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AMY'S 2009 READING LIST

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:28:34 GMT

Brisingr by Jonathan Paolini
Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
About a Boy by Nick Hornsby
Dare to Desire by John Elderedge

"All My Tears" by Julie Miller

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:57:38 GMT

When I go don't cry for me
In my Father's arms I'll be
The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced
With the light of Jesus' face
And I will not be ashamed
For My Savior knows my name

It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free
It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away

Gold and silver blind the eye
Temporary riches lie
Come and eat from heavens store
Come and drink and thirst no more

So weep not for me my friend
When my time below does end
For my life belongs to Him
Who will raise the dead again

It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free
It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away

Ralph Emanual Bennett (September 4, 1919 - January 5, 2009)

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:00:00 GMT

VALDESE - Mr. Ralph Emanual Bennett, 89, of Granite Falls, formerly of Indianapolis, Ind., died Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at his residence after a period of declining health. Mr. Bennett was born Sept. 4, 1919, in Boone, Iowa, to the late Pete and Jessie Trower Bennett. He was a carpenter by trade and a construction superintendent by profession for a period of 37 years. After retiring from commercial construction, he worked for Ace Hardware until age 86. Mr. Bennett was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was inducted in September 1943 and completed his basic training at Camp Perry, Va. After volunteering for amphibious training, he completed his training at Fort Pierce, Fla., and became a member of the Underwater Demolition Unit 58. He served in Algiers and Salerno and participated in Operation "Ready Fox" and the invasion of France at St. Raphael. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 24, 1945. He gave of himself by serving his community through the "Meals on Wheels" program and served as a deacon and on various committees in his church. He also volunteered his time on a mission trip to help build a hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He was a member of Morganton First Church of God and formerly a member of the 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, Ind., while living there. Surviving is his wife, Ina Floice Rose Bennett of the home; a son, Stephen R. Bennett and wife, Pam, of Granite Falls; and a daughter, Rebecca Ann Adkins of Anderson, Ind. Also surviving are his eight grandchildren, Amy Bennett, Misty Miller, David Bennett, Laura Horn, Joshua Wiesenauer and wife, Amy, Rachel Bilbrey and husband, Devin, Elizabeth Adkins, Jessie Adkins, and his five great-grandchildren, Sarah James, Nathan James, Jordan Horn, Mea Wiesenauer and Alexis Wiesenauer. He was loved and will forever be missed by his family and friends. The funeral service for Ralph E. Bennett will be held at 11 a.m. Friday Jan. 9, 2009, at Morganton First Church of God. The Rev. Don Blankenship will be officiating, with military honors conducted by American Legion Post 234 of Valdese. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at Heritage Funeral Service in Valdese, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Caldwell County, 902 Kirkwood St., NW, Lenoir, N.C. 28645. An online guest book and obituary are available at www.heritagefuneralservice.com. Heritage Funeral Service and Crematory is assisting the Bennett family.

Published in the Hickory Daily Record on 1/7/2009

AMY'S 2008 READING LIST

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:20:25 GMT

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by CS Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by CS Lewis
21: Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of Windy Poplars by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne's House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer
Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Suess
Galatians by Paul
Titus by Paul
Philemon by Paul
II John by John
III John by John
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George
Life Management for Busy Women: Growth & Study Guide by Elizabeth George

1,000 Places to See before I Die

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:12:26 GMT

59 – Prince Edward Island – Canada (July 2008)

· Summerside

· North Rustico

· Cavendish

· Green Gables House

· Anne of Green Gables Museum (Silver Bush)

· Old Charlottetown

· Providence House

58 – The Terra-Cotta Warriors – Xi’an, China (April 2008)

57 – Shanghai Museum – Shanghai, China (April 2008)

56 – The Great Wall of China – Badaling, Beijing Province, China (April 2008)

55 – The Forbidden City – Beijing, China (April 2008)

54 – Galway – Ireland (September 2007)

53 – The Ring of Kerry – Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland (September 2007)

