The Chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy

On the 24th of May I attended a wedding at the chapel on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. You can’t help but notice the dome of the chapel as you get closer to the campus. It’s large, impressive, and dominates the campus. Originally the chapel was built in the square form of a Greek cross, but the nave was extended to a Roman cross to meet the ever expanding population of the Academy.

I knew it would be a special place, but I did not know how special until I finally walked by the two massive anchors and through the bronze doors. The anchors are from the USS New York. The aisle is the stuff of any bride’s dreams. . Its long…..very long. It is an aisle made for a bridal train of tulle and silk. This image is taken from the doors looking down the aisle.

Once we were seated within the wooden pews I sat in wonder and tried to take everything in at once, but there really is too much to see at first. The first thing I noticed was the alter with the very large stained glass window depicting Christ walking on water.

Above the window I noticed the opening words to the Navy Hymn. During the wedding I attended the bride’s father sang a couple of verses….

Eternal Father strong to save,
Whose arm hath bent the restless wave.
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep.
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee.
For those in peril on the sea!

The Hutchings-Votey pipes for the organ are also very noticeable at the front as well as the many embellishments surrounding them. There are two sets of pipes that are visible.

Then my gaze focused on the stained glass window to my right called the Farragut Window. In the section above the balcony, the Archangel Michael is showing the way through the mine fields of Mobile Bay. Below Admiral Farragut is viewing the battle while lashed to the rigging of his flagship, USS Hartford. The rainbow is a sign of hope. At the top is Faragut’s motto, “God is my leader.”

At the very back of the chapel there hangs a very large votive ship model of a fifteenth century Flemish carrack to serve as a reminder that God protects those in peril from the sea.

Directly opposite the Farragut Window is the Sampson Window, which depicts the Angel of Peace. Below the balcony level (not seen in my picture) are images of Saints Peter and Andrew mending their nets and being called by Christ to be fishers of men.

Next my gaze went up and up and up to the interior of the dome.

Underneath the chapel rests the father of the American Navy, Captain John Paul Jones. Per an American Heritage article his remains were discovered in Paris in 1905 and were carried to Annapolis aboard a warship. Unfortunately Congress didn’t really want to fund any money for a projected crypt underneath the chapel and for six years the most revered figure in the American Navy was “stored” beneath the main staircase in Bancroft Hall. It wasn’t long after Jones began his rest under the stairwell that the midshipmen were soon singing a song about him: Everybody works but John Paul Jones! He lies around all day, body pickled in alcohol, on a permanent jag, they say. Finally Congress set aside the proper funding and today the crypt look like this:

Over at History Is Elementary I posted more about the man behind the Sampson window in my article titled Fess Up! Are You a Sampson Man or a Schley Man?

I found a rather out of focus video at YouTube which does shed a little more light on the interior of the chapel.

....and the wedding? See the pictures below. Wasn't the bride beautiful? If you click on the slideshow you can see larger still images along with the captions.

13 Christian One Liners

1. Don’t let your worries get the best of you; remember, Moses started out as a basket case.

2. Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited until you try to sit in their pew.

3. Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisors.

4. It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.

5. The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

6. When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.

7. People are funny; they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.

8. Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.

9. Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn’t belong.

10. If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.

11. God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?

12. Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

13. Peace starts with a smile.

Visit the Thursday Thirteen hub here.

Memorial Day Observed....

My family and I have been on whirlwind of a trip to Washington D.C. and Annapolis since Wednesday. At this point I feel we have been everywhere. Tonight at dinner my husband finally asked, "Now where are we tonight?"

We left Washington this morning and traveled to Annapolis where we crossed the Chesapeake Bay and drove south through the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. We crossed the Chesapeake Bay again at the 17- mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel over to Virginia Beach, Virginia where I lived when I first got married. Tomorrow we are finally heading back to Georgia.

Tomorrow is also Memorial Day, and I thought it would be appropriate to post an image from Arlington National Cemetery where we spent several hours on Thursday. This image is just one of the best representations why we have Memorial Day as a federal holiday. Look for more about my trip over at History Is Elementary.

Wordless: Verse 45

The image for this week was snagged from a fantastic article I found over at Biblical Archaeology regarding Nebi Samwil. Many archaeologist and Biblical scholars believe that Nebi Samwil and Mizpah are the same.

