A true story...mid-sixties, Western Colorado

IS THAT ALL THERE IS?

The man was from back east…a city man. I never knew his name.  He was deer hunting on Colorado’s sparsely populated western slope. They came every year.  Different, but all the same.  The anticipated big game hunt in the mountains of Colorado had been planned and fantasized over for many months.  The season had finally arrived.

Deer hunting, but not really a hunter…a business man more suited to a subway ride than an uphill hike on a frosty morning at seven thousand feet elevation.

What must have been running through his mind that morning…his last, though he would never have dreamed it. He was anxious to get moving.  He took off up the hill, to be followed in a few minutes by his hunting companion…also a city man.  No doubt he was excited to be hunting big game. It was invigorating spending a few minutes alone in the cold, fresh mountain air. How different this was from the city.  The sounds and smells were of another world than what he experienced on a daily basis. Perhaps his thoughts were partially on his family back home…his wife and his children, thinking; “I wish they could see me now.”

Banging on the door. We were almost ready for school. The cow had been milked, the animals had been fed.  I was cramming down a bowl of oatmeal that had to last until lunchtime at school. My brother and I were the only ones at home.  He was three years my senior, so when the frantic banging came, he answered the door.

“Quick, my friend has collapsed.  Call the ambulance.  Please come help us.”  My brother ran out of the house well ahead of me. There was no 911 in those days, so I looked up the number in a real phone book, and made the call to get help on the way.

As is often the case in small western towns, emergency services do not normally occupy different offices.  In our town, a call to the local law enforcement officer, the ambulance, and the acting coroner were all the same call.

By the time I arrived at the scene, which was only a few hundred yards from our house, the outcome had already been determined. Whatever this man’s final destination was to be, it had suddenly been reached.  His inexperienced deer rifle lay askew on the ground beside him.  His eyes were fixed and his lips were blue.  He was dead. A fatal heart attack. My brother, kneeling beside the body, was a whiteish color, and he did not look well.  His amateur attempts at CPR had not been successful, and as happens, dying bodies often emit sounds and fluids that are not pleasant.  He was trying to recover from these realities.  It wasn’t working.  In a few hours, he would come home from school in the middle of the day, because the trauma of the morning would not leave him alone.

Years later, while watching the movie, Deliverance, this experience came vividly to my mind.  Though the details of the movie were vastly different, the underlying plot was similar.  These men were trying to find adventure and excitement apart from the mundane routine of a somewhat meaningless life. The haunting lyrics from Peggy Lee’s song seem to fit;

If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

The Gatekeeper (and his older brother)

From the creator of The Horse Whisperer, and other novels.

SOME GREAT WRITING Advice from Nicolas Evans

The Horse Whisperer

Q: I want to be a novelist. What advice would you give me?
A: Read, read, and read. Then, when you think you’ve read enough and might know how to do it, find a story that moves you and tell it from the heart. Try not to copy anyone’s style and don’t think about the reader, just write for yourself. Be your characters, inhabit their heads; never bend the characters to fit the story; write what is true to them. And remember this: any attempt to find the formula of what makes a bestseller is doomed to failure. There is no such thing as a formula. But if what you write moves and excited you, there is a chance it may move and excite others too.

Q: Do you always know the start, middle and end of your story before you begin writing?
A: Yes. But things evolve and change. I do my research and during that time the outline of the story takes shape in my head. Starting to write is a bit like going for a hike in a place you have never before visited with people you know little about. Before you set out, you study the map and then you drive there, put on your boots and your backpack of research and set off up the trail.

At first, the characters you are hiking with will be like silhouettes; maybe you know just one or two key things about them. Once you start walking, you have to ask yourself all kinds of questions about them. Where was she born? What was his relationship like with his father? Did she go to college? Can she catch a ball, sail, speak French? Who was his first love? As you answer these questions, so the silhouettes begin to fill in and after a few miles you are getting to know who they are.

And when you see the terrain you are hiking through, you will maybe change your mind about the route you had planned to take. You are headed in the same direction, but instead of walking up in the trees, you decide to go lower along the river or maybe you’ll spend an extra day camped by the waterfall. The characters will sometimes tell you to do this kind of thing too.

An American thing to declare...

