On our second free day we visited the John and Mable Ringling Estate in Sarasota. On its beautifully landscaped 66 acres are the following:

Cà d'Zan Mansion that was built in 1924-25 for 1.5 million. Click on the link to find more details, like how much it cost to restore it.

There are two Circus Museums, one is the world's largest miniature circus, The Howard Bros. Circus Model and the other is the Ringling Museum displaying costumes, posters, equipment and restoration projects such as their traveling train and circus artifacts. Pictured below left Rick imagines himself squeezing into Lou Jacobs infamous "little clown car."

John and Mable enjoyed traveling and collecting art properly displayed in their Museum of Art for visitors to enjoy.

When entering the grounds there are 6 flagpoles that represent the center pole layout for the largest canvas big tops used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey combined shows. The poles are 60 feet apart from each other.

Rick and I were on the road for a six-week trek. We spend some time in Florida near Sarasota because the last time we were there we did not concentrate on the lower gulfside. We spent about 10 days in the area, then set aside two days of rest. One of them was on Boca Grande Beach on Gasparilla Island State Park. It is restricted to fishing and shelling only. Later we definately found out why. Rick was relaxing in his chair (pictured below right) and saw a stingray leaping out of the water. Later, my sister saw a shark and one of the fishermen caught a baby shark. A local egret was bugging him to get his bait of minnows.

The Shurs are on the road again. From the end of March through the first part of May. Heading to southern Tennessee, down to Georgia, Florida, back up again to South and North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, down through Ohio, Kentucky, then home to Nashville, Tennessee by May 5.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." I Thessalonians 4:11 NKJV

Notice that the last part of this scripture states, "that you will not be dependent on anybody", but in fact THESE same HANDS relied on by others. World Bible School relies on hands like these to give a helping hand. The hands in this blog are from WBS study helpers at the Hartsville Pike Church of Christ located in Gallatin, Tennessee. In 2008 more than a million Bible correspondence courses were sent out to students. thousands of hands like these made it possible. The following song sung by Amy Grant has words that express it so well.

HELPING HANDS

Everybody needs a helping hand
Take a look at your fellow man
And tell me what can I do today'
Cause everybody needs a helping out
If that ain't what it's all about
Tell me what
What can I do
What can I do today

We've all seen trouble from time to time
There is a mountain ahead
I've got no strength to climb, hey
If you're feeling that you're strong
Reach out to me
I hope this journey won't take long
But won't you pleaseHave mercy

What can I do today
I'm talking 'bout the soul all alone
Needing the daily bread
Someplace to lay his head, yeah, hey
And I'm talking about the neighbor on your street
Won't you look him in the eye
Take time to speak
That's mercy, yeah, 'cause...

Love one another
Sister and brother
Love is the only way, hey

Find out what you can do to give a helping hand.

Visit http://www.wbschool.net/ today!

= ]

Rick and Gary in Chennai, India

Rick and Mary moved to Nashville, Tennessee the day after the Nashville Dinner which was the early part of December of 2008. One month later Rick and Gary Finley, went to Chennai, India for some research purposes. Widows and orphans, young men and old; were either being served or are serving through the Lord's church. Two preaching school graduation ceremonies were being presented at the time of their visit.

The WBS Coordinator for Bellevue Church of Christ is Charles Forehand. Pictured below are just a couple of the dedicated workers sowing the seed of God's word. Hundreds of pieces of mail weekly--thousands throughout the year.

Whew! It's been four months since I have posted anything here. I'll begin where I left off in the beginning of October. We finished our work in Alabama and inched our way toward Tennessee. Rick did a special presentation to the Bellevue Church of Christ were John Reese spoke at the morning worship.

The World Bible School teachers at Bellevue are one of the largest work groups in the brotherhood. They have implemented several successful techniques like working in shifts, working at different levels and at least three major portions of the church building. There whole process is quite amazing and worth visiting. While Rick and I visit several congregations, each one has their own unique way of teaching all nations the word of God.