Not familiar with Mizpah? Mizpah is the location where the Bible explains how Samuel proclaimed the first king of Israel….see 1 Samuel 10: 17-24. Here are the first few verses:

Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians and all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.’ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflicitions. You said to Him, ‘You must set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”…..the verses continue at the above link…

Nebi Samwil is actually Arabic and does translate to mean “Prophet Samuel”. Hmmmm….

When you have the time head on over to the article which traces more than just the one historical event I mention above.

Visit the Wordless Wednesday hub here.

Theophilus, Most Honored Theophilus

While I was always designated a great reader in school I didn’t always comprehend what I read. It was always the small, seemingly insignificant things I would gloss over and miss.

Often those things are the most interesting.

For example, here’s the text from the first chapter of Luke, verses 1 through 4:

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Glossing over the text Luke explains that he knows he isn’t the first one to recount the events from the Earthly life of Jesus, isn’t the first to use eyewitness accounts, and explains he has been careful in his research to provide the best account

Notice, however, Luke is writing to someone in particular……someone named Theophilus. Well, after numerous times of reading Luke I’m finally ready to clue in on the character of Theophilus.
Who is Luke writing to?

There are many theories that seem plausible, but there is no definitive answer.

First of all when you study any passage of the Bible the meaning behind someone’s name can explain a lot. Depending on the source you use Theophilus means “lover of God”, “loved by God”, or “friend of God”. Since all scholars pretty much agree that Luke and Acts were written in Koine Greek there is no argument regarding what the name signifies.

A quick look at a concordance reveals that Luke also referred to Theophilus at the beginning of the Book of Acts as well: I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen (Acts 1: 1-2).

It would seem that Theophilus is not a pagan because the fourth verse states he has already received basic instruction. The word used in the original Greek is katechethes, and it means that Theophilus received the basic instruction given by the Christian Church in those days. Apollos is another person mentioned in the New Testament that received religious instruction (Acts 18: 24-25)

So, was Luke merely attempting to give Theophilus more background knowledge?

Other sources state the name Theophilus was often used as an honorary title in the Jewish and Roman world. Many state Luke would not have have used the title “most honorable” for a Jew, but would have used the titles for a wealthy realtive of Ceasar, a wealthy benefactor, or some important Roman official (see the reference to Titus Flavius Sabinus II below). Other sources conjecture the name was made up in order to keep the identity of the person Luke was writing to a secret.

From Wikipedia we learn that:

*Coptic tradition asserts that Theophilus was a person and not an honorary title, and he is identified as being a Jew of Alexandria

*Some believe the name was a simple honorary title in academia…..anyone fits the description if they are reading Luke or Acts…..I’m Theophilus and so are you.

*Other believe Theophilus was Paul’s lawyer during his trial period in Rome.

* Others point to Theophilus ben Ananus, High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem from 37-41 A.D. In this tradition Theophilus would have been both a kohen and a Sadducee. Adherents claim that Luke, unlike Acts, was targeted at Sadducee readers. That would make him the son of Annas and brother-in-law of Caiaphas, raised in the Jewish Temple This might explain a few features of Luke. He begins the story with an account of Zacharias the righteous priest who had a Temple vision of an angel (Luke 1: 5-25). Luke quickly moves to account Mary's purification (niddah), Jesus' Temple redemption (pidyon ha-ben) rituals (Luke 2: 21-39), and then to Jesus Temple teaching when he was twelve (2: 46). He makes no mention of Caiaphas' role in Jesus' crucifixion and emphasizes Jesus' literal resurrection (Luke 24: 39). (Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.)

*Another tradition claims the Theophilus was a converted Roman official, possibly Titus Flavius Sabinus II, a former Prefect of Rome and older brother of future Roman Emperor Vespasian, owing to the honorific, “most excellent” (Luke 1:3). As Titus Flavius Sabinus, Theophilus is given a crucial role in the historical novel The Flames of Rome by Paul Maier, where is is given the dedication of the “Gospel of Luke” and “Acts of the Apostles” by Luke the Evangelist. Maier’s extensive research into Biblical and archaeological intertextuality lend credence to this theory, as evidenced in the footnotes of the book. He also ties Titus Flavius Sabinus to Aulus Pautius and his wife Omponia Graecina by marriage, the latter of whom is by scholars presumed to have converted to Christianity, and who possibly used her son-in-law’s status as Lord Mayor of Rome to try to protect Paul while he was under house arrest during his first stay in Rome. As the Apostle Luke was believed to be with Paul at the time, it is indeed plausible that in gratitude to Sainus for the kindness shown to Paul during his imprisonment, Luke considered Sabinus to be a friend of God, based on Christ’s words that “Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it until me.” (Matthew 24:40) To honor Sabinus while protecting him from the prosecution of Christians and those who sympathized with them under the tyrannical rule of the Emperor Nero, it is postulated that Luke encoded the dedication in Acts.