These stones...the THOUSANDS of them at Arlington National Cemetery represent what it takes to keep a balance of power on this planet. Unlike so many who want to believe the opposite, people (many, if not all) are NOT basically good at heart. Put ONE toy in a room of half a dozen 5 year olds, and you will soon see how "good at heart" we really are! The strong one will get the toy and the rest will get nothing...unless they stand together. There are those in power who have no desire to live peaceably or in freedom. They are selfish, power hungry, greedy, controlling, and competitive. THAT is why there must always be balancing powers that keep dictatorial, totalitarian leaders and countries at bay. Otherwise, we have a world that is hopelessly out of balance and becomes unfit for human occupation of the masses. America (and allies) have provided that balance for the past century. It has come at a great cost, as you can see by these grave markers. We have not always done it well, but at least we have answered the call. That is why I salute our military...they sign up, and go where they are sent. Yes..there have been atrocities. I don't deny that or make excuses for it. War does not always bring out the best in humanity. With that said, where would we (and the world) be without our fighting men and women? I think the world should be grateful for that....yes, I am an American.

Flight 93 Memorial

The war memorials in Washington D.C. are all very moving and meaningful. The unique thing about the Flight 93 Memorial in the mountains of Pennsylvania, is that it is not a memorial to our dedicated military. It is about normal American citizens who were flying that morning, much like we all do from time to time. They had no idea what lay ahead, and they certainly had not signed up on September 11, 2001, to serve their country in any special way. What they did that morning most likely saved hundreds of lives and probably some of our senators and representatives who were in session in the Capitol. They acted as a group…together…as the Scriptures say, “in one accord.” There were no Democrats, Republicans or Independents that morning on Flight 93…just Americans. As I stood on that hallowed ground and contemplated the sacrifice that was made, I resolved to hate less, and love more….even those I strongly disagree with. I resolved to not slander and name-call those I find repulsive and distasteful. I choose to honor the lives and sacrifice of the 40 souls who gave the last ounce of their devotion to see an intricately conceived, hate filled plan thwarted for the greater benefit of American freedom and liberty. I resolved to stand tall and be more thoughtful, discerning, and compassionate than I have been at times in the past. I can do better than I have. Thank you….each one of you on Flight 93 for your sacrifice. It will not be in vain.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Rules To Teach Your Son

One of my good friends posted this on FaceBook, and I liked it well enough to put in on my blog.  I’m not sure who the original creator is or I would gladly give credit.  All of these thoughts may not resonate with you, but many of them will.

1. Never shake a man’s hand sitting down.
2. Don’t enter a pool by the stairs.
3. The man at the BBQ Grill is the closest thing to a king.
4. In a negotiation, never make the first offer.
5. Request the late check-out.
6. When entrusted with a secret, keep it.
7. Hold your heroes to a higher standard.
8. Return a borrowed car with a full tank of gas.
9. Play with passion or don’t play at all…
10. When shaking hands, grip firmly and look them in the eye.
11. Don’t let a wishbone grow where a backbone should be.
12. If you need music on the beach, you’re missing the point.
13. Carry two handkerchiefs. The one in your back pocket is for you. The one in your breast pocket is for her.
14. You marry the girl, you marry her family.
15. Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like crazy underneath.
16. Experience the serenity of traveling alone.
17. Never be afraid to ask out the best looking girl in the room.
18. Never turn down a breath mint.
19. A sport coat is worth 1000 words.
20. Try writing your own eulogy. Never stop revising.
21. Thank a veteran. Then make it up to him.
22. Eat lunch with the new kid.
23. After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it.
24. Ask your mom to play. She won’t let you win.
25. Manners maketh the man.
26. Give credit. Take the blame.
27. Stand up to Bullies. Protect those bullied.
28. Write down your dreams.
29. Take time to snuggle your pets, they love you so much and are always happy to see you.
30. Be confident and humble at the same time.
31. If ever in doubt, remember whose son you are and REFUSE to just be ordinary!
32. In all things lead by example not explanation.

My Life in Bibles

No electronic device can replace these!

I, like most preachers, have had scores of Bibles in all sizes and translations. These are the ones that I will not give up...they are part of who I am. I feel an attachment to them that is hard to explain.

