To Every Season

 Saturday welcomed the sun with an invitation to Spring following a day of destructive and deadly tornadoes that wrecked the area. The delighted hospitality of the rather tepid air summoned a walk. The daffodils were in bloom and the grass began the Spring shade of green. The springtime inauguration seemed to be in order.

 The parade of colors and the sound of streams trickling through the woods put joy to my feet in every step. However, the light breeze in the woods drummed a gentle percussion of barren trees that warned Winter had yet to release its grip. Come Monday morning, ice and snow would impede the springtime progression.

 This morning, trees and fields are covered in a blanket of snow, hiding the greenery underneath. This transition of seasons is not accidental.

 God set the earth's movement in relation to the sun to determine the seasons and called it good (Genesis 1:14). The seasons are a blessing God restored after the flood (Genesis 8:22). God is in control of the seasons and the obedience of nature is His praise. The joyous beauty and occasion of every season is His continued providence to His creation. Spring, Lord willing, will eventually overshadow Winter.

Let us praise God for continuing the seasons. The courses of the seasons "join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love."

Rally at the Rotunda

Overcast skies blanketed Frankfort on a mild Tuesday afternoon as the Capitol Building was a buzz over the recent expanded gambling bill about to be presented to a State Senate committee. Governor Steve Beshear put together Senate Bill 151, a proposal for an amendment to the state constitution to include seven casinos across the Commonwealth.

Attracted by the prospects of increasing state revenues as well as reviving the struggling horse industry, proponents of expanded gambling have moved the debate over this bill rather quickly. On Friday, Governor Beshear pointed to joining states funding schools and emergency services with casino money, much of which is gained from lost wagers by Kentuckians. “It makes no sense to continue watching that happen,” concluded Governor Beshear.


The gray clouds allowed glimpses of sun rays to briefly brush the Capitol as over 100 Christians climbed the Capitol steps to attend a rally at the rotunda in opposition to the bill. Christians gathered in objection to a bill which "mocks the poor" and "clearly preys upon the poor," said Paul Chitwood, the newly installed executive director to the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

Nearly a month after a controversial prayer that opened Governor Beshear's annual budget address, Hershael York called for a "timely death" of the expanded gambling bill. York, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church near Frankfort, led the gathered protestors in prayer that state legislators would consider the best for the people of the Commonwealth as well as strangers in the land, and "not a cut of their losses."

The acoustics of the rotunda echoed mellifluous hymns and urgent prayers lifted to Almighty God within earshot of state legislators. The rally was not simply contained to the rotunda, as many were led through the annex to voice their opposition with legislators face-to-face. Many that gathered stated their opposition to the bill was founded upon its predatory nature to gain some government revenue, which one pastor noted, "the house always wins."

Assembling beneath a statue of Kentucky's native son Abraham Lincoln, the expanded gambling protestors listened to ministers state their case against the bill. Kentucky Baptist Convention President Adam Greenway noted that the gathered Christians "are speaking in one voice to say no to expanded gambling."

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/21/2077996/religious-leaders-pray-for-timely.html#storylink=cpy

Speaking to the lasting effect on future generations in consequence to the bill, Paul Chitwood asked, "how many children are we willing to lay upon the altar of casino gambling?" The amount of support in the state legislature is uncertain. Along with the bill's sponsor Senator Damon Thayer (R-Georgetown), Agricultural Commissioner James Comer (R) also supports the bill as it aids the ailing horse industry.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/02/21/2077996/religious-leaders-pray-for-timely.html#storylink=cpy

The rally, which was attended by the Senate President David Williams (R-Burkesville), ended with Hershael York asking the crowd, "how do you want (state legislators) to vote on the bill?" An emphatic and resonant "no" reverberated the rotunda and adjoining halls of the state Capitol.

