Inspiration for Today's World

Category: Virtues (Page 2 of 2)

Biblical history lessons based on the 9/12 program

The Virtue of Moderation

Biblical Definition of Moderation

The virtue of moderation avoids extremes, exercises restraint, and relates to self-control. Our world defines moderation in similar terms. It defines it as a state or quality of being moderate or keeping a “due mean” between opposite extremes, freedom from excess, temperance, or due restraint. Moderation is a good thing but living a life of moderation is hard in today’s world. Excess dominates our culture. The Bible teaches that excess does not always work to our benefit. Scripture helps define the concept of “excess.”

Even things that are good or necessary can be a problem if used without moderation. For example, sleep is necessary, but the Bible says too much sleep leads to poverty (Proverbs 6:9–11). Part of maturity is learning to say “no” to oneself, i.e., to learn the value of moderation. Practicing moderation is a discipline. Self-control is one of the qualities that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a believer.

(Galatians 5:22–23)1NIV New International Version Translations – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

When we do not live in moderation, we are lacking self-control in an area of our lives. This can show that we are not allowing God into that area. God does not condemn His children (Romans 8:1). Instead, we have been given the victory over every sin (Acts 13:39). The Holy Spirit is there to help us with self-control. When we surrender to God as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1), God promises to meet the needs that we are trying to satisfy on our own (1 Timothy 6:17). The sheep that follow the Good Shepherd will “lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1).

Our world appeals to the lust of the flesh. It advances the lie that all we need to be happy is more pleasure, more stuff, more entertainment. What is really needed is more God! God designed us to need and desire Him above all else.

(Matthew 4:4) – “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Everything in life must be done in moderation. The only area in which we do not need to worry about moderation is God Himself. We are to love God without limits (Luke 10:27). We can never have too much of God. We can never love Him too much. The more we ask Him to fill our lives with His Holy Spirit, the easier it becomes to live in moderation in all other things.

Moderation in all things is good advice because the Bible gives us God’s Truth. You will not find a quote “moderation in all things” in any Bible verse. You will just find similar advice. We are called to make moderation part of our very nature. Our moderation should be visible to everyone. Proverbs tells us that if we do not live in moderation, (i.e. if we are drunkards and gluttons, the hallmarks of excess) we will come to poverty.

So what is the origin of the quote “moderation in all things”? It is an English proverb that could have been inspired by the Bible, but it also has been attributed to other sources. Some say that in Aristotle’s Ethical Doctrine he advises to avoid extremes of all sorts and seek moderation in all things. There are also two early Roman playwrights, Terence and Petronius, who were given credit for first coining the phrase. Regardless of the origin, living a life of moderation is good advice.

(Galatians 5:22-23) – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. “

Example of Biblical Moderation

Moderation is avoiding extremes, exercises restraint, and is related to discipline and self-control. A great place to start in the Bible for studying discipline is in the Book of Ecclesiastes. The author of Ecclesiastes is King Solomon. He is considered the wisest of kings to ever rule over Israel. King Solomon was also one of the wealthiest people ever. When it came to excess, he knew a lot about it and went on to write much on how to lead a disciplined life in a world filled with excesses. Solomon was the third and final king of the unified nation of Israel. He succeeded King Saul and King David. He was the son of David and Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David had killed to cover his infidelity with Bathsheba. Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and much of the book of Proverbs. Solomon ruled for 40 years (1 Kings 11:42).

When Solomon rose to the throne, he sought after God. God gave him an opportunity to request for whatever he desired. Solomon recognized his inability to rule well. He asked God for the wisdom he would need to govern God’s people. God gave him wisdom and wealth (1 Kings 3:4-15).

(1 Kings 10:23) – “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth”

God also gave Solomon peace on all fronts during most of his reign (1 Kings 4:20-25). The combination of being a Godly person, a wise person and having unlimited wealth did not make Solomon perfect. His gift to humanity can be found in how he approached life. Viewing life from a perspective few in history were ever able to get, his wisdom has lasted thousands of years. Here are a few of the accomplishments of Solomon:

  • He built a Temple for God in Jerusalem as a fulfillment of God’s promises to David. (I Kings 5, 6)
  • He collected and composed thousands of proverbs and songs which were used in teaching and worship (3,000 Proverbs 1,005 songs) (Prov. 1:1 – 5)
  • He established and developed trade links with other countries which led to economic prosperity in Israel. He was a successful merchant.
  • Solomon started industrial activities. He exploited copper deposits in Edom which had been conquered by David.
  • He developed diplomatic relations with foreign countries by marrying the daughters of the Kings of those countries (e.g. He married the daughters of the Kings of Egypt, Moab, Edom, Tyre and many others I Kings 3:1, 1:1). He remained at peace with those countries.
  • He built up a professional army equipped with horse drawn chariots, Had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen (I Kings 10:26). Peace was maintained through strength.
  • Solomon maintained an ambitious building program. He was able to fortify Jerusalem and other cities, including the construction of defensive walls.
  • Solomon practiced delegation of authority. He had government officials who assisted Solomon in his administrative duties. (I Kings 4)
  • Solomon divided the kingdom into administrative districts to manage the resources.
  • He was able to judge difficult cases and settle disputes (The story of two women and a baby (I Kings 3:16 – 28))
  • The queen of Sheba (Ethiopia travelled all the way to test Solomon’s wisdom. (I Kings 10:1 – 9))
  • Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple of Jerusalem which represented God’s presence among his people (I Kings 8).
  • He built himself a palace that took 13 years to be completed (I Kings 7).

(Ecclesiastes 2:10-11) – “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

Not only did Solomon test the limits of pleasure. He did the same with things we see as good, like wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:12–18) and hard work (Ecclesiastes 2:17–23). Solomon’s conclusion was that every endeavor of his proved meaningless by itself. It is God’s gift to enjoy one’s life and His gifts (Ecclesiastes 5:19). But to value those things more than God leaves us still desiring what our hearts need, God Himself. Solomon did us a favor by not only collecting true wisdom on how to lead a disciplined life but wrote it down. The Book of Proverbs is a “collection of collections” relating to a pattern of how to live. Let’s look at a few examples:

(Proverbs 6:9–11) – “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Even good things can become a problem for us without moderation. Sleep is necessary, but the Bible says too much sleep leads to poverty. Part of maturity is learning to say “no” to oneself (i.e. moderation).

(Proverbs 25:26-28) – “Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked. It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

Giving in even a little move one toward sin. Excess, the lack of self-control allows the world to break down even the strongest will.

(Proverbs 23:19-20) – “Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”

Here Solomon says to be careful of who you associate with. Joining in with those who have no discipline, leads to a life of poverty.

(Proverbs 22:6-9) – “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, and the rod they wield in fury will be broken. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. “

In summary, it is easy to see that Solomon’s wisdom was to teach the youth about life. He was quick to share his knowledge and wealth with his people. He warned them about debt, about the power of the rich. Solomon also taught them generosity and discipline.

Ideas to Explore

Practicing moderation is a good discipline. Make a point of reading the Book of Proverbs. Have everyone involved list their top three favorites and discuss why they chose them.

Example of Historical Moderation

It was March 19, 1778, almost three years into the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army had endured a punishing winter at Valley Forge. A stranger, a former Prussian army officer named Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, was assigned rank by George Washington. The purpose was to instill discipline, battlefields skills and restore morale. The baron only knew German and French. He would have 100 men take formation at Valley Forge. Then walk among them, adjusting their muskets. At first the baron would show them how to march at 75 steps a minute. Soon, they were marching at 120. When their discipline broke down, he would swear at them in German and French. His only English curse word was to use the Lord’s name in vain.

Von Steuben had never been a general. Ten years prior, he served as a captain in the Prussian army. While he was a braggart about his position, his skills were real. He had a disciplined military mind. The baron found himself at the age of 47 as the Continental Army’s acting inspector in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It took only two months in spring 1778 for von Steuben to transform Washington’s army. The poorly equipped and near-starving men were transformed into a group of disciplined soldiers who understood tactics. In Washington’s first battle after the winter at Valley Forge, his troops would fight to a draw at Monmouth Courthouse.

Von Steuben had been born into a military family in 1730. At 14, he watched his father direct Prussian engineers in the 1744 siege of Prague. Enlisting around age 16, von Steuben rose to the rank of lieutenant. Here he would learn the discipline that made the Prussian army the best in Europe. In a 2008 biography of Baron von Steuben, the author, Paul Lockhart writes about the Prussian army: “Its greatness came from its professionalism, its hardiness, and the machine-like precision with which it could maneuver on the battlefield.”

Von Steuben would spend 17 years in the Prussian army, fighting in battles against Austria and Russia during the Seven Years’ War. It was here, he became a captain. This enabled him to attend the Prussian king Frederick the Great’s elite staff school. Peacetime and downsizing led to his dismissal from the army. Von Steuben would spend 11 years as a court chamberlain (a position of trust managing financial matters) in Hohenzollern-Hechingen, a tiny German principality. In 1769, the prince of nearby Baden named him to the chivalric Order of Fidelity. Membership came with a title: Freiherr, meaning “free lord,” or baron.

In 1775, as the American Revolution broke out, von Steuben’s boss, the Hechingen prince, ran out of money. Von Steuben, his salary slashed, started looking for a new military job. But Europe’s great armies, mostly at peace, didn’t hire him. In September 1777, the baron sailed from France to volunteer for the Continental Army. A letter from America’s diplomats in Paris, Benjamin Franklin, and Silas Deane, vouched for him and reported that France’s minister of war and foreign minister had done so too. But Deane and Franklin’s letter had claimed that von Steuben was a lieutenant general. There were other exaggerations made too. Congress, desperate for volunteers earlier in the war, had been overwhelmed by unemployed Europeans eager for military jobs. The number of officers from overseas had begun to stir resentment among American-born officers.

In Boston, he met John Hancock. Hancock hosted a dinner for von Steuben and talked with Samuel Adams about politics and military affairs. Next, von Steuben headed to York, Pennsylvania. This was the temporary American capital while the British occupied Philadelphia. Aware that the Continental Congress had soured on foreign volunteers, von Steuben offered to serve under Washington and asked to be paid only if America won the war. They took the deal and sent von Steuben to Valley Forge. What von Steuben found was a hardly an army. Valley Forge, their winter quarters were as punishing as battle. He found hastily built huts, cruel temperatures, scarce food. The soldiers were without uniforms, rusted muskets without bayonets, companies with men missing and unaccounted for. Short enlistments meant constant turnover and little order. Regiment sizes varied. Different officers used different military drill manuals, leading to chaos when their units tried to work together. If the army had to fight on short notice, von Steuben warned Washington, he might find himself commanding one-third of the men he thought he had. The army had to be trained before fighting resumed in the spring.

Baron von Steuben put the entire army through Prussian-style drills, starting with a model company of 100 men. He taught them how to reload their muskets quickly after firing, charge with a bayonet and march in compact columns instead of miles-long lines. Meanwhile, he wrote detailed lists of officers’ duties, giving them more responsibility than in English systems.

Off the drilling field, von Steuben became a friend to the troops. A lifelong bachelor, he threw dinner parties rather than dine alone. One night, the guests pooled their rations to give von Steuben’s manservant the ingredients for a dinner of beefsteak and potatoes with hickory nuts. As von Steuben’s work progressed, news of the United States’ treaties of alliance with France reached Valley Forge. Washington declared May 6, 1778, a day of celebration. He asked von Steuben to ready the army for a ceremonial review. At 9 a.m. on May 6, 7,000 soldiers lined up on the parade ground. They were able to work together as a formidable military force. The rest is history as they say!

Von Steuben served in the Continental Army for the rest of the Revolutionary War. In 1779, he codified his lessons into the Army’s Blue Book. Officially the Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States, it remained the Army training manual for decades. The Army still uses some portions of it in training manuals today, including von Steuben’s instructions on drill and ceremonies.

After the war, the governor of New York granted von Steuben a large plot of land in the Mohawk Valley as a reward for his service in the war. Von Steuben died there in November 1794 at age 64. In December 1783, before George Washington retired to Mount Vernon, he wrote von Steuben a letter of thanks for his “great Zeal, Attention and Abilities” and his “faithful and Meritorious Services.” Though his name is little known among Americans today, every U.S. soldier is indebted to von Steuben. The discipline von Steuben taught created America’s professional army.

Ideas to Explore

Read the Baron von Steuben manual. Replica copies are readily available. Have a few ex-military come speak to the group. Discuss why discipline is a requirement to be successful in the military. Then discuss how the attributes of discipline and moderation, work together to help people live more productive lives.

Examples of Historical Moderation Occurring in Florida

We choose as our example of moderation and discipline for Florida a man who made his name in sports. He was one of the greatest professional golfers in history. Arnold Palmer’s career spanned more than six decades and 62 PGA Tour titles. Palmer was Born in Pennsylvania to working-class parents. He learned to play golf from his father, a greenskeeper at a country club. Palmer attended college on a golf scholarship but left to join the U.S. Coast Guard. After serving three years, Palmer returned to civilian life and sold paint for a living. Arnold Palmer even met his first wife of 45 years on a golf course.

