2 Timothy 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;
that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand...
17 And take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

In years far gone by the Catholic church convinced many that all Bibles should be kept in their cathedrals; that they were dangerous in the hands of the common people. This has not been the policy of true Bible believers since the days of Christ.

This story illustrates the peril of the Roman method, which though seldom practiced in actual fact today, is too often practiced mentally. That is to say, many, even among Bible believing circles, today feel that only the pastor is capable of rightly dividing the word of God. Thus, they have in effect left their swords at the church house. Will this happen to your church or family spiritually?

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Destruction of the city of Lawrence, Kansas, and the massacre of its inhabitants by the rebel guerrillas, August 21, 1863. Harper's Weekly, Kansas Collection, University of Kansas Libraries.

By TIMOTHY HRENCHIR and JAMES BOOTHE

Journal-World Special Historical Correspondents

LAWRENCE, Kan. (Aug. 21, 1863) -- Savage Confederate Army guerillas led by Col. William Quantrill inflicted horrible pain and death upon Lawrence this morning in a four-hour frenzy of plunder, fire and murder.

The bloody attack will be remembered as perhaps the most complete devastation of any community in the nation's history. About 450 raiders took part, killing between 147 and 200 men and boys and burning an estimated 185 to 200 buildings to the ground. Women and children were not physically harmed but the raid left an estimated 85 widows and 250 orphans.

Almost all the people killed had been unarmed. Rebels conducted the 5 a.m. sneak attack with a swiftness that gave the sleepy town's residents insufficient time to get to their guns, which Mayor George W. Collamore had ordered kept in the city's downtown armory.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,
knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The General's Love

This story was told by Sam Jones the old time, Methodist evangelist when he was preaching in Nashville, Tennessee circa 1885. The story took place during the United States "Civil" War. Quoted from The Life and Sayings of Sam P. Jones by his wife, pp. 140-141.

"You recollect that memorable battle of Franklin, Tennessee. This instance, not historical, but in many respects true, illustrates just what I want to say to you.  At the battle of Franklin, General Hood had his tent pitched upon a prominence, and he could overlook the whole battle to his right. As you remember, he had already lost one of his legs. While the battle was waging hot and thick, General Hood was limping up and down in front of the tent, and whenever he would turn and face the battle, he saw that there was a fort in a locust grove the Union forces held, and that fort was sending forth shot and shell and death into his own ranks.

"As he walked up and down in front of his tent, and every time he turned around he would see this volley of shell and death as it hewed down his ranks, and he watched the volley from that fort, and directly he called his adjutant-general. 'Adjutant-general, come here.' The adjutant-general loped up on his horse, and General Hood said: 'Adjutant-general, go and present my compliments to General Cleburne, and tell him, I ask at his hands the fort in the locust grove.'

"The adjutant-general loped off down to where General Cleburne's division of corps was, and asked for General Cleburne. They said, 'He is missing; he has not been seen in two hours. We think he is killed.' The adjutant-general loped back to General Hood and said: 'General Cleburne is missing. They think he is killed...'

"General Hood dropped his head and walked up and down in front of his tent, and every time he would turn he would see the volley of shell and death play into his ranks. Again calling his adjutant-general to him, he said, 'Adjutant-general, go and present my compliments to General Cheatham, and tell him, I ask at his hands the fort in the locust grove.'

"The adjutant-general loped off down to General Cheatham's quarters, and they said: 'General Cheatham is not here; he is missing. He may have been killed.' The adjutant-general hurried back and said: 'They think General Cheatham is killed also.'

"General Hood commenced marching up and down, and every time he turned he saw that fort as it threw out its shell and death. He stopped again, and said: 'Adjutant-general.' His adjutant-general came up to him, then he said: 'Adjutant-general, go and present my love (no compliments about this -- go and present my love) to General Cockrell, and tell him I ask at his hands that fort in the locust grove.'

"The adjutant-general went down to General Cockrell's division, and he said: 'General Cockrell, General Hood presents his love, and asks at your hands that fort in the locust grove.' General Cockrell straightened himself on the saddle, cast his bright eye down the line, and said: 'Missouri Brigade, Attention!' and dropped his finger on that fort. And they charged with fearful loss on that fort, and captured it and silenced the guns. And Cockrell called his adjutant-general and said: 'Adjutant-general, go and present my love to General Hood, and tell him I also present him the fort in the locust grove.'

"Brethren of Nashville, at this hour, as adjutant-general of the Lord Jesus Christ, I point my finger at the citadel of sin in Nashville, and tell you that my Lord and Saviour present you all His love, and He asks at your hands this fort that is desolating so many hearts."

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

A French soldier in World War I carried with him this little solution to worry: "Of two things, one is certain. Either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front, of two things one is certain. Either you are exposed to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to danger, of two things one is certain. Either you are wounded, or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things one is certain. Either you recover, or you die. If you recover, there is no need to worry. If you die, you cannot worry. SO WHY WORRY?"

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Proverbs 14:23 In all labour there is profit:
but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

No Honor Before Action

General Ira C. Eaker, wartime chief of the Army Air Force Bomber Command in Europe, was given a dinner to honor him and his staff shortly after his arrival in England. The mayor of the village where Eaker was headquartered was the main speaker at the event and proceeded to speak at considerable length praising the Americans and declaring England's debt to them. He ended by asking General Eaker for a few words.

The General certainly gave them few words.  Rising and clearing his throat a couple times in embarrassment, he said, "Until we've done some fighting, I'm not going to do any talking. When we're gone I hope you'll be glad we came." With that he sat down to thundering applause that lasted minutes on end!

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number,
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves...
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"What Would You Say?"

Theodore Roosevelt called Anthony Wayne, Brigadier General at 34, "the greatest general America ever produced."

With the British encamped at Germantown, George Washington held one of his inevitable councils of war. Wayne was all for attacking without delay, but most of the other officers sat around the table offering innumerable excuses for holding back. When all the dissenting votes were in, Washington turned to Wayne, sitting quietly in a corner, reading a book. "What would you say, General?"

Wayne slammed the book shut, then rose slowly to his feet, glaring defiance at the group of distinguished officers. "I'd say nothing, Sir. I'd fight."

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou
art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies which went before on thee,
that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having
put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

graphics by Mary E. Stephens