THE OLD BOOK

In the hustle and bustle of this season, people often forget Who the season is supposed to be about. As Christians, we must live by the word of God, for as Jesus said "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Do not get carried away with all the vanity fair of this world. During this Christmas season, enjoy your God given freedoms, enjoy your family and enjoy your Savior! Stay with the old book! Read it and be blessed! May God truly bless each of you!

MEETING A NEW FRIEND

In my travels I have met a number of friends. I have several in the Tampa bay area. Around 1995 when I went to the pier in St. Petersburg, I met this fellow. I think Sandra and I met some of his relatives when we went there in May of this year.

HE IS ALL THIS - AND MUCH MORE!

I think we Christians in this day of apostasy often need a reminder of just who our Savior and Lord really is. The poster says a lot, but there is so much more in the Bible. Read it for yourself and be blessed! (Unfortunately I can't get the poster larger, but you can get your magnifying glass out to read it better).

HE HATH CHOSEN YOU

Sometimes, brothers and sisters just need an encouraging word from God's book.

CHARLES WESLEY- 1707-1788

My plan was to post some more of my old travel slides, but the conversion process has been set back because my photo scanner has to go to the shop. Meanwhile, I thought it would be good to look at some of the great hymn writers who have contributed so much to the Christian faith. Here is one -- Charles Wesley, who was John Wesley's perhaps lesser known brother, who gave us O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing, and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, And Can It Be That I Should Gain, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Jesus, Lover of My Soul and over two thousand others! What a gift to the Christian church!

D. MARTYN LLOYD-JONES- 1899-1981

Okay, I am getting closer to our century now, and a man with less hair, though this picture taken by Iain Murray, has his hair covered by a hat. I like this picture of him a lot. Dr. Lloyd-Jones, from Wales, was originally a medical doctor who was called to preach the gospel. He became perhaps the greatest evangelical Bible expositor of the 20th century. I have learned so much from him, especially from Preaching and Preachers. His books are readily available online from Amazon.com and Christian Book.com, as well as other places. Probably not in your average "fluff" bookstore! Click link at right for great recorded sermons. Get used to his accent, listen to what he has to say, and I pray the Holy Spirit will use him"being dead and still speaking" to help you, as he has me.

SAMUEL RUTHERFORD-1600-1661

By now, you know that I enjoy, and benefit much from the writings and sermons of preachers long departed from this earth. It is not that I don't enjoy some of the modern preachers, but these "fathers of our faith" are hard to beat for spiritual truth, and pithy sayings, especially the Puritans. My favorite one (this week!) is Samuel Rutherford, whose letters are loaded with sweet spiritual gems. I like these Puritans, long hair and all (and wish sometimes I had a little more of it myself). Click the link on the right "Puritan Sermons", and see Letters of Samuel Rutherford, and if you read some of them, and are a Christian you will surely be blessed. If you are not, God may use them to open your heart. I am sharing the blessing - enjoy!

GEORGE WHITEFIELD -1714-1770

I will never forget reading, in the 1980's, the two volume biography of this godly man by the late Arnold Dallimore. A tremendous blessing! God used Whitefield both in England and the United States. A Great Awakening took place. How we need a preacher like him again today! How we need for God to do it again! Of course, only God can, and He usually works through a man. But, as you know, if you have read the Bible, he can use a woman, and He can use a donkey to get His message out!

J.C. RYLE OF LIVERPOOL- 1816-1900

Another influence on me, and a writer I enjoy reading and quoting is John Charles Ryle. His influence was the greatest later in his life when he became the Anglican bishop of Liverpool, England. He was a strong leader and stood against ritualism, and for the pure gospel. He was a rare and godly man. Like Charles Spurgeon (who regarded him highly), he being dead, yet speaks through his many books. See the latest cybermeditations for excellent quotes by him.

THE MAYFLOWER IN PLYMOUTH HARBOR- 1620

The Pilgrims first landed at what was to become Provincetown, on Cape Cod, on November 21, 1620. A small party of men, led by Myles Standish, went ashore to explore. They found a place where Native People had stored corn underground and confiscated it to use for seed. Due to lack of fresh water and poor soil, they decided to move on.

...Now was the heart of winter and unseasonable weather was come upon us...it was in the end concluded to make some discovery within the bay.

The Mayflower’s pilot, Robert Coppin, remembered the bay from a previous visit. The area was called Patuxet by the Natives and Plymouth by the English, from an earlier map drawn by the explorer Captain John Smith. The Mayflower passengers may have also known from an account of a recent exploration that the area had been depopulated.

