Hello all!

One day back a couple of months ago, I was hiking a small section of the Appalachian Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I remember it being a cold and very windy day.  Somewhere along the way I came across a local resident of the four footed kind. A smelly little fellow aka... a skunk! I could smell him long before I got to him so I know someone or something before me didn't fair to good. When I saw him I snapped a few pictures (at a very safe distance) using my 100-400mm wildlife lens. Then I walked WAY around him giving him the path and plenty of room. Skunks are a beautiful animal on the outside, but boy do they stink on the inside!
Here recently I've thought about how sometimes my attitude can really stink about certain things. Every day (especially after waking up in the morning) I examine myself to see if I'm pleasing the Lord with my life and attitude. Many times I honestly have to tell myself no and work on  getting back on track. I know that selfishness is the culprit more times than not, and I ask God to help me battle it daily.
The devil whispers in our ears constantly that we deserve this or that, and that we need to get ours. And if we don't keep a check on our hearts and ask the Holy Spirit to protect us, we can find our attitude beginning to stink real quick. When our attitude stinks, we find people walking WAY around us just like I did with that skunk.  I want people to see Christ in me and not feel like they have to keep their distance from me.

Be a blessing, not a stinker.

Isn't it neat to see all the lessons that we can learn about life just by observing and enjoying God's creation. The weather finally seems to be warming up so go outside and enjoy the things that the Lord has made, even if it's just in your own backyard!

In Christ,

Kevin-

Hello All!

Not very long ago my wife brought up the subject of sun dogs. "What are they, what causes them, and what do they mean?" she asked. I answered her questions as best as I knew how,  that they were light reflecting from the sun off of ice crystals in the sky, and that they are often early indicators of bad weather to come. Then she asked me another question, "why does it seem like we are seeing them all the time?" I chuckled and told her that there was a lot of bad weather coming.
Unfortunately I was right. Where we live has experienced snow, freezing rain, and back and forth warm and cold temperatures causing (it would seem) the animals and plants to be quite confused ( I saw a Black Bear and cub in mid February up near the Blue Ridge Parkway a couple of weeks ago). The Outer Banks of North Carolina have been pummeled with high winds and flooding the last few days.

After my wife and I had that discussion, it got me thinking a bit deeper about sundogs. When you look at one (or two depending on the conditions in the sky) it can appear to be two suns, and sometimes three because of the light reflecting on the ice crystals on one or both sides of the sun. So, obviously things are not always what they seem, and that got me thinking about our old adversary the devil. How many times does he look like something he's not?

2 Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. We know however that he is the father of lies John 8:44.

This is how he deceives people by tempting us with things that are dishonoring to God but making the temptations look like pleasure and truth. We should always be on our guard and examine things that are presented to us in life with discernment whether they are from God who loves us or from the devil who hates God and wants to trick us into turning away from the Father our Creator in order to follow the evil one to our destruction. We as Christians experience this constantly as we are continually under attack by the devil who wants to trip us up and destroy our witness and testimony.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
-John 10:10

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
-James 4:7

I hope you are all well, and as spring is quickly approaching that you'll get outside and explore the things that God has made!

In Christ,

Kevin-

A few days ago I was driving home from work in the late afternoon and decided to stop at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. I was only there about a half an hour and I was able to get some waterfowl pictures. It was a fairly breezy day out of the northeast. The sun was low and off to the side so the lighting wasn’t great, but I was happy overall with the pictures I got in the amount of time that I had.
I couldn't help but think about the fifth day of creation when God made all the winged birds after their kinds. This particular day I got a good dose of the duck kind!

I wanted to share some photos from this half hour that God blessed me with. If you’re a duck hunter or you just love ducks in general then I hope you will enjoy these.

Even though the weather is getting cold, there is still plenty to see and enjoy in God's creation outside, so go outdoors and explore even if it's just in your own backyard.

In Christ,

Kevin

Hello to you all.

A couple of days ago I made a trip out to Flat Top Mountain for an afternoon hike for some alone time with God. I took my camera because my wife asked me to get some good pictures. No pressure, right? When I arrived at the trail I was excited because no one else was there. But as I began my hike, I was quickly disappointed because the plants were really droopy and suffering from the lack of rain we have had here this summer.
I normally hike to the summit of Flat Top, but yesterday my plan was to go about halfway up to a small area where I thought some yellow wild flowers might be in bloom with lots of Butterflies. But as I feared from what I observed at the base of the mountain, the flowers were all gone and there was not one Butterfly to be seen. I saw some small lavender flowers along the trail, but even they were suffering a bit from the mountain being so dry.  

