Sporatic Posts

Due to ten days of unexpected and unwelcomed personal down-time, my posts on this blog will be limited and very sporadic over the next three to four weeks.

Along with catching up on my weekly ministry schedule we must complete our physical move to Northwest Georgia.

We have many exciting ministry developments in progress that I will be eager to share just as soon as my schedule permits. Most importantly are the many life transformation and Kingdom advancement blessings the Lord is working through our ministry. Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus.

Until then may the words of the Aaronic blessing be upon you:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

A Special Thank You

My ministry schedule has delayed my desire to have another Post for almost three weeks.

I want to express my gratitude for all of you who have continued to faithfully connect with this blog on a daily and regular basis. You all have been a wonderful source of encouragement to Lynne and me.

My schedule has me local in my "still" Florida home location for the next nine days, and I plan to have a new Post early next week.

Once again, thank you all.

God Bless,
Barry

A Shirt Can't Contain A Giving Heart

During a July 2007 trip to minister to small farmers in NW Georgia, I discovered a treasure in an earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7), with deep agrarian roots in Georgia’s red clay. It was, more than a discovery, it was a blessed encounter with a very special agrarian lady, who literally gave me “the shirt off her back”.

Before I introduce you to this amazing “giving heart”, and the inspiring story behind how I was honored and grateful to become the recipient of her very special shirt, let me first tell you a little about the wonderful historic location and the agrarian setting where this gracious and generous act and garment transfer took place.

The encounter occurred in the small city of Ringgold, Georgia, located in Catoosa County on the Northwest border of Georgia and Tennessee, sixteen miles south of Chattanooga. According to the U.S. Census 2006 estimate the City of Ringgold had a population of 2,793 people. The wholesome quality of life, in this small friendly community, can possibly best be described, as real heartland America.

View of downtown Ringgold, Georgia from Citizen's Park

Some contemporary history associated with Ringgold is that Country-western singer Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, is from Ringgold, and the couple was married at the Ringgold 1st Baptist Church. George Jones and Tammy Wynette were also married in Ringgold.
But, of vastly greater historical proportion, is that this area of Northwest Georgia is enormously rich in early American and Civil War era history. Volumes have been published, especially concerning the Civil War period, and its impact on this area of the South, and our then young and divided Nation.

While this blog writer admits to being a history enthusiast (of the unrevised, non-secular humanist, non-politically correct rewritten club), I will leave the history writing to the experts. I encourage those with interest in this period and geography to Google or do an internet search on “Ringgold Georgia Civil War History” or “Catoosa County Georgia Civil War History”. The abundance of information and material you will find will feed your interest and fuel your enthusiasm, and keep you busy for a very long time.

It would be an injustice though, to move on without any mention of a very prominent downtown Ringgold historical landmark. In fact, it was the following Civil War landmark that led me to my blessed encounter mentioned above.

The Ringgold Depot

The Ringgold Depot, built in 1849, is one of the few antebellum (Pre-Civil War) railroad depots in Georgia. During the Civil War the depot was a supply point for Confederate troops. Today the depot is being used as the Ringgold Opry, featuring Blue Grass and Southern Gospel music.

Although I was working, and not on a historical site seeing tour, I couldn’t help but pause at this monumental place in awe and wonder. Oh! If only this little deep-south train depot could talk about the rich history it had witnessed, and the key role it played, and tell us about some of the people’s lives that had been impacted, both good and bad, because this little depot existed. Fortunately, some very good historians, writers and filmmakers have done some powerful talking for this little giant in America’s history.

The adventurous and true Civil War story of “Andrews Raiders” and “The Great Locomotive Chase”, was lived out on the tracks behind, and observed through the windows, of Ringgold Depot.

On April 12, 1862, the northern spies known as Andrew’s raiders, operating the high-jacked locomotive the “General”, barely chugged by the Ringgold Depot heading north. Running out of wood for fuel, the “General” came to a dead stop two miles past the depot. In hot pursuit, were “Western and Atlantic” railroad officials and confederate soldiers, operating the locomotive “The Texas” traveling in reverse. The “Texas”, raced past the Ringgold Depot and caught up with the disabled “General” killing and capturing Andrew’s raiders.