Arnold Palmer wasn’t born with unbreakable confidence and superman skills. He made himself confident. One of his interesting disciplines was to read a specific poem almost every day. We have it here for you to read. The discipline was not the habit of reading but the embracing of its message. This constant repetition reinforced the belief that he could do whatever he put his mind to. Arnold Palmer believed that, like anything else, confidence isn’t given to you. You must make a continuous effort to create it on your own.

How good was he? He won the 1958 Masters; 1960 Masters, 1960 US Open; 1961 British Open; 1962 Masters; 1962 British Open and the 1964 Masters. Arnie’s total of seven wins in majors is tied for seventh-best in golf history. Palmer placed second twice in The Masters (1961, 1965); four times in the U.S. Open (1962, 1963, 1966, 1967); once in the British Open (1960); and three times in the PGA Championship (1964, 1968, 1970). That’s a total of 10 runner-up finishes in majors. In all, Palmer finished in the Top 10 at 38 majors. Palmer also won amateur and senior majors, before and after his PGA Tour career. He won the 1954 Amateur. His senior tour victories included: the 1980 Senior PGA Championship; the 1981 U.S. Senior Open; 1984 Senior PGA Championship; the 1984 Senior Players Championship; and the 1985 Senior Players Championship.

At the end of his career, Arnold became known for a unique coffee table in his trophy room. The coffee table had become famous by then. It was designed to hold all the gold medals he had won. Under glass and on green velvet were strewn hordes of gold medals. What made this table unique was not the gold medals but three silver medals and an empty hole for another. The silver medals were for Arnold’s losses in U.S. Open playoffs to Jack Nicklaus in ’62 at Oakmont, to Julius Boros in ’63 at Brookline and to Billy Casper in ’66 at Olympic. He never moved too far from reminding himself that he was not perfect nor was he done with life. There would always be one more opportunity to do something great. He drilled the next hole each time he filled the empty one in his table.

Arnold Palmer was a man of faith, a Catholic. He was a superb athlete, capable of the highest levels of discipline that catapulted him to become one of the greatest players in the history of men’s professional golf. Besides the many championships, Arnold Palmer was also given the Congressional Medal of Honor. What sets him apart from so many other champions are his many contributions to society. He founded both the Arnold Palmer Pavilion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is a world-class medical facility, which was originally known as the “Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Women.” In 2006 a new campus was built next to the original building, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, named after his wife Winnie, creating separate pediatric and obstetrics hospitals.

Arnold Palmer passed away at the age of 87 and this legendary golfer will always be remembered for his competitiveness on the golf course, his charitable work off the course, his warm and gracious personality, and the optimism he always exuded. Palmer always believed he could come out on top in each tournament he entered. He always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed against him. He never quit. He never felt that he didn’t have a chance to win. The poem that he would read daily is below:

Thinking by Walter D. Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t,
If you like to win, but you think you can’t
It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are
You’ve got to think high to rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!

Ideas to Explore

Volunteer at one of the many institutions that Arnold Palmer was involved with. Ronald McDonald House is just one located in Orlando, FL. Discipline takes many forms. Our military also provide an excellent opportunity to understand the importance of moderation, self-control, and discipline.

The Museum of Military History also provides a historical glimpse into our military heritage, with heroic accounts of bravery and sacrifices from those who have fought to maintain our freedom. The mission at The Museum of Military History is to educate, increase awareness, build knowledge and understanding of the American military experience through interactive, interpretive exhibits designed for visitors of all ages. Exhibits are well worth a visit with hundreds of genuine artifacts, military relics, photographs, and memorable accounts by former soldiers. It is important to point out that this is a museum only in the sense that military items are displayed here. The main goal of the museum is to pay tribute to those who served while preserving our history and reaching out to help educate our youth. The future of our great country is in the hands of our future leaders and these leaders are in the classroom today. They are our legacy tomorrow!

5210 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy.
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Email: militarymuseum192@gmail.com
Phone: 407-507-3894
Website: https://www.museumofmilitaryhistory.com/

Practicing Acts of Moderation

Moderation means to show restraint, avoid extremes, be disciplined, avoid excesses and practice prudence. Note that the definition of moderation is not avoiding all things pleasurable and living in austerity. It is okay to eat a few bites of dessert, just don’t eat the whole cake. Here are a few ideas on how to practice moderation.

Mindfulness
Think about moderation and discipline, even in the simple things you routinely do every day. One way to practice moderation is to slow down and use the time as a meditative event in which all your senses are engaged. Pause, savor, smell, taste, and life.

Environment
Focus your attention on what is around you. Engage in conversation, laugh, enjoy your friends and family. Give attention to those you love. It takes time and discipline to share yourself.

Planning
Plan. Planning is helpful in learning to practice moderation. Avoid the last minute rush because you forgot things. Knowing how to plan may be the most valuable life skill people can learn.

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    NIV New International Version Translations

The Virtue of Hard Work

Biblical Definition of Hard Work

The idea of work is first found in the book of Genesis. In the opening passage, God is the primary worker, busy with the creation of the world (Genesis 1:1-15). The Bible states that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day. These passages reveal that God was the first to do work on the earth. Thus, legitimate work reflects the activity of God. Because God is good, work is also good (Psalm 25:8; Ephesians 4:28). Furthermore, Genesis 1:31 declares that, when God viewed the fruit of His labor, He called it “very good.”

Something requiring a lot of effort, either physical, mental, or emotional is “hard work.” When God looked at the quality of His work, He determined that He had done a good job. He took pleasure in the outcome. From God’s example, work should be productive. Work must produce the highest quality outcome. The reward for work is the honor and satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

In response to Adam’s sin, God pronounced several judgments in Genesis 3:17-19, the most severe of which is death. Labor and the results of labor were also affected by God’s judgments. God cursed the ground. Work became more difficult. Humankind must now toil at work. This implies a challenge, difficulty, exhaustion, and a constant struggle. Work itself was still good, but now humans are expected to do work by “the sweat of their brow.” Also, the results of work were no longer assured. Although humans were to eat the plants of the field, the field also produced thorns and thistles. Hard work and the corresponding effort were no longer rewarded in the way we desire.

In Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, Solomon details his search for meaning in life. He uses a variety of projects and works of all kinds. While the work brought some degree of satisfaction to Solomon, his conclusion was, “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

For work to be good, it must align with God’s purpose:

(Psalm 127:1-2)[ref[NIV New International Version Translations[/mfn] – “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

The benefit of hard work is profit:

(Proverbs 14:23) – “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

The apostle Paul gives a church instruction about people who preferred not to work. It is to “keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” Paul also says, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’” Instead, Paul instructs those who had been idle, “Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:12).

Psalm 19 says that God reveals Himself to the world by His work. Through natural revelation, God’s existence is visible to every person on earth. Work also reveals something about the one doing the work. It exposes underlying character, motivations, skills, abilities, and personality traits. Jesus echoed this same principle in Matthew 7:15-20. He declared that bad trees produce only bad fruit and good trees only good fruit. It is by the good fruit that the world can see a picture of God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and excellence. It is by good fruit that the world will judge your hard work!

Example of Biblical Hard Work

In the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes I (around 445 BC) Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king of Persia. He learned that the remnant of Jews returning to Jerusalem after their exile were in trouble. Nehemiah was a Jewish. The walls of Jerusalem were broken down. Nehemiah asked the king for permission to return and rebuild the city’s walls. Artaxerxes held Nehemiah in high regard and could see his sadness. The king sent Nehemiah to Judah as governor of the province with a mission to rebuild the walls. He gave Nehemiah letters explaining the king’s support for the venture. The king also provided provisions of timber from the king’s forest. Once there, Nehemiah defied the opposition of Judah’s enemies on all sides. There were many enemies: Samaritans, Ammonites, Arabs, and Philistines. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls within 52 days.

Walls for security are nothing new. From ancient times, cities located in the Middle East were surrounded by stone walls with gates that were guarded for the protection of the citizens. However, the importance of walls was to enforce the use of “gates.” Until 1887, each gate would be closed before sunset and opened at sunrise. The gates today are: Jaffa Gate; Zion Gate; Dung Gate; Golden Gate (now walled up); Lion’s Gate; Herod’s Gate; Damascus Gate; and the New Gate. The gates of the cities were also the “social media” of their time. Walls control access and regress points. People would gather at the gates where they would conduct the business of the city. Here, people could share important formation, or just pass the time. Anyone who was anyone had to pass through one of the gates providing access to the city of Jerusalem.

In the 70 years prior, the walls had been severely damaged. Strong walls and working gates were necessary to have a functioning city and society in Jerusalem again. Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest like Ezra nor a prophet like Haggai. He served the Persian king in a secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls. Nehemiah’s experience in the king’s court equipped him for both the political and physical reconstruction necessary for Jerusalem to survive.

It would be by Nehemiah’s leadership and hard work that pulled the various factions together to accomplish their goal. Nehemiah led by example, giving up a respected position in a palace for hard labor. He was quite effective in convincing the city’s residents to “own their section of the wall” and work together as families to do the repairs. Nehemiah continued in his quest to rebuild Jerusalem. God provided all the necessary workers, and the building began. They would not be without enemies who tried to stop the project. But God intervened as He had done with Moses (Exodus 14:14). Nehemiah records,

(Nehemiah 4:20) – “Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

It would also be Nehemiah’s humility before God that provided an example for the people. He did not claim glory for himself but always gave God the credit for his successes. This was God’s pre-ordained plan to bring His people out of bondage. Nehemiah’s goal was to have his people worship in the temple once again. Nehemiah would often, at the sight of distant enemies, walk in front of the broken walls of the city, wearing his sword. This was his subtle way of saying come if you dare but if you come, prepare to fight us. We can learn much from the life of Nehemiah. He maintained a personal relationship with His God. Nehemiah also partnered with Ezra, to solidify the political and spiritual foundations of the people.

(Nehemiah 8:18) – “Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.”

Nehemiah stands as a testament to faithfulness, perseverance, and hard work. He lived far away from his home, yet he never gave up hope that someday he would return to it. He spent most of his life in exile in a pagan land. Yet he never wavered in his faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nehemiah was a prayer warrior, putting everything before the Lord in prayer. He would intercede on behalf of his people, and he was rewarded for his diligence and perseverance. Nehemiah cared so much for his people that he never gave up the hope of their restoration. Not only restoration back to their homeland, but to the God that first called their forefather, Abraham. Nehemiah believed the covenant between his people and God would stand forever.

The book of Nehemiah shows us the significant impact one individual can have on a nation. Nehemiah served in secular offices, using his position to bring back order, stability, and proper focus on God. God can use all types of people from many different places and of differing skills. The secret to Nehemiah’s success and the success of any leader is the source of their motives.

Colossians 3:17) – “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Ideas to Explore

Hard work is about mission work. This lesson would be a good place to find a person in need whose home is in disrepair. Work with your group to raise funds for materials. Seek out donations, do a car wash and then plan a day for the work. Fixing up a yard, painting a home (inside and/or outside), fixing things that are broken should all be on the list of possible things to do. Bring your lunch, plenty of water, even your own cleaning and paper supplies. Haul away the trash and leave knowing that someone received a gift from the hard work of your team.

Example of Historical Hard Work

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) led a life of hard work. He was creative, ambitious, and thrifty. All Franklin’s success came by the way he organized his life and maximized his productivity. His impact on America was huge!

Franklin was the 15th of 17 children born to Josiah Franklin, a candlemaker. He was given only two years of formal schooling. Franklin supplemented his knowledge by his constant love to read. He was an avid swimmer from a very young age. Throughout his life he promoted its healthful benefits. At the age of 11 he invented a pair of swim fins. But, unlike today’s foot flippers, these were attached to his hands. His advocacy for swimming was recognized in 1968 by his induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Benjamin Franklin was a competent swim coach and teacher. He advised people on water safety, lifeboat rescue escape from shipwrecks, and the need for universal learn-to-swim classes.

Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of 13 virtues which he developed at age 20 (in 1726). The list below would form his beliefs for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his 13 virtues as:

  • Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
  • Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
  • Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
  • Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
  • Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
  • Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
  • Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
  • Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
  • Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
  • Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”
  • Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
  • Chastity. Rarely use venery [pursuit of sexual activity] but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”
  • Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”

Franklin began his pursuit of adult life at age 17 by creating a printing business. Franklin was successful. He was able to retire early and pursuit his many ideas:

  • As an inventor, Franklin created the lightning rod, the glass harmonica, the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses, and the flexible urinary catheter.
  • As an author, he penned the Poor Richard’s Almanack, his famous autobiography, and many classic essays. Franklin even wrote a manual on distance swimming techniques.
  • As a thinker he established the Junto, a political group in 17th-century Britain. His ideas would bring forth the first subscription library and the formation of the American Philosophical Society.
  • As an organizer, he founded many civic organizations, including the Library Company, Philadelphia’s first fire department, and the University of Pennsylvania.
  • As a scientist, Franklin made important investigations into the nature of electricity.
  • As a diplomat, he served his country, state, and city as a councilman, postmaster, recruiter of the Pennsylvania militia, Speaker of the Pennsylvania State House, delegate to the Second Continental Congress, ambassador to France, and President of Pennsylvania.
  •  And Benjamin Franklin is best known as one of our Founding Fathers. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and was one of its signers. He represented the United States in France during the American Revolution. Franklin was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

Yet, one of his most important contributions to our country can be summarized in this short story.

