More to this life

Our Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure - Part Two

This shot proves that not all campgrounds are created equal. This place was listed as an "RV Resort" I was tired of all the driving on the parkway and wanted to get off for a day or two to rest. When on the parkway in a RV, it is work. The sights are beautiful and plentiful, but for the driver it is a constant uphill, downhill, and turn situation (or combination of all the above). The speed limit is 45 and the lanes are a bit narrow for the most part. But, you have to remember that the BRP was built in the years before most of the newer and larger motorhomes were even thought of.

This is more true in North Carolina than the Virginia portion of the parkway. The virginia portion is lower in elevation and more of a "meadow like" drive. More farms along the drive and lots to see. Even then - a good day on the parkway may only involve moving 100 miles or less.

Having said all of that, would I recommend it? Absolutely! Just plan your trip with plenty of rest up time at the nine campgrounds along the parkway. The campgrounds have NO hookups, so you would have to be self contained or willing to rough it. Some of the sites won't fit a larger RV but there are enough that will. There is so much of our heritage along this roadway!

It works best if you have a towed vehicle (like our CR-V) and allow for day trips in the areas. There is SO much to see! Trails to hike! You could easily spend 10-14 days covering the 469 miles of just the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then there's the Skyline Drive that runs through Virginia above the Shenandoah valley!

Lizzie left an impression at the "resort"!

After we fled the resort, we went to Rocky Knob campground - paradise! Shade, cool breezes, and QUIET! Our original one day turned into four - and if we hadn't had to move on - we might still be there!

The parasol princesses!

The mountain laurel at our campsite.

What did we do? Some reading......

Some playing on the hammock swing........

A day trip down to Mabry Mill.

Lizzie found out that Mrs. Mabry was also named Elizabeth and call "Lizzie".

Emi figured out that she wan't quite big enough to plow yet.

Watching the water wheel.

The water that turns the wheel!

The ranger is spinning wool into yarn - just one of the demonstrations at the mill.

Playing checkers - the checkers are made from corn cobs!

One of the many fences along the parkway. Notice how you cross it?

We had to go into the local town to re-supply while at Rocky Knob. We found a great little italian place in in Floyd, VA. It got 5 out of 5 thumbs up from our crowd!

Back in paradise.

What's camping without smores?

Our Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure - Part One

We started out on Tuesday and made it to our first overnight - Mt Pisgah campground by around 5:45 PM. True to the Ogles tradition, it was noon before we could get away from home. It was a good drive but driving through the mountains on a two-lane road can have it's challenges.

"Alice" and "Harvey" just before our departure.

Our campsite for the first two nights on the road. For $16 a night it's a bargain! Just the quiet and the cool breezes are worth more than that! At 4980 feet, Mt Pisgah is the highest elevation of the nine campgrounds that the Park Service operates on the BRP. It was great except for our little hitchhiker who decided to stow away in a compartment and get into some of the cabinets. More on him later.

Our day trip wanderings took us to some of the many overlooks and by many MANY blooming Mountain Laurels, Rhododendrons, and native (or flame) azaleas.

There were a few tunnels. There are 25 tunnels on the BRP in North Carolina, and we went through 19 of them. Yeah I know, the windshield is pretty dirty. But Donna wouldn't hold her head out the window to take the picture.

We also spent some time at the Blue Ridge Parkway Center in Asheville.

This bush was growing in the parking area at the center. It's about 12 feet high and those look like blueberries, but I don't think they get that big. Anyone know what it is?

On Thursday, we broke camp and headed north again. This time we made it all the way to Boone, NC, where we spent two nights. This stream was right behind our campsite.

We spent a couple of hours on Friday at Samaritan's Purse seeing their operation (especially Operation Christmas Child) and heard many great stories of how the Lord is using them to help many people around the world and spread the gospel. To learn more, just click on their name above.

Then we spent some time as tourists, taking in the Mast General Store in downtown Boone, where you can find a little of everything.

So, I spent about 3 hours sealing up any possible entry points for stowaways. It was enough work to make me not feel bad about what happened to the intruder.

Oh yeah, this is what happens to stowaways. Papa -1 field mouse - 0.

Easter Morning - He is Risen!

It's been a hard couple of days. After seeing Jesus die on the cross on Friday, his followers must have spent Saturday in misery. Whether scattered or together, they experienced doubt, fear, agony, and the knowledge that they had deserted him and Peter even denied he knew him. Was this the end? Was there nothing more? Just a cold body in a cold tomb?

Then just after sunrise on the first day of the week, some came to the tomb to finish the burial process started on Friday. Luke tells it this way.
(Luke 24) ¹ On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words.

