Faced With Adversity

 

 

What would Jesus do – a.k.a. WWJD? This question is important when it comes to deciding what to do in a difficult situation. Distinguishing the imperativeness of understanding a circumstance takes a lot of effort. When you are tempted to do something, which you know in your heart that it is not appropriate, ask yourself “What would Jesus do in this situation?” Bearing in mind this state you are in, you should look at it through Jesus eyes. This can help you determine whether your enticement is proper or erroneous. For example, for someone who is a new Christian and they are trying to live their best for God and the persuasion arises to watch a movie that is wrong, smoke, or drink, and they are torn between doing it or not doing it, they should ask “WWJD?” Ponder this question. If Jesus were sitting right next to you would he watch the movie, would he smoke, or would he drink – the list can extend to whatever the temptation may be? The sad thing is, is when one first becomes a Christian, the devil will do anything he can to get you back in his power. The devil tempts us in many different ways. Who is the devil?

The Bible says, “The devil is like a lion roaming to and fro seeking whom he may devour.” One example would be, when a lion gets a taste for blood he will hunt you down until he gets you. The devil is like that. When you become a Christian he gets a taste of your blood and he will hunt you down with whatever temptation he can come up with until he gets you back into his power. When he enthusiastically tries to make the “trash can look good on the outside, think about what could be on the inside. What will the consequences be if we decide to take the trash that we think looks good?” Every decision has some kind of consequence. The right things we choose to do will have a positive outcome while on the other hand, the erroneous things we choose to do will have a negative outcome. We may be happy on the inside or we may deeply regret what we have just done.

One thing that we could be happy with is when we notice someone is distressed, we can talk with that person we can encourage them. That is something Jesus would do. On the other hand, when we notice someone who is heartbroken and in need of some encouragement and we walk on by, we may feel horrible after we ignore him or her. The Bible gives an example of someone who felt completely satisfied with what he did.

There was a man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho when a group of thieves stripped him of his clothes, took his money, beat him and left him for dead. A while later a priest came and saw the man left for dead. Seeing the hopeless man, he passed by him on the other side of the road. A while after the priest passed by, a Levite came and saw the poor man beaten and left for dead, but, after seeing the beaten and bloody man, he also passed by on the other side of the road. Now there was a man called a Samaritan and he was known as an outcast. After seeing the man, he decided to help him. The Samaritan put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn. He paid for the half-dead man’s room and board and told the innkeeper “I have to leave. Please take care of this man and when I return I will pay for whatever debt he owes.”

The man did what Jesus would do. The man, who helped the sadly half-dead man, was known as the Good Samaritan because he took great care of the man that no one else would acknowledge. When faced with adversity, do what Jesus would do.

Willpower to Trust (part 3)

          Passing Over

How did Spafford come to write the beloved hymn? Traveling to Europe, the Spafford girls and their mother were involved in a shipwreck that implicated a British vessel. Will Horatio Spafford lose his children or will they be saved from this tragic disaster? Why did he write the hymn? Who put the song to music?

The Spafford girls and their mother were on the liner when it rammed into a British vessel on November 21, 1873. Sadly, the ship sank in twelve minutes. The crew of the Lochearn­ frantically looked for and found Anna, Horatio’s wife, floating unconsciously of a plank. Although the Lochearn was in danger as well, they rescued her. A Trimountain cargo sailing vessel arrived on scene to save the survivors. Nine days after the ship sailed Spafford obtained a telegram. The liner the Spafford was on collided into a British vessel on November 21, 1873.

Spafford and Anna lost their very-loved children. Tragically, 226 people along with their four girls perished in the aftermath of the wreck. Complete despair was Anna’s first reaction. As she was coming to consciousness, she heard a voice articulate, “You were spared for a purpose.” Spafford traveled to be with his wife. Years after the shipwreck, the couple’s life started becoming happy again. Or was it? Anna happily delivered a son and name him Horatio and also had a daughter whose name was Bertha. Sadly, their son died at three years of age from scarlet fever. Spafford and Anna sorrowfully had their children ripped away in a shipwreck.

When did Spafford write the hymn? Upon sorrowfully receiving a telegram, which stated, “saved alone” went to his wife. Sailing over the location, the captain stated, “A careful reckoning has been made and we believe we are now passing over the area the ship went down. The water is 3 miles deep.” Although Spafford was grieving over the loss of his children, after he heard they were passing over the area, he went back to his cabin and began writing the hymn. The first verse states:

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.

