat will be skinny and the skinny will be fat ... but that wasn't really the point being made. It means that those who selflessly serve here will be served there. That's going to surprise a lot of us.
Can you imagine having a job that you thoroughly love? Can you imagine working for the King of Kings? I don't think we will tire of that kind of job. I don't expect people to be running off the job early. Here on earth we hate to feel used by people. In heaven we will love the feeling of being used by God to accomplish something for Him.
Many people think we won't work at all in heaven. They think we will just sit around chanting boring songs and trying to memorize the Bible we couldn't remember here. It's funny ... but some people seem to think that the God that made Australia ... would make a boring place for us to hang out for all of eternity. What if heaven was just as perfect as the earth was in the very beginning? Well it will be even better.
I also think we will eat in heaven and that there will be "awesomer" food than here. I actually think many wild things while on my meds! I look forward to seeing Christ. And my Dad and my grandparents and other believers who went hundreds of years ahead of me. It's going to be an incredible reunion. Have you got your ticket? It's free!
The more cashews you eat ... the more weight you will lose. Flights that don't just serve peanuts and Diet Dr. Pepper. Everyone will love their jobs and have 12 weeks vacation to spend in resorts that are free and there will always be room for you. The kids won't slip and fall at the pool. And if you eat in the restaurants ... you select your $25 steak and they bring you the steak and the $25 dollars just to thank you for coming because oh ... by the way ... they work for the King too.
No one is sick! No one is EVER sick! You can ride all the rides in the amusement park 50 times and there is no line, you just stay on and you never get sick. You will never be down on the beach and get a call on your cell phone to hear that Auntie Alice is under the weather. In fact, I want to be the guy in heaven who calls you on the beach and says "Hey Doris, have you heard about Alice? SHE'S STILL DOING GREAT!" And then hang up laughing!
People will be polite. Are you sick of being shouted at on a Monday morning when you're driving slow to work while taking pictures out the window? Oh, that's just me! Well, there's no crying in baseball ... and there's definitely no being nasty or mean in heaven. Imagine not locking your doors. No one is dangerous. The more tattoos you have ... the nicer you are! Ha! I had to knock somebody! Everyone has a Harley. The ones that owned Harleys while here on earth ... will have two Harleys in heaven and no one will be jealous.
Jesus is on the throne ... we won't need lawyers! There won't be any he said she saids.
The Government will rest upon His shoulders. If you don't find that encouraging ... you have had your head in the sand for a while. It seems no matter who it is in politics ... you know it ain't all good. Many people just want to throw the incumbents out because it's too difficult to figure out which ones aren't corrupt. GLORY! One day that will never concern us a bit. All hail King Jesus!
Well, I honestly just had a horrible day today. Sometimes I need to think about life after this life to pick myself back up and get a bit of an eternal perspective on what a bad day here really means. It's small taters. God is still on the throne. Nothing happened anywhere on earth today that had Him lean forward and say "My, My ... Who Saw That Coming?" He remains in control. God is not watching the stock market yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!"
I know some of you are thinking I should, "Get A Grip" after reading something like this. But I am here to tell you that heaven is far more incredible than we can imagine. Your wildest dream won't come close to its glory. And heaven can be your future home just for the asking. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Trust Him!
And after a day like today ... I just get a kick out of thinking about things I have still yet to see. I hope you are one of those on the beach that I can call to tell you about Alice.
Have a great weekend. I am really going to get some rest.
NikonSniper Steve
Did ya ever just sit and wonder what heaven would be like? I am sure we all have different ideas. I bought one of those tickets for a lottery worth 162 million the other day. But even if I won ... it wouldn't be like heaven to me. It sure sounds real good and I would certainly find things to do with some of it but ... what's the point of thinking heaven is like winning 162 million when you have already lived most of your life.
I heard about a guy who won a big lottery when he was in his mid-eighties. He must have yelled, "Yee Haw", and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I think I would imagine having marmalade on toast was like heaven if I made it to my eighties.
"Bill! BILL! BILL! You won ONE HUNDRED and SIXTY-TWO MILLION dollars."
"Oh, that's nice. Did you say the marmalade was at the back of the bottom shelf or on the front of the top shelf? Have you got any of that WHOLE wheat bread?"
Heaven has to be a place where you are in your PRIME TIME. I know I ain't gonna look like this! My wings are gonna be sassy and big to carry me around! So if you're looking for me up there ... I won't be looking like Lumpey Rutherford from Leave It To Beaver. We will all be looking great compared to the mess we are now. As Billy Crystal used to say, "You know it's better to look good than to feel good" ... but in heaven you're gonna feel good too.
There are verses in the Bible that say that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. I liked translating that into the fat will be skinny and the skinny will be fat ... but that wasn't really the point being made. It means that those who selflessly serve here will be served there. That's going to surprise a lot of us.
Can you imagine having a job that you thoroughly love? Can you imagine working for the King of Kings? I don't think we will tire of that kind of job. I don't expect people to be running off the job early. Here on earth we hate to feel used by people. In heaven we will love the feeling of being used by God to accomplish something for Him.
Many people think we won't work at all in heaven. They think we will just sit around chanting boring songs and trying to memorize the Bible we couldn't remember here. It's funny ... but some people seem to think that the God that made Australia ... would make a boring place for us to hang out for all of eternity. What if heaven was just as perfect as the earth was in the very beginning? Well it will be even better.
I also think we will eat in heaven and that there will be "awesomer" food than here. I actually think many wild things while on my meds! I look forward to seeing Christ. And my Dad and my grandparents and other believers who went hundreds of years ahead of me. It's going to be an incredible reunion. Have you got your ticket? It's free!
The more cashews you eat ... the more weight you will lose. Flights that don't just serve peanuts and Diet Dr. Pepper. Everyone will love their jobs and have 12 weeks vacation to spend in resorts that are free and there will always be room for you. The kids won't slip and fall at the pool. And if you eat in the restaurants ... you select your $25 steak and they bring you the steak and the $25 dollars just to thank you for coming because oh ... by the way ... they work for the King too.
