Happy New Year!!!

Dear readers: I hope you all have a wonderful new year. May God bless you and your families and may this year be a healthy and prosperous one. Now, who's got the champagne???

Take my quiz..click here!

Post your score in the comments.

Photography is sometimes unusual

If you have a camera and love taking pictures, then you've probably experienced this: You pass by something interesting, stop, aim and shoot. Inevitably a friend or someone will look at you and ask "why are you shooting that?" in that voice that says "you are stupid to shoot that insignificant thing". That's because the person cannot possibly see with the same trained eye you have. They cannot understand that in your mind you see what you are shooting differently than the usual person would. This happens especially when you're shooting something close up



This happens to me all the time...even at church someone will stop and ask "why are you shooting that??" What's funny is when they see the final picture and then go "ooooh niiicceeee". Photography is funny that way. You see things out of the box and that forces you to be creative. When others see a car engine, you see interesting patterns and shapes. Others see a flower, but you see the color and detail and the veins in the petals



A true photographer finds those details in everyday things. We show ordinary things in a totally different view that you don't see everyday...that's what's interesting about what we do sometimes. We paint a picture, tell a story, and speak in thousands of words without saying a single one out loud.



We notice the details in that sandwich at the restaurant, the way some one's teeth are so perfect, the unusual face of a child; the ways some one's eyes dazzle with flecks of color. For a true photographer every object, every place and person is an opportunity for a great image. This is not something that can be taught, this is born out of you. So, if you want to experience a truly awesome medium, grab your camera, go out there and shoot, no matter how insignificant something might seem

You gotta try this!

This sugar is sooo good!!! I tried it for the first time on Friday and wow, it tastes better than regular sugar and is good for you too. You don't need a whole lot to sweeten fruit, tea, coffee or whatever you want. The sugar is refined to keep its natural molasses flavor (that's why it's a nice brown color); it's not too sugary sweet...the flavor is just right for what you need. It is available at Wal-mart for about $3 for a 2 pound box.

Sticky Sweet

What is it??

David!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season with your families and friends!

Luis

The Hands

The Circle Trilogy

Here is a very good story written by one of today's top christian fiction writers, Ted Dekker. He is also the author behind the book and awesome movie House. This trilogy presents the story of man's salvation thru Jesus in a fast paced story filled with thrills and a lot of awesome imagery. All three books are printed in one single volume which makes the story flow even better. Below is the image and a bit of what each part is about. This is an awesome story for teens who want an alternative to so many books out there that are not suitable for them.

Of course if you're the religious type who has no imagination, and who thinks Christians can't or shouldn't write good fiction, then this is not for you... go fly a kite or something.



Black - An incredible story of evil and rescue, betrayal and love, and a terrorist threat unlike anything the human race has ever known. A virulent evil has been unleashed upon the people of Earth. The only man who can stop it is Thomas Hunter, an unlikely hero whose life is stretched between two worlds. Every time he falls asleep in one reality, he awakes in the other. Soon Thomas no longer knows which reality is real. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that his choices in each world impact the other--and that the fates of both rest in his hands.

Red - In one world, Thomas Hunter is a battle-scarred general commanding an army of primitive warriors. In the other, he's racing to outwit sadistic terrorists intent on creating global chaos through an unstoppable virus. Thomas must find a way to change history--or face the destruction of two worlds.

White - Thomas Hunter has only days to survive two separate realms of danger, deceit, and destruction. The fates of both worlds now rest on his unique ability to shift realities through his dreams. Thomas and The Circle must quickly decide who they can trust--both with their own lives and the fate of millions. And neither the terror of Black nor the treachery of Red can prepare Thomas for the forces aligned against The Circle in White.

Dark Knight Prop Coin

Here is a prop coin from the movie The Dark Knight....it's the coin that Two-Face uses to make decisions. I shot this on my work table using natural window light.

Andy Day!

Holy Cow!...official Wolverine trailer!

This looks awesome. For all you who loved the X-Men movies, here is the origin of Wolverine. For those of you who are too religious...oh well. Turn up the volume!

Gabriel

Can someone tell me what the heck he's doing in this pic???

Everybody's a critic!

In a church environment there are always those who take it upon themselves to criticize the work others do. Having been born into a pastor's family I cannot tell you how much criticism of our work I have heard. The funny thing is that people criticize for many reasons but it seems that the biggest one is to make themselves seem important. Don't get me wrong...there is such thing as constructive criticism, but church folk seem to almost never use this type. Let's take a look at some of the reasons people criticise:

1. "If I criticise his/her work it will make others think that my opinion is how that work is measured". This is totally untrue. If your criticism is negative it will almost always guarantee that you will be seen as a negative person who is never satisfied, and people will spot your fakeness right away. If the person you are criticizing has been doing his job for years before you came along...how can your words measure success that has already been there?!?

