Restoration Destination 2023

All journeys begin with a destination in mind. For Restoration Destination 2023, our first destination was Georgetown, Kentucky, where my mom, Doris, had met up with her sister, Aunt Susie, who was going along with us. 

It was on to our second destination, the Avista Resort at North Myrtle beach South Carolina.

Upon safe arrival, we continued to our third destination, North Myrtle Beach Christian church. 

There, we received various solid Bible teachings by Rick Mathena on restoring the church as it was in the book of Acts. 

Our family was blessed with the opportunity to supply the music for the worship service Sunday morning, as we praised the Lord in song.

Our final destination was the main Restoration Destination event on November 6, 7, and 8 at the Avista. Hosting the event, Bill Wines from the North Myrtle beach Christian church, was a blessing to our family and a dear brother in Christ. 

Several preachers gave messages of hope and encouragement, along with church restoration history, while the Watchman performed exciting music for each day’s session. 

Having been asked to preach for the event, I exhorted the attendees to “Wake Up O Sleeper.” 

This year we were afforded the opportunity to do a 15-minute musical afterglow on two evenings and a 10-minute presentation of song for one morning session. Our family was excited to sing and play music, utilizing our fiddles, guitars, banjo, mandolin, and the special bass from our friend, Bob Stevens.

Some additional destinations besides time at the beach, were The Crazy Mason, Putt-Putt golf, and a helicopter ride! 

 

 

The weather was perfect at 75 degrees and sunny each day, allowing us to spend time in the water and play in the sand. 

Friendships were made and old acquaintances rekindled, as we all spent time together in the Word and in fellowship.

We look forward to November 11, 12, and 13 of 2024 when once again, we will head on another journey with the same destination- Myrtle Beach and Restoration Destination. What an exciting way to spend a vacation- honoring the Lord with music and song, doing a little beaching and hearing some great preaching! 

Maybe you could join us, and it can be one of your destinations for 2024 as well. We can arrive at our destination together praising the Lord!

~Mark

An Ode To Knight’s Prairie Church

In the summer of 1885, along a winding stretch of the Old Goshen Road in Hamilton County, Illinois, a 30 by 40-foot frame structure was erected for the sole purpose of worship to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The original building of log construction was built when the church first organized in 1840 on the southeast corner of the cemetery. Later, a second building was constructed near the center of the burial ground, but was blown down by a tornado in the spring of 1885. By November of that same year, the hard work was completed and the new building on the west side of the cemetery was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day at a cost of $700.

Genealogy Trails

One hundred and twelve years later, we first laid eyes on the abandoned structure as we traveled the Old Goshen Road for the first time to our newly purchased property one mile from the edifice. It stood alone, tall and stately, with a slight lean, yet with a strong demeanor. Later, we explored the dust filled chambers, with the inside being a shamble due to teenage vandals and lack of usage. Broken pews, disheveled pulpit, and an old clunky piano were the last reminders of the vibrant worship that once filled the dwelling. We pondered what it would have been like to worship in such an atmosphere, and after singing a few songs of reminiscent praise and an inspection of the bell tower, we departed the gloomy scene.

Time has continued to take its toll on the old white icon with the only real activity being a swarm of bees that took up residence in the clapboard siding and the removal of the bell to a tower in the cemetery. With most of the windows broken out, a leaking roof, and a rotting foundation, the building began to lean more and more until it had become a safety hazard. The hard decision to wisely destroy the structure was finally made and the end of an era came to pass. With November 1885 as its beginning, September 2023 marks the end of the Knight’s Prairie church building. However, since the church is not a building, but rather the people that gather, I am sure there are descendants of those who once congregated in the Knight’s Prairie church still faithfully serving the Lord throughout the country.

As a dedication to the memories that are associated with the church and those buried in the cemetery, a picnic shelter has been erected near the old site. The large, dignified building is gone. Time passes and brings change with it, along with new hopes for tomorrow. Who knows what another one hundred and twelve years will bring, but we can ponder what the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 13:13-14, “ Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

~Mark McDaniel

My Most Embarrassing Moment

I’m sure everyone has experienced at least once in their life, that cheek burning, stomach knotting, humiliating, wish the ground would swallow you up embarrassing moment. I have, several times, but my most embarrassing episode occurred last July, at Restoration Acres in Ohio, while we were attending Hillsboro Family Camp.

