SOBER UP

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When we hear the words, “sober up” most of us think of someone who is drunk from alcohol that needs to get out of their drunken stupor and regain their proper senses. We’ve all seen folks who are drunk and do stupid things.

As I think of that and reflect upon the stupid and senseless things that go on in America today, our nation seems to have become like a drunken man who is staggering down a dark and dirty alley trying to find his way home.

We are a nation with more than our share of folks drunk from the confusion and deception of these days.

Personally, I know how each and every day I have to fight my own battle not to be consumed by the things that others convince me are important for life.

Those “things” that most of us cling to, or think that we cannot live without, in reality, only make us drunk with the stuff of this world.

Therein lies my problem, and a challenge for many, and that is: to put aside the cravings of this momentary life and open our eyes once again to the true importance of that which is eternal.

The lines below have helped me through the years. They are a simple poem, packed full of truth, that has shaken me sober time and again. If you need it, it might help you too!

WHAT THEN?

When the great busy plants of our cities
Shall have turned out their last finished work;

When the merchants have sold their last order,
And dismissed their last weary clerk;

When the banks have all counted their monies
And paid out their last dividend:

And the Judge of the earth wants a hearing
And asks for a balance – what then?

When the choir has sung its last anthem,
And the preacher has prayed his last prayer;

When the people have heard their last sermon,
And the sound has died out in the air;

When the Bible lies closed in the pulpit
And the pews are all empty of men;

And each stands to uncover his record –
And the Great Book is opened – what then?

When the players have played the last inning
And the runner has made his last run;

When the movie has shown its last picture,
And the bartender’s job is now done;

When the pleasures of sin have all vanished,
And gone into darkness again –

And the trumpet of ages has sounded –
And we stand there before Him – what then?

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:10

 

HOW TO SPOT A FOOL – PART TWO

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In our last article we dealt with the stark fact that, although most of us do foolish things, there are people who are, by their own nature fools themselves. Those who are fools often cause great damage to those who associate with them and to society as a whole.

Does God love them? Certainly. How much does God love them? As much as He does you and me, but He abhors their attitude and actions, so much that He informs us in the Holy Scriptures concerning who they are, what they do and how believers are to act toward them.

Because that is so important, I am providing information below which will give insights from God’s Word on how to identify a fool and how we are to act or react to them and their behavior.

Think about these truths when you are considering a new friendship, a possible romantic courtship, a business venture or, a possible position of authority and especially, who you vote for as a political candidate.

Here we go:

1.  A fool does not believe in the God of the Bible.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
Psalm 53:11; 14:1, Proverbs 1:7

2.  A fool finds no harm in sin.
“Fools mock at sin…”
Proverbs 14:9; 10:23, Isaiah 32:6

3.  A fool hates the truth.
“And fools hate knowledge.”
Proverbs 1:22; 18:2-3; 12:15; 26:6-7

4.  A fool loves to argue.
“If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs and there is no quiet.”
Proverbs 29:9; 18:2-7; 10:14-19; 12:15

5.  A fool speaks with lying lips and hates to listen.
“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord…the heart of fools proclaim foolishness.”
Proverbs 12:22-23; 10:18-19; 18:6-7

6.  A fool believes everything he reads.
“The naïve believes everything…a wise man is cautious and turns away evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.”
Proverbs 14:15-16

7.  A fool is quick to anger and cause problems.
“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.”
Proverbs 29:11; 10:18:13; 18:2-3

8.  A fool is always right in their own mind and will not receive instruction.
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…”
Proverbs 12:15; 15:5; 15:14; 18:2

9.  A fool will always return to his foolish ways.
“As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”
Proverbs 26:11

10.  A fool’s heart is always thinking of ungodliness.
“For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.”
Isaiah 32:6, Proverbs 10:23

The Bible is clear in its warnings about friendships and trusting in fools. They have no capacity for wisdom and understanding but rather despise both. They have wickedness and sin in the hearts and only want to pull others into their ungodly snares.