After seeing the shape that the flowers were in and no butterflies, I thought that I would love to get a photo of a deer on this hike. I see them occasionally but it's usually a surprise when I do. By the time I see one, they are usually already on the move in a direction running away from me, and it's too late for a picture. But I had  high hopes this day in particular because I wanted to get a really good picture for my wife.
While walking and praying I saw movement to my right, and there was a nice doe bedded down by a tree about 20 yards from me. I got a couple of shots off with my camera and then I got a great surprise. A spike buck poked his head out from behind the tree where the doe was bedded down! Talk about an answer to a hopeful prayer.

To my surprise they didn't seem to upset by my presence and I was able to get a few more pictures. I hiked a little further up the mountain and had a snack and something to drink before turning around to head home.
On the way back down the trail it started getting pretty dark and I saw one more big deer running up the side of the mountain a good distance from where I was on the trail. It stopped and all I could see at that point was the white of its tail. I drew up my EOS 50D and extended my lens to 400 mm and took a picture. I don't know why I didn't delete it at the time because it was very dark on the camera screen, but I'm glad that I didn't. When I got home and started editing the pictures, I got a huge surprise. It was one of those "I had no idea that was in the frame" surprises! That very dark picture that I was close to deleting contained a 9 point buck looking back at me on the side of the mountain.

I believe God always answers prayer. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says not right now because He's teaching us something during certain times in our lives (many times I think it's patience for me). But sometimes He says yes and when we least expect it He does a little more just because He can. All I asked for was to see a deer that day. God said "Sure, I'll let you see a few...and here's a 9 pointer just because..." No matter what His answers are, I believe we should always be thankful for them.

Never doubt the power of prayer. Jesus is always listening!

Thank you for stopping by and staying a while. The weather is cooling down and there's still lots to see and explore, so get outside and enjoy the things the Lord has made...even if it's just in your own back yard.

In Christ,
Kevin-

Hello Everyone!

Today is a very special day for my wife and I. It's a day that marks one of the fastest years of our lives. Today is our son's first birthday. It is hard to imagine how quickly he has grown. I know every parent goes through this and that so many folks can tell us what to expect, or tell us to enjoy it while it lasts, but there isn't anything like experiencing this feeling yourself.

It seems like just no time ago that I could hold him with one hand. He was a mere 5lbs and 15oz. when he was born. I was scared to death holding him for fear of breaking him. My wife and I had never seen anything that God had created more perfect than the little life that He gave us this day a year ago.
I'm remembering when the nurse in the hospital asked me if I wanted to look up and see my son being born, seeing him arrive for the first time, and hearing him cry for the first time. I remember the feelings that ran through me as I tried to hold things together in front of my wife at the time of her delivery. But there was no way to contain what I was feeling and the tears flowed.

I'm remembering back to when we were worrying about his weight gain because he was so thin. But even more I can remember the first time he smiled at me one day when I came home from work. But nothing compares to the way he smiles at his mother. He will grab you with his grin, there's no doubt. Everywhere we go, he captures people with his smile and his giggles.
God has given him a big family of proud grandmothers, granddaddy's, uncles, aunts, and cousins who love him very much. And for that my wife and I are incredibly thankful to God.

In his fist year our boy has traveled to several states including North Carolina, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Kansas just to name a few. He has seen his first Christmas, Easter, strolled through parks, explored space museums, children museums, been onboard his granddad's sailboat, eaten his way through a good portion of the U.S.A, found out that he likes molasses (like his dad) and hiked on the Blue Ridge Parkway with his Mom and Dad.

Well, to say that my wife and I are proud of our little guy is an understatement. Over the course of the last year he has brought us nothing but joy and has made us the happiest parents in the world. Before my wife and I got married we knew that we wanted a child. We had no idea of the blessing that God had planned to give us an eternity ago. Jesus is mighty to answer our prayers when we ask for His will to be done in our lives
​(1 John 5:14)! I pray everyday that He will give me the wisdom to raise our son to grow up and be a man after His own heart.
Of all God's creation, my wife and son are the greatest gifts that He has given me.

Happy 1st Birthday to my son in whom I am well pleased!

