Approval

People go about their life doing just what they want, and yet they make statements like "god loves me just the way I am".
Uh, maybe.
But remember... loving and approving are not the same thing!
Jails are filled with folks who are well loved, but who's actions are not approved of.

What are you dressing as?

Women have made huge advancements in Halloween costume wear. At one time girls wore mainly princess and kitty costumes, now it's expanded to where they they not only can be slutty princess' and slutty kitties, but a whole variety of other costumes, such as: slutty pirates, slutty dancers, slutty ninjas, slutty athletes, slutty animals, and even slutty zombies!

Yep, women are free to be anything they want for Halloween... as long as it's designed to entice!

Banned!

Banned? What the heck?!
LOL
I just received a notice that I have been "banned" from a Flickr Art Group that I had belonged to for some time. It's always a shock to receive a 'ban' when one is not doing anything wrong, so I went to the group (your master paintings) to see what it's all about.

I carefully read the group's description and located what I believe is the clause which caused this ban. It does contain a guideline which reads "No digitally created or altered images". It's a well-known fact that I'm a firm believer in using technology as an artistic tool... I've even written online essays about the merits of artists using what is available. I carry it to the point that I maintain that today's 'technology artists' are the equivalent of the 'old masters' from long ago. It is not the artists who seem to be stuck in the 15th century (material wise), but those who are acclimating to the latest tools of the trade, that are advancing modern era art.

I had my early training in traditional art mediums and advanced in their usage just like any artist who practices his trade on a daily basis. But it has been the past couple of decades that I have moved forward and kept up with the times... learning and excelling at the digital tools offered to artists everywhere.

Yep, I was banned... and rightfully so! My art definitely doesn't meet that one criteria. But, (now I'm being facetious) the group also doesn't seem to have a criteria for the quality of the art they accept. For a group calling itself "Master paintings", they don't seem to have being a master of the craft as one of their criteria! lol

Japanese Tea Garden

Japanese Tea Garden2, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Less

If the packaging says "100 paper plates" and yet two or three are consistently stuck together every time you use them, are you really benefitting from a hundred?

Many other areas of life are similar to the welded together 100 paper plates.

The promises of a politician far too often offer a hundred but only deliver it in the form of a glued-together mess. We have to pull and pry to even receive a small portion.
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Good Deeds

In a perfect world, good deeds would always produce positive results, but in a corrupt world, good deeds occasionally bring about negative side effects and unintentional results.

Nevertheless, don't stop administering your works of kindness.
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Pumping Petrol

The Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Food, Fellowship, & Friends

Food, Fellowship, & Friends, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Picasso's Ideal (by his own admission)

Picasso's Ideal (by his own admission), a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Convicted

As many of you know,
I don’t hold opinions in very high regard.
Not yours...
Not mine...
And not even those of the experts when it falls outside of their training and expertise.

But recently I heard my pastor shed some good light on it. He said, “It’s not the opinion which is important, it’s the convictions a person holds that counts.”

Yep. Don’t let your convictions be in your opinion, let your opinion reflect your convictions.
____________________

No Excuse

We have a natural aversion to God.
We create numerous excuses for not drawing close to Him (we wouldn't use these same excuses in any other area of our life).
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Street Performers

Street Performers, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

In front of David Jones, Melbourne, Australia.

Sheep Spots

Sheep Spots, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Newww Zealanddd

Newww Zealanddd, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Camberwell Street

Camberwell Street, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

After the Rain

After the Rain, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Art Lessons

Art Lessons, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Atelier training is the best there is.

History

Just think, if you don't like some of the things people did in past history, there's bound to be quite a few folks in the future who won't approve of some of the things you do or approve of.

What goes around.

Clive and Mates

Clive and Mates, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

KG Sunset

KG Sunset, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Carol

Carol, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Melbourne Australia

Melbourne Australia, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Trust

Trust, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Walking in Memphis

Walking in Memphis, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Along the waterfront. This was quite different when Elvis resided here.

Walking in Memphis

Walking in Memphis, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Life Rating

If your life had a movie rating, would it be G, PG, R or X?

What about your favorite performers/entertainers?

Politicians?

How about other people you admire or are influenced by?

What about your parents, siblings, or children?

The hard part... do you wish any of these people lived a life that actually would fall into an entirely different rating?

Focus on the Narrow Gate

Focus on the Narrow Gate, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Residing in Kangaroo Ground

Residing in Kangaroo Ground, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Little Adelaide

Little Adelaide, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Brothers

Brothers, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Another iPad Post

When I purchased my iPad eight months ago I assumed it would replace my computer for about 20% of my usage. At the office I use Adobe Creative Suite eight hours a day. What I didn't factor in are the multitude of excellent (but simple) apps for iOS. By utilizing several image apps, each with specific strengths, I no longer use PhotoShop on my computer in the same capacity I once did.

I never expected the iPad to replace my computer for over 60% of usage... but it has! There's only one area where a computer still has a tablet beat, and that's for inputting many, many words. A keyboard is still the fastest way to go for that (if you're a fast typer).

And the icing on the 'iPad cake' is image manipulation, using one's finger on the actual screen is so much better than using a computer's mouse/trackpad/Wacom pen/etc!

Heaven's Gate

Heaven's Gate, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The natural way into a dwelling is through it's door. We are informed that heaven as well has a door which allows you access. Jesus tells us He is that door... and there is absolutely no other way in!

Late for the Banquet

Some people consider themselves late if they arrive ten minutes after it starts.
I consider myself late if I get there ten minutes before it begins.
_______________________

Young Artist

Young Artist, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

There's only one 'lamb of God'.

There's only one 'lamb of God'., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Aussie Lady at KG

Aussie Lady at KG, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Remembering Kangaroo Ground

Remembering Kangaroo Ground, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The view from our flat.

Out at sea.

Out at sea., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Walking on water.

Walking on water., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Portrait

Portrait, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Looking over the cliff.

Asleep in the tent.

Asleep in the tent., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

It's all how you arrange it.

It's all how you arrange it., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Baby Carlisle

Baby Carlisle, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

At the race track.

At the race track., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Listening to the flip side.

Listening to the flip side., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Asleep on the park bench.

Asleep on the park bench., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I want my five dollars back.

I want my five dollars back., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Don't ask so many questions.

Don't ask so many questions., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The sand is so much nicer on the gulf coast.

The sand is so much nicer on the gulf coast., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I was only driving five m.p.h. over the speed limit.

I was only driving five m.p.h. over the speed limit., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

We had the best seats in the house.

We had the best seats in the house., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

The book is so much better than the film.

The book is so much better than the film., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Autumn is one of the four best seasons.

Autumn is one of the four best seasons., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

I won't quit 'till you tell me to stop.

I won't quit 'till you tell me to stop., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

... and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

... and there He placed the man whom He had formed., a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Severed

Severed, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Being let go from your job is much like being divorced against your will.

“For I hate divorce,” says the LORD.
(Malachi 2:16)

What's your Opinion?

What's your Opinion?, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Opinions and theories both contain observation and speculation, but hopefully the theory contains just a wee more research than the average opinion does. ((But jaded research doesn’t mean a whole lot if it’s main purpose is to simply back-up your opinion… oops, I mean theory!))

Light

Light, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

image

image, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

"I like Jesus, I just don't like His followers."

Truth is, if this person really does like Jesus, they would do what He said and live the kind of life He exemplified.

Their actions show they really don't care too much for His followers... or for Him either.