I often go through phases in my life where I get the idea that I need a new Bible.  If you look in my office, you find that I have alot of phases that lead to alot of new Bibles.  I research Bibles on the internet and find one that I think will be the perfect match for me.  I find a good deal on it and I buy it. 

When I get a new Bible it is a love affair.  New pages that look so clean and fresh, the smell of new leather,  the gold gilding still in tact on the Bible paper.  For a couple of weeks I read the new Bible and then something changes.  I have yearning for my “old” Bible.  The Bible that I have had for years. 

In fact, this trusty “old” Bible is a faithful friend.  We have been companions for a long while.  The Spirit Filled Bible is my trusty old Bible.  It continually draws me.  I purchased my first one in 1995 and I wore it out.  I bought my second one in 2001 and wore it out.  I was about to buy another one when Thomas Nelson published a Spirit Filled Life Bible in their Signature Series.  It was Calfskin leather and over $150.00.  I would have to sell my first born to get me one.  However, I decided to keep Josh, and I was able to sell a set of commentaries and bought the Calfskin Leather Spirit Filled Life Bible and my life has been good ever since.

I have an infatuation with Calfskin Bibles (although they are too expensive to have too many).  The way they feel in your hand as you read it is a great experience.  They are soft and supple, flexible, durable and age well.  Even though I buy new Bibles, I  always come back to my trusty old favorite. 

Do you have a favorite Bible that you have used that you cannot replace?

This morning, I read a moving article about a 20 year old man who died in a tragic automobile accident.  Pastor Ronnie Floyd, a fellow pastor in Rogers, wrote about the legacy that this young man left because he was an organ donor.  Read the words of this article and think about what it would mean for others if we would decide to be an organ donor when we pass away.  I have been designated as an organ donor for years now, but this article solidifies for me the importance of such a decision.

Pastor Ronnie Floyd writes:

“Yesterday afternoon, I had the challenging responsibility of preaching the Memorial Service for 20-year-old Aaron Webster. Aaron’s life was taken through an automobile accident. While his family prayed at his side in the hospital for a miracle, it did not happen the way they had so prayed for it to happen. The miracles came through his death and I want to tell you about them.

Before I tell you about those miracles, I want to insure you understand that his family has confidence that Aaron knew Christ personally. Aaron is in heaven today. He is in the presence of God today. It was this assurance that calmed the broken hearts of Aaron’s parents, his fiancee, his two sisters and family. Being blessed with God’s peace about where he is today, let me tell you about the other miracles that happened through his death. Get ready: what a story!

Aaron was an organ donor. Ten percent or less of the people who give organs upon their death are able to give all that Aaron was able to give. Aaron was very special and in his death, God even affirmed that more. These miracles happened through Aaron’s death. When Aaron died, he gave much away and miraculously, all of the beneficiaries of his organ donations are progressing at this point.
What did he give to people?

*Aaron gave his heart to a 32-year-old man in Texas
*Aaron gave his liver to a 55-year-old man in Arkansas
*Aaron gave one lung to a 61-year-old man in Wisconsin
*Aaron gave one lung to 70-year-old man in Illinois
*Aaron gave one kidney to a 15-year-old girl in Arkansas
*Aaron gave one kidney to a 9-year-old boy in Arkansas
*Aaron gave intestine/pancreas to a 56-year-old man in Pennsylvania

Additionally, the corneas of his eyes will be placed soon and will give sight to the blind. Powerfully, grafts of his skin will provide skin grafts for 200 children who have suffered severe burn or accidents.

Therefore, all of these people have become beneficiaries of Aaron’s death. While this brings the Webster family comfort, their hearts still break with major pain as anyone’s would in the loss of a child.

His family shared with me the other day: “While we prayed by his side for a miracle, we did not get our miracle, but others did.” Yes, many others received their miracles through Aaron’s death. Sitting in Texas, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, there were individuals and families praying for a miracle. Yes, God gave them their miracle. May it all bring God glory in this deep moment of loss and sadness for Aaron’s family. I cannot even imagine the pain they must feel. May God give them the power to praise Him in the midst of this storm.