I believe that God created every person for the purpose of serving Him and giving Him glory. Unfortunately not everyone will. When Jesus went to the cross, He went and died for all. Not just a select few. I also believe that out of all the people on the earth, God has planned for particular people to cross the paths of others. Non- believers will cross paths with believers so that they might hear the good news of the gospel. And believers will cross paths with other believers to strengthen each other -Proverbs 27:17. We can think "well that's unavoidable isn't it?" but think about it, why do we live where we live? Why do we work where we do? And so on. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't believe in accidents or that we just float through life without purpose.
One example for instance would be my dad working together with a man from Hatteras, NC for a tugboat company in Norfolk, VA many years ago (probably early 80's). I would have been little at the time (maybe in the 2nd or 3rd grade). Who would have thought that so many years later, after everywhere I've worked and places I've been and seen that I would be working with that man's grandson in NC and together on the same boat?

I will come back to this in a minute.

When we give our lives to God, I believe that things get a whole lot harder after that. I don't want to get to far off track here, but bear with me. I'm not a believer in what's called the "prosperity movement" that is so very popular today. This movement teaches that if you love the Lord enough that you'll have your every dream of whatever you yourself desire come true. This might include becoming wealthy, or never being sick again just to name a couple. But did Jesus teach this? No, He didn't. Jesus said that the road with Him would be difficult -Matthew 7:13-14.
I believe that part of the difficult road is being despised by the world. Here are some quotes from Jesus Himself...
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
-John 15:18-19

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
-Matthew 10:22

​Now back to my original point.
As we live in a world that hates God and those who have given their lives to Him, God pre-planned for us to come across other believers on the difficult road. One such person that comes to mind on my road is my mate at work. The maritime industry is a rough/tough environment. I have worked on fishing boats, dinner cruise boats, passenger ferries, research boats, and tugboats nearly my entire life. I believe that there are many more non believers than there are followers of Jesus Christ in this line of work. So one who loves Christ can feel pretty alone in this field.
My mate on the boat (who for privacy reasons) I will just call Mike has been a bright spot where I work now for quite a few years. He is a man of high moral character and truly loves the Lord. He speaks often of his love for his wife and children. I see him involved with his church. Each day we work together we talk about the things of God (creation, marriage, and loving others) and we listen to Christian music and sermons by well known pastors (who we believe teach correct theology) from around the country. Mike is an encouragement to me and many others in our workplace. He helps to strengthen me by example, and always has my permission to hold me accountable as a brother in Christ. I can only hope that I do the same for him. I am very happy to call him my brother in Christ!
With my work schedule, I can only attend church once every other week at home, so it's a bit difficult to get connected with other Christian men on my time off. Is it an accident that in such a harsh world we are blessed with like minded believers when AND where they are needed. I think not! As a matter of fact, isn't that the reason for the church, to come together and uplift and encourage each other in Jesus' name?
And isn't it encouraging that in a cursed world where we are hated by that world for His name's sake while enduring difficulties in life that Jesus promises us this...
"For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them." -Matthew 18:20

God's plan is always perfect and there are no accidents. Obey Him and be someone's bright spot right where you are... and know that he is always in your midst!

I hope you are encouraged by this.

We're right in the middle of summer so don't forget to go outside and explore the things God has made even if it's just in your own backyard!

In Christ,
​
Kevin-

Day before yesterday I went to do a little work to my boat lift with my Dad and Uncle. I arrived at the house in NC where I used to live very early in the morning. Once there, I decided to do a quick walk around the property. I walked down to where my Granddad's fig farm and garden once was.
When I got down there I saw an old friend in the woods. A very wise old friend that I have spent several years trying to catch on camera. I have heard him many times in the early mornings and in the evenings at dusk telling the news to his friends down in the swamp. The friend I am referring to is an old Barred Owl that lives in the woods down there by the fig trees. I saw him fly silently from one tree up into another and turn around looking at me.
I walked back slowly to my truck in order to get my camera. While making my way back to the truck all I could think was "He won't be there when I get back...He's never been there when I get back." I got to the truck and put my 100-400mm telephoto lens on my EOS 50D. I walked back to the fig trees and I couldn't believe it...there he was still sitting there as if he were waiting on me to come back.
I stopped as soon as I saw him because I didn't want to scare him off before getting a shot. I took a few pictures and then he shouted a hoot at me. I hooted back and he blinked and moved his head in a circular motion. It was quite comical.
I enjoyed watching him for the few minutes that I had. He hooted at me once more and then I decided to leave him alone. After that I went up to the house for a short nap before going over to the beach to work on the boat lift. When I got to look at the pictures of this beautiful bird (that I have waited patiently for years to get)  I thought about Proverbs 19:20 that says "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days." Oh how true that is in so many areas of life! I am thankful to God that I could  see this amazing animal that He created. I am thankful to Him for allowing me to finally get pictures of it. Mostly and always, I am thankful for the Truth and Wisdom of God's Word and for Him reminding me of His Word through creation.

Spring is quickly approaching! Don't forget to go outside and enjoy the things that the Lord has made. Even if it's just in your own backyard.

In Christ,

Kevin- 

A lot has been going on in the last year and 4 months. I've gotten married, moved away from my home in NC, and am living near the mountains of VA. My wife and I have a little boy now. With the baby comes diapers, baby formula, diapers, doctor visits, diapers, toys, diapers, lots of love and attention...and diapers. My wife and I think we're finally settled on a good church. Trying to make new friends and get into a good support group hasn't been easy with my work schedule. Oh, did I mention my work schedule. I'm gone a week at a time, so that makes things hard on my wife for the time I'm away from home. As you can tell by reading this, there's been a LOT of transition in my life in a short amount of time. My wife has been patient with me through it all. She is amazing and I love her for it!
Before I go any further know this, I am not complaining here.
The point I'm making is that in all of the transition, I have had to be very careful that I don't loose sight of the Lord in all of it. I can totally relate to what Paul meant when he said "But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife." -1 Corinthians 7:32-33
​

When I was single I gave so much of my energy to God. Now being married I want my wife to be happy and I want to be a good husband and father. There are so many distractions now, and I have to really make time for prayer, reading God's word, and keeping my mind and focus on Him.

A couple of things I do each day are...

1- I have a Bible study plan for reading a little each day using an application in my phone and tablet. This will take me through the Word in a year.
2- I read an article or watch a video on marriage by Christian organizations I follow on Facebook everyday to keep myself accountable and to get ideas for fun things to do with and for my wife.
3- I read articles about Biblical Creation and the creation/evolution debate often to keep my mind sharp on these topics.
Another thing I believe we all should do is take time to examine our thoughts, speech, and daily conduct to make sure we're really walking the walk. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

I don't do these things just at home. It's hard with the many distractions at work for 7 days as well. So whenever I have a little down time I try to read and pray with the moments God gives me. He is always faithful to give us the time. We just need to grab that time and make it happen.

Thank you for stopping by and staying a while. I hope that if you've been pulled in different directions by life's transitions and distractions that this will help you to come up with ideas for staying close to God.

Dont forget to go outside and enjoy all the things that the Lord has made. Even if it's just in your own back yard.

In Christ,

​Kevin-

Hello again!

Recently I have been fortunate to work most of my last two shifts on the water in Currituck County, NC. While there, I was able to see Currituck Sound frozen, lots of fog (which is never welcome), and a million stars on incredibly clear nights. One thing that really stood out to me were the sunrises and sunsets. They were pretty fantastic. One day the sound was so incredibly still that we couldn't make out the horizon line without the help of the shoreline off to the sides of the sound as a reference.

Another thing I noticed were the incredible number of Bald Eagles. I've never seen so many in one place before. One day while I was there, the crew and I counted 10. Below are some shots of three that I was fortunate enough to get while there. It's hard to believe how beautiful these animals really are if you've never seen one up close. They really exemplify power and grace.

There was so much to enjoy there and I am thankful to God that He allowed me to experience it and photograph a lot of it. My time in Currituck was very enjoyable... on and off the job! Our Creator is a wonderful and good Father. Thank Him when you pray tonight for His provision, His love, His upholding of all things, and what for He did for us on the cross. And don't forget to go outside and enjoy all that He has made, even if it's just in your own backyard!

In Christ,

Kevin-

Hello to you all!
I am a bit late with this entry because of all that I've had going on the last couple of weeks, but I feel like it's better late than never.

God is a wonderful Father. He has shown me a tremendous amount of wildlife this year as well as changes and transitions in my own life. My wife and I were able to do a final bit of traveling for a while, and  I was blessed to witness the birth of my son in 2016! We spent the remainder of the year (Christmas through the New Year) in Indiana and had a great time relaxing.
 
I just wanted to take a look back and remember some of the highlights God has shown and given me in 2016...

I pray that you all had a good 2016 and that God will bless you abundantly in 2017! Don't forget to go outside and enjoy the things the Lord has made even if it's just in your own back yard.

In Christ,

Kevin-