Monday, January 18, 2010

Chocolate soldiers

I came across this post where C T Studd uses the expression 'Chocolate soldiers':

"HEROISM is the lost chord; the mission note of present-day Christianity!
Every true soldier is a hero! A SOLDIER WITHOUT HEROISM IS A CHOCOLATE SOLDIER! Who has not been stirred to scorn and mirth at the very thought of a Chocolate Soldier! In peace true soldiers are captive lions, fretting in their cages. War gives them their liberty and sends them, like boys bounding out of school, to obtain their heart's desire or perish in the attempt. Battle is the soldier's vital breath! Peace turns him into a stooping asthmatic. War makes him a whole man again, and gives him the heart, strength, and vigor of a hero.
EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN IS A SOLDIER--of Christ--a hero "par excellence"! Braver than the bravest--scorning the soft seductions of peace and her oft-repeated warnings against hardship, disease, danger, and death, whom he counts among his bosom friends."

Following Christ at times requires a soldiers courage and this is especially so when trouble comes. So often when trouble comes, people want prayer for them to get out of the trouble but James 1 vs 5 says in the midst of the trouble what we need to pray for is wisdom. This is what Matt Chandler (whose story I have posted about in the past) asks for, as well as for his full healing and strength for the next few weeks as he battles cancer. You may ask why I would be interested in someone's battle who I don't know- it is particularly because a friend faces a similar battle. Matt is helping me pray and understand the things she has faced and the areas she continues to need encouragement and prayer in .

Here he is describing where he is at.

Piper preached at The Village recently on the subject of suffering which you might also want to listen to.

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Saturday blog-sweep

 Some interesting books for pastors The State we're in Attack at dawn Joseph Scriven Joy comes with the morning When small is beautiful