Faith – Jacksonville Blogger

The Church Must Step Up for the Homeless

This issue is not a partisan issue. Lives are truly at stake no matter the party line. It is really time for the Church of Christ to step in and be a part of the help in this serious issue of souls. The problem is more than being physically without a home, food and a place to lay their head. It is truly about salvation.

Leonardo da Vinci produced The Last Supper between 1495 and 1498, which is the most well-known religious painting. Jesus taught his disciples to go forth and teach the Gospel.

The struggle of the homeless is real. In most cases, their bodies rage for need of the drug of their choice. This rage drives them to their homelessness. They need help to get off of drugs, opportunities to work, places they can go for mental health, clothes, showering, transportation, and a great many other things. There is only ONE solution and that is God, who has power over every stronghold. Homelessness and what gets them there is a serious stronghold.

Permission was given to take this photo of a homeless woman who has been on the streets for about a year.This photo was taken about 8:30 am. It had rained heavily during the night.

Jacksonville’s Mayor Donna Deegan said, “In every community conversation I’ve been to over the past year, one of the things I heard most often was the need to address homelessness. With that feedback in mind, our 12-point plan makes progress on this significant issue and complies with HB 1365. Our goal is to build safer neighborhoods and make homelessness a rare, brief, one-time occurrence in a person’s life.”

A homeless man took me in the neighborhood camp to see this make-shift home.

The Church has THE answer to solve this problem. No “free” homes, “free food”, “free anything” will solve this issue. It is a matter of the heart and the Church has the answer to deal with the heart. “Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, God said, “My wayward children . . . come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts” . God also warned, “Your wickedness will bring its own punishment. Your turning from me will shame you. (Jeremiah 3:22 NLT- Copied)

Jesus said that the poor would always be with us but that there are blessing when any of us give even a cup of water in Jesus name. The church could and would really make an impact in this up and coming effort to deal with this serious issue.

If every church in Jacksonville would take on simply one aspect to help the homeless in their area of town, great inroads could be made to saving the lives of so many. Please pray that the Church will take on this task. It is not an easy task but it is a necessary one.

Things the Church could do and with every single mission, offer the Gospel of Christ which is able to save:

Church Ministries

Bible Lessons, Church Services, Clothes Closets, Food Pantries, Job Opportunities, Shower Stations, Skill Training. ( With every single dealing with the homeless the Gospel must be shared. That is what saves.That is what changes a soul.)

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. “Proverbs 19:17

“If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother” Deut 15:7

“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.” Prof 14:31

“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.” Prov. 28:7

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Churches, Faith, Government, Health | Comments Off

January 13

Three Miracles Already in This New Year

Two things and then three miracles. I don’t know how God works but wow and you’re just not going to want to believe these stories but you decide. Here goes in order.

First, our Dad’s home was built in the 1960’s. As a result, everything is not “code”. It’s not perfect, first because my Dad built it and he in himself worked outside of the box. (Literally in this case.) This week, there was water outside of the home in an unusual place thus the problem was a need to have the septic tank pumped which was promptly done. When the guy came to pump it, he told me the septic tank should not be this close to the house, that people should not ride over the drain field and that a new lid was needed. I explained that because we recently had a barn built and had to pull a permit that they “grandfathered” the septic tank in due to the situation and it was approved having worked well for over 60 years. Over time, we knew that regardless, we would certainly do what we could to upgrade so we immediately squared off wood 28 ‘’ x 35” and bought the cement for creating a new septic tank lid including rebar to secure safety. Meanwhile, since all of the walkway brick had been pulled up, the guests in the apartment needed a nice and most importantly, safe walkway for coming in and out. The day of the clean-out, we put a temporary entrance but I was not satisfied regarding safety so in the next days there were plans to make a safer and more sturdy walkway.

After leaving the house, and while taking home a worker, I was driving and saw a large piece of about 4 inch in thickness wood on the side of the road. It was a really nice walkway about 4 x 6 feet in size. A mental note was made of its location but I was tired and still had to take the worker to his home so on I went. After dropping him off with it raining and me being totally exhausted, I almost did not go back to look at the walkway but instead forced myself to go return… Good thing too. The walkway was going to be perfect. In the rain, it was heaved-ho into the back of the truck. Miracle # 1.

