© 2021 Don Pinson | [Download]
(Link not working? Right-click and select “Save As”.)
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?
Except for one thing, the state of our land could be very discouraging. If we look only at the Moslem threat, the homosexual agenda, or the work of socialists inside our governments, we could well be in despair. However, if any person or people set their will to walk in the order of God, they have proven to be invincible under any circumstances. It is my hope, that if we can experience revival, we would need not fear any enemy, internal or external.
In 1857-58 God came in revival in this nation in a remarkable way. A businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier started a noonday prayer meeting in New York City. Within a month, hundreds were praying at noon and it began to spread across the region. Some prayer meetings at noon sprang up without knowing of the New York prayer meetings. God began to move across the nation bringing hope to many who had become hopeless. The church had become so weak it couldn’t even decide if slavery was right or wrong. And whenever the Church leaves the Scripture as its standard society always goes downhill. We can always tell the strength of the Church by how much its influence controls the institutions of education, business, and civil government. Jesus said,
You must be logged in to post a comment.