Haiti Journal - Day 1

Well it's been a week since I was in Haiti and I've had so many ask about my trip. Obviously I wish I could share everything that I experienced but that would take more time than most have available.  After a lot of thought I have decided to share my journal that I kept while in Haiti. Today's post is from my first day.  I hope that it will adequately share how I was feeling.

Haiti - Day 1
After a turbulent flight to Florida and a good dinner with mom and the Cross Team I hoped to get a good nights rest but I tossed a lot, not quite getting comfortable. Before I knew it, 3am came around and it was time to get up and prepare for the trip.

Once we arrive at the airport I began to feel those anxious feelings - what am I doing? How will this affect me? Even now, as I'm on the plane, I still feel lost in all of this.  It all feels surreal.

(This part of the journal entry was written at the end of the day)
We visiting 3 schools today.  The word that best describes my feelings is "overwhelmed." The first  school, Santo School, they sang and quoted Psalm 23.  These were some of the sweetest faces that I've seen. One little guy - while we were praying - had such a precious face while praying.

The next school was Bute Boyer (sp?). The director of the school is the son of the founder who was killed during the earthquake. The school building crumbled on him. The school (year) started late and had only 7 students the first day. Today there were about 20-30. I had the chance to serve lunch to the students.

The last school, School of the Good Sower, is a school and orphanage. They also have a special needs wing. These children are the forgotten ones. Made eye contact with a little boy there who just lit up! What a precious smile he has! There was one little girl who was found in a trash heap. This was an amazing day! Tomorrow promises to be another great one. I'm so grateful for the team around me - especially Frank Sontag. Frank is becoming a good friend.

Tomorrow I will have my journal entry for day 2.

Georgia Gold - Sautee Shadows

I recently had the chance to talk with native Georgia resident Denise Weimer about her newly released book in a new series that traces the history of northeast Georgia (click here for the interview).  Book one of The Georgia Gold Series, entitled Sautee Shadows, is a sweeping saga of four families whose lives intertwine through romance, adventure and murder.  A book for everyone!

The story traces the character Richard Randall amd his family as they move from New York to Savanah to establish a shipping company.  Richard's son Jack struggles to fit in to the southern culture which only intensifies with the death of his mother.  Evantually the Randalls do like most of the influential families of the area and build a summer home in the Habersham county foothills.  Jack sees the future railroad tourism as a way to make a good living and purchases a hotel.  He soon meets an unexpected competitor in the young and lovely Mahala Franklin.

Mahala, orphaned daughter of a man murdered for his gold and part Cherokee Indian on her mother's side, was raised by a family in the Sautee Valley and eventually torn from them by her maternal grandmother as a young teen.  Mahala has been determined to find out what happened to her father and his gold by tracing the clues her father left behind.  Is her father's murderer still among them?

Book two of The Georgia Gold Series, The Gray Divide, will be released later in September.  To learn where Denise will be signing her books or to learn more about her writings check out her website here.

Denise recieved her degree in journalism with a minor in history from Asbury University.  Her novella, Redeeming Grace, has recieved high praise.  Plus, her articles about Northeast Georgia have appeared in a number of regional publications.  She's a wife and mother, a life-long historian, and the director of the mid-1800s dance group, 1860s Civilian Society of Georgia.  For more information on Denise

Remembering 9-11-01

It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years since that day.  Twelve years since the day that changed everything.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  I guess that's how those that experienced Pearl Harbor or those that witnessed the assignation of President Kennedy feel.  I will always remember 9-11-01.

I was working for In Touch Ministries.  My co-worker and I were attending a regional religious broadcasters event in Michigan and were having a great time.  It's always good to see old friends and make new ones at events like that one.  The night before we heard a great message from a local pastor and were blessed by music from Charles Billingsley and Sela.  I went to bed that evening feeling very relaxed.  That wouldn't last too long.

The next morning I got up a little earlier than normal and took my time getting ready for the day.  There were no televisions in the rooms so I still had not heard of the horror that was taking place in New York.  Once ready for the day I made my way to the dining hall for a much needed breakfast.  Once I entered the building I noticed a number of my colleagues gathered around the only television on the premises discussing some accident that had just happened.