1. Tooled leather cover KJV...my first "serious" Bible. (early teen years)

2. A hardback NIV...ONE column Bible...no "helps" just text. It has been used the most on a day to day basis. The cheapest of the 4, but most important to me...duct tape and all! (post college/seminary)

3. Small full grain leather New Living Translation...travel size

4. Large full grain leather NIV Pastor's edition. My preaching Bible.

5. Small leather journal for capturing thoughts I know I will forget if I don't quickly write them down. A great companion to my Bibles.

One Bible is missing, which hurts my heart.  My original preaching Bible, and the one I was holding at my ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, is not here. It was an exact copy of the hardback pictured above. That is why I had them...exactly the same, except one was a relatively cheap hardback, and the one I no longer have was a full grain leather edition. I used the hardback to study, and mark it up...and the text was in the exact same place in the leather edition. I left it in a rental car in Albuquerque, NM. I hope it became important to someone.  I could not replace it with the same edition...it was no longer in print.

In case you aren't aware:  A full grain (or genuine) leather bible is much different from a bonded leather one.  Bonded leather to full grain is as chicken nuggets are to chicken filet.  Bonded is little chunks of leather that are glued together and then shaped into the cover, or binding. Full grain leather is a piece of leather used in the binding.  Bonded leather bibles do not lie flat when you open them up and lay them down...genuine leather stays right where you open it.  You can see the advantage of that when you are preaching/teaching.  Obviously, the genuine leather bibles are much more expensive.  Like any profession, you need good tools.

This is a single column text (from my NIV hardcover above), which I prefer, but they are very hard to find in a good bible. No cross referencing, very few footnotes...mostly just text.  My first preaching bible was exactly this layout.

Lakota Moon Phases

Thirteen Lakota Moons Lakota moons did not follow today's 12-month calendar. Instead, the moons followed each season. Spring, summer and fall each had three moons, while winter had four. Below are two breakdowns of the moons ... one according to traditional Lakota thought and the other based on today's calendar. Wetu: The Moons of Renewal and Growth (spring) Magzksicaagli Wi - Moon When Ducks Come Back Wihakata Cepapi Wi - Moon of Making Fat Wojupi Wi - Moon When Leaves Turn Green Bloketu: The Warm Moons (summer) Wipazuka Wasti Wi - Moon of the June Berries Canpasapa Wi - Moon When the Chokecherries are Ripe Wasuton Wi - Moon of the Harvest Pyranyetu: The Moons of Change (autumn) Canwapegi Wi - Moon When the Leaves Turn Brown Canwapekasna Wi - Moon When the Wind Shakes Off Leaves Waniyetu Wi - Moon of the Rutting Deer Waniyetu: The Cold & Dark Moons (winter) Wanicokan Wi - Moon When the Deer Shed Their Horns Wiotehika Wi - The Hard Moon Cannapopa Wi - Moon When Trees Crack from the Cold Istawicayazan Wi - Moon of Sore Eyes (Snow Blindness) January - Wiotekika Wi - Moon of Hard Times During this time of year, everyone experienced difficulties. Food was in short supply; the weather was fierce. Yet, the Lakota (Sioux) people prevailed. February - Cannapopa Wi - Moon of Popping Trees As a new moon arrived, the Lakota people noticed a great change. Trees on the Great Plains popped and burst as their branches became laden with winter snow and ice. March - Istawicayazan Wi - Moon of Snow Blindness Spring was on the horizon; however, the next moon phase continued the cold winter tradition. Now, the people were subjected to blinding sun rays banking off of the snow. April - Wihakakta cepapi Wi - Moon of Fattening This moon was named for the female animals. During this time, those carrying babies were at their largest before giving birth. May - Wojupiwi Wi - Moon of Planting Warmer weather made its way onto the prairies in this moon phase, and the pleasant temperatures meant it was time to plant. June - Wipazuka waste Wi - Moon of Good Berries As hunters/gatherers, the Lakota people gauged seasons by the types of food they could find. During this moon, the berries were fresh, tasty and red. July - Canpasapa Wi - Moon of Cherries Blackening Chokecherries and other berries grew black (sapa) as the summer wore on. This moon phase also marked a time for one of the most sacred Lakota rites … the Sun Dance. August - Wasuton Wi - Moon of Harvest This phase was a time to harvest what had been planted. The Lakota (Sioux) people were great stewards of the land, and they used every part of their harvest. September - Canwapegi Wi - Moon of Brown Leaves The weather began to change, and soon the trees responded. This phase was named for the beautiful shades of autumn leaves. Gi means brown. October - Canwapekasna Wi - Moon of Falling Leaves Autumn weather had settled into the Great Plains at this time. And, as the Lakota people prepared for winter, the trees also prepared by dropping all their leaves. November - Waniyatu Wi - Moon of Starting Winter Today, we think of Thanksgiving; however, in traditional Lakota times, this moon brought about the cooler temperatures. Everyone started thinking about winter. December - Tahecapsun Wi - Moon of Shedding Horns Cold winter temperatures and blistering winter winds were upon the prairies during this time; however, the Lakota people noted the moon by the deer shedding their horns.