An entertaining source of information is the 1956 Walt Disney movie titled, “The Great Locomotive Chase” starring Fess Parker. This family edutainment movie is largely historically correct. It is available in DVD format from Amazon.com and others.

In 1864 “The General” locomotive was nearly destroyed along with five other locomotives as General John B. Hood burned the Atlanta rail yard and some of the city before he left Atlanta.

This event was vividly recreated in the classic movie, “Gone With The Wind”.

Reluctantly, pulling myself back from my brief imaginary trip into Civil War days, I made one quick walk around the depot property. Standing by the railroad tracks at the back of the depot, I saw across the tracks another structure that grabbed my attention and interest.

I drove across the tracks to get a closer look at the structure. Part of the name on the building was Railroad, but this structure had nothing to do with rail transportation or freight. This small quaint building housed an agrarian marketplace enterprise named, “Railroad Produce”.

Railroad Produce–Ringgold, Georgia

It became quickly apparent, by the steady stream of cars and people coming and going, that I wasn’t the only person with interest in this busy little agrarian marketplace. As I entered Railroad Produce, I observed the produce under the entrance canopy to determine what would have been in season and locally grown. I was pleased with the locally available choices that I saw.

A major part of the Acres Of Hope America mission is to serve and support small farmers and locally produced, naturally grown food. So, entering the market the first questions on my mind were: 1. Are these folks growers? 2. Do they buy from small farmers? 3. What percentage and types of their products are naturally grown? 4. Do they have an organic or naturally grown customer base in this rural, small, metro Chattanooga community?

In the course of our ministry we have visited dozens and dozens of community and state farmers markets, independent produce markets and farmer operated farm stands. Equipped with those experiences and a background in marketing management, I usually enter any retail establishment from a critical marketing approach.

When I entered Railroad Produce I was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the market and the attractive presentation of some of the freshest produce I had seen all summer. During the time of this visit, Northwest Georgia was well into its second year of record draught, and baking under a long heat wave of record-high scorching temperatures. I know the commitment to quality, the hard work and the extra expense it requires, for maintaining fresh vegetables, under those severe environmental conditions. I was really impressed.

There were several customers making selections, asking produce and cooking questions, and making their purchases. My marketing attention shifted from the facilities and product to the attitude, competence and level of customer service that was being provided.

In making marketing evaluations it is important to factor in the ‘place’ of those marketing activities, because ‘place’ is often a major component for setting expectations. After all, I wasn’t evaluating a “Whole Foods Market®” or “Wild Oats Market®”, who has zillions of dollars in resources, and who are located in some yuppie suburb metro area.

No, I was well aware, and delightfully so, that I was in a friendly rural community, with deep-south hospitality, genuine respect, and where helpfulness is a treasured and essential rural community virtue. But, as if this wouldn’t be enough of a customer service dream come true, for most of us nostalgic boomers and “pre-Millennium Generation” consumers, there was even more great things going on in Railroad Produce.

At the time I was observing, there was only one market worker on duty. The market worker was a young woman, who I guestimated, was in her late thirties or very early forties. She was working very efficiently with a family-friendly personality, and serving the customers in a knowledgeable, cheerful and grateful manner.

I wasn’t looking to make a purchase, but by the time the customers had finished their shopping and left the market, I knew I had to meet this exceptional produce market worker. I sensed that, I was in a very special place and in the presence of a very special agrarian lady.

I introduced myself and learned that the worker was Donna Guffey, co-manager with her husband Ronnie, of the family generations owned, Railroad Produce.

Donna Guffey Co-Manager

I briefly described the Acres Of Hope ministry organization, and how I had had discovered Railroad Produce through pausing at that historic little Ringgold Depot. Almost, from the moment I personally met Donna Guffey, I knew that I had not only made a valuable discovery, but that, I was experiencing a divinely orchestrated encounter, with a very special agrarian lady.

Early into our introductory conversation I noticed Donna was wearing a work-worn, sweat soaked white ‘T’ shirt with a front graphic that I really liked.

I told Donna that I loved her shirt and I knew my wife, Lynne, would love it too. I asked Donna where she got the shirt, and if my memory serves me well, I believe Donna told me that she had purchased it many years ago from a J. C. Penney catalog.

