The Grand Princess

Panasonic LX1, f4.5, 1/400 sec, +1.35 EV, ISO 80 (4 pictures 'stitched' together)

Despite the gloomy weather Cobh came to life yesterday with the "Grand Princess" in town. The tiny looking 52 seater coach gives some sense of the sheer scale of this massive ship...

(If you would like to see a really large version of this photo, clicking on it will take you to my flickr page where you can see the picture at larger sizes).

Galley Head

Nikon D70s, f8, 1/250 sec, ISO 200, 57mm equivalent

Nikon D70s, f5.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO 200, 450mm equivalent

We took a day off to go and do some exploring in West Cork. Having a look at the map we thought that the coastline around Galley Head (between Clonakilty and Rosscarbery) looked interesting. We were amazed at just how beautiful it was, with a fantastic beach at Red Strand as well as the spectacular lighthouse shown in the pictures here.

I love the symbolism of a lighthouse perched up high on a rugged and rocky coastline. It reminds me of Christ “the Light of the world” and also as the rock of ages and of course the rock of our Salvation.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1b, 2)

Meditation

Sony Ericsson K800i mobile phone, f2.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 80

Came across this chap whilst walking down Grand Parade in Cork. At first I thought he was doing some incredible double-jointed thing with his feet, but then realised that he had in fact taken his boots off! Even though I don't know what's going on inside his head, I admire his courage and commitment...

(The photo is pretty poor quality because I only had my the camera on my mobile phone to hand).

He is risen.

Sunrise, Co. Waterford 2005
Olympus C310, f3.8, 1/160 sec, ISO 50, 10mm

Alleluia! Christ is risen
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

It's Good Friday - but there is Light at the end of the tunnel...

Disused Railway tunnel, Bedgellert, Snowdonia, North Wales

Year 2004, Olympus C310, F2.9, 1/30 sec, ISO 320, 35mm equivalent

This week, we have been journeying towards the Cross of Christ. We have looked at Jesus’ last day and hours before he gave His life. Today is Good Friday, a day which for the Christian is full of mixed emotions. On the one hand we weep and despair at what Jesus went through, we see that we too are responsible for betraying him and putting him upon a cross, we see that there is no room for us to wash our hands of the situation like Pilate tried to. Jesus went to the cross because of our sin. On the other hand Good Friday is not all bleak. When we take on board what Jesus did for us, we realise just how much He loves us, the pain that He was willing to endure for our sake, we cannot help but be overcome with joy at the realisation of what the cross actually does. By his death we are forgiven, by his death we are free from the consequences of our sin, of our rebellion against God and by his death we are given eternal life. Yes for those who believe that Jesus is who He said He is, eternal life is a free gift. As Tony Campolo puts it “its Friday now…. But Sunday’s coming.” In other words the events of Good Friday viewed on their own in isolation would be utterly bleak and without hope, but when we remember that Easter Sunday is just round the corner, when Jesus rose from the dead, it’s puts things in a whole new and wonderful perspective.

Wild Goose Chase

Film: Fuji Neopan 400, Camera: Pentax P50, Lens: SMC Pentax-A 50mm f1.7

I now know why Geese make such excellent "Guard Dogs". These ones in Fota Wildlife Park give the impression of being, while not friendly, just more sort of ambivalent about your presence on their territory. Get too close or get distracted by taking a photo (as I did) and you are likely to be pecked. I'm sure that the high-pitched yelp that I let out upon being pecked was very amuzing, not just for my fellow humans but for these feathery creatures too - from whom I will now keep a more respectable distance!

And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20-21)

The food of love ...

The Chocolate Shop, English Market, Cork
Panasonic LX1, f2.8, 1/30 sec, ISO 80, 28mm equivalent

Shakespeare said that “If music be the food of love …”. Of course, I’m sure he’s right, but I would like to also put forward the case for something else … chocolate!

Eat … delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul— Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.

Proverbs 26:13,14 (Abbreviated from The Message)

Palm Sunday - March for Jesus 1993

The picture above is a scan from an old photograph taken at the "March for Jesus" in London about 1993. I like the old Police riot control van in the background!


(Excerpt from yesterdays sermon for Palm Sunday)

What would you do if you heard that Jesus was coming to town this afternoon, that He would be making a grand entrance and there was going to be a huge celebration? I’m sure we’d be straight on down there wouldn’t we? We would cancel any other plans that we had for the day and we would try and get as close as we could to where the action was happening. Not only would it be simply breath taking to see Jesus, but wouldn’t it be interesting to see the crowd too? I’m sure that the crowd today would be bigger than a year or two ago when the “Celtic Tiger” was in full swing and many would have been “too busy” to spare the time. But why would people go and what would they want of Jesus? What sort of things would the crowd be calling out, what would they be asking the Lord Jesus to do? I’m sure it would be chaotic, the Gards would be severely stretched trying to control the crowds, people would be shouting out “Jesus, Jesus”, some people would be worshipping Him, some would be shouting abuse, others would be shouting at other people because of what they in turn were shouting! Or perhaps it would be completely different, perhaps there would be a sense of awe and quiet holiness, perhaps there would be such a hush over the crowd that the donkeys hooves could clearly be heard on the road, treading on the hundreds of coats and jackets that had be strewn there to make a carpet. Everyone would have different expectations – to bring about peace, to sort out the economy, to bring wrongdoers to justice, to heal the sick and so on. Everyone, maybe even us, would have their own agenda for Jesus.

Crowds are a funny lot. In the original Palm Sunday, many of the people cheered the Lord because they thought that He was going to liberate them from Roman occupation. Indeed when it turned out that He had no such earthly ambitions, many of the same crowd only a few days later would be shouting “crucify him”. They had little or no understanding that the Lord’s mission was not to be an earthly conquering king to free them from the brutal regime of the day. He was going to do far more than that. He was going to free people from themselves, from their own selfish ambitions and desires, He was going to free people from the chains and the slavery of sin. Something far more important and of greater significance, the effects of which last not just for a lifetime, but for all of eternity...

Old Toll Gates

Panasonic LX1, f3.6, 1/125 sec, -0.33 EV, ISO 80, 55mm equivalent (Click to enlarge)

I came across these yesterday near Watergrasshill. Apparently they are the old Toll Gates for entry into Cork city from the North. (This road continues on eventually linking up with the "Dublin Road" into the city.)

I don't suppose they had any problems with "Eazy Pass" back then ;-)