· Killarney

· Cliffs of Moher

· Skellig Islands

52 – Connemara - Galway, Ireland (September 2007)

51 – Public Houses – Dublin, Ireland (September 2007)

· Guiness Storehouse

· Brazen Head – the oldest pub in Dublin (1198)

· Doheny & Nesbitt

50 – The Book of Kells – Dublin, Ireland (September 2007)

· Trinity College

· The Old Library

49 – Blarney Castle – Blarney, County Cork, Ireland (September 2007)

48 – Chez Panisse - Berkeley, CA (March 28, 2006)

47 – California Wine Country (March 25, 2006; August 2007) – Napa & Sonoma Valleys

· Grgich Hills

· Cain

· Frog’s Leap

· Ridge

· Seghesio

· Rosenblum

· La Crema

· Cakebread

· Plumjack

· Stag’s Leap

· Schramsberg

· Opus One

46 – The Acropolis – Athens, Greece (November 2005)

45 – Rhodes – Greece (November 2005)

44 – Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – Boston, MA (September 2005)

43 – The Smithsonian & Beyond – Washington, DC (May 1992, July 2008)

42 – The National Mall & Its Monuments – Washington, DC (May 1992, July 2008)

· US Capitol

· Lincoln Memorial & FDR Memorial

· Washington Monument

· Jefferson Memorial

· Vietnam Memorial

· White House

41 – Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington (September 2004)

· Sea Aquarium

· The Original Starbucks

40 – Colonial Williamsburg – Williamsburg, Virginia (May 1994)

39 – River Walk – San Antonio, Texas (July 2000, April 2007)

38 – The Heart of Charleston – Charleston, South Carolina (May 2000, April 2006)

37 – Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 1992)

36 – Pennsylvania Dutch Country – Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (November 2002)

35 – Gettysburg National Military Park & Cemetery – Pennsylvania (November 2002)

34 – Cattlemen’s Steakhouse – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (December 2004)

33 – The Outer Banks – North Carolina (May 2005, June 2006)

· Bald Head Island Lighthouse

· Oak Island Lighthouse

· Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Hatteras Island

· Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

· Bodie Island Lighthouse

· Currituck Beach Lighthouse

· Wright Brothers National Memorial

· Jockey’s Ridge State Park

32 – Great Smoky Mountains National Park – North Carolina (May 2002)

31 – The Biltmore Estate – Asheville, North Carolina (May 1995)

30 – Historic Downtown New York (May 1992, November 1999, May 2000, October 2007)

29 – New York City, New York (May 1992, November 1999, May 2000, October 2007)

· American Museum of Natural History & MoMA

· Central Park

· Empire State Building

· Rockefeller Center

· Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

· Times Square/42^nd Street

· Brooklyn Bridge

· Grand Central Terminal

28 – The Las Vegas Strip – Las Vegas, Nevada (July 1999, August 2000, November 2006, July 2007)

27 – Bellagio – Las Vegas, Nevada (July 1999, August 2000)

26 – Legal Sea Foods – Boston, Massachusetts (January 2004)

25 – The Freedom Trail – Boston, Massachusetts (January 2004, August 2004)

· Boston Common

· USS Constitution

· Faneuil Hall

· Old State House

24 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, Louisiana (May 2003)

23 – The New Orleans Restaurant Scene – New Orleans, Louisiana (October 2003)

22 – The French Quarter – New Orleans, Louisiana (May 2002, May 2003, October 2003)

21 – The Golden Islands – Jekyll Island, Georgia (July 1989)

20 – Savannah’s Historic District – Georgia (February 2003)

19 – Walt Disney World Resort – Orlando, Florida (July 1989, May 1997)

· Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Castle, Space Mountain, It’s a Small World

· Epcot Center: Spaceship Earth

· Disney-MGM Studios

18 – South Beach – Miami Beach, Florida (May 1998)

17 – Key West, Florida (May 1998)

16 – A Tour on San Francisco’s Cable Cars – San Francisco, California (July 1990, June 2005, August 2007)