Prayer in public school

How many times have I heard this accusation when someone is trying to give reasons why, in their opinion, our schools are full of violence and our society seems to be moving away from traditional Judeo-Christian ethics rather than toward them?  It goes something like this:  “It all started going downhill when they took prayer out of school.”

Recently, I read of a 4^th grade student, who happens to be Roman Catholic, who was made by a teacher to wash the cross-shaped ash off his forehead. Obviously, it was Ash Wednesday.  The teacher overstepped her authority in doing so, which was addressed by school officials. She likely had no idea she was violating the very Constitutional right she thought she was upholding.  One responder put it this way:  “Irony is that by doing what she did, she violated the Constitution that she thought she was upholding. The STATE (which is the school in this case) cannot impose religious beliefs. They also cannot keep a child from expressing those beliefs. They cannot as teachers hold prayer sessions, cannot teach the Bible/Koran/Torah but the kids can do so on their own. Like freedom of speech, most people don't actually understand it.” (source unknown)

NO ONE HAS EVER TAKEN PRAYER OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL. Any school kid is free to pray on their own, anytime. They can even hold a prayer meeting, but they cannot impose it on anyone else. I personally have met with a group of high school students who invited me, on their own, to meet  with them in a public school classroom to talk about the Bible, and to pray with them. Totally legitimate, if they are doing it of their own volition. I, for one, am glad we have the Constitution applied and practiced in our public schools. I do not have to worry about a religion I have problems with trying to indoctrinate my kids or grandkids.  If I insist that there be a prayer time in the classroom each morning, then anyone has the right to say my kid has to sit and participate in (or be exposed to) ANY type of religious mantra…from Christian to atheist.  No one can keep any child from praying in school. If you want to be sure your child has teacher led prayer (that you approve of) in their school, then send them to the private school of your choice. Public schools are different…they are Constitutional in regards to the practice of mandatory prayer. Understand what you are saying…BEFORE you say it.

My Caste

I am very aware of what is known as a caste system in cultures and countries and that it still exists today to the detriment of millions. It is a system by which one “caste” is deemed more important and of higher value then those belonging to a lower caste. Your caste is determined by the village you come from, what your family name happens to be, and your involvement in a particular type of labor, vocation or profession.   It is another form of racism. It is another way to devalue people based on externals and not, as Martin Luther King Jr., would say, “the content of their character.” It is discrimination in the worst of ways.  No matter how hard you work, and how successful you may become, you simply cannot rise above your designated caste. And in many cultures, it is simply accepted as the way things are.

Why is this important to me? Because I am, evidently, a member of the lowest “caste” in the modern American culture. Let me spell it out for you:

