Today in 1901 the city of Jacksonville woke up to the aftermath of the largest metropolitan fire in the American South. The fire began with a spark from a kitchen fire igniting piles of drying Spanish moss at a mattress factory. The fire spread rapidly to the downtown area and was so intense that its smoke could be seen as far north as Savannah, Georgia. During the next ten plus years of rebuilding, one of the major industries which began to thrive in the city was silent films. When Eagle Film City filed bankruptcy, Richard Norman of Middleburg bought the studios. While he was best known for six feature length films, he completed many “shorts,” eight of which included your Grandpa Coker’s mom Ellaymah, whose stage name was “Dixie.”

Despite inventing a system that synched audio with the pictures, Norman lost the battle when a sound-on-film system debuted shortly thereafter. He might have made it anyway, but in 1917 John Martin was elected Mayor. One of his key campaign issues was to get rid of the hooligan moviemakers. Evidently a car chase, on a Sunday no less, through the streets and brothel areas got out of control. A number of passersby mistook the action for a real life riot and joined in. Chaos ensued, prompting the mostly conservative townsfolk to endorse Martin. While Martin campaigned, Southern California lured movie pioneers Selig and Griffith, essentially dooming Jacksonville’s growth in the industry.

So, why am I recounting all this history about our city? Why consider something that kept our city from becoming “Hollywood?” I think God simply had a better plan for those of us who would call this home. I believe God has been at work here and He prepared your city for His use. Between the time of the fire and Martin’s election, Luther Rice Bible College and Seminary began here. That was the first Bible College I attended. Over the coming years the Holy Spirit had a huge impact on our city. According to Wikipedia there are 794 churches here today. Now, that’s a lot! When I consider the impact the stand of a single man took and how it reshaped the future of America’s 16^th largest city, it makes me marvel. Martin’s election should remind you of why God pays so much attention to preplanning each person’s time and space and how a single life can eventually impact so many others.

Kids, I want each of you to stop for a moment, right now. I want you to consider the many gifts you have been given – not just the looks, brains and genetic advantages, () but an environment which provided you the privilege of living in love, joy, peace, and hope. How much is that worth? Consider a country like India alone. They have more homeless people than we have as a total population in our nation. We have been blessed because God wanted us to learn His ways and live our lives according to His good will. He knew your heart, so He provided a time and place of privilege. In the same way He knew Jeremiah’s heart before He was born, (Jeremiah 1:5) so He planned your time here – right now, so you could receive the best He has to offer. That alone should blow you away. I hope you are grateful for the time and space God provided for you. No one can replace you. No one!

Love Dad