Cane Ridge Meeting House

 A few minutes outside of Paris, Kentucky, stands a meeting house that famously began a spiritual movement on the frontier of western movement in the beginning of the 19th Century. The Cane Ridge Meeting House is famous for a revival meeting that drew many to the wild lands of Kentucky and ignited the Stone-Campbell Movement which continues to this day.
The meeting house is a rugged, wooden structure erected in 1791 by a group of settlers of Scottish and Irish roots which settled on top of a ridge filled with a plant that pioneer Daniel Boone thought resembled sugar cane; hence, Boone named the place Cane Ridge. The Cane Ridge Meeting House held Christian services with whites on the first floor, and a second floor balcony which held African slaves. The curator mentioned to me that this may be the first of its kind; though segregated, the worshipers of different races worshiping to the same music, sermon, and in the same room.

The pulpit stands on a raised platform with the Lord's Supper table on the front. The dark meeting house not only revealed my need to purchase a bounce flash, but also provided a feel of being in history. The log structure is quite old and foreign to contemporary churches, but the warm and inviting feeling suggests something quite familiar. Scenes of frontier families singing hymns and hearing the old style preaching enters the imagination, and the smell of the old wood sends the imagination back in time.

Of course, the Cane Ridge Meeting House's claim to fame is not merely in its antiquity, but in its most famous preacher. Reverend Barton Warren Stone, claiming half of the title in the Stone-Campbell Movement, was Cane Ridge's celebrated son. Stone was a Presbyterian minister that challenged the doctrine of the Trinity, amongst many other doctrine taught in orthodox Christianity throughout history. Stone, much like his friend Alexander Campbell, used language that rejected the doctrine of the Trinity in favor of language that found neither any distinctions between the Persons of the Godhead (Stone rejected  the term "person") or any distinguishing traits, which favored the language of Unitarianism which was popular at the time.

Stone sought unity with the Christian denominations by rejecting historical creeds in favor of restoring the true Christian faith by stating there are "no creeds but the Bible." Of course, this rejection of all creeds favored Stone's own interpretation of the Scriptures, causing disunity in biblical doctrines amongst his followers by allowing personal interpretations of the Scriptures to trump biblical hermeneutics, and allowing unity in Stone's teachings of the Bible rather than unity in creeds.

Such provocative preaching and powerful charge to restore the Christian faith to permit each believer his/her own understanding of Scripture to be true doctrine exploded in popularity on the western frontier in 1801. In August of that year, an event claimed anywhere between 10,000 to as many as 30,000 travelers who camped out around the ridge to hear the fresh theology of the preacher Stone. The Cane Ridge Revival, as it was later termed, remains a pivotal point in spirituality in Kentucky to this very day.

Among the denominations that were birthed from the revival, the Disciples of Christ and Churches of Christ remain heavily in disagreement in the teachings of Scriptures, each denomination group of Christians arguing its creed Statement of Faith is correct and the opposition to be in error.
The grounds of the Meeting House has a museum of artifacts from the revival as well as items of common use at the time such as tools and furniture. There also is a cemetery, with Stone's grave as well as a monument with his bust in memorial.







All around the grounds are quotes and lessons taught by Stone. Stone challenged many doctrines, one being on baptism, which resembled the Baptist doctrine. The meeting house holds weddings and hymn sings as well as other scheduled events.

The old photo of the meeting house reminds visitors of a bygone era in Kentucky history. The structure is now housed in a limestone shrine. In order to understand the history of the people of Kentucky as well as the spiritual history of the western movement of the United States, a visit to Cane Ridge Meeting House is an essential visit.

Etowah Indian Mounds

 Stretching near the hills and mountains of southeastern Tennessee in the plains of northern Georgia, strange plateaus rise toward the sky surrounded by vast expanses of flat farmland. Prior to large Native American nations such as the Cherokees, the Etowah tribe inhabited this area near modern day Cartersville. The first picture is my oldest son, Elijah, entering a mud hut replica that the natives would have lived in here called a daub.

There is a large trench that surrounds the village, which was dug out by hand using primitive tools for military defense.The trench is conspicuous against the flat plains that surround it.

