Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bible Trivia II

What are your favorite Bible books, and favorite verse?
My favorite books are Acts, Daniel, Revelation, and Isaiah.
The notable verse, and explanation are:
Isaiah 66:20"Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD."
This verse reminds me that when I come before God for Church, Christian service, or Bible reading I must have all my known sins cleaned up (confessed). This is a great goal to work towards of the week. Making sure your life is a clean vessel ready to be used by God.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Appomattox Court House-a great act of charity

Throughout the trip to the Deep South we saw Beaufort and Charleston, South Carolina. The highlight was seeing Fort Sumter where the Civil War started. The Confederates fired on the Fort, which was held by Federals. After a brief trip home the G family drove out to Appomattox Court House where the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) ended and brothers were reunited.

After the loss at Gettysburg, Lee retreated back towards Virginia, his home terratory. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia tried to use trenches at the battle of Cold Harbor to defend Richmond against the Northern Army. Then later Lee and his Army defended Richmond and Petersburg, but these cities fell. Lee and his Army retreated west out of Richmond and Petersburg to be resupplied. But the Union Cavalry cut off the supply train stations. So the Union continued to pursue Lee and his Army west. Lee hoped that a Confederate relief Army from North Carolina could come up and help him. But no relief army came, and Lee and his men were out numbered low on ammunition, and desperately hungry. Finally Lee and his Army pulled into the area of Appomattox hoping to find supplies, but the Union again blocked the supply train. Surrounded on three sides, Lee ordered one last attack. His men charged the North and succeeded in pushing them back a little. The North added their reinforcements and Lee's hope was gone.
Robert E. Lee, Commander of all Virginia Forces sent a message to Grant asking for the terms of surrender. Lee's officer found a proper surrender place-the Appomattox Court House. They could not use the court house because it was closed on Easter. Lee and Grant met in the front parlor of Mr. McLean's house. They talked about their time together in the Mexican War and then got down to business. Lee sat at the marble topped table and Grant at the wooden table. Grant paroled all Lee's men and allowed them to keep their horses for spring plowing. The officers could keep their pistols. He even allowed Lee to keep his sword, which was a symbol of his command and authority. Grant did not humiliate General Lee by requesting his sword. The Confederates had to give up their rifles and cannons so rebellion was averted. After the surrender agreement was signed, Grant arranged for the North's own rations to be given to the Confederate soldiers. By caring for the enemies Grant and the Northern Army helped launch healing and reconstruction.

The Court House was the exact center of the Community of Appomattox. But it was closed because of Easter on April 9, 1865. The surrender signing occurred in the parlor of the house.

So Mr. Wilmer McLean offered his house for the surrender. The Appomattox Garden Society decorated the town for Christmas when we were there we saw wreaths on the doors, garland on the side-rails and candles in some of the windows.

General's Grant's desk where he signed the surrender.
And below is General Lee's desk. See the big book in the back round? This book would probably a Bible.



The Hero of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, Joseph Chamberlain had made it though the war now a General, he had his Northern men salute the Confederates for they laid down their arms.

Here are us on the spot that the Confederates turned in their weapons.

Some beautiful scenery. I love to the fields beyond the trees.


The last place where the last shot was fired. The soldiers were emptying the cannons, so the last shot was not aimed at anything.


The printing house (really a room) where parole papers were printed.


A Bible of Joel T. Cawthorne 18th Virginia Infantry (CSA) that survived.


Brothers reunited.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Bible Trivia

Which chapters of the Gospels mention Jesus riding on a donkey?

Who has a vision of the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire? (2Kings 6:17)

Sources Cited:

Bulletin from the Windsor SDA Church

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Dia de tres reyes

Happy three kings day from the Gs. In Puerto Rico we first learned about this celebration of the diligent seeking of the wise men. Let us also diligently seek Jesus.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Our trip to the deep south

We were up and on the road bright and early on our way south before Christmas this year. Our journey leads us to several places, but the mission goal was to visit a dear elderly lady in Beaufort, South Carolinia. Mrs. B is her name, and she and her husband were like second parents to my dad while he was in the Army in Washington D.C. in the 1970s. Now she is living with her daughter and her son-in-law as well as a menagerie of animals.


Down at the end of the street there is a pier and a boat dock. It is so peaceful on the water. I like the sun shooting through the clouds. Typical to South Carolina is swamp. Spanish moss hangs beautifully from the trees.

Emily and I to drive it down to the pier. Emily was geting driving practice.

Does Spanish moss kill the trees?
If Spanish moss is thick enough over leaves, it may block the sun and kill the tree.
http://www.ecofloridamag.com/askeditor_spanish_moss.htm




Gus and Sadie
Dad and I buying some black berry cider from a roadside shop in in Beaufort.

There is a flock of 12-18 deer that come for the corn in the backyard.


God told Moses
Exodus 14:16

"16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."


Emily loves riding Rusty. Be very careful with cameras around the horses, the flash spooks them. We learned the hard way...

Fort Sumter in the center of Charleston harbor. The Confederates fired on the Federal troops in the Fort leading up to the Civil War. The Fort was taken down half its 50 feet in height by the shelling. Once the Federals left the Fort, the Confederates occupied it. At the end of the war the Federals retook the Fort.

Here is the real size of Fort Sumter's flag. The original is in a display case below the replica.



Now there are several flying over the Fort the Union, Confederate.

Looking out the cannon hole in Fort Sumter's wall. 15 cannons were present when the attack started. The Fort was not completed and was poorly equipped. There were only 70 people running the Fort.

Here we are inside the fort where you can still see shell holes.

A family picture:



Monday, December 29, 2008

Historic St. Luke's Church


A friend just told us about this historic church dating back to 1632. We are eager to go out and see it soon.

