Heroes are for the young, memories are for the old. As a teenage preacher, one of my heroes was Adrian Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. I cannot remember the first time I heard him preach but I was quickly captivated by his resonate voice, biblical depth, and how he had a…
The Passion Play Prelude
In 1633 the Black Death struck the town of Oberammergau in Bavaria, Germany. The people of the town vowed to God that if the Plague would pass them by then they would perform a Passion Play every ten years in honor of the miracle. They have kept their vow for over 350 years. In an…
Sunt un Trombonist
Every international traveler fears that moment. You have unintentionally said something embarrassing/inappropriate or just downright stupid. Having traveled the world I should have overcome this fear but, alas, this fear always remains, packed away in my carryon bag. Every new culture you encounter is another opportunity to add to your list of personal faux pas….
I Found You
The pastor remembered the encounter but not the name. Some memories dim but they never completely fade away. As a young sailor, he remembered his ship docking in New Orleans, Louisiana. He remembered walking the docks as the man approached him and struck up a conversation. He remembered the man telling him that Jesus Christ could…
The Last Flight of the Listen Here Tojo!
September 15, 1943: New Guinea On Wednesday morning, September 15, 1943, B-17s of the 43rd Bomb Group leave Jackson Field, Port Moresby to bomb the Japanese forces near the town of Lae. The flight is not long but it is over the formidable Owen Stanley Mountain Range. On the return flight, the formation flies into…
Sons of the 43rd
The jungle knew all along. But for fifty years it had held its secret. The war had moved on and left it in peace, or what passes for peace in the still uninhabitable regions of New Guinea. Searches were conducted, families mourned, and memories faded. Still, the jungle only hid its treasure, it did not erase…
The Baptist Attic
From time to time I chance upon unremarkable discoveries that seem to compel me to search out their secrets. Of course, if I was better informed to start with I could dispense with the effort and move on to something more productive. However, today productivity must take a back seat to the necessity of curiosity (i.e. I’m…
Confessions of a Large Trail Runner
With the coming of 2018 its time to review the races of 2017. It was a great year and I made the transition from trailrunner to occasional road racer. I’m not a competitive runner so all races are either: to support a cause, the race has a great setting, I like the drama of the…
Beginnings
Welcome to my place to observe the world in action. My interests are varied, bordering on eclectic. Topics may range from travel, to sports, to faith, and to history. I have so many interests that I plan to write on a host of topics. If the topic interests you, read on, if the topic does…
NEW book release! Sons of the 43rd
New! Book by Dr. Mike Spradlin traces WW II story of Gray Allison and Delmar Dotson—A story of bravery, strength, and grit Sons of the 43rd tells the story of two men who left their small-town America to travel around the world and fight an enemy they had never met. One man survived World War…