Quietness

  Don't you just love quietness? 

Okay, maybe some do and some don't. But it's so relaxing when everything is calm and there's no noise. As I watch people every day, I realize that many, probably most, people feel uncomfortable with silence. Take the average kid in school, for example. If I go to work and tell any kid to be quiet, he/she will be talking or making noise in the next couple minutes. Some people need to listen to music or make noise every time they are in a car alone because they can't stand the silence. Some people need to listen to something while they walk or exercise because they don't like the silence. There isn't anything wrong with doing these things. But when there's constant noise, any room for thinking or for learning how to sit in quietness and enjoy it, disappears. Teenagers and adults can't even sit with their friends without needing some noise. They don't know how to appreciate the presence of another person. This is very saddening to me. Quietness is a treasure - something that needs to be appreciated, not something that needs to be replaced or filled. How can we sit quietly and love being in God's presence if we can't even turn of noise for half an hour? How can we hear God speak to our hearts? 

Dear friend, if you're used to constantly filling quietness in your life with noise, I challenge you to examine why you are doing so. Is it because you don't want to be alone with your thoughts or you don't like silence? Perhaps this coming new year would be a good time to work on changing. I've been listening to this song a lot recently. Click here to listen if you're viewing this post on email. 

Since screens are in almost every kid's face nowadays, they're being taught (even if it's inadvertently) that silence is bad. Many years ago when I started working with children, I noticed that some parents start teaching this idea to their kids as babies. Parents turn on noise, mostly "white noise" machines in their baby's room during nap time and night sleep, thinking that it calms the kid and helps him sleep better. To me, this just creates a bad habit for the child. Yes, some noise can be helpful to babies in calming them. However, many parents use "white noise" consistently every single day for years. Even once the child reaches pre-teen years, he still needs to sleep with a noise machine else he can't fall asleep. It creates an unnatural sound environment. Think about it. In life there's an ebb and flow of sound. Life is not always noisy, nor is it always quiet. Even in nature. Scientists have researched and written about the need for quietness for our bodies. It's good and necessary for our brains, hearts, and souls. 

My friend, may you desire God's presence this year. 

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. ~ Isaiah 32:17 

It's About the Cross

My thinking about Christmas has changed. Now don't get me wrong. I still enjoy this holiday and it's still my favorite time of year. But Christmas is not just about Jesus's birth. And it shouldn't be celebrated flippantly. The whole reason Jesus was born was so that he could die. Die on a cross for people who hate him and reject him. Die for sinners who don't deserve it. Die for me. Die for you. Die to give all people a chance to live eternally. Wow. What. Incredible. Love. We must not lose the perspective of the cross even while we're celebrating his birth. Because without the cross, there wouldn't be a manger. 

This song "It's About the Cross" sums it up pretty well. 

It's not just about the manger where the baby lay, 

It's not all about the angels who sing for him at day. 

It's not all about the shepherds or the bright and shining star. 

It's not all about the wise men who travelled from afar. 

It's about the cross, it's about my sin. It's about how Jesus came to be born once so that we could be born again. 
It's about the stone that was rolled away so that you and I could have real life someday. 

It's about the cross. 

It's not just about the good things in this life I've done. 
It's not all about the treasures or the trophies that I've won. 
It's not about the righteousness that I find within. 
It's all about his precious blood that saved me from my sin.

The beginning of the story is wonderful and great, but it's the ending that can save you and that's why we celebrate. It's about God's love, nailed to a tree. It's about every drop of blood that flowed from him when it should have been me. 

It's about the cross, it's about my sin. It's about how Jesus came to be born once so that we could be born again. 
It's about the stone that was rolled away so that you and I could have real life someday. 

It's about the cross. 

May you have a merry Christ-centered Christmas! 

...and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

~Matthew 1:21

IMMANUEL

 All of God's names are special and reveal something about his character. But one of his most precious names to me is Immanuel. God with us. God wrapped himself in human skin, without human sin, and entered his creation.

 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

~John 1:1,12,14

As many as received him - receiving is a choice. God holds out the best, most expensive gift ever purchased and says 'it's yours. You can take it for free.' But how many people push it away, reject it. Indeed, to some, Jesus is a stumbling stone. But to others who accept the gift, Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation. In Isaiah, God told king Ahaz to ask a sign of God. Ahaz said no and God said, I'll give you one anyway. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14) God with us. What an amazing thought. God tabernacled, dwelt among man. Revelation 19:13 says, "An he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." Just in case you missed it in John, Jesus is the Word! 

Revelation 21:3 ~ "...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."
When I think about God dwelling with us, this song comes to mind.  

The world didn't need another carpenter so why would God now have a hammer in his hand?

The world didn't need another fisherman so why'd he cast a net in waters he could command?

If not to show us that he knows us and whatever this life throws us?

He's the God who chose to live it all firsthand. 

The world didn't need another tyrant with a fist of iron demanding we all bow. 

The world instead would see a humble servant. A Savior king with thorns his only crown. 

Just to show us that he loves us, and though he rules and reigns above us, he would make a way to take us by the hand.

He's walked right where you've walked, stepped right where you've stepped, cried the tears you've cried, felt the pain you've felt. 

He stepped out of glory and into your story. So, the next time you don't think he understands, remember it was for you that God would bend to be a man. 

This man of sorrows acquainted with grief. You've never faced a single thing he's not already seen. He's never distant, he's never far away. He's the only God who will lean in close enough to say:

I've walked right where you've walked, stepped right where you've stepped, cried the tears you've cried, felt the pain you've felt. 

I've stepped out of glory, right into your story. So, the next time you don't think I understand, remember it was for you that I would bend to be a man. 

He left heaven and became poor, so that you and I could become eternally rich. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." - 2 Corinthians 8:9 

The richest person on this earth, if he doesn't know Jesus, is going to be eternally poor. What a horrible tradeoff. No amount of money or good deeds can ever pay for your salvation. Everything required for the payment has already been paid in full by the blood of the Lamb, by the blood of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen! 

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity. Please as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.

For some people Christmas is a shallow holiday. It should not be this way for the Christian. Christmas is a time of consideration, that God would become flesh and live as a man, among men. I wonder, Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? (Ps. 8:4) 

The last verse in "O Come All Ye Faithful" says, "Jesus, to thee be glory given! Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing." And when he appeared, Isaiah wrote that it pleased the Lord to bruise him. Why? Because he made his soul an offering for sin. By Jesus, God's righteous servant, many are justified because he bore their iniquities. I love John 1:16: "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." Verse 14 says that God is full of grace and truth! He gives me grace so that I can receive his grace. It's full, never going to run out. That's another reason why there can't be such a thing as limited atonement. He gives each person enough grace too, to accept his grace. 

God in heaven was thinking of you when the Word became flesh and tabernacled among men. I wonder, this Christmas, are you thinking of heaven? 

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." ~ Revelation 19:16

Christmas IS Jesus

 Christmastime is here! 

With all the busyness of this season, don't forget that Christmas is Jesus. If you take away all the presents, the lights, tinsel, bells, trees, yard blow ups, and parades, you'll still have a good God who sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple according to the law. Simeon was a man who had been waiting for the Messiah, and he was in tune with God. When he saw Jesus, he said, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." (Luke 2:30-32) A light to lighten the Gentiles......the revelation of God to sinful man has already happened, and thank God that he included the Gentiles, amen? How did Simeon know that was going to happen? Prophecy. Isaiah 11:10 - "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."

Isaish 42:6 - "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles." 

Isaiah 49:6 - ..."I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be salvation unto the ends of the earth."

Christmas is about redemption. The only reason we even have Christmas is because of the cross. Jesus was born to die. For ALL people. For those people who say that Jesus's blood is limited, Luke 2:10 records, "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." No one's left out, no one's an exception.

 Jesus came the first time, as a lamb - the Lamb of God, to give people a chance to get ready for his second coming. The next time he'll come as a lion and there will be no more chances. Satan's not opposed to religion. Religion is sending lots of people to hell. He's opposed to Jesus Christ and the gospel that can save them from that horrible place. Thousands of people are travelling down the 'religion' road. They greet each other with a "merry Christmas!" But how can they have a merry Christmas without knowing Jesus? Friend, how can you have a merry Christmas if you don't know Jesus? The fact is you can't because Jesus IS Christmas. Don't let a new year come without making sure you know the Jesus of Christmas. 

Light and life to all his brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth. 

Sights of Georgia

November 8th was a day off, so I took the opportunity to explore Savannah, GA.   

First stop was Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA.
I love walking through old cemeteries and reading tombstones. This cemetery is huge and contains a Jewish section, Spanish-American section, Jewish chapel, and many other interesting sections. Many Jews' bodies were shipped there from the Holocaust days. 

I love this inscription: He who lives with integrity, does what is right, and speaks the truth in his heart. 

They served for God and country to promote peace and good will on earth.

World War II section

This is by far the most creative tombstone. 

Found someone from West Palm.

We will meet again in the brighter world above, where no sin or pain exist, all is perfect love.

This grave is of a 20- year old man who drowned at Tybee Island. 

Peaceful Wilmington River 

Next stop: Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island

The welcome center has a very small museum inside which offers helpful information. 

Cannon bullets

The bullet-shaped James bolt weighs just over 80 pounds, but had a devastating and accurate impact from more than two miles away. Fired from a rifled cannon which caused it to spin, the James projectile, and others of its kind, revolutionized modern warfare. 

The significance of the battle at Fort Pulaski is seen in these two projectiles. The 10-inch round shot, fired from a smoothbore cannon, weighs 128 pounds and half an effective range of about 800 yards. 

