Portraits of Light

One of my favorite aspects of photography is capturing the light that illuminates the world, making it incredibly beautiful. But light in and of itself is insignificant until you consider that the greatest sort of Light comes from our Savior and the light that He brings from His justice and truth and love and grace for "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Therefore when I see light I want to remember that it is a reflection of our sovereign God. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty, Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain. Ps 104

For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. Ps. 36

"...because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:78-79

Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Ps 97

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps 119:105

Ps 118:27 God is the LORD, And He has given us light;

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid? Ps 27:1

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

The entrance of Your words gives light;

It gives understanding to the simple. Ps 119:130

O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me;
let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Ps 43:3

He Who is the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
Who alone has immortality,
who dwells in unapproachable LIGHT,
Whom no one has ever seen or can see.
To Him be honor and eternal dominion. 1 Tim 6:15-16

The Lost Art of Holding the Door

A morning a few weeks ago found me sitting in my car at our local Barnes and Noble on an ordinary Saturday. I had already made my purchase and I decided to take a moment and read my new book in the comfort of my car. My front row parking spot landed me only a few feet from the double doors leading into the store and from my prime perch I could observe all the customers coming and going from B&N.

While I sat there reading "What He Must Be: . . . if he wants to marry my daughter," I found my eyes wandering to the door and observing all the people that went in and out. As time went by I found my attitude (and probably my blood pressure) swinging between aggravation and happiness based on how the men gracing the premises handled the simple invention of a door. Apparently holding the door for ladies has become a lost art.

This predicament stems right from the core of the feminist equality movement. While men are still at fault for failing to lead and to be men, the feminist agenda has assaulted manhood for so long that men are no longer taught to be men in respect to the ladies in their world, and in fact they probably suffer ugly treatment from the "liberated" women whom they do try to treat courteously.

The principles behind serving ladies first, giving seats to women, and simply opening and holding doors grow from Biblical principles that communicate a Christian worldview. They speak of the God ordained order where men are to lead and protect the weaker vessels that God has created to stand beside them. This ranges everywhere from men being called to fight wars to husbands being called to live with their wives in an understanding way "honoring them as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life." (1 Pet 3:7) Chivalry is not a chance cultural development but rather a deliberate exercise of Christian culture. By contrast, as the culture immerses itself in the religion of evolution and equality, the wicked doctrines of survival of the fittest and feminism struggle to gain ground.

There were two heroes of the hour that Saturday morning. The first was a middle-aged man who helped his wife through the door and then proceeded to put his arm around her. I could tell just by being a silent observer that this man probably loved his wife. The second was more of a man than those who did not hold the door (including the man who dropped the door on me), and this man was only a few feet tall. Although he was only about four years old, this little man patiently stood guard at the door and held it while others continued to pass by. His job was finally completed as his little sister came through the door and his family was reunited.

Allow me to say "thank you" to you real men out there who do hold the door for ladies. I actually feel quite blessed when someone stops and holds the door for me and I notice because it is not an
everyday occurrence. May you continue to stand up and be men and may my sisters in Christ continue to seek to be godly ladies. The culture may assault you and try to tear you down, but the next time you guys hold the door for an ungrateful feminist, remember that there are ladies out there who greatly appreciate your efforts to be the real men that God has called you to be. Our world is in desperate need of you.


~ Rise Up, O Men of God ~

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The Church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to the task,
Rise up, and make her great!

Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!