Upcoming Fall Banquet
with Dr. Tom Wallace
Heritage Baptist College will host the Annual Fall Banquet at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7th. Dr. Russell Dennis, Sr. reserved the first banquet that was held by Jonathan Byrd’s Cafeteria twenty-seven years ago, and from that time forward, the fall banquet has become an annual event. Dr. Tom Wallace is one of our favorite speakers. Come and enjoy his “words of wisdom,” along with a night of good food, Christian music, and great fellowship. Please call Heritage Baptist College to make a reservation. (317) 738-3791 or (317) 246-8915.
The Doctor Did More Harm Than Good
by Russell Dennis, Jr.
A few months ago, I saw this small device at a local auction. Only a few inches long, the brass tool came in its own leather case.
I was fascinated, but could only guess its use. However, 150 years ago, this was a standard item in the medical world.
An acquaintance purchased this piece and began to reveal to me the history. The age on this particular tool goes back to around the Civil War. Physicians commonly carried these when seeing patients. This was an ingenious tool for bleeding a patient by making the cut when pressing down on the tab to thrust out the sharp blade.
The use of bloodletting for healing goes all the way back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine (5th century before Christ). The rational for bloodletting was the removing of the disease found in the blood. Some form of this bloodletting would remain even into the 20th century. This flawed practiced harmed many a patient, including the Father of our County. In December 1799, George Washington came down with a sore throat and infection. His doctors bled more than five pints of blood from him before he died.
Modern medicine now realizes how detrimental this procedure is to the human body. Yet, one is still mystified as to how that a practice such as bloodletting, could remain a mainstay of the medical community for over 2000 years.
Leaving a patient in a worse condition, is a sad commentary. We need to be reminded of this in our dealings with individuals.
I will never forget the instruction of one of my old Bible college professors. He said, “Never leave them worse than you found them.”
And You Think You're Scared Now
by Russell Dennis, Jr.
During these last few days, the dreaded blight of Ebola has reached America’s shores. With the death of the first victim in the US, and the spread of the disease to the nurses, anxiety has quickly heightened.
Most people don’t remember that less than 100 years ago, America was seized with a real fear.
In 1918, as WWI neared a close, one of the worst pandemic’s of all time, came upon the world - the Spanish flu.
Hardly a spot on the globe was spared from this terrible sickness, as approximately 3 to 5% of the world population died in the next two years (50 to 100 million). Over ½ million people died within the United States. My great grandmother and other Indiana relatives fell victim to the onslaught of the Spanish Flu.
On the other side of our family, my grandfather was a young doctor in Imlay City, Michigan during this outbreak. The work of tending the sick was so great, that he hired a driver who would shuttle him from farm to farm as he tended the sick on a 24 hour basis. Of all his sick patients only two passed away under his watchful care.
We now sit wondering to see how the world will be affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Yet, there is coming an affliction on this earth that will tower over all the past blights and disasters of mankind since the time of Noah. The book of Revelation outlines this future judgment of the earth and its inhabitants..
Before we reach the halfway point of the book of Revelation, we see ⅓ of the world destroyed (men, vegetation, & water). During a short period of seven years, the greatest earthquake of all time will shake the planet (Rev. 16:8), and the largest hailstones will fall from the sky (16:21). War, disease, and death will be the common plight of mankind during these years.
Jesus Christ, addressing this future time stated: And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: (Matthew 24:22a).
Yet there is an escape of this coming judgment. Jesus Christ is still the hope of the world!
Destined For Greatness?
by Russell Dennis, Jr.
One hundred years ago, WWI was only months old, yet the carnage was already beginning to mount. The First Battle of Ypres was a major campaign in October of 1914 and it lasted into November. Before it was over, the casualties would include over 200,000 soldiers.
During one fierce battle near the village of Wytschaete, Captain Hoffman lay badly wounded between the warring armies.
One of Hoffman’s soldiers left his protected position, and exposing himself to enemy fire he arrived at his captain’s side. Picking up the wounded officer, he carried him to safety through the gunfire. The 25 year-old hero was soon decorated for his bravery.
In a notorious book that he would write years later, Adolf Hitler would claim that his escape without a scratch in WWI was his first intimation that he was being spared for some great future. (Meyer, G.J. The World Undone. New York: Delacorte Press. 2006 [p. 197])
But just like Hitler’s future years, this famous rescue accomplished nothing. Captain Hoffman soon died of his wounds.
Daniel - Fall Accelerated Class
with Dr. Phil Stringer
As a former Bible College President, an author, conference speaker, and for nearly a decade the pastor of Ravenswood Baptist Church in the heart of Chicago, Dr. Phil Stringer has spent his lifetime studying the truths of the Word of God.
On December 1 – 5 Heritage Baptist College will host an evening accelerated class led by Dr. Stringer. The class will meet on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
This class will deal with an in depth study of the book of Daniel, the key to prophecy.
Dr. Stringer will give you a wealth of learning and direction derived from the book of Daniel. The study of prophecy is relevant for today.