“Coming to Jesus Christ is coming on His terms, not our own. The person who comes to Christ comes in humility, meekness, a needy beggar in spirit who hungers and thirsts for God’s righteousness, who cries for mercy, and is willing to be hated, reviled, and persecuted for the sake of his Lord (Matt. 5:3-12). The Lord may not take away comforts, money, or relationships with others, but all of those things-and everything else besides-must be given over to Him, to do with as He pleases. Otherwise He is not Lord, no matter how much allegiance to Him is professed.“ John MacArthur

Our last trip to Alabama I think Walmart was the first most frequently visited store, and then Unclaimed Baggage was probably the second most visited store. All it takes is to find one good item, real cheap and it’s enough motivation to keep you going back.

The first trip I found a package of that was stuffed with stationary that looked promising. I couldn’t see all that was in there, but for a couple dollars, I figured it was worth it. After purchasing it, the inside contained way more than I expected. There were postcards from Jerusalem, bookmarks with an illustration of the last supper, and many other goodies. It was probably well over $20 worth of various items jammed into a bag and sold for just a couple dollars! I was on an unclaimed baggage high!

The next time we went I found some Felco pruners for only a few dollars. These are special Swiss made pruners that normally sell new for $50! They work great and I use them today.

Ah, the good memories of Unclaimed Baggage. Sure, sometimes you don’t find a thing and it’s just a building full of junk, but then there’s those days that it seems like you found the best deal on the planet.

The kids liked rummaging through the stuff too.

In the photo above, Jenn and Matthew are trying on some masks we found.

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.

I stumbled across this cool blog that features various photos of Bibles. Check it out

Click here to visit the “Life with a Bible” blog

Many years ago I had became very interested in the Geneva Bible. It’s actually the first Bible translation that includes study notes from early reformers like John Calvin. It’s quite a landmark Bible of it’s time and it’s actually the Bible that was first brought with the Pilgrims when they settled in the U.S. The original is very difficult to read, I have a facsimile reproduction that’s tremendously huge, and very difficult to read the old english lettering and characters and the typography is aged.

Now there’s a Geneva Bible that has had all the text updated to modern lettering while retaining all the original words. I haven’t seen it in person but the price is definitely good for such an important Bible in the history of the church. I still enjoy taking out the behemoth version that I own and reading it every once in a while.

Currently the Monegism Bookstore has it on sale. Click Here for the 1599 Geneva Bible

There’s also a review of the Geneva Bible here at the BIble Design And Binding blog

I also found a cheaper hardback version at the Westminster Bookstore. Click Here

My parents have tried long and hard to resolve their identities as they enter those golden years. They drive around in a new Corvette with no room for kids. They hang out a place called “The Moose Lodge”. And now they have changed the way they dress. Yes, it is a little embarrassing to be seen in public. Especially when my dad pulls the trigger on that toy gun and it makes a fake machine gun sound.. Everyone looks!

The truth is, they won an award for best couple or something at a Halloween costume contest.

Click here to see all the mafia photos.