· Fisherman’s Wharf

· Alcatraz Island

· Golden Gate Bridge

· Embarcadero

· Chinatown

· North Beach

· Telegraph Hill

· Coit Tower

15 – Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado, California (May 2003, April 2004)

14 – The Pacific Coast Highway – California (May 2003, April 2004)

· LA to San Diego

· Santa Monica Pier

13 – Hollywood – Los Angeles, California (May 2003)

· Mann’s Chinese Theatre

· Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame

12 – Red Rock Country – Sedona, Arizona (May 2004)

11 – Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa – Phoenix, Arizona (June 2005, July 2006)

10 – The Grand Canyon – Flagstaff, Arizona (June 1996, May 2004)

· El Tovar Hotel

· Mule trip

· Plateau Point

9 – Bubbling Rotorua – North Island, New Zealand (April 2005)

8 – Lake Taupo & Huka Lodge – North Island, New Zealand (April 2005)

7 – Chateau de Versailles – Versailles, Ile de France, France (April 1995)

6 – Paris, Ile de France, France (April 1995)

· Arc de Triomphe

· Basilique du Sacre-Coeur

· Centre Georges Pompidou

· The Eiffel Tower

· The Louvre

· Musée d’Orsay

· Notre Dame

· A Bateau-Mouche Cruise on the Seine

5 – Normandy’s D-Day Beaches – Haute-Normandie, France (April 1995)

4 – Mont-Saint-Michel – Haute-Normandie, France (April 1995)

3 – Stonehenge – Wiltshire, England (April 1995)

2 – Salisbury Cathedral – Salisbury, Wiltshire, England (April 1995)

1 – London, England (April 1995, September 2007)

· Buckingham Palace

· St. Paul’s Cathedral

· Big Ben & Parliament

· Westminster Abbey

· London Eye

The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World's Book of Life

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:08:24 GMT

As I sit here watching my beloved March Madness on a Friday night, I decided to do a little research on a topic that came up at my last Bible Study (gotta love wireless internet, right?). A little background – my group is doing a 10-week study on the “fruits of the spirit” and this week’s topic was “joy.” In one of the lessons, the study guide author was trying to make the point that Christians should be joyous because our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. However, the 2 specific verses re: the Book of Life that she selected to support her point (out of the 13 possible specific verses to choose from – I counted!), seemed to be the most confusing two verses on the topic.

I’ve always understood that in order for your name to be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, I must be a Believer that Christ, God’s only Son, was sent to die for my sins while He was blameless and I am nothing but undeserving of this gracious gift. That being sad, the 2 verses used to reference the Book of Life were Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 –

Revelation 13:8 - 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

Revelation 17:8 - 8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast that he was and is not and will come.

Now, I realize both of these verses are “out of context,” but upon first reading – the topic of predestination immediately surfaced, and a few of the ladies in the group (who are relatively baby Christians) seemed concerned - they didn’t see the point of life and Christianity if our eternity has been predetermined “from the foundation of the world.”

I quickly did some cross-referencing in my Bible (thank goodness for my handy inductive study Bible!) and read various other scriptures re: the Book of Life. Almost all other verses specifically referring to the book – refer to being “blotted out of the Book” – I think I read 3 additional verses (aside from the 2 referenced in our study) and helped them to think about the fact that our Christianity is not predetermined, rather we’re listed in the Book “from the foundation of the world” and once we in our own freewill decide we want to follow Jesus, then we remain in the book, while those who deny Christ, are erased. In addition, God knew each and every one of us before the world was formed so it makes sense that He would’ve written all our names in the Book of Life “from the foundation of the world.” I could definitely see some wheels turning, but I could also see that question about our faith (or not) being prewritten.

All this leads me to a few questions that I think you can help find the answers to…and for ease of cross-referencing, the attached Word doc has all the Bible verses I could find that specifically reference the Book of Life.