The resurrection is the center-point of all we believe. Without it, the cross is just a place of death. Without it, the tomb is still occupied. Without it, Christmas is just another occasion to give gifts.

BUT IT DID TAKE PLACE! And because it did, we have hope. We have joy. We have the promise of eternal life.

Have you experienced the life-changing power of the resurrection? You can. Turn to Jesus today!

Good Friday - part one of a two part story!

It's now morning, about 9 am. Last night, Jesus shared a last meal - the Passover meal - with his disciples. It was during that meal that he shared with them the elements of the new covenant. His body, broken for our transgressions, his blood, poured out for our sins (Matt 26:26-30). They then went to the garden to pray, but the disciples couldn't stay awake.

After being betrayed, deserted by his followers, illegally tried, and beaten beyond recognition, Jesus is now being led to Golgotha to be crucified between two thieves.

They didn't realize it, but he was paying the price for the sins of the very ones who tried him, beat him, are taunting him, spitting on him, pelting him with rocks.

But before we’re too hard on those physically present, we must include ourselves in that number. For it wasn't just their sins he paid for on that day – it was ours, too. Yours and mine.   What kind of love causes one to make this kind of sacrifice?

Unconditional love. The kind of love that says, "no matter the cost to me, I will do what is best for you".

Jesus knew that the ONLY way for us to be able to have a life of meaning here and spend eternity with him was for him to endure the cross (Heb 12:2). So, despite what that meant for him, he willingly gave himself to be a substitute for us, that he might pay a price we couldn’t pay (Phil 2:8, Isa 53:5-6).

So, here we are on Friday morning and Jesus is being led to the cross. The Bible tells us that Jesus accomplished (completed, finished) exactly what he meant to do. He paid the price for you and me. It was an extravagant gift that cost him greatly but all we have to do is accept it.

This is not the end of the story – it is only the first part. The second and best part happens on that day that we celebrate as Easter. I’ll be back on Sunday to share the rest of the story…

Matt 26:26-30 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Isa 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We're Coming Down to the Wire!

Here we are with just FOUR days left until the Georgia Half Marathon on Sunday!

I finished my distance training this week with a 12-mile run on Monday and now I’m in what’s known as “taper week”. I never knew I could run that far! During this week, we back off all the training and only do a few short (2-4 mile) runs leading up to the race.

However, I don’t want to back off telling everyone about the need the families of Uganda have for clean, safe water – that’s why I’m running! For those families in Uganda and other parts of Africa, clean, life-sustaining water is not always available. Their lack of access to clean water puts adults and children at risk of disease that can often lead to death.

God has put the desire in my heart to help make a difference. That’s why I joined Team Samaritan’s Purse. Team SP is a group of people who raise money by competing in athletic events to help needy people across the world. Team SP has set a goal of raising $100,000 at official events in Atlanta and Cincinnati this year for clean water projects in Uganda.

You can still become part of the team! There is still time to contribute and help as we “run for the finish line” on Sunday. Won’t you consider contributing at: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michael-ogles/michaelogles. You can donate online through this website with a credit card. It is simple, fast, and totally secure. FirstGiving will send your donations directly to Samaritan’s Purse, a well respected nonprofit already at work in Uganda. You will receive an email with a printable record of your tax-deductible donation. You can read about their work at: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/running_water_to_uganda/#

I know not everyone reading this may be able to give, so I’m asking everyone to do something you can; pray. Pray for safety for those running on Sunday. Pray for God to be honored through our efforts. Pray for the efforts of Samaritan’s Purse. Most of all, pray that those they help might come to know the One that can give them the Living Water of eternal life.

Thanks for your time. Let’s run!

My Berry 10K Experience

This morning I ran the Berry 10K over in Rome, Georgia. Not the best of days for a race - it was raining again (it rained when I ran my first 10K last month). But the temperature was better at around 50.

The neatest thing about this race was something that happened just before the race began. I was finished with my stretching and had moved to the starting area for the race and thinking about the run ahead, how I would do, and that kind of stuff. And then I hear a voice coming from behind me quoting James 1:3 (Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance). WHAT?

And that's when the blessing happened - I met Jeff Mills, a fellow believer from Locust Grove, Georgia who had noticed my shirt (I had worn my shirt for our running group at our church) and blessed me with some encouragement just before the race began. Then we started talking about our race this day - me the 10K and Jeff was running the half marathon. It also gave me an opportunity to share with him about my running of the half marathon in two weeks to raise money for Samaritan's Purse and how God had blessed me with the response from so many wonderful people to support getting clean water to the families of Uganda.

