arkansasscv.org

Brothers and fellow Compatriots,

Below is my message for Sunday, January 22nd.  As always, please feel free to forward or reply.  Your comments are most welcome.  It may also be used as a chaplain’s article for your camp or other newsletter.

Again, I want to thank those who forward my messages to others or post them on other sites.  For this I am very grateful.
Many thanks also to all those who sent cards, emails, or called to wish me well during my recent surgery and ongoing recovery.  I do appreciate you all very much.

May our Lord continue to bless each of you in His service and in service to our most worthy Cause.
 
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Member, Chaplain’s Corps Committee
Sons of Confederate Veterans

   
The Power of God!

Since the Lord saved me, about 40 years ago, I have always worn a small gold cross on my lapel, or in some circumstances on my shirt collar.  I do this because I’m proud to be a Christian.  I’m proud to be a servant of Jesus Christ, and I’m proud of the empty cross signifying my risen and living Lord.   The Apostle Paul writes, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is The Power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18) 

I can’t understand how anyone could have a personal relationship with  Jesus Christ and not want everyone to know it.  In writing to the Church in Rome, Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is The Power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Rom. 1: 16)  The Apostle Paul may have been called a lot of things, but no one ever called him a sissy.  He knew where he stood, and for almost two thousand years, so has everyone else.

I also wear my SCV pin.  I do this because I’m proud to be a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  I’m proud of my Southern heritage, and I’m especially proud of my brave Confederate forefathers, and the flag they fought under.  I’m also proud of my SCV Brothers who share my love and concern for our Southern Cause, and work to preserve our heritage and the honor of our Confederate veterans who so bravely fought the Union invaders. 

I can’t imagine a member of our Confederation not wanting to tell people about the SCV, or trying to recruit others to serve with us.  I can think of no reasonable excuse why so many Southerners have never even heard of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  People need to know who we are, what we do, and just exactly where we stand. 

I believe, to be successful in our mission, the Sons of Confederate Veterans need to follow the example of the Apostle Paul and the early Church, which ultimately captured the Roman world for Christ.  This means doing four things.  First, we need to unite as one band of Brothers in our common Cause.  The Bible tells us that the early church was, “all with one accord,” (Acts 1: 14 & 2: 1) and as a result, thousands were “saved.” (Acts 2: 41)

Second, every member should be a crusader and recruiter for our Confederation.  Again, the Bible tells us that the first members of the Lord’s Church talked to others about the Lord Jesus as they traveled.  (see Acts 11: 19, 20)  The next verse says their efforts produced “great numbers” of new church members.

Third, Like the Apostle Paul and the early church, we must seek the guidance, strength, and blessings of God in our efforts.  To do less means stagnation.  To do less means failure.  To do less means being neutralized.  To do less means not having the greatest asset for our success: The Power of God.

And forth, we must never be ashamed or timid about who we are, what we stand for, or fearful of what some others may think.  In the last letter of his life, the Apostle Paul writes, “Be not thou ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to The Power of God.”  

May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ bless every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans as we seek to serve Him and our just and most worthy Cause. 

Amen.

Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans