As you read this, I will be boarding the "big iron bird" for the

annual migration, north to Alaska. Nothing, except the love of God, my family,

and our church excites me like this yearly migration.

I don't know how you spend your money, but as far as I am concerned, as

long as you tithe God's share, and take care of your family and your debt,

have at it. To me I can't have any more good clean Godly fun than to board

the big iron bird and start the migration to my beloved Alaska. I say Godly,

because there His creation is still so unspoiled and still the way it was

thousands of years before.

Some things in life one just has to experience to understand. I suppose

Alaska is one of those things. How does one explain a tree along the coast

with, 57 (I counted them) bald eagles all sitting on a limbs of this huge

tree awaiting the "Herring run." I believe the place was called

Nanielcheck. But there they were, all American, all vigilant, all waiting

their moment of flight when the water would ripple with the millions of delicious

Herring. At that moment, eagle eyes would focus on the tiny wiggling specs

on the water and wings would begin to move as they would soar into their

swooping dive position. Then at their moment of truth, they would pull in

their wings for the fatal dive that would end at the exact contact point

at lightning speed. As they would pull up they would let out an awful screech

that penetrates the very soul of Arctic. It reminds me of God wanting all

men and women to be saved. The poet wrote, "He pursues us as the hound

of Heaven." He hunts and soars and wants and waits and loves and dies

for us.

I will fly into Anchorage where my young family spent our last wonderful

year in Alaska. I will then fly to Fairbanks where Robbie attended the first

grade and Nikki the third and fourth grades.

This year Alaska has had the driest and hottest summers in recorded Alaskan

history. The media reported 6.3 million acres have been burned by wildfires

so far. Smoke has been reported in Fairbanks and Anchorage. I was reading

in National Geographic that this "global warming" phenomenon is

beginning to actually happen.

One of the best things about Alaska is the fact that no matter what is going

on in the world all the animals, the eagles, the salmon, the moose and the

bear all continue in their "lanes" of life as God intended. Somehow

this speaks to me deep within my soul.

Our new church is 75 percent finished. Come see.

(Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). Rev.

Greg Mausz is Sr. Assoc. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent,

Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is on Ga. Highway 85 South

near Senoia, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, on the right just past the fire

station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365. E-mail

address is [email protected]. Web address is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.

Also visit www.ddaytravelingmuseum.com.)