That same day, after leaving my daughter and son-in-laws home, I saw a nice table on the side of the road. It was too heavy for me to lift so I asked my kids to drop by on their way out and help me get it. While we were there, the worker who was riding with them was looking through the other items left and grabbed a small drawer. They came with me to the barn where we would off-load the table. I said in passing that I had lost the key to my riding lawn mower. The worker said, “Hey, I found a little drawer on the side of the road today. It has keys in it. Maybe one will fit your lawn mower. He tried the first and then the second, the third and in a total shock, the fourth key turned the lights on and then cranked the Craftsman riding lawn mower. The odds? Miracle # 2

I’m sorry to say, but this worker has not been honest and has stolen a circular saw, drill and battery, and a metal cutting saw from us. We, even he is well-aware of the whole debacle but we have needed his help and after discussions have kept him while being on the watch of his behaviours. When he cranked the lawn mower, and found a key that worked, he handed over a key to me. Naturally, I was in such shock that it fit, I had to try it myself. The key did not work. He had given me a key that did not crank the mower. In hind-sight, was it so he could later come remove the lawn mower or an accident? I say the latter but… you decide but in our mind it was “Miracle # 3” that the key was tried and found not working so that success could occur later and the lawn mower not be stolen.

How does God work? BTW, we’re trying to help the worker find God so maybe there will be a Miracle # 4. Pray with us.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Faith, Family, Random Posts | Comments Off

January 2

Treasures in Heaven or Stuff…

Truly, I love stuff. As a wanna-be historian, collecting things is almost a way of life. Having rentals provides a place to decorate with the stuff and store the stuff. In one rental, I’ve begun to add shelves high on the wall. There has been the “Whitehouse” rental where everything in it is President-related. Everything from the security phone, photographs, Christmas ornaments to the Lincoln bed was collected. Then there is the “Farmhouse” where there is a pig collection, horse collection, frog collection, sign collection and on and on so, I’m all about stuff.

Because of so much “stuff”, space has been affected. There are 3 storage areas which we use for everything from wedding things to lawn equipment, over 100 chairs and tables to seat those 100 people so we’re now thinking of building yet another storage area. That’s where the scripture comes into play and I’m wanting to focus more on treasures in heaven rather than things on this earth.

So, that is my new year’s resolution… I’ll tell you how it’s going as I get a better grip on it.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

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January 1

Journals Galore

January 1, 2024

I have apologized time and again to my daughters for the amount of “stuff” they are going to inherit. There is a meme on the internet of a father standing in front of an open storage compartment filled with stuff. He says to his son, “One day, you’re going to inherit all of this”. The son is not impressed. Neither will my girls be. Oh my.

It could end that I spend every dime of their financial inheritance but for sure, I’m leaving behind my stuff. For example, a great amount of money was spent when I sold a property and bought a lake place and a mountain cabin. Then there was the Homestead property of my parents where we converted our Dad and Mom’s barn into a chapel and continue to work on it. There are the rental storage areas full of plunder to keep them going and of course, my own personal stuff. They will be shaking their heads and rolling their eyes. Again, I’m sorry.

I’m often reminded of the scripture that warns us not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven. That is going to be my new years resolution. I’m going to downsize and focus more on heavenly treasures but I can’t imagine I’ll get rid of that much to begin.

I am guilty of earthly treasure worship but in 2023, there are plans to work on that error. That won’t involve my journals though. I won’t part with my fifty- plus handwritten journals but will in fact possibly expand them with spiritual writings of growth and glory. There are probably more than fifty journals at this writing, but who’s counting. When I die the girls, out of curiosity might begin that task of counting them. They will be worn out too because for a good many years, a new journal was begun every year and sometimes even two or possibly three. Again, who’s counting?

So, what would be so interesting that a person would write daily. Well, in all honesty, there are days I don’t write in my journal. When I was in a working environment and had a desk it was easy to jot things in a book every day but being retired, the schedule is so up an down, I may not write for a week or so but when a writing happens, it is more of a factual entry of things occurring in real time.

During the pandemic, a Pandemic Journal was kept, so it will be of interest to pandemic historians. As a staunch conservative, all of the scare tactics will not be in there but can be compared to the majority of untruths put out by current left news outlets in their pandemic files online. What a difference they will read.

While it has been in me to write even as a child, my yearly journal endeavors really began in the 1980’s. Since photography has also been of importance, all American presidents since Ronald Reagan have been written about and photographed, including the trips and observances.

