arkansasscv.org

Enemies!

The enemies of Christ are hard at work to remove any and all Christian influence from our country, which was founded on Christian principles and a reliance on Jesus Christ.

School children are being taught that George Washington crossed the Delaware and chopped down a cherry tree, but not that he was a Christian. They are not being told what he had to say about God, Jesus Christ, or the Bible. This is not only true of George Washington, but of nearly all of the founders and early leaders of our country. Most were Christians who put their trust and faith in God. We know that, because they said so. However, this is not being taught to our children even though it’s true. And, why? Because it isn’t politically correct and some non-Christian might claim to be offended.

For generations we’ve been taught that Abraham Lincoln was a great man who saved the country and freed the slaves. Scores of people, misled by erroneous teaching, have visited his statue in Washington, D.C. to pay homage to his image as if he were some god in a Greek temple. Of course, we know him to have been a tyrant who’s inflated ego, poor judgment, and illegal acts caused the death of over six hundred thousand Americans and immeasurable suffering.

At the same time, honorable, Christian men like Robert E. Lee, T.J. “Stonewall” Jackson, and all of our Confederate generals, who fought to save the country and it’s constitution, have been vilified and called traitors. Our brave and noble Confederate forefathers are being called a “racist army.” Our proud Southern heritage is being mocked and our legacy shamed by those whose only interest is self promotion. They pick fights and find fault in what is true and right in order to increase the audience of their radio or television programs, or add to the readership of their newspaper columns or websites. They criticize and attack what is honorable and true, while they have no honor and care nothing for truth.
Southern states who asked their young men to leave their homes and families to go to war to defend it against a terrorist invasion, and now refuse to honor their sacrifice because it isn’t politically correct are a disgrace. Southerners who have bought in to the Union lies and will not seek or accept the truth even when it’s presented to them, because of what someone might think, are a shame and unworthy of their own heritage.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans has been given the “defense of the Confederate soldier’s good name,” and “the guardianship of his history.” As such we may get mad and upset at these self-serving hypocritical bigots that attack our noble Southern heritage and brave Confederate forefathers, but I firmly believe God is for us, and the Bible tells us in Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

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

Without question, for the Sons of Confederate Veterans to be successful in it’s mission, our greatest need is God’s blessing. And, I believe God stands ready, able, and very willing to bless our most worthy Cause. However, for God to bless our work, the Sons of Confederate Veterans must be on “Blessing Ground.”

In 1971, I entered William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as a Bible studies major, to begin preparing for the ministry. I had only been a Christian for a short time and felt that God had called me to preach. There were a number of other “preacher students” attending for the same reason, and almost every week one of them would get the opportunity to preach in one of the smaller churches in the area. Then he would ask us to pray for God’s blessings on the services. Of course, I would promise to pray for the Lord’s richest blessings on him and the church that Sunday. Yeah, right! In my heart I hoped he would fall flat on his face. I was jealous, I was envious! He was going to preach and I wasn’t. I wanted to preach. I wanted the Lord to bless me. But, I wasn’t on “Blessing Ground.”

The worst part was on Monday when he would give us a glowing report on how great the services were. I would say the right things, but inside I was angry. This went on for some time, until the Lord decided He had enough, and jumped all over me. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I was miserable. When the Lord starts whipping you, you know you’re being whipped. I finally realized how wrong I was, repented, and really started praying for anyone who had the opportunity to preach. I prayed hard and long for the Lord’s blessing on the message and the church services. Then on Monday, when they told us of the great services they had, I felt happy for them. In fact, I even felt that my prayers may have had something to do with God’s blessing. Now, I was on “Blessing Ground.”

Then, the Lord gave me the opportunity to preach and conduct services in a small church near the campus. The church not only asked me to come back the following Sunday, but in a few weeks called me as their pastor, and requested my ordination. Almost forty years ago the Lord taught me a lesson, and He taught it so well I’ve never forgotten. If we want God to bless us, we must be on “Blessing Ground.”

This truth applies not only to each of us as individuals, but to our Confederation and the Country. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God tells us, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” This verse, often called “God’s recipe for revival,” also tells us how to be on “Blessing Ground.”

My prayer today is that every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans would support, encourage, and pray for every other member, especially for those in positions of leadership, and for those members with whom we disagree, feel anger, or have hard feelings. I believe the Lord our God wants to bless the Sons of Confederate Veterans, individually and collectively, but the Sons of Confederate Veterans must be on “Blessing Ground.”
Bro. Len Patterson, Th.D
Chaplain, Army of Trans-Mississippi
Sons of Confederate Veterans

It Is Time !

We are living in the eleventh hour of the age. As it was in the days of Noah, so it is today. The “perilous times” have come. Evil abounds, and the love of many has “waxed cold.” The mystery of lawlessness heads toward it’s awful climax, and we seem helpless to stop the process of destruction. Someone has said that America is a wilderness without a voice. It would be better to say that it is a wilderness with too many voices. Americans have been listening to professors, philosophers, and politicians. We need teachers of truth and fearless leaders. But such would at least be ignored, if not persecuted for their effort.

The Apostle Paul writes, “And that, knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep.” (Rom. 13: 11a) Our country, like Samson, has gone to sleep in the lap of Delilah, and the end result is disastrous. Our leaders have forgotten God, and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers. Now they are trying to “fix” all the problems that plaque our nation because of it, and it just gets worse. Over and over we are exhorted to awake, to watch and pray, and always be ready.

The answer to all the problems we face is to know, accept, and practice truth. As Christians, and as descendants of noble ancestors, we believe the truth. Not “our” truth, but “the” truth. Allow me to ask this question of every member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans: Do you think that the SCV can accomplish it’s mission, as given to us by Gen. S.D. Lee, without the power, direction, and blessings of God? Or, perhaps I should ask: Do you believe that if the Sons of Confederate Veterans, as one body, would turn to our Lord for direction, strength, and inspiration, He would bless our Cause and give us success in our mission? I do. In fact, I have no doubt that it is pure folly to believe otherwise.

It is time! Time for us to raise the banner of Christ in unity, and seek His direction for the SCV. In doing so, we cannot fail in our Cause to honor our noble Confederate forefathers, and our proud Southern heritage. If we think we can possibly succeed without Him, then our Cause is surely lost. It is time! Time to put our Lord in the center of our Confederation.

My prayer is that every member of the SCV see the need in his own life for our Lord Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him. Thus, will he have victory in his life, and bring life into the Sons of Confederate Veterans. May God bless each of you in this greatest of needs.

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