Getting Ready for This Fall
The plans for Heritage Baptist College are for classes to begin on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 with teaching again in the classroom. We thank the Lord that during all of the last school year, no student or instructor became sick with the virus. We will continue with common sense health protocols.
Our teachers are looking forward to fulfilling the mission of training young people to serve the Lord.
If you know of students that may be hesitant or unable to continue in their Biblical Studies, please let them know of the opportunities at Heritage Baptist College.
He Lost, but They Won
During the Civil War, the Confederate forces under General Jubal Early launched a bold move in July of 1864 to capture the city of Washington, D.C.
Major General Ulysses S. Grant had the bulk of his Union forces surrounding Petersburg and Richmond, while General Sherman was preparing to march against Atlanta. Few troops were left behind to guard Abraham Lincoln at the Capitol.
With an army of 14,000+ soldiers, Confederate General Early, circled north of Washington D.C., and captured the city of Fredrick, Maryland. He was less than 40 miles away from the U.S. Capitol, and there were no large armies between him and his goal.
General Lew Wallace, a native of Indiana, and the later writer of Ben-Hur, commanded a much smaller detachment of inexperienced soldiers. Gathering other troops along the way, General Wallace made his stand at the Monocacy River, 35 miles from Washington.
Wallace had less than half the soldiers of the Confederates, and on July 9, 1864, the battle commenced. At the end of the day, Wallace retreated from the field having withstood five attacks with his outnumbered forces. He had lost the battle.
What General Wallace did win, was time. His stand delayed the Confederates by one day. That one day allowed the Union reinforcements to arrive in Washington and set up their defense. Soon over 30,000 soldiers were in the forts defending the Capitol.
The Confederate General Jubal Early marched straight to Washington, and arrived within five miles of the Capitol two days later…but one day too late.
General Wallace’s strong stand had saved Washington D.C. from being captured.
Some think that Christians are part of a losing cause, and destined for failure. To the world it may look like we have lost…but those who read the Bible know that we will win.
In His famous paragraph on the worth of each soul (Matthew 16:24-28), Christ said these words: …whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. You may seem to have lost the skirmish, but instead with God you can defeat the enemy’s plan.
How Many are Against Us?
Only days before Ulysses S. Grant passed away on July 23, 1885, he finished writing his Memoirs. In his work, he told this fascinating story about when he was a young lieutenant just before the Mexican-American War.
Finishing up with their leave in San Antonio, Grant began to travel back to their base in Corpus Christi with a fellow Army officer named Benjamin from Indiana. As they rode together in the early evening, they heard the “unearthly howling of wolves.” Grant was disturbed by the sound, and considered turning back.
In the 1840’s wolves were still in Indiana, and his companion confidently rode on knowing the nature of the wolf. Lieutenant Benjamin asked Grant how many wolves he thought were in that pack. Grant answered conservatively, “Twenty.”
Lieutenant Benjamin smiled and kept riding until they came upon two wolves on their haunches with their mouths close together. Those two wolves had made all the noise that they had heard for the last ten minutes.
After sharing that story in his memoirs, General Grant made this application: I have often thought of this incident since when I have heard the noise of a few disappointed politicians who had deserted their associates. There are always more of them before they are counted. (U.S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant. Charles L. Webster Co. New York: 1885 p. 76-78).
I believe the same truth can also be found in Ministry.
Don’t compromise, go back, or quit!
Reporting for Duty
July is a month full of patriotism, especially focused on those who sacrificed for America’s Independence. Studying the Revolutionary War, one soon realizes that the Thirteen Colonies were greatly aided by the French. The money, supplies, and especially the naval fleet of France were instrumental in defeating King George’s Army in America. The Marquis Lafayette, who led troops under George Washington, is probably the most recognized French officer of the America Revolution.
For over 150 years, America remembered the debt that was owed to France. In World War I, Germany almost defeated the French, and but for the final entrance into the war by America, the outlook looked dim.
On July 4, 1917, the American Forces marched into Paris, and they headed straight to Picpus Cemetery and the tomb of Lafayette. As a show of America’s gratitude, Colonel Charles Stanton spoke these words standing before the tomb of America’s famous French patriot:
America has joined forces with the Allied Powers, and what we have of blood and treasure are yours. Therefore it is that with loving pride we drape the colors in tribute of respect to this citizen of your great republic. And here and now, in the presence of the illustrious dead, we pledge our hearts and our honor in carrying this war to a successful issue. Lafayette we are here.
More than patriotic service, our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, gave his life to pay the debt of our sin. Christ told us that there could be no greater love than this (John 15:13).
As Christians with a thankful heart, we should report: “Lord Jesus, we are here!”