I walked up to a good friend of mine, Les Lamborn, and asked what was going on.  He told me a plane had struck one of World Trade Center buildings.  I was a little shocked but thought it was one of those smaller planes where the pilot had lost control.  I heard more of the report on Fox News when it was said that it was larger plane.  I couldn't believe it.  The day was gorgeous both in Michigan and in New York.  What could have possibly gone wrong.

As I entered the discussion we all watched as the second plane hit! At that point we knew this was a planned attack! It had to be!  Then more news of a plane hitting the Pentagon and a little while later another plane going down in Pennsylvania.  What was going on!?

I was on the phone with my wife in Atlanta and my co-workers at In Touch.  Everyone worried and wondering how we were going to get home.  My partner and I were on the phone calling rental car companies to secure a vehicle.  I found out that my in-laws were stuck in Detroit and had no where to go and no way of getting home.

Once we got a car we were on our way to Detroit to pick up my in-laws and then on our way to Atlanta.  To say the least, this was one of the most stressful days in my life.  I look back on it and see how God did some marvelous things to let everyone know that He was in control.

This morning during my show I had my friend Les call in to share some words with my audience.  To hear his encouragement click here.  I pray that on this day of remembrance we never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice and what God did in the days and months that followed.

One Question

If you could ask one question to the people you admire the most what would that one question be?  Do you have a habit of asking questions - being inquisitive?  Ken Coleman, a radio talk show host and emcee of the Catalyst Conferences, has made a career of asking questions - tough questions - to those that have made a difference in our culture.

 


In his latest book, One Question: Life-Changing Answers from Today's Leading Voices, Ken Coleman invites you to listen in on as he talks with some of the most notable leaders, authors, politicians and newsmakers of our time.  You will be inspired and motivated by some of their responses.

Ken uses conversational style of interviewing to get to the heart of three primary areas:  Succeeding, Surviving, and Sustaining.  For example:

• What is Coach Tony Dungy's advice for success while maintaining integirty?
• How does Dan Cathy of Chic-fil-A view the value of passing the torch of leadership through the generations?
• What does New York Times bestselling author Jim Collins believe to be the biggest roadblock to achieving success?

Filled with not only portions of his interviews but also personal stories, Ken gives the reader a source of wisdom that will last for years to come.

I had the pleasure of flipping the tables on Ken and interviewed him on the power of asking questions and what he personally gleaned from his interviews for the book.  To listen, click here.

The Soul of Atlas

Mark David Henderson, author of the book The Soul of Atlas, looks to bring together the worldviews of Christianity, that he learned from his biological father, with objectivism, an area of thought that he learned from his step-father.  He begins his quest with this question, "Do the two most influential books in modern culture, the Bible and Aya Rand's Atlas Shrugged, share common ground?"

I had the chance to talk with Henderson about his book, life with competing worldviews and how he has reconciled his Faith in Christ with his upbringing.  The Soul of Atlas attempts to cover both the biblical worldview and Rand's objectivism in areas like:  capitalism, relationships, reason, meaning and more.

Probably the most fascinating part of Henderson's book was his thoughtful look at Rand's hero in Atlas Shrugged, John Galt.  Reading Rand's book, you can't escape how closely Galt parallels Jesus Christ (despite Rand's hostility to religion).  According to Henderson, "When you understand that Jesus is not only the Ideal Man, but that he is the One who brings us to Joy, all of the good things in your life will pale in he comparison to His surpassing greatness."

Henderson, in a recent interview with The Christian Post and echoed in my conversation with him, said, "My hope isthat as Christians and followers of Ayn Rand, or even more broadly, as people of faith and reason come together I want them to find common ground so that we can accomplish much more together than we would separately."

To learn more about Mark D. Henderson and his book check out his web site, www.soulofatlas.com.  To listen to my conversation with Mark, click here.

Atlas Shrugged is now a movie (Mark's step-father is one of the producers)! Parts one and two have already been released with the third part to be coming soon. Here are the trailers for parts 1 and 2: