FIRST PERSON
Making the best of Bible Study
We can do it
An insightful American
My daughter and her family attend Owen Grove Church in the Kitty Fork community, and all are actively involved. Well, at some point, the family dog, Murphy, had to be taken to the local shelter. My daughter’s middle son, Holden, seemed to be the most affected by this decision. Several days after Murphy was gone, Holden announced to his mother that he thought that they should have Bible Study. She replied that would be a good idea and called everyone into the den. Their daddy, Frederick, chose some scripture and each one sat quietly with their Bibles waiting for their turn to read. First was Frederick, then Holden, then his sister, Hanna. After Hanna had finished, Frederick said, “Now it’s Mommie’s turn to read.” The youngest of the three children, Seth, who is only 4 and not yet able to read, said, “Hey, hey, Daddy! It’s my turn!” So Fred said, “OK, it’s Seth’s turn.” Seth opened his Bible and began, “Dear God, tell Santa Claus to bring me two games, bring Holden a DS,” and without missing a beat looked over at his sister and said, “Hey, Hanna! What do you want?”
Forty years ago, the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so full of sludge that it burned. The rivers of the U.S. were open sewers. The air above our cities was a toxic, eye-burning fume. When laws were proposed to put an end to this pollution, opponents claimed that making changes would be too expensive. It would cost jobs. The laws were passed, the air and waters were cleaned up. New jobs were created as people and factories retooled to build the monitors, sensors and machines to make it happen. Today, climate change threatens to flood our coastal cities with rising seas and disrupt our agriculture with shifting rainfall patterns. The challenge is great. Drastic change is needed. Senator Richard Burr says that change is too expensive, that it will cost jobs. That is no more true today than it was 40 years ago. The American people have risen to challenges throughout our history, transformed ourselves and our nation, and embraced the future we built together.
It was quite refreshing to read Jacob Brooks’ article (“Giving Thanks for Our Freedom”) in the November 2009 Carolina Country. In this confusing period of our country’s history when the popular media drives the beliefs and opinions of most of our citizens, I find it remarkable when the youth of our country can filter out the nonsense and demonstrate an understanding of what is truly important about being an American. Hopefully, Jacob’s peers will reflect on his comments and benefit from his insight. Nicholas Lynn, West End
I would do it all again I got such an uplift from reading Jacob’s Log about Veterans Day. As a disabled Vietnam veteran (Navy), I would do it all over again to protect people like him. My father was a World War II veteran and my brother also was Navy. I was so touched I just want to thank him. Norman Casey, Winterville
Jim Senter, Rougemont, Piedmont EMC
Kay Hobbs, Clinton, South River EMC
Go nukes In the 1980s it was “global cooling.” By the mid-1990s it changed to “global warming.” Since the 2000s, actual measurements of global temperatures indicate the earth is in a state of global cooling. So the mantra is now “climate change.” What does that tell you? The politicians with “cap and trade” tax opportunities and climate scientists on the government gravy train don’t want to admit that it now looks like it’s global cooling. For the past several million years, science has determined that the earth has gone through multiple periods of warming and cooling without the help of man. It appears that the sun is the culprit. The solution? Wind and solar will never get the energy job done. Nuclear is the only viable, non-polluting energy source that makes sense.
Little drummer boy My 2-year-old grandson, Liam, has music in his genes. That is not surprising, considering that his dad is a high school band director and his mom teaches flute lessons. One day in early fall, I put some empty buckets out in the yard. Liam arranged them on the well house as a kind of makeshift drum set. Using some sticks he picked up out of the yard he proceeded to fill the beautiful Carolina afternoon with a joyful noise. And the beat goes on. Pam Tulbert, Mooresville, Blue Ridge Electric
David Berendsen, Durham Carolina Country DECEMBER 2009 5