Franklin was walking out of Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention in 1787, when someone shouted out, “Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” To which Franklin supposedly responded, with a rejoinder at once witty and ominous: “A republic, if you can keep it.

The quote does not appear in any of Franklin’s writings. It is not found in the transcripts of the convention debate. None of the contemporaneous newspaper accounts mentioned it. It is most probably a legend. Yet, one of the most important contributions made at the Constitutional Convention is that America is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic.

In both a republic and a democracy, citizens are empowered to take part in a representational political system. They elect people to represent and protect their interests in how the government functions. Republics and democracies both provide a political system in which citizens are represented by elected officials who are sworn to protect the people’s interests. In a pure democracy, laws are made by the voting majority leaving the rights of the minority unprotected. In a republic, laws are made by representatives chosen by the people and must comply with a constitution that specifically protects the rights of the minority from the will of the majority. An official set of fundamental laws, like the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, prohibits the government from limiting or taking away certain “inalienable” rights of the people. That protection exists even if that government was chosen by most of the people. In a pure democracy, the voting majority has almost limitless power over the minority.

Benjamin Franklin had eight grandchildren. His son William had one son, William Temple Franklin. And daughter Sarah Franklin Bache had seven children: Benjamin, William, Betsy, Louis, Deborah, Richard, and Sarah. During his later years Franklin’s health deteriorated. From 1785 to 1787 Franklin served as President of the Council of Pennsylvania. His last major appearance in public was during the Constitutional Convention which took place in Philadelphia in 1787. As representative of the State of Pennsylvania he had prepared a speech before the signing of the Constitution. However, he was too weak to deliver it. He let James Wilson, representative of Pennsylvania, read it for him.

Franklin had his first attack of pleurisy (lung infection or pneumonia) when he was 21. Eight years later he had a recurrence with an abscess on his left lung which left him susceptible to future attacks. At 44 he had his first gout attack. Later in life he suffered from repeated gout attacks and had a large bladder stone which confined him to bed.

Approximately 20,000 people attended his funeral. He was interred in Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia. In 1728, aged 22, Franklin wrote what he hoped would be his own epitaph: “The Body of B. Franklin Printer; Like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and Amended By the Author.” Franklin’s actual grave, however, as he specified in his final will, simply reads “Benjamin and Deborah Franklin“.

Ideas to Explore

Lessons about Benjamin Franklin are a perfect time to take two key events in Revolutionary history and bring them together into a “cause and effect” lesson. Franklin was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing 27 colonial grievances against King George III and by asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution. The first part of this lesson should be to identify, list and discuss the 27 grievances. Make sure that they are understood. It is the grievances against a tyrannical king that led to war, the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

At a minimum, the first articles of the Bill of Rights should be discussed and understood. What caused their creation, how do they protect the rights of the citizen, and why they are still necessary today.

Examples of Historical Hard Work Occurring in Florida

The history of Florida after the Native American era is quite a bit more recent than most of the other states. It’s true we have St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied city in the United States. But development was slow after that historic founding in 1565. There would be a period of unrest called the Seminole Wars. Those hostilities commenced about 1816. They continued through 1858, with two periods of uneasy truce between active conflict. In 1821, Florida became a territory of the United States. This was done via treaty with Spain. Our hard work example for Florida goes to the pioneer women who were at the heart of the migration into Florida.

Women pioneers shared in the danger and the work of settling any new territory. Most of these women were wives and mothers. Some were single women with a few seeking homesteads, husbands, or new opportunities. Pioneer women not only helped to shape the future of Florida, but also earned new status for themselves and for women throughout the United States. Women were expected to do the work they had done back home. Added to their day was also the task of traveling 15 to 20 miles a day.

They cooked, washed clothes, and took care of the children. Meals were simple while travelling, bacon and bread. Cooking was hard, using small portable stoves. Many lived in tents while they travelled. Pioneers had to make their own clothes, from animal skins. If sheep were available, they would spin the wool into thread. Then weaving the thread into fabric, and finally, fashioning it into a garment. Once a family had reached their destination, a house would need to be built. Because of Florida’s oppressive heat in the summer, much of this work was often done in the winter. At the first sign of spring, a garden would need to be planted. The women did much of this work themselves and with very few tools. The pioneer women were strong and great role models for the children.

The death toll on the trail was high. Disease was the worst killer. Accidents were also common. People drowned crossing rivers. Indian attacks were not all that rare in Florida. At least not that rare until after the end of the Seminole Wars. There was always a sense of danger. By the end of each family’s journey, each woman had a story to tell. The hardships of the trail brought out strengths and abilities they did not know they possessed. Once they settled, it would be the women who created schools, churches, libraries, literary societies, and charitable groups. They would create communities around the homesteads established by their husbands. Most towns and places in Florida (other than Pensacola and St. Augustine) were settled in the years just before and after the Civil War. Before then, Florida was a barren state that many people considered to be uninhabitable.

Ideas to Explore

A visit to Barberville Pioneer Settlement is truly a unique experience. The historical village is nestled within a charming, moss-draped oak hammock in western Volusia County. It offers self-guided tours or can provide each visitor or group with a guided tour of the structures within their expansive campus. Here, people will learn what life was like in rural Florida in the bygone days of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. People make history. Florida was expanding at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Step back in time when settlers had to be self-reliant. Visitors will experience many of the skills needed to survive as a pioneer in Florida. Activities may include candle making, weaving, spinning, blacksmith and/or woodworking demonstrations, butter making and a visit to the Farm. Come and meet some of the citizens during that time. You may encounter a teacher, tradesman, tourist, logger, homemaker, and farmer.

Practicing Acts of Hard Work

This would be a perfect place to add mission work to any program.

The Virtue of Courage

Biblical Definition of Courage

Courage is commonly defined as the ability to do something that normally frightens someone. It originates from Middle English, a form of the English language spoken after the Norman conquest in 1066 until the late 15th century. The meaning denotes the heart, as the seat of feelings and is taken from the Old French word corage and from Latin cor meaning “heart.” Simply stated, courage is commonly defined as being motivated from the heart to do something brave. The same is true of the Bible’s definition for courage. However, the Bible talks about what motivates the heart to produce courage. The Bible addresses these motivations as either being good or bad.

Good courage always relies on the supernatural power of God to strengthen and motivate believers to be courageous as children of God (Romans 5:3-5). Bad courage relies on human abilities and motives such as the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride (James 1:19-27; 1 John 2:15-16). Here is what the Bible tells us about courage:

  • The hearts of believers who show good courage are strengthened by God. (Psalms 27:14; Psalms 31:24)
  • God inspires believers to encourage one another. (Deuteronomy 1:38; Deuteronomy 3:28; Acts 28:15; Ephesians 4; Hebrews 10:24)
  • Good courage is pleasing to God. (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, 23; Joshua 1:1-18; Joshua 10:25; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 19:11; Psalms 27:14; Psalms 31:24)
  • Believers and non-believers alike can demonstrate and inspire others to demonstrate bad courage (Deuteronomy 13:6-8; 2 Samuel 1:14-17; Psalms 64:5’ Proverbs 1:10; Ephesians 6:4)
  • God does not approve of evil courage. (Psalms 55:19; Amos 2:16; Romans 3:10-17)

Courage is an interesting virtue. Those who have it, do not need it explained to them. Those who do not have it do not understand it at all. Courage is not the absence of fear. People with courage have just as much fear as the next person. To accept the challenge of the unknown despite all your fears is courage. Here is what a courageous person does:

Lives from the Heart – To live with courage means to embrace the known insecurity of life and live in it, with love and trust. Those who live with their head full of fear and constantly seek safety and security cannot live life to the fullest. They can never be fully alive. What is important is whether God is also in your heart.

Is Decisive – Making mistakes is part of life. It is how we learn and develop experience. We just need to avoid making the same mistakes twice. That shows that we learned from the first time and that we have gained wisdom. If you want a memorable and exciting life, keep moving, keep learning from your mistakes.

Uses Their Courage to Avoid Anxiety – You only need to ponder a problem long enough to understand it. Once you understand it, decide on a course of action, and implement it without delay. If you are courageous and face a challenge, decide, act, and resolve it.

Lives Life as an Adventure – Both in life and in business, fortune favors the courageous. Courage encourages us to live in the moment, to be alive. Not to dwell on the past or to waste time worrying about the future. Those who make a conscious effort to develop their courage will always live a vibrant, exciting, life.

Listens to their heart – What does your heart choose? If it is filled with God, your courage will ensure that you will live a most fulfilling life. You will not get everything right. You will stumble and fall, but you will not care about that because you will always rise, and your life will become a daring adventure, an exciting, vibrant, memorable adventure.

Example of Biblical Courage

The story of David and Goliath is a well-known story about courage. It teaches us to have courage by trusting in the experience and skills that God has given us when dealing with adversity. We find David’s story in 1 Samuel 16-17. David was a simple shepherd boy that was chosen by God to be the future king of Israel. While David was delivering food to his brothers during a battle, David saw that the giant was taunting the Israelites to fight. David was surprised that none in the Israelite army would defend God’s people so he took courage in the belief that with God, even he could kill the giant no matter how great the odds were against him. David then stepped forward to fight the giant that was 18 feet, 6 inches tall.

David pleaded with King Saul to let him fight the giant. David’s confidence came from his prior experiences. David would have had to have been of sufficient age, size, strength, and skill to have killed the lion and the bear that had attacked the sheep that David had been tending for his father (as David mentioned to Saul in 1 Samuel 17:34-37). He would also have had to be old enough to have developed sufficient skill in playing the lyre to the point where he would have been considered suitable for serving Saul in that regard. He was probably 16 years old. Finally, David believed that God would do the same with the Philistine giant, allow David to succeed. When King Saul consented to David’s request, David refused the king’s armor and went to fight the giant with only his staff and a sling shot.

When the giant saw David, he proceeded to insult him as well as the Israelites. The giant said he would kill David and feed Him to the birds, but David courageously replied that he would fight the giant in the name of the Lord and the God of the armies of Israel. David then took his sling shot and loaded it with a stone and launched it at the giant. The stone hit the giant in the forehead and killed him.

Therefore, one should never take the virtue of Courage lightly or for granted. In fact, in Solomon’s writings, he ranked cowardice as one of the mortal sins (Ecclesiasticus 2:12,13; Revelation 21:8). To lead a virtuous life requires a courageous heart. The Hebrew word chazaq, means “to show oneself strong” is found in (Numbers 13:20; 2 Samuel 10:12; 1 Chronicles 19:13; 2 Chronicles 15:8; Ezra 10:4; Psalms 27:14; 31:24; Isaiah 41:6). To show oneself as strong requires God! David had both skill and God on his side. David exemplifies a courageous person.

Ideas to Explore

The story of David and Goliath provides an opportunity for an interactive session and group participation. Whether you make it a game or contest is optional. However, in our modern world, we are far removed from the reality of what David faced and accomplished. First, to master the “sling” or slingshot, next to kill a lion with a sling, and finally, to kill Goliath. To help bring this story into a more proper perspective, the task would include the making of several slings and the actual exercise of trying to use them. For safety’s sake, not with stones but with rubber balls simulating stones. Suggestions include racket balls or small Wiffle golf balls. Safety glasses are recommended for all participants.

A historically accurate sling consists of a single patch of leather, approximately 6 to 8 inches long and 2 inches wide. Next, two leather straps are needed. Each should be 2 to 3 feet long. Gather (pinch the ends of the leather patch) and tie one end of a strap to each end. You should at this point have what looks like a swing, only instead of a flat for the seat, it would have formed a small cup, sized to fit the soft ball you plan to use as the “stone.”

A sling works by affixing one of the straps to a person’s wrist while the same hand holds the other strap in the fingers. The ball is then placed in the leather cup. By swinging the straps, and leather cup with the ball in it in a large circle around and over one’s head, centrifugal force is applied to the projectile keeping it in the leather strap cup. The skill to  use a sling comes from the timing of the release of the strap held in the fingers of the hand. When the strap held by the hand is released while the ball is being swung in a circle, the ball will fly out with force. A simple sling and a real stone can easily generate enough force to crush bones in an animal or human. A sling is not a toy. It was the weapon of choice for a shepherd in David’s time. Quickly, anyone using a sling will learn:

  • Skill and practice are a necessity to even begin to use one correctly.
  • Even with skill and practice, risks of missing the target are high.
  • Repetitive attempts are not unusual and most probable.
  • To accomplish what David did took courage, real courage.
  • To accomplish what David did took God, a real God!

Examples of Historical Courage

There are thousands of examples of courageous people who participated in the American Revolution. For our lesson on the virtue of courage, however, we choose Dr. Joseph Warren. Dr. Joseph Warren (June 11, 1741 – June 17, 1775) was an American doctor and soldier. He is remembered for playing a leading role in American Patriot organizations in Boston and for his death on Bunker Hill as a volunteer private soldier while also serving as chief executive of the revolutionary Massachusetts government.

Warren was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Joseph Warren and Mary (Stevens) Warren. His father was a respected farmer who was killed instantly in October 1755 when he fell off a ladder while gathering fruit in his orchard. After attending the Roxbury Latin School, he studied medicine at Harvard University, graduating in 1759 and then teaching for a time at Roxbury Latin. He married 18-year-old heiress Elizabeth Hooten on September 6, 1764, but she died in 1772, leaving him with four children.

