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On October 8th, 1918, an Army corporal from the mountains of Tennessee did an amazing thing while fighting in World War I. Alvin York, a shy young man, who didn’t even want to go to war, performed so well in the line of duty he would later be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. York, who had been converted to Christ after being known as a “hell-raiser”, struggled with going to war because Jesus had taught that we should be peacemakers. However, he finally reasoned from the Bible that, as he would say,
“If a man can make peace by fighting, then he is a peacemaker.”
Once committed to his country’s cause, he distinguished himself as an amazing marksman. That ability would serve him well this October day.
His patrol was moving behind German lines who were ‘dug in’ within deep trenches. The Germans discovered York and his troop, and opened fire. The American patrol was pinned down and York would later report that the bushes all around him were shot to pieces yet he was miraculously spared. At great risk to his life he worked his way around the hillside where he could Continue reading
Jamestown would not have survived without him. Plymouth may not have survived without him. America might not even be in existence had it not been for this one individual. I’m referring to John Smith; soldier, adventurer, and—you might be surprised to know—Christian. One of the most colorful individuals in all of history, this Englishman with the very common name, John Smith, is also one of the most important individuals in all of history. Not that you’ll find much about him in the textbooks of our day. It’s interesting how many great individuals have been completely ignored by modern-day historians. But that’s another subject. Why was John Smith so important to America?
“Jesus’ followers had been together a lot during those ten days after He had returned to heaven. They had opened their hearts to each other in a way they had never done before. Somehow, reflecting on Jesus’ different appearances made it easier to bare one’s thoughts – the hopes and the fears. This opening of the heart began to work a oneness, a unity among them that made them feel as if they were a real part of the others: An actual body of believers, joined together by the same thinking, moving in the same direction.
