Those of you who follow my blog will note that I have taken a week off. In recognition of my fifteenth anniversary as Pastor, the good people of First Baptist Church gave my wife and me, along with my two sisters and their husbands, a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains.
This was especially meaningful for all of us as my sister continues her struggle with ovarian cancer. We appreciate your prayers given that her most recent scan indicated the need for further treatment.
While there, we stayed at a beautiful cabin outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee titled Eden’s View. The view from the picture windows overlooking Mt. LeConte certainly lives up to the name. Check out pictures of this unique and awesome place here: https://www.vrbo.com/758351?utm_campaign=VRBO_TRV_TVS
_SHAREPROPERTY&utm_content=propertylink&utm_term=201
60424&utm_source=SYS&utm_medium=email.
(This cabin is owned by a great couple of people, Todd and Jill Schrock, and is available for rent. If you are interested, get in touch with them at the above web site. I highly recommend doing so. You will not be disappointed, in either them or their cabin.)
In any event, we decided to let loose and live life to the fullest. As a result, we filled our days with activity and enjoyed ourselves immensely in the process. In addition to several nice meals together, we visited the Aquarium, multiple Ripley’s and Guinness World Records’ exhibits, as well as several comedy shows and theatres.
We also went off-roading and went up in a helicopter. We even went to a zip-line course and careened down the side of a mountain several different times (one cable of which was 1200 feet long!).
But by far the highlight of the trip was going to Cade’s Cove and seeing deer, an elk, and two different black bears. One of the latter literally walked within ten feet of our vehicle!
One other place we visited was the famed R.M.S. Titanic museum at Pigeon Forge. While there, we met Lowell Lytle, the well-known impersonator of the original Captain of the ill-fated liner. While portraying Captain Smith, he recounted a powerful story that I wanted to post today. It is the story of Pastor John Harper. And it is best to let “Captain Smith” share his story. Enjoy…
This was especially meaningful for all of us as my sister continues her struggle with ovarian cancer. We appreciate your prayers given that her most recent scan indicated the need for further treatment.
While there, we stayed at a beautiful cabin outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee titled Eden’s View. The view from the picture windows overlooking Mt. LeConte certainly lives up to the name. Check out pictures of this unique and awesome place here: https://www.vrbo.com/758351?utm_campaign=VRBO_TRV_TVS
_SHAREPROPERTY&utm_content=propertylink&utm_term=201
60424&utm_source=SYS&utm_medium=email.
(This cabin is owned by a great couple of people, Todd and Jill Schrock, and is available for rent. If you are interested, get in touch with them at the above web site. I highly recommend doing so. You will not be disappointed, in either them or their cabin.)
In any event, we decided to let loose and live life to the fullest. As a result, we filled our days with activity and enjoyed ourselves immensely in the process. In addition to several nice meals together, we visited the Aquarium, multiple Ripley’s and Guinness World Records’ exhibits, as well as several comedy shows and theatres.
We also went off-roading and went up in a helicopter. We even went to a zip-line course and careened down the side of a mountain several different times (one cable of which was 1200 feet long!).
But by far the highlight of the trip was going to Cade’s Cove and seeing deer, an elk, and two different black bears. One of the latter literally walked within ten feet of our vehicle!
One other place we visited was the famed R.M.S. Titanic museum at Pigeon Forge. While there, we met Lowell Lytle, the well-known impersonator of the original Captain of the ill-fated liner. While portraying Captain Smith, he recounted a powerful story that I wanted to post today. It is the story of Pastor John Harper. And it is best to let “Captain Smith” share his story. Enjoy…
Of course, the story of John Harper (as indeed the greater story of the Titanic itself within which his story falls) reminds us of the importance of focusing on what really matters. Like icebergs suddenly looming up out the night and slamming into us, certain things inevitably come our way that force us to sort the essentials from the non-essentials.
And even if these events happen to others rather than to us, they still serve to remind us to focus on what really matters. For the passengers of the R.M.S. Titanic, it was an iceberg. For our family, it has been a cancer diagnosis. For you, it may be something entirely different.
But whatever the trigger, the truth remains. Eternity is long; but life is short. So live each day to its fullest! Enjoy the life that God has blessed you with! And above all, remember to love the people with whom He has given you with the blessing of passing through this world.
For they, and they alone, are what really matter. They, and they alone, will transcend this world into the next. And therefore, they, and they alone, need to be told that they are loved – both by us and by the God Who both created them and redeemed them!
Believe me, my friends, this is essential!
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez2pNVdoeTQ.
Also available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UWgfZiHAfg. Here, he cites the book, The Titanic’s Last Hero, by Moody Adams. This book is well worth the price.