Thank God for miracles that can happen, even through death.”

Since I love history it was not hard to be engaged by this well written book.  The author does an outstanding job of proving how this great nation was founded and that our forefathers intended for our nation to be formed by the pages of Scripture.

Jerry Newcombe seems to be on a personal journey to save America from secularization.  With a precise historical background, Newcombe gives the reader a picture of the key players of early America.  From politicians to judges, from clergymen to businessmen, it is clearly evident that these men used the Bible as their main reference in writing the founding documents of America.

If you enjoy American history or are interested in the spiritual foundation of this nation you will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Book Info

The Book That Made America: How the Bible Formed Our Nation (Nordskog Publishing) by Jerry Newcombe is a definitive volume on the Christian roots of our nation. Those who want to restore knowledge of our Christian heritage have their work cut out. As secularism continues its stranglehold on American education, we move further and further away from retaining our Christian roots. The Book That Made America will challenge anyone to know the true origin of our Nation and to fight to keep it. Newcombe hopes to educate Americans by providing the facts of history, proving that America began as a Christian nation and American’s have every right to preserve and uphold that heritage.

All that is positive in our foundation can be traced back to the Scriptures. Recently, President Obama declared that America is not a Christian nation, while Newsweek announced the demise of Christian America. This book is the answer to America’s critics with the facts of history.

Jerry Newcombe, D. Min., is senior producer for Coral Ridge Ministries and has produced or coproduced more than fifty documentaries. The host of two weekly radio shows, he has also been a guest on numerous television and radio talk shows – including Fox Business News, C-Span, USA Radio and Moody Radio. He is the author or coauthor of twenty two books, including with Dr. Kennedy, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?, How Would Jesus Vote?, and The Presence of a Hidden God.

Coral Ridge Ministries is a media outreach founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Its programming reaches a national television, radio, and Internet audience at www.coralridge.org.

Purchase Online:
-  www.Amazon.com <http://www.amazon.com/>
– http://www.nordskogpublishing.com

Today we are celebrating Hannah’s 3rd birthday.  She is excited!  She is looking forward to opening presents.  Her heart’s desire this birthday is a princess bicycle.  Guess what we bought her?  A Princess Bicycle!  I hope she doesn’t read this and spoil the surprise.

Tonight is the night she has been waiting for.  Chuck E. Cheese!  She has been telling us for days, Chuck E. Cheese is going to sing to her.  She loves Chuck E.  Now as for me, I like Chuck E. Cheese about as much as the dentist.  But I will be going to the party anyway, after all I am Hannah’s dad. 

Hannah has been a gift from God to us.  We were told that we could not have any more children and God miraculously worked on our behalf.  We are thankful for Hannah.

Happy Birthday Princess Hannah!  (For those of you that don’t know her, that is what she calls herself)

Most Americans will remember that fateful day in our history that changed this nation.  The terrorist attacks that gripped America and shed the blood of thousands of innocent lives impacted us greatly.

It’s hard to believe that it has been eight years since 9-11.  Our prayer should be that our nation would never have to endure that kind of attack again.  We should also cling to Christ just as we did after that day.  We should continue to hold onto Him as we seek God’s best for our nation.

God Bless America!

God is not moved or impressed with our worship until our hearts are moved and impressed by Him.

-Kelly Sparks-

Today was the fateful day that I knew would come but I did not want to face.  I handed over the keys to Lucille, my beloved.  She had many ailing problems that I could not fix and I had to make the decision to put her up for sale.  The sad part is I could find no takers, so I sold her to the Salvage “Junk” Yard.  I listened to the way the Junk Yard Dog talked about Lucille.  How she wasn’t worth much, how she had a lot of problems.  Nonetheless He took her!

When I drove off from the Salvage Yard it felt like I had just left one of my kids at an orphanage. There is a bright side , taking a car to the Salvage Yard is like being an organ donor.  Lucille will live on in 100 different cars.  At least she will leave a legacy.

“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.”  -Richard Sibbes-

HT: Ray Ortlund