Highlights in my journals have been the raising of two girls, their lives and events but in between, having witnessed history, I’ve followed, photographed and journaled about Condi Rice, Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, the home of Martin Luther King, his children, and gone to the funeral of Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Jacksonville Mayors, American Presidents including Carter, Reagan, Obama and Trump, visited NASA with the famous astronauts and the list goes on, including the visits with Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince and King of England. Ha!

Today, January 1, a new journal was begun. The old one was put among the others for another day and in “my stuff” for my girls. “Girls, I’m sorry for all of the stuff” but you’re more valuable to me than all of the folks covered in the journals. I’ve told all about you in those writings so enjoy…

Meanwhile, I’ll keep you posted on my effort to focus on Jesus not stuff.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Category: Books/Documents, Faith, Family | Comments Off

June 30

Jacksonville; Our Fair City

I love, love, love this city. Being born here in Jacksonville, Florida and living my entire life here except for my short time in college at Florida State University and a month with my sister in Hepzibah, Georgia, I know nothing else. I’ve enjoyed traveling to different and various places, visited the Queen and now King in London but there is nowhere I’d rather be than in this beautiful city of Duval County with its St. John’s River and magnificent trees such as highlighted on the Southbank at the Treaty Oak site.

My church is here where I love to serve. My immediate family is here and with that, I am set for life.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Category: Faith, Family, History | Comments Off

May 3

Defender of The Faith

The Coronation Oath

Atop the regal crown stamped across the top of the Coronation invitations is the Cross of Christ in Christianity. Queen Victoria of the House of Windsor and Queen Elizabeth II leaned Protestant and kept the faith of Christ a priority during their reign. Queen Elizabeth said on many occasions that she was of the Christian faith and in a Christmas messages understood her calling and actions would be held as a “personal accountability before God”.

This crown with the cross of Christ is being offered on the Royal website for children to color.

According to the Guardian news organization “ Charles shares his mother’s faith and devotion, though it has a slightly different complexion”. Queen Elizabeth offered Christian messages yearly in her leadership as the Queen of England. In them she spoke of her devotion for Christ. While Charles is said to have that same commitment, he also has interest in other religions which causes concern for the Monarchy leadership regarding “the Faith”.

In 1994, he “triggered controversy when he said he would be defender “of Faith” rather than Defender of “the Faith”, wrote Harriet Sherwood of The Guardian . Although he tried to back-track on his comments and explain himself, many are concerned he could change the coronation oath.

In looking at this topic on Defender of the Faith, many are interested such as, PremierChristianty, Religion News, the Gospel Coalition, Christianity, Express, National Secular Society, the Conversation, the Washington Post and more. They are all wanting to see where the new King is going with the powerful words, “faith”, the Faith”.

Hebrews 3:12 offers a serious warning to all of the faith: Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: The Guardian, Washington Post, Gospel Coalition, Royal News , https://. bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Falling-Away-From-God

Category: Faith, History, Travel, World Wide | LEAVE A COMMENT

April 14

Robert J. Bateman of the Titanic

Robert James Bateman was born in Bristol, England. He met and married Emily Hall Bateman in Britton on February 9, 1880. It is said he was returning to Jacksonville, Florida where he was the founder of the Central City Mission.

Mission- Jacksonville, Florida (Cowart Collection)

Bateman was returning from England when the Titanic Ship hit an iceberg and sunk on April 14,1912. People were relegated to getting on life boats to save their lives. Because the ship was deemed “unsinkable”, the White Star Line did not put enough life boats on the ship. Bateman is said to have stayed behind, lead the band in the song “Nearer My God to Thee” as the ship went down. 1,523 people lost their lives on that fateful night in the North Atlantic Ocean.

There is evidence that he gave his Bible to Aida Balls, his sister-in-law. His Bible was put on display in the Baxter Seminary Library in the 1940’s and later is said to have been put on display at the Titanic Museum in Tennessee. It is now at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.

Titanic Museum Display

Bateman’s lifeless body was returned to his wife in Jacksonville. His service was held at the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida on May 12, 1912. Bateman( 1860-1912) is buried at Evergreen Cemetery off of Main Street in Jacksonville, Florida. There are five memorials tied to the Titanic at Evergreen Cemetery.

Bateman found by the Mackay-Bennett group

Bateman was known as a true Christian with many articles quoting his love of Christ and desire that people be saved.