While passing over the shipwreck Spafford wrote the beloved hymn.

Phillip Bliss was deeply impacted by Horatio’s story. Bliss was a composer for many songs. Impressed with Spafford’s life and words to the hymn, he composed a piece of music. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey in 1876. The reason Bliss was impressed by Horatio was that through it all Spafford held to Romans 8:28. Phillip Bliss was impacted greatly by Horatio’s story.

The S.S. Ville De Havre wreck while sailing to Europe. After the loss of their girls, the couple had two more children but tragically lost their little boy at three years old from scarlet fever. Spafford’s life was changed forever after the tragedies. Passing over the place his daughters died he wrote “It Is Well With  My Soul.”

Conclusion

When Spafford became a man, he received a job as a lawyer. Being successful in his practice, he invested heavily in real estate, however, everything changed after the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost everything including Spafford’s investment. While traveling over to Europe to be with his wife, he wrote the well-loved hymn, because of the loss of his children. As long as they were in Europe things were going well. They were helping Moody successfully and they had three children - one son and two daughters – however, their son died at age three. In 1881 they moved to Jerusalem to help serve the poor. Happily, they took their two daughters, who were born after the shipwreck, with them.

Unfortunately, Spafford died while he was in Jerusalem on October 16, 1888 - four days before his 60th birthday. Horatio Gates Spafford is buried in Jerusalem, Israel. Spafford’s life impressed and inspired many people especially Phillip Bliss. Phillip Bliss’s impression and inspiration was because even though Spafford lost nearly everything, he still had the willpower to trust in God and articulate “It is well with my soul.”

Willpower to Trust (Part 2)

Lose All

The Great Chicago Fire affected many people. Did the Great Chicago Fire affect the Spafford family? The fire greatly impacted the whole city because it destroyed many homes, jobs, and property. Deciding to take a much-deserved vacation, the Spafford family experienced some technical difficulties before leaving. Did Horatio travel with them? If not, why?

One day would change every hope and dream of Spafford. Unfortunately, the summer of 1871 was extremely hot and dry. Being successful with his job, Spafford heavily invested in real estate. Shortly before the Chicago Fire, they suffered the tragic loss of their young son, only four, of scarlet fever. Because of a fire, the property was brutally destroyed. The fire left the sadly and brutally town in ashes. Spafford’s hopes and dreams were changed forever. The fire affected the family greatly. The family needed a vacation.

Following the fire the family decided to take a much-needed vacation. Receiving a letter from a man whose name was Dwight Moody, the family made the decision to join him in Europe and help Moody with his mission. Family decided it was time for a needed and deserved rest. Happily, the family began packing and getting prepared to leave. While packing, something would come up and change their plans. The family was preparing to take a very deserved vacation. Before leaving something would happen.

 Following the fire, just before leaving, Horatio Spafford was informed of a meeting about result of the Great Chicago Fire. Regrettably, Spafford was required to stay and attend the meeting or he would lose everything he invested in so heavily. Wanting his family to take the much-needed vacation, Spafford. sent them on ahead. He stated, “I will join you as soon as I can.” Little did he and the family realize they would experience an eternal change for the worse. Spafford was informed of a meeting about the Fire of 1871 before leaving for vacation.

The Great Chicago Fire affected the Spafford family greatly. Upon receiving a letter from Moody, the family decided to take a well-deserved rest. Sadly Spafford could not travel with them because a meeting came up and Horatio was informed that if he did not attend the meeting he would lose all of his property.

Willpower to Trust (part 1)

Job was a man who trusted God in everything he did. One day, Satan

went to Jesus and told him that if he were allowed to take everything from Job he would curse God.

Jesus told him to do with him what he wills but he could not take his life. Satan took everything

from Job. He took his children, made him sick and did everything he could without taking Job’s life.

Did Job curse God?

Something similar happened to a man who lived in the 1800s – his name was Horatio Gates

Spafford. Who is Spafford? Did the Chicago Fire have an impact on him and his family? Why did he

write, “It is Well with My Soul?” Spafford lived in trialing times. Would he curse God or praise

God?

Who was Spafford?

Born on October 20, 1828 in North Troy, New York, was a handsome little boy, whose name was Horatio Gates Spafford. Once he became a man, he received a wonderful and successful job. Also, he married an exceptionally attractive woman. In addition to marrying a gorgeous woman, he also had a wonderful family. Eventually, his job lead him to Chicago where he and his family lived for a while. Horatio Spafford practiced his successful job for many years.

