From time to time it is a helpful to set time aside to experiment with new ideas and techniques.  This past weekend a couple of my friends and myself got together to do just that. Throughout the day we had a total of three people model for us.  You can see some of what I captured at the following link: Facebook Gallery “Portraits”.  The first three pictures were not from the shoot, but from another time and place so disregard them.  We started off the day at a desserted school building in Glasford, IL and made our way to “downtown metropolis” of Kingston Mines, IL.

Death is a very frightening thing. We have no idea what is on the other side, what’s waiting for us, what’ll happen when we stop breathing and moving. The far side is terrifying. I should say, apart from Jesus and what He’s said the other side is terrifying and all that. But that’s the kicker. The only way to live and die without fear is to trust Jesus…

Some time ago I saw a trailer for a movie called Juno. Halfway through the trailer I knew I wanted to see this movie. Tonight I ventured out in the rain and cold to go see it. Juno is about a sixteen-year-old girl who accidentally gets pregnant by her best friend.  She doesn’t want the baby and decides to give him up for adoption. Simple enough, right?

Plot wise the movie was very straight forward. But the characters were wonderfully rounded and full of life. These were normal people saying normal things and dealing with each other and their circumstances. Half the movie happened in Juno’s face. There’s a voice over periodically which is vital so that we know what she’s thinking because…

A few months ago I had an opportunity to go to an Andrew Peterson concert in St. Louis. For reasons that seems supremely reasonable at the time I declined going, but since I habitually kick myself for it I think I still qualify as a raving fanboy. Andrew Peterson is a skilled lyricist and while some people say his voice isn’t that great I think it sounds like a normal person’s voice and is thus endearing. Last year Andrew Peterson collaborated with Randall Goodgame to make an album of songs for children. I bought it for my niece Lily as birthday present, but then she wouldn’t lend it to me (Actually, I didn’t ask. 650 miles is along way to lend a CD for a week.) so I never got to hear it. Josh and Adiel, knowing my distress, bought the album for Noah for his birthday and so it would be in the house for me. Okay, maybe that last part wasn’t intended, but regardless Slugs and Bugs is now on the premises. And I am so happy.

The album starts out very silly. They sing about postmen, tractors, bears, playing ball inside, and piggy toes. They sing about bizarre parenting tasks like burping and making a child eat beans. The songs are goofy and clever and very singable.  Andrew and Randy are obviously…

I have recently discovered that I am a hopeless romantic. I love watching people fall in love; I love watching people who are in love. I like watching the awkward newly-weds and I like watching the sweet old couple. I don’t like the genre of Romance, but I delight in love stories.

Last week I watched a truly great love story movie. The Italian movie The Tiger and the Snow was co-written, directed and starred in by Roberto Benigni who also co-wrote, directed and starred in Life is Beautiful.

Roberto Benigni plays Attilo de Giovanni a professor of poetry in Rome. He’s vague, scatter-brained and excited about everything he does. Every night he dreams he is getting married to a beautiful woman, the woman of his dreams. And then at a poetry reading…