While practicing medicine and surgery in Boston, he joined the Freemasons and eventually was appointed as a Grand Master. He became involved in politics, associating with John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other patriotic leaders. He became active in the Sons of Liberty and was appointed Chairman of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence. He drafted the Suffolk Resolves, which were endorsed by the Continental Congress, to advocate resistance to the British. The Suffolk Resolves was a declaration made on September 9, 1774, by the leaders of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The declaration rejected the Massachusetts Government Act and resolved to carry on a boycott of imported goods from Britain unless the Intolerable Acts were repealed. He was appointed President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, the highest position in the revolutionary government.

As a skilled doctor, Warren did not need to “get involved” with the politics of a revolution. He was successful, wealthy, and could have easily taken the course of least resistance, just supporting the citizens of Boston as a doctor. However, it would be Dr. Warren who received intelligence about British troop movements, and then sent William Dawes and Paul Revere on their famous “Midnight Rides” on April 18, 1775, to warn Lexington and Concord of British raids. Several historians believe that his secret source for this information was none other than Margaret Gage, the wife of the British General Thomas Gage. During the Battle of Lexington and Concord the following day, he coordinated and led colonial militia into the fight alongside William Heath as the British Army returned to Boston. He played an important role in recruiting and organizing soldiers during the Siege of Boston.

Dr. Joseph Warren was appointed a Major General by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress on June 14, 1775. His commission had not yet taken effect three days later when the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought. He served as a volunteer private against the wishes of General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott, who requested that he serve as their commander. Taunting the British, he uttered his famous quote: “These fellows say we won’t fight! By Heavens, I hope I shall die up to my knees in blood!” He fought in the front lines, rallying his troops to the third and final assault of the battle when he was killed by a British officer who recognized him.

British Captain Walter Laurie, who had been defeated at Old North Bridge, later said he “stuffed the scoundrel with another rebel into one hole, and there he and his seditious principles may remain.” His body was exhumed ten months after his death by his brothers and Paul Revere, who identified the remains by the artificial tooth he had placed in his own jaw. This may be the first recorded instance of post-mortem identification by forensic odontology. His body was placed in Granary Burying Ground and later in 1825, in St. Paul’s Cathedral before finally being moved in 1855 to his family’s vault in Forest Hills Cemetery.

Warren has two statues in Boston, one in the exhibit lodge adjacent to the Bunker Hill Monument, and the other on the grounds of the Roxbury Latin School. The British General Gage is thought to have called Warren’s death of equal value to the death of 500 men, but his death strengthened the patriot political position because it was viewed by many Americans at the time as an act of nationalist martyrdom. Fourteen states have a Warren County named after him. Warren, Pennsylvania, Warren, Michigan, Warren, New Jersey, Warrenton, Virginia and Warren, Massachusetts are named in his honor. Boston’s Fort Warren, started in 1833, was named in his honor. Five ships in the Continental Navy and United States Navy were named Warren in his honor. John Warren, Joseph’s younger brother, served as a surgeon during the Battle of Bunker Hill and the rest of the war and then later founded Harvard Medical School.

Ideas to Explore

Building courage involves identifying fears, challenging them, stepping out in faith, and celebrating success. Consider taking the team to a challenge course, or a local zip line. Riding a zip line requires a willingness to ignore your better instincts about the science of racing down a thin wire at speeds up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) per hour. But whatever challenge course is near you, it can provide opportunities to fight fear and succeed. Consider St. Augustine Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, Florida, where one can fly blissfully through the air over the private enclosure of one 600-pound, 13 foot Malayan Gharial crocodile named Mr. T. Founded in 1893, The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park began as a small exhibition of Florida reptiles and soon became a popular Florida attraction. Today it functions as a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows and exhibits, important research, and worldwide conservation efforts. The Alligator Farm’s history as an attraction and an accredited zoo is nearly as exciting as zipping across the Alligator Lagoon on Crocodile Crossing, the park’s thrilling zip-line attraction.

Example of Historical Courage Occurring in Florida

Astronauts come to mind when we think of courageous people in Florida’s history. The Kennedy Space Center is filled with exhibits that document from the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, humans’ quest to explore space and planets beyond. You can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. Fuel your quest for inspiration right here.

Make sure that time is allotted to go to the Saturn V building. The Saturn V is one of the largest rockets ever designed and flown. It has just recently been replaced by Artemis 1, the space launch system of SpaceX, which generates a total of 8.8 million pounds of thrust

The Saturn V rocket lays on its side. Start at the bottom and walk the length of the rocket, passing each stage. Fully fueled for liftoff, the Saturn V weighed 2.8 million kilograms (6.2 million pounds), the weight of about 400 elephants. The rocket generated 34.5 million newtons (7.6 million pounds) of thrust at launch, creating more power than 85 Hoover Dams.

Now as you approach the top of the rocket, it is time for all to stop and pause. Spend a few moments in silence and contemplate what it must have been like to sit on top of that rocket, waiting for the countdown to expire. The task, simply to be sent to a moon, a quarter of a million miles away, land and come back. Now that is “courage.” Make sure you add the movie, The Right Stuff (1983) to your watch list. It is the story of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and their macho, seat-of-the-pants approach to the space program.

While the Kennedy Space Center is a “must” trip for all, there should be time in your day to end it at one of several memorial sites near the center. In the last half-century, about 30 astronauts and cosmonauts have died while training for or attempting dangerous space missions.

On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after takeoff, killing all seven crew members, including high school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who had been selected from among more than 11,000 applicants to become the first teacher in space. It took nearly two months to recover the remains of the Challenger from the ocean floor, about 18 miles off the shore of Cape Canaveral, Florida. There are also many memorials around our country dedicated to a courageous teacher, the crew and the other astronauts who left our earth for eternity from our State, never to return to us. Use the end of the day to reflect on the idea of sacrifice in the meaning of courage.

Florida NASA Memorial Sites

SPACE MIRROR MEMORIAL

NASA’s fallen heroes are honored at this monument to commemorate astronauts who gave their lives in pursuit of knowledge that lies beyond Earth. Highly polished black granite is emblazoned with the names of 24 astronauts, including the crews of Apollo 1, STS-51L Challenger and STS-107 Columbia. Dedicated in 1991 and created by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation the Space Mirror Memorial is designated as a national memorial on the National Register of Historic Places. Constantly illuminated, the astronaut names on this memorial are a simple reminder that the courageous act of space exploration can require the ultimate sacrifice.

ASTRONAUT MEMORIAL PLAZA

The Apollo/Challenger Memorial is in the city of Titusville Florida. It is a simple park, a place to reflect at the end of the day. What is left of the courage of our astronauts? A simple park? Hardly. Their courage challenged generations of future astronauts to explore the heavens that surround us!

The Virtue of Personal Responsibility

Biblical Definition of Personal Responsibility

Personal responsibility is also called individual responsibility. It is the belief that human beings can choose and control their own actions and destiny. Today, society holds an individual responsible for the outcome of their personal actions. Taking responsibility for oneself is part of growing up. At birth we have no personal responsibility whatsoever. Everything that we need is done for us. The difference between a child and an adult is that there is a willingness and a capacity to take personal responsibility for our actions as we grow up.

(1 Corinthians 13:11)1NIV New International Version Translations – “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

The Bible teaches that personal responsibility also brings consequences. Each person is held accountable for their own decisions and actions.

(Ezekiel 18:20) – “The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.”

The Old Testament attached blessings to obedience and penalties for disobedience. God’s Law emphasized the responsibility of individuals. People were to respond in appropriate ways to God’s revealed Truth. God defined right and wrong. God’s people were expected to do what was right. The Bible expects us to take personal responsibility in all areas of life. While we are no longer under the law of Moses as a rule of life (Galatians 3:25), we have a new law, the law of Christ. This law requires that each person be conformed to the image of Christ. This new law is also called the law of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18). By walking in the Spirit, which means obeying the Spirit and yielding to Him, we are taking personal responsibility for how we live our life.

(1 Timothy 5:8) – “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Each one of us has the personal responsibility for our own salvation. We also have the responsibility to make sure that our good works glorify God. No one can evade their personal responsibility to exercise faith in Christ (Galatians 6:5). Those who choose to reject the truth of God “are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

(Mark 1:15) – “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

(Ephesians 2:10) – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Many start a journey of faith because of something missing in their life that only Jesus can give them. They need help, hope, healing, or joy in their life. The choice that must be made is to bring oneself into the right relationship with God. Why did Jesus come to earth? Why did He die on the cross? He came and did all that to bring YOU into a relationship with God the Father.

(2 Corinthians 5:10) – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

(2 Corinthians 5:19) – “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

Personal responsibility is a choice. It is your choice, to choose how you will live in this world. It is your choice to also decide which world you will live in later!

Example of Biblical Personal Responsibility

God clearly defined right and wrong, and His people were expected to do what was right! This has been the case ever since the Garden of Eden when Adam was given a specific command and expected to obey it. Later, Adam’s son Cain was warned by God that he would be held personally responsible for his actions (Genesis 4:7). There are many other examples. Achan was held responsible for his sin at Jericho (Joshua 7:14–15). Jonah was held responsible for his choice to run from the Lord (Jonah 1:7–8). The Levites were held responsible for the care of the tabernacle (Numbers 18:5). The deacons of the early church took personal responsibility for meeting some practical needs of the church (Acts 6:3). Paul was given the responsibility to blaze a gospel trail to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:2). For this study, however, we are going to look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

(Luke 10:25-37) – On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The story is told in Luke 10:29–37: A man going from Jerusalem to Jericho is attacked by robbers who strip him and beat him. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping the man. But a Samaritan stops and cares for him, taking him to an inn where the Samaritan pays for his care. To understand this parable, first one must understand who the Samaritans were. So who were the Samaritans, really? They were the despised enemies of the Jews. Through intermarriage, the Samaritans were neither Jew nor Gentile.

In 2 Chronicles 28, we can see how the prophet Oded had convinced the Samaritans years before to aid their Jewish captives during an earlier time. Oded insists that enemies can prove to be neighbors, that compassion has no boundaries, and that judging people based on their religion or ethnicity is wrong before God. This is no doubt where the Good Samaritan’s actions emanated from.

(2 Chronicles 28:9-11) – But a prophet of the Lord named Oded was there, and he went out to meet the army when it returned to Samaria. He said to them, “Because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reaches to heaven. And now you intend to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren’t you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God? Now listen to me! Send back your fellow Israelites you have taken as prisoners, for the Lord’s fierce anger rests on you.”

Jesus spends no time telling us about the priest and only tells of how he showed no love or compassion for the man by failing to help him. The priest passes on the other side of the road so as not to get involved. If there was anyone who should have known God’s law of love, it should have been the priest. By nature of his priestly position, he was to be a person of compassion, desiring to help others. The priest did not help.

We do not know if the injured man was a Jew or Gentile. It made no difference to the Samaritan. He did not consider the man’s race or religion. The “Good Samaritan” saw only a person in dire need of assistance. His assistance went above and beyond the minimum compassion that would have required.

  • He dresses the man’s wounds with wine (to disinfect)
  • Oil (to sooth the pain)
  • He puts the man on his own animal and takes him to an inn for a time of healing
  • He pays the innkeeper with his own money
  • Then goes beyond common decency and tells the innkeeper to take good care of the man
  • And he would pay for any extra expenses on his return trip.

Because this good man was a Samaritan, Jesus is drawing a strong contrast between those who knew the law (such as the priest) and those who followed the law in their lifestyle and conduct. We are to show compassion and love for those in need that we encounter in our everyday activities. We are to love others (“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”) regardless of their race or religion. If there is a need and we have the means, then we are to give generously and freely, without expectation of return. Jesus was pointing out to the lawyer, this is an obligation for him, and for us too.

Ideas to Explore

Consider volunteer time in an inner-city mission. Find a service opportunity.

Example of Historical Personal Responsibility

John Hancock is one of the founding fathers of our country. The personal responsibilities he took throughout both his life and the formation of our country make him our choice for this section. He was President of the Continental Congress. There he oversaw the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock was involved with the adoption of the Articles of Confederation. As a military leader, he helped defeat General Burgoyne at Saratoga. John Hancock would oversee the appointment of George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. He signed the actual appointment. Yet we seem to know John Hancock for only one thing, his stylish and large signature on the Declaration of Independence. The rumor is that after signing, Hancock stated, “There, John Bull can read my name without spectacles, he may double his reward, and I put his at defiance.” His reference was to King George III. Whether this was the case or not, John Hancock made sure that his signature would not be missed by anyone.

Who was John Hancock really? John Hancock’s father and grandfather were both Congregationalist ministers and graduates of Harvard’s ministerial school. John went to Boston Latin School, the oldest educational institution in the colonies. He graduated in 1750 at 13. Hancock then went to Harvard where he studied Latin, religion, physics, geometry, astronomy, geology, and math. He received a bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies in 1754. After graduating he went to work for his uncle’s firm, the House of Hancock. He became a full partner in 1763 when his uncle’s health began to fail. Thomas Hancock, his uncle, died in August 1764. John inherited the business, the estate and 22,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, making him one of the wealthiest men in the colonies.

