Come!

Sorry, but I do not remember where I took this picture. If this church steeple looks familiar to you, please leave a comment and tell me where it might be :). Thank you!

Only in Olney

I spent a day in Maryland recently just driving around checking out churches and taking photographs.
This is Faith Presbyterian Church in Olney, Maryland.
God sure does do some good work!

Never Forget 9/11

Ten years ago today, these United States of America came under attack.

Thousands were killed. Senselessly. Violently. Lives were changed forever.

Homes and families were changed forever.

Our safety, our security, became challenged. We came together as a country, like never before.

Stronger. Sterner. Bolder. Empowered.

God became real to many who had never really seeked His face before.

God became tangible, and we became stronger.


Ten years. Looking forward. Today we look back and remember.

Never forget.

(I took this photo today, September 11, 2011, at Hope Baptist Church, in Theressa, Florida.)

All the Toys Are Hers

"Come on in! We're getting ready for a wedding!"
(I bid on a photography package at a recent auction on a session with professional photographer Brenda Thornton. 
One of the things I got do during this session was to shadow Brenda on a pre-wedding shoot. These are some of the photos I took that day.)

This is Smokey Joe, the bride's beautiful dog. And that is her gorgeous wedding gown that he is posing so perfectly on.

Of course we might need a little encouragement - hahaha! Actually not, although this was a cool idea of the bride's.
You will notice several toys in these photos - for the most part they all belong to the bride. I think this shotgun was actually her father's.

Once you are to this point, you need a gorgeous wedding gown, . . .

. . . a really elegant pair of shoes, . . .

. . .  and a beautiful bouquet.

Smokey Joe seems to have given his seal of approval on this match :).

I mentioned toys. This particular toy belongs to the bride. She is a captain with the state highway patrol.

These are far and away the best props for any wedding shoot I've been involved in!

I don't think the groom is intimidated one little bit - hehehe!

Also the bride's. And Smokey Joe is right at home in that little basket!

This awesome ride belongs to the bride's parents. Beautiful!
Brenda was recreating a photograph they took of the bride standing beside this car when she was a little girl.

Not sure who the harvester belonged to, but it was spectacular. Shiny and brand new looking - pristine condition. A perfect ride!


These were taken in the bride's back yard. Just gorgeous!


Then we were off to the chapel. And it was beautiful!
What a wonderful location for a wedding!

I loved the architecture! So beautiful.

I know that any shot Brenda took in front of these windows will look totally different from this one.
She knows what she's doing, whereas I had no idea how to shoot like this,
but I still like the way it turned out.

Another one of her parents' cars.

Our old courthouse, of great significance to her family.

This as an incredible pre-wedding shoot. Brenda, thanks so much for letting me shadow you on this trip. And thanks to the bride and groom for allowing me to tag along. You are such a wonderful couple! I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the actual wedding. May God richly bless your marriage and bring you much joy!

Built on the Rock

A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel, located at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusettes.

Kali, along with 432 other competitors, just finished the NCFCA National Championship which was located just outside Boston. This beautiful chapel was the site of some of our events.

Totally beautiful, no matter the weather, no matter the time of day. A blessed reminder that God is near, no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing. And we are to honor Him in all that we do. No questions asked. Complete obedience and honor. All the time. For we are in the shadow of the cross.

Shout For Joy

Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”

Come and see what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
Come, let us rejoice in him.

He rules forever by his power,
his eyes watch the nations—
let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
He has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.

For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.

Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.

If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened
and has heard my prayer.

Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

Psalm 66:1-12, 16-20 (NIV)

All photos were taken at the Episcopal Church of the
Incarnation in Highlands, North Carolina, in December, 2010.

The Leaves of Fall

A couple weeks ago, I was in Powder Springs, Georgia, for a Communicators For Christ conference - the last one for this year's touring group of interns. This is the church where the conference was held. Sorry, but at this point I don't remember the name of the church.

These gorgeous trees were in their back parking lot.

I loved the colors and I've never been in a location where I could take pictures of the fall leaves. So, I was happy!

I loved the clear blue sky. Such a beautiful backdrop.


Such beautiful handiwork of God, the creator of the universe.

Behold: He Knocks

Ask, and it shall be given you;

Seek, and ye shall find;

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Matthew 7:7

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20

By the Way of the Cross

Condemned to die on a cross
for crimes he had done.
The thief was guilty, everyone could see,
But his destiny was changed,
as he looked at Christ and said,
"When your kingdom comes, remember me."

In paradise that Day he stood
just like the Lord had said he would,
surrounded by those who had gone before.
One said, "friend how did you come?
What are the deeds you have done?"
With tears in his eyes, I can hear the thief reply:

There are no merits to my name.
No works that I can claim.
He who brought me here told me to say:

I have come by the way of the cross,
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done,
It's the suffering of God's Son,
I have come by the way of the cross.

I have nothing to claim but my guilt and my shame.
Hopelessly lost, I could not find my way.
Till His glorious light of love shown down on me.
His mercy washed all my sin away.

And what He did for me that day
was a price I know he paid
by His grace I too can say, forever say:

I have come by the way of the cross,
I have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing I have done,
It's the suffering of God's Son,
I have come by the way of the cross.

I see millions gathered round the throne
from every kindred and tongue,
those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
As they cast their crowns
down at His feet,
this will be their story, this will be their song:

We have come by the way of the cross,
we have come by the way of the cross.
It is nothing we have done.
It's the suffering of God's Son.
We have come by the way, come by the way,
there is no other way, but the cross.

Words and Music: Dennis Wilson/Gaither
Photos: by myself, at Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas.