“The finest men in all the world are not to be found in the warm, genial climates, where the earth has only to be tickled with a hoe, and it laughs with plenty; but the strongest and the most enterprising spirits have been found at the back of the north wind, where there are frosts and ice, and long, dreary winters, and men have a hard struggle for a livelihood. They become really men under that stern training. Now, if there were no thorns and thistles, no struggles and no trials, should we have any brave Christians? Should we have any great and noble souls at all? When did the Church yield her best men for her Lord’s service? It was in the persecuting times, when they had to swim through seas of blood to hold fast the truth of Christ. These are silken days, and we have wretched specimens of Christians everywhere; but if the times of persecution were to come once more, with the rough winds blowing, and the whole sea of the world tossed in tempest, we should then find brave sailors who would put the ship’s head to the wind, and ride safely over the stormy billows in the name of the Eternal God.” Spurgeon, C. H.
From the Thorns and Thistles Sermon, Vol 39.
Family,Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Yeah, it’s been a while since our trip to Alabama Dec 2008, but what the heck. There’s some photos I haven’t blogged on and so better late than never.
We visited Jared a couple times, he has done some excellent work on making his home warm and comfy. I wish we were able to spend more time there, but the way things worked out we spent much more time hanging out at Moma Lynn’s.
Jared is such a good uncle. Matthew loves to spend time with him and I think Jared might like Matthew a bit too. 
This fun little toy is sorta like a home version of those rides you see at the supermarkets and malls, except that it’s free, and your kid has to do the work of making it move up and down. It saves your quarters and get’s your kids tired! Brilliant.