Donna must have noticed the disappointed look on my face, when she told me that the shirts with that graphic weren’t available anymore from J. C. Penney. Donna said to me, “Do you think your wife would really like this shirt?” I told her that I knew Lynne would love it.

Donna excused herself and went to a back room in the market. Donna returned shortly wearing a different ‘T’ shirt, and carrying on a hanger, the shirt she had been wearing. Donna apologized for the age and condition of the shirt and said, “Here, give this to your wife.”

I was momentarily speechless with astonishment over what was happening. I immediately, but with overwhelming gratitude, tried to reject and dissuade Donna from her gracious offer. I knew from Donna’s determined look and persistent offer that, my continued rejection could lead to a personal rural agrarian offense.

Still stunned I reached and received, from Donna’s willing and generous outstretched hand, the “shirt off her back”.

A Shirt Can't Contain A Giving Heart...thank you Donna, and may God bless you abundantly

P.S. In an upcoming post I have more to say and show about Donna Guffey, her special agrarian family and Railroad Produce. For those readers in the greater Chattanooga metro area, I encourage you to visit Donna Guffey and her family at Railroad Produce. I know you will be treated like family. Take home some quality produce and products, and expect to be blessed.

Railroad Produce
3154 Evitt Street
Ringgold, Georgia 30736
706-965-OKRA

Redemption is the Reason for the Christmas Season

During the celebration of Christmas, it is easy for many believers and nonbelievers to recall, and rightfully associate the very words of Jesus, as recorded in John 3:16 with this holiday season:

“For God so loved the world,that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

As, a self caution so I won’t become the Grinch who stole Christmas, I will try to remain mindful of not only John 3:16 but also the words and the spirit of Jesus in John 3:17:

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

In keeping with that spirit I won’t discuss that the celebration of Christmas is non-biblical (certainly why and how it is celebrated today), or when, why or where it was first celebrated. I also won’t criticize the false Christmas legends that many uninformed Christians hold dear, or the excessive materialism and debt that now enslaves Christians and unbelievers alike during this retail Christmas bonanza. I don’t even intend to deal with the anti-God ACLU and the PC secular left annual Christmas wars.

Instead, I want to focus on what I read the Bible informs us, as to why the Son of God came, and humbled Himself in miraculous Incarnation, as the newborn human infant, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Jesus came as a Newborn to become... the Firstborn

...behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20-21)

...when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (Hebrews 1:6)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men
on whom his favor rests."
(Luke 2:8-14)

As a newborn Jesus was laid in an agrarian crib

As, the sinless Son of Man (John 9:35), Who, being in very nature God,...but made himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8), ...who for the joy set before Him endured the cross (Hebrews 12b), ...was wrapped in linen cloth and laid in a tomb cut in the rocks (Luke 23:53).

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:24)

...He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead...and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:18-20)

This Christmas, my wish is that many more Christians could see, celebrate and worship the inseparable link, between the Incarnation in the form of the virgin birth, and its redemptive purposes.

The early church fathers never separated God's loving act of incarnation of the firstborn from His loving act of grace through creation and redemption to make Christ the firstborn Son among many glorified sons. Irenaeus wrote: "the Son of God became the Son of Man, that man also might become the son of God."

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul earlier had said it this way:

For those whom He foreknew, He also
predestined to become conformed to the
image of His Son, so that He would be
the firstborn among many brethren;
and these whom He predestined, He also
called; and these whom He called, He also
justified; and these whom He justified,
He also glorified.
(Romans 8:29-30)

Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son and as such had no brothers or sisters. But, God the Father's purpose in creation, incarnation and redemption was that God should have many children glorified by being conformed in the image of Christ.

Therefore, the Father sent the Son through incarnation as the baby Jesus, in order that the only begotten would also be the first begotten of many beloved sons and daugthers. Here you have the entirety of the Christmas story of the Incarnation, the Cross and Redemption, and here you have the reason for the season in the purpose of God the Father being fulfilled in His bringing many sons unto glory.