When the child of God learns to recognize and avoid friendship with a fool they are blessed by God for their wisdom and protected from evil.

By the way, think on this Scripture found in Ecclesiastes 10:2…

“The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A FOOL.

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PART ONE

The most published newspaper article in history comes from a letter that eight year old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote to newsman Francis Pharcellus Church in the year 1897. She wrote to inquire whether or not there was a real Santa Claus. Mr. Church answered that question in an unsigned article published on 9/21/1897 in the New York Sun newspaper. It was titled, “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.”

In today’s blog and the one which will follow next week, I want to answer a question that was asked to me this past week by a sincere and concerned man. Frustrated by the idiocy (noun, Definition – a form of government in which a country or territory is run by fools), of politicians in Washington and across America, he asked me, “Pastor Lee, these days I don’t know who to support or vote for. How can I know if a person is a fool or not? Am I wrong to call a person a fool?”

Well, today Bob I will tell you, “Yes, indeed, there are people who are complete fools, not only in politics but in every area of life, and it is not wrong to label a fool, a fool.”

In my boyhood, my mother forbade our family to call any other person a fool. Dad didn’t seem to care if we did or not – I guess he had met too many of them in person.

My mother’s conviction came from the scriptural admonition found in Matthew 5:22 where Jesus told His disciples that whoever is angry with his Christian brother and calls out to him “you fool” shall be found guilty before God. Pretty serious warning, and mother knew it.

But what mother did not know was that contextually Jesus was speaking of a person who was filled with unrighteous anger and out of that anger labeled his brother a “fool.” It’s the motive behind the action that is really the basis of this warning, not the label of a person being a fool.

Also, consider the fact that “stupidness” can occur from fools and non-fools alike. Here are just a few examples of “stupid actions” from recent events.

1. Just a few days ago there occurred an upheaval among some folks concerning the War Between the States, which happened 150 years ago, resulting in the destruction of the Statues of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

As a result of this, people who bear the name of Lee are now instructed to be careful not to traumatize others by mentioning their own last name. By the way, the name of Lee, Li or Lea is the most common last name on planet earth. Whoops! That’s scary. It’s also stupid.

2. This week Miss…Mr…Anita Green entered the Miss Montana USA pageant. Anita, who is a transgender woman/man was, as you might expect, received with open arms by all the fellow contestants and embraced by the media as a heroine/hero for coming out and expressing her/his true feelings of femininity. That’s stupid and sickening all at the same time.

3. Perhaps someone could tell her/him that if she/he would shave her/his hairy knuckles, her/he might be closer to winning the crown. Is she/he a pretty girl/boy? Well, it depends if you are attracted to buffaloes or not, after all it is Montana.The Daily Caller reported today that the Portland Oregon police department has been ordered to purge their gang database because there aren’t enough white people in the gangs. After 20 years of gathering information on those suspected of gang membership by the police, all of that information gathered will be purged from their systems due to the fact that most of those affiliated with gangs are minorities. The hope is now that the gangs and their goons will no longer feel personally offended by being singled out by police as  they have been in the past. That one is double stupid.

4.Finally, the College Fix reports that UCLA professor Gregory Okin’s recent research on global warming and the environment leads to his recommendation that household pets in the future should be reptiles, birds and hamsters instead of dogs and cats.

According to professor Okin dogs and cats “create the equivalent of 64 million tons of carbon dioxide per year or the equivalent of  driving 13.6 million cars.” Something needs to be done about these cats and dogs.

OK professor, go ahead and try to take “Fefe” the little poodle from Grandma’s arms. But before that, take time to make your funeral arrangements…if they can find your remains!  REALLY STUPID.

 

I’m sure that now you get it – stupid people do stupid things. But it is one thing just to be stupid. All of us have done something stupid sometime or the other. Being a “fool” is quite a step beyond stupid.

How do we recognize a fool? Next week we will look into the Bible and see how to identify and react to a person who is a fool. Stay tuned, as they say.