I firmly believe that the Bible has hidden messages for each of us that are revealed only when we need them most. This means I didn’t notice the name Theophilus until I was meant to…..After becoming a bit intrigued with the name and conducting a little research does it really matter who Theophilus was?

As a historian exploring who Theophilus was is an interesting journey. As a child of God what matters is how I relate Luke’s account….an account clearly written for Theophilus, to my own life.

Out of Ashes

I looked down at my computer clock as I began to post this and saw it was only 11:15 p.m., so this week's Monday Music is a bit early. Our choir sang this song today. I like this song because the melody makes several unexpected twists and turns from what you expect.

Enjoy and happy Monday!

Can You Do Me a Favor?

This is a sticky post meaning it will stay at the top of this site for a few days. Please scroll down for new content if you have already seen this post.

The blog where I spend a large majority of my time, History Is Elementary, has been nominated for a blog award in the category of education/homeschooling. I would greatly appreciate your vote.

You can visit History Is Elementary here, and you can vote for me here.

Once you vote, the widget changes so you can see the number of votes for each blog. It will stay this way for your computer until 24 hours pass…..then you can vote again. You can vote once each day between now and May 26th from what I understand.

Many thanks for your vote.

13 Things About New Directions in the Church

1.Change is probably one issue in the Christian church today that can cause the most dissention. I’ve written about change before here.

2.Allan Nelson and Gene Appel are both pastors. and both have written about healthy church change in their book How to Change Your Church Without Killing It. I admire both men because they look to the Bible first regarding how Scripture treats “new” before analyzing and strategies that would/could improve church life. Here are a few Scriptural sources regarding new things and new directions.

3.Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things" (Psalm 98:1)

4."See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you" (Isaiah 42:9)

5."Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:18-19)

6."Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind" (Isaiah 65:17)

7."Neither do men pour wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved" (Matthew 9:1 )

8."The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching-and with authority!'" (Mark 1:27)

9."A new command I give you; Love one another" (John 13:34)

10"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)

11. Nelson and Appel explain the overall impression we get from these and other similar statements from the Bible is that "God refuses to be hemmed in by man-made ideas and even past proven methods. His newness continues long beyond creation. What haven't changed over the centuries are his desire to do new things and our human nature to resist" (p. 11).

12. In short, if our desire is to follow hard after God, we would be wise to carefully evaluate our understanding of change. As leaders of churches, this will include leading congregations in the direction of both formulating and embracing a biblically based "theology of new things."

13. Unfortuntately what we often hear in our own houses of worship are the words, “But that’s the way we’ve always done it.”

As Christians we should not fear change. We should embrace it. Change might just be the Lord’s way of moving His plan along. Who do you want to be? The person causing a road block, or the person filling in the potholes to allow traffic to move along speedily?

Have a happy and blessed Thurday. You can find other bloggers who 13 on Thursday here.

Unimportant History

I called my step-mother on Saturday to wish her a great Mother’s Day since I knew I would be a bit busy myself on Sunday. My father got on the phone and immediately said, “Happy Birthday!”

No, Saturday was not my birthday, but I’m used to Dad thinking Mother’s Day is my special day because it sorta kinda is. I was born on Mother’s Day, but my actual birthday is today, May 13th. Every now and then the two days converge like they did during the year of my birth, but not this year.

This is my third year of blogging where I have recognized my day for anyone who cares to read my meager postings. Over at History Is Elementary I mentioned my birthday in 2006 and 2007.

Now, it’s 2008! Time flies.

This morning my dear husband rolled over and the first words I heard were “happy” and “birthday”. I told him thanks and then got a little philosophical about the whole thing. Basically what I said was something to do with the fact that each year as we grow older we celebrate an event none of us remember. Oh, we think we do because over the years relatives who were there and participated in some way (especially our moms) like to tell you the story of your birth, but we don’t really remember it on our own. We exist on borrowed memories.

I don’t know what kind of day it was. Was it sunny? Was it raining? What was on everyone’s mind that day? What were they concerned with as I made my entrance into the world? A bill hanging over their head? A looming parent-teacher conference?

What type of room was it? What did it smell like?

What did the day feel like? What was the first word said in the room as I emerged into the world? Did the doctor slap me on the fanny or did I start crying immediately?

For all we think we know about our special day we really don’t, and as the years go by the very people that can continue to share that special moment with you are gone, and their memories and recollections are gone with them.

So what does God have to say in the Scriptures about our birth? One of the best books I’ve consulted regarding our lives and our purpose in life is Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life. I pull my copy of it off the shelf often to get my head straight when I get a little too full of myself. This morning Rick Warren reminded me of three important things.

*I’m not an accident. Psalm 139:16 tells me God saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Everyday was recorded in His book. God planned my parents, my nationality, my ethnicity, my gender. Acts 17: 26 states From one man he made every nation…and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. Over at History Is Elementary I’ve written about the coincidences that occur in history, but there really are no coincidences.

*I’m made to last forever. Rick Warren reminds us that we will spend more time in eternity than we will here on earth. Genesis 4: 12 reminds us God has….planted eternity in the human heart. Warren also reminds us that the Bible refers to our life in our earthly bodies as a tent, but in Heaven we have a house. When this tent we live in---our body here on earth---is torn down, God will hae a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself as made, which will last forever. (Psalm 31:1) By following Christ I have made the decision to live in the light of eternity. Rick Warren advises that decision colors how you handle every relationship, task, and cirumstance. It sure helps keep things in perspective.

*I was planned for God’s pleasure. I may not have the first hand knowledge of my birth I would like to have, but one thing is for certain. God was there, and He was happy I was born. I was created for his enjoyment. I am to enjoy life as well. Rick Warren makes this case where he explains our five senses were given to us for a purpose…..so we can interact with our world. Revelation 4:11 advises God created everything, and it is for His pleasure that they exist and were created.

It doesn’t matter that I don’t remember the emotion and the events of my emergence into this world. It is unimportant history. It doesn't matter.

What matters is my relationship with God.

What matters is your relationship with God.

Monday Music: Remembering Dottie Rambo

Okay, I’m admit it. My main foray into gospel music was at the hands of my mother’s relatives who seemed to always have gospel music on the radio when I was a little girl, and occaisionally my father would have gospel performers on the television. I remember lots of big hair, big ladies with big voices, and sparkly outfits. The gospel section isn’t where I immediately head today, but when I take the time to listen I do enjoy it.

Ms. Rambo was killed over the weekend in an accident on the way to a concert date.

I went to find Dottie Rambo's official website today and low and behold it had already been taken down….how sad, but as of a few minutes ago a Myspace page is still up dedicated to her where you can hear more of her music.

You can find out more about her here and enjoy the video below where she tells the story behind and sings Sheltered in the Arms of God.

The Georgia Carnival Has Arrived

The Mother’s Day edition of the Georgia Carnival is up and running over at Georgia on My Mind. This carnival isn’t just for Georgians. Post include church growth, a post regarding the effects of not vaccinating children, a video regarding wine choices with bar-b-que including the word “quaffable”, captioned movies for the hearing impaired, and many other interesting posts from fantastic blogs.

Head on over, but watch for falling trees and other storm debris. Our Mother’s Day this year found the Atlanta area enduring another round of tornados, straight-line winds, and the oft repeated phrase, “It sounded just like a freight train.”

My family is ok, but many of my fellow Georgians are not. It was a bumpy morning around here from 2 a.m. until 5 a.m.

So, go to the carnival with me and let’s take our minds off storms and cleaning up.

The Brick

I received this email which has apparently reached viral proportions twice this week. I believe I’m being nudged to publish it here. Enjoy!

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else wouldstop...'

With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said... 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door.

He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts...

Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day: If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning

Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

13 Ways the Number 7 is Used in the Bible

1. The earth was completed by God in 7 days.

2. The holiest day in the Hebrew calendar was in the 7th month.

3. The Hebrew New Year was also in the 7th month.

4. Pentecost was 7 weeks after Easter.

5. There are 7 days in a week.

6. The Biblical number 7 signifies ‘completeness’, ‘totality’, and ‘perfection’.

7. The three major Hebrew festivals each last 7 days.

8. The Bible shows that God has 7 eyes.

9. The Book of Revelation is addressed to the 7 Christian Churches.

10. These 7 churches are overseen by 7 angels.

11. There are 7 open gates in Jerusalem

12. The golden candlestick in the Hebrew temple had 7 arms and 7 lamps

13. The Bible shows that there are 7 angels of God’s presence.

Have a great Thursday. Visit other 13s here.