Once the Georgia militia seized the fort, there was much to be done. The canons and their carriages were desperately in need of maintenance and repairs. The militia had to learn how to handle the big cannons. They spent hours practicing the drill for heavy artillery. Inspections, military discipline, and caring for personal hygiene were also a big part of fort life. A steamboat made daily trips back and forth between Savannah and the fort, giving the troops and easy opportunity to visit loved ones. The soldiers supplemented army food with sweets and special treats from home. For Christmas of 1861, luxurious foods were sent down to the fort from the city, and the men threw eggnog parties in their casemates. 

Look how beautiful the sky is! 

This has 2 underground tunnels. The inside walls are made of Tabby, called the concrete of the coast. It's made by mixing sand, water, and crushed oyster shells together which makes them able to withstand damp, humid conditions. 

The fort also still has the original doors which are in relatively good condition because of the high quality of materials and the fabrication techniques used. The wood is composed of longleaf pine, a now endangered tree long revered for its strength and shock resistance, and is studded with iron rivets that hold the two layers of 2" planks together. 

The guard room is where the soldiers were able to access the drawbridge. 

To raise the bridge, 2 men released the ratchet brakes. Then 6 iron balls like the ones in the picture served as counterweights and lifted the bridge while the wooden portcullis dropped into place. To lower it, 4 men inserted bars into the drums at either end of the crankshaft and wound the iron balls back into place. As the bridge went down, the portcullis withdrew into its slot above the door while a 5th man stood in the sallyport and called signals. It's really neat how everything works together. 

Smoothbore cannons were the primary artillery for both the Confederate and U.S. forces at the start of the Civil War. They have a smooth barrel and fire spherical cannonballs that Fort Pulaski was specifically designed to withstand. These cannonballs used timed fuses that detonated after a set duration. However, rifled guns used bullet-shaped cannonballs, known as shells, which explode on impact. The shells were a threat to the fort and ultimately forced the Confederates to surrender. The bombardment of the fort marked the first use of rifled artillery against a brick fort which was a global shift towards rifled artillery in warfare. 

Officers' dining hall

The infirmary 

This is a portrait of General Casimir Pulaski, called the Soldier of Liberty. 

Click on this picture to read more about him. 

This is called a Casemate Gin, a machine used to lift cannons. 

This is called a blindage. In 1862 Confederate soldiers used earth and timber to create a covered walkway to protect troops against incoming shots. This is a recreation of it. The blindage would've encircled the entire inside of the fort. 

The scenery around the fort is just relaxing to look at.

This is actually a fig tree, a remnant of a grove planted in the late 1800s. After Fort Pulaski stopped serving as a military outpost, Cockspur Island Lighthouse keepers and their families began to live inside. They planted figs, pecans, and a garden. This and a pecan tree remain from that challenging and lonely time. 

This room contained the water supply. So cool to read about how they kept it here in these underground cisterns. They could store a total of 200,000 gallons. 

Thirteen unmarked graves contain the remains of Confederate officers from a group known as the "Immortal 600." Some of these soldiers were imprisoned at the fort from October 1864 to Mark 1865 where they endured starvation and sickness during the winter.

Next stop was downtown Savannah. I first stopped by this Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Old catholic church buildings have the most stunning architecture. 

This is a baptismal font (which is a basin for holding water). It weights 8,000 lbs. and was carved in Carrara, Italy. There's a Celtic Knot, which is the Irish symbol for eternity, in a mosaic on the floor of the inside. The floor around the font (picture below) is from Pietrasanta, Italy.

The interior is of the French Gothic style with ribbed ceilings and pointed characteristics. The floor is cruciform - nave, transept, apse. 

The stained glass windows were made by Tyrolean Glassworks of Innsbruck, Austria. 

Such a sad sight! They had several depictions of Jesus on the cross but hardly any (I think I only spotted one maybe) of Jesus's resurrection. Aren't you thankful Jesus is not still dead?

Outside across the street this building says, "Our lady of grace, pray for us." I think they missed the memo that Jesus is the intercessor to the Father on our behalf.

I think this building is so neat. If you have to be an attorney at law, you might as well work in a quaint house like this. :)

Next, I walked downtown along the river. 

Definitely the steepest 33 stairs I've ever walked up. It's like you're walking up a mountain. lol

They're called the Stone Stairs of Death. Well that's not sketch at all. 😅

This is a U.S.S. Savannah memorial. Commissioned by the United States Navy on May 8, 1937, as a light cruiser, this ship served throughout WWII and was subsequently decommissioned.  In September 1943, while supporting the allied invasion of Italy, the Savannah was struck off Salerno by a new German bomb, which was a forerunner of the guided missile. Despite heavy damage and many casualties, the Savannah earned the acclaim of the invasion forces by continuing to engage the enemy in support of the troops landing on the beaches. 

"A World Apart" WWII memorial.

European African Middle Eastern Campaign

Asiatic Pacific Campaign

I don't remember the exact history of this girl, but Florence Martus would wave and welcome the ships that came in to the harbor.

I took this free ferry across the river. 

And that concludes this explorative day! Hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures. Hopefully you'll get to visit some of these places one day. :)