Standing For Christ
During the Korean War Christian preachers were targeted by the Communists. In such a tense situation a group of 40 Communists kidnapped a preacher, his wife and two children. They took them to the outskirts of the city.

They attempted to force the preacher to deny Christ and swear that he would no longer preach that Christ is Lord. But the preacher refused. They threatened him saying that they would bury him, his wife and children alive. But the preacher did not budge.

As if to prove that they were serious, the communists started digging a hole right in front of the preacher and his family. But they could not get a word out of him. This aroused their anger and they placed this family in the hole and began playing on the preacher’s emotions.

“Because of your stubbornness your innocent children are going to die in right in front of your own eyes. Deny Christ and we shall leave you,” the soldiers taunted. But the preacher did not relent.

Finally they started filling up the hole. Still the preacher remained unmoved. The hole was filled up gradually until the children were about to be covered. The preacher started shaking. He was torn between emotions. The cries of his little children moved him. But realizing this the preacher’s wife told him, “Within a little while we shall all be with our Lord forever. Be bold and do not give up.”

These words encouraged the preacher and he did not relent. As a result all of them were buried alive.

The news of this tragedy shocked many. The Christians of South Korea were shaken. “Why did God allow this to happen? The preacher preached about Christ. He was killed. But what ‘wrong’ did his wife and children do?” These were the questions that rent the air. The remaining preachers found it difficult to answer these questions.

Years rolled by. There was a time of great revival in South Korea. This was when the renowned preacher Paul Yongi Cho was the pastor of the biggest congregation in the world.

One day during a service a man rose up and told the surprised audience that he was one among the 40 communists who buried the preacher and his family. He proceeded to share the details of the sad incident. He said that he was moved by the courage and conviction of the preacher who did not deny Christ even at the point of death. He had wanted to know who that Jesus was — in the process of discovery he had been convicted and accepted Christ as his Savior. Moreover, all the 40 persons involved in that incident had eventually been saved and were now members of Paul Yongi Cho’s church.

It took many years to understand why God had permitted that incident. God used the death of those four people save 40 more.

Remember, martyrs of Christ are never buried — they are sown.

Keep at It

Keep at it, keep at it, keep at it,
Never, never give in…
Never grow weary of doing good,
Meet adversity with a grin;
The devil would like to defeat you,
Don’t give the victory to him,
Keep fighting the battle for righteousness
And God will help you to win.

The person who worries about what people think of him wouldn’t worry so much if he only knew how seldom they do! --Anonymous; from Jennifer S.

When you flee temptations, don’t leave a forwarding address!

Advice is like a mushroom — the wrong kind can be fatal.

If thou art willing to suffer no adversity, how wilt thou be the friend of Christ? --Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)

Courage, brother! Do not stumble
Though thy path be dark as night;
There’s a star to guide the humble —
Trust in God and do the right.

Let the road be long and dreary,
And its ending out of sight;
Foot it bravely, strong or weary —
Trust in God and do the right.

Perish “policy” and cunning,
Perish all that fears the light;
Whether winning, whether losing,
Trust in God and do the right.

Trust no party, trust no faction,
Trust no leaders in the fight;
But in every word and action
Trust in God and do the right.

Trust no forms of guilty passion;
Friends can look like angels bright.
Trust no custom, school or fashion;
Trust in God and do the right.

Some will hate thee, some will love thee,.
Some will flatter, some will slight;
Turn from man and look above thee;
Trust in God and do the right.

Simple rule and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward light;
Star upon our path abiding —
Trust in God and do the right.