Archive | January, 2017

Our Nation’s Capital

8 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

 Have you ever had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C.? If not, then put it in your bucket list, as it is somewhere you don’t want to miss.

 

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By Carol M. Highsmith via Wikimedia

 

There is a different “air” in the air there. It’s just…..different. I find it difficult to describe the difference, exactly, but the whole atmosphere of D.C. is different from any other city we have visited. Is it just because it’s our nation’s capitol? Perhaps. It’s just…different!

We, as a family, have visited D.C. many times – especially when we lived in Virginia. It was only about a three-hour drive from our house to our nation’s capitol. We usually stayed in a hotel outside the city proper, parked the car, and rode public transportation. It seems like we were there either in blistering heat or freezing cold!

There are so many things to see and do there. The museums are magnificent. The history of this great country is portrayed for everyone to see.

 

 

But one of the most impressive, and awe-inspiring, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. While that is not the official name of it, that is the “common” name for it. There are remains placed there from World War 1 through the Vietnam conflict. Amazing to see.

 

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We had heard so much about the annual cherry-blossom festival there, but never, in the nearly 13 years we lived in Virginia, made it up for that event. And so, in April of 2013, Fred and I made the trip to D.C. just to see the cherry blossoms. It was spectacular! Some pink, some white, just gorgeous! And those little blossoms were just everywhere. One time, as we walked along the Mall, there was enough breeze blowing to make the blossoms shed from the trees – and it looked like a snow storm! Such fun!

 

 

But this place is at the heart of our country. This is everyone’s “home town.” We all belong there. Of course, I really wouldn’t want to actually LIVE there, but it’s a great place to visit.

Our daughter, Janet, and her family made a trip to D.C. a few years ago, and brought us back a professional photo of the U.S. Capitol building. Here’s a copy of it.

 

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I think it’s one of the most beautiful pictures I’ve ever seen! The photographer really had a good eye – and a steady hand! – to get this photo just right. We have framed it, and it hangs proudly on our wall where we can see it just any time we care to look at it.

In the not-too-distant future, there will be great celebration in that great place – the inauguration of a new United States President. Oh, to be able to see that in person! But we’ll just have to watch it on TV. I’m not going up there again in the freezing weather!! That’s why we live in Florida!

 

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The key to endure everything

7 Jan

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

What was I thinking? I only taught him half a lesson.

I held my 6-year-old grandson’s face in my hands. “Sweet boy. Before you go into a room and the door is closed, you need to knock, OK?”

I felt his head nod between my hands.

Later on, he followed my new rule. After a few quick knocks, he walked right in.

“Come here, sweet boy,” I said. “Nana forgot to tell you that you need to wait for someone to say, Come in before entering the room.”

My desire is for that beautiful boy to grow up in Jesus’ footsteps. To follow His lead. Emulate His ways and imitate Jesus’ sensitive nature.

And His sensitivity shows when He says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 16:20).

He stands, waits and lingers at the door of our heart until we open it and say, “Come in.”

And that’s when a new beginning happens. With Jesus residing in our heart, we taste new freedom and rely in new power. We can face all the tomorrows. We endure all adversity. We walk through dark valleys, leave fear behind and welcome a New Year with confidence wrapped in the warmth of His security.

Have you heard Him knock at the door of your heart lately?

Source: The key to endure everything. | Janet Perez Eckles

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People Need People

6 Jan

From the Heart 

Louise Gibson

colorful-crowd

 

 

Life does present challenges
that tax us to no end.
When bad things happen, and they often do-
That is when we need a friend.

 

Do you remember when someone encouraged you?
Perhaps when you were feeling low?
It helps to share your burden.
There is strength in numbers, you know.

 

Relate to people.
Call, text, or write a letter.
Just knowing someone cares
will make them feel much better.

 

Caring needn’t be costly,
amazing what a smile can do.
It’s the best face lift in town,
And warms the heart of another, too.

 

“There is little difference in people,
but that little difference makes a big
difference.
That little difference is attitude.
The big difference is whether it
is positive or negative.”

Robert Collier

 

I must end with a bit of humor.
“Don’t tell me that worry doesn’t do any good.
I know better.
The things I worry about don’t happen.”

