Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all. May the Lord continue to bless you throughout the next year. When you begin to feel down, just remember the old song and count your many blessings, name them one by one, and you will be surprised what the Lord has done. God has been so good to us. God Bless.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Fall is here


Well fall is definitely here. I recently had a photo assignment to do spec family photos at a pumpkin farm. Between families I used my Canon A2 film camera and did some shots around the farm. Here are two. I will post more later. God is so good to place such beauty before us. This is evidence of the goodness of Christ.
Both photos taken with Canon A2 & Canon 28-105 lens.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

New (old) camera and fun


In a bid to try and simplify my life, and photography I purchased on ebay an old Canon Canonet QL17 rangefinder for under $18.00 including shipping. The camera is very small and light but with a fast 40mm f 1.7 lens that is reputed to very sharp. I have included here two shots from my first time out with the camera. So far so good, I like the shots and will soon shoot more film, next time in black and white.
I will frankly admit that if you are shooting for profit digital is the only way to go. The cost savings are just too great. I am finding more and more however that for my personal satisfaction simple cameras and film are better for me. In my middle age I prefer to concentrate more on the content of an image and less on handling equipment. After all photography should be a way of expressing oneself. Each image should say something. I hope the images here on "for what it's worth" say something to you. God bless.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Kansas fall landscape

I took this landscape of a milo field just south of Wichita on Memorial Day. Camera was Canon S1 digital. I will always feel that my home state of Kansas is beautiful, in all seasons.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Long time away

Been a long time since I posted so just wanted you all to know that I am still around. I will try to post some more photos soon. God Bless

Thursday, July 20, 2006

A letter to the Editor of News of The Force

I am going to depart from my usual posts today. Below is the text of a letter to the editor of News of The Force regarding the current negative publicity surrounding Maj. Gen. Pineda, the national commander of the Civil Air Patrol. I hope many of you will echo my sentiments. The articles can be found at refered to can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewsoftheForce/ .

Dear Editor,

I have been in CAP for almost 5 years and proudly serve as a chaplain in what I believe to be the finest volunteer chaplain corps in the nation. I have also found that the vast majority of people in CAP are fine dedicated people who give so very much in service of our nation. This includes Col. Rex Glasgow who was my region commander until his election as national vice commander.
Having said this I feel compelled to write regarding the articles that have been published in News of The Force, about Maj. Gen. Pineda and others in national leadership, over the last few months. As a chaplain I am dismayed that accusations of power brooking and misconduct continue to surface. As a chaplain I also strive to encourage the highest of ethical standards in my unit and wherever I may be called upon to serve. It is with this in mind that I am writing this letter.
Accusations and innuendo only serve to damage and destroy good people and good organizations. I have no idea whether anything that Gen. Pineda is accused of is true or false. The very fact that accusations continue to surface causes me to publicly ask Gen. Pineda to personally call for an open and independent investigation of the actions of all CAP national leadership including himself.
The best cure for accusation and innuendo is openness. When truth is openly brought before the public false accusations quickly evaporate. If the accusations are false then you certainly should have nothing to fear from a full, open, and independent investigation.
Gen. Pineda , your personal call for an independent investigation would do much to engender support for you as our national commander. Failure to call for an investigation while stories filled with accusation continue to surface will only erode confidence in your leadership and cast shadows over CAP at the very time CAP is working hard to forge itself new missions in the post 911 world. For the good of CAP please call today for an independent investigation so all these stories can stop once and for all.

Chaplain (Capt.) Randolph Colby CAP
ECCS KS125
pastorcolby@sbcglobal.net
http://www.chaplaincolby.blogspot.com/
316-942-6498

Thursday, July 13, 2006

The Kansas I know

This is a scenic shot that many people may consider boring or empty because of the lack of mountains and trees. To me this photo is my heart and life. I took this shortly after Memorial day while visiting the graves of my maternal grandparents, Benjamin and Ruth Creed. They are buried at the Rose Hill cemetery just east of South Haven Kansas. This is the Kansas I know and love, a scene that I have looked upon so many times over my nearly 50 years. The wide open wheat fields. The constant breeze. The singing meadowlarks and bobwhite quail. I was moved by the wheat and clouds on this beautiful spring day.
Kansas is a land of wide open spaces, of elbow room and quiet contentment. This photo is what I hope heaven is like. I look forward to the time I can walk down the quiet country roads with my savior at my side. This photo also reminds me of the great call of Christ to go into all the world for the fields are ripe unto harvest. What is your relationship to Christ. I hope you know Him.
I took this with an old Konica T3 with a 40mm lens and Kodak film.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Pittsburgs Avenue of Flags

Another shot of the Pittsburg State veterans Memorial. This is the Avenue of Flags that follow the Vietnam wall. This as well as the other Pittsburg shots are from my Pentax 645 with 75mm lens.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Steven Bennefeld remembered