Until next week,
Dr. Richard Lee
There’s Hope America

 

 

 

 

 

 

IRMA and CHRISTIAN RESPONSIBILITY

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As I write to you today, it is Friday morning September 8, 2017. The national weather reports are indicating that the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are soon to be hit with the largest, fiercest hurricane in recorded history. The storm is named Irma.

Hurricane Irma is scheduled to come ashore in Florida tonight and tomorrow morning and then move up through the state and on into Georgia and South Carolina and then perhaps into Tennessee. When events such as these happen, Christians are called to fulfill their Christian duty to help in any way they can those who are in need.

It is so easy to disassociate ourselves from the stories and tragic pictures and stories of flooding, horrific winds and loss of life and property unless we are the ones experiencing those things, but regardless of how we view the scenes, they are REAL and TRAGIC.

This morning I contacted a pastor friend in Florida who is directly in the path of Irma. He appreciated the instant message and felt sure God would protect his church and his people. God is indeed our hope.

Will you, as a friend join with me for the next 48 hours in praying once every waking hour for God’s safety and mercy to be upon our fellow Americans, not only who will suffer from Hurricane Irma but also for those who continue to hurt as a result of Hurricane Harvey. Every Christian can do that at the least of things.

Also, I have listed below a few websites that will provide direction for those of us who choose to volunteer to give direct help to the victims. I do hope this helps!

https://www.namb.net/send-relief/disaster-relief/send-hope

http://www.ajc.com/weather/atlanta-motor-speedway-offers-free-camping-for-irma-evacuees/8VHZfIoGZHfJHT8enc8hCP/

http://www.ajc.com/weather/metro-atlanta-hurricane-irma-direct-path/EZHNhErBmCRXExkFqo7AkK/

http://www.ajc.com/news/hurricane-irma-you-live-hurricane-evacuation-zone/iGW1bDASa0EgJnkN07jajI/

http://www.ajc.com/weather/hurricane-irma-everything-you-need-know-prepare-for-hurricanes/furFhHLrsycp1byolDTMdK/

https://www.namb.net/send-relief/disaster-relief/send-hope

Devotedly,
Dr. Richard Lee

 

HURRICANE HARVEY – WHAT CAN WE DO?

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When tragedy strikes, like hurricane Harvey’s coming ashore this past week in southeast Texas, we are all tempted to ask “why?” God is all powerful and yet why do these tragedies persist? We reason that Almighty God could prevent every disaster with the slightest of ease – so why does He let them go on?

Those are natural and perfectly honest questions and I believe that there is an understandable answer but this is not the time for me to walk through that answer in this article. Perhaps I can handle that issue later.

What we need to do now is to pray for those who were victimized by Harvey and seek to discover how we can help them recover from this time of tragedy.

When hurricane Katrina stuck the coast of Louisiana on August 29, 2005 it took a couple of weeks for the water to subside and for our ministry to know what we could do to help restore those in need. In the days that followed, teams were sent to Louisiana to help rebuild some of the devastated structures along with water and food to aid in their daily survival. As we joined with thousands of other caring Americans, the hurts and sufferings of the storm victims were eased as much as possible during those days.

This time will be no exception. I am currently contacting pastor friends in the affected areas to let them know There’s Hope America and our food ministry, There’s Hope for the Hungry, are going to come and be with them helping them the best we can.

I will keep you posted, but there is no doubt that we will need you to help us to help them in the immediate future. The Lord will be pleased for us to do this and the selflessness of so many of our ministry friends will be felt for years to come.

“A friend is always loyal and a brother is born to help in the time of need” Proverbs 17:17

May God bless you and may His grace be shown to those who are in need.

Dr. Richard Lee
There’s Hope America

 

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE

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“The first battlefield is the rewriting of history. Take away the heritage of a people and they are easily destroyed.”
Karl Marx, author of The Communist Manifesto 

Most Americans are aware of the fiery violence that occurred in Charlottesville over the destruction of a Confederate Statue and the foolishness that has followed it.

