Never forget who you are or what you’re called to. We are saved to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Think on this! Its stunning and terrifying! We are lights in a dark world. We are going to be offensive; seen as evildoers. Our actions may look awkward and silly, yet we are not called to popularity or to a better life here on earth. Indeed, we are called to suffer and we must fulfill our calling, though it brings pain from people, it reaps rewards from the Almighty, all knowing, awesome God. Live not as the world does, following their way of life and passions of the flesh, but rather living as honorable children of the King, ransomed and forgiven from all your sins, living as a sacrifice to show to the world how glorious God is. But you are… read more
Monthly Archives: January 2011
We’re going to have to take this section slow, one awesome statement at a time. After Jesus had confronted the devil coming from the mouth of Peter he speaks these words in regard to setting our minds on the things of God. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.†Wow, and ouch and YES! I so want to come after Jesus, I want to share in his power, in his life, in his glory, but to do so I must die. I must be sacrificed, brutally, for the cross is no symbol at this point, it is a guillotine, a gallows, an axe used to whop off criminals heads. “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will… read more
We have a great line-up of tutorials this month, that will satisfy your artistic thirst! These tutorials range from cool photo manipulations, abstract illustrations, cool typography effects and much more. Check them out, you may find something that you like! Extremely Glossy and Shiny Text Effect In this Photoshop tutorial, we’re going to see how to create extremely glossy and shiny text effect with glitter texture. We will use simple techniques blending and layer style effects.. View Tutorial Undress a Giraffe in Photoshop Have you ever wanted to know what a Giraffe looks like without its spots? If so, this tutorial is for you. This tut we will demonstrate how to undress a giraffe by removing its spots. View Tutorial Honey Bubbles Text Effect In this very easy Photoshop tutorial, we’re going to see how to create warm honey text effect with bubbles texture. We will use simple techniques such… read more
Today I wish to talk to you about something that I think that we all struggle with in life, and that is being content. I am going to start out by saying that I have been a horrible example as one who is content in my past. I have been driving for 5 years and I have had 5 different vehicles, none of them have been totaled. Arguable, my first few cars were not so great, but my fourth was a ’99 Honda Civic with relatively low kilometers. It was a great car that would have lasted me a long time but I had always wanted a Honda Prelude. So I sold my Civic and went a few months without a car so that I could save to get a Prelude. I ended up with exactly what I was looking for, a well-maintained, low kilometer, eucalyptus green pearl Prelude. So… read more
In this world you will have tribulation, take it seriously. For just one second take only that. Jesus just promised all of His followers tribulation. That means we are going to get hurt, in our heart and in our life, that hurts. So back to the point, what is it that will bring peace? Why would Jesus promise tribulation? He says first that He has said these things.. what things? He has said that he will leave, die, and they will lament. Yet, he will return in a little while and they will rejoice and no one will be able to take away their joy. Even though they have trial and tribulation, their joy will be indestructible. Wow, is my joy like that? “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome… read more
Adding Drama to Your Images: Today we’re going to cover the process I use to add drama to an image. By combining HDR, RAW, and Black and White images together in Photoshop we can achieve some very unique and stunning effects. While not applicable to all instances this technique is a great way to really set your work apart. Final Image
This is without a doubt, one of the the most stunning sunsets I have ever had the chance to photograph. It only lasted about 5 minutes and if my brother Sam hadn’t grabbed me I never would have shot it. It was a great reminder to me of the shortness of the life and the great need to make the most of it, not living for myself in the futility of my mind, making idols of my possessions, but rather to prepare for an eternity in heaven. Our condition and status in heaven is greatly measured by what we do here on earth and it is worth it to lose this short life of fleeting pleasure in order that I might gain a better resurrection and standing in heaven. We are not saved by what we do, nor is anyone more saved by any works we can do, but there… read more
Facing hard times is something that most people around the world can easily relate with today, gas price is sky high, major companies and banks are failing, the world economy is on a downhill slide and the ripple effects go on and on. How will we respond when problems come to our doorstep? Our response can either be a way to grow in a positive direction or cause us to crumble. Depending on how hard you fall, it may be harder for you to look up; some may go to the extreme response of cursing God! We can take a tip from Job, he was a righteous man, but he had the worst economic crisis in his life, he lost it all, land, house, health, family and friends, basically he lost everything. In Job 23:2-12, Job hoped that he would see God working out his circumstances, but God seemed to… read more
Our driveway is a piece of art. At the top, it’s all concrete, which then switches over to chip’n seal. Next comes a run of very beat up blacktop before finishing off with a final cracked section of concrete. The changes are abrupt and shocking and to ride your smooth bike tires down it can be an adventure at times. Yet, it seemed a fitting subject for the life changes that are taking place with me these days. I just finished up my last day at the farm where I’ve been working for the past three years of my life. I’ve already been offered two new job positions in the past week, yet I am so sad to leave and feel unprepared to step out once again into the unknown. But, God has my steps all laid out, one right after the other, just out of my sight and I… read more
If I could tell you one last thing before I died…, I would tell you about how I live life to the fullest. I would tell you about the great joy I have in my heart. I would tell you about a man who came from Heaven to earth, named Jesus. He came to give us life to the fullest. He told of two paths, one path is wide and there are many people on it. The other is narrow and few travel on it, yet it leads to life in the fullest. The wide path is easy to travel on; it is the path we are on from birth, our default path. The narrow path is a path that you have to choose to walk, it is not always easy, but it is the most rewarding. There is no middle path and each path leads to different places. The… read more
I want to explain a portion of scripture that some may find confusing. I had a friend (who isn’t a Christian) ask me about the Bible talking about it being wrong to have wealth. Jesus does mention that the poor are blessed and that the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. What we must understand is that religious people at that time thought that if you had wealth then you were blessed by God. That meant that anyone who did not have wealth would have been considered unholy and not someone who would be likely going to Heaven. We must also understand that when Jesus came, He really shook up the apple cart. He did not come to hang out with religious people and promote what they were doing. He came to show them how they should be truly living their lives, He came to reach out to those in need…. read more
Jesus said, I came to give life, not death, a life in Him. When we get our eyes off the flaws and set them on the real, true beauty, the face of Jesus, we begin to see in a whole new light. When we read His word, we begin to see another image, a reflection of Jesus- his precious Word begins to shine in our hearts. New life begins anew and a seed is planted, and another…. I can see beauty in a stick, yes… in the simplest of things. My mind and thoughts have been renewed, changed, because the word of God has renewed my wrong/dark thinking into a right/light/godly thinking…. I don’t see all the flaws in self, others, and things in this life as I once did. We know this world is passing away and will, however the Lord said, HIS Word shall never pass away!!! For… read more
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