No one is sick! No one is EVER sick! You can ride all the rides in the amusement park 50 times and there is no line, you just stay on and you never get sick. You will never be down on the beach and get a call on your cell phone to hear that Auntie Alice is under the weather. In fact, I want to be the guy in heaven who calls you on the beach and says "Hey Doris, have you heard about Alice? SHE'S STILL DOING GREAT!" And then hang up laughing!
People will be polite. Are you sick of being shouted at on a Monday morning when you're driving slow to work while taking pictures out the window? Oh, that's just me! Well, there's no crying in baseball ... and there's definitely no being nasty or mean in heaven. Imagine not locking your doors. No one is dangerous. The more tattoos you have ... the nicer you are! Ha! I had to knock somebody! Everyone has a Harley. The ones that owned Harleys while here on earth ... will have two Harleys in heaven and no one will be jealous.
Jesus is on the throne ... we won't need lawyers! There won't be any he said she saids.
The Government will rest upon His shoulders. If you don't find that encouraging ... you have had your head in the sand for a while. It seems no matter who it is in politics ... you know it ain't all good. Many people just want to throw the incumbents out because it's too difficult to figure out which ones aren't corrupt. GLORY! One day that will never concern us a bit. All hail King Jesus!
Well, I honestly just had a horrible day today. Sometimes I need to think about life after this life to pick myself back up and get a bit of an eternal perspective on what a bad day here really means. It's small taters. God is still on the throne. Nothing happened anywhere on earth today that had Him lean forward and say "My, My ... Who Saw That Coming?" He remains in control. God is not watching the stock market yelling, "SELL, SELL, SELL!"
I know some of you are thinking I should, "Get A Grip" after reading something like this. But I am here to tell you that heaven is far more incredible than we can imagine. Your wildest dream won't come close to its glory. And heaven can be your future home just for the asking. The Bible says in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." Trust Him!
And after a day like today ... I just get a kick out of thinking about things I have still yet to see. I hope you are one of those on the beach that I can call to tell you about Alice.
Have a great weekend. I am really going to get some rest.
NikonSniper Steve
Monday, July 11, 2011
Do You Know Christ Today?
I was especially thankful this morning during a special time of prayer at the end of our church service. I was specifically thankful to be in a church that really lays TRUTH on the line rather than to muddy up the Word of God with false but popular thinking of our day.
Recently my reading has been in the Old Testament from ... “In the beginning” ... to the Book of Deuteronomy. After this refresher course, here's something I can tell you for sure. GOD takes sin very, very, very seriously. God takes sin a whole lot more seriously than YOU or I do! God won't be mocked.
Please read this article below by John MacArthur. When it was first penned more than 20 years ago it was extremely controversial. In fact, many said he was adding to the message of the gospel. I want you to read this and consider where you are spiritually because I believe YOUR and MY eternal destination depends on our understanding of what it means to really follow Christ.
Let me say that I DO understand that all believers do not grow in Christ at the same pace. I DO understand that the elderly or more mature believer may be more focused on progress than many a teenager.
But as your Friend ... I cannot let you think that praying a prayer at some point in your life without a pattern of change will ever get you to heaven. Scripture tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). I am afraid that America knows very little about that as we have become a nation that prayed a prayer … so we think that’s all she wrote!
In conversations, this is where people like to throw the thief on the cross in your face and say it worked for him. That situation was very different but it truly involved life changing faith. So I am not saying there isn't a death bed salvation experience on occasions.
My concern for you and me is based what is normal in life. If you prayed a prayer and the pattern of your life after years and years has been to go on living as you please without regard to what being a follower of Christ should be doing in and through you ... then it is to you that I make this appeal. Please think! God won't be mocked. You aren't going to be able to say, "Remember I prayed a prayer?" To whom is it that Jesus says, “Depart from me, I didn’t know you”.
I want to know ALL of you throughout eternity. I want YOU to know the power of His resurrection. I want YOU to experience the joy and peace that is in Christ even when your world has come apart. Do you know Him today?
NikonSniper Steve
The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer. Jesus' message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God's righteousness. Our Lord's words about eternal life were invariably accompanied by warnings to those who might be tempted to take salvation lightly. He taught that the cost of following Him is high, that the way is narrow and few find it. He said many who call him Lord will be forbidden from entering the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 7:13-23).
Present-day evangelicalism, by and large, ignores these warnings. The prevailing view of what constitutes saving faith continues to grow broader and shallower, while the portrayal of Christ in preaching and witnessing becomes fuzzy. Anyone who claims to be a Christian can find evangelicals willing to accept a profession of faith, whether or not the person's behavior shows any evidence of commitment to Christ. In this way, faith has become merely an intellectual exercise. Instead of calling men and women to surrender to Christ, modern evangelism asks them only to accept some basic facts about Him.
This shallow understanding of salvation and the gospel, known as "easy-believism," stands in stark contrast to what the Bible teaches. To put it simply, the gospel call to faith presupposes that sinners must repent of their sin and yield to Christ's authority. This, in a nutshell, is what is commonly referred to as lordship salvation.
There are many articles of faith that are fundamental to all evangelical teaching. For example, there is agreement among all believers on the following truths: (1) Christ's death purchased eternal salvation; (2) the saved are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone; (3) sinners cannot earn divine favor; (4) God requires no preparatory works or pre-salvation reformation; (5) eternal life is a gift of God; (6) believers are saved before their faith ever produces any righteous works; and (7) Christians can and do sin, sometimes horribly.
What, then, are the distinctives of lordship salvation? What does Scripture teach that is embraced by those who affirm lordship salvation but rejected by proponents of "easy-believism"? The following are nine distinctives of a biblical understanding of salvation and the gospel.
