Fun Shots

It's safe to say that Eldon's the one who first inspired me to shoot better shots. And it's also safe to say I'm no where near his equal. But I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable running an SLR and with the help of Picasa, I'm beginning to feel more creative as well.






























My newest, cutest, and favorite niece :-)

‘R’ is for Writing

‘R’ is for Writing

I gently place my laptop, Ashton II, in its designated place on my desk –then plug in my Audio-Technica monitor headphones while pulling up the office chair that Mom and Dad gave as a birthday gift one year. Taking a seat I quickly scan through my music library, quickly passing many albums that have called me on one occasion or the other. Tonight electric is in the air, and something -a shimmering enthusiasm- is leaping and rebounding up the stairs from somewhere deep indside. Fernando Ortega –his music always carries me forwards to places I’ve never seen and back to dreams that I once believed in. And finally, I’m ready to begin this paragraph which you have just read.


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I spent the greater part of this week on my knees. No, unfortunantly , not in prayer, but in combat with a floor. Our living room carpet was getting a bit ‘worn’ (worn being a gross understatment), and so the job fell to me to replace it with something far better. Sadly, before I could begin ‘replacing’ I had to first destroy the underlying theme –a rather stubborn chip board underlayment. This took the better part of Monday to accomplish in a fashion that satisfied me. The ensuing days only got worse, even with a strong hint of something actually being accomplished.
Tonight, though, I celebrate the fact that I’m finished with the main flooring job –without serious injuries such as broken backs, necks, or a double hernia from doing jobs that technically aren’t good things to do without two people, unless you’re a heavy-weight champ –which I most definitely am not
Tomorrow will be a day of true relaxing. A day spent learning at the feet of my master –wether his truth and will for me, or studying the language that will make me much more effective in Central America.

Another sleepless night, of turning in my bed,
Long before the red sun rises,
In these early hours, I’m falling again,
Into the river of my worries…
When the river runs away,
I find a shelter in Your name,
Jesus, only light on the shore,
Only hope in the storm.
Jesus, let me fly to your side,
There I would hide.
Speak your words to me.
Help me believe in what I cannot see.
Before the river runs away,
I will call upon your name.
Jesus, only light on the shore, only hope in the storm.
~ Fernando Ortega

A Few Pictures from Youth Camp 2009

It was a good year with plenty of challenge, plenty of fun, and really a good time of getting to know each other better.


The lady folk were inspired to new levels of dedication...


Mr. Eldon Yoder



Charles Galore

Guys usually keep their hands far apart....


The pursuit of God

The Great God Entertainment

Some great quotes from A.W. Tozer:

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"...the more a man has in his own heart the less he will require from the ouside; excessive need for support from without is proof of the bankruptcy of the inner man."


"Is it not a strange thing and a wonder that with the coming of Christ drawing near, the professed followers of the LORD should be giving themselves up to religious amusements....that in the hour when mature saints are so desperately needed vast numbers of believers should revert to spiritual childhood and clamour for religious toys?"

~A.W. Tozer

Is That My Face You're Looking At? Or Is It Just My FACE?

For some time now I've been slightly bothered by Facebook -but it took me awhile before I actually thought about thinking about it, if you know what I mean. I made a short comment about that several days ago, but really didn't have space to address the subject the way I would have liked.

Before I go into a lengthy and 'scholarly' review, I want to make a short disclaimer. I'm not an addicted Facebook user -in fact I rarely visit the place unless someone invites me to be their friend or makes a snide comment on my wall. I've been on more lately because I feel I should make a bit more effort at staying connected. But, probably I really have no clue what I'm talking about. At the same time, I'm inclined to suggest that those who really do have a clue, probably spend too much time online trying to keep in touch with their friends...or perhaps just trying to be accepted and well liked...or just plain trying to be cool.

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One of things that bothers me most about facebook is that -true to its name- it's pretty much facial. And I'm not talking about facial hair -I'm talking about 'surface'. Beyond the fact that so-and-so is enjoying blazing internet at the café and what's-his-face just bought a 2009 model BMW, we don't get a whole lot more. On the other side of this, I am truly happy to learn that someone is about to graduate, or just started dating, or, for that matter, bless him if he's enjoying blazing internet (I could use a couple days of just that here). BUT, when on a daily base I'm seeing that what 'matters' to you is the blazing internet or the BMW, or any number of things......

I think I'm correct in saying that our 'surface' hints and portrays more than we mean it to. Sometimes what we say doesn't correctly portray who we are. Sometimes it does. But either way, it comes back to us. We're responsible for what we say -and and at least partly responsible for the impressions we give. Even on facebook where we can control our friends, we aren't completely safe from that. I, at least, am friends with people I don't know very well -with people who don't hold the same convictions I do. If my muslim friend had a facebook I'd probably be friends with him -and what would he think?

Recently I peaked over the shoulder of a friend who was checking out the activities on facebook, and I couldn't help but notice a post by someone. I don't know who this person is. But he had a picture of some sort of sports car with a comment underneath to the effect of 'My sweet new car! My love!'. Is that young man's focus on an eternal kingdom? If his car is his 'love' than what is Christ to him? I, the reader, concluded many things the writer did not say directly...

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It is true, that facebook is about keeping involved in a simple way with your friends -even making new friends. And I haven't written this to say that Facebook is an evil that we should avoid. Neither am I giving everyone a hard time for telling me that you ate fruity-loops this morning, made a tree house, or just broke the high score in chicken invadors. I only am attempting to encourage all my friends to use Facebook as a stepping stone in their friendships -and not a corner stone. And to look at what you're writing from the point of view of the reader.

I am to blame for carelessness as much as anyone. More so, because the idea of being careful isn't new at all to me... Often I even attempt to 'write' the 'blanks between the lines' and because of that my writing has been critcised and corrected more than once. One of my failures was a recent Nicaragua update that I wrote more for my sake than for yours. Someone I respect very much wrote me and kindly suggested I keep such episodes to family and friends who know me very well. And of course, he was correct.

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In the end - I want all people to see that my highest calling lies beyond cars, computers, sports, simple pleasures of life, or education.... I want them to see God working in and through me. I want them to be challenged by my life.

Blesings to you all,

'It's All about you Jesus, it's all about you!”

What I see HEre

A poised painter painting...

A proud policeman posing...

A big bad beatle, biting

A fabulous frog flirting...

friends

Lowell and Juanita

Eldon

Gary

Iyiyiyiyi!!