The Wilkes Team

The other day I was flipping through a calendar and came across a fascinating Virginian holiday. The name given to it sparked complete curiosity and right then and there I decided to discover it’s origins and delve into the originators reason for creating it. Some individuals on this day fly a certain flag representing a lost cause. Some others think of it as politically incorrect and must undergo changes in name and purpose. Some are absolutely excited about the holiday and appreciate it’s existence.

Celebration date: Jan. 16

Year of Origin: 1889

Name: Lee-Jackson Day

Purpose: To remember the lives of Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson.

Why remember these men? Did they do anything worthy of remembering?

The other day we as a family listened to a documentary on the life of Jackson: Still Standing. Also, in the near past, we came across another documentary of both Lee and Jackson. To put it simply, we were encouraged by these two Virginians and I can definitely see why� people want to honor them through picking a day of the year to remember what they did and how God used them.

They lived during a fascinating but also dark time in American History. The culmination of political and social dilemmas had slowly made its way and finally appeared by way of a devastating war. Several southern states seceded from the union because they couldn’t come to agreement with their northern friends about the issue of slavery. They saw slavery as a state issue not federal and with fear of losing even one state right to the federal government they ran for supposed safety – secession.

Virginia, the State of Lee and Jackson, did not secede so readily as her sister states. She called for a convention between both the north and south to effect reconciliation or at least a compromise. But it was not to be. Finally President Lincoln declared war on the those states which left the union and commanded the states still in the union to provide troops.

At this point, Virginia seeing her failure and deeming Lincoln’s orders unconstitutional decided to secede and with her came both Lee and Jackson. Lee had been offered the command of the US forces but rejected it, not because of the slavery issue – he hated slavery; but rather, for the love he had for his beloved homestate Virginia. Jackson also hated Slavery but nevertheless thought it his duty to fight for Virginia.

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6 Comments » | posted in Family News, HIS-story

8:57….8:58….8:59….The minutes ticked quickly by. At 9:00am the 24 hour challenge ended!

The discoveries were made. There is only 168 hours in a week, 720 in a 30 day month, and 8,736 in a year. Should a person live to the age of 90, they will have lived just 786,240 hours – how short time truly is! How imperative that we be about, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Eph.5:16).”

The hours in each day go by so quickly. Everyone was required to record the happenings of each hour for 24 hours. Have you considered lately what you spend your time doing each day? Psalms 90:12 bears a timely plea to the Lord to, “…teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

The third component was memorizing as much of James 4:1-10 as possible. Every memorized at least 1 verse with a couple actually memorizing the entire 10 verses. Scripture   memory teams could be seen scattered throughout the home.

Then came the wards! According to each one’s achievement, in close proportion was their award. Each contestant received a brown paper bag. When told to, they peered within and found what could of appeared to be a random food item  ranging from flour to eggs, salt, oil, etc. A bit of perplexity was evident . But when the final award was given, all became clear.  Markie peered into his bag and discovered a small portion of cinnamon and a recipe for……cinnamon rolls – Yeah! But another lesson was to be learned. 

God has entrusted each of His children with particular talents and abilities. We are not to compare ourselves amongst one another as the manner of some is (2Cor. 10:12) but focus rather on fulfilling the unique role God has called us to.  Some memorized all 10 verses while others just 1 or 2, and they were awarded accordingly. Yet, each proportionately awarded ingredient was absolutely necessary for the success of the recipe. One  couldn’t say, we have no need for that ‘small’ portion of cinnamon (1Cor. 12:21).

Once combined together, the ingredients resulted in an extra scrumptious batch of cinnamon rolls! Great job everyone!

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you (2Cor. 10:13 ).

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

The clock is running! The Wilkes Team is on a 24 hour challenge centered around the mathematical principle of fractions.

The 24 Hour Challenge began with this morning’s study on how Matthew 5:8 relates to mathematics.

The terms of this challenge are as follows:

- Record how every hour of the next 24 hours are used

- Discover how many hours are in a week, month, & year

- Memorize as much of James 4:1-10 as possible

To be discovered by the individual contestants is how each of the above terms are directly related to fractions and the Spiritual analogy of double-mindedness.

How will the fractions of time within this next 24 hours be used? Only time will tell…. Go Team!

3 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits

Imagine for a moment that you are standing on-top a simple tri-level stage at the center of a large stadium. A cheering crowd can be heard. There you stand, resolutely with eyes fixed upon one thing…….the gold medal you are about to receive. The Olympic medal is placed around your neck at which time the national anthem begins to play.

While the exact origin is not known exactly, records from the year 776 B.C. give account of what may of been the first Olympic game. From this point on, they were held every 4 years until 394 A.D. when Theodosius abolished the games after Greece had lost its independence. At the beginning, the games consisted simply of a race the length of the stadium. As years went by, more competitions were added to include chariot racing, the javelin throw, the broad jump, boxing, wrestling, etc. Constricted only to Greeks, competitors from all the Greek colonies in the Mediterranean descended upon Greece once every four years.

Through the efforts of Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), the games were revived and expanded in 1894. They have continued ever since being hosted by countries all around the world. The 2010 Olympics will be held in Canada.

