Month: December 2009

Book Review: “The Civil War in the Big Sandy Valley”

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I have always been a little bit of a Civil War buff.  I really don’t know much about the Civil War, but today I read John David Preston’s book called “The Civil War in the Big Sandy Valley of Kentucky.”  The Big Sandy region discussed in the book includes the following four counties:  Pike, Floyd, Johnson, and Lawrence.  Since I grew up in Floyd county and lived and worked in Pike county, I was particularly interested in this particular Civil War info.

You will find the book interesting if you are from the Big Sandy area.  You may find it interesting if you are from other parts of Kentucky.  One of the most prominent skirmishes took place near Prestonsburg on Middle Creek.  The two Civil War commanders involved were Col. James Garfield and Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall.

You can read more about this particular battle on the Middle Creek National Battlefield website.  You can also download an interesting brochure from their website about Eastern Kentucky Civil War battles and skirmishes.

If you know of other Civil War books that you would recommend, please share them here.

How Fat Are You?

Posted in Church Chat, Discipleship, Life Happens8 Comments

When I was a young man in my twenties, I decided to take up running.  I discovered that I not only loved the sport, but I was a halfway decent runner.  I built up my endurance to the point that averaged about 40-50 miles of running each week.  I was strikingly thin at 5′ 11″ tall and 145 pounds.  I often won my age divisions at local races and occasionally won the entire race at small events around eastern Kentucky.

Well, that was then and this in now! I’m still 5′ 11″ tall, but the rest is none of your cotton-pickin’ business.  Let’s just say, my waist size has increased three inches since those days.  Recently, I decided that enough is enough — I’m gettin’ in shape!

When I was in shape, I would often take long training runs up to 20 miles in length.  Now, it’s difficult to even jog around the block.  I realize that it’s going to be a long, slow process, but I’ve got to start somewhere.

Many times, our spiritual journey is a lot like my physical journey.  We fall off after a period of spiritual fitness and frankly, we know we’re not where we should be.  In order to regain our fitness, we have to become more disciplined in our spiritual lives.  Does that describe you?  I have committed to become more fit it all areas of my life and I invite you to join me.

Will you join me in this journey?  I’m writing about it here to build in some accountability.

Give me a shout-out here on the blog if you will join me to provide a level of accountability with your decision.  May God bless you in your efforts.  Keep pressing forward  Here’s a great theme passage….

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

$22,000 Phone Bill

Posted in Church Chat, Evangelism, Funny, Life Happens2 Comments

According to an Associated Press story, a 13-year-old California teen ran up a cell phone bill of nearly $22,000.

Ted Estarija said he was expecting his bill to be higher this month after adding his son to his plan, but wasn’t expecting a bill of $21,917 in data usage charges. The Hayward man said his Verizon Wireless  bill soared after his son apparently downloaded about 1.4 million kilobytes of data last month.  His plan didn’t cover data usage, so he was charged by the megabyte.

Estarija said after the first media reports, Verizon said they would credit his account for the entire amount. He has also suspended his son’s account.

When I read this story today, I thought of John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  Unlike Mr. Estarija, Jesus knew the cost.  He knew that coming to this earth would cause him unspeakable pain and ultimately cost Him His life, yet He came anyway.

PRAYER:  “Lord, thank You, that although You knew the cost, You came to this earth.  You came so we could know You, see You, and experience salvation through Your death on the cross.  Thank you for paying our bill, caused by our sin and for crediting our account with your righteous when we trust in You as our Savior.  Lord, thank You!  AMEN.”

Today Is Christmas At Our House

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Today is Christmas at our house, well, kinda!  Our daughter Lauren will be working with the International Mission Board over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  Because she will be leaving soon, I worked out a deal with Santa to come early at our house.  As I type, I’m looking at her full stocking hanging from the fireplace.

Please pray for Lauren as she travels and represents the Lord.  Pray for the children, youth, college students, and missionaries with whom she will be working.  Naturally, we will miss her this Christmas, but we’re happy she will be serving in this capacity.

BOOK: “Eternal Security, Can We Be Sure”

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I believe that once a person becomes a genuine Christian, they can never “lose” their salvation.  They are saved by grace and they are kept by the power of God.  Along that line, I recently read Charles Stanley’s book Eternal Security: Can We Be Sure.  In the book, Stanley shares about growing up in a Pentecostal Holiness Church that did not believe in the eternal security of the believer.  Not only did the church not believe that a person that is saved is always saved, they often preached against that doctrine. 

Stanley’s book is well written and the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer is strongly supported.  The book is understandable and written to a wide audience.

Do you believe that you can “lose” your salvation?  Well, so did Charles Stanley!  But in the book, he documents how he came to believe differently when he began to dig into the Scriptures.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of eternal security, I believe the book will be a blessing to you.  Pick up a copy today and decide about this doctrine for yourself.