Defending Our Liberty
Freedom is constantly under attack.
The liberty we enjoy as Americans came at a great price by our forefathers during the American Revolutionary War. Those patriots again and again acknowledged God for His deliverance against such a powerful adversary.
Today we face those who oppose our liberty. Their terrorist activities range all over the globe, and in the past few years some of those attacks have been carried out in our own country.
Lest we be naïve, anarchists have stalked this country since its inception. Wanting to foster their ideals on Americans, they have used threats and terrorism seeking to achieve their agenda. Americans have always risen to challenge those extremist and foreign radicals.
One hundred years ago, Captain Tom Tunney of the New York Police Force became such a protector of America.
Before America entered WWI, Imperial Germany set up a terrorist cell in America. For three years, they hampered shipping, initiated an anthrax attack, and even bombed the U.S. Capitol building on July 2, 1915.
During those years, Captain Tom Tunney and his New York Bomb Squad battled the German saboteurs. Before Captain Tunney got the upper hand, the terrorists had destroyed over 150 million dollars in property, and caused the death of 100 individuals.
In Tunney’s later reflections he believed “that the United States was dangerously unprepared for the injuries a clandestine enemy could inflict on the homeland. We are a trusting nation, and that has made us a vulnerable one.” (Blum, Howard. Dark Invasion. New York: Harper Collins. 2014. p. 421).
Protecting our freedoms is nothing new, and it must be championed with each new generation.
October Meeting of Heritage Baptist Bible Fellowship
You are invited to attend the fall meeting of the Heritage Baptist Bible Fellowship. Dr. Harry Strachan will host the meeting on October 2 & 3, 2017 at Calvary Baptist Church in Ashland, OH. Beginning on Monday evening, the preachers for this meeting are Evangelist Mark Rodgers (AK), Pastor Greg Davis (OH), Pastor Bill Blakely (IN), and Pastor Bryan Samms (FL). Please be in prayer and join us for some wonderful preaching and fellowship.
Laying at His Feet
Fifteen year old Erasmus Jacobs sat under a tree, as he looked over the land of his father’s farm. In 1867, there was little in the way of entertainment. The Jacobs family lived in one of the poorest areas of the world, in the Orange Free State in what would become South Africa.
Looking down at his feet, Erasmus spied a very large, shiny stone, and he picked it up. The sparkle dazzled him, and the boy took the rock home to show his family.
No one ever dreamed that what Erasmus had found would be the first diamond discovered in South Africa. So little was thought of the unique rock, that it was later sent in a plain envelope through the mail to be inspected by a qualified mineralogist.
That stone became known as the Eureka Diamond, and it was 21.25 carats. The diamond was later cut and polished, and it became one of the most famous diamonds in history.
Four years later, more diamonds were found just down the road, and in time the DeBeer S.A. formed. DeBeer would become the largest diamond producing company in the world. (Millard, Candice. Hero of the Empire. New York: Doubleday. 2016. p. 42-43)
When I think of this story, I focus on young Erasmus. In a desolate area, he made a difference. With the discovery of diamonds, and later gold, his homeland was transformed from one of the poorest to one of the wealthiest areas of the world.
All around us are people, “diamonds in the rough.” These individuals can be transformed through Jesus Christ and revealed to be of great worth.
2017 Evangelism Conference
On September 28 & 29 Heritage Baptist College will host a Conference on Evangelism. Evangelist Phil Stringer and Evangelist Michael Thurmond will lead the meeting. Both of these preachers regularly travel the country and the world preaching revivals.
The first service will be on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. The Friday morning preaching will begin at 9:30 a.m. Included will be guest pastor Dr. Randy Parker speaking on “How to Treat an Evangelist.”
We encourage all, but especially preachers to attend this special meeting.
Determination
The Brooklyn Bridge was the greatest engineering marvel of its day. Taking fourteen years to complete, the bridge united Brooklyn with Manhattan. John Roebling¸ the designer of the bridge, was never known to give in or own himself beaten. He taught his employees to know this phrase: “If one plan won’t do, then another must.” McCullough, David. The GREAT BRIDGE. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001 pg. 39.
Determination for the Lord is a good trait for the Christian, and for the Christian life.