In bringing many sons to glory,
it was fitting that God, for whom
and through whom everything exists,
should make the author of their salvation
perfect through suffering.
Both the one who makes men holy
and those who are made holy
are of the same family.
So Jesus is not ashamed
to call them brothers. He says,
"I will declare your name to my brothers:
in the presence of the congregation
I will sing your praises."
...And again he says,
"Here am I, and
the children God has given me."
(Hebrews 2: 10-13)

The author of Hebrews went on to write:

Since the children have flesh and blood,
he too shared in their humanity so that
by his death he might destroy him
who holds the power of death-- that is,
the devil--and free those who all their lives
were held in slavery by their fear of death.
For surely it is not angels he helps,
but Abraham's descendants.
For this reason he had to be made
like his brothers in every way,
in order that he might become
a merciful and faithful high priest
in service to God, and that
he might make atonement
for the sins of the people.
(Hebrews 2:14-17)

Pope Leo the Great called Christmas, "the day of our salvation," "the mystery of human restoration."

In "Creatoris Descensio, Creaturae Provectio" (the descent of the Creator=the elevation of the creature), Pope Leo wrote about the parallels of the descent of God with the elevation of humanity. "O admirable exchange! The Creator of the human race has become man, born of a virgin; we have been made sharers in the divinity of Christ who shared in our humanity."
The Father chose us before the creation of the world...The Son redeemed us, purchasing the forgiveness of our sins, choosing us in Him to "be the praise of His glory...the Holy Spirit serves as God's seal and guarantee of our high priced redemption (Ephesians 1:3-14).

As, we celebrate the birth of Christ, may we truly rejoice in the redemptive reason for the season. Jesus came as a Newborn to become...the Firstborn

God bless you,
We wish you and yours
a very Merry Christmas and
a richly blessed New Year

Blessed Is The Man Whose Quiver Is Full

Congratulations
Mike and Denise Burns

on the birth of baby girl

Zta Kate Burns

born December 20, 2007

Burns Best Farm

What Comes First....Rain or Repentance? Part 3

A Faithful Bold Christian Who Serves As The Governor Of Georgia

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue assembled approximately 300 people to the steps of the statehouse in Atlanta, on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, to pray for divine intervention to end the drought, and for a call to action for all Georgians to pray.

Governor Perdue began the ‘outdoor service’ by telling those in attendance, and those watching and listening through all the local, state, national and world media, “We’ve come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: To very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm”. Governor Perdue continued, It’s time to appeal to Him who can and will make a difference.” “I’m here today to appeal to you and to all Georgians and all people who believe in the power of prayer to ask God to shower our state, our region, our nation with the blessings of water,” Perdue said.

You can view a video of Governor Perdue’s brief closing prayer here . For those with slow dial-up the text of his prayer follows:

Governor Perdue’s Public Prayer

“Our Father, as we come before you today we acknowledge that we are needy people. And we need You, it is You that we need. And it is Your power and miracles that we need.”

“And Father, we call upon You today to meet that need. Father, we acknowledge our wastefulness, we acknowledge we have not done those things we should.”

“And God, we call upon You today to meet that need. We do believe in miracles, we do believe that You are the miracle Creator. The Creator that established the water and the land and the air, and even us.”

“God, we need You, we need rain. Father, may we go forth from this place today with bended hearts toward You, acknowledging our total and utter dependence upon You, moment by moment for Your blessings.”

“Father, forgive us and lead us to honor You as You honor us with the showers of blessings. Thank You Lord for the rain to come. Amen.”

The Governor’s ‘prayer and worship service’ lasted about one hour. There were hymns, three brief sermons, prayer and many in the crowd raised their hands and voices in praise and worship.

The media, of course, for the most part didn’t get it, and most described the gathering as a religious ceremony. The Savannah Morning News described it as: “…an hour long ceremony that transformed the Capital steps into a religious setting. Other drive-by media described the service as “trying a different approach to end the drought by ‘begging the heavens’ for rain.”

The drive-by media bristled that the event was billed as an interfaith ceremony, but only Protestant ministers spoke.

The Rev. Bennie Tate said, “Georgians, we don’t need to wring our hands, we need to bend our knees.” Pastor Maurice Watson of Beulahland Bible Church in Macon declared, “I believe in miracles.” “How about you?”

The Rev. Gil Watson, pastor of Northside United Methodist Church encouraged and urged the crowd to, “pray believing we should have all brought umbrellas.” And, some in the gathering did have that believing, no doubt faith (Mark 11:24, James 1:6-8), and came rain expectant and rain prepared.

