“My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.”
– John 15:12 NET
“Christus Victor, Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/5.0 at 1/1000th sec., 200mm
This image is available as a limited edition 12″x18″ print. Please contact me if interested.
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Private appointments available
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings throughout Central Florida.
“Tell people how much I love them.
Feed my sheep.
Pour out my love on them.”
― Lisa Bedrick, Poems about Life, Love and God
I photographed Rev. Shirley recently, as she briefly relaxed following a marriage celebration she officiated. She also leads the grief counseling group I attend. Rev. Shirley inspires me with her positivity, humor and the love she so generously shares with others. I am pleased to share her photograph.
Reverend Shirley
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Private appointments available
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings throughout Central Florida.
“If our concept of God is wrong, the more religious we get, the more dangerous we are to ourselves and others.”
—William Temple
I can no longer in good conscience call myself a Christian, the term having been thoroughly misappropriated by a legalistic, self-righteous, self-destructive, segregationist, pharisaic, oppressive and judgmental sect of religionists whom are nothing like Jesus.
“God Waits by the Window”, Nikon D800, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/640 sec., 180mm
Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings
throughout Central Florida.
Though not my usual fare, I am re-blogging this post because I am so impressed by it’s poignant look at a very real condition. I have long said that the majority of Christianity will have to answer one day to the people that it has turned away from Christ through intolerance. It’s refreshing to see a pastor who’s finally caught on and is sharing the message.
Love doesn’t always look like love.
When I published this blog post two weeks ago, I was prepared for some people to applaud it, and for others to condemn it. That’s what happens whenever you put an opinion out there.
I was fully prepared for the waves of both support and hostility that accompany any vantage point on anything, especially a controversial topic like Sexuality.
What I was not prepared for in any way, were the literally hundreds and hundreds of people who have reached out to me personally, to thank me for bringing some healing and hope to their families. Parents, children, siblings, and adults have confided in me (some for the first time anywhere), telling of the pain, and bullying, and shunning they’re received from churches, pastors, and church members; from professed followers of Jesus.
Scores of people from all over the world have shared with me their…
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When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.”
— John 8:7
A downward glance and sunglasses hide her face from view—an archetypal expression of shame, guilt and condemnation. The symbol of Christianity hanging around her neck provides context. The quote on her shirt reveals her condition. How would you complete this visual parable?
I hope you enjoy the photo. Please leave your thoughts/comments below.
“A Public Stoning”, Nikon D800, ISO 800 f/10 at 1/200sec., 135mm
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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
Booking family, personal, business and pet portrait sittings throughout Central Florida
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“And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here.”
—St. Augustine
Whatever your faith, I pray your day may be filled with blessings, hope and a heart that overflows with love. —earl
“Expecting Someone”, Nikon D800, ISO 200, f/5.6 at 1/500 sec., 50mm
Click the image to view larger size and available print options.
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Photographing people, places, pets and ponderings.
Booking family, personal, business and pet portrait sittings throughout Central Florida
WARNING: Today’s photo comes with a bit of a personal soap box. Thanks for indulging me.
“God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
— 1 John 4:8
Perhaps it’s all the hoopla and undeserved attention Phil Robertson is getting that compels me to write today’s post. I’ll be the first to admit it contains a great deal of an entirely personal rant based on entirely personal perception. I hope you’ll excuse me for adding another voice to the chaos.
As a second-class citizen currently denied the rights given to others, I quite often encounter those who think of themselves as Christians acting as voices for hate rather than love. To that point, today’s post is intended as a bit of a reality check. It is quite clear that A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH has been put aside in the practice of the Christian faith, one which concerns me greatly. It is the question of God’s character and the failure of most denominations to understand and conform their teachings to this simple and critical truth.
The Bible teaches that God is love. (1 John 4:8). But what exactly does that mean? Let’s start by looking at what it does not mean: It doesn’t mean that God is loving. You and I can be loving, but we cannot be love. Only God can do that. Since scripture should always be used to interpret scripture, we can look at 1 Corinthians 13, verses 4 – 8 for a definition of love. And here’s where I’m going to ask you to do something different. Instead of reading these familiar verses as a revelation of what love is, understand them as a revelation of who God is. I’ve substituted “God” where “love” occurs in the scripture to help you see it.