First, Scripture teaches that the gospel calls sinners to faith joined in oneness with repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:21; 2 Pet. 3:9). Repentance is a turning from sin (Acts 3:19; Luke 24:47) that consists not of a human work but of a divinely bestowed grace (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). It is a change of heart, but genuine repentance will effect a change of behavior as well (Luke 3:8; Acts 26:18-20). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that repentance is simply a synonym for faith and that no turning from sin is required for salvation.
Second, Scripture teaches that salvation is all God's work. Those who believe are saved utterly apart from any effort on their own (Titus 3:5). Even faith is a gift of God, not a work of man (Eph. 2:1-5, 8). Real faith therefore cannot be defective or short-lived but endures forever (Phil. 1:6; cf. Heb. 11). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that faith might not last and that a true Christian can completely cease believing.
Third, Scripture teaches that the object of faith is Christ Himself, not a creed or a promise (John 3:16). Faith therefore involves personal commitment to Christ (2 Cor. 5:15). In other words, all true believers follow Jesus (John 10:27-28). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that saving faith is simply being convinced or giving credence to the truth of the gospel and does not include a personal commitment to the person of Christ.
Fourth, Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17). Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20). The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6). The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10). Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27), love their brothers (1 John 3:14), obey God's commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14), do the will of God (Matt. 12:50), abide in God's Word (John 8:31), keep God's Word (John 17:6), do good works (Eph. 2:10), and continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that although some spiritual fruit is inevitable, that fruit might not be visible to others and Christians can even lapse into a state of permanent spiritual barrenness.
Fifth, Scripture teaches that God's gift of eternal life includes all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 8:32), not just a ticket to heaven. In contrast, according to easy-believism, only the judicial aspects of salvation (e.g., justification, adoption, and positional sanctification) are guaranteed for believers in this life; practical sanctification and growth in grace require a post-conversion act of dedication.
Sixth, Scripture teaches that Jesus is Lord of all, and the faith He demands involves unconditional surrender (Rom. 6:17-18; 10:9-10). In other words, Christ does not bestow eternal life on those whose hearts remain set against Him (James 4:6). Surrender to Jesus' lordship is not an addendum to the biblical terms of salvation; the summons to submission is at the heart of the gospel invitation throughout Scripture. In contrast, easy-believism teaches that submission to Christ's supreme authority is not germane to the saving transaction.
Seventh, Scripture teaches that those who truly believe will love Christ (1 Pet. 1:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 16:22). They will therefore long to obey Him (John 14:15, 23). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that Christians may fall into a state of lifelong carnality.
Eighth, Scripture teaches that behavior is an important test of faith. Obedience is evidence that one's faith is real (1 John 2:3). On the other hand, the person who remains utterly unwilling to obey Christ does not evidence true faith (1 John 2:4). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt the reality of one's faith.
Ninth, Scripture teaches that genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith (1 Cor. 1:8). Those who later turn completely away from the Lord show that they were never truly born again (1 John 2:19). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that a true believer may utterly forsake Christ and come to the point of not believing.
Most Christians recognize that these nine distinctives are not new or radical ideas. The preponderance of Bible-believing Christians over the centuries has held these to be basic tenets of orthodoxy. In fact, no major orthodox movement in the history of Christianity has ever taught that sinners can spurn the lordship of Christ yet lay claim to Him as Savior.
This issue is not a trivial one. In fact, how could any issue be more important? The gospel that is presented to unbelievers has eternal ramifications. If it is the true gospel, it can direct men and women into the everlasting kingdom. If it is a corrupted message, it can give unsaved people false hope while consigning them to eternal damnation. This is not merely a matter for theologians to discuss and debate and speculate about. This is an issue that every single pastor and lay person must understand in order that the gospel may be rightly proclaimed to all the nations.
Recently my reading has been in the Old Testament from ... “In the beginning” ... to the Book of Deuteronomy. After this refresher course, here's something I can tell you for sure. GOD takes sin very, very, very seriously. God takes sin a whole lot more seriously than YOU or I do! God won't be mocked.
Please read this article below by John MacArthur. When it was first penned more than 20 years ago it was extremely controversial. In fact, many said he was adding to the message of the gospel. I want you to read this and consider where you are spiritually because I believe YOUR and MY eternal destination depends on our understanding of what it means to really follow Christ.
Let me say that I DO understand that all believers do not grow in Christ at the same pace. I DO understand that the elderly or more mature believer may be more focused on progress than many a teenager.
But as your Friend ... I cannot let you think that praying a prayer at some point in your life without a pattern of change will ever get you to heaven. Scripture tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). I am afraid that America knows very little about that as we have become a nation that prayed a prayer … so we think that’s all she wrote!
In conversations, this is where people like to throw the thief on the cross in your face and say it worked for him. That situation was very different but it truly involved life changing faith. So I am not saying there isn't a death bed salvation experience on occasions.
My concern for you and me is based what is normal in life. If you prayed a prayer and the pattern of your life after years and years has been to go on living as you please without regard to what being a follower of Christ should be doing in and through you ... then it is to you that I make this appeal. Please think! God won't be mocked. You aren't going to be able to say, "Remember I prayed a prayer?" To whom is it that Jesus says, “Depart from me, I didn’t know you”.
I want to know ALL of you throughout eternity. I want YOU to know the power of His resurrection. I want YOU to experience the joy and peace that is in Christ even when your world has come apart. Do you know Him today?
NikonSniper Steve
The gospel that Jesus proclaimed was a call to discipleship, a call to follow Him in submissive obedience, not just a plea to make a decision or pray a prayer. Jesus' message liberated people from the bondage of their sin while it confronted and condemned hypocrisy. It was an offer of eternal life and forgiveness for repentant sinners, but at the same time it was a rebuke to outwardly religious people whose lives were devoid of true righteousness. It put sinners on notice that they must turn from sin and embrace God's righteousness. Our Lord's words about eternal life were invariably accompanied by warnings to those who might be tempted to take salvation lightly. He taught that the cost of following Him is high, that the way is narrow and few find it. He said many who call him Lord will be forbidden from entering the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 7:13-23).