All the verses on the Book of Life seem very clear (in context, of course) until you get to Revelation 13:8. Beyond that in the book of Revelation, the verses referring to the Book of Life seem a bit “fuzzy” – I know that statement may be a bit of a hyperbole since Revelation is prophecy – and what prophecy isn’t fuzzy until it happens? I guess I’m just trying to get your takes on Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 – to see if you have any insights that I’m missing? I looked these verses up in other versions and noticed that the preposition “from the foundation of the world” appeared to refer to Jesus as slain from the foundation of the world” rather than the writing of names in the Book (i.e., 13:8 – “…whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world). In addition, I tried to find some commentaries, but none of them seemed to comment on the Book of Life topic.

In Revelation 20:11-15, it refers to the Great White Throne judgment. This passage refers to “other books” along with the Book of Life – do we know to what other books Paul is referring? Does it refer to these books elsewhere in the Bible?

Is there a link between the Book of Life and the Tree of Life?

Basically, I told the girls I would do some research on the topic because it intrigued me, and I’d like to help alleviate any disheartenment if I can get them closer to the answer. By the way, I do find it fascinating that we start out written in the Book and are “blotted out” when all this time I thought the Book was blank of my name until my salvation.

By His grace and salvation,

Amy

AMY'S 2007 READING LIST

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:27:56 GMT

- Eragon by Christopher Paolini

- Eldest by Christopher Paolini

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

- When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home by Erma Bombeck

- Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares

- Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog by John Grogan

- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

- The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by Laurie Notaro

- Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke

- Love's Enduring Promise by Janette Oke

- See Jane Date by Melissa Senate

- In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner

- Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner

- Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner

- The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner

- Lamentations by Jeremiah

- Romans by Paul et al.

A Great Commentary on the "state of the nation" from Ben Stein

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:33:27 GMT

Someone passed this along and I thought it was really cool. It’s a letter that Ben Stein wrote and read on CBS. I think he’s put into words what many Christians feel – and he’s Jewish! It’s a good read – and the snopes link is below to verify it’s not an “urban legend.” He often commentates on the “state of the nation” on CBS, and this is one of my favorites. I especially like when he quotes Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham. I’ve included another CBS link at the bottom re: another commentary he did this summer. Please read.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a church, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where is the America we knew go to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.

She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/benstein2.asp.

6/10/2007 commentary - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/10/sunday/main2908364.shtml

The 1st Week of Home Ownership

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:55:08 GMT

Well - I have to say that I'm enjoying being a homeowner, although I've spent most of my time cleaning my apartment since I have to return the keys by tomorrow. Anyway - there are a handful of things I never realized I would learn so quickly while owning a house, and the fact that I've learned them ALL in one week is amazing to me. In the last 7 days -

I've learned how to ignite the pilot light in gas water heater;
I've learned how to uninstall a ceiling fan;
I've learned how to clear an "invisible" obstruction from the sensor beam on my garage door;
I've learned how to sleep through the "beep" of a dying 9-volt battery from a smoke detector that's 10 feet high that I won't be able to reach until I have time to buy a ladder;
I've learned that a 1994 Lincoln Town Car is 6" too long to fit in my 2-car garage;
I've learned the joys of my own personal garbage can so that I no longer have load all the garbage in my jeep and drive a 1/2 mile to the dumpster; and
I've learned that it IS possible for me to sleep with the sunrise cascading through my window every morning because I haven't had time to measure my windows in order to purchase blinds.

Technically, there are about 24 hours remaining in my first week of home ownership, so I'll keep you posted in case I learn anything else...

FINALLY, there's actually "good" news in the news...

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:54:06 GMT

Eagle's Landing Christian catcher hears call
Doug Campbell, Jr. soon to pursue career as minister

By SETH COLEMAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/29/07

Think back to your high school days, and where and how the big man on your campus would spend Saturday nights during his senior year. For most, that meant being at the can't miss-party of the week, and being a part of all the tomfoolery that often went along with it.

But Eagle's Landing Christian Academy senior Doug Campbell Jr. doesn't want any part of that. His "big man on campus" credentials are stout: He's the reigning homecoming king, a three-year starting catcher on one of the state's best baseball teams and one of the most popular kids at the McDonough school.