The race began - Jeff on his way in the half and me in the 10K. And as I ran, I couldn't help but think about how God has not given all of us the same course to run in this life. What is for sure, regardless of the course God has chosen for each of us is that there will be times of trial. And God's purpose when those trials come along is always the same - that we will gain perseverance (endurance) and through them we will be conformed to the likeness of His Son.

Thank You, Jeff Mills for a word well spoken!

Oh yeah, I finished the race in 58:10, more than SEVEN minutes faster than last time!

9 Michael Ogles             173  106  54   58:10  9:23 Adairsville GA

Jeff finished the half in 2:35:15 with a 11:52 min/mile pace. Way to go Jeff!

On to Atlanta and the half marathon on March 20!

Why I'm Running...

A while back, I wrote about my desire to make a difference for the people of Uganda by helping them get clean and safe water. Their lack of access to clean, safe water puts adults and children at risk of disease that can often lead to death.

I’m running in the Publix Georgia Half Marathon on March 20 as a part of Team Samaritan’s Purse to raise money for this project and I need your help. Specifically I'm asking you to consider sponsoring me in the race! Team Samaritan’s Purse is a group of people who compete in athletic events to help needy people across the world. Team SP is helping by raising money for clean water projects in Uganda, and has set a goal of raising $100,000 at official events in Atlanta and Cincinnati this year.

Samaritan’s Purse is a well respected nonprofit already at work in Uganda building filtration systems and digging wells to provide clean, safe water. You can read about their work in Uganda here: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/running_water_to_uganda/#

Many of you responded by graciously donating to Samaritan’s Purse through my FirstGiving fundraising page (http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michael-ogles/michaelogles).

Thanks to your generosity, we have raised over $800 so far! Thank you! Because so many donated after my first request, your donations enabled me to be one of the two top fundraisers by the deadline of January 28 and as a result, I received one of the two race registrations that were donated to Samaritan’s Purse! I have to admit, I was a bit overwhelmed by the response. Today, I donated my race entry fee ($80) to Samaritan’s Purse.

THANK YOU for donating! But we’re not there yet – I’m still looking for donors to help reach our goal of at least $1000 by the race.

If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time. Just click on the link above and you can donate safely online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to Samaritans Purse by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.

Even a donation of $10 helps!

My Training

We’re just about four weeks from race day and training continues to go better than I expected. It’s not without its struggles but at 54, I expect some problems. Still, they’ve been far fewer than expected! My longest run to date is 7.5 miles and I hope to be up to 9 miles by the end of this week! You can keep up with my training at www.ogles.com or http://www.dailymile.com/people/Michael_O/. I’m also posting my progress on facebook (send me a friend request!).

Thanks for your support - and please help spread the word about this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

Please help us bring clean, safe water to the families of Uganda - we can do it one donation at a time. Again, my fundraising page is: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/michael-ogles/michaelogles.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Michael

Training Update - in more ways than one!

Many of you know that I've been "in training" to run the Publix Georgia Half Marathon in March to raise money for Samaritan's Purse in their efforts to bring clean water to the families of Uganda. And many of your have gotten a request to sponsor me in the race.

If you've followed any of my updates from Dailymile, you’ll know that the hills in my neighborhood have been a cause for much straining, especially the last one I have to climb on the way back to the house at the end of my runs. Most days I do well just to get up it walking, much less running! But an interesting thing happened when I ran my first race last weekend. It was the Polar Bear Run, a 5K down in Marietta and was on a course with fewer hills than my neighborhood. Guess what happened. I finished the race in just over 30 minutes, with a per mile time of 9:45!

569 MICHAEL OGLES ADAIRSVILLE GA 9191 54 M 30:13.50 9:45/M

Now, I know that isn’t all that great to many of you, but for me it was amazing! I haven't run a race since 1987 and have only been training for a few months. I had only hoped for a time around 12 minutes per mile. Those hills in my neighborhood had actually HELPED me when I got to the race! It gave me a new appreciation for them!

Then I realized a spiritual lesson out of all this –

When we experience hardships or trials (hills that are hard to get over) in our lives, we seldom see beyond them and the strain and stress that they cause at the moment. But the Bible says they have a specific purpose in our lives – to help us mature - if we will let them. This is how James puts it.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

So now I have a different view of those hills - and the trials that come unannounced and unwanted! Yes, they’re still hard, but I now know that they can bring strength and endurance if we let them work as God plans. I can't control what comes my way, but I can determine how I respond to it.

Got any hills in your life?