Wordless: Verse 44

This is the view west from Jericho where tradition holds is the Mount of Temptation detailed in Matthew 4: 1-11. It was halfway up the mount where Jesus turned stones into bread. Today a monastery stands at the spot. This is also the mount where Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world once he was at the summit.

Visit the Wordless Wednesday hub here.

Oprah Ain't My Girl

I may be one of the few women in this country who is a unOprahite. I don’t watch her show, I don’t buy a book because she has told me to, I don’t vote a certain way because she promotes someone or something, and I don’t purchase her magazine.

While she is one of the more important cogs in our popular culture Oprah is heading down the wrong path of discovering the meaning of life. While many choose to follow along behind her, I’d rather go another way.

While I choose to not hang on every word Oprah says, and I choose not to run out and purchase every product she promotes, I am not calling for Oprah to be taken off the air or run out of town on a rail because I find some of her views off the mark and contrary to Scripture.

At this point a large question mark may be forming in your mind.

Well, that Social Studies teacher in me…..that lover of the Constitution in me prevents that. Ms. Winfrey has a right to promote anything and say anything she wishes. I have the right to change the channel when she comes on, and I do.

Recently a fellow Georgia blogger that I have met through my site Georgia on My Mind, where I have an extensive list of Georgia bloggers, emailed to me some information regarding Carrington Steele.

Carrington Steele is a former magazine editor turned author. She has written Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid: Oprah, Obama and The Occult (see the press release from Earned Media). The Occult is discussed through Oprah’s love affair with Eckart Tolle’s book A New Earth. Millions have logged onto Oprah’s weekly class regarding Tolle’s book.

Tolle’s official website tells me he believes that the New Testament contains deep spiritual truth as well as distortions. Those distortions are due to a misunderstanding of Jesus’ teaching or because people had an agenda (wanting to fit Jesus into their preconceived notions, wanting to make converts, etc.)

Soon after I heard that Oprah would be presenting her webinar regarding Tolle’s book I picked it up during a weekly trip to my local bookstore and read the first chapter. It didn’t take me long to see that it was not a book for me. I put it back on the shelf for someone else to thumb through.

Hmmmmmm….Mr. Tolle criticizes the Bible due to what he calls distortions at the hands of those with an agenda. I’d have to say Mr. Tolle has an agenda as well, but that's just my opinion.

Sadly it didn’t take long for Carrington Steele (not her real name I gather) to admit that much of her work in her Kool-Aid book was taken from other sources, and those sources were not given appropriate credit. It would seem that a magazine editor would understand this very simple practice of credit where credit is due. You can review some of the information concerning this here (scroll down a bit), here, and here. You can listen to an interview between Carrington Steele and Brannon Howse at Christian Worldview Network here.

As a Christian and as someone who believes in the inspiration of Scripture I would hope that I remain watchful regarding the bombardment of information that is available to consumers today. While Oprah’s view of salvation is non-Scriptural (see video below) it seems we have to be wary of those who want to get the word out regarding non-Scriptural views as well.

The best resource you have is your own inner walk with God and your own search for information....not following popular culture blindly.

That's MY King!

I’m a great fan of talk radio as I drive to and fro, but I have to say I’m a little weary this week having been subjected to the continuous loops of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s sound bites spewing anti-American hate speech and other strange contortions of truth over and over and over. He certainly is no Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., or any of the other African American preachers I’ve come to enjoy over the years.

I’m sure if I dug hard enough I could probably find a sermon where Rev. Wright quoted the Bible or actually taught the love of Jesus from his pulpit, but I see no use. You see…..I only need to hear hate speech once to realize he’s not the preacher for me….especially when there are so many others to lead me into worship. To put it more plainly when I go to worship I want to be led into the love of Jesus Christ, not hate.

There are many versions of the following video out and about on different video sites, but the one I present here is interesting because of the types of music included….there’s more than one type of music throughout the piece mixed with the words of a dynamic pastor and movie images.

…and the message? The message is given by S.M. Lockridge better known as Dr. Shadrach Meshach (S.M.) Lockridge. Don’t you just love the name? He was the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church located in San Diego, California for over 40 years before passing away in 2000. His messages live on, and the following video presents his best known words.

There’s more said in the following eight minutes than I often hear in a sermon lasting fifteen or twenty minutes from television or revival preaching.

Please enjoy THAT’S MY KING