Some more gems from Robert E. Lee:
"Take a happier view of things and do not be dissatisfied because they do not accord more nearly with your views and wishes."
"What I want to learn is to apply what I already know. We rarely know what is good for us and rarely see things as they really exist, so clouded is our vision by narrow selfishness, and often complain of what we ought not and blame others when the fault is in ourselves."
"Our hardest lesson is self knowledge, and it is one perhaps that is never accomplished."
There, turn those over in the light and see them sparkle.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Swamp Fox Ventures
A bit ago I read a Landmark book called Swamp Fox of the Revolution. It is about General Francis Marion and his brigade of men who camped in a nearly inaccessible swampy area in South Carolina. From this hideout they would spring to make their assaults. Here is what I wrote after reading it:
"Tremendously encouraging in this way: His assaults were not always totally successrful, but they always were to some effect. They may not have taken a fort but they intimidated the English by the attempt, or caused the English to relocate troops to America's advantage. So in the Christian battle. We may not be totally successful in our attempts but we should not believe the devil who would convince us that our efforts had no effect."
"Tremendously encouraging in this way: His assaults were not always totally successrful, but they always were to some effect. They may not have taken a fort but they intimidated the English by the attempt, or caused the English to relocate troops to America's advantage. So in the Christian battle. We may not be totally successful in our attempts but we should not believe the devil who would convince us that our efforts had no effect."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Theology of Suffering -- Calvin and Lee
It is no coincidence that both John Calvin and Robert E. Lee, who each suffered incredible, sustained physical and mental trials in their lives, and remained faithful, had a theology of suffering.
Calvin says "When God, therefore, wishes to lead us to repentance, he may be compelled to continually repeat his blows, either because we are not moved when he chastises us with his hand, or we seem roused for a time, then return again to our former dullness. He is therefore compelled to redouble his blows."
Lee says, "We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies and to prevent our falling into greater disasters."
May our sovereign God grant his church today this theology of suffering so she may stand in the battle.
Calvin says "When God, therefore, wishes to lead us to repentance, he may be compelled to continually repeat his blows, either because we are not moved when he chastises us with his hand, or we seem roused for a time, then return again to our former dullness. He is therefore compelled to redouble his blows."
Lee says, "We must expect reverses, even defeats. They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies and to prevent our falling into greater disasters."
May our sovereign God grant his church today this theology of suffering so she may stand in the battle.
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