Ok, I know it is almost 1:30 am, and I have been up since just after Midnight, but I can't help it . . . I love a full-moon summer night like this one! It causes me to wake up & enjoy the evening petting my wandering beagle, who has been tied up because he won't stay home.
It also causes me to dream . . . and to be thankful, and yes, even to worship my Creator, the one true God. The last first . . . I praise God because the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man, The only perfect sacrifice for our sins BECAUSE he is both fully God and fully man; yes He who was with God at the beginning of time and was the agent of creation! This triune God I serve has my whole life in my hands, and truly the whole WORLD . . . I am so glad for this, when I see the death, destruction, and decay of this world, earth, and our universe. I know it was not created to last forever, and we were promised it would "pass away" in the end times, yet is sad to watch how mankind is destroying this earth with his greed and the weight of SIN itself. There is NOT a safer place than "in the arms" of my everlasting God.
Next, I am thankful for all that I have: all that I have been entrusted with on this earth, both material and spiritual. I know I have not "done enough" with it. I will work on this and seek God's guidance for the rest of my days. I was watching the full moon over my little "Studio-in-the-Woods," and am amazed at what I have here. This little studio is the third one I have built, and it is the best I have ever had. I love living in this "oasis in the woods," my nice home next to Ha Ha Tonka State Park. It is totally isolated, yet so close to everything we need here at the Lake of the Ozarks. Tonight, I can hear the cicadas and the owls and enjoy the light of the moon illuminating everything around me in a much different and awesome way than during the day.
Thirdly, to speak of the dreams. I dream of so many things, most of them selfish and self serving, I admit. I dream of owning a condo or townhouse in Florida and in Durango, Colorado, for our retirement years. Of course, that is several years away. I also want to continue my photography business, creating portraits of such a high quality and of such individual, almost "trademark" significance, that more people will desire them, enough to pay my "higher prices." YES, it is true . . . I am not the cheapest, nor do I have a desire to be. I think I have spoke of this before: I am NOT going to lower my prices any more . . . They are now at the level I charged back before the turn of the century, around 1998 . . . I can't help it if all these "Newbies" have come in without a clue and changed the expectations of the consumer . . . REMEMBER, you often "get what you pay for" in life. I'm sure they know what they are worth. Oops, didn't mean to digress . . . I also dream of using new technology in my portrait business . . . Some COOL stuff that will enable the consumer to portably view each image as they "appear" . . . but I'm still researching this. As a final thought on photographic dreams, I dream of building my Scenic and Landscape photograph to the point that I am selling more images on canvas of beautiful "moments in time" I have captured. I sell these images, primarily on canvas, signed and numbered, and guarantee them to last 100+ years in your home or business. I need to put more on line, but you can view my "Scenic visions" at
goodwinphoto.biz. I have always been told I have a "different way of seeing" . . . I hope you can capture my vision.
And as a final note to the "dream" portion of my life, my vision goes well beyond my own selfish dreams for success and the future . . . I also am capturing a "greater vision" for my life, that specifically includes my service to mankind, and my treasures which I need to "lay up" in Heaven. YES, Heaven and hell are BOTH real places, and you have already chosen which you will inhabit . . . If you don't know my savior, this Jesus whom I serve . . . If you don't know FOR CERTAIN where you will go when your life ends on this earth, call me or text me or email me OR speak with another follower of Jesus (and NO, don't be led astray by cults such as Jehovah's witnesses or people of the Mormon faith . . . they DO NOT hold true to the Word of God, and are in need of God's saving grace as well). There is only ONE way to Heaven, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God; the One who is also equal to God in all ways, who was there in the presence of God at the beginning of time.
This blog is becoming more than photography, as you can see. If I offend you, I am sorry . . . The condition of your soul is more important than your opinion of me and my little, insignificant blog. Make YOUR life count in all that is good, in the time you have on this earth, and secure your future in eternity. I see a lost and dying world all around me . . . both the people of earth, and the earth itself. This world (specifically the people in it who are unredeemed in their sin) is a hopeless, sick mess. I now have two jobs, and am inspired by my pastor at 2nd Baptist Church in Lebanon. I serve there as Minister of Music part time, as well as spending my days seeking to perfect my craft of photography. I wish you only the best of life, and pray for your salvation in Christ.
May God bless and grant you beauty in all things. I wish you only the best of things, both in life and photography. Remember my tag line . . . "Where Photography becomes A Work of Art."
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Location:Ha Ha Tonka State Park,Camdenton,United States