Present-day evangelicalism, by and large, ignores these warnings. The prevailing view of what constitutes saving faith continues to grow broader and shallower, while the portrayal of Christ in preaching and witnessing becomes fuzzy. Anyone who claims to be a Christian can find evangelicals willing to accept a profession of faith, whether or not the person's behavior shows any evidence of commitment to Christ. In this way, faith has become merely an intellectual exercise. Instead of calling men and women to surrender to Christ, modern evangelism asks them only to accept some basic facts about Him.
This shallow understanding of salvation and the gospel, known as "easy-believism," stands in stark contrast to what the Bible teaches. To put it simply, the gospel call to faith presupposes that sinners must repent of their sin and yield to Christ's authority. This, in a nutshell, is what is commonly referred to as lordship salvation.
There are many articles of faith that are fundamental to all evangelical teaching. For example, there is agreement among all believers on the following truths: (1) Christ's death purchased eternal salvation; (2) the saved are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone; (3) sinners cannot earn divine favor; (4) God requires no preparatory works or pre-salvation reformation; (5) eternal life is a gift of God; (6) believers are saved before their faith ever produces any righteous works; and (7) Christians can and do sin, sometimes horribly.
What, then, are the distinctives of lordship salvation? What does Scripture teach that is embraced by those who affirm lordship salvation but rejected by proponents of "easy-believism"? The following are nine distinctives of a biblical understanding of salvation and the gospel.
First, Scripture teaches that the gospel calls sinners to faith joined in oneness with repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 20:21; 2 Pet. 3:9). Repentance is a turning from sin (Acts 3:19; Luke 24:47) that consists not of a human work but of a divinely bestowed grace (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). It is a change of heart, but genuine repentance will effect a change of behavior as well (Luke 3:8; Acts 26:18-20). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that repentance is simply a synonym for faith and that no turning from sin is required for salvation.
Second, Scripture teaches that salvation is all God's work. Those who believe are saved utterly apart from any effort on their own (Titus 3:5). Even faith is a gift of God, not a work of man (Eph. 2:1-5, 8). Real faith therefore cannot be defective or short-lived but endures forever (Phil. 1:6; cf. Heb. 11). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that faith might not last and that a true Christian can completely cease believing.
Third, Scripture teaches that the object of faith is Christ Himself, not a creed or a promise (John 3:16). Faith therefore involves personal commitment to Christ (2 Cor. 5:15). In other words, all true believers follow Jesus (John 10:27-28). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that saving faith is simply being convinced or giving credence to the truth of the gospel and does not include a personal commitment to the person of Christ.
Fourth, Scripture teaches that real faith inevitably produces a changed life (2 Cor. 5:17). Salvation includes a transformation of the inner person (Gal. 2:20). The nature of the Christian is new and different (Rom. 6:6). The unbroken pattern of sin and enmity with God will not continue when a person is born again (1 John 3:9-10). Those with genuine faith follow Christ (John 10:27), love their brothers (1 John 3:14), obey God's commandments (1 John 2:3; John 15:14), do the will of God (Matt. 12:50), abide in God's Word (John 8:31), keep God's Word (John 17:6), do good works (Eph. 2:10), and continue in the faith (Col. 1:21-23; Heb. 3:14). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that although some spiritual fruit is inevitable, that fruit might not be visible to others and Christians can even lapse into a state of permanent spiritual barrenness.
Fifth, Scripture teaches that God's gift of eternal life includes all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3; Rom. 8:32), not just a ticket to heaven. In contrast, according to easy-believism, only the judicial aspects of salvation (e.g., justification, adoption, and positional sanctification) are guaranteed for believers in this life; practical sanctification and growth in grace require a post-conversion act of dedication.
Sixth, Scripture teaches that Jesus is Lord of all, and the faith He demands involves unconditional surrender (Rom. 6:17-18; 10:9-10). In other words, Christ does not bestow eternal life on those whose hearts remain set against Him (James 4:6). Surrender to Jesus' lordship is not an addendum to the biblical terms of salvation; the summons to submission is at the heart of the gospel invitation throughout Scripture. In contrast, easy-believism teaches that submission to Christ's supreme authority is not germane to the saving transaction.
Seventh, Scripture teaches that those who truly believe will love Christ (1 Pet. 1:8-9; Rom. 8:28-30; 1 Cor. 16:22). They will therefore long to obey Him (John 14:15, 23). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that Christians may fall into a state of lifelong carnality.
Eighth, Scripture teaches that behavior is an important test of faith. Obedience is evidence that one's faith is real (1 John 2:3). On the other hand, the person who remains utterly unwilling to obey Christ does not evidence true faith (1 John 2:4). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt the reality of one's faith.
Ninth, Scripture teaches that genuine believers may stumble and fall, but they will persevere in the faith (1 Cor. 1:8). Those who later turn completely away from the Lord show that they were never truly born again (1 John 2:19). In contrast, easy-believism teaches that a true believer may utterly forsake Christ and come to the point of not believing.
Most Christians recognize that these nine distinctives are not new or radical ideas. The preponderance of Bible-believing Christians over the centuries has held these to be basic tenets of orthodoxy. In fact, no major orthodox movement in the history of Christianity has ever taught that sinners can spurn the lordship of Christ yet lay claim to Him as Savior.
This issue is not a trivial one. In fact, how could any issue be more important? The gospel that is presented to unbelievers has eternal ramifications. If it is the true gospel, it can direct men and women into the everlasting kingdom. If it is a corrupted message, it can give unsaved people false hope while consigning them to eternal damnation. This is not merely a matter for theologians to discuss and debate and speculate about. This is an issue that every single pastor and lay person must understand in order that the gospel may be rightly proclaimed to all the nations.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Thanking God For Our Provisions
I just came home from breakfast with some friends.
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew, Chapter 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
it's just a bunch of guys that get together once a month. I am hardly able to be with them due to my travel schedule. Today, it really seemed like everyone had major concerns with the economic situations in which we live. JOBS! Truthfully, I find that when my personal world gets cloudy … the entire world might as well be off kilter.