Becoming a man, Spafford received a job as a lawyer in Chicago where he practiced successfully for many years. In fact, he was so successful that he eventually invested in downtown Chicago real estate, along the shores of Lake Michigan. He married the love of his life at age thirty-three. His bride’s name was Anna. Although they were newlywed, they had four beautiful daughters one year after their wedding. They named their girls Annie, Maggie, Bessie, and Tanetta. In Chicago, Horatio became a well-known lawyer.

Horatio married the love of his life and she was very beautiful. Unfortunately, before Horatio and Anna were wed, Anna dealt with many tragedies. As a child, she lost her mother and her brother in a cholera epidemic. She nursed her tubercular father until his tragic death and working and lived on a farm in Minnesota where many Indian raids threatened their safety. Anna questioned, “Where was God when my family and I were suffering?” (pg. 16 well with my soul) In following weeks, Spafford diligently explained her position, challenged her reasoning and guided her to a lasting faith in God. After they married in 1861, they had four gorgeous daughters whom they loved very much. In 1861, Horatio married the love of his life, Anna.

When were their four daughters born? Anna, who was the first child, was born in 1862. In 1864, their second child, Maggie was born. Their third child Bessie can in 1866. Happily their youngest child Tanetta, as beautiful as a princess, was born in 1871. They loved and adored their girls with all their hearts.

Horatio Gates Spafford was born in 1828. Happily, he became a great and honorable Christian lawyer. In addition to becoming a lawyer, he married the love of his life in 1861. A year after their marriage, his wife, Anna, delivered four beautiful and wonderful daughters. Their lives were to change too soon. What event affected their family?

Trying Situations

Friends are important. Sometimes it brings joys and other times friendships bring difficult decisions. One of my friends, who was not a Christian, sent me through a hard time. At the beginning of the friendship, everything was fine. She and her grandma understood where I stood in my beliefs. Later on in our friendship things started getting worse. In a matter of speaking, the truth about her was coming out from behind the disguise. One night we had a sleepover at her house and we stayed up very late. That night I would have to say something I wish I did not have to make. Being downstairs, we were trying to discuss what we should do. "I know! Let's do witchcraft." Words I did not want to hear. "This was discused at the beginning of our friendship. I said it was wrong, I didn't believe in it, I wasn't going to do it and I won't start now." I reminded her. She told me it would not hurt this one time I told her that I could not, that I believe it is wrong, God does not like it and because of that, I will not do it. She was very persistent in her temptation. Finally, I had to voice, "I have told you my stands on it and I am not going to sin when I know I am not supposed to. If you keep doing this I will have to stop coming over her. I think it best if I don't stay the rest of the night." I called my mom and she came and picked me up. I prayed about what had just taken place.

 

The next day I went back to her house to give it another chance and things seemed fine until the afternoon came. We got into a fight because i was holding her hamster, who she said does not bite, when he bit me and I tossed him back into his cage gently and she said I threw him. I defended myself and then things were fine again until later. Witchcraft was the subject again. Sadly, i had to tell her, "I am sorry but because of you trying to get me to do something I have told you countless times that I WILL NOT do it; I have to break our friendship. God has told me in the Bible that sinning is wrong and 'the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' I do not want to spend eternity in a place that is dark and that burns eternally. I want to be in a place where I can always be with God, and not in a place I will burn. I don't want to see you there either," (I had tried to witness to her many times) "but you won't give your life to Christ and I have. I don't want to do this, but, I can't be your friend anymore." Then I left her house. I sadly only saw and talked to her one more time and tried to witness to her again but she would not listen. Sadly, I never saw her again.

 

Friends can be inspiring but the can also have bad influences on you to where you have to stop it before it gets too far. Sometimes when you witness to them, they will give their life to Christ and other times they will not listen but just because they do not listen, does not mean you give up or are still not kind to them. Be kind and keep praying for them and who knows, maybe God will do great things. Stand for what you believe in even when a different and broader path seems easier. The difference is the straight and narrow path will have a better ending result than the broad path heading for a place that burns with fire. Trust in God and He will take care of you in trying situations.