Carla Clark and her pastor, David Harris, from Cummings, Ga. were among those gathered worshippers. “There’s no doubt in our minds,” Clark said. “We came prepared with our umbrellas because we fully expected the heavens to open.”

There were some, who “worshipped other gods”, that tried to disrupt the prayer service and that did not come with a humble attitude. Twenty-two protesting members of the Atlanta Freethought Society held signs that included “Hail Priest-King Perdue” and “Pray on the Church Steps, not the Capitol Steps.”

Being in the Bible-Belt, local authorities had no problem keeping the protesters more than a block away out of earshot and out of sight of the prayer service. The secular left blogosphere, to highlight their disdain for God and His believers, lashed out with angry four-letter words to register their offended personal and constitutional indignation.

It was a head-scratching time for some doubting observers, as state Rep. Melvin Everson R-Snellville acknowledged. “I know we’re on the Capital steps, he told the crowd of believers. “And it’s quite all right.”

Yes, it is quite all right! If the secular-humanist left had not spent the last 30 years trying to rewrite history, and they themselves become dumb-downed in the process, they might have more time to be aware of the true founding of this Nation, and the State of Georgia Constitution.

Below is the year 1865 Preamble of the Georgia Constitution:

“We, the people of the State of Georgia, in order to form a permanent Government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, acknowledging and invoking the guidance of Almighty God, the author of all good government, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Georgia.”

Oh, but I’ve read the left’s arguments about this early history. In the left’s distorted view; what could you expect from superstitious, uneducated farmer legislators, living in a southern-hick agrarian-based society.

In every subsequent rewrite of the Georgia Constitution the Preambles have acknowledged God, up to the current 2007 Georgia Constitution.

Georgia Constitution 2007 Preamble

“To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”

The God-hating left have no new arguments as evidenced from the following opinion piece published on the Atlanta Journal Constitution website on 11/20/07:
MOTIVES AND RELIGION: Welcome back to the Dark Ages in Georgia?

“When reason takes backseat to emotions, we are relegated to making choices similar to the ones made as an agrarian society….Past farmers and an uneducated populous had an excuse —- they didn't know any better. But, what's to be said of such thinking during the Information Age, a time where superstition and quackery should be a catalyst for laughter is instead the status quo?”

Note: Although thankfully, the Georgia Constitution Preamble still acknowledges Almighty God, it is quite revealing to compare the earlier Preambles to the current 2007 Preamble. Pleasing God and limited government was the original and later version’s intent, where as the current version is about, ‘it takes big government for satifying citizen self-happiness’. But, that’s a discussion that would warrant at least one long separate blog post.

Well, in spite of the doubting God-haters and other skeptics, guess what? Despite the sunny and continued dry weather on prayer Tueday, the weather changed. A cold front stretching from Alabama to southern Pennsylvania swept across the east bringing desperately needed rain to the Southeast.

Of course, the media and their expert drought climitologists are quick to point out that it wasn’t enough rain to end the drought. It would have taken in some areas as much as 20 inches to make up for the shortfall.

I don’t believe that any of us who prayed were looking for 20 inches of rain in a couple of days. We Christian believers though, are exceedingly grateful to God for His grace and blessings, for the rain that He sent, in response to repentant prayer.

I received the following “praise report” comment to my Part 2 post in this series, from a wonderful Christian Agrarian small farm family located in Northwest Georgia.

MrsBurns said…

Hello Morgans! Just a weather update to let you know (in case you are in FL) that the lovely sounds of rain on the roof have been falling now for several hours in NWGA.

We don't have a rain gauge here, but I'd say we're getting close to the one inch mark since 5:00.

We are and have been thanking the Lord for His refreshment. We had small group tonight, and it was wonderful to hear seven young boys all praising the Lord for the rain as they ran around in it!

November 14, 2007 11:44 PM

Wow! What a difference a living Christian faith, matched with a biblical agrarian worldview makes.

Grow up you skeptical unbelievers and become like these little children mentioned above (Matthew 18:3). You might find that even you have something to thank God for this Thanksgiving.

Part 4 To Follow....