Father Daughter Retreat and Witty Wednesday [4]

Last weekend my dad and I went to the Father Daughter Retreat hosted by Vision Forum Ministries in Pine Mountain, Georgia. It was our third year attending, and once again it was a huge blessing. Excepting some wet weather when we arrived, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. On Saturday, during our free time, we drove into the mountains to the F.D.R. Little White House.

The view from our room was so peaceful

The scenery from this overlook was so breathtaking (pictures just cannot do it justice), we had to stop and take some quick snapshots!

Another view with a lake

As I was struggling with the timer on my camera, a kind gentleman offered to take our photo

Driving to the Little White House

I really like the natural quality of this sign

Isn't this carriage lovely?

F.D.R's car

The Little White house. Although we do not agree with all of the decisions F.D.R. made, he sure did have a wonderful taste for beautiful simplicity.

I just couldn't resist the old stove!

We went to the country restaurant and store for supper

The menu

I love a country atmosphere, which they certainly accomplished. The biscuits and cornbread were delicious

I love how the sweet tea (for a southern gal) was served

Out the window of the restaurant

The speakers were Doug Phillips, Scott Brown, Joe Morecraft, Geoff Botkin, and Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin, who are always such an inspiration to me. All of the sermons were wonderful, and I learned so much from each of the speakers.

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Now, on to Witty Wednesday's featured founding father:

Patrick Henry

 

---Reminiscing about The Stamp Act Resolves, Henry wrote, "This brought on the war which finally separated the two countries and gave independence to ours. Whether this will prove a blessing or a curse, will depend upon the use our people make of the blessings, which a gracious God hath bestowed on us.

   If they are wise, they will be great and happy. If they are of a contrary character, they will be miserable.

   Righteousness alone can exalt them as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others."

---"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

---"The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed."

---In his Last Will and Testament, Patrick Henry wrote, "This is all the inheritance I give to my dear family. The religion of Christ will give them one which will make them rich indeed."

---While dying, Henry said, "Doctor, I wish you to observe how real and beneficial the religion of Christ is to a man about to die....I am, however, much consoled by reflecting that the religion of Christ has, from its first appearance in the world, been attacked in vain by all the wits, philosophers, and wise ones, aided by every power of man, and its triumphs have been complete."

---In perhaps his most well known speech, Henry stated, "For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery....It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country...

   Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt....An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

   ....Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the Holy cause of Liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us.

   Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battle for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave....

   Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

---Patrick Henry's grandson's said these two things about him:

• That he, "Looked to the restraining and elevating principles on Christianity as the hope of his country's institutions."
•  He had committed himself to the, "Earnest efforts to establish true Christianity in our country."