I have to share

[Pastor Don]

Just so everyone will know; things at Fields of the Wood are looking UP.

The much needed repair work to the archway going up Ten Commandments Mountain has been completed. The Psalms of Praise wall has had the missing letters and Psalms replaced. The Arise Shine Marker is in the process of having the resurfacing completed. The Alter is being repaired as well.

Bishop Paul Holt has scheduled an International Offices work day. Many of the people who work at IO will be coming out to spend a day working in the Park.

Last but certainly not least we have a new sign marking the entrance of the Park

So what do ya'll think?

[Tim Elston]

So what do ya'll think?

A place like that needs to look kept up. Good work.

[DGBrock]

Way to go!

[Linda]

Looking good!

[rough_rider]

Very nice! Keep up the great work, you folks are such a blessing.

[macgulley]

Looks great. I'd love to go back. It's been years.

[free]

It is a very nice sign...But here I go again...Does it make sense to keep pouring money into this park (upkeep, salaries, HQ staff, etc.) and to cut funding to the VOS ministry that has a world-wide reach?

We were told that the VOS funds were begin cut so that we could redirect those funds to the harvest field (Africa in particular)...Could the FoW funds be used in a better harvesting effort?

[scooter]

Looks Great! Nice sign!

[soulsearcher]

Is the sign shown in the picture THE entrance sign now, as in it has replaced the big original arch sign that you drove under?

[Full Quiver]

Why is it still called the Arise, Shine marker and what does it say now that it has been resurfaced?

[RaceRunner]

Church historical significance aside......

In this day and age....when the courts are deleting God and His commandments out of the court houses (I live in Alabama)....it is still very nice and visionary to have the 10 Commandments and a Cross planted on the side of the mountain on private property...plain for all visitors and planes to see. Not a waste of money at all.

Great job on the hard work! I may get to visit on June 13th. I will be looking forward to meeting you.

(I also need to hit the gym...so I can ATTEMPT to walk up the mountain(s)...but if not...there are still ROADS to drive to the top aren't there?? )

[free]

Racerunner wrote:

In this day and age....when the courts are deleting God and His commandments out of the court houses (I live in Alabama)....it is still very nice and visionary to have the 10 Commandments and a Cross planted on the side of the mountain on private property...plain for all visitors and planes to see. Not a waste of money at all.

So FoW exists solely for the purpose of American Christians feeling good about themsevles? What does this do to take the gospel to the nations?

[RamboPreacher]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 1&t=h&z=18

In case someone on the space station wanted to be reminded.

[RaceRunner]

Racerunner wrote:

In this day and age....when the courts are deleting God and His commandments out of the court houses (I live in Alabama)....it is still very nice and visionary to have the 10 Commandments and a Cross planted on the side of the mountain on private property...plain for all visitors and planes to see. Not a waste of money at all.

So FoW exists solely for the purpose of American Christians feeling good about themsevles? What does this do to take the gospel to the nations?

If that's how you truly feel...then I would have other questions for you.

Q: Do you seriously believe that ONLY Christians visit this place?
A: No. And the stats and testimonies through the years have proven it.

Q: Do you seriously believe that the Word of God returns void?
A: No. And the stats and the testimonies through the year have proven it.

Many, many souls through the years have been saved in this place that have no knowledge of Church of God history. And many, many souls have been baptized on the premises. I have personally witnessed baptisms there...and many were NOT connected to the history of the place at all.

Not just one soul saved...but many. The stats and testimonies through the years have proven it.

I dunno...but I think the $ has been worth it.

[free]

Thanks for asking me a question and then answering it!

I'm not opposed to FoW...I know it's history and the souls that have been saved/baptized there...I'm 4th generation CoGoP...My wife and I took a trip there two years ago so our kids could see it...They actually enjoyed it.

But is it the best use of funds? This isn't a new question and I'm sure there are answers on both sides...But when our leaders decide to cut the budget for a world-wide television ministry and continue to pour funds into FoW I think something is wrong.

That's just my opinion but I wonder how many sheep under Pastor Gary's care have ever been there or even care about it?