I have never met Steven Bennefeld. But I know he served well and was loved and respected by this memorial for him left at the Pittsburg State Veterans Memorial. I came across this memorial display while visiting. It moved me to photograph this touching remembrance of a loved one who had served. Who do you know that served America in her armed forces? Give them a hug and a thank you.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Names on the Wall

This is a section of the names on the Vietnam wall at the Pittsburg State Veterans Memorial. Names are important. Each human being is given a name by his/her parents. That name identifies that person as an individual. Our names give each of us a significance. Even God has a name, I am that I am. (See Exodus 2.14) casualties are inevitable in war. It is also inevitable that each casualty will be remembered individually by family, friends, and comrades. When we read the names of casualties in Iraq or any other war, let us remember that each gave their all for others, lets remember that each was a special individual, a special gift from God.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Lest We Forget

Having just celebrated the 4th of July I thought some photos from a recent trip would be appropriate. Not long ago I visited the veterans memorial at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg Kansas. The memorial was just dedicated last year. A replica of the Vietnam wall along with a flag row and reflection fountain are included. This photo is a photo of one of many bricks set into the sidewalks surrounding the memorial. Each brick honors a specific veteran. It wasn't long after memorial day when I visited and some of the bricks had personal decorations that had been left by I assume family or friends. Let's not forget to remember all veterans. The fight to maintain not only our freedom, but the freedom of people they don't even know.
I took this with a Pentax 645 with 75mm lens on Fuji NPS.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

More spring flowers

Beautiful yellow mums. More of my wife's container flowers. I've always wondered how anyone can look at God's creation and say everything comes from random chance and evolution. It takes an intelligent creator to provide such delicate beauty. Taken with Canon S1 digital.

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Spring flowers

It's spring time and my wife's petunias are in bloom. I shot this the other day with my Canon S1 digital.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Sorry about it being a while since I posted, but we all live busy lives. I have been sorting through some of my old slides, and I actually found some good ones from my earliest days in photography. This is from 1989 and was taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo. This Peacock was strutting it's stuff and turned it's head for a good portrait. Often when we follow our instincts we get some of our best photos. Same in life, follow those well trained instincts and often the best decisions are made. Lets all remember however that good instincts come from good training and practice. God Bless.

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Wesley Chapel rural Montgomery County, Kansas

Another 4X5 contact from my old view. This is the Wesley Chapel in rural Montgomery County, Kansas near Coffeyville. In 2000 when this was taken the church was being used. Many rural churches are in similar shape as rural areas depopulate and get poorer. But of course God is not interested in buildings, He is interested in hearts. I hope your heart is right with Jesus?

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Another shot from my trusty old Master View. This is an old log in my back yard. Black and White Photography is an art that I love but keep trying to master. But I have lots of fun practicing.

Monday, April 17, 2006


I shot this with my old Kodak 4X5 master view about 2 months ago in my back yard. Film is Kodak T-Max 100 with lab processing and a contact print. God's creation is beautiful.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

I chose this photo today because it is Easter. I took this in Springhill cemetery in Coffeyville, Kansas in 2000. I don't know who Ada Pearl is. I do know that her parents must have grieved 100 years ago just as parents grieve today who lose a child. I also know that Ada is with Jesus because "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord".
The main thing I want you to see is that 2000 years ago Jesus was put in a grave after His death. But we don't visit his grave and tombstone today because on that first Easter Sunday the angel announced to the women "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not hear, He is Risen". Jesus rose from the dead conquering death.
Christ is alive!!
All who have placed their trust in Christ alone will also live. One day when Christ returns little Ada's grave will open, along with the graves of all who believe and we shall forever be with Christ.
Today is Easter, Rejoice, because Christ is Alive!

Saturday, April 15, 2006

This old house

I photographed this old run down house near Coffeyville, KS in 2000. I see in this image two symbolic messages.
The first is what our lives look like without Christ. Sin wears us and breaks us down until we are only a shadow of what we should be.
The second message is reminiscent of the old song "This ole House". The song is a reflection of an old person who is a Christian and realizes they are nearing the end of their life and are ready to leave the old worn out body and to be with Christ. The song goes something like this, "Ain't gonna need this house no longer, ain't gonna need this house no more, ain't got time to mend the windows, ain't got time to mend the floors, ain't gonna need this house no longer, gettin ready to meet the saints."
Are you ready to meet the Saints? If your sin has turned your life into what this house looks like, I invite you to trust Christ and let him rebuild your broken down life into a who new gleaming palace.

Friday, April 14, 2006


This is a shot of the Canadian Air Force Snowbirds aerial demonstration team. I took this at the McConnell AFB airshow in 2004. Our northern friends did an outstanding job.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

An Excellent Quote


Below is a quote from "Systematic Theology" by Augustus H. Strong. The quote is from the preface and is dated August 3, 1906. Though these words were written 100 years ago, they could have been written today. I can only say AMEN.