John Hancock became involved in the independence effort in 1765 when he was elected to Boston’s Town Council. Shortly after his election, the Stamp Act was passed by Parliament. The Stamp Act was a tax on all legal and contractual transactions on paper. This also included general paper products such as newspapers and even playing cards. The items had to be stamped with an official seal. It would be the Stamp Act that brought about the rallying cry of “Taxation without Representation.” Colonists believed this was an illegal tax because they were not represented in Parliament. As the now owner of a large shipping firm, John Hancock was particularly affected by the Stamp Act. It brought increased paperwork and heavy taxes.

At first John Hancock believed the Stamp Act should be obeyed until a formal repeal could take place. After a few months, Hancock changed his mind and joined the resistance. On May 9, 1768, Hancock’s sloop Liberty arrived in Boston with a shipment of Madeira wine. The following day the ship was inspected by customs officials who accused him of smuggling. On June 10, officials seized the Liberty which had already been filled with a new cargo for export from the colonies. Hancock was then sued. He hired John Adams as his attorney. The first suit was filed on June 22, 1768, concluded in August, and resulted in the confiscation of the Liberty. The ship was put into the British customs service. It was burned by angry colonists in Rhode Island the following year. The second suit began in October and accused Hancock of illegally unloading 100 kegs of wine without paying the duty on them. After five months the case was dropped, probably for lack of evidence. John Hancock’s Liberty affair made him a martyr and patriot in the eyes of fellow colonists. From this point, his involvement both financially and personally in the Revolution would speed up.

To put things in perspective, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 people. Although John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, signed the document on July 4, 1776, most of the delegates added their signatures on Aug. 2, 1776. The last signer added his name on Nov. 4, 1776. Nine of the signers were immigrants, two were brothers and two were cousins. One was an orphan. The average age of a signer was 45. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest delegate at 70. The youngest was Thomas Lynch Jr. of South Carolina at 27.

Eighteen of the signers were merchants or businessmen, 14 were farmers, and four were doctors. Twenty-two were lawyers — although William Hooper of North Carolina was “disbarred” when he spoke out against the king — and nine were judges. Stephen Hopkins had been governor of Rhode Island. Forty-two signers had served in their colonial legislatures. John Witherspoon of New Jersey was the only active clergyman to attend. Almost all were Protestants. Charles Carroll of Maryland was the lone Roman Catholic. Seven of the signers were educated at Harvard, four at Yale, four at William & Mary, and three at Princeton. Witherspoon was the president of Princeton, and George Wythe was a professor at William & Mary. His students included the Declaration’s scribe, Thomas Jefferson.

Seventeen signers fought in the American Revolution. Thomas Nelson was a colonel in the Second Virginia Regiment and then commanded Virginia military forces at the Battle of Yorktown. William Whipple served with the New Hampshire militia and was a commanding officer in the decisive Saratoga campaign. Oliver Wolcott led the Connecticut regiments sent for the defense of New York and commanded a brigade of militia that took part in the defeat of General Burgoyne. Caesar Rodney was a major general in the Delaware militia; John Hancock held the same rank in the Massachusetts militia.

The British captured five signers during the war. Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward Jr., and Arthur Middleton were captured at the Battle of Charleston in 1780. George Walton was wounded and captured at the Battle of Savannah. Richard Stockton of New Jersey never recovered from his imprisonment at the hands of British Loyalists. He died in 1781. Florida’s connection during the Revolutionary War was through the Castillo de San Marcos. It had been converted into a prison for three captured signers of the Declaration, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge.

Eleven signers had their homes and property destroyed. Francis Lewis’s New York home was razed, and his wife taken prisoner. John Hart’s farm and mills were destroyed when the British invaded New Jersey, he died while fleeing capture. Carter Braxton and Nelson, both of Virginia, lent large sums of their personal fortunes to support the war effort but were never repaid.

John Hancock? Even though he was one of the targets for the British raid on Lexington and Concord, he would avoid capture. From 1780 to 1785, Hancock would become the first governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He would be reelected in 1787 and serve until his death in 1793.

The 56 men who created our country ended their declaration with these words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Responsibility is much more than empty words. They held nothing back; not their fortunes, not their honor and not even their lives.

Ideas to Explore

A full-size replica of the Declaration should be passed around. Also consider the craft of making a feather pen. Craft stores like Hobby Lobby carry large feathers. To make a quill pen:

  • Use a steel can, cleaned, filled with sand. Heat to 350 degrees in an oven.
  • Carefully remove and stand the feathers up in the can. About an inch deep. Let the sand cool for an hour. This will dry out the feather’s tip.
  • Using a razor blade, cut the tip of the feather to resemble a fountain pen tip. You should be able to find instructions or a YouTube video on this. Once trimmed, the feather pen tip is split and ready for writing.
  • Practice writing, signing signatures on vellum (the original vellum was animal skins). Today we use artificial vellum.

Examples of Historical Personal Responsibility Occurring in Florida

Betty Mae “Potackee” Tiger Jumper (1923-2011) was born in a Seminole camp near Indiantown, Florida. She would become the first and only female chief of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Betty Mae was a nurse and newspaper editor and was the first Florida Seminole to learn to read and write English. Her first languages were Mikasuki and Creek. In the segregated Florida of her childhood, Seminoles were not permitted to attend white or black schools.

Betty Mae Tiger Jumper grew up in a small village in the Everglades. Her mother was a full-blooded Seminole, and her father was white. With little opportunity for education in the area, Betty Mae attended an Indian boarding school a thousand miles away in Cherokee, North Carolina. In 1945, she and her cousin, who also attended the same school, became the first Florida Seminoles to graduate from high school. She then enrolled in a nursing program at the Kiowa Indian Hospital in Oklahoma. A year later, she returned to Florida and worked to improve health care within the Seminole community. There she married Moses Jumper, whom she had met at the boarding school in North Carolina. They had three children. In addition to her public health career, she launched a tribal newsletter called the Seminole News (which later became The Seminole Tribune) in 1950.

After the Seminole tribe of Florida received federal recognition in 1957, Betty Mae Jumper was elected as one of its representatives. She continued to work in tribal government in various capacities, and in 1967 she was elected head of the Tribal Council, the first woman to serve as leader of the Seminoles. She left office in 1971 and became publisher of the Seminole Tribune newspaper. Betty Mae Jumper also collected stories and legends of the Seminole and has lectured widely about Seminole history and culture. She has not only worked in health care, government, and media positions to improve the fortunes of her people, but she has also sought to preserve Seminole culture and educate others about it.

Ideas to Explore

Visit the Seminole Historical Society located at 7464 Ridge Rd Seminole, FL 33772. Phone: 727-399-0587 Email: info@seminolehistoricalsociety.org Website: http://www.seminolehistoricalsociety.org/

The Seminole Museum is nestled in the heart of the Everglades on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is home to more than 180,000 unique artifacts and archival items. Come and learn about the Seminole people and experience their rich cultural and historical ties to the Southeast and Florida, as they have made Big Cypress their home since creation.

Plan a visit to the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, 34725 West Boundary Road, Clewiston, FL 33440 Phone: 877-902-1113 Email: museum@semtribe.com Website: https://www.semtribe.com/

Practicing Acts of Personal Responsibility

Local mission work is best for this type of practice. Find age-appropriate opportunities to serve those in our community.

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    NIV New International Version Translations

The Virtue of Love

Biblical Definition of Love

Love is a word that can indicate a person, place, or thing. In a sentence, love can function as the subject or the object of a verb. God is Love, for humankind, love is a lifestyle, a way to live, an action, a verb. Our secular online dictionary only gives these definitions:

  • n. A strong feeling of affection and concern toward another person, as that arising from kinship or close friendship.
  • n. A strong feeling of affection and concern for another person accompanied by sexual attraction.

Our Bible, however, considers the word love more than just a feeling. Love is also very much a verb, an action word. The extent of God’s love for us is found here:

(John 3:16)1NIV New International Version Translations – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God’s love is all encompassing, all-consuming for His creation. God asks the same of each of us, to love. There are four kinds of Biblical love:

Eros (Pronounced: AIR-ohs) is the Greek word for sensual or romantic love. It defines the proper relationship between husband and wife. A good marriage is the sharing of one’s very souls. Eros forms a relationship that is pleasing to God because it is based on fairness and equality.

Storge (Pronounced: STOR-jay) is the Greek word describes family love, the affectionate bond that develops naturally between parents and children, and brothers and sisters. In a world where there are so many single parented families or dysfunctional families, it reminds us that there is an expectation God places on how family relationships are to be maintained. God’s visitation requirements are 24 by 7 and no days off.

Philia (Pronounced: FILL-ee-uh) is the Greek term describes the powerful emotional bond seen in deep friendships. When friendship exists, respect is present. It was Aristotle who said that “friendship” is when two souls become one.

Agape (Pronounced: Uh-GAH-pay) is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. It describes God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is a divine love that can come only from God. Agape love is perfect, unconditional, sacrificial, and pure. It is the love that Christ calls us to when he said:

(John 13:34) – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The Bible says that, since true love is part of God’s nature, God is also the source of our own love. He is the initiator of a loving relationship with each of us. Any love we have for God is simply a response to His sacrificial love for us. In 1 John 4:10, we are told, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Our human understanding of love is flawed, weak, and incomplete, but the more we look at Jesus, the better we understand what true love should be like.

The word love occurs 551 times in the NIV Bible, 319 times in the Old Testament and 232 times in the New Testament. The word hate occurs 74 times in the NIV. If you look at these two words, one might draw the conclusion that we are to spend considerably more time in life loving.

Example of Biblical Love

The Bible gives many examples of love: the caring provision of Boaz for Ruth; the deep friendship of David and Jonathan; the poetic, passionate love of Solomon and the Shulamite; the enduring commitment of Hosea to Gomer; the fatherly love of Paul for Timothy and John for the church; and, of course, the sacrificial, saving love of Jesus Himself.

Ruth was a Moabite woman had come to Israel as the widow of an Israelite man. She had returned with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had also lost her husband. They lived together as two widows just barely surviving. Ruth would go to the fields each day to glean food during the times of harvest. Boaz was a landowner where Ruth came to find grain. He knew of her situation and told his workers to leave plenty of grain for her to find. Boaz also offered her food with the other workers and encouraged her to work in the safety of his fields throughout the harvest.

Naomi noticed that Boaz had interest in Ruth and that he was also a close relative. According to Jewish law, Boaz had the right to marry Ruth after the death of her husband. Naomi encouraged Ruth to go to Boaz in the evening and present herself willing to accept a marriage proposal from him. When Ruth did this, Boaz was pleased. However, he commented that there was one relative who was closer in line to marry Ruth than himself.

Boaz took it upon himself to meet with this relative the next day. He presented the opportunity for the relative to take Ruth as a wife. The relative turned down the offer because it would cause harm to his own family situation. Boaz then made a commitment in front of the town’s leaders that he would take Ruth as his wife. Boaz and Ruth were married and soon had a son named Obed. Naomi’s misfortune had turned to joy as she became a grandmother. Obed would later become the grandfather of King David, who would also serve as an ancestor of Jesus Christ.

(Matthew 1:5–6) – “Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.”

In the Old Testament Book, Ruth, chapter 4 is a story that shows how God often works through those who have endured tragic situations and then changes the lives of many others. Our God can and will work through the most unlikely means. Ruth was just a poor widow in a foreign land. Yet God used her to create the family line of both David and Jesus. This story shows that God is in control of everything that happens, even when we do not understand the events around us. It is a story of love.

Ideas to Explore

Read the entire story of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz in Ruth Chapter 4. Have a discussion on the following:

  • What type of love/affection was there between Ruth and Naomi?
  • How do you think that Naomi’s faith in God influenced Ruth to go with Naomi into a foreign land rather than to stay where she would have been accepted?
  • When Boaz first noticed Naomi and Ruth, he was generous. What type of love was he showing them?
  • Boaz never took advantage of either of the two widows in this story and he followed the Jewish law. What can you tell about the character of Boaz?

Example of Historical Value of Love

Deborah Sampson was born on December 27, 1760 in Winnetuxet, later called Plympton, Massachusetts to Jonathan and Deborah Sampson. She was related to Governor William Bradford of the Plymouth Plantation. The oldest of three sisters and three brothers, her contributions to the American Revolution would make her our nation’s first female soldier.

When Deborah was about five years old, her father vanished. The family believed that he was lost at sea during a fishing trip, but it later it was learned that he had abandoned his wife and six young children to build a new life and family in Maine. Deborah’s mother, unable to provide for her children, placed them with other relatives and families, as was common for destitute parents of the time. Deborah was five when she first went to live her mother’s cousin, Ruth Fuller of Middle borough, Massachusetts. Ruth died when Deborah was eight. Deborah ended up living with Mary Prince Thatcher, an 80-year-old widow of a First Congregational Church minister. Mrs. Thatcher died around 1770 and the 10-year-old Deborah became an indentured servant in the household of Jeremiah Thomas of Middleborough, Massachusetts. This was quite a rough life for a young girl to have endured.