"Amid stately oaks south of the James River in Virginia stands a handsome brick Gothic church which has stood vigil over the community of Isle of Wight County through almost 400 years of conflict, peace, despair and prosperity. Traditionally, Historic St. Luke’s Church, formerly called the Old Brick Church, was founded in 1632 as a beacon, a fortress, a mission, and a gathering place for colonists facing unbearable hardship in the early days of the colonies.

Venerable Historic St. Luke's, Mother Church of Warrasquoyacke Parish (later called Isle of Wight) was affectionately known as "Old Brick Church" long before it was given its present name in 1820. It is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America and the nation's only surviving Gothic building. It forms a unique bridge between the early civilization of our country and the rich culture of Medieval England. Its structure reflects the architectural and spiritual descendents of the great Gothic cathedrals of England.

By tradition and recollection of the first Vestry Book, "Old Brick Church" is dated to 1632. It closely relates to the Tower Church at Jamestown, dated circa 1638/39. As was common at the time, it took four or five years to erect such a church; and the finishing of the interior fittings required an additional number of years, even in this parish, already numbering 522 persons in the year 1634.

In 1640, John Day (direct ancestor of Henry Mason Day, the first President of the foundation) came from England with his own fine household furniture and personal servants.


Colonel Joseph Bridger of "White Marsh" long associated with "Old Brick Church", a man of significant wealth, and a member of the Council of State to Charles II for Virginia, is known to have settled in the parish at least as early as 1657.

According to tradition, Colonel Bridger brought members of the Driver family from England to do "finish" work on the church. Colonel Bridger was given increasing acknowledgement for the important contributions he made in bringing the church to completion. His remains, relocated to the church in the 1890's, are in the church's chancel marked by a basalt ledger stone. By the Order of Assembly issued in March 1623, this parish was one of only four locations, other than Jamestown, where the General Court of the Colony was permitted to convene. Since the Court convened in the church, there was urgency to make it suitably reflect this important function. The "Lord Governour and Captaine Generall" would be present and during their stay attend church service. The high box-pews were designated for their use.

Those who first assembled in "Old Brick Church" knew much of Captain John Smith, Pocahontas, John Rolfe and Powhatan, who were still regarded as contemporary figures, and the tragic Indian Massacre of 1622, which wiped out nearly a third of the Virginia settlers. Nathaniel Bacon, the scourge of Governor Berkeley, passed not far from "Old Brick Church" on his way to burn Jamestown in 1676.

In the stirring days before the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and many other of our great patriots must have knelt here before the altar and asked for guidance on their passage to or from Williamsburg, as they slowly shaped the destiny of a nation"

http://www.historicstlukes.org/history.html

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Gettysburg, July 1-3 1863

At my dad's Military school in Washington D.C. they had a family trip to Gettysburg.
My dad and I and a whole bus full of students and family took the trip.
We had two teachers from the school giving the tour. These teachers had their doctorates in Gettysburg history so the facts they presented to us were well studied.


Colonel Chamberlain and the 20th Maine on Little Round Top.

The Confederate leaders at Gettysburg. Men who are sitting: Left- Picket, Middle- Lee,
Standing Right side two over- Longstreet, Standing middle left- Armistead friends with General Handcock. Red uniform- British Embassador to the Confederates. ohe British were thinking of coming in on their side because of the economic benefits of the agricultural south.

On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg a small group of Union Cavalry held the ground
outside Gettysburg near the Luthern Seminary against the Confederates. The dismounted cavalary held until the Union brought up the supporting infantry.

Durning the battle of Gettysburg their were war dogs similar to the ones on Guam in World War II. The one story the teachers told were of a small dog that was a mascot of a battalion of Union soldiers. The little dog would march along with the soldiers. When she was killed in battle the soldiers stopped their attack and buried her before continuing the attack.


Being at Gettysburg was a sacred experience knowing how many had died there.
The hill I am pointing at is Little Round Top. This hill was the site of the historic hold by the 20th Maine against overwhelming Confederates. When the 20th Maine was low on ammunion they fixed bayonets and with the down hill chasing the Confederates off. The 20th Main's Commander Colonel Chamberlain earned the Medal of Honor for orchestrating the hold and the charge on Little Round Top.


Here is the place where the 20th Maine held their ground against overwhelming odds.



This red farm house was a Hospital for wounded soldiers in the movie "Gettysburg". The country side is beautiful. It is hard to imagine all the blood and gore that occered on such beautiful ground.

On one side of the field of Picket's Charge is a statue of General Robert E. Lee. There is a Union general facing him on the Union side of the field, almost a mile away.

The field of Picket's Charge


The place where the Union soldiers held the Confederates attack back.


The place where the Confederate charge stopped.

On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg the Confederates under command of Roberet E. Lee made a daring charge across an open field, a mile long. The confederates had Colonel Alexander's artillary, but the foot solders who had to march across the field were still desimated because they were fully exposed to the Union guns. General Picket never forgave Lee for ordering the charge that killed almost all his men.

On the Union side, General Hancock and his men under the barrage of the Alexander's artillary quickly set up defenses against the inevitable infantry attack. Their defences worked and they succeded in holding their line just as the Confederates had at Fredersburg. So desimated was the Confederates that General Mead, General Handcock's superior refused to chase the Confederates after they retreated because it would have been a slaughter. General Mead received chastisement from President Lincoln for letting the Confederates go. General Mead gave the honorable order by not completely slaughtering the helpless Confederates.

Later, General/President Eisenhower bought a piece of property here in Gettysburg. He wanted to have a Gettysburg address like the Lincoln, Gettysburg Address.