2. "If I criticise his/her work it will make him/her change what they're doing to the way I want things to run". This one is usually meant to manipulate how the leader does something. True leaders can usually spot this and just ignore the intent (I know I do!)

3. "If I criticize his/her work it will make me seem powerful and important." It actually makes you look stupid and manipulative...who gives importance to someone like that?!?

4. "If I criticise his/her work it will get me a position in church." Yea...right. What leader wants to appoint someone who always negatively criticises others with the intent to make them look bad and make themselves look good?....nobody!

The list goes on and on and on. I can tell you from personal experience I never listen to critics...they will always be there. One of the keys of leadership is knowing how to navigate and handle these people and not letting their words sway or move you from doing what you're doing...especially if what you do has proven success.

Mmmmm...pizzaaaaaa

Brian Fitch

This guy could...and probably should...model.

You can comment

Just a reminder that you can comment on anything you read on this blog. Look for the blue "comments" link under each post and go from there!

Something to Ponder

"I have never been the kind
To let too many get behind
The walls that I have built around my heart
Now I find myself afraid
Feeling like I've been betrayed
By one I have trusted from the start"

This is the beginning verse of a great song called To Forgive by CCM artist Al Denson. It talks about how it feels to be stabbed in the back by someone who you thought from the beginning was your friend and had your back. I think we all can relate as to how that feels.

Imagine the pain Jesus felt when one of the guys He trusted, someone who was there as he performed miracles and was in on the most intimate conversations suddenly backstabbed him. That's gotta hurt. Today we live in a society where this seems to be the norm, even among christians. We smile and hug each other, share jokes, dinners, good times, and then wham! The knife goes in.



That has to change folks. When you smile in someone's face and then betray them...that's being a hypocrite. How can we serve the Lord and his people in peace knowing what we've done??? Even worse, how can we expect the person who we stabbed not to know who did it; because it's like the Bible says, nothing stays hidden. Sooner or later your friend or family member will find this out and then what? How will you face them?



You cannot complain when that person writes you out of their life because you are reaping what you sowed. We need to be careful children what we do and say. There are repercussions and consequenses when we turn on people. Even if that person forgives you, they do have a right to phase you out; who can trust a backstabber again after such a thing??.

Are we thinking about what's important?

Not too long ago someone was busted for having some nawty pics on their Myspace page....they insinuated that I had something to do with them getting caught. I had warned my class that Myspace and other social networks are NOT safe....you can set your page to private but there are ways of getting in. I guess they assumed since I warned them that I was the one responsible. That doesn't make sense tho...if I warn you that you are gonna fall off a cliff but you jump and fall; would it be my fault for warning you?...I don't get it. Anyways, if that person bothers to look into one of her friends I'm sure she will find the culprit eventually.

But that's not what matters. It seems whenever we get caught doing wrong it's more important to find out who "talked' or ratted us out, rather than repenting. As christians we need to worry more about repentance, because the Bible does say that hidden things will come to light....who cares how; what matters is that we get right and make sure we aren't doing things that we're not supposed to.



I don't understand why teens today put so much importance on who told rather than fixing the situation. Ironically this person then went on to commit an even worse act at an activity and even more of her bad ways were exposed...you know why? Because she is more worried about finding out who "tricked' on her than she is repenting and turning towards God and surrendering, and that made her reckless and as a result she got caught again (what goes around...).

Until we set our priorities str8 our lives will be harder and we will suffer and cry more often in our lives. We are setting ourselves up for failure and dissapointment instead of success and happiness. Think on that.

The Swimmer

Goosebumps

Party!

Bite me!

First Snow

What a difference a hug makes!

Yesterday I was not feeling too good. I got to church and just wasn't feeling like being there at all. Some people commented afterwards that I looked like I just didn't want to be up there singing my song...and to be honest I didn't (sorry about that). For some reason I just wasn't feeling very thankful.

But, as my father was speaking on the pulpit...I was sitting near the first row when a little boy whom I do not know and have never spoken to before just came up to me and said hello and gave me the most awesome hug. I don't know his name or who he is, but he just came up and threw his arms around me tightly and said hello. That hug really healed me.

You see, I was feeling a bit upset and bothered by the fact that to some people it seems I am not good enough to do certain things but I am good enough to serve as entertainment to them. That really bothers me. I think God used that little boy to tell me "its ok...things will get better....I'm right here".

I love the lyrics to the song Help Is On The Way from the album A New Hallelujah...this song has been stuck in my head since yesterday and I believe it's another way God is letting me know he is with me:



Hold on...help is on the way
Help is on the way
He said He'd never leave you or forsake you
Be strong, help is on the way
He said He'd help you
Jest reach out and hold His hand

When things seem dire, and people bring you down, look for the little things that God might be using to bring you back up.

Church Boyz