“4 Love God is patient, love God is kind, it He isn’t jealous, it He doesn’t brag, it He isn’t arrogant, 5 it He isn’t rude, it He doesn’t seek His own advantage, it He isn’t irritable, it He doesn’t keep a record of complaints, 6 it He isn’t happy with injustice, but is happy with the truth. 7 Love God puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. 8 Love God never fails…”
Why isn’t this what churches — and Christians — are teaching today? How many times have you heard preachers hurl from the pulpit endless strings of admonishment about God being angry, eager to throw sinners into hell? How can this be reconciled with the clear scriptural evidence of God’s character? Who should you choose to believe, the Bible or your pastor? Yes — the Bible does say to “fear God”, but is the concept of “fear” communicated the kind that leaves us quaking with terror in a corner somewhere, incapable of having a relationship with Him? How can you truly love someone you’re taught to be afraid of? No, it means to look upon Him with awe and respect, reconciled to the truth that there is and can be no greater focus for our love and allegiance.
And what’s truly beautiful about that is the fact that God’s character is unchanging. Can you say the same about your understanding of Him? I hope not. “Judgment Day”, rightly understood, is not so much about how we are judged by God as it ultimately is about how we have judged Him. I may not be trained in theology, but I have spent my life studying God’s Word and seeking to know Him, despite the attitude of the church toward me. Though it would be nice to be accepted into a church family on the sole fact that I love God and seek to have a relationship with Him, I don’t need other believers to validate and confirm God’s love for me. I am grateful for the fact that God is love, even though most Christians are not even loving. Phil Robertson, and those like him, would do well to revisit Scripture and do so with an open mind and a spirit of understanding. Until they do, it’s not God they are serving, but His antithesis. Simply put, if it’s not love that motivates you, it’s not God.
!["Cross of Shadows" [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 3200, f/1.8 at 1/80 sec. handheld, 50 mm](https://earlharrisphotography.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/cross_of_shadows-copyright2013_earlharrisphotography-webimage.jpg?w=427&h=640)
“Cross of Shadows” [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 3200, f/1.8 at 1/80 sec., 50 mm
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Follow me on Instagram at @EarlHarrisPhoto, where I am posting photos (and quite a few kitty pics!) captured and edited on my iPhone. #herekittykitty #instagramcats
Tweeting from @EarlHarrisPhoto
And he saith unto him, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
— John 1:51
Today’s image is one I had fun a lot of fun with. It seemed as though she took control when her descent landed her in the Adobe® Lightroom™ “Develop” module. 🙂
As always, your shares, likes and comments are greatly appreciated!
!["Descending Angel" [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 320, f/2.2 at 1/320 sec., 85 mm](https://earlharrisphotography.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/descending_angel-copyright2013_earlharrisphotography-webimage.jpg?w=504&h=620)
“Descending Angel” [Click the image to enlarge/reduce its size.] Nikon D800, ISO 320, f/2.2 at 1/320 sec., 85mm
You can purchase a print here.
Social Engagements
Do you like cute cat pics? If so, you should follow me on Instagram at @EarlHarrisPhoto, where I am posting photos captured and edited solely on my iPhone. #herekittykitty #instagramcats
Find me on Twitter: @EarlHarrisPhoto
Thanks for stopping by!
“In every grave on earth’s green sward is a tiny seed of the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, and that seed cannot perish. It will germinate when the warm south wind of Christ’s return brings back the spring-tide to this cold sin-cursed earth of ours; and then they that are in their graves, and we who shall lie down in ours, will feel in our mortal bodies the power of His resurrection, and will come forth to life immortal.”
– David Gregg
Nikon D300, ISO 320, f/22 at 1/45th sec. 35mm
“Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart!”
– Susan Coolidge
“All of heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, hell afraid of it,
while men are the only ones to ignore its meaning.”
– Oswald Chambers
Nikon D300, ISO 400, 1/1500 sec at f/9.5, Nikkor f/1.8 35mm DX lens
If you would like a free copy of the above image suitable for use as a desktop background, please contact me .
Psalm 65:4
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