This past week, our family had the joy of vacationing in Lake Placid, New York, the sight of both the 1932 & 1980 winter Olympics. The whole area abounds in Olympic history. At the present, the old Olympic buildings and competition sites are used for training future U.S. Olympic contestants. Athletes from all across the U.S. will converge upon Lake Placid where they are trained in sports ranging from ice skating to hockey to ski jumping, the biathlon, down hill skiing, bobsledding, the luge, and more.

While walking around the sites and structures, many thoughts came to mind. Lake Placid is an inspiring place to the athlete as it sets the standard for physical achievement. Throughout the area, we saw many rising athletes in practice. The concentration, dedication, and discipline of Olympic athletes is remarkable. They willingly sacrifice physical pleasures in order to achieve great honor and reward.

What an inspiration to the Christian athlete. Without a doubt, we are in the greatest race of all time for a reward far exceeding the metal and honors of the Olympic champion. Paul recognized this and so said, “…I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1Cor. 9:27).” What is our reward? An incorruptible (1Cor. 9:25) crown of righteousness (1Tim. 4:8), a crown of life (Jas 1:12), a crown of glory (1Pet. 5:4), a crown of life (Rev. 2:10), and the words of our Lord, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…(Matt. 25:21).”

Over the next year, hours upon hours of time will be spent in preparation for the 2010 Olympics at which time thousands of contestants from around the world will compete for Gold, Silver, & Bronze Medals.

How much time in 2009 do we plan on spending in pursuit of incorruptible rewards whose glory fadeth not away? Let us join with Paul in pressing, “… toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).”

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Heb. 12:1).

4 Comments » | posted in Family News, HIS-story

During a recent practice with my bow, I shot an arrow over the target (a square hay bale). While looking, I realized the difficulty of finding it. The arrow could be in an area of almost 30 feet wide by 80 feet long and hidden under dead mown brush. I walked the area twice with no sighting. Then I purposed to go over each square foot, dragging my foot through the cut brush and into the soil. The process was long, arduous, and seemingly fruitless.

As I began contemplating the hopelessness of the situation (finding the arrow), the Lord brought to mind these thoughts. He said,

This is how you sometimes search for Me: you come to the point that you think you have looked everywhere, become lazy, determine it is too hard, and then decide to quit. If you search for Me as for silver and gold or even as you are now doing for this arrow, you will find Me. I will then share with you the knowledge of My will with all wisdom and Spiritual understanding (Col. 1:10).

God was revealing to me His desire to be real to me in all areas. Through showing me that because He has done it all for me, I now, because of that, must choose by faith to walk in it.

Will I search for Him the way I searched for the arrow? Will I be content with the results and God’s timing?

It is in the search that I find the most joy: knowing that God is directing my steps and will take me exactly where He wants me to be.

5 Comments » | posted in Tid Bits

The great Seal of the United States is a symbol that signifies America’s Sovereignty.

It was after the signing of the Declaration of Independence  on July 4, 1776, that congress in Philadelphia organized a committee to design an official seal for the United States. This was to symbolize the sovereignty of America. on June 20,1782, congress adopted the design, submitted by William Barton and Charles Thomson. By 1789, this design was made an official Seal of the United States. The meaning behind this seal is fascinating:

The Front of the Seal is called the Obverse.

The Crest- the Circular design above the eagle’s head –pictures our nation as a new constellation in the sky. The thirteen stars represent the originals colonies. the ring of light breaking through the cloud symbolizes God’s guidance of the nation.

The Eagle — the United States emblem — depicts national self-reliance, strength, and pride. In the eagles’s right talon is an olive branch bearing thirteen leaves and thirteen olives, In its left talon is a bundle of thirteen arrows signifying that although our nation prefers to live in peace, it is prepared to wage war to defend the principles America stand for.

The shield on the eagle’s breast symbolizes the unity of the nation; the blue bar symbolizes all branches of Government The red and whites stand for the original 13 colonies. Congress assigned the following meanings to the colors on the shield, Red- hardiness and courage; White – purity and innocence; Blue- Vigilance, perseverance, and Justice. Also, these are often said to be the significance behind the colors of the national flag.

The scroll coming from the eagle’s beak bears the Latin inscription, E pluribus unum, which means one (nation) out of many (states).

Now the reverse side of the Seal

The pyramid represents the strength and stability of the Government. The date of the nation’s birth, “1776,” is inscribed in Roman numerals at the pyramid’s base.

The eye, called the eye of providence, depicts the watchful eye of God. The light all around the eye shows His Glory.

Two Latin mottos appear on the back of the seal. The upper motto, Annuit coeptis, means He (God) has favored our undertakings. The lower motto, Novus ordo seclorum, means the new order of the ages, referring to the founding of America’s unique system of self-government.

I hope you find this as encouraging and insightful as it has been to me. While reading about the Great Seal, it gave me goose bumps thinking about the fact that we live in a Nation that has put God as supreme authority over everything, but is now turning away. Though we as a nation are beginning to move away from the foundation of Jesus Christ who came and died for us so that we could be sealed in Him forever, the question must be asked, will you turn away from a God that loved you so much that he gave his life for you? Will you go the way of the many who think Christ is unneeded?

“….for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13-14).” The decision as to whether we will follow Christ or not, is one we each must make. Have you given Him your life?

Romans 10:9 says “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” This is the only way we can be saved from the punishment of our sins and have our eternal destiny sealed forever.

4 Comments » | posted in HIS-story