Monday, July 26, 2004
Quick Hits
My son, Jason, came home one afternoon a few weeks ago and asked me if I'd seen the "pirate ship," docked near the Military Street bridge in downtown Port Huron, Michigan. I told him, "That's not a pirate ship--it's a replica of the Nina, one of the three ships that brought Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic to the new world."
The 93-foot-long ship was built in Brazil in 1991. Since that time, it has stopped at over 450 ports throughout the world. That particular weekend, the ship was moored at Desmond Marine on the Black River.
What amazed me was how small the ship is. The Nina was Columbus' favorite ship, and he logged 25,000 miles with her. As I walked the deck of this replica, I imagined what it must have been like to step aboard, leaving comfortable places and familiar faces for the danger of the sea and worlds unknown. I wondered what type of person would dare risk their very life to embark on such an adventure.
After my tour of the ship, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a very special member of the Nina crew. Miss Ellie is 73-years-old, and has been sailing on the Nina for 4 years. What an amazing story she told me--and what an amazing woman she is!
You can read more about Miss Ellie on the Nina website. She is an inspiration! You can learn more about the Nina here, and view some photos I took while the Nina was docked in Port Huron, here.
Cruisin' Port Huron
Port Huron hosts an annual Classic Car Cruise and Show each summer. This month an estimated 500 vehicles made their way through town, to the delight of thousands of people--young and old-- who lined Military Street and Pine Grove Avenue.
It Really Works!
Speaking of clean machines, I decided to give the new Mr. Clean AutoDry car wash system a try. Maybe you've seen it advertised recently. Now, I have to say, I was somewhat skeptical of Mr. Clean's claims of a spotless rinse with no drying--but, I've become a believer! I've always enjoyed washing and waxing my car, but I can't say that drying has been a favorite part of the process. Target has the best price I've found for the system, and they just lowered their price on the soap and replaceable water filter. Wash it, rinse it, and walk away! Hey, if it works this great on my black Pontiac Grand Prix, it will work on whatever you're driving, too!
Something else that works well is the new Gillette M3Power Razor
. Yeah, I know...the commercials are kinda' stupid, and the razor and replacement blades are fairly expensive--but the razor gives the best shave from a blade that I've ever had. Actually, it's even better than my $130.00 Braun Synchro System shaver. Just thought some of you guys might like to know.Read Any Good Books Lately?
Here's one I encourage you to check out. It's titled, Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children, by Dorie McCullough Lawson. My brother-in-law, Efren, gave me this book as a gift recently and I have enjoyed it immensely. Posterity is a collection of personal letters written by well-known people, such as Thomas Edison, George Washington, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Woody Guthrie, to their children. I have found many of these letters absolutely fascinating! Here's an excerpt from a letter written by Abigail Adams to her son, John Quincy Adams:
These are times in which a Genious would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orater, if he had not been roused, kindled and enflamed by the Tyranny of Cadline, Millo, Verres and Mark Anthony. The Habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All History will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruits of experience, not the Lessons of retirement and leisure.
Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the Heart, then those qualities which would otherways lay dormant, wake into Life, and form the Character of the Hero and the Statesman.
Here's another, from "Great Awakening" theologian, Jonathan Edwards, written to his fifteen-year-old daughter, Mary, while she was visiting friends in New Hampshire, 150 miles away from their home in Massachusetts.
Dear Child,
You may well think that it is natural for a parent to be concerned for a child at so great a distance, so far out of view, and so far out of the reach of communication; where, if you should be taken with any dangerous sickness that should issue in death, you might probably be in your grave before we could hear of your danger.
Is that good stuff, or what?But yet my greatest concern is for your soul's good. Though you are at so great a distance from us, yet God is everywhere. You are much out of the reach of our care, but you are every moment in his hands. We have not the comfort of seeing you, but he sees you. His eye is always upon you. And if you may but be sensibly nigh to him, and have his gracious presence, 'tis no matter though you are far distant from us. I had rather you should remain hundreds of miles distant from us and have God nigh to you by his Spirit, than to have you always with us, and live at a distance from God.
Happy Birthday to Line Upon Line!
It was a year ago that I started writing this weblog. I hope you've been encouraged in your faith and walk with God by some of the over 150 entries that I've posted. I will continue to publish "stuff" as I am inspired, but for the present time, I am turning my time and attention to some books I've been wanting to write, and also, to some studies of God's Word that are on my heart. In the meantime, my prayer for you is that God would fill your heart and home with His awesome love and amazing grace!
think on these things...
Matthew 6:25-34 (NLT)
"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
"Don't just keep the faith--live it and give it away!" RG