Author unknown (but it could be any of us-
right?) : – )

 

 

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Life After Christmas

5 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I am emerging from my Christmas fog. It began in mid December when I succumbed to a sinus infection. Since I am rarely sick, I spent quite a bit of time in denial. That might have been a contributing factor for the fog. Suddenly, it was Christmas, then Christmas eve. I do remember that we had a lovely Christmas morning with our children and grand children, then the fog descended once more.  I emerged again to celebrate our daughter’s birthday with a drive to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

The trip had been planned for several weeks but after the fires roared through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and down into Gatlinburg, it took on a poignant mood. We drove through one of the hardest hit areas, Chalet Village, and the devastation was heartbreaking. Out of respect for the owners and those who had lost loved ones, we did not take pictures.  If you would like to volunteer your time to help the hurting families, visit Volunteer East Tennessee

We ended our day in Pigeon Forge at The Island. The two big restaurants are The Timberline Grill and Paula Deen and there is an assortment of shops as well as an area with a carnival atmosphere including one of the new Eye rides. It is very pretty at night.

The Island

Two days later we drove to one of our favorite places in Franklin, Wayah Bald. Wayah was one of many National Park areas that were targeted for arson during November and December and we were anxious to see how the park fared. We knew that the roof on the fire tower had burned, but we were unprepared for the extent of the damage to the Flame Azalea plants as well as the smaller trees that lined the path. It was also odd to see green foliage next to burned tree trunks.

 I do clearly remember New Year’s Eve. We spent the evening with at least fifty talkative cousins, aunts and uncles. I love them so much! I have high hopes the fog is gone!

Snow is predicted for tomorrow night. We haven’t had snow yet this winter so I am excited and I have the required milk and bread! Hopefully I will have some pictures and a story  to share next week.

If you are in the path of the storm, stay safe and warm. If you are in Florida, you might want to pull out that sweater you seldom have the chance to wear.

coffee-cup-snowman

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A 2016 Dawn Patrol Rendezvous~Part 1

4 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

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The name for this series of blogs is the main subject of my most recent road-trip. Every two years, several WWI enthusiast groups come together to put on what is called the “WWI Dawn Patrol Rendezvous” airshow. This fabulous event takes place adjacent to the USAF Museum located in Dayton, Ohio. They have full scale WWI flying replica aircraft, German, British and American field hospital re-enactors, restored WWI vehicles, and all types of WWI memorabilia for sale.

 

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The local model airplane club brings and flies many of their ¼-scale WWI R/C model airplanes. This sounded like just the kind of event I was looking for as the main attraction for my next road-trip. Since I found several museums to visit in the Columbus area, I gave myself a couple of days before the air show, to scout them out and then get over to, and situated in, Dayton for the October 1-2 “WWI Dawn Patrol Rendezvous” air show.

 

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Day 1 (Thursday 9/29/2016)

 

My Orlando airport check-in and security check this morning was a breeze, compared to my last trip (I’ll never fly on Friday again). The Southwest Airlines flight to Columbus, Ohio was smooth and we arrived right on time. (I flew non-stop to Columbus, not available to Dayton). Baggage claim at the small Columbus airport was a little slow, but not a real problem.

 

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I took a shuttle bus from the airport to the Days Inn hotel, and called Enterprise Rent-A-Car (the “We’ll Pick You Up” guys) for a free pick-up from the hotel. Somehow my reservation turned out to be at a different Enterprise office from where I expected to rent my car. They said the hotel location was outside the radius for their office pick-up (?).  They told me they would transfer my reservation to a closer office for the pick-up.

 

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It took them some time to do the transfer, work out all the details, and get a car to the hotel to pick me up. After finalizing the rental agreement I put my bags in the car and was getting ready to leave, when I noticed that this car did not have cruise control. The agent wanted to increase the rental price for a car with cruise control, but I told the manager that I had requested a car with cruise control at the price they quoted. He was kind enough to switch cars for me at the same price.

 

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It had taken me longer to get from the airport, and rent my car than it had taken me to fly from Orlando to Columbus! I plugged in “Greta” (my Garmin), and we headed for the Wagner & Hagans Auto Museum located there in Columbus. This was a small museum of approximately 20 cars, consisting of several early 1930s Packard automobiles and 1950s Classic cars. Steve Wagner gave four of us a private tour of his and Mark Hagans Collection.

 

Steve informed us, that the cars there in the museum were only half of their collection. He explained that they only had room for the cars displayed, and had to rotate the others into the museum from time to time.

 

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Next on the list for today was a visit to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame located in Pickerington, Ohio. This was a large two-level museum, displaying hundreds of motorcycles of all makes and models. The majority of the museum’s collection, were modern dirt bikes and racing bikes. This museum reminded me of the recent mini-series I watched titled “Harley and the Davidson’s” except there were very few vintage motorcycles in the museum.

