Results tagged “2007” from expressions

"Blue Sky"

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20721

"Fungus Family"

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22832

"Down the River"

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18319

"Autumn Creek"

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23588

"Is the Coast Clear?"

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20590

"Green Harvesting"

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20651

"Underappreciated"

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10098

This was my first excellent image taken with my Nikon D50, but I didn't really "discover" it until about 2 years later.

"Hidden Fireworks"

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17495

"Thankful"

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24502
December 28, 2009  8:15pm
D50  f5  1.6s  ISO800  40mm


It's Thanksgiving Time!

No, not the whole eat Turkey at Grandma's house kind of Thanksgiving; but a time to thank God for our nation. 
Now, I'm not the type that thinks that I live in a "Christian" nation, or thinks that a conservative, evangelical President would trigger a nation-wide revival; but I'm amazed at how few Americans are aware of the liberties that they enjoy due to our God fearing, freedom loving Founding Fathers.  So, I'll just write a few things that I am thankful as they relate to our nation's leadership and freedom:

-  God's grace toward our nation.  We as a nation are not the receivers of any special Biblical prophecy, and yet God has shown mercy and immense blessing on our nation.

-  Our God-fearing founding fathers and leadership for over 200 years.  We have been guided by so many leaders that respected the Bible as the ultimate authority and recognized God's authority in the world.

-  Our nation's allowance for many people to enjoy our freedoms by immigrating to our nation.  Without these people groups our nation would be a much less powerful and resourceful nation; keep in mind that if you have any European blood in you, then you yourself have immigrants as ancestors.

-  Our desire to see the world as a more peaceful and unified community.  While the Bible promises wars and disunity in the end times, I'm thankful for a nation whose leaders care about all human kind, and not just their own citizens.  It is this compassion that will set America apart in the world's eyes.

-  Our Founding Father's desire to see that all men are treated as equals, and the movements that have extended those rights to women and then to minorities.  It really is amazing that we have Barack Obama, a black man married to a black woman, as our President.  Very few nations have elected a minority to leadership.

-  Our ability to peacefully elect officials every year and to elect a nation-wide leader every four years.  This also is not the norm among most of the world's population; most people live in a nation where there are no elections or they are not peaceful; and when our country was founded this method of government was almost unheard of.

-  Our right to worship as we choose.  Don't ever underestimate our freedom to worship God as we choose.

In the USA, we enjoy so many freedoms that we seldom think of - this Saturday as we remember our Founding Fathers and our nation's founding, try to remember the boldness that it took to sign the Declaration of Independence and the courage that it has taken millions of men and women to defend our freedoms over the years.

And be thankful...

"Elegant Pose"

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22244

"Fall Moonset"

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22101

"Early Spring Marsh"

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01883

"Far From Home"

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22859

"Rib Mountain Colors"

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21887

"Oddball"

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21884

"Autumn Hay"

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21773

"Peg-leg Hopper"

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21769

"Fading"

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07144

"Sunrise Mist"

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20994

"Hidden in the Clouds"

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02862

"Hanging Blossoms"

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02661

"Morning Mist & Moon"

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22106
Wisconsin River, Brokaw, WI
8:24am, Sept. 28, 07

"Careful Eater"

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12385

"Sweethearts"

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02292

"Marshland"

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00810

"Orange Trees"

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21746

"Interludes of White"

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03112

"Lost in Time"

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01771

"Farmer's Sky"

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22003

"After the Rain"

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20181

"Splash Sequence"

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08360 to 08365
Wisconsin River, Wausau, WI
6:36pm, March 23, 07
Kodak CX7430

"Distant Bridge"

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18319
Wisconsin River, Merrill, WI
7:46pm, July 14, 07
Nikon D50 f5.6 18mm 1/125sec

"Perfect Camouflage"

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20812
private residence, Brokaw, WI
3:01pm, Sept. 8, 07
Nikon D50 f7.1 55mm 1/60sec

"Sunset Colors"