"I am distressed by some common theological tendencies of our time, because I believe them to be false to both science and religion. How men who have ever felt themselves to be lost sinners and who have once received pardon from their crucified Lord and savior can thereafter seek to pare down his attributes, deny his deity and atonement, tear from his brow the crown of miracle and sovereignty, relegate him to the place of a merely moral teacher who influences us only as does Socrates by word spoken across a stretch of ages, passes my comprehension. Here is my test of orthodoxy: Do we pray to Jesus? Do we call upon the name of Christ, as did Stephen and all the early church? Is he our living Lord, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent? Is he divine only in the sense in which we are divine, or is he the only-begotten Son, God manifest in the flesh, in whom is all the fulness of the Godhead bodily? What think ye of the Christ? is still the critical question, and none are entitled to the name of Christian who, in the face of the evidence he has furnished us, cannot answer the question aright."

Friday, March 24, 2006


I shot this in 2002 when the B-1B bombers left McConnell AFB in the last BRAC. The B-1 is one of my favorite aircraft, sleek, fast, strong and beautiful.

I took this about a month ago on a beautiful winter day. The shot is of the Kansas State Capital building in Topeka, Kansas.

Friday, March 17, 2006


I took this about 17 years ago. I still like it. This is my daughter being lifted by some teens at a church dinner. My daughter is now 20 years old and 6 Ft. tall. To my knowledge this is the only basketball she has ever played. BTW I am very proud of the young lady my daughter has become. She is a very Godly young lady and makes her father quite proud.

Monday, March 13, 2006

We miss you Danny

Danny's funeral was Friday. Very sad day. Danny was only 15 and had ridden dirt bikes for years, so his death from a motorcycle accident was quite a shock. the one consolation is that he professed faith in Christ. With that profession I have every hope of seeing him again in heaven. Death always leaves a big hole in you.

I took this in Sept 2004 while on patrol with the Coast Guard Auxiliary on Cheney Lake. Great shot on a beautiful day of a racing Hobbie.

Sunday, March 05, 2006


When I pastored in Coffeyville, KS there was a little rural church surrounded by a cemetary. the church and cemetary were both called Springhill. Acording to local lore the church had been there for years and was still used. Interestingly enough there was still a little privy out back. I didn't check to see if the privy was sitll used though.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

On the church front this has been an interesting week. Unfortunately the events of this week fuel my cynicism more than my hope.
The first event happened last Sunday when the Pastor of the church I attend suddenly announced his resignation. The fact that he resigned is not what bothers me. What bothers me is two fold. First the reason he gave for resigning was that he had sinned. Now I know preachers do sadly fall into sin now and then, but he did not ever say what the sin was. The fact that he has left that question completely open opens the door to much speculation and I am sure that the rumor mill will grind big time. That is sad. I wish he would have given more details as truth always drowns out gossip. The second thing that bothers me is the emotional downpour during the service. The pastor cried, by cried I don't mean shed a few tears, I mean sobbed, throughout his message. This was followed by 80 to 90% of the people at the service sobbing and crying over it all. In my life I have learned to be very wary whenever any event gets sicky, sobby, emotional. Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with emotions or crying. I have problems when the emotions are obviously overriding all else that occurs. Time will tell, but I have a sick feeling that things at my church home are going to go downhill fast. Please pray for the church and our former pastor.
This week I received the newsletter of my denominations local association. Reading the newsletter highlighted one of my biggest pet peeves in the Christian world today, the selling of the gospel. I strongly believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is free to all people. Free both on a spiritual level and also free on a temporal, especially financial level. Within the newsletter were announcements of two events that to all appearances seem to be "selling" the glorious gospel. One has registration fees of from $60 to $115 and features such topics as "how to study the Bible". I don't know about you but 30 years ago when I came to faith in Christ the pastor taught how to study the Bible from the pulpit twice on Sunday and again on Wednesday. The church never charged a fee for teaching the Word of God. Another event is about evangelism. The fees for this event range from $20 to $70.
I can't help but wonder whatever happened to the Church of Jesus Christ choosing to go out into the world and preach the Gospel? When did the Church become a just another conference center with a product to sell? When did the Church become a lifestyle choice instead of a group of people who have been forgiven and set free through the shed blood of Jesus? When did the gospel become a product to promote and sell, instead of good news about salvation from sin and redemption into a new life?
Maybe I'm an old foggy and out of touch, well so be it, the scriptures that have not and will not change declare that Jesus is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." Jesus freely gave himself on the cross at Calvary, I shall continue to freely give that gospel to anyone who wishes to listen.
Well for what it's worth that's my rant.

This is a good friend, Fr. John Wolesky. Fr. John is the wing chaplain in Kansas CAP. One thing I have learned in the ministry school of hard knocks is that faithful followers of Christ come in many forms. God Bless you Fr. John.

What a view! I took this abut 18 months ago from the rear of a USAF KC-135. Thanks McConnell AFB airman.