During her time with the Thomas family, she worked in their home and fields. During the winter when there was not much work to be done, she was allowed to attend school. When she was not in school, she would stay up after everyone had gone to bed and study the schoolbooks the Thomas boys brought home. At the Thomas’ home, she learned to cook, spin, weave, how to run farm equipment and how to shoot a musket. She would go along with the Thomas sons when they went hunting and learned to shoot just as good as they could. Deborah stood about 5 foot eight inches tall, was heavy boned, strong and of light complexion.
Deacon Thomas not only taught his children about God but also how to use money wisely. He gave every child some lambs to raise and sell and he included Deborah. She was incredibly wise with her lambs, selling them for the highest price she could get. She kept her money hidden in a handkerchief.

Deborah was only ten years old when the Boston Massacre happened in 1770 and thirteen years old in 1773 at the time of the Boston Tea Party. The citizens of Boston refused to pay for the tea dumped in the ocean and in 1774 King George III issued the Intolerable Acts. When the people of Boston started talking about how they would starve under King George’s laws, Deborah planted a garden for herself and the Thomas family.

On December 16, 1775, the official start of the Revolutionary War, Deborah decided to fight in the War. She was sixteen years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. The men and boys from all around were joining the militia or the Continental Army led by General George Washington. By the time Deborah was eighteen, the United States was losing many battles and France had just decided to join with the Continental Army.

After her indenture ended in 1778, Deborah supported herself by teaching school in the summers and working as a weaver in the winter. She also used her skills at light woodworking to sell goods like spools, pie crimpers, milking stools, and other items door-to-door.

She left the Thomas’ home in 1779 and became a teacher in a Middleborough public school. She still thought about joining the Continental Army but did not really know how she could do it. Then in the winter of 1780, Mr. Thomas came for a visit and told her about two of his sons being killed in Virginia when they were fighting with Marquis de Lafayette. She had grown close to all the Thomas boys, and this is when she committed to serving with the Continentals. It would be then that the affectionate bond between Deborah and her adopted brothers provided the impetus to fight in the American Revolution.

Deborah had taken a room from Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Leonard and towards the end of 1781, she decided she would try to enlist in the Continental Army. Taking some clothes from Samuel, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard, she tested her disguise by going to visit her mother. When her mother did not recognize her, Deborah Sampson knew she could sneak into the Continental Army.

Finally, on May 20, 1782, at the age of twenty-one Deborah Sampson enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army at Bellingham, Massachusetts, as Robert Shurtleff, which was the name of her oldest brother who had died at the age of eight. Deborah was almost immediately detected when noticed she held the quill with her finger in that funny position, like a female. No one else seemed to notice and Deborah Sampson, otherwise known as Robert Shurtleff, was now a soldier with the Continental Army for the next three years of her enlistment. Three days later she was officially part of Captain George Webb’s company. She was soon excommunicated from the Baptist Church, because the people of Middleborough had heard she was dressing as a man and serving in the Army.

Her first narrow escape from discovery was when she was altering her poorly fitting uniform and was observed to be particularly good with a needle. She explained it away by stating there were no girls in her family, so as a youngest she had to learn how to sew.

Her regiment was sent to West Point, New York. During a scouting party to try to find food for her regiment, she was shot in the leg by Loyalists who caught her stealing from a cave near Tarrytown. To maintain her disguise, Deborah refused to see a doctor and took care of her own wound.

She was at West Point for eighteen months and fought in several battles. Deborah was injured two more times. Once near Tarrytown, her head was cut with a sword and then again near Eastchester. This time she was hit in the thigh by a musket ball and was carried to the hospital. But, once there, she showed the surgeon the lesser wound to her head, and he released her. She tried to dig the musket ball out of her thigh with her pen knife! Failing that, she nursed the wound as best she could. But, having left the ball in the leg was to cause her trouble for the rest of her life. She again refused to be treated by a doctor and causing her injuries not to heal completely.

It was not until she came down with a “malignant fever,” which was being passed around the soldiers, that she was forced to see a doctor at a hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Binney examined her and discovered she was not a man. He did not tell anyone but took her to his own home where she could get better care. Once she was well again, Dr. Binney met with her commanding officer.

Deborah Sampson knew right away that Dr. Binney had told her commanding officers, but on October 25, 1783, almost two months after the Peace Treaty of Paris was signed, she went to deliver the letter to General Washington. He was genuinely nice and did not make it harder on her than it was already. He handed her papers that honorably discharged her from the Army with some money so she could get home. He also gave her a note which gave her some of his good advice.

In 1784 she married Benjamin Gannett, a farmer, and they had three children, Earl, Mary, and Patience. On January 20, 1792, the Massachusetts General Court ordered that she be paid 34 pounds for her service in the United States Army. In the order, the Court said: she “did actually perform the duty of a soldier.” They said, “Deborah exhibited an extraordinary instance of female heroism, by discharging the duties of a faithful, gallant soldier, and at the same time preserving the virtue and chastity of her sex unsuspected and unblemished and was discharged from the service with a fair and honorable character….” Later, in 1804, Paul Revere sent a letter to Congress telling them she should receive more money for her duties in the War. She then received a U.S. pension of four dollars per month. She also received a land grant for her military services as a Revolutionary Soldier.

In 1802, Sampson started traveling around the New England states talking about her experiences in the United State Military, always wearing her military uniform. She received a letter from George Washington inviting Robert Shurtliffe to visit Washington. In her travels, she lectured in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York and was perhaps America’s first women lecturer. Deborah Sampson Gannett died at the age of sixty-six on April 29, 1827 in Sharon, Massachusetts. On her tombstone is inscribed “Deborah wife of Benjamin Gannett, died April 29, 1827, aged 68 years“. On the reverse side of the stone it reads “Deborah Sampson Gannett, Robert Shurtleff, The Female Soldier Service 1781-1783.”

Ideas to Explore

The life and times of an American Revolutionary Soldier were extremely difficult. Cold, starvation and disease were common. The weaponry of war was brutal and difficult to use. Wounds of any kind were life-threatening due to infection. There are two activities that would help to understand this:

  • Visit a medical museum in your area where the realities explained above can be seen.
  • Contact the National Muzzle Loaders Rifle Association (NMLRA) and find a local member that can come and talk to your group. If permitted, have the students see what the round lead projectiles were and discuss how painful it must have been for Deborah Sampson to try to remove one from her leg.
  • Contact a local gun club and arrange to have each student learn about the “Brown Bess,” the rifle of the American Revolution. See if you can have each person safely shoot a flintlock. Here they will understand that rain, snow rendered the flintlocks useless.

Example of Historical Value of Love Occurring in Florida

Esther Napoleon Lottery Bartley, known as Aunt Easter to family and friends, began her life as a slave born at the White Oak plantation under the ownership of Zephaniah Kingsley. The daughter of Carpenter Bonafi and his wife Mary, she was born around 1823 and died on January 3, 1931. The exact date of her birth is not known but it is estimated to have been approximately 108 at her death.

In an 1844 assessment of Zephaniah Kingsley’s personal property, Esther and her family were appraised at a price of $4,620.00, but no other record exists regarding her early years at White Oak plantation or the Ft. George Island plantation. What is known definitively is that she and her family were sold to John Sammis’s San Jose Plantation in 1848.

Esther was known to have married a fellow slave at White Oak when she was young. Her husband, Squash or Quash Lottery, was listed as the head of the household in an 1870 census record. They had four children named Anna, Ruth, Sallie, and Antoinette. A later census in 1880 listed Esther as the head of the household, which would imply that Quash had passed away.

Purchased by John Pratt in 1860 at a New Orleans slave auction, Esther and her family were relocated to Bellevue where they spent nearly the entire duration of the Civil War. During that time, Esther became close to her new mistress and performed a near miracle for her and her family. Mrs. Pratt was forced to flee from her home suddenly and requested of Esther that she hide her valuables and protect her children from detection. Esther hid the items well and after the war they were reacquired by Mrs. Pratt. Esther “hid” the children by a clever piece of trickery where she marched them right up to the army’s path and then let all the world know how excited they were to view the victorious army, making it seem they were there for no other purpose. The ruse worked and as a reward, Esther and her family were given the means to travel back to Jacksonville after the war where they purchased property in Arlington from the Sammis family.

After Quash passed away, Esther remarried in 1882 to George Bartley. They had no children together but lived as a family until 1917 when George died leaving her a widow. By 1925, Esther had many grandchildren and great grandchildren. The remainder of her life is undocumented, but she was describe striking a “quaint old-time figure,” known for wearing a calico dress, apron, and a “spotless white bandana“, leaning on a stout walking staff for balance. She was known for her keen, quick intellect and exceptional memory, right up to her days as one of Jacksonville’s oldest citizens. After her death in 1931, she was buried in Arlington where she rests to this day.

Ester was chosen as our Floridian historical example of love because she had every reason to hate but chose to live, endure, and love. In her simple way, despite the injustice of slavery, Ester prospered. It is what God calls each of us to do.

Ideas to Explore

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many people came to Florida. Some, like Zephaniah Kingsley, sought to make their fortunes by obtaining land and establishing plantations. Others were forced to come to Florida to work on those plantations, their labor providing wealth to the people who owned them. Some of the enslaved would later become free landowners, struggling to keep their footing in a dangerous time of shifting alliances and politics. All these people played a part in the history of Kingsley Plantation. The Timucuan Preserve and Kingsley Plantation offer kayak trails through pristine marshes, fascinating historic sites, a wide variety of eco-systems from pine flatwoods to sandy beaches. It is part of the National Park System of the United States and located at 12713 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225.2https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/stories-of-the-enslaved.htm

Practicing Acts of Value

The three stories that are part of the study of Love may seem strange. We find Ruth, a widow in a foreign land, gleaning grain to survive with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth still lived a Godly and loving life. Deborah Sampson, who was abandoned as a child, indentured through most of her youth, was willing to die for her country in honor of her “adopted family” whom she loved. We end with Ester, treated as property most of her life, working hard, living an honest life. Ester did not use excuses but left this world with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren whom she loved. No wonder God kept her around for 108 years. The challenge with the virtue of love is to learn how it is passed on, generation after generation, even during the hardest of times? Love is no different than a candle’s flame, it can be passed on to brighten our world.

Located in Orlando Florida is a place called the Edgewood Children’s Ranch. Since 1966, the goal of Edgewood Children’s Ranch has been to help at-risk children and their families find hope. Their mission began when Orange County Juvenile Court Judge D. Arthur Yergey sought an option other than juvenile detention or confinement for young boys with disruptive behaviors. Judge Yergey’s vision coincided with the passion of John W. “Jack” Lynd whose years of working with troubled children led him to a similar vision to establish a faith-based home and school where young people could safely heal and change the direction their lives are heading.

Edgewood began in a small house with two boys and a lot of faith and prayer. Dr. Jack Lynd and those boys prayed for their first meal because there was none at the time and God provided. Since 1966, their program has grown from helping two boys in a small house to being able to help up to 50 children and their families find hope for a better future.

Children live onsite within group housing and attend school each day. Education is tailored to “catch up” and fill gaps that were formed during their troubled times. Children can stay and receive a high school diploma at Edgewood and, when appropriate, assistance for further education. Their parents come weekly for counseling and children return to their families for holidays and summer breaks.

The approximately 100-acre site and numerous buildings are perfect for volunteers to clean, repair and paint. Donations can be collected and taken to their thrift store. Edgewood encourages the collection of food; the kids eat every day. They also appreciate help raising funds. Edgewood is faith-based and as a result, primarily operates through private funding. There are tutoring opportunities to help Edgewood children with their classwork. Consider setting up a workday and make a “loving difference” in our community.

  • 1
    NIV New International Version Translations
  • 2
    https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/stories-of-the-enslaved.htm

The Virtue of Gratitude

Biblical Definition of Gratitude

Gratitude and thankfulness are one and the same. The virtue is one that God calls us to cultivate through life. The modern dictionary defines gratitude as, “the state or quality of being grateful or thankful; a warm and friendly feeling in response to a favor or favors received; thankfulness.” It was the Apostle Paul who wrote:

(Colossians 3:15) 1NIV New International Version Translations– “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has received. It is a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. Gratitude is spontaneous and generated from within us. It protects us from feelings of entitlement, envy, and resentment, which robs us of joy in life. Why be thankful?

(Romans 5:8) – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God Himself sets the example for being thankful, even to mere humans! Hebrews 6:10 states, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Yes, God considers it unrighteous, or unjust, to show a lack of gratitude. When we express “sincere gratitude​,” whether for a gift, a kind word, or practical help, ​we make the giver feel valued and appreciated. Even strangers respond to people who thank them for doing a simple deed, such as holding a door open.

(Luke 6:38) – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The Bible has much to say about gratitude and thankfulness. Giving thanks to God is of such basic importance that the Bible mentions the failure to do so as part of the basis for God’s judgment against mankind (Romans 1:21). We should also be thankful to God for the everyday things He provides to us. Gratitude also extends to the acts of kindness, gifts, and love others extend toward us. It is good to acknowledge the efforts of others to show our gratitude.
 
Foremost, we are to be grateful for God’s gift of life on earth and His gift of eternal salvation. Apart from Jesus Christ we only deserve eternity in hell (Romans 6:23; John 3:16–18). Salvation involves more than rescue. God has given us eternal spiritual blessings by uniting us with Jesus Christ through faith. If we are united with Christ, we have received forgiveness of sins and now are part of God’s eternal family (Ephesians 1:3–14).
 