An exploring party set out in the shallop : ...though it was very dark and rained sore, yet in the end they got under the lee of a small island [Clark's Island] and remained there all that night in safety... And this being the last day of the week, they prepared there to keep the Sabbath.

On Monday they sounded the harbor and found it fit for shipping, and marched into the land and found divers cornfield, and little running brooks, a place (as they supposed) fit for situation. We Must Not Forget Our History! Dear God! Perhaps We Already Have!

ONE OF MY GREATEST INFLUENCES

No doubt if you have read much by me, or other writers that I publish, you can (at least faintly I hope), see the influence of this gifted preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Enough accolades have been given to him, such as "Greatest preacher since the Apostle Paul" and the like. If he were alive today, he would scold those who said that, for with all his ability and fame, he was still a humble man -- a "John Ploughman" as he would say. He left us a wealth of material in his balanced sermons. Read them and be blessed! I have links on my main blog to a large collection of his sermons through the Spurgeon Archive, and also, Pilgrim Publications. Simply access the featured sermons and look for other links to more sermons. Blessed reading!

THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS

I am not so fond of all religious art, especially pictures of Christ, since we do not really know what He looked like. Some religious art helps to enhance a Bible story such as this depiction of the prodigal son by Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 1617 - 1682 titled
The Return of the Prodigal Son, 1667/1670. I don't know about you, but this I like.

IN UNDERGROUND ATLANTA- ABT 1980

It has had its ups and downs as a tourist attraction, but it is interesting because it shows that modern downtown Atlanta, by using viaducts and bridges, was built over the old city in several areas. The old city itself was hurridly rebuilt after the Civil War ended in 1865.

BERLIN WALL-1982

This is one of many shots I took at the Berlin Wall near Brandenburg Gate. I bought some special B&W film (high speed), to try it out. I always prefer color shots, but the B&W highlights the drabness of East Germany at that time. Reagan said "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall". Not too many years after this shot was taken the Germans did just that. I have one of "Checkpoint Charlie" if I can locate it.

Another View of New River Bridge, WV- 1997

I was looking through some old pictures and found a different view of the bridge. It may give more perspective on it's size. In days ahead I plan to convert more slides for viewing, especially from Europe. Come back weekly to check. Thanks!

TY COBB MONUMENT -ABT--1988

No, I am not old enough to have seen Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach. But I have been to the Braves games at the old Atlanta-Fulton County stadium where the monument was originally placed. Cobb played in the early 1900's, and set many records that still stand.

Just after the 1996 Olympic Games, the Olympic stadium was reconfigured for baseball and called Turner Field after Superstation, CNN, TNT, and TCM founder, and former Braves owner, Ted Turner.

Cobb, and whoever it was that was trying unsuccessfully to tag him out, were moved there for all to see.

New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia- 1997

I preached in a church not far from here, and whisked across the bridge in about 30 seconds. My motel room was on the opposite side of the bridge from the church. I was wondering how long that would have took in the old days. The site at www.nps.gov/archive/neri/bridge.htm gave my answer. Be sure and visit the site. They have better photos than mine.

"For years crossing the New River gorge meant long detours, or carefully winding your way down narrow mountain roads. It was not until the completion of the New River Gorge Bridge on October 22, 1977, that this travel problem was solved. However, the solution was not an easy one. Many technical problems had to be overcome. The bridge reduced a 40-minute drive down narrow mountain roads and across one of America's oldest rivers to less than one minute."

Five Outlaw Preachers in Florida-1985

I am amazed at how people change as they grow older. These are five preacher brethren at a Sovereign Grace conference in Florida in 1985 (I think the date is correct). From left to right: Jimmy Bowman, Don Martin, Charles Woodruff (that's me), Mike McInnis, and Randy Bottomlee. This may be incorrect, but I think only Jimmy has a beard today. All the rest of us are clean shaven (if such matters in the kingdom of God). I remember the conference and fellowship with great fondness.

One More Georgia Artist from the Hall of Fame- 2005

I used to sing and whistle "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay". Believe me, you don't want to hear my version! Here is the guy who made it famous, Otis Redding.

More Georgia Musicians- 2005

Chet Atkins, born in Tennessee, but moved to Georgia at age nine, was recognized as one of the world's greatest guitarists in the pop and country field. Part of Interstate 185 from LaGrange to Columbus is named for him.