• I am a white, middle class, above middle age, American male.
• I am a conservative by nature and by choice.
• I am an evangelical Christian, which means I adhere to the values, practices and principles of the Holy Bible, to the best of my ability.  The Bible, not culture, serves as my baseline of authority in determining right and wrong.
• I identify as heterosexual.
• I believe that shedding innocent blood is wrong, whether legal or illegal, whether born or unborn.
• I am now retired, own my home and, because I have lived according to a reasonably good financial plan for lots of years, have enough monthly cash flow to exist in an adequate fashion.
• My ancestors are from England and Scotland...white Europeans who migrated West to seek better living conditions for their family.
• I am reasonably patriotic. I love America and have no problem in believing we should defend our country and our freedom.
• I believe aliens to this country should be legal, not illegal.
• I believe that everyone who is able to work, should work and should pay their own way
• I own guns. More than one. I believe in reasonable regulations, but not oppressive and overly strict gun control by the government.
• I believe in gender equality, in terms of personal value. I also believe that there are some jobs and activities that, most often (there are always rare exceptions) lend themselves to being gender specific. Anyone is free to do what they choose, but there are some things that men tend to be better suited for and things that women tend to be better suited for. Intelligence and personal value have nothing to do with it.

Because of my “caste,” I am automatically viewed in a negative light by many in this culture.  These are some things that, of course, by the list above, are automatically true of me.

• I am homophobic.
• I am bigoted.
• I am a bully.
• I am a misogynist.
• I am by definition, politically incorrect.
• I am insensitive to the plight and the condition of others.
• I am against handouts.
• I am rigid, religious and obnoxious.
• I do not understand or have a proper value of women
• I was born into privilege and therefore have no idea what it means to be poor or needy.
• I am a blindly loyal, flag waving zealot, and have no value for anyone not like me.
• I am a racist
• I am an enemy of civil liberties
• I am for joining church and state, not separating them.

So, what’s the problem? The problem is, you don’t know me. I am being categorized and compared unfairly and with extreme prejudice. And, because I am a white American heterosexual male, that does not matter. The rules about being fair and non-judgmental simply don’t apply to me. I am in a caste which I cannot change.

Ultimate Restoration of All / Universalism

I am not interested in getting into a theological debate over universalism, eternal punishment, a literal hell, ultimate restoration of all things, etc.  Quite honestly, I don’t give those things much thought. I am more concerned with learning to love like Jesus did right here in the world I am living in. I find that is a challenge large enough to keep me humble. However, in reading some of the current theological ideas that are being touted as the “real gospel,” I am made to wonder some things and to ask some of the following questions:

•  Evidently, Jehovah God is old fashioned and uninformed and Jesus is progressive. We need to go with Jesus, and ignore the old guy.
• The Bible is not to be trusted to give an accurate view and understanding of who God really is.  There are things in there that, obviously, a loving god would not condone.
• Were the biblical writers inspired at all? Or, were they writing pretty good stuff, but full of their own thoughts on revenge, punishment, purging, destruction and ultimate outcome. In other words, does the Holy Bible reflect the trinitarian Godhead of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit?  Or, must we figure it out for ourselves by what we determine Jesus would do, and if it is different from what the text says about God…well, some writer was having a bad day (or decade), and God became a bit too punitive and vindictive in the writing process.
• If you do give the Holy Bible as a reference to your positions, then you are labeled as an archaic, fear based, war mongering, unenlightened bibliolater, and you are subject to accusations of:  “You worship the bible, not the God of the bible!”  No..I do not worship the book (the Holy Bible), but I do believe God has a pretty good book out, and it is a fair and accurate account of who, what and why He is….and how we fit into that scheme.
• The Apostle’s Creed contains statements of a Christian Orthodoxy that cannot be trusted and do not reflect the heart and actions of the man, Christ Jesus.
• Makes me wonder….is, perhaps, this new neo-orthodoxy much like the former neo-orthodoxies…straight as a gun barrel and just as empty?
• Are we seeing an overreaction to a rigid, legalistic application of biblical Christianity (the Gospel) that was often toxic, void of love and overly punitive in nature?  And now, has the pendulum has swung to the other extreme?
• Are we free to create a deity that suits our lifestyle, our thinking, and our progressive culture? The Biblical account of the Godhead is not about crafting a god of our choice, it is about us being a creation of His choice.