I guess I feel sometimes like I am living my very own BP Oil Spill Crisis.
As we went around the table talking this morning it was very clear that everyone is having some degree of concern or worry about tomorrow. Where is our provision going to come from? When will it show up? What will be the next hardship to get ready for? Why is this happening to me?
Lost employment. Cut employment. Home foreclosures. Death of young loved ones. Hardships in relationships. Marital difficulties. Kids (need I say more).
Do you ever wonder why so many turn to excessive alcohol, drugs or something else to help them cope? I sure don't!
Pain and suffering are everywhere. In the USA, we know very little about pain and suffering compared to many parts of the world … but we are certainly learning how fickle our way of life is becoming.
I want to write my view on why bad things happen in another post in order to also hear your responses as well.
Tough times! Who will provide a solution? Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
The Bible teaches us that whether we believe in God or not … all things come from above.
James 1:17 says - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
It says … if it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God above.
I will address our pain and suffering encounters in a future post. BUT just for now, just for this moment ... focus on these words: If it’s good … if it’s perfect … it comes from God! God alone is the source of all things "good".
That means … whether or not you believe it … anything from a well timed tuna sandwich to a carefully structured retirement fund is from God above. Air is from God!
Now, I know some of you don’t believe that! And I am not saying that it is true!
I am telling you it IS what the Bible says … and I'm telling you that I believe what the Bible says. You may not! And I will fight for your right to your view and ... we can still be friends.
And I just want you to know that you can think me to be an idiot for believing in such an old book! No offense taken (I actually get that a lot). But in the end I believe your argument isn't with me at all.
I believe your argument is with God.
Who is the provider? I believe … HE HASN’T CHANGED A BIT!
He is waiting on us.
Maybe we don’t talk to Him enough.
He wants relationship with us, not Churchianity. I mean it isn’t about going to church with a rubbadub-dub, sing the song, clap the hands, take communion, leave some cash and head home to get the holy suit and tie off.
God is trying to infiltrate every aspect of your life. He wants to talk to you. He wants you to talk to Him. He wants to hear your tears and pain. He wants to hear your joy and laughter. He wants to hear your praise and worship. He wants to be acknowledged as the good provider that He is for you. He loves you and gave His life for you.
Thank Him and accept His provision today!
Real quick here. So, how do I find this God that you say is as real as the car in the driveway?
Throughout the Bible there are declarations that if you really seek for God ... you ARE going to find Him. Many people think that God is trying to hide from them. In fact, quite the opposite is true on two fronts.
1. God is has been trying to get your attention ... even now when you read these words. You were brought here at the right time.
2. Many people are trying to hide from God. Deep in their guts they don't want accountability. They think if the don't fully encounter God they won't be subject to His standards. So they really are not seeking Him.
Hey, there's HOPE out there!
God loves those rebellious people! How do I know? I ARE ONE. But Thank God I found Him ... through painful and tough situations in my 53 years to be exactly who He said He is. I am still learning and still trusting (slower than most) but I am resisting less and less.
Are you really looking for God?
In Jeremiah 33:3, it says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
In Matthew 7:7-8, it says 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."
If you really want to find this God ... you must be open to actually finding Him. Don't deny that He is there in your mind and tell others you are searching for Him. He's there! Wanna find Him? Earnestly pray this ... God if your out there ... help me to find you. Amen. Pray THAT every day. God wants to talk to you! And God keeps His promises! If YOU really SEEK, YOU will really FIND!
Back to Thanking God For Our Provisions.
When I worry … I like to read a passage of Scripture in Matthew, Chapter 6:25-33. Jesus is talking in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount.
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I am still learning to trust God one day at a time.
May God bless you all in these tough times. Scatter your prayers at the feet of King of Kings!
NikonSniper Steve
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Fathers Day 2011
Memories of Pop 2011
My Dad was like the rest of us. Not perfect!
BUT he told me about Jesus and my need for a Savior.
So, ... on that most important scorecard, Dad was very successful in passing on the torch of faith to me.
I am so glad I will see him again someday!
God bless all you who are Dads on this very special day. Being a Pop today is harder than ever. Give it your all! I hope you have a great day with or hearing from your families.
NikonSniper Steve
NikonSniper Steve
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Unlimited Miles? Sure! What's The Record?
I always like to see the look on the face of the AVIS airport agent when I bring my rental car back. Here is a rental from a year ago that got caked in mud. The mud eventually baked in the sun to form very tough crust or outer shell on the car. I am actually quite proud of the offroad mess I can achieve in a few weeks pounding highways and searching for backroad shortcuts. To me, mud is character! It's class! It's sassy!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Would I Do Stupid Things For A Photo?
Memories of photographic stupidity over the years.
On an old post, Elaine from Fairbanks, AK (See http://akelaine.blogspot.com/), made this comment to me. "Of course, you would never climb over any fences in your pursuit of the perfect photo!"
I do know Elaine said this in jest because most photographers take some small risks ... even if they don't realize it. BUT, I actually think I have done some of the stupidest things possible to get photos. Many of those things were actually unintentional ... which I believe to be proof positive that there has been a half-dozen angels assigned to watch my footsteps.
Several years ago, I was on a trip north of Jackson Hole and nearly got mauled by Buffalo, Moose and a pack of Wolves all in a 24 hour period. My wife saved my life several times that day by alerting me to the errors of my ways. I would get back to the safety of the rental car, out of breath from the run from something large only to speed away gasping ... "Wow, that was stupid-er than my last stupid-er risk."
The State Trooper (kind gentleman) said "Sir, you can't go into the buffalo field. Thems ain't cows out there." Who knew? Pardon my st-st-st-stupidness officer ... but I am from the Obama State which, I later learned, means there is an additional tax on my citations.
Elaine's comment stuck with me about going over fences to get photos. Last June while traveling in the State of Washington, I was totally ga-ga for the beautiful views of the wild running blue-green rivers with their forest backdrops. I drive cars with my head on a swivel looking for the perfect photo and I have a very bad habit of pulling over with little to no warning ... usually with a horn blowing sound from behind me. Uh, If that was you ... I'm sorry, I know I'm a @%$# jerk (I heard you) but somebody has to get these photos.