Still, Campbell, 18, usually can be found spending Saturday nights at a local restaurant with his family, or watching ESPN and playing video games with his little brother, Connor, 15, and their father, Doug Sr. It has been that way for him since he dedicated his life, and his actions, to the Lord during the summer of his sophomore year.

In fact, while many of the seniors playing in today's state baseball semifinals will continue their careers on the college level next season, an opportunity afforded to Campbell as well, he is — once again — going in another direction. He's walking away from the game he loves so that he can devote himself fully to studying to be a youth minister.

"He's not one of the highly sought after, superstar players," said the elder Campbell, who is also ELCA's coach. "But he is a very good player. He's started for us for three years and caught just about every game each year. I figure if he's not going to play anymore, we might as well get all we can out of him."

Campbell's game management behind the plate is exceptional, particularly his ability to catch any and all pitches.

Forest Park coach Michael Breedlove was impressed by Campbell in his team's 12-2 loss to ELCA in the final game of the regular season. And Breedlove knows talent: Two of his players, Antonio and Cordaryl Kendrick, signed scholarships with Alabama State, while his best player, Isaiah Froneberger, has signed with Georgia and could be selected in the top five rounds of the Major League Baseball draft next month.

"You can tell that he's a natural leader out there, a very impressive player," Breedlove said. "Of course, they have a bunch of very good players, but he's definitely one that stands out."

Campbell, who is hitting .430, has invitations to play at a number of junior colleges and visited Bryan College in southeast Tennessee, and Young Harris College, which advanced to the national Junior College World Series this season. He said he has decided to answer a higher calling instead of continuing to call pitches.

"At first, I was 50-50 about it, but as I grew more in Christ, I felt God calling me to the ministry to influence students and to teach," Campbell said. "College baseball would be time-consuming, and [the ministry] is what I believe God is calling me to do."

Campbell's faith came about as a result of a dramatic and unpleasant event in his life. In February of 2005, in his sophomore year, he was among eight ELCA students suspended for underage drinking off campus. Campbell, who had been an exemplary student, was devastated.

"I felt embarrassed and ashamed," he said. "I know the things that I do reflect on my family, and it hurt that I had let them down and embarrassed them. It was a real roadblock in my life."

While some of the students appealed the suspensions, the Campbells did not.

"When you sin against God you have to humble yourself and look to God to restore you," said Campbell's mother, Gina. "God can bring you back into favor, but only after you humble yourself."

During his three-week suspension, Campbell kept up with his school work and wrote letters of apology to a number of people, including his family members, his teachers, his principal and the pastor of his church, Eagle's Landing First Baptist. He also reflected deeply on his personal relationship with God.

A few months later when it was time to register for a summer youth bible camp in Tennessee, however, Campbell hadn't planned on attending.

"I thought it was going to be pretty lame," he said. But Campbell said he soon realized it was where he needed to be. He says now his experience there changed his life.

"I knew the way I was living wasn't right, but I was in denial," Campbell said. "I knew it was time to make a change."

Change and acceptance don't always go hand in hand. He said a number of his friends and acquaintances weren't happy, but his outgoing personality won people over. He will take his core college courses at Clayton State while participating in a youth ministry internship at Eagle's Landing First Baptist. That means no time for baseball, which has been a part of his life since he was 4 years old.

"I wasn't disappointed," Doug Sr. said of his son's decision. "But as his dad and as his coach, you do sort of want him to pursue [college baseball], especially when you know he has the opportunity, and you see other kids on his same level who are playing [college baseball].

"But how can you go against something that God has put on his heart? We fully support him. I can't express how proud we are of him."

Campbell's youth minister at church, Reagan Farris, thinks the same qualities that make Campbell a good baseball player could eventually make him an exceptional youth minister.

"He is just a natural leader," Farris said. "And he is not just a churchgoer. ... I think he can have a great impact on a lot of young lives."