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16162
Hwy K, Lincoln County, WI
8:55pm, June 27, 07
Nikon D50 f7.1 1/20sec 46mm

"Hairy Bug"

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12238
Riverside Park, Wausau, WI
12:31pm, June 25, 07
Nikon D50 f8 1/200sec 55mm

"Almost Ready"

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23169
Oak Island Park, Wausau, WI
2:37pm, Oct. 21, 07
Nikon D50 f8 1/500sec 31mm

"Geyser"

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17461
Freedom Celebration, Northland Camp, WI
10:20pm, July 6, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Sparklers"

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17514
Freedom Celebration, Northland Camp, WI
10:35pm, July 6, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Stand Tall"

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17487
Freedom Celebration, Northland Camp, WI
10:29pm, July 6 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Searching"

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13415
private residence, Brokaw, WI
2:04pm, June 1, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Red, White & Green"

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17481
Freedom Celebration, Northland Camp, WI
10:28pm, July 6, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

Proud of the U.S.A.

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"Sunset Flag"  16166
Town of Maine, WI
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

It's safe to say that most Americans aren't happy with America's current politicians.  But in a year of grumbling about our country; let's take one day and remember what made this country great:  a resolute desire for Freedom.
Journey back to 1770 with me:  The world was ruled by empires.  Britain had the momentum, and seemed to be all-powerful;  France's monarchy had all but destroyed it's own economy, and was about to face the fruit of its labor;  Spain was conquering what we now know as Mexico and California; and the Russian and Ottoman Empires were at war. 
Quite honestly, the outlook was grim in any empire if your religion or ideology disagreed with the ruling monarchy.  The only beacon of hope was the Dutch Republic; they enjoyed a representative government, of sorts.
But across the ocean, in the New World, there were a group of radicals that felt that a government should guarantee certain natural rights to everyone.  It was that ideology that led Thomas Jefferson to write:   "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights..."
A radical?  Yes, those words were treason in his day.  God grants everyone equal standing?  That was a liberal concept...
Those that signed the Declaration of Independence risked their lives.  The majority were captured as spies, had their fortunes destroyed or lost their lives. 
Why do I rehearse all of this?  Because of one simple and powerful fact:  I enjoy every single one of those freedoms today.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; I relish in them. 
Our nation's Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights are still used as the yardstick for other emerging governments.  And for that I am proud. 


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"In the Breeze" 17780
Menominee, WI
2:51pm, July 7, 2007
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Family Portrait"

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13517
 Lake Wausau, Wausau, WI
7:20pm, June 2, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Umbrellas"

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22834
Isle of Ferns Park, Wausau, WI
2:56pm, Oct. 6, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Bumblebee Moth"

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12282
Riverside Park, Wausau, WI
12:36pm, May 27, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Dudley Sky"

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20722
Dudley Tower, Wausau, WI
4:07pm, Sept. 7, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Fireworks"

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19421
32nd Ave, Wausau, WI
8:43pm, July 22, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"River Sunset"

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05631
Wisconsin River, Council Grounds State Park, WI
8:05pm, May 8, 07
Kodak CX7430
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Pinwheel"

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Lincoln County Fairgrounds, Merrill, WI
10:00pm, July 19, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Inviting"

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19045
private residence, Brokaw, WI
7:06pm, July 19, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Going Solo"

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19466
private residence, Merrill, WI
6:28pm, July 23, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Dragon"

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20128
private residence, Brokaw, WI
9:06pm, Aug. 18, 07
Nikon D50
© 2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Peeking"

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15933
1/2mile north of Cty WW Bridge, Brokaw, WI
7:44pm, June 23, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Angry Face"

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18515
Dells of Eau Claire County Park, Marathon County, WI
7:27pm, July 16, 07
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

"Peaceful Day"

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20698
Oak Island Park, Wausau, WI
3:56pm, Sept. 7, 2007
Nikon D50
©2007 Joshua L. Smith

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