Georgia Music Hall of Fame - 2005

A visit to the GA Music Hall of Fame is enjoyable for anyone who enjoys ANY kind of music. Georgia has had its share of artists, both living and dead, in Gospel, Country, Folk, Rock and Roll, Rythym and Blues, Classical, Comedy, and just about any other kind of music you can name. From Chet Atkins, Brenda Lee, Ray Stevens, Tommy Roe, Ray Charles, LeRoy Abernathy to Alan Jackson and Babbie Mason, It all serves to make an interesting half day visit. It is in Macon, Georgia.

GEORGIA QUEEN- 2001

There are numerous interesting shops along the Savannah River in downtown Savannah. Some good restaurants too.The old town is interesting to me because as a boy, I spent time there. You can also ride on the river boat.

TYBEE LIGHT-2001

Although I have traveled many places, there are some interesting places not so far away in Georgia, my home state. One of them is Savannnah. I loved climbing up Tybee Light and photographing it too. It is on Tybee Island which used to be called Savannah Beach.

CHARLES AND DIANA- JULY 29, 1981

No, I didn't take this photo, but I will always remember watching the Royal Wedding on TV from my Atlanta home beginning about 5 A.M. EDT. I watched it, then flew to London that afternoon to begin our training, and trips into Iron Curtain lands. London was still all abuzz about the wedding when I arrived late that evening. What a memory! Yet how sad it all turned out later.

Mailbox in London-1981

When I was in London in 1981, I thought the postal boxes were so interesting. I suppose they still use these today. I know the double decker buses are still used.

THE EGG- SPRING 2007

Here is one I took on the first day of Spring this year. Yes you really can balance an egg at the Vernal Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox. My late son Chuck taught me this. He was quite good at it. He was very patient, and it takes patience, for sure. I took it with my phone camera.

EL MORRO EN LA NOCHE

My last visit to Puerto Rico, so far, was 1984. I saw this beautiful place. But, I was there in the daytime, so I did not take this one. I wish I had! It's really beautiful! I am not quite sure where it came from. I have others of the island I will be sharing, D.V..

BUCKINGHAM PALACE- 1981

I have a lot more slides of England I am digging out. But this a start. Everyone goes here first I guess. It is interesting. Only one of the queen's homes.

SIGN CLOSEUP - 2003

They ARE proud of the town, even though they were slow to fix the hole. In all fairness, it rained a lot there during that period.

SPLITTING THE LINE IN ARK-LA - 2003

Around the same time as Oklahoma, I had a trip to a town in Arkansas, a little north of the Louisiana line. Junction City is part in both towns, as you can see. But it looked like neither state wanted to fix the pothole at the line!

COWBOY IN OKLAHOMA - 2003

I had almost forgotten, I did the cowboy thing again more recently, but perhaps not as spiffy. When doing longer "hot shot" courier runs than I do now, I put on the boots and hat again. This one was taken in 2003 with a "throwaway" camera, so it wasn't as clear. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys.

APOLLO BEACH FLORIDA SUNSET abt 1973

I was still experimenting with 35mm, and greatly wanted a good sunset shot on the water. This was on the eastern shore of Tampa Bay at Apollo Beach long, long ago- approx. 1973

Sandra"s Flower's- 1980's

My wife Sandra has always loved flowers, and so have I. But I love photography a little more, so here is a happy combination. I was just experimenting, and I thought it came out pretty well. Not sure of exact date, but it was taken with 35mm film, well before our digital days.

ALLIGATOR AT OKEEFENOKEE (Abt. 1976)

When in some gospel meetings in south Georgia and north Florida, I went to the Okeefenokee Swamp near Waycross, GA and visited the exhibits and took the tour, and met up with this little friend on the ground. I would not have wanted to be in the water with him. No way!

AN URBAN COWBOY RETURNS FROM MONTANA

In 1979, I was in some banquet meetings for 3 weeks in Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota for Door of Hope mission with Brother Haralan Popov. Upon my return to Atlanta, my sister snapped this photo. I had grown the mustache on the trip, and bought the western duds. My son Rick was about twelve then, and said "Dad, when I saw you, if I had a hat on my head it would have went whew!" He meant "straight up off his head". He was surprised. I still wear a mustache, but not the western duds.

ST. MARKS LIGHTHOUSE, FLORIDA-1975

I was just getting into 35mm photography then (long before digital cameras!), and this has been one of my favorites over the years. The location was down a neglected, almost impassable, road in those days. No one hardly went there. It may be different now. This is about 25 miles south of Tallahassee.

CHARLES IN LENINGRAD IN 1978

My first trip to a communist country for ministry to believers was in 1978. I was 35 years old. One of the places visited was Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Then it was the Soviet Union, now simply Russia. How times have changed!

TRAVELING MAN, MADE A LOTTA STOPS ALL OVER THE WORLD