Fun after the evening session

We have been going to Hillsboro Family Camp for the past several years. It is a week in the summer we all look forward to with anticipation. This year was no different, except that we all felt an added bit of nervous excitement on account of the fact that we had been asked to sing a fifteen-minute evening concert for one of their sessions. With around fifteen hundred people in attendance, this would be our biggest event yet!

After a full two and a half days rolled by in Ohio, the time came for us to perform. It was a scene of energetic bustling in our camper as seven o’ clock approached Tuesday evening. Hair fixed, clothes changed, instruments checked, brief inspection of everyone, and we felt we were ready. All dressed in black, white, or gray, we walked up to the pavilion where we were to sing. I thought to myself how nice we all looked and hoped that our songs would glorify God as well as encourage and uplift those who heard us.

Pre-concert practice in the camper

We took our seats at the side of the stage and after the introductions and some opening words, we filed up the stairs, and stepped into our places. An intro was played, and our concert had begun. I don’t remember much of what happened during those fifteen minutes, for it always feels like a dream to me after I’ve been on stage. So, after the applause died down, we placed our instruments back in their cases and filed slowly around the pavilion back to our normal seats, saying a quiet thank you to people who encouraged us with their kind words.

I remember sitting down again, then standing up to take my sleeping nephew out of his sister’s tired arms. It was at that moment I realized, well Jayla realized, that my dress was unzipped! My dress’ zipper was not in the typical location a zipper is normally, that is down the back. It was placed running down my side underneath my left arm. As I grabbed Nathaniel, Jayla could see a one-to-two-foot section of my left side, along with undergarment unmentionables, bared for the quiet assessment of public eyes! Immediately I felt my face turn hot and my stomach begin to churn. My symptoms turned infinitely worse when a friend came up, relieved to find we had corrected the problem she had noticed just seconds earlier!

A worn-out Gideon 

Zip!!! As I sat down, the full import of Jayla’s disastrous discovery fell on me. I had, from the moment we walked into the pavilion, to the time we took our places on stage, during our entire performance, while we walked around the entire crowd to our normal seats at the back of the pavilion, smiling and waving to friends the entire way, been exposing two feet of my left side to the general view! I was humiliated!

My feelings started to abate, only after I had talked to several friends and realized that none of them had noticed anything. I still couldn’t believe it though; Even now, I get flushed just thinking about it! I am sure I will never forget my most embarrassing moment yet, and I hope it stays just that, my most embarrassing moment. May I never have to relive another of those kinds of episodes, even if they do make humorous stories years down the road for future listeners!

~Halayah

The Tale of Two Instruments

My tale begins last fall, when our family was singing at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A gentleman from the audience came to us after our performance and asked us to sing for a revival in Ohio in the spring. He sweetened the offer by promising my little brother an electric bass if we came. When spring rolled around, we found ourselves at the Allensburg Church of Christ.

True to his word, Bob Stevens pulled the bass out soon after we arrived, and it was beautiful. Before long, the instrument was hooked up to the amp. Samuel’s playing around on it sounded good for not having played a bass before. He liked it right away.

Prior to the revival, we had been watching an old 1955 T.V. show called “What’s My Line.” We decided to change our usual family introduction to one like that of this old game show, where each member on the panel introduced the panelist to their left. As such, it would prove to be more interesting, not knowing what crazy thing the person next to you had in mind to say. Samuel introduced Unique as being very talented, knowing how to clog, yodel, and play the ukulele. Many people came up later that night stating their hopes of hearing her play the ukulele the next day. As she hadn’t brought hers, we were off to find one in the morning.

As we entered the music store, my dream stood there looking right at me. Dark and beautiful, it brought to mind all the beautiful sounds played by its kind. It was a gorgeous cello, but it had a pretty price tag, too. We all looked around, admiring the instruments in the shop, but I kept coming back to that cello. While everyone meandered here and there admiring everything that was offered for sale, Dad and Mama were looking for a good ukulele. Mama found a beautiful mahogany tenor ukulele that she would claim for her own. It was a good quality instrument, and she was pleased with it. Leaving the store, I was sure that poor cello was going to miss me. As I walked out the door, I believe I heard the cello groan a low disappointed bass note.

That night as part of his introduction, Samuel presented me as his big sister Jayla who was currently unattached. With a big smile, I told the crowd that I had just fallen in love that day. Everybody let out a sweet, “Aww!” I continued “…with a cello in a music shop.” Per request, Unique accompanied herself on the ukulele while yodeling a great song for the crowd.

