87: The Table at the Back of the Room

I have chased enough rabbits for now so back to the original story. After I moved to the coast I found a local photo supply store with a twist. Way in the back of the store was a table with all the necessary items for critiquing photographs. Starting around 10 on Saturday mornings many of the local photographers started stopping in for supplies and picking up slides. They all seemed to migrate back to the table where the group was willing and able to critique the images.

Around this “table in the back of the room” I did learn a little to help with my technique, but what I learned most was how to have a socially acceptable image. The key was the social acceptability and then the technique as long as the technique remained within the social guidelines.

It took me many years to overcome the social aspects and revert to what is true, and I now enjoy photography more that I ever have since I found the table in the back of the room.

The Table in the Back of the Room

I know some will get up in arms about my image selection of a religious Icon to illustrate a secular idea, but is that idea completely secular or might it have some relation to modern religion? Besides all that, is not our religion to go hand in hand with our everyday life?

81: Still Life -- GrandPa's Peanuts

While talking with my friend Marty this morning he reminded me of an old tale about my Grandfather. As a result I went to the store and got some peanuts, carefully parched (roasted in the shell) them, took them to the table to enjoy and reminisce.

Parched Peanut Snack

This result was a vivid reminder of my Grandfather. He managed a wholesale warehouse that supplied fresh fruits and veggies to most of the stores and restaurants in Central East Texas, and he loved parched peanuts. Every day, a man, carrying a cardboard box slung off his shoulder by a piece of rope, came by the warehouse. The box was full of small bags of parched peanuts and my grandfather bought a couple of bags to enjoy throughout his work day.


Well the story goes like this. The first question my grandfather always asked when he interviewed someone for a job was, “Do you Like Peanuts?” Think about it; he and his desk were covered with peanut shells and husk, what would you say? If you said yes, you did not get the job.

His reasoning was not selfishness but that there was always stuff for one to eat around the warehouse and you were welcome to eat it, but everything in the warehouse except peanuts one could eat with one hand and work with the other. It takes two hands to eat peanuts.

I know this tale is true and it brings to mind a question. Are we, as Christians, eating with one hand and working with the other, or are we just eating?

76B: The Street at Night -- The Third Night

They say the third time is the charm, may be so. At least in this case it fits. For those of you who do not know, I do not do "set up" shots (only one so far in this series and this is not it). Last evening I saw the image I posted earlier but made another capture that I failed to review.

Calvary In Junk Shop Window

Here was Calvary on Saturday night in Waxhaw. The three crosses: the large white one for Jesus, A small white cross for the convict who repented, The small dark cross for the one who did not repent, All against the dark sky (reflection in the window).

Some times the truth is right before our eyes and we fail to see it.

76A: Street Photography -- The Book

The Book

A book in hand is better than Star Wars in person, and there is one book that is better than all the others. Have you read The Book lately.

68: Soapbox - More Signs

Well I was a little hesitant about posting this, but this is what I got today. It is an expansion of my post of 7/5/2010. Different Church but possibly the same issue.

Church For Sale

I know little about this specific churches history, but having been around lots of churches and several scenarios come to mind. The one thing I do know about this church is, it has not gone on to bigger and better things. We can then conclude that the church failed in reaching out and meeting the needs of the growing community that surrounds it. The decline could be the result of of one or a number of items that plague modern churches. All those things can be summed up by the saying "It is OUR/MY church."

15: Street Photography - More signs

Signs do interest me. Most have a purpose, but combined with their surroundings or other signs the often suggest a different meaning.



The thing that makes this pair of signs unique is that in many cases they are telling the truth. Far too many churches have forgotten their purpose of spreading the gospel. Many are merely closed groups that say they want new members but in reality they had just as soon stay as they are. It is time for repentance and following the Great Commission.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:19-20 NLT