Yet, the most conspicuous element in the area are the plateaus that protrude from the plains. This is the namesake of the historic landmark, the Etowah Indian Mounds. The highest mound rises 63 feet from the ground to a flat platform where the chief lived.
The original mounds appeared like primitive pyramids, resembling the much larger pyramids of the Aztecs and Mayans. The chief would speak to the people of the village from a particular corner, which I found would easily carry a man's voice some great distances. I suppose George Whitefield probably could have preached to 30,000 from this platform!

The view from the highest mound, entitled Mound A, is spectacular. One is able to see great distances in the flat lands that surround the mound, which is ideal for defense. In the distance, a series of smokestacks from Georgia Power's Bowen Power Plant.


 There is an enduring breadth of wooden stairs that reaches to the top of the Indian mound. The walk is good exercise, and beholding the view from the top is worth the walk. Imagine the chief forgetting something from his home and debating whether to walk up the mound to retrieve it or not!

There is a spot on the corner of Mound A where the chief would speak to his people. You are able to see one of the lesser mounds from here as well as the large flat land where the village would have been. Some of the lesser mounds have the remains of some nobles, who were buried with elaborate costumes and with earthly treasures for their idea of the after-life. From earliest times, humanity believed we could buy, bribe, or earn our way into heaven. Entrance into heaven is purchased in blood by a perfect Man, who is Christ Jesus, and the payment is not earned or bribed for, but given by grace through faith.


 One is able to see the hills that lead to Appalachia from this part of the mound. The stillness and breath-taking view of God's creation calms the soul. The Mississippians believed that these mountains and valleys were formed by an incredibly large vulture that settled here after a long flight, and after flapping its wings the ripples throughout the mountains and valleys developed. Seeing this wonderful view with the knowledge of the truth that God created this marvelous landscape with His word provides a peace these natives did not know.


The Etowah River flows on one side of the village area, which the natives would have been greatly dependent on for fish as well as water for drinking and cleaning. 

The view of other mounds from Mound B reveals a lesser mound and an excavated side to Mound A, along with the smokestacks in the distance. The smokestacks adds a bit of human technological advances to a primitive human landscape.

A Day in Atlanta

 Recently, my family packed the mini-van and headed south to the big city of Atlanta, Georgia. The capital city of Georgia is home to nearly 5 million in the metro area, of which the hectic traffic and massive interstates show evidence to. The city skyline is best viewed at night as much of Atlanta is new. The downtown high-rises are of differing contemporary architectural styles; hence, much of downtown is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The first two photos are taken from the hotel balcony, which was on the ninth floor of the Hyatt Regency.
If you are not up for walking, the MARTA mass transit system has buses and subways to take you to any attraction the city has to offer. I took my boys to the Georgia Aquarium and Centennial Park (no pictures, sorry). However, Atlanta is certainly not to be considered a family friendly city. Downtown seems to be geared specifically toward businessmen, and family tourism seems an afterthought.
There is a nice shopping district in Atlantic Station. Again, this area is visually appealing and a good place to walk around. Yet, I found the locals to be incredibly loose with their language and very rude, including those in the service industry. Smiles were rare, and a great cultural depression seems to grip the city. Perhaps it is a culture in identity crisis; there is nothing uniquely Atlantan. It is a new city sort of bunched together like a term paper written the night before it is due.
There is a large number of homeless people as well as cheap liquor stores. The Lord presented a few opportunities to bare witness to the saving power of Christ with a couple while we were there. If you are called to missions, Atlanta is a place of great need for the powerful message of Christ and Him crucified.
 Atlanta is a city primed for good photography. Beside the stunning architecture, the city seems to be devoid of life in the golden hours of the evening.
I felt compelled to show you guys the inside of the Hyatt Regency (the black and white photo). The hotel is 22 stories high, yet you are able to see each room door from the ground floor. In the center of the hotel is a series of elevators which are basically glass tubes that resemble the elevator in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, and shoot up and down at a high rate of speed. A ride on the elevator is an experience to be had!

Whether You Eat or Drink...

