Tolerance is needed when we do not agree with each other.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloudlink.
“So those of us who have a strong faith must be patient
with the weaknesses of those whose faith is not so strong.
We must not think only of ourselves.” Roman 15:1 God’s Word to the Nations
I have to admit that I struggle with the word tolerance. Tolerance is synonymous with agreement for many people. In other words, tolerating another individual’s opinion is the same as agreeing with it, yet this not what tolerance means.
The Wartburg, Eisenach, Germany
This tower at the south end of the Wartburg taught me an important lesson about tolerance. There’s a dungeon at the bottom of this tower and Lutherans used it to imprison an Anabaptist leader.
The Lutherans didn’t like the fact that the Anabaptist didn’t agree with infant baptism. As a result, an Anabaptist leader was held in this dungeon until he died because he never converted to the Lutheran point-of-view.
We can create cruel dungeons for people who do not agree with our opinions even though we may not put people in physical prisons. There is the dungeon of name calling and labeling someone as stupid for their opinions.
If tolerance means that I must agree with another person, then I will continue to struggle with this word. But I will strive to be tolerant if tolerance means the freedom we have in Christ to disagree yet love each other.
Besides, you and I don’t have the final word, only God does and his final word was spoken on the cross.
God calls us to use the correct tools he has given us as we share Christ with others.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloudlink.
For though I am free from all,
I have made myself a servant to all,
that I might win more of them … I have become all things to all people,
that by all means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:19,22b English Standard Version
NOTE TO HE READERS: If you know the exact name for these hammer-like tools, don’t send me emails describing what they do. I will not understand a word you write. My tools look a lot different. You will lose me if you believe that I’d benefit from knowing what these tools do.
Bent’s Old Fort, La Junta, Colorado
However, I can tell you that by looking at the different shapes of these hammers (if that’s what they are) they must have each been forged for a specific purpose. The craftsman handling these tools would know the correct one to use for the job that needed attention.
Do we know the correct tools to use when it comes to sharing Christ with others?
Do we know what tool to use when a sister or brother in Christ grieves?
Do we know what tool to use when parents struggles with a choice made by their son or daughter?
Do we know what tool to use when a friend struggles with an addiction?
Paul states that he became the correct tool for God to use when sharing Christ with another person. We often miss read his words to mean that we must always, and at all times, become everything to everyone. Only Christ has accomplished this feat. Paul discerned what each situation needed. He went to his tool chest and pulled out the correct tool to use.
When a friend struggles with an addiction maybe the correct tool to use is a gut-wrenching, Spirit anointed honesty.
When parents struggle with a choice made by their children maybe the correct tool to use is a listening, enduring presence.
When a sister or brother in Christ grieves maybe the correct tool to use is a silent, empathetic tear.
Many tools filled this room at Bent’s Fort. In the same way, God has equipped his people with many tools with which we share the love of Christ. May God give us discernment to use the correct tool as we express his compassion in this broken world.
Okay, so I, Doug Brauner, am The Old Fart Photographer (thanks Terry Reed for the name). Even though everyone will benefit from these blogs, they are intended for people entering the seasoned time of life. Photography is a wonderful hobby that doesn’t require a second mortgage, and is a source of fun and memories.
My memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. Fortunately, I still remember by wife’s name and birthday as well as our anniversary but I can’t say the same about my grandsons (or at least calling them the right name). People who have memories like an elephant have few problems with most photography blogs and Youtube videos. “30 Tips for Fantastic Photos.” “Ten Top Camera Accessories for Your Next Vacation.” “15 Tricks to Make Your Photos Look Like Ansel Adam’s.”
I can only handle three tips. So, I thought I’d write a blog with my top three suggestions for improving your pictures. Three has that kind of three stooges ring to it; Curly, Larry and…and…and…Moe. (Hey, I knew it would eventually come.)
Tip #1: Fill your camera’s LCD or viewfinder with the object of your affection Tip #2: Play Tic-Tac-Toe with your pictures (I win!) Tip #3: Seeing 3D in a 2D world
Yes, there are many other tips that will help you create better pictures, but lets start with these three and infuse them into our brains so that when we’re sitting in our nursing home rocking chairs we’ll keep repeating them to the nurse.
Tip #1: Fill your camera’s LCD or viewfinder with the object of your affection
We see a very large picture when we’re standing at Old Faithful. Our eyes capture a nearly 180 degree, wide-angle view. Yes, the corners are a little blurry and lack color, but God made the human eye to do much more than any camera lens.
Even though we can see such a wide picture with our eyes, our brain can hone in on a very small part of what we see. We remove all the distractions from Old Faithful as though it is the only thing we see.
That works with the human eye in a 3D world, but not on a 4×6, 2D print of Old Faithful.
Many times I took in a roll of film to local Kodak kiosk, or later, the one hour photo department at Walgreen’s and was disappointed because the object of my affection was lost in vast array of nothingness. I didn’t fill my frame with the object I was shooting. Why? Let me muse a moment.
I thought that what I was capturing was powerful enough to grab my attention in a 2D world.
I didn’t want to cut anything out of the picture.
More than likely, though, I wasn’t thinking (normal Doug Brauner behavior)
So, if you want a picture that grabs your attention and says, “Yes, that’s my love!” then I have two suggestions for you (again, trying to keep things simple).
After you have zoomed in on your subject, zoom in a little more.
Use your feet to get closer to your subject.
Simple, right?
Let’s tackle the first suggestion. I have three different zoom lenses for my camera. Let’s say that I’m using by Sony 18-55mm kit lens to take a picture of Pikes Peak from the Garden of the Gods (not like I haven’t done that before). I picture a nice wide-angle shot that takes in a bit of the rest of the surrounding mountains. I zoom my lens to what looks like a good picture, step back for the camera for a moment, then zoom in a little tighter. More times than not my first picture wasn’t zoomed enough.
55 mm70 mm120 mm
TIP: Take two pictures, the first at your initial zoom range, then zoom in a little tighter and take another picture then compare them.
The second suggestion will work better than the first in certain situations. To solve the problem of your picture looking like a shot of faithful from outer space use your feet to zoom in a little closer. Let me get a little geeky on you for a moment.
The world you see with the naked eye is similar to a 50mm lens on your old 35mm film camera (or on a full frame digital camera…another blog. Ugh). In other words, there is little to no compression of your picture. The picture will look much like what you saw with your own eyes. Zooming in on a person or object compresses the picture like a peanut butter sandwich you accidentally sat on. The background is closer than what you remembered as well as the foreground.
If you want the picture to look like what you remember seeing, many times its best to move your feet and get closer to your subject (besides, think of the health benefits of a few extra steps).
Remember, you want to fill your LCD or viewfinder with the object of your affection. It captured your attention, now you want to make sure it stands out when you print it or display it on your computer. You will be amaze at the difference this one little tip will make.
Next up for the Old Fart Photograher: Playing tic-tac-toe with your pictures. (I win!)