The Battle of Franklin (part 2)

Tiring

The battle of Franklin, which happened quickly and ferociously, took place in three different places: the Carter House, the Carnton Plantation, and Fort Granger. Trench building took place as preparation for the battle commenced. Preparing for the fight, soldiers found it problematic. It started at 4 p.m. and ended at 9 p.m. That is a short battle. It was an ugly battle. The battlefield was very small. Even though the skirmish was short, it was an extremely bloodstained, littered-with-dead-body battlefield.

Fighting

became extremely brutal and inhumanly savage. Fighting brutally, men bayoneted, and clubbed to death in the Carter yard. Confederate soldiers were found bayoneted on the front steps of the Carter House. Clubbing, clawing, punching, stabbing, and choking, the soldiers turned out to be fighting for their lives. The smoke from the cannons and guns was so thick that the soldiers could not tell nor establish friend from foe. The battle was as ugly as a wildfire. Friends and women and children –mostly under 12 years- were protected but the cries of war rang out from above. One of the Carter children, nicknamed Tod6 and serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield, laid eyes on his home for the first time in three years. Severely wounded, Captain Tod Carter sadly died two days later in the Carter House. As the tragic fighting place, it became cold-bloodedly savage.

 

Unfortunately, the beautiful and large Carnton Plantation was built not long before the battle of Franklin began.7 What kind of part did the Carnton Plantation play? The Carnton Plantation played an important part in the battle of Franklin. At 4 p.m. on November 30, 1864, the Carnton Plantation witnessed the bloodiest of the battles in the Civil War. Resulting in a terrible war, it is believed and known to be the bloodiest five hours of the Civil War. As the combat commenced, it took place mainly in the dark. The Battle of Franklin was five hours long and 9,500 soldiers were confederate troops. Carnton is the largest battlefield and was eventually converted into a hospital for hundreds of wounded or dying confederates. Many soldiers died while fighting.8 Not long after the Carnton Plantation was built, which was in 1826, the battle of Franklin began.

Trench building

was as tiresome and energy taking as running that mile in presidential fitness.9 Building and digging with picks and shovels the men thought, "This is not easy to do." To give a scale, the seemingly bottomless trenches were six feet deep and twenty feet wide at minimum. Twelve feet was the maximum men with picks and shovels could dig and still throw dirt. That is a large trench. Loudly officers yelled, "Hurry men!" Listening to the officers the soldiers hurried and finished preparing for the battle. As the trench building finished, the soldiers, who were the ones who built the trenches, realized "trench building is not easy."

The Carter House and Carnton Plantation played major and significant parts in the battle of Franklin because they were the places that were used as battlefields. Fort Granger also had a major role in the battle. Digging many trenches, they seemed impossible, but unknowingly they were very possible. The trenches, which were six feet deep and twenty feet wide, were the minimum. The maximum was twelve feet, for the men who rigorously and tirelessly dug with picks and shovels. Digging was as tiring as staying up until midnight doing schoolwork.

Learn, Enjoy, and Bond

After the war ended, the Carnton Plantation, The Carter House, and Fort Granger became open to the public. Who died and how many? The Union ended up with 2,500 men with casualties. The confederates ended up with 7,000 counted as casualties. In the spring of 1886, the McGavock family donated two acres of the Carnton Plantation to the Confederate Cemetery for the 1,481 soldiers who sadly and unfortunately died as they paid their respects to the soldiers who fought in that five-hour battle. What happened to the Carter House? The Carter House ended up with 1,000 confederates and union bullet holes. The site covers about 15 acres. Fort Granger, which is now open, is there for all of the public to enjoy. Built by the men preparing for the battle of Franklin, the trenches are located at Fort Granger. Even though the trenches were ugly during the battle, they are the most beautiful and gorgeous trenches anyone could ever look at.

Families sadly lost loved ones.

Federals ended up with casualties of 2,500 men. Sadly, 189 soldiers resulted in being killed, 1,033 ended up wounded, 1,104 ended up captured, and 287 cavalry found and counted as casualties. Having many brave and tired men on the confederates had 1,750 killed, 3,800 wounded, and 702 captured –not including cavalry casualties. In the five-hour battle, there were more killed on the Confederate side, which was the Army of Tennessee10, than the two-day battle of Shiloh, or the seven-day Campaign in Virginia for the Federal Army. As the spring of 1886 began, the McGavock family11 donated two acres of the Carnton Plantation to the Confederate Cemetery for the 1,481 soldiers who sadly and tragically died. The Carter Family lost their son.