Italian Sausage Meatballs

The prophet Isaiah said that we were created by God for His glory's sake. John Piper adds, " that means that we were all created to express the infinite worth of God's glory" (Taste and See, 175). This means that God created man to worship the highest of all worth; indeed, to worship the infinite worth of God.

Penne Rigate

Paul states in I Corinthians 10:31, "whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Add these two thoughts together, and Paul is saying that we must eat and drink and do all things in such a way that expresses the infinite worth of God. When I consider God's infinite worth, my thoughts move to the cross. Jesus died for His church, yet not because of my worth. Jesus died because of the infinite worth of God. God is mindful of us, lowly sinners (Psalm 8:4), not because we have such high worth, but because of God's infinite worth. God's infinite worth is not only expressed in the cross, but also in His sovereign providence in the daily tasks of believers. This leads my thoughts to baked penne rigate with Italian sausage meatballs.

God did not create all things in simply a manner of utility. What I mean is, God did not create everything to function like a giant, cold machine that simply works. He did not create food simply to sustain us. He created food that tastes good, drink that tastes good, and rather than by utilitarianism God created things to be enjoyed. You might call this hedonistic, and this would be fairly accurate. In sin, man takes this hedonism to different heights. Mankind takes food as sacrifice to idols (as in the context of I Corinthians 10:31) or make their appetites toward gluttonous indulgences as idols (Philippians 3:18-19). However, the ones called by the Name of Christ created for the glory of God is to eat and drink in such a manner to express the infinite worth of God. Baked penne tastes good and is pleasureful because God has infinite worth. We delight in food that tastes good and brings pleasure, but to Christians, God delights in blessing us with food that tastes good because He has infinite worth. The grand beauty of God in His creation of  food that tastes good brings pleasure to humanity who is blessed to enjoy food. Every time you eat food, consider the grand beauty of God in His creation of food that tastes good, His providence that blesses you with food, and let your heart and mind be held captive to the infinite worth of God that blesses us richly with even the most routine tasks of our daily lives such as eating and drinking. Fast to worship God as more valuable than food (which is His creation, so God is the greater), share food with others and do not omit telling of the glory of God when you do so, and receive and eat food with thanksgiving to God (I Timothy 4:3, I Corinthians 10:30). And whatever you do during the day, whatever task you are on whether at the dinner table or at work, do all things to the glory of God.

Final Product: Baked Penne Rigate with Italian Sausage Meatballs

The Glory of God in Autumn Colors

 Autumn landscapes are some of the most beautiful to view all year. In Kentucky, reds, yellows, oranges, as well as some green hold-outs color the trees and fields. With the high clouds, blue sky, and the perfect angle of the evening sun, one might sit and enjoy a sense of peace in the embrace of such surroundings. My mind wanders to the Creator of all things, and I marvel at the color of His creativity. He created our eyes to comprehend light waves, and the sense of smell to take in the full sensory joy of the moment.

I am curious as to what Darwin's explanation for all of this is. Perhaps there exists some element of survival in man's ability to perceive color, yet there is something inside of us that awakens with joy at the mere sight of something we call beauty. We try and capture this beauty in our cameras or with a paintbrush or pen, but leave much to be desired in our limitations and inability to create ex nihilo. Our own creativity as humans reflects on our sense of otherness, but we seem to be grand failures on an infinite scale compared to the authentic reality that stretches far beyond our eyes to capture and imaginations to ponder.

This is the problem within common grace; that is, within our common human capacity to define this or that as beautiful. Truth is, we cannot comprehend the vastness of the universe and likewise the grand and majestic level of beauty in creation, but we know that creation is limited. God is not limited, and His beauty is perfect and eternal. To those of us given faith in Christ Jesus by the grace of God, we who were once blind to the true beauty of all things now see the majestic glory of God in everything around us. Humanity finds enjoyment in the beauty of creation and may find brief rest in the silent moment of a gaze upon Autumn colors. I find enjoyment in the beauty of the Creator, and have the fullness of joy and peace in He who grants my soul rest in Christ.