Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Creepy Large Spider, 1 by JRush

JRush wrote:
This guy is pretty big - his abdomen is about the size of a filbert nut. It was night time, so the markings were difficult to see. (Plus I am spider phobic - every hair on my body was straight up!)

It's body is a deep brown - the web is about 4 feet across. It is located right outside our front door, so I turn on the outside light for awhile to attract a meal or two for it.
Anyone know what it is? Just an ordinary spider?
Julie