 

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Now I headed south to visit the McDorman Automotive Museum located in Canal Winchester, Ohio. This is a small museum created by Bob McDorman, who was a local Columbus Chevrolet dealer for years, and known for his Corvette collection.

 

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As it turned out, this museum was closed, even though their sign out front said they were open Wednesday-Saturday 1:00-5:00.

Next it was on over to visit the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, which is an American cartoon & comic art museum affiliated with the Ohio State University library system. The location of the museum/library, there in the bustling university area, made it impossible to find a place to park, much less avoiding almost running over six or more students. So, I just took a picture of the library building and headed for the next museum on my list for today.

 

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A few miles south, I wanted to visit the Rickenbacker Airport, to see if I could find the Rickenbacker ANG Museum that I assumed would be close to the airport. Well, the museum was nowhere to be found, and there were no signs to indicate that the museum was anywhere close. I guess I’ll have to Google the museum again for better details when I get a chance.

 

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By now it was getting late, and I headed for the tonight’s motel located in Obetz, Ohio. On the way I saw a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, and decided to have dinner with Colonel Sanders this evening. Boy, do I like their fried chicken! I had their two piece dinner with green beans, mashed potatoes & gravy, and a biscuit and honey for desert. Yummm!

 

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—–To Be Continued—–

 

 

 

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31 Days of God’s Comfort~Day 7

2 Jan

communing

Picture and paraphrase by DiVoran Lites

 

Day 7

Communing

Isaiah 1:18

 

Beloved,

I want to talk regularly with you in a communion that means we can trust each other and enjoy each other’s company.

You and My other children always have something valuable to say to each other.

You know that I am God and can do anything.

You know that when you talk to me, I hear

You.

You know I care about you as no human ever has.

I will gently teach you to believe.

 

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In the Fullness of Time

1 Jan

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

 

 

I know that Christmas 2016 is over. However, I wanted to share something a pastor friend sent to us as a Christmas card. It touched both Fred and me greatly, and I hope it will touch your heart, as well. (As way of acknowledgement, I’ve searched and not found this particular paraphrasing of these verses anywhere. It could have been his own version of it) It’s the best way to begin a New Year:

Galatians 4:4-5

4 – But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 – To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

As we begin the month of December, our thoughts are about Christmas. There is a phrase in Galatians 4:4. This phrase is a powerful statement about the coming of God’s Son to earth. The phrase in the fullness of the time (Galatians 4:4) refers to that time when the world was providentially ready for the birth of the Savior.

It was the RIGHT TIME for JESUS to come. Historians tell us that in the Roman world the old religions were dying, the old philosophies were empty and powerless to change men’s lives. Strange new mystery religions were invading the empire. Religious bankruptcy and spiritual hunger were everywhere. God was preparing the world for the arrival of His Son.

Roads connected city with city, and all cities ultimately with Rome. Roman laws protected the rights of citizens, and Roman guards protected the peace – THE ROMAN PAX.

 

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The Roman Empire, A.D. 117 – Credit Google Search

 

Thanks to both the Greek and Roman conquests, Latin and Greek were known across the empire. He sent His Son to THE RIGHT PEOPLE. It was no accident that God chose Abraham to be the father of His people! God promised Abraham a nation to come from his seed (Genesis 12:1-3)

Jesus was born in THE RIGHT LAND. It was no accident that Abraham left Ur (modern day Iraq) and journeyed to Canaan (present day Israel). God’s people got off-track and stuck in Egypt, and so God sent a deliverer, Moses! Then He had to get them out of Babylon and back to THE RIGHT LAND.

THE RIGHT LANGUAGE was available, and it was no accident that a man named Alexander (the Great) came 300 years before Christ, and spread the Hellenistic culture with most people knowing the Greek language and THE RIGHT CULTURE adopted by the Romans.

 

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Alexander the Great – Credit Google Search

 

Finally, it was under THE RIGHT LAW. The new gospel would need to spread rapidly! By the end of the first century, the Christian gospel had spread throughout the Roman Empire, reaching all the way to Great Britain! God used the Roman Empire, as He did the Greeks, the Jews, and anyone else to make this TIME in history RIGHT!

JESUS came at the RIGHT TIME, to the RIGHT PEOPLE, in the RIGHT LAND, with the RIGHT LANGUAGE, and during the RIGHT CULTURE, and under the RIGHT LAW!

It was no accident when Jesus arrived in history, but rather God’s perfect timing in preparing our world for His coming.

It was truly in the fullness of time that God sent forth His Son.

With these words in mind, have a blessed Christmas season (and in this case – a wonderful and blessed New Year!).

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