I am writing this in reaction to some of what I have been exposed to by friends, books and articles on the topic of universal salvation (in other words…Love wins, and EVERYONE and everything will ultimately be restored, and no one experiences eternal punishment or separation from God). I have never been one to be motivated into a frenzy of running around trying to pluck souls out of the coming firestorm called hell. Fear doesn’t get me up for the parade. Learning to love like Jesus does.  However, I believe that Jesus is a chip off the old block, so to speak, and that he accurately represents God our Father. AND…I believe, other than some obvious scribal errors and minor textual discrepancies, though I may not understand it all, the Holy Bible does, in fact, give me an accurate view and understanding of who God is…including His Son, Jesus Christ.  Many arguments come down to this basic idea:  What, or Who are you accepting as your source of ultimate authority.  If that accepted base is different, then the outcome of any argument will never be in harmony, which is why quoting scriptures as your proof, becomes irrelevant.

To those who think/believe differently than I do…no problem.  I am not asking you to refute my statements and defend your positions. However, please save yourself the time and energy of asking me tons of questions to respond to…reading books or listening to teachings I have little interest in. I do not look to you to enlighten me. I do not have it all figured out, but your mission is not to fix my thinking. I am simply stating some things that come to my mind in the current debates and expounding of what the real gospel is all about, and what God is really like.

The Gatekeeper

A Good Person

What is a “good” person?  What does good look like and act like? That is a very subjective question. Anyone who remembers the advent of color TV knows how subjective “good color” was on those first sets.  Everyone had their own ideas. Let me try and create a working definition of what I would call a “good” person. To do this, I will simply list some traits that come to my mind. They certainly are not exhaustive. Here are my 10 Character Qualities of what makes a Good Person.

1. They have a kind heart
2. They possess a generous spirit
3. They are polite
4. They are quick to lend a hand
5. They honor authority
6. They do not seek to live above accepted rules of reasonable behavior
7. They have a consistent emotional and social balance
8. They value relationships
9. They are dependable
10. They seek well-being for all above their own interests and desires by what they do and by what they refrain from doing.

I would sum this up and say; “A person who demonstrates an abundance of these 10 traits is someone of good character.  They, in fact, are a good person.  You will notice that I did not make this sound super spiritual. That is not to say that I do not value a deep spiritual life and foundation. In my estimation, some of these characteristics can only be consistently demonstrated by a person who is resourced by a deep faith. You can work that out for yourself.

I can think of various ways to apply this information. It can be contrasted as what is good and what is productive. It could be applied to elected or appointed public servants/officials. It could be a way to measure a person’s value to society. Often times, those who make and accomplish the most, and those who move the needle the fastest and furthest are the ones that are valued most highly.  Where does character come in?  What is the acceptable balance?

If you gave a 1-10 (10 being the best) numerical value to each question, as it pertains to yourself, the best total score would obviously be 100 points. What is your score? Do you score yourself higher than others would?  We live in a very judgmental society…perhaps a little self-honesty might do us some good.

NBA's 8 Greatest Of All Time One Franchise Teams

1   LA Lakers (16 titles)

·       Shaquille O’Neal

·       Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

·       Magic Johnson

·       Kobe Bryant

·       Jerry West

2   Boston Celtics (17 titles)

·       Bill Russell

·       Larry Bird

·       Bob Cousy

·       John Havlicek

·       Kevin Garnett

3   Chicago Bulls (6 titles)

·       Michael Jordan

·       Scotty Pippen

·       Artis Gilmore

·       Horace Grant

·       Derrick Rose

4   San Antonio Spurs (5 titles)

·       David Robinson

·       George Gervin

·       Tim Duncan

·       Sean Elliott

·       Tony Parker

5   Golden State Warriors (6 titles)

·       Chris Mullins

·       Stephen Curry

·       Rick Barry

·       Kevin Durant

·       Wilt Chamberlain

6   Detroit Pistons (3 titles)

·       Isiah Thomas

·       Dennis Rodman

·       Grant Hill

·       Joe Dumars

·       Ben Wallace

7   Miami Heat (3 titles)

·       LeBron James

·       Alonzo Mourning

·       Tim Hardaway

·       Dwayne Wade

·       Chris Bosh

8   Philadelphia 76ers (3 titles)

·       Julius Erving

·       Moses Malone

·       Maurice Cheeks

·       Allen Iverson

·       Charles Barkley

9 &10 Honorable Mention

·       New York Knicks (2 titles)

·       Houston Rockets (2 titles)