In the audience that night sat one of Mama’s cousins along with his granddaughter who loved Unique’s song so much. She had always wanted to learn how to play the ukulele. Roger got to thinking about his cello and suggested a trade proposition for Dad. Were we actually going to have a cello? Before I knew it, there in my hands was a cello, I was really holding it, and it was possibly going to be ours! Both the look on his granddaughter’s face and my excitement was enough to ensure the value of the trade on either side.

Straight away we had a new addition to the family, a beautiful cello that currently stands sentinel in a corner of the house. I am thankful for it. I’m no cellist…yet, that is, but I am working on it. While my tale of two instruments may draw to a close, the story lives on in every note played on either instrument, whether in practice, performance, or the composition of beautiful pieces of music.

~Jayla

An Exciting Game In Section D!

For the past many years, we have been going to Hillsboro Family Camp. It is in Ohio and is one of my favorite places to go each year. At the camp we play and visit with others, and we also get to listen to lots of excellent preaching. This year we were asked to do a fifteen-minute concert!

When we were packing up our clothes, food, and other things, Samuel, Isaac, and I also made sure to bring our ball gloves, bats, and balls. Ryan and Amanda and their family were planning to come also, so they made sure to bring their baseball gear, too. We packed everything up the night before we left, so we would not forget it. We were hoping to play a lot of ball that week, and we were excited to go.

Every day while we were at the camp, we played ball a good bit. A bunch of the time, all our friends would come over and play with us. When that happened, we would start a game. We played in an open field in section D where we camp. The field was a perfect spot to play. It was lots of fun. When it was just Samuel, Isaac, Justus, Gideon, and Me, we would throw a hard baseball to practice our skills. Most of the time we would use wiffle balls. Baseball is very thrilling to play. You never know which team is going to win. There are lots of positions you can play.

One of the games we like to play is kind of like grounders and high flies. The game involves one of us boys hitting the ball out, and the fielders trying to catch a fly ball to get him out. The batter would continue hitting the ball until he got three outs. Then it was the next person’s turn to try. The goal for the runner was to score as many runs as he could before they got out, and the fielder’s goal was to get three outs as fast as he could, and not let any runs score. My favorite position to play on the field is short stop. It’s very exciting!

I enjoy going to Hillsboro Family Camp, and I hope to return next year. If you want to have a good time, come to Hillsboro Family Camp. Not only will you get to play ball, but you will hear lots of good sermons and have lots of good fellowship. Come and join us in section D!

~Jonah

You Know You Are a Musician When. . .

You know you are a musician when…

You keep your fingernails as short as possible. When most of your friends know how to play an instrument. When you wonder if you are going to need to take your instrument on this next vacation. When you go around singing the count of a timing on a song you just buckled down on. When you tell the banjo player to keep the borrowed tuner with him to save the asking. When you cringe just a little until the mandolin player gets the strings in unison during tuning. When you understand what a musician means when he is figuring out a note and says, “Good Boys Do Fine Always” or “All Cows Eat Grass.” Or when you ask a young learner what the note is, and they shout out “Cows! C!” When you find your fingers playing the air piano along with the pianist. 

When it is very difficult to watch an overhead projection of the pianist when the sound is a fraction of a second off from his hands. When random people you don’t even know ask if you brought your instrument with you. When you are humming the double shuffle of the Orange Blossom Special to the beat of the shaking of the salt over the food you are preparing. 

When five sisters whistle tunes with harmony while working in the kitchen together. Or similarly, when your family sings altogether while cleaning up the kitchen after a meal. When your fingertips are calloused, and occasionally peel off. 

When there are enough instruments to go around for everyone at family get togethers, even toddlers play an extra ukelele, drum, harmonica, or shaker. When you come up from the barnyard to pick up your fiddle and plunk around to find that new lick that fits perfectly into the song you were just running through your head. When you find your free time almost always pertains to music in some way or another. 

When you try to listen closely and count just how many instruments are playing in that song on the radio. When the famous Ricky Skaggs is in your family tree, and Mamaw (whose maiden name is Skaggs) tells you to play and “make good ole Uncle Ricky proud.” (He is a distant cousin.) When you have a rough estimate of fifty instruments in your house. When you just love playing for the Lord and serving others along the way through music.

Being an instrumentalist is so exciting! You never know where your instrument will take you. There is an amazing joy and fulfillment that comes with being a musician. I am so blessed to be in a family that is full of them. Making music to praise the Lord is my goal when I play whether for an audience or not. There is always an audience of One. Psalm 101:1 says, “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to You, oh Lord, I will make music." Psalm 33:3 “Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.” Yes, I am happy to be a musician!

~Jayla