The Battle of Franklin (part1)

Devastating

Could you imagine living in 1864, which was the year of the bloodiest battle?

Trying to imagine something like that, one would probably have a hard time doing it. Ponder it a while. As the hours passed on, generals and many weary and exhausted soldiers, continued fighting, clubbing, stabbing, choking, bayonetting, and shooting each other to save their own life. In the trenches, killed and wounded men sadly and traumatically filled them. It is as hard as a piece of stone to believe something like that actually took place. Many main people fought in the Battle of Franklin, but when and where did the battle of Franklin take place? Sadly, the Battle of Franklin took place in 1864 in Franklin Tennessee –hence the name. The aftermath was so great that many happy and joyful things happened after the battle. It is obvious the sight was devastating and overwhelming just to look at it.

 

Fighting

What was the battle of Franklin like?

Sadly, the battle of Franklin was the worst and ugliest battle ever fought in the American Civil War. The battle, which was fought cruelly and gruesomely, happened on November 30, 1864. Although it was a very short battle, it was a tremendously bloody battle. Fighting for their lives, many main people fought in the bloodiest war. Many people died as well. Who died though? As the battle raged on, the battlefield was the smallest and filthiest battlefield.

Franklin

was a very bloody battle. Many people fought and quarreled in the battle on November 1864. While the union outnumbered the confederates, the Confederate Army of Tennessee consisted of 20,085 infantry, and 5,000 cavalry.1 Included in the battle, several high-rankling men –major generals and people like that- fought in the battle of Franklin. Confederate major general Forrest also served on the confederate side, joyfully and cheerfully born July 13, 1821, sorrowfully died October 29, 1877. The union side entailed 22,000 infantry and 13,500 cavalry. Born September 29, 1831, Major general Schofield, who served on the union squad, died March 4, 1906. Union major general Stanley, whose birth took place on June 1, 1828 unfortunately, passed on March 13, 1902. Another union major general who served as a high-ranking soldier was born September 2, 1837; however, death suddenly and quickly struck him February 23, 1925. On November of 1864, many people took part in the battle of Franklin. It was a bloody battle. The war was very ugly. The battle was very short.

Franklin

continues to be known as the shortest and bloodiest battle fought. In spite of how long the battle lasted, which only lasted five hours, it is called the bloodiest hours of the American Civil War. Sam Watkins recalls and tells:

(Franklin is the blackest page in the history of the War of the Lost Cause. It was the bloodiest battle of modern times in any war. It was the finishing stroke to the Independence of the Southern Confederacy. I was there. I saw it.2

Called "The Gettysburg of the West," Franklin witnessed only a few nights in the many days of the Civil War. Sadly, the event happened on one of the smallest battlefields of the entire Civil War, which was only two miles long and one and one half miles wide. The battlefield is dreadfully diminutive. The battle was relatively brief. It was the bloodiest battle. The Union included two armies: 23rd Corp3 commanded by Jacob Cox and fourth Corps4 commanded by David Stanley. The Confederates consisted of 9,700 men from S.D. Lee’s Corps, 9,300 men from Frank Cheatham’s Corps, and 8,000 from A.P. Stewart’s Corps. Obviously, the union outnumbered the confederates. Franklin is known as the bloodiest battle of the war.

In the Battle of Franklin, many people risked their lives. Alas, as many as six Generals ended up being killed. The killed generals unfortunately included the following: John Carter, John Adams, Hiram Granbury, States Rights Gist, and Otho Strahl. There were many killed. Wounded, the generals consist of the following: John Brown, Francis Cockrell, Zachariah Deas, Arthur Manigault, Thomas Scott, and Jacob Sharp. Captured, George Gordon was one of the generals lost. 55 regimental commanders became casualties –a military person lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, or capture of through being missing in action. Sadly, the Union, who outnumbered the confederates, lost 189 people, and ended up with 1,033 wounded, and 1,104 missing.5 As many people fought and quarreled, they willingly and bravely risked their lives in the battle of Franklin.

Many key leaders and soldiers, who fought and died during the Battle of Franklin, left diaries, and letters depicting the gruesome fight. On the confederates side, there consisted of 20,085 infantry soldiers and 5,000 cavalry soldiers. The union greatly outnumbered the confederates with 22,000 infantry and 13,500 cavalry. The fighting and quarrelling led to many main people who died. Truly many main people sadly and tragically died while fighting in the battle of Franklin, which was the bloodiest and ugliest war because so many died in such a short time.