Now for the hardest part of gratitude, being thankful for our trials in life.

(James 1:2–4) – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Why would anyone be thankful for such terrible things as trials, hardships in life? The answer is because even bad things work together for the ultimate good of those who love God (Romans 8:28). The goals of a Christian life are to live our life like Christ. God uses trials, temptations, and tribulations to grow us and mold us into the likeness of His Son. Trials to make us stronger and smarter.  The foundation of gratitude is understanding that God is sovereign. His providence in working all things together for the good of those who love Him is why we are grateful.

(Philippians 2:13-16) – “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”

We have so many reasons to thank God, and yet it is a far too rare practice in society today. Complaining and grumbling come too easily. We are debtors to God and need His grace. The eternal life that we have received through faith in Jesus is worthy of gratitude (John 3:15).

Example of Biblical Gratitude

One of the best stories about gratitude comes from an encounter between 10 lepers and Jesus.

 (Luke 17:11–19) – “Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'”

The analogy formed here is that we are all born lepers. Everyone has a disfiguring and alienating disease called sin. Yet, Jesus took on the punishment due to our sins. He bore the bruises, pain, and death because we were not able to present ourselves before God.
 
The place where this healing took place is important. Samaria borders Galilee, and there is a “no man’s land” between them. Jesus is traveling “through the middle of Samaria and Galilee.” This could explain why the lepers include both Jews and Samaritans. Under normal circumstances, Jews would have nothing to do with Samaritans. But because these Jews and Samaritans have leprosy, they are drawn together by their common misery.
 
Samaria had been the home of the ten tribes of Israel. When the Assyrians took the Israelites into exile in the 8 B.C., many Gentiles came to live in Samaria. Returning exiles inter-married with those Gentiles. As a result, Jews loathed Samaritans and considered them to be half-breeds. Jesus makes a hero of other Samaritans elsewhere in the Bible. The most familiar example is the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). The Gospel of John also treats the Samaritan woman at the well as a positive figure (John 4:1-42).
 
Priests were responsible for diagnosing leprosy. The Torah provided specific guidelines for doing so (Leviticus 13:1-44). A diagnosis of leprosy was treated as a death sentence. It was much the same as a diagnosis of cancer or AIDS was only a few decades ago. The infected person was required to be isolated from all healthy people. The infected person had to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” when approached by a healthy person. (Leviticus 13:45-46; Numbers 5:2-3). The purpose was to prevent the infection from spreading. People also tended to regard leprosy as a sign of God’s judgment. That made most people less compassionate than they might otherwise have been. They believed that the person has brought suffering upon themselves.
 
Priests had great power. Once a priest judged a person to be unclean, that person was cast out from society. They could no longer live with their family. A leper was unable to hold a job or to engage in commerce. They begged to survive. To be restored to a normal life required a priest’s judgment that the person was no longer unclean. That was Jesus’ reason for sending these lepers to the priests. He wanted them to be restored to normal lives. Jesus also has another purpose. The lepers would bear testimony to the priests of His great healing power. When the priests judge the lepers to be clean, their judgments would authenticate Jesus’ Godly power.
 
The lepers were not healed immediately, but instead were healed as they obeyed Jesus’ command.  No doubt, all ten lepers were thankful for their healing. They would be thankful to reenter their villages and workplaces. Thankful to go home to their families. In extreme gratitude, one man resisted the urge to go home and turned back to thank Jesus.  Under the same circumstances, would we have stopped to give thanks? How often do you stop to thank God for your blessings? How often do we forget to thank God? Do you have an attitude of gratitude?

Ideas to Explore

Hold a group discussion on where we see the lack of gratitude today. Make a list for the group. Discuss how each person can try to demonstrate to others, their gratitude to God, Jesus, their parents, and their country.

Example of Historical Gratitude

The importance of the military chaplain was critical to the success of George Washington. Here is an excerpt from his field orders issued a mere 5 days after The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America was signed. Included in general orders issued July 9, 1776, was the following:

The Hon. Continental Congress having been pleased to allow a Chaplain to each Regiment, with the pay of Thirty-three Dollars and one third per month–The Colonels or commanding officers of each regiment are directed to procure Chaplains accordingly; persons of good Characters and exemplary lives–To see that all inferior officers and soldiers pay them a suitable respect and attend carefully upon religious exercises. The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary but especially so in times of public distress and danger–The General hopes and trusts, that every officer and man, will endeavor so to live, and act, as becomes a Christian Soldier defending the dearest Rights and Liberties of his country.
~ George Washington

James Caldwell was born in April 1734, in Cub Creek in Charlotte County, Virginia. He graduated from Princeton in 1759 and was ordained the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethtown in 1762. Caldwell served with the Third Battalion of Company No. 1, New Jersey Volunteers during the Revolutionary War, and was also Commissary to the troops in New Jersey. He was known as the “Fighting Chaplain.” On 25 January 1780, Reverend Caldwell’s church was burned down by the British. He moved his family to the parsonage at Connecticut Farms (now Union), New Jersey so that they might enjoy a safer life. Unfortunately, this was not to pass.
 
His journey into American history arrived at the end of a hundred-year journey for religious freedom. Caldwell’s ancestors had fled France after the fall of La Rochelle to Richelieu’s army in 1628. They migrated to Scotland, settling on an estate known as Cold Well, named for its cold well water (hence, the origins of the family name). Episcopacy was on the rise in Scotland, so they left for Ireland, sometime prior to 1649. There was also civil strife involving conflicts between Scotch and Irish. Parliament enacted economic restrictions along with limitations on Presbyterian activities. And then a famine began in 1725, combined to push the Caldwell’s out of Ireland into the New World.
 
His parents landed at New Castle, Delaware, on December 10, 1727.  They made their way to the edge of the frontier in Charlotte County, Virginia. But their longing for religious freedoms were not quite within their grasp. The Church of England dominated that part of the county. So his father, John Caldwell, and others helped send a delegation to the Governor to seek permission to settle at Cub Creek and worship as Presbyterians. The petition was granted, and a church was organized in 1738. Services were held under a tree, and then a log church was built. By then James was part of the family, having been born on April 14, 1734.
 
Not much is known about James Caldwell’s youth. As part of a family living on the frontier in the early 1730s, he would have spent much of his time working: clearing land, feeding livestock, harvesting crops, cutting wood, hunting game and fishing. His father, as one of the leaders in the church (and in the community, serving as one of the first judges), would have conducted family devotions and taken his family to church. At some point during these years James felt the call of God upon his life and declared his desire to serve in the ministry. To help him prepare for college, he was sent to a local Classics School. In 1755, James entered the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University). He graduated three years later with seventeen others, completing classes in Greek, Hebrew, rhetoric, logic, and so forth.
 
Following the procedures of the Presbyterian Church, James spent the next several months studying the Bible and preparing sermons under the tutoring of Dr. Samuel Davies. Davies was the president of the College of New Jersey. James was presented for licensure examinations on March 11, 1760. After delivering the last of three required sermons on September 17, he was ordained and began searching for a ministerial position. One such opening was in Elizabeth Town, New Jersey. During the eighteen months the church had been without a pastor, twenty men had applied for the office. Like those before him, he preached a trial sermon. His superior capacity for extemporaneous speaking, his animated, impressive, and captivating eloquence in the pulpit, and his fervent piety, rendered him the preferred candidate and James was offered the position. He was installed with a salary of one hundred and sixty pounds in March 1762. He was 27-years old. One year later, he added the last piece to the foundation of his life, marrying Hannah Ogden on March 14, 1763.
 
The next twelve years, he would grow as a pastor, affected by the looming shadows of war. The church at Elizabeth Town was one of the oldest in the country, having been constructed in 1667. His congregation was made up of laborers, shopkeepers, farmers, political figures, and future military leaders. By God’s grace, Caldwell’s energy and forceful preaching contributed to the growth of the congregation. They soon added a sixteen-foot extension to the rear of the church. By 1776, there were 345 “pew renters.” His days were filled with the standard pastoral duties. He would visit the sick, conduct weddings and funerals, attend to building matters, and help plant new churches. He preached two sermons every Sunday, pouring out his heart and soul: “As a preacher, he was unconsciously eloquent and pathetic; rarely preaching without weeping himself, and at times he would melt his whole audience into tears.”
 
To his church duties add denominational responsibilities. He maintained close connections with his alma mater, serving as a trustee. With Rev. John Witherspoon, he traveled through Virginia raising funds for the college. Caldwell would become a founder of several societies, including the verbosely titled “Society for the Better Support of the Widows and the Education of Children of Deceased Presbyterian Ministers in Communion with the Present Established Church of Scotland.” He served on a committee to promote missionary work among Indians. Caldwell was also on a committee to select, buy and distribute religious books and hymnals. He even sat on a committee to encourage missionary work in Africa and examine the church’s position on slavery. And he served as a faithful husband and father to ten children.
 
From the start of the American Revolution, Caldwell was an ardent supporter of the Revolution and was not ashamed to proclaim so from the pulpit. When the recriminations, protests and tensions finally broke out into flying musket balls and cannon fire on the fields of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, James Caldwell was ready. At a meeting of the Presbyterian Synod in May he again served with Rev. Witherspoon and was appointed to a committee to urge the Presbyterian churches to support the rebellion. These actions made the Presbyterians, and especially their clergy, targets for revenge. Back home he preached thunderous sermons, pleading for loyalty to the cause. Thirty-one officers and fifty-two enlisted men were to come out of the Elizabeth Town Presbyterian church. Though it was common for ministers to preach the cause of liberty, few stepped out of the pulpit into the line of duty. James Caldwell was one of the few.
 
Reverend Caldwell had already been working for the budding Revolution as a member of the Committees of Correspondence, which had helped disseminate news about anti-British activities prior to the war, and then once hostilities broke out helped recruit soldiers, materials, and arms. As chaplain, he went wherever his troops went. This meant that he was able to minister, not only to the soldiers, but also to the residents of nearby towns. He preached, held baptisms and too often, funerals. As he had in his hometown, he gained a reputation for his preaching. People of the time wrote: “His countenance has a pensive, placid cast; but when excited, was expressive of high resolution and energy.” It was said that his voice became sweet and musical, and yet so strong that, when needful, he would make himself heard above the notes of the fife and drum.
 
The American War for Independence was on the edge of disaster entering 1780. More than 600 had deserted Washington’s army in Morristown, N.J., helped along by a more severe winter than that suffered at Valley Forge. Pockets of mutiny had sprung up throughout the winter and into the spring. Then, in May 1780, Charleston, S.C., fell to British General Charles Cornwallis. For Reverend James Caldwell, the year of 1780 would prove to be a year of suffering and sorrow for the soon to become the “Fighting Chaplain.” First, a night raid by the British against the town left the courthouse and Presbyterian Church burnt to the ground. Caldwell lost many personal papers, as well as church records and documents.
 
On 6 June 1780, British Lieutenant General Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen crossed over from Staten Island into New Jersey with six to seven thousand German soldiers. He was on his way to Springfield, but first there was a skirmish at Connecticut Farms where Caldwell had earlier relocated his family. When word reached the town of the invasion, Caldwell decided to move his family once again. His wife, however, did not wish to leave. It is speculated that she did not want to travel with the young children, or that she felt safer in her house than out on the open road. Whatever the reason, she stayed behind while the older children were sent to friends in another town. James then rode off to join his brigade. It was a fateful decision. While the noises of war, whizzing musket balls, running horses, shouting troops, filled the air, Hannah made a few nervous preparations. She hid several items in a bucket, lowering them into the well; she pocketed some silverware. She put on nicer clothes, in case she would have to address a British officer, and then retreated to her bedroom with her youngest children. “Mrs. Caldwell felt confident that no one would have the heart to do injury to the inhabitants of the house. Again and again she had said, ‘They will respect a mother.’” She was wrong. As the British marched into town, a redcoat jumped the fence, came up to the house and shot through the window, splattering glass, killing Hannah Caldwell with a ball through the chest. Other soldiers poured into the house. They pilfered her pockets, looted the house, and took five hundred sermons James had written out in longhand. Her body was removed before they torched the home. For several hours she was left exposed in the open air, clothes torn and disheveled, until neighbors took her in. The day ended with the British setting fire to the village.
 
James was with General Lafayette on the heights near Springfield. When he saw the smoke he said, “Thank God! The fire is not in the direction of my house.” He was wrong and soon overheard the truth from returning soldiers. He rushed back to the town to find his wife, and the mother of his ten children, gone. The funeral was held that afternoon. Following the death of his wife, Caldwell made provisions for his children then continued his duties. He kept on preaching and attending to the troops. The news of the murder lit up the country with indignation. For James, there was no time to mourn. Indeed, in a mere two weeks he would be riding the countryside, sounding the alarm of the British advancement on Springfield.
 