There I was on the side of a mountain overlooking a beautiful river and I absolutely had to stop. I parked the car (left it running) and jumped out and started to take the photos. As I was running through 30-40 shots I began to feel that perhaps a better shot was just a bit down the side of the mountain where there was a better clearing of trees. So, I reasoned that if I just stepped over the guard rail I could negotiate dropping down another 10 feet for that shot by grabbing and hanging on from one small tree stump to the next.
Now, if you knew me, you would know that I am not exactly knowledgeable of the ballet steps required to make such an artistic maneuver. But, again, if you knew me, you would also know that I suffered brain damage while running into a football goal post about 30 years ago ... so, this eliminates my ability to assess whether or not I am able to pull off a stunt like this until I am actually in perial from attempting said stunt. Does that make sense?
SO THERE I WAS ... having a great day, when I bravely stuck my first leg over the guard rail. Now, while resting my 50 year old BUTTOCK on top of the guard rail I threw my second leg over and began to negotiate a rather step angle not quite expected. This is where it got fun real fast. I quickly learned in about 0.2 seconds that little stones, pine cones and pine needle droppings make for a very acceptable summer toboggan surface.
Before I really could even think ... I was dropping. And dropping VERY FAST. End over end, finally slaming into larger rocks about a 20' roll down toward the river. I felt sharp pain in my left knee and was actually afraid to look in case my lower leg was another 20' further down the hill. Well, I discovered that I just hit my knee on a rock, no blood, and it was still there. (Sidenote: If you are a real photographer there won't be a scratch on your camera when you land because you used our own body to protect your camera all the way down that cliff. However, when you arrive at Motel 6 later that evening and take off your tee-shirt ... a true photographer will look like a 12 pack of teenagers on JOLT-cola were hitting you repeatedly with sticks with nails for about 10 minutes.) I have A-D-D so let's move immediately to yet another ... (Sidenote: Learning to field dress your own wounds is a priceless bonus for the wilderness wannabee photographer.)
Well, I limped and climbed back UP to the place that I wanted to drop DOWN to take the photo. I passed that spot on the way down but I wasn't quite able to get the shot I wanted while rolling end over end with my camera firmly tucked into my navel. I took the shot. It was awful. No better than from above where I was in the first place. I climbed the rest of the way back up that hill by bracing my feet on the tree stumps. I did discover that going up was easier than going down. I reached and finally grabbed the guard rail from which this Shuttle Mission began and pulled myself back up to LEVEL terra firma.
I looked over to where my car was parked and thought Ughhhh, ........ it was gone! Suddenly I became quite frantic. How am I going to explain that to AVIS? I figured someone must have drove off with the car and all my belongings. I thought I was going to have a heart attack for a second. I started walking closer to where I had left the car. Where was it? I walked another 30' and there it was. The car was right where I left it but it was hidden behind a tree with a 12'-16' diameter trunk. Boy ... was I relieved. I thought I would lose my mind if I was stranded ... and there is only a small piece of it left. I had no cell phone BUT I did have my camera and I would be able to continue shooting photos ... as I walked back to Chicago.
I got back in the car and just sat there thanking God for protecting me in my sheer stupidity. All my angels were in the back seat high-fiving and laughing their butts off as I continue to entertain them with my foolishness. I swear I could hear them gasping to breathe while laughing out the words, "Did you see that?, ... What an idiot!" They were laughing even louder when about another mile down the road there was a beautiful rest spot to get easy and way better photos than from where I had just tried to kill myself.
NikonSniper Steve
On an old post, Elaine from Fairbanks, AK (See http://akelaine.blogspot.com/), made this comment to me. "Of course, you would never climb over any fences in your pursuit of the perfect photo!"
I do know Elaine said this in jest because most photographers take some small risks ... even if they don't realize it. BUT, I actually think I have done some of the stupidest things possible to get photos. Many of those things were actually unintentional ... which I believe to be proof positive that there has been a half-dozen angels assigned to watch my footsteps.
Several years ago, I was on a trip north of Jackson Hole and nearly got mauled by Buffalo, Moose and a pack of Wolves all in a 24 hour period. My wife saved my life several times that day by alerting me to the errors of my ways. I would get back to the safety of the rental car, out of breath from the run from something large only to speed away gasping ... "Wow, that was stupid-er than my last stupid-er risk."
The State Trooper (kind gentleman) said "Sir, you can't go into the buffalo field. Thems ain't cows out there." Who knew? Pardon my st-st-st-stupidness officer ... but I am from the Obama State which, I later learned, means there is an additional tax on my citations.
Elaine's comment stuck with me about going over fences to get photos. Last June while traveling in the State of Washington, I was totally ga-ga for the beautiful views of the wild running blue-green rivers with their forest backdrops. I drive cars with my head on a swivel looking for the perfect photo and I have a very bad habit of pulling over with little to no warning ... usually with a horn blowing sound from behind me. Uh, If that was you ... I'm sorry, I know I'm a @%$# jerk (I heard you) but somebody has to get these photos.
There I was on the side of a mountain overlooking a beautiful river and I absolutely had to stop. I parked the car (left it running) and jumped out and started to take the photos. As I was running through 30-40 shots I began to feel that perhaps a better shot was just a bit down the side of the mountain where there was a better clearing of trees. So, I reasoned that if I just stepped over the guard rail I could negotiate dropping down another 10 feet for that shot by grabbing and hanging on from one small tree stump to the next.
Now, if you knew me, you would know that I am not exactly knowledgeable of the ballet steps required to make such an artistic maneuver. But, again, if you knew me, you would also know that I suffered brain damage while running into a football goal post about 30 years ago ... so, this eliminates my ability to assess whether or not I am able to pull off a stunt like this until I am actually in perial from attempting said stunt. Does that make sense?
