Tag Archives: American Founding Fathers

Teaching Illustrations

Price of Freedom

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Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.

Kenneth L. Dodge, Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992, Page 5.


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Teaching Illustrations

Born on the 4th of July

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“The men who laid the foundations and reared the soaring arches of our great republic had a vigorous, indomitable, and all-encompassing belief in God. Faith permeated their thoughts, their words and deeds. We see Thomas Jefferson’s hand guiding the quill which wrote, ‘I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.’ We see George Washington, when the fires of hope had flickered to embers, kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge. And we see wise old Ben Franklin suggesting to a Constitutional Convention, deadlocked time after time, that ‘we have prayers every morning.’

This nation was born out of faith in God. It can continue to exist in freedom only as that faith remains forthright and strong. A statesman of a past age said, ‘Despotism may govern without faith, but Liberty cannot.’

Faith in God remains the solid rock that stands unmoved amid the sliding sands. The antithesis of cynicism, it is the dynamo which sparks the minds and actions of men who think beyond the pettiness of self. It is the tie which binds mankind in mystic unity, exalting the human creature until, indeed, he is ‘little lower than the angels.’ And it is the balm which salves the sting of time and death.

Faith in God has meant to me the enjoyment of those manifold ‘blessings of liberty’ which the Founding Fathers sought to secure for all posterity.

It is a fathomless source from which to draw strength in times of adversity. And it has helped me to catch a glimpse of the wisdom implicit in those immutable laws by which He rules His universe.”

J. Edgar Hoover


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Food for Thought

Don’t have the time?

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There were only 24 hours in a day, then, as now.
But be­fore he died in 1826, he:

  • Finished college in less than three years.
  • Studied Law and had been admitted to the bar at age 24.
  • Introduced crop rotation and terracing to the U.S.
  • Designed and built his own home, designed one of the nation’s leading universities and the Capitol building of his own state.
  • Invented a plow, a manifold signing machine, a letter copy press, double-swinging doors, a seven-day calendar clock, and countless other gadgets.
  • Originated the decimal system for U.S. money.
  • Played a violin well.
  • Became a serious student of natural history, Indian languages, Latin, Greek, Italian, French, German, Anglo-Saxon, mathematics, history, geography, civics, economics and philosophy.
  • Served as a member of his State Legislature, Governor, Minister of France, Secretary of State, Vice President and President of the United States for two terms.
  • Created the public school system in his state.
  • Established the U.S. Military Academy and designed the uniforms the cadets still wear.
  • Wrote the rules of parliamentary procedure under which the U.S. Senate still operates.
  • Was an excellent host who enjoyed entertaining.
  • Fought for a system of government that made the U.S. a democratic Republic, not one ruled by the aristocracy
  • Wrote 16,000 letters to friends and colleagues all over the world.
  • Designed his own gravestone and created the epitaph listing the three accomplishments, of which he was proudest: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence; of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom; and father of the University of Virginia.”

What a lesson to people who say, in these days of labor-saving devices: ‘I just don’t have the time.

Author: William “Bill” Schock, publisher of the Falls City Journal, NE
Source: Unknown

Devotional

Compassion In Your eyes

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A number of years ago in Northern Virginia, an old man stood by a river bank waiting to get across. Since it was bitterly cold and there was no bridge, he would have to “catch a ride” to the other side.

After a lengthy wait, he saw a group of horsemen approaching. He let the first pass, then the second, third, fourth, and fifth. Finally, there was only one rider left. As he drew abreast, the old man looked him in the eye and said, “Sir, would you give me a ride across the river?” The rider without a moments hesitation said, “Why certainly, get abroad.”

Once across the river, the old man slid to the ground. Before leaving the rider asked, “Sir, I could not help but notice that you permitted all the riders to pass without asking for a ride. Then, when I drew abreast you immediately asked me for a ride. I’m curious as to why you didn’t ask them and why you did ask me?”

The old man quietly responded, “I looked into their eyes and could see no love and knew in my own heart it would be useless to ask for a ride. But, when I looked into your eyes, I saw compassion, love, and the willingness to help. I knew you would be glad to give me a ride across the river.”

With this the rider very humbly said, “You know, I’m very grateful for what you said. I appreciate it very much.” With that, Thomas Jefferson turned and rode off to the White House.

If you had been the last rider, would the old man have asked you for that ride across the river? When people look at you do they see Christ?

– Zig Ziglar


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

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Mentoring Youth

Famous Mentors: Benjamin Franklin

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benjamin_franklin.jpgBenjamin Franklin once said, “There are two ways to acquire wisdom; you can either buy it or borrow it. By buying it, you pay full price in terms of time and cost to learn the lessons you need to learn. By borrowing it, you go to those men and women who have already paid the price to learn the lessons and get their wisdom from them.”


MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”

200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.

Learn More…