As Knyphausen marched down the main road, he met American Colonel Israel Angell, bunkered down in an apple grove across the Rahway River. The Redcoats moved up and let loose a furious volley, using 6 artillery pieces. The broadside tore off chunks of the apple trees and killed the American regiment’s lone artillery gunner. Despite the crucial loss, Colonel Angell held off a force five times larger than his own for 25 minutes. During the heat of the battle, the American militia began to run out of wadding. This is the paper used to roll powder and ball, thus sealing the barrel so they could continue shooting at the enemy. Reverend James Caldwell sprang into action. Caldwell was said to have dashed into a nearby Presbyterian Church, scooped up as many Watts hymnals as he could carry, and distributed them to the troops, shouting “put Watts into them, boys.” The boys responded and poured lead into the oncoming enemy.
 
Caldwell’s legendary deed did not turn the course of battle that day. At best, it delayed the invasion of Springfield by a few minutes. But the event stirred such patriotic fervor that those who saw it passed it on to succeeding generations until Washington Irving recorded it in his biography of George Washington. For the “Fighting Chaplain,” it was one more selfless act in a life full of courage, patriotism and service to others and God.
 
On Nov. 24, 1781, Reverend Caldwell went to greet a lady named Beulah Murray, who was scheduled under a flag of truce to visit some relatives. She had rendered service to American prisoners in the prison ships in New York and was held in esteem. He drove a chaise (thought to be a light open two-wheeled carriage) to Elizabeth Town Point along Newark Bay to bring her to town. He could not find her. He went on board the sloop. Upon debarking with a bag, a sentry ordered him to stop. American authorities were battling smugglers of British goods from New York to New Jersey. Strict orders had been issued to all sentries to look for illicit trading. After walking Ms. Murray to his carriage, he returned to the boat, to retrieve a package that was left behind. On the return to his carriage, an American sentinel, named James Morgan, challenged him, asking what was in the package. Caldwell attempted to proceed to the proper officer with the package, but as he attempted to move away, the sentinel, just relieved from duty, fired his musket, killing the Reverend Caldwell with two balls. Caldwell had stopped, but the sentry shot him anyway. James Caldwell, the “Fighting Chaplain,” dropped dead. The sentry, James Morgan, was hanged for murder on January 29, 1782, in Westfield, New Jersey, amid rumors that he had been bribed to kill the chaplain.
 
There were ten orphaned children of Hannah and James Caldwell, all who were raised by friends of the family. Caldwell lived a full life. One marvels at the breadth of his service to his country and his Savior. It is easy to imagine that he might have gone on to serve his country in the new Republic as one of the Founding Fathers. What distinguished James Caldwell from most other clergymen of his day is that, while he continued his ministerial activities during the struggle for freedom, he also performed other services demonstrating his devotion to the patriot cause. Others, from many different walks of life, exhibited the same devotion and made sacrifices. But James Caldwell, as the minister who stood with the fighting men during battle, who rallied others to continue the war when the situation appeared hopeless, who sacrificed the life of his wife when he considered it his duty to be with the troops, and who met his own death while performing a helpful service for someone else, stands out above many others. The Reverend James Caldwell and his wife were buried in the churchyard of the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethtown. A monument to him in Elizabeth, New Jersey was dedicated in 1846.

Ideas to Explore

This section might be an opportunity for a “meet and greet.” Consider inviting a military chaplain, a sheriff office chaplain, a hospital chaplain and possibly a prison chaplain to gather with your group. Have an informal question and answer session.

  • How does each role, the military, the sheriff’s office, the hospital, and the prison differ?
  • What made them choose that job?
  • What are their duties?
  • What is it that they love?
  • What is hard?

Let the group interact and ask questions.

Examples of Historical Gratitude Occurring in Florida

The first public police force was created in Boston in 1838 in response to the urging of private businesses. Merchants wanted a public system to fund the protection of their wares, which up to that point were secured by private security. This concept spread and by the late 1880s all major cities maintained public police forces. America’s emphasis on state and local government autonomy from the federal government leads to a great deal of diversity in policing systems across cities, counties, and states. A single city can be patrolled by multiple policing agencies with overlapping responsibilities.

In addition to organizational diversity, the physical boundaries of police jurisdictions are also diverse. Originally, police precinct boundaries aligned with electoral boundaries. This changed in 1929 in response to the findings of former President Herbert Hoover’s Wickersham Commission. The commission called for redistricting precincts, so they no longer fell on political lines, thereby reducing politicians’ ability to influence or exploit police forces in their jurisdictions. Today, police forces are a major part of local government operations and the second largest budget item after education.

There are roughly 18,000 police departments in the United States. There are 906,037 full-time law enforcement employees and 94,275 part-time employees2https://usafacts.org/articles/police-departments-explained. State and local police employment decreased from a high of 1,019,246 officers in 2008 to 1,000,312 officers in 2019. Police account for 6% of all full-time employees for state and local governments. Unfortunately, current statistics are difficult to establish. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics’ 2008 Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Florida had 387 law enforcement agencies employing 46,105 sworn police officers, about 250 for each 100,000 residents.

Sworn officers all take a similar oath. They swear to uphold the Constitution, both Federal and State, and to seek God’s help in the job they do.

“I, _____________________, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of ______________________ for the (town/city/state) of ____________________________ and will to the best of my ability faithfully execute the oath of my duties as ____________________________, and swear that I will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the State of _____________________ and the ordinances of the Town/City of ____________________________, so help me God.” 

The word “police” comes from the Greek politeia, meaning government, which came to mean its civil administration. The more general term for the function is law enforcement officer or peace officer. A sheriff is typically the top police officer of a county, with that word coming from the person enforcing law over a shire. A person who has been deputized to serve the function of the sheriff is referred to as the deputy. Police officers are those empowered by government to enforce the laws it creates. In The Federalist collection of articles and essays, James Madison wrote: “If men were angels, no Government would be necessary“. These words apply to those who serve government, including police.

Police officers are generally charged with the apprehension of suspects and the prevention, detection, and reporting of crime, protection and assistance of the public, and the maintenance of public order. As Godly people know, the world is a sinful place. Drugs, murder, crimes of every type of plague humankind. The role of a police officer is to protect those who follow the law. Just to create an appreciation for how difficult the role is, here are the types of police in the State of Florida:

  • State Agencies such as Highway Patrol, FWC Wildlife Commission, State Park Services, Agricultural and Alcohol Enforcement, Fire Marshal, Lottery, Financial Fraud, Department of Corrections, State Attorney’s Office, and more.
  • County Agencies for each of Florida’s 67 counties
  • City Agencies for each of Florida’s major cities
  • University and College Agencies
  • School District Agencies
  • Airport Agencies
  • Native American Tribe Agencies

Our society needs our police and must maintain respect for the important role they play in keeping all of us safe and secure. Think about what we gain when we are safe and secure. It is what the founding fathers envisioned in the Preamble to the Constitution – “to secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and for our posterity.” The gratitude must be from us to them. This can only be fully understood by taking a field trip to the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville, FL. It is the nation’s first national law enforcement museum and memorial dedicated to American law enforcement officers.
Ideas to Explore

Ideas to Explore

The American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, founded in 1960, is the nation’s first national law enforcement museum and memorial dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty. The Memorial lists over 10,300 officers who were killed in the line of duty. Their names are permanently etched on the Memorial’s walls. Names are added to the wall once a year prior to Law Enforcement Memorial Day. Explore a collection of historic and futuristic police cars. Or you can have your picture taken in a replica electric chair or behind the bars of a realistic prison cell. You can find out how law enforcement agencies do their forensic investigations and how crime scenes are analyzed. The Museum, through interactive displays, simulators and nearly 11,000 artifacts, educates the public about the history and current trends in American law enforcement. Students can learn about safety, science, forensics and much more!

The Museum is located at:

6350 Horizon Dr.. Titusville, FL 32780 Tel: 321.264.0911 PoliceInfo@aphf.org

​Practicing Acts of Gratitude

The way to show gratitude is to tell others about Jesus. Here would be an excellent place to work on thinking through why a person trusts God, loves Jesus and is happy to tell others about their faith.

A testimony is a simple thing: What was your life like before you accepted Jesus into your life? How did you come to make that decision? How has your life changed? Write it, share it with each other. Keep it your testimony, in your words, in your style.

  • 1
    NIV New International Version Translations
  • 2
    https://usafacts.org/articles/police-departments-explained

Program Implementation Ideas

Each virtue outlined in this program should be viewed as a separate segment. To gain maximum benefits, develop a strategy for your youth around each virtue. The strategies should be age dependent. Consider the maturity levels of the youth involved.

The most important part of this program is to understand the biblical definitions of each virtue. These will form the foundation for future activities and experiences. This is more than just a reading lesson. Your ideas should also include the use of video content and field trips. YouTube.com has a rich library of movies, both as cartoons and real life drama, that can introduce the characters of the Bible Characters chosen to exemplify a specific virtue. Take time to search, review and find appropriate material. Avoid lectures. Here are just a few samples you can look at:

Use feature movies too. These are excellent to bring alive many of the characters involved in our nation’s and state’s history. Come prepared to answer the following:

  • Who wrote the book and or Scripture in the Biblical Example being studied?
  • To whom or for whom were they writing it?
  • When was it written?
  • What are the central themes of the story you are going to study?

Please don’t just stop there. While videos can be entertaining, there should be time allocated for discussion afterwards. As an example, always consider the following:

  • Once a virtue is understood from God’s perspective, how does the world view it?
  • Does your group agree that the virtue is necessary to have a better world? Why and why not opinions are important to discuss.
  • Where does your group see conflict between God and the world with respect to living out that specific virtue?
  • What are the personal threats that are seen against living out the virtue in a Godly fashion?
  • Can your group find contemporary examples of the biblical story in society today? How does our world’s view differ from God’s perspective?
  • Is there a specific sin to discuss? Is the sin something we need to be concerned about today?
  • Is there cause for thanksgiving or praise to God? How was the praise expressed in the story?
  • Is there a promise or a God’s Truth that we need to believe in?
  • Is there an attitude to change or a motive to examine? Is that an issue with youth, adults, what groups of people?
  • Is there an example to imitate or follow? How would you describe the virtue to a friend?
  • Is there an error to confront or avoid? Where do you see this error being made today?

Let your group discuss how they might be able to create an activity where the group demonstrates the virtue. Guest speakers are always good. After any activity, always gather back to discuss how things went and what they learned. What would you and they do different? Learning to share experiences that include faith are an excellent way to prepare youth for sharing their testimonies.

One of the harder program sections is on American History. We have chosen to use the American Revolution. The purpose is to develop an understanding of why the Constitution was written the way it is. There are a lot of great books, movies, to include when covering this material. For example, we all know a lot about George Washington. While you may not be able to go to Valley Forge, you can set up small activities to teach about the life and times. Here are a few examples:

  • Use props. Every story can be enhanced by letting people hold a replica from history.
  • Dress the part. Investing in period clothing can go a long way to bringing history alive.
  • Cook a meal for the group over a campfire. Light the fire with flint and steel. Cook foods that were typical of the period. Have an 18th century picnic.
  • Gather toys, clothing, accoutrements of the period and have hands-on classes. Discuss what life was like and compare it to today’s life for youth. Make a corn husk doll.
  • Do some things like camp overnight. Immerse the youth into living history!
  • Re-read the Declaration of Independence. There are 27 injustices noted in the document. Review Lostpine’s comprehensive comparison of the Declaration to our Constitution HERE.  It is important to link why our revolution was necessary to assure personal freedom. Both the list of injustices and the solutions in our Constitution and Bill of Rights work together for a full understanding of our Constitutional Republic.
  • Be creative and include some crafts. Always productive to make a leather covered journal. Have the youth keep it up with their thoughts through the program. At the end of the program, have them take time and read what they wrote. Some may even want to try to journal with a quill and ink. How to make a quill is available online.
  • Be a facilitator and find activities from history like sewing by hand. That was the way things were done in the past. It is a good skill to have later in life.

Use local living historians. These are people in your area who love to portray the life and times of history. They differ from reenactors who typically focus on events. Living historians will have period clothing, accoutrements, tents, cooking equipment, etc. that would be beneficial for use in any history class. For Florida residents, try the Historic Florida Militia based in St. Augustine and the Florida Frontiersmen based in Homeland for where to find people that might be interested in helping you.

Take advantage of the museums, historical sites, in your area. Take field trips. There is no substitute for experiences. While this program makes some important suggestions, there are hundreds more to choose from. There is nothing like learning by seeing the real thing. After each trip, take time to let the group talk about what they saw. Their favorite things, what surprised them, what they learned. Share your experiences with families, school, and your congregation.

The Role of the Leader

  • You are a discussion leader, not a lecturer.
  • Your role is to provide accurate instruction, context, definitions of words, etc.
  • Keep the class focused on the Bible Truths and goals of the session.
  •  Always guide the discussion to ensure you complete the study in the allotted time.
  • Start and end your time with prayer.

The goals of this program are to expose youth to knowledge and history that transforms them into a citizenry that cares about their country and cares about their God.

Adapting to Your State

Lostpine is based in Florida so we chose to keep trips short for the “experiences” in this program. Search your area for similar history. Find those places to enrich the lessons on virtues. Adapt for drivable experiences.  We also hope you visit Florida and experience some of our history. Read the definitions and Bible stories. You will probably be surprised to find local museums and history groups ready to help you with venues close to where you are located. The virtues that make America great are everywhere!

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