Notes in Bateman’s Bible (J. Cowart collection)

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Florida Baptist Historical Society, Voice of the Martyrs, Cowart, Old newspapers in public domain, Scottishrite.org, Evergreen Cemetery, Personal visit to Evergreen.

This information including Ramey photos may be used with credit to Ramey Collection. Photos may be 3rd party for which may be secured by copyrighted owner.

If you believe you are a copyright owner or can help with information regarding this article, including to clarify rights or information issues, please contact me. We are willing to remove any item from public view if there is any concern regarding ownership.

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April 7

12 Stones of Crystal Springs

Symbolism… ” The idea that things represent other things”. In Israel, the twelve stones represented the remembrance of “God’s faithfulness, providence and love every time they would look at the stones”. There were twelve tribes of Israel so each stone represented each tribe.

The scripture says, “Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.” Joshua 4:9. That event occurred when Israel passed over the Jordan river to enter the Promised Land. Each stone was for each Tribe of Israel, such as one stone was for the Tribe of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.

Our family has been so blessed and so this Easter time, twelve stones were placed at the entrance of our chapel area at Vaughan’s Homestead in remembrance of God’s faithfulness and providence.

These stones; bricks were those that were put on this property when our home was being built in 1960. Our stones are named: Alec, Geneva, Ronnie, Nan, Daniel, Katie, Ramey, Vaughan, Sargent, Derrick, Kristie and one for the extended family as a whole.

May we all be found faithful and when we look upon the stones, realize that God is our fortress and strength.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

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March 19

“The Wages of Sin is Death”

I don’t remind myself enough that God’s Holy Word says, “The Wages of Sin is Death”. There are so many ways in which this is true. It is not only so that we would die physically because of poor choices but things in our lives that were living and thriving die because of the bad choices we make. That is why people go to court, to detention, to jail. That is why relationships die or thrive. That is why people have good or bad credit; a good name or a bad name. That is why people are trusted or not, hired or fired, honored or dissed; loved or hated. One way in which we live, we perpetuate life or because of poor choices, death.

John Sammis wrote in 1887 these words:
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his Word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Sammis-PUBLIC DOMAIN

We want the living in our lives. We must make the choices in our lives that the things of God thrive and live within our person and on our time on this earth. This will occur because we simply “trust and obey the living Christ”.

It is true in my own life that death came because of a poor choice I made here or there. Over the years, I look back at bad choices that I have made and behind them are the deaths of something as a result. This is my life and there is no reason to tell of my wrong-doing and there are too many instances, Lord forgive me but…this morning, I remember and will choose this day whom I will serve. It will not be the evil one. It will be the “I Am”, the Creator of all, the Lord God Almighty.

Then in fellowship sweet

we will sit at his feet,

or we’ll walk by his side in the way;

what he says we will do,

where he sends we will go;

never fear, only trust and obey.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

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February 23

French Explorer Made a Difference. You Can Too.

If you travel to Fort Caroline, near the mouth of the River, off the coast of Mayport, in Jacksonville, Florida, you can see the Fort Caroline monument “, Standing tall in the sand, it marks the spot on which Jean Ribault, became the first Protestant to set foot on American soil. The marker was unveiled “with appropriate ceremonies” by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

1924 Jacksonville Journal. Photo O’Brien E. Watt via Ramey Collection

That same week, there were festivities throughout the city of Jacksonville to celebrate this obviously exciting event. Gatherings and street parties were had with a “most brilliant close” to the placing of this historic monument according to the Jacksonville Journal. At the closing event held at the Mason Hotel Mason, Mrs. W. S. Jennings opened “with grace and charm”. The Honorable Mayor John T. Alsop of the city, expressed his “pleasure at having in Jacksonville a distinguished gather and welcomed the guest.” Also at the event was T. C. Imeson, chairman of the city commission, Dr. R. H Carswell, Mrs. Florence Murphy Cooley, and others. Mrs. James A. Craig thought it important to introduce her children and quoted Longfellow’s poem, “Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime and departing leave behind us footprints in the sands of time”.

I highly recommend that you take your families to see the monument and while you’re there remind them that they too can make a difference for Christ.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

Sources: Kingsley Plantation, Mayport documents, Jacksonville Journal, Personal visit.

Category: Faith, History, Parks | LEAVE A COMMENT