Take Great Moon Photos

Quick Tips

•       Use the longest lens you have,  If you have a 200-300 zoom (or longer), that is great.
•       Use a tripod if you have one  (really important) And, use a remote, or timer shutter release so you get absolutely no camera movement.
•       Of course set in Manual mode
•       Ignore your camera’s light meter
•           Lunar 11 rule: f/stop 11  match the shutter speed to your ISO setting. You will need a shutter speed of about 1/500 or faster, and set your ISO to the same setting: 500 or higher

All of these are very basic, beginner steps, but I had to re-set my photography mind to digital from the film I used back in the day.  If you have a point and shoot camera, you cannot get the results you'd like.  You can play around with the settings you have, but it won't allow you to do what you really need.  Tip: when buying a camera, make sure that it can be used in a full manual mode.

BTW…if you don’t already, refer to your work as photos or photographs, NOT pictures! You may be an amateur, like me, but you don’t have to totally sound like one! 

The Gatekeeper

Life That Works...

Some Fundamentally Sound Principles:

*You cannot legislate the poor into freedom (financial or otherwise) by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for or contributing to, another person must work for without receiving what was worked for. This kills incentive and initiative. Invention becomes unnecessary, because ultimately, there is little benefit in it. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from someone else.  Half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work, because the other half is going to take care of them, and the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work, because somebody else is going to get what they’ve worked for. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. When you take this approach, it is the end of healthy democracy and ethical capitalism.  It becomes the essence of communism.  When this happens, NO ONE is free because the government has the power to take and give as it will and thereby keep everyone under its control.  That is, fundamentally, why I am opposed to bigger government and more government programs. In the end, it enslaves the very population you are intending to serve. Socialism that moves to this end is detrimental to freedom as a society and personally. America did not come into existence to create another hierarchy to control the masses, it came into being to serve the individual and allow him to prosper. In providing for this environment, there needs to be, and should be reasonable compensation to the state, and to its members who cannot help themselves in a minimally satisfactory manor, which would include aid for health, education and personal welfare.

The ultimate danger lies in the extremes. On one hand there are those who feel entitled. They always want maximum benefit for little or no contribution. On the other hand are the greedy. They want all they can possibly get without a concern of what it may cost other individuals or society.  A democracy cannot sustain when either extreme controls. As I see it, we are being pushed further and further to the extremes, and the fighting has become more intense. Compromise and cooperation are becoming a thing of the past.  America, nor any state, can ultimately survive that kind of faulty foundation.  Negotiation and compromise must be applied in order to determine for a nation and its citizens what constitutes a hand up, rather than simply a hand out.  Decisions must be made about who the “less fortunate” really are and what approach can be taken to provide an adequate foundation for their lives. Emigration, defense, education, veterans benefits, teachers compensation, first responders support and fair compensation, along with many other issues must be addressed.  We cannot address these and other issues with the polarization that now exists in America. 

A number of sources and past readings have gone into this little manifesto. I do not claim it as my own original thinking. I have tried to put together some principles that I would consider important in “doing life” in a reasonable, responsible and sustainable manner. 

*This statement and some of the language in this paragraph was drawn from a statement written in the 1930’s by Dr. Adrian Rogers.

History of The Lambs / New York City

The professional theater group, The Lambs, is the oldest theatrical, musical and performance group in the United States. They once occupied the historic building just off Broadway on 44th Street, which is now The Lambs Club Restaurant and Bar. Over the years there have been over 6,000 Lambs. They include such renowned personalities such as Spencer Tracy, Fred Astaire, Irving Berlin, W.C. Fields, and Will Rogers, to name only a few.

In 1974 the Club sold its own quarters to the Church of the Nazarene which intended to use the old building as a mission in Times Square.

The building was designated a New York City Landmark in September 1974; and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1982. In 2006 the Church of the Nazarene sold the building and theater, which has been renovated by the Chatwal Hotel. A restaurant, operated by Iron Chef Jeffrey Zakarian,is part of the hotel. It is still called The Lambs Club.

In the summer of 1978, a youth group from College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, KS took a bus trip to New York City, and spent a week at The Lambs helping to renovate and restore the building to its original beauty and prestige. It was a life changing week living a half block off Times Square for these teenagers and their leaders.

Mark & Bonnie Morgan

Youth Pastor / College Church of the Nazarene  1976-82