The book focused on the year 1940 and all the war-related events of that brief period: Hitler\u2019s invasion of the Low Countries, Churchill\u2019s coming to power, Dunkirk, the Blitz, FDR\u2019s election to the third term, and the isolationism in the USA.<\/p>\n
I emailed the author of my appreciation for the book and added, \u201cThat year is also special because I made my appearance on March 28, 1940.\u201d<\/p>\n
After thinking about that a moment, I added, \u201cBut don\u2019t think me old just because I was born in 1940.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later, I wondered why I\u2019d said that, since I do not know the author or expect to meet him. Why was that important to me?<\/p>\n
It must be a personal thing.<\/p>\n
None of us want to be pigeon-holed because of demographics or statistics, nor for preconceptions or ignorance. Just because you are a Southerner does not make you a redneck. Living in Mississippi does not mean you are barefooted. All Louisianians do not speak Cajun. All Yankees are not rude.\u00a0 All Democrats are not socialists nor all Republicans idiots.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a short list of assumptions I do not want people making about me. Again, it\u2019s just a personal thing. Readers will have your own list.<\/strong><\/p>\n Do not assume\u2026<\/p>\n 1) that I\u2019m negative and judgmental just because I\u2019m a preacher.<\/p>\n 2) that I\u2019m idle just because I\u2019m retired.<\/p>\n 3) that I\u2019m unquestioning just because I\u2019m a Christian.<\/p>\n 4) that I\u2019m saintly just because I\u2019ve been saved since 1951.<\/p>\n 5) that I\u2019m intolerant just because I\u2019m evangelistic.<\/p>\n 6) that I\u2019m homophobic just because I\u2019m a conservative Christian.<\/p>\n <\/span>7) that I\u2019m set in my ways just because I\u2019m grey-headed. (I am in some areas, but that\u2019s another story.)<\/p>\n Clearly, this kind of list could go on and on. Don\u2019t assume because I\u2019m male that I\u2019m insensitive, because I lived in New Orleans for 30 years that I\u2019m worldly, because I\u2019m from Alabama that I\u2019m a hillbilly, or because I\u2019m a human being that I\u2019m not an animal lover. Don\u2019t assume because I\u2019m a creationist that I\u2019m stupid.<\/p>\n People love to make these generalizations and assumptions based on their preconceptions and ignorance. We call that prejudice. They don\u2019t consider your evidence but go immediately to the verdict which they had decided on in advance.<\/p>\n In New Testament days people made many assumptions about our Lord.<\/strong><\/p>\n They assumed because He was man, He could not be God. But He was. (See John 1:14 and 20:28)<\/p>\n They assumed because His disciples were sometimes powerless, that He was, too. He wasn\u2019t. (See Mark 9:18)<\/p>\n They assumed because He allowed Himself to be executed on a Roman cross that He was defeated. That was actually when He won His greatest victory. (See John 10:18)<\/p>\n They assumed because no one had ever risen from the grave that He hadn\u2019t either. But He did. (See John 20 and I Corinthians 15)<\/p>\n They assumed He was absent just because He went to Heaven and was no longer physically present. He was and He is. (See Matthew 28:18-20 and Hebrews 13:5)<\/p>\n And today, they assume that He is not returning to earth just because He hasn\u2019t so far. Wrong assumption. (See Matthew 24:44 and John 14:3)<\/p>\n We make them, too….<\/strong><\/p>\n There are solid, positive assumptions we can make about Jesus based on the evidence. Here are a few that come to mind\u2026.<\/p>\n –We may assume He will keep His promises. See II Corinthians 1:20.<\/p>\n –We may assume He will finish what He has begun in us. That\u2019s Philippians 1:6.<\/p>\n –We may assume that He has His own reasons for what He does. Psalm 115:3 says this well.<\/p>\n –We may assume that even when He seems nowhere in evidence and things are tough for us, He is still present, still watching, and still Lord. Acts 7:56 is a good example of this.\u00a0 Hebrews 13:5-6 is our assurance.<\/p>\n –We may assume that whoever turns to Him in simple repentance and faith is welcomed into His care, is forgiven of all sin, and is received into the family of God with full rights and privileges thereof. John 6:37 and Romans 10:13 bear this out.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Lord Jesus, for your faithfulness. We praise you for encouraging us to base our eternity on your continued faithfulness. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The book focused on the year 1940 and all the war-related events of that brief period: Hitler\u2019s invasion of the Low Countries, Churchill\u2019s coming to power, Dunkirk, the Blitz, FDR\u2019s election to the third term, and the isolationism in the … Continue reading