On Sept. 17, 1862, Union forces hurled back a Confederate invasion of Maryland in the Civil War battle of Antietam. With nearly 23,000 killed, wounded and missing or captured, it remains the bloodiest day in U.S. military history.

I find that a remarkable, but under-exposed fact of history, is that Lincoln used the Battle of Antietam as a sign from God to move forward with the Emancipation Proclamation.   Lincoln said, “God had decided this question in favor of the slave (Meacham, 2005, p. 117).”

Even a current national parks web-site confirms this:

When Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River and began its invasion of Maryland, Lincoln made “a solemn vow” that should Lee be stopped, he would “crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves (National Parks Services, 2013) ”

Writing on this historical milestone, Doris Goodwin states:

The victory, incomplete as it was, was the long-awaited event that provided Lincoln the occasion to announce his plans to issue  . . . He told them that when Lee’s army was in Maryland, he had decided “as soon as it should be driven out” of the state, he would issue his proclamation. “I said nothing to any one; but I made the promise to myself, and to my Maker.(Goodwin, 2005, p. 481-482).”

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Goodwin, D. K. (2005). Team of rivals: The political genius of Abraham Lincoln. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Meacham, J. (2006). American gospel: God, the founding fathers, and the making of a nation. New York: Random House.

National Parks Services, 2013.  Taken on June 6, 2013, from http://www.nps.gov/resources/story.htm?id=235

This article was hard to believe.  I’ve really enjoyed The Park at Indian Lake Village, with its nice walking / jogging trails and beautiful trees.  But, according to the Hendersonville Star News, there is a lot of confusion on this property.

Here is my understanding of this article:

1. The eight acres between the Hendersonville Public Library and The Park at Indian Lake Village which contains part of a public greenway, was purchased recently by developers.

2. The city council thought the eight acres were part of the park.

3. The park isn’t owned by the city anyway, but is “a privately owned public park.”

4. The eight acres is zoned for residential development.  Yet, the master plan only approves it for a park.    Who wins that conflict?

5. Bottom line, a public park was built with private money.  Now that the private company is not doing well, there are a whole bunch of questions about the park.

This will be an interesting story to see unfold – what a mess!

We are excited to partner with Bob Perry and the Nashville House of Prayer, to host the “Hendersonville House of Prayer” on Tuesday, September 24 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.    We want our church to be a gathering point for Christians to pray together, combining live worship music with intercession.

Bob Perry will be with us on Sunday, September 23, to cast vision for this great opportunity.   Pay attention for more details as they develop!