Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park, established in 1910, is located in western Montana. About 2,000,000 tourists visit the park every year. Crown of the continent The park earned the name of “crown of the continent” for the glaciers still found in the area as well as the majestic mountains, beautiful forests and meadows, and turquoise lakes. Many come to hike the 700 miles of adventurous trails. Lake McDonald is the largest lake in the park The largest lake in the park is Lake McDonald where visitors can swim, boat, or fish. There’s also white-water-rafting on the Middle Fork Flathead River. Thirteen campgrounds There are thirteen campgrounds in Glacier and five of them are located along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Families can also stay at Rising Sun,...
Read MoreDinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument has a treasure for everyone who loves the big animals that lived in Utah so long ago. Visitors can see dinosaur remains embedded in rocks. Quarry Exhibit Hall A wall containing about 1,500 dinosaur bones, located in Quarry Exhibit Hall, fascinates all visitors. Fossils of several different dinosaurs are embedded in the wall. See the bones of an Allosaurus, who stood about as tall as a giraffe on powerful hind legs. See fossils of a Stegosaurus. These animals grew about the size of an elephant with a double row of bony plates down its back. Gaze at the stars Stay at the monument until evening when the stars come out. Because it’s one of the darkest places in the United States, tourists can clearly see stars of the Milky Way. A...
Read MoreJoshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park in California sits in two different deserts, Colorado Desert and Mojave Desert. Joshua trees Tourists will find many Joshua trees in the west side of the park in the Mojave Desert. These unusual trees received their name form the Mormons, who, according to legend saw the limbs of the trees reaching upward to the sky as if they were praying. Like Joshua in the Bible, the trees guided the Mormons to the west. Joshua trees grow in a desert forest Though Joshua trees grow in the desert, they are found in the Queen Valley forest. The tallest Joshua tree in the park measures at forty feet high. Skull Rock Skull Rock is just one of the unusual rock formations at the park. Stop on the main east-west park road to see the rock and then hike the...
Read MoreThe Garden of Gethsemane
Israelites used olive oil for cooking, in lamps, and for anointing kings. Jesus, the King of Kings, might have thought of this when entering the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Leaving the other disciples near the entrance of the garden, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to come in with Him. Filled with sorrow, Jesus fell facedown and poured out His heart to God. He didn’t want to face the trials, the angry crowds, the beatings, and the cross. Yet He prayed for God’s will. Jesus was born to die for us. After praying, Jesus found Peter, James, and John sleeping. After praying a second time, His three closest friends were sleeping again! Have you ever been so sleepy that you couldn’t keep your eyes open? Maybe the disciples felt this way. After praying once...
Read MoreCass Scenic Railroad State Park
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park in Cass, West Virginia, was established as a state park in 1961. Riding the trains departing from the Cass Depot to old logging camps drew 23,000 people to the park when rides opened in 1963. A logging town since 1900 Cass, a logging town founded in 1900, was built by the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company. Workers of the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Mill in Cass lived there. During the peak of the milling operation in 1908 to 1922, 2,500 – 3,000 people worked for the company. Twelve logging camps in the mountains received as many as ten carloads of food and supplies weekly. Logging industry in Cass dies The business was sold in 1943 and operated until 1960. Employees feared the town would die. Cass Scenic Railroad State...
Read MoreArbor Day
J. Sterling Morton, a settler in the NebraskaTerritory, understood the need to plant trees on the prairie which was being turned into farmland. Trees provided shade, logs for the fire, lumber for buildings, and windbreaks. First Arbor Day Celebrated in Nebraska Morton planted orchards and shade trees on his farm. He asked his neighbors to plant trees on their property, too. Then Morton had a great idea. He wanted a special day devoted to planting trees. On April 10, 1872, America’s first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska. Over one million trees were planted. Annual Holiday in Nebraska In 1885, Nebraska made Arbor Day an annual event. Celebrated by All Fifty States People plant trees on Arbor Day. All fifty states celebrate Arbor Day, but on different...
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If it’s in the Bible, The Pirate Preacher knows the story. Monday nights he leads a “Jesus Study” in Moore Square, Raleigh, NC. Each Sunday you will find him in the park and at the bus station helping others enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised.
The Pirate Preacher helped launch Christian Devotions Ministries and is the former CEO of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a Christian book publishing company. He’s also a “Blessed Selling” author and Writers’ Coach.
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Jehovah Jireh: The Incredible Provider — A super Hero Graphic Novel
