Anyone who knows me and has

a conversation with me for more than a few minutes knows that eventually

we will be talking about Alaska.

It's not because I love Alaska

and all its beauty, and it's not because every day is an adventure, and

it's not because it fascinates me it's because it's in my soul! Isn't

it interesting that what we love, we love to talk about?

Yesterday my wife Dee and I

drove to Tallapoosa, Georgia. Did you know we had a Tallapoosa, Georgia?

I thought those towns were only in Alabama. It is about 60 miles west

on I-20 toward Birmingham.

Anyway, I had an appointment

to see the owner of one of the largest taxidermy operations I've ever

seen. His name is Bud Jones and his operation is really amazing. Inside

his taxidermy business is the "Bud Jones Wildlife Museum." If

you are running out of places to go and things to see, get in the car

and drive the 60 miles to the museum. He has a Web site at www.budjonestaxidermy.com .

There was something special

about Bud Jones personally. He seemed to have his whole family in the

business with him. There must have been seven or more employees that I

saw while I was there.

When Dee and I started to leave,

one of the employees gave us two cassette tapes that Bud and his wife

had recorded. One of the tapes was about his old dog Bleu and the other

tape was about Jesus. Bud and his lovely wife had sat down and recorded

old favorite hymns of the church. When I played them in my van, it brought

back many memories of my earlier days in the ministry at our little country

church in Alvaton, Georgia.

It is interesting that what

we love, we talk about. I have been standing in line at a 7-11 cash register

and someone will say, "How bout them Dawgs!"

I remember my mother often

in Wal-Mart standing in one of the aisles near more merchandise than you

could imagine, with her head bowed praying with some woman or man that

she just bumped into and began a conversation. This woman was totally

unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and would lovingly and boldly

share with any and all who would listen. Now I will often hear my wife,

Dee, on the phone praying with someone about the problems of life.

Bud Jones and his wife no doubt

work hard at their business in Tallapoosa working on a daily basis, but

they took time to produce several tapes in song to their love of God and

His son Jesus.

I will began packing and going over my list for spending my yearly pilgrimage

130 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, to the town of Manly Hot Springs,

to a black river slough called Baker Creek. This town of Manly has about

6-8 buildings and an airfield, and is on the beautiful churning Tanana

River which connects with the mighty Yukon.

Many legendary adventures have

been hatched along these two rivers. I will marry up with Bill O'Halloran

and our crew at North Country River Charters (NCRC) where we will drop

off about 30 moose and bear hunting and fishing camps. I will be flying

into Manly Hot Springs on the daily mail plane over the changing early

fall trees.

As the Chaplain for NCRC, I

have sent Bill and Pat (Bill's wife Pat is the brains of the operation

but please don't tell Bill) 30 copies of "Our Daily Bread" devotional

books. These are neatly inserted into Ziplock bags along with a letter

from me to all the camps. These men and women will have a lot of time

on their hands to read while in camp. I solicit your prayers that they

will find God through this "outback experience."

Again, what we love, we talk

about. In the letter I encourage all of the hunters to talk to God while

they are out there and to listen to what He has to say back. What a novel

idea!

If you say, "Here am I,

Lord, send me," then you need to get your priorities in line, pray,

pack your bags, and be prepared to go wherever He leads, be it Tallapoosa,

Manly Hot Springs, Fayetteville, or Senoia. To God be the glory great

things He has done!

Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor

of His House Community Church (SBC) and a former Army Chaplain. The church

has moved to its new location south of Senoia on Ga. Highway 85, just

below the fire station. Visitors are welcome. Church office and prayer

line number is 770-719-2365. E-mail address is [email protected] .

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