President Trump gave a speech the following day and condemned both sides of the mayhem for their lawless actions. Immediately following his speech, the news media, the liberal Democrats were joined by the many of our weak, compromising Congressional Republicans in attacking the President for his comments, regardless of how true or untrue they might have been.

And then came the destruction. The mayor of Baltimore had Confederate statues removed during the night. Statues of other well known Americans, many not at all related to the Confederacy were, are under the threat to be, torn down. Across the nation, lunacy reigned as people became frantic in their zeal to erase each and every symbol of America’s past.

The Lincoln Memorial was spray painted in graffiti, demands were made to remove the Washington Monument as well and the Jefferson Monument from their places in Washington. And I read this morning where our Federal Government now has a plan to add verbiage to the Jefferson Monument to include his “racist views.”

As we look at events like this and the actions that have followed we ask ourselves, “Why this insanity?” “What’s really going on and what’s behind all of this anyway?”

First, let me suggest to you that it is really not about the statues at all or even the evil days of slavery. It is about the hatred of America and her Christian heritage.

Our nation’s history is inseparably tied to the morality of the Judeo-Christian faith. America was founded as a Christian nation. Open to people of all faiths, to worship freely, and that is the true essence of freedom, but nevertheless our U.S. Constitution, State Charters, laws and so many other foundations of our Union are replete with teachings of the Holy Scriptures.

Keeping that in mind, it becomes clear that this is a spiritual issue even more than a physical one. I’m not claiming that bronze images of people of history matter all that much. What I am saying is – America’s history is under attack and has been for many years primarily because its foundational principles reflect biblical truths.

The 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson said, “A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today…America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify those devotions to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.” 

The tactic we see employed in America today is called by the Communists the act of “deconstructionism.” In order to take over a society, first you must deconstruct those necessary elements in which the people find pride and respect for their country’s past and present.

Any signs of that now?

Disrespect the flag, the national anthem, the Constitution, the American military, the police, the right to life, the family unit, the…,  I don’t need to go on. You get the picture. Every newscast, every magazine, every sporting event, every school graduation, we see it happening before our very eyes.

These are the results of the last 50 years of deconstructionism of the American spirit which began in the hippie 1960’s and has multiplied itself over and over in the news media, the educational systems, politics, the movie and television industry and those who specialize in the rewriting of history.

But – there’s hope America, and that hope is found through the faithful teaching and propagation of what America really is and God’s undeniable role in our nation’s history. Jesus reminded us, if we know the truth it will set us free” John 8:32


WHAT WE DO

God spoke through the prophet, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6

That’s what we do each and every day at There’s Hope America ministries through radio, media, and print, we broadcast the Word of God and America’s true history to stand against those forces that would destroy our nation and attack our faith.

Thank all of you who faithfully support us as you show your love for God and Country by investing in our pointing America back to God.

HONORING GOD WITH FOG MACHINES AND BLUE JEANS

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To begin this article I have to go back a few years to the question I was asked by a young man who was the lead singer in one of America’s most well-known “Christian Rock” bands. His group was making their rounds to various churches in the area and wanted to sing in one of our church services.

Coming to visit me he asked, “Pastor, do you like our style of music or what kind of music are you in to?”

I simply answered, “the only music worthy to be done in a worship service is that which is worthy to be done before the Throne of God.” I don’t think he really understood my meaning.

It’s evident that Christian America has forgotten that GOD is the central figure of our worship services.

A classic example was a recent Sunday when Judy and I drove a good distance to worship at a First Baptist church. I have known the pastor for several years and was looking forward to hearing him preach and – Boy, was I surprised. Disappointed is a better way to put it.

Somehow this church had morphed into a silly show of smoke machines, blue lights, a bad band and silly songs. When the pastor came to preach (communicate as they called it), here was this man in his late 50’s in blue jeans, untucked plaid shirt with sleeves rolled up and needing a shave.

Come-on I thought. Act your age – everybody knows you’re not cool! After his silly attempt to “communicate” about the books he had recently read, a few positive-living comments and a warm story about his family, he finally finished with a kind smile, a warm goodbye and we’ll see you next time.

How sweet and nice. No gospel challenge. No point of personal decision. No public invitation. Nothing! I went away thinking, what was that hour I spent all about? Why did I bother to come?

I have often told others that I fully understand why some people don’t go to church these days. After my 52 years of pastoring some of America’s great churches, it breaks my heart to see what’s become of the church in America.

Personally, I belong to the Southern Baptist Convention. I have served on numerous committees and boards of the Convention. I was the President of the Pastors Conference of the S.B.C. and have spoken at countless Conventions and Churches through the years. I love Southern Baptists.

But last year the Southern Baptist Convention lost 200,000 members, baptisms were down for another year and church attendance across the board has dropped as well for another year.*

Across the broad spectrum of denominational churches in America almost 340,000 have either plateaued or are in decline.*

But is there an answer to reverse the fall, to stop the leak and revive the church again? Indeed there is.

Why not return to the basics that built the American church to begin with.

Why not preach the Word of God, bring sinners face-to-face with their sins and tell them of the blood of Jesus Christ who can forgive them and wash them clean.

How about challenging the church members and training them to be soul-winners so their families and neighbors can find Christ.

Why not preach with authority about Heaven and Hell and challenge the listeners to “come to Christ” now!

Why not try to return dignity, respect and honor to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Evidently the statistics seem to prove that the Seeker Sensitive guests are not seeking what some folks think they are. Some of my fellow preachers and their churches better wake up to the truth.

Fog machines, blue jeans, blue lights and other flimsy tricks will never take the place of preaching the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the answer. Always has been, always will be. Just take time to look around and you will see it clearly – the declining churches are proving it.

 

* http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/06/southern_baptists_lost_200000.html

* http://mailchi.mp/malphursgroup/churchforsale?e=d5d8c27049

Breaking Free From Mediocrity

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” Colossians 3:23

Mediocrity is the easiest road leading to a dead end life. It is the acceptance and the “quo” of the status quo. It is a state of being that is void of passion, persistence and power. It’s being satisfied with a “dud.” It is the well-worn path to take in most any situation, but results in the least reward.

Mediocrity is in the DNA of the current Republican Congress and ninety percent of the Christian Churches in America. It sits on the shoulders of men and women who stand on the threshold of greatness and it whispers, “You better not stir the water or make any waves. Don’t tip the ship. Heaven help you if you offend someone else. You may know what’s true and right, but it’s just better to keep it to yourself.”  

It’s a finger in the wind to determine its direction and finding the middle of the road on matters that matter. It’s the fear of the unknown and the security of taking the broad and easy way. It justifies remaining silent when you know you should speak up. It’s the killer of courage and the enforcer of compromise. It results in apathy and loss of self-respect.

For me, mediocracy is a state of life that I loathe for myself and fear for others. It destroys the vision for a better tomorrow, and in the Christian life, it leads to the death of spiritual growth and stagnant complacency for the days ahead.

The Scripture warns us, “Where there is no vision the people perish” Proverbs 29:18. In modern English it would read, “Without a vision, life becomes empty, hollow and dull.”

A vision gives us a purpose and a calling in life. The stronger the vision the greater the purpose. The greater the purpose the more likely we are to reach our ultimate potential. Apathy and mediocracy cannot find a place to abide in the life of vision. So in the safety of mediocracy is where they dwell.

When you think about the Bible book of the Revelation, it is a vision of the Lord Jesus and the times to come. When we read of the Gates of Pearl, the Tree of Life, the Throne of Christ and the eons of eternity in Heaven we get a vision of the future for every believer. Heaven will be a place of Extravagance. Extravagant love, mercy, joy, praise and ten thousand other blessings. There is nothing mundane or dull about that place. Wow, just to imagine!