SO THERE I WAS ... having a great day, when I bravely stuck my first leg over the guard rail. Now, while resting my 50 year old BUTTOCK on top of the guard rail I threw my second leg over and began to negotiate a rather step angle not quite expected. This is where it got fun real fast. I quickly learned in about 0.2 seconds that little stones, pine cones and pine needle droppings make for a very acceptable summer toboggan surface.
Before I really could even think ... I was dropping. And dropping VERY FAST. End over end, finally slaming into larger rocks about a 20' roll down toward the river. I felt sharp pain in my left knee and was actually afraid to look in case my lower leg was another 20' further down the hill. Well, I discovered that I just hit my knee on a rock, no blood, and it was still there. (Sidenote: If you are a real photographer there won't be a scratch on your camera when you land because you used our own body to protect your camera all the way down that cliff. However, when you arrive at Motel 6 later that evening and take off your tee-shirt ... a true photographer will look like a 12 pack of teenagers on JOLT-cola were hitting you repeatedly with sticks with nails for about 10 minutes.) I have A-D-D so let's move immediately to yet another ... (Sidenote: Learning to field dress your own wounds is a priceless bonus for the wilderness wannabee photographer.)
Well, I limped and climbed back UP to the place that I wanted to drop DOWN to take the photo. I passed that spot on the way down but I wasn't quite able to get the shot I wanted while rolling end over end with my camera firmly tucked into my navel. I took the shot. It was awful. No better than from above where I was in the first place. I climbed the rest of the way back up that hill by bracing my feet on the tree stumps. I did discover that going up was easier than going down. I reached and finally grabbed the guard rail from which this Shuttle Mission began and pulled myself back up to LEVEL terra firma.
I looked over to where my car was parked and thought Ughhhh, ........ it was gone! Suddenly I became quite frantic. How am I going to explain that to AVIS? I figured someone must have drove off with the car and all my belongings. I thought I was going to have a heart attack for a second. I started walking closer to where I had left the car. Where was it? I walked another 30' and there it was. The car was right where I left it but it was hidden behind a tree with a 12'-16' diameter trunk. Boy ... was I relieved. I thought I would lose my mind if I was stranded ... and there is only a small piece of it left. I had no cell phone BUT I did have my camera and I would be able to continue shooting photos ... as I walked back to Chicago.
I got back in the car and just sat there thanking God for protecting me in my sheer stupidity. All my angels were in the back seat high-fiving and laughing their butts off as I continue to entertain them with my foolishness. I swear I could hear them gasping to breathe while laughing out the words, "Did you see that?, ... What an idiot!" They were laughing even louder when about another mile down the road there was a beautiful rest spot to get easy and way better photos than from where I had just tried to kill myself.
NikonSniper Steve
Monday, June 13, 2011
I'm Still Crazy After All These Years!
Remembering the Good Times with a Drum of Black Powder, Sulfuric Acid, 2 Cases of Road Flares, Golf Clubs & Lightning. Rest In Peace Tony. You should have seen the pictures!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Memories Of Grandpa
This photo was taken by my niece, Brianna, in Canada. It was captured in cottage country, White Lake, Ontario, not far from Ottawa. This serene lakefront property was provided to their family by a loving grandfather as a getaway from busy city life. Grandpa Doug always had a smile on his face when I saw him. He passed through the veil of this life a year ago today ... but memories of his kindness and generosity will always be cherished.
Top 7 Most Viewed NikonSniper Posts
Well, as of this moment there has been 82,293 pageviews on NikonSniper since starting 28 months ago. I guess I started my counter on the blog after there had been roughly 13,300 hits.
NikonSniper has grown to 9,513 pageviews in the last month! WOW! Honestly, I really never saw THAT coming when this whole thing started. Just in the last two weeks, we have been visited by people from 74 countries. That's CRAZY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... for all your kind words of support!
I never would have guessed that these would be the Top 7 Pageviews. I actually just found out this information myself ... because I actually spent some time reading all this info that is available for you on a Stats page. I had no idea all this info was here. Thanks again to all of you. I hope you continue to enjoy what you see here in years ahead.
#1 Worship The Creator's Majesty - 861 Pageviews
#2 Merry Christmas 2010 - 437 Pageviews
#3 Fall Wild Flowers - 330 Pageviews
#4 Childhood Fishing Creek - 299 Pageviews
#5 Sittin' On A Bluebird House - 211 Pageviews
#6 Thanking God For The Voice - 207 Pageviews
#7 Rango Makes Hollywood Billboards - 194 Pageviews
NikonSniper has grown to 9,513 pageviews in the last month! WOW! Honestly, I really never saw THAT coming when this whole thing started. Just in the last two weeks, we have been visited by people from 74 countries. That's CRAZY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ... for all your kind words of support!
I never would have guessed that these would be the Top 7 Pageviews. I actually just found out this information myself ... because I actually spent some time reading all this info that is available for you on a Stats page. I had no idea all this info was here. Thanks again to all of you. I hope you continue to enjoy what you see here in years ahead.
#1 Worship The Creator's Majesty - 861 Pageviews
#2 Merry Christmas 2010 - 437 Pageviews
#3 Fall Wild Flowers - 330 Pageviews
#4 Childhood Fishing Creek - 299 Pageviews
#5 Sittin' On A Bluebird House - 211 Pageviews
#6 Thanking God For The Voice - 207 Pageviews
#7 Rango Makes Hollywood Billboards - 194 Pageviews
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Get Your ZZZ's
OK, I am going to let a bit more of my life out of the bag here.
Like you, we are proud of all of our five children. Like all kids, each one is very unique. Here is our youngest daughter, Leah, when she was playing softball in high school. Leah is very special to us for several reasons.
Life for Leah has been an everyday battle since the summer prior to the 8th grade. Leah was diagnosed with Narcolepsy with severe Cataplexy. She had all symptoms in spades! We took her to see some of the finest doctors in the world at Stanford University Sleep Clinic in California. Life has been struggle for Leah in so many ways to stay awake during the day and get restful sleep during the night. Some side effects to this autoimmune disorder can be socially devastating. Narcolepsy and its symptoms literally turned Leahs world upside down more than 8 years ago. Nothing is easy!
