Natalya~Week 13~Boys Will Be Boys....

Job 5:20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.

Today (in fact the last guests just left) was my brothers birthday. (he turned 11 on Monday!! Such a big boy!) My brother wants to be a reenactor. He loves history. His favorite historical characters include Stonewall Jackson, Joshua Chamberlain, Robert E. Lee, and others from his favorite time in history. So, what's more appropriate then a Confederate Civil War themed birthday party?

Here are some things perhaps you don't know about the War Between The States:
It was NOT about slavery. Though this was one of the causes in the northerners mind, it wasn't really one of the big ones. The war was over States Rights vs. Centralized Government. Centralized Government is sure causing us a lot of problems today, so maybe good ol' Johnny Reb got it right...

The Confederate soldiers were usually respectful of the peoples rights in the towns they were fighting in. They were fighting for their rights, shouldn't they respect the rights of those around them? Even if they were on another side? There are always exceptions, yes, but for the most part the confederates were well behaved. More then the Union. In fact after Sherman's ruthless burning of Atlanta (which was mainly populated by women and children by the way) Lee ordered his troops to march through a town (which they were going through anyway) without touching anything. They were to march in, through, and out like southern gentlemen, and they did.

Stonewall Jackson and eight other men were out on a scouting mission when things went wrong. We all know he was shot by his own men, but he was also wounded by the union. The shot that caused him to lose his arm was a Confederate bullet. Jackson didn't die of that wound however. He caught pneumonia after giving his blanket to a soldier who needed it "more." His famous last words (which, though you probably know them I will post because I love them) "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." He is also reported as saying, when told that it was a Sunday: "Ah, I have always wanted to die on a Sunday."

Both Lee and Jackson were Christians.

Jackson was said to pray "as much as he breathed."

Once one of Jackson's officers had forgotten his sword where they had made camp the previous night. As he went to retrieve it he saw Stonewall kneeling on the grass praying for his soldiers. The officer waited until Jackson was finished, and heard most of the prayer. He said it changed his life and he came to Christ after hearing that man pray. Are your prayers so rich? Are your prayers so full of love and grace? Are you prayers so God-Centered? Mine aren't. Why not? Shouldn't they be? Let's all work on that...

Long after the war Lee was seen talking to an old man by his friend. When Lee's friend asked him who the man was Lee replied: "That was one of our soldiers, who is in necessitous circumstances. He fought on the other side, but we must not think of that."

One of Robert E. Lee's friends memorized one of the prayers he heard Lee pray. Here is that prayer: "Help me to be, to think, to act what is right because it is right; make me truthful, honest, and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me."

Once when Lee was told of the Chaplin praying for him he replied humbly: "I sincerely thank you for that, and I can only say that I am a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone, and that I need all the prayers you can offer for me."

Lee and Jackson were not perfect. They could be ruthless in battle too. Was it necessary? Yes. Was it worth it? In the end? That I will leave for you to decide. My answer is "Yes." For everything they went through, for all those who died, never to be given a grave stone, it was worth it in the end. They lost the battles, they lost the war, many lost their lives, most lost their homes, all lost something, but the lessons they can teach us make it all worth it.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the war. Remember those who died, and that is on both sides. "The war is over," You might say, "It doesn't matter what 'side' we're on." Or does it? Big Government? Big Government spending Big Bucks? (which happen to come from us, the people, and outlandishly high taxes were another cause of the War Between the States) Or Freedom? Freedom for all people black or white, it doesn't matter. Lee wanted the slaves freed. That wasn't what he was fighting for. Neither were most of the Confederates.

Why are the Confederates portrayed in such a bad light? As the cruel slave owners who wanted to keep their slaves at all costs? Why? Really, Why? I have an idea. Maybe their ideas are a threat...a threat to what others want America to be. Plenty of what America was and stood for was lost on the battlefields of the Civil War. Will you Remember? Will you stand as firm as they did? Until every way out has been closed and it's time just to trust that God knows what He's doing? Will you do that? I know I don't, but I'm sure willing to try.

I know this was very serious, so to lighten it up, here's another photo from the Birthday Party...and it's of our Silly String "war"!!!

Be blessed and remember those who fought and died for the freedom you have (or don't) today.

Job 5:20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.