But, as great as it will be, we’re not there yet. We still remain on this side of eternity and as long as we do – there is work to be done in the fulfillment of God’s plan on earth. And God’s plan is never mediocre and neither are those who He sends to fulfill it.

So mediocracy be gone! Vision and dreams arise! And let’s live each day filled with passion and rejoicing –“for this is the day that the Lord has made” and rest our heads upon the pillow each night knowing we have lived that day to its fullest!

AND YOUR GENDER IS?

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The French philosopher Descartes came up with what has been widely accepted as the foundation of knowledge in modern times. It is commonly called the cogito or the “I think therefore I am” theory. In the simplest terms it means we know we are alive because we still have a working brain that is able to think.

Now Zombies wouldn’t have that ability. That should be a comfort to many of you who are into Zombies. They are the dumbest of the dumb.

In America today, even in the highest level of secular education, we now no longer value the process of rational thinking. Now what rules supreme is “what I feel to be true, must be accepted as true.”

To all of this my granddaddy would say, “What in tarnation are you thinking?” That’s it – we are not logically thinking.

Let’s take Sex for an example. What sex are you? Or perhaps I need to be a little more PC and ask, what is your gender?

I’ve never really thought much about my gender. I guess that’s because we’ve always had mirrors in our house. From the day I got my hands on Grey’s Anatomy, I knew what gender was all about. The study of Human Anatomy is a branch of Biology and it is considered a settled science.

But now there exists a weird thing about science among the Liberal/Progressives in our world today. We have been taught by educators that science is King and only the radical unlearned fundamentalists would question its validity. Evolution, global warming, the future rising of the oceans to swallow the cities, the extinction of the polar bears, etc. all true because it is “settled science.” No one in their right mind should question these things.

But then when it comes to the most obvious science of all – the human anatomy of boys and girls, men and women, science no longer matters. A person’s DNA or the number and types of chromosomes they possess are now to be ignored because of how one feels about the identity of their gender. King Science has finally fallen and King Feeling has taken his throne.

But I’m not buying it!

Dr. W.A. Criswell, the brilliant past pastor of The First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas would often say, “All truth is narrow.” I happen to embrace that same type of thinking and through the years in this life it has served me well. I too believe that all truth is narrow and this includes my acceptance that boys are boys and girls are girls no matter how they feel.

Now I am sure that I have offended someone by speaking so openly today. I seem to do something like that almost every day. If so, perhaps you can find a safe space in the restroom of your nearest Target store.

One final thought for those who believe that they are another gender. The next time you take a shower, take a look in the mirror and the final truth of the matter will be evident. And if what you see in your mirror offends you, you might want to move to San Francisco were you will find a city full of fellow science deniers

Richard Lee, Pat Boone and Dino Kartsonakis

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In the spring of this coming year May 9-19, 2018, I will join with legendary singer Pat Boone, and Dove and Grammy Award winner Dino Kartsonakis as the three of us host an unforgettable 10 day trip to the Holy Land.

I will be doing the Bible teaching, Pat the singing and Dino the musical accompaniment for this pilgrimage to the Land of our Lord and the steps of Jesus.

This will be Pat Boone’s final tour to Israel. He is quite popular among the Jewish people due to his writing of the words and music for the film “Exodus” for which he was awarded an Oscar.

Pat will be singing this score for a final time on this trip at the Jewish fortress of Masada. It has become somewhat of a theme song for the nation of Israel and is loved by the people of the nation.

Those traveling with us will experience a life changing event plus gain many, many other memories of a lifetime. If you have ever wanted to experience a dynamic trip to the Holy Land – this is the time! Singing, Music, Bible Teaching, times of worship, etc. who could ask for more.

Registrations are already underway and, as you can imagine, space is limited, so act now if you desire to go or want more information. By the way, it would also be a great gift for a friend or a loved one.

Call the tour hotline at 404-990-0228 and mention my name and they will be more than glad to answer your questions.