This was extremely difficult to deal with in the early years of discovery as Leah’s Narcolepsy destroyed the “occasional” (haha) harmony of our family. I cannot begin to tell you the grief, anger, sorrow and despair this triggered in me and others in our family.
The road is still tough but it is better in most ways now. God has been VERY good to us all.
Leah, now nearly 20, IS a fighter! She is now attending community college and started her own craft business called “Get Your ZZZ’s” from our home. Leah makes Scrabble Tile Necklaces to stay awake during the day. There is a million different designs, actually whatever you can think of mounted to a tile.
Severe Narcolepsy usually sidelines a person from interaction with the outside world but Leah has fought to stay active in ways that are very unusual.
I love the photo of her playing softball in high school. We could see evidence of the will to compete even when Narcolepsy tried to hold her down. Again, God has been VERY good to you Leah!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
May God bless you in special ways ... today!
NikonSniper Steve (Love, Dad)
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Back In Woodstock Illinois
Well, Kyle and I have survived the 1886 miles. We only missed one target on our list. I will still have to visit Four Corners on another trip.
We slept a little less than normal and basically averaged 300+ miles a day looking for photo targets between the main spots.
Dads, I can't recommend anything more than getting away with your kids one on one, even if they are adult kids. Kyle and I talked about a million things. The TV was hardly ever on when we made it to hotels, mostly to see weather or news. Kyle and I had conversations of a lifetime and memories that will last forever.
We experienced everything from 30 degrees in ice, slush and snow to 91 and sunny in our week together. One of the most incredible things was the survival of the rental car in Monument Valley and Grand Staircase National Park.
I have also added the State of Arizona to my list of States where I got to personally speak with a State Trooper. He was graceful handing me a warning this time for my 85mph experience on the new Hoover Dam Speedway.
Our GPS was stolen at the Kayenta Monument Valley Inn so we had to fly in the dark for a few days. I called a friend of mine in Colorado to say hello and he told me they make maps out of paper that you could buy at gas stations. Who knew?
Thanks to all of you who came along for the photo ride on NikonSniper. We enjoyed your comments and good wishes. I will be chilling for a few days as my trigger finger is a bit tired. I am not sure how many photos we took ... but I kept 7238.
Have a great week. Keep on shooting! Only you can photograph the world around you!
NikonSniper Steve & Kyle
We slept a little less than normal and basically averaged 300+ miles a day looking for photo targets between the main spots.
Dads, I can't recommend anything more than getting away with your kids one on one, even if they are adult kids. Kyle and I talked about a million things. The TV was hardly ever on when we made it to hotels, mostly to see weather or news. Kyle and I had conversations of a lifetime and memories that will last forever.
We experienced everything from 30 degrees in ice, slush and snow to 91 and sunny in our week together. One of the most incredible things was the survival of the rental car in Monument Valley and Grand Staircase National Park.
I have also added the State of Arizona to my list of States where I got to personally speak with a State Trooper. He was graceful handing me a warning this time for my 85mph experience on the new Hoover Dam Speedway.
Our GPS was stolen at the Kayenta Monument Valley Inn so we had to fly in the dark for a few days. I called a friend of mine in Colorado to say hello and he told me they make maps out of paper that you could buy at gas stations. Who knew?
Thanks to all of you who came along for the photo ride on NikonSniper. We enjoyed your comments and good wishes. I will be chilling for a few days as my trigger finger is a bit tired. I am not sure how many photos we took ... but I kept 7238.
Have a great week. Keep on shooting! Only you can photograph the world around you!
NikonSniper Steve & Kyle
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Graduation Road Trip
Well, here's the plan for the trip starting on Saturday evening!
Our son, Kyle graduates from Northern Illinois University around 2:00 PM and we will hang around for a few photos and will head home and then straight to the airport for a late evening flight (May 14) to Las Vegas.
Here is the route we will be driving in a somewhat clockwise path and photographing Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase, Old Paria Town, Paria Canyon Wilderness, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Lower Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park, Arches National Park, Four Corners, Gallup, New Mexico, Painted Desert, Old Route 66, Petrified Forest, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and more Las Vegas Lights.
We will cover more than 1800 miles in a week and we are going to try to drive 50 miles straight through the dirt road desert to keep the mileage under 2100. How's about that? My last trip needed two rental cars ... this one might take three.
As I mentioned before, our trip will include a photography guide and will allow us to have a full moon to photograph over Monument Valley.
We hope you will join us for the ride on this complete photography trip. Kyle has always shown interest in photography and has even taken some pretty whack photos over the years. The photo at the top of the main page on NikonSniper is actually Kyle taking a picture into a mirror. I flipped the photo so you could read Nikon on the camera and altered his eye to give it a bit of a cyborg feel.
I will start posting photos from this trip on Sunday evening as we will be running and gunning until we can find an Internet connection to upload.
I will try to post a graduation shot or two from O'Hare Airport late on Saturday before we fly.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
NikonSniper Steve
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Just Worship by Tommy Walker
I have always loved this song by Tommy Walker. At times in my life when I have felt so in awe of what I was seeing through a camera ... this is the music that kept running through my head. Sometimes while I am taking pictures, my camera just drops down in my hand to my side and I begin to take it all in through my eyes. Many things we can see just can't really be photographed. God made our eyes to see things that can't be grasped through anything made by Nikon. I attend church and can feel worship often in songs of praise to Jesus. However, a sense of worship is almost always felt when I am transfixed on the beauty of creation (that STILL exists) while by a brook or in a valley viewing soaring mountains. I hope you enjoy all things you see here ... and praise Him.
In Colossians 1:16, speaking of Jesus, it says, For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Worship the King of Kings, Jesus, the Creator of all this beauty.
Have a great weekend.
NikonSniper Steve
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