Digital Diary: Random reflections and lessons learned
By Michael Aubrecht. Stonewall Study: Principles of godly living and
leadership.
The purpose of this online journal
is to record and share my personal experiences as a course leader using the
curriculum that was developed by the Good News Bible Church and based on my
book “Onward Christian Soldier.” As this is the inaugural version of the course
(for me) at SPC, I too am learning as I go along. I have supplemented the base
curriculum with additional book readings and letter transcripts, as well as
some additional multimedia to enhance the classroom experience. This course has
generated some excellent feedback from the participants and I plan to post
overviews of the entire course experience as it progresses. It is my sincere
hope that others will use this diary and curriculum as an example in order to
develop their own programs that help spread God’s glory. Beyond fellowship and scripture study, the ultimate goal of this course
is to use the life and legacy of Thomas Jonathan Jackson as a character
blueprint to help model our lives as Christians after.
FREE Downloadable course materials:
OCS Course Origin
Leader Study
Guide (PDF)
Attendee
Study Guide (PDF)
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These are
raw excerpts reprinted from my blog. They will be updated weekly.
LESSON PLAN
OK I admit it. I spent the
better part of this weekend in the pool when I should have been finishing up
some projects… I did manage to get a little work done for the upcoming study
group that I am leading at Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church as part of their
fall semester. This two-month course is based on a curriculum that was
developed by Christian scholar James Riddle of the
Mr. Riddle’s curriculum
will be the foundation for the course and act as the primary material for the
corresponding workbook. I also have 8-10 handouts w/ devotions from my book
“The Southern Cross.” Each focuses on a different character attribute of
The Stonewall Brigade: A Study for Prayer Warriors.
Synopsis:
Principles of godly living and leadership as exhibited through the life and
death of ‘Stonewall’
Opening-closing prayers and
assigned reading (weekly)
o
Week 1: Introduction to course: Overview of Riddle curriculum,
Author’s conception for book. Topic: Definition of Unconditional: Without
conditions or limitations: absolute. DVD viewing “Still Standing: The Stonewall
Jackson Story.” Distribute OCS books and workbooks. (
o
Week 2: Thoughts from Chapter 1
(1824-1842).
Question: What and who are the bases of Thomas Jackson’s Foundation? Lesson
1: We all carry the memory of wounds we have suffered through our lives.
The love we receive and the values instilled at an early age, combined with
God’s healing power will determine how ugly and visible the scars that remain
and how we allow them to define our character. (
o
Week 3: Thoughts from Chapter 2
(1842-1851).
Question: What were some of Thomas Jackson’s character trait(s) that were observed
in this chapter? Lesson 2: Be not discouraged by disappointments and
difficulties, but on the contrary, let each stimulate you to greater exertions
for attaining noble ends and an approving conscience at least will be your
reward. (
o
Week 4: Thoughts from Chapter 3
(1851-1856).
Question: What do you think Stonewall meant by “To eradicate ambition”, in
respect to Elinor’s death? Lesson 3: With church
affiliation,
o
Week 5: Thoughts from Chapter 4
(Thomas Jackson, Prayer Warrior). Question: Recall the event where General Richard S. Ewell observed
o
Week 6: Thoughts from Chapter 5
(1856-1861).
Question 1: How should the word ‘absolute’ guide us in our conduct and
activities as Christians? Question 2: What qualities should one seek in a
marriage partner? Question 3: The clouds of war are gathering. Was the root
cause one of slavery, states rights, a religious nature, or a combination of
all? Lesson 5: Unconditional faith and complete trust in the Lord
conquers all vices, blesses us with joy and happiness where only darkness once
appeared, and gives strength and courage in times of adversity. (
o
Week 7: Thoughts from Chapters 6-10 (Civil
War begins and
o
Week 8: Field trip to Stonewall
Jackson Shrine.
Meet at SPC and carpool to Guinea Station. Walk-in NPS tour of building and
grounds with talk to follow. Read quotes following
o
Weekly scripture reading list
(*prefer King James Version):
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EDUCATE and ENLIGHTEN
Today I had to send my logistical
details and media/room request information to the church office and order a
case of ‘Onward Christian Soldier’ from my publisher. I’ll be spending the next
few weeks compiling workbooks and finalizing my lesson plan. There are some
tremendously blessed history teachers across the blogosphere
who have offered some great advice on course management. In the past, I’ve led
two men’s ministry bible studies, but this session requires a completely
different focus. Here is my final synopsis that will be posted in the church’s
group study program.
STONEWALL STUDY: Based
on SPC member Michael Aubrecht’s book “Onward
Christian Soldier” this course teaches what it truly means to be a prayer
warrior by focusing on Christian principles for lifestyle and leadership. This
history/theology course will include a viewing of ‘Still Standing’ and conclude
with a special field trip to the nearby Stonewall Jackson Shrine. Leader:
Michael Aubrecht. Requirements: Bible (KJV preferred), Copy of the book
(*Discounted copies are available for $12.) Workbooks will be provided at no
cost. Starts Sept.10. Wed. nights at
Beyond fellowship and
scripture study, the ultimate goal of this course is to use the life and legacy
of Thomas Jonathan Jackson as a character blueprint to help model our lives as
Christian men after. Faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was the
foundation of
My life has already been
changed forever through the study of this godly man. It has cost me many
pleasures (that were really vices), most of my ‘pre-saved’ friends (who were
really bad influences), and forever altered the way that I look at the world
(much simpler and convicted). Of course this is much more difficult living in
our broken world in 2008. Fortunately we have the wisdom of the Word and the
footsteps of those believers who came before us to lead the way. Stay tuned for
details on what I pray will be a life-changing experience for all who
participate.
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FALL SEMESTER
This Wednesday evening the
family will be attending a special dinner at the church to kick off the fall
semester and meet and greet our students. This particular course session will
be extra special for the Aubrechts as my wife
My goal with this 8-week
history/theology course is not to have the students walk away well versed in
the life of Thomas Jackson, he is just the platform. The goal is to have them
leave with a greater appreciation for the fearlessness and strength that can be
achieved through a resolve to live according to the Word, and how that can be
applied in our own lives. The key question is what makes a man stand like a
stone wall on a battlefield? The answer in my opinion is faith. I’ll let you
know how the dinner and introductory session goes. The following class we will
be watching ‘Still Standing’ before diving right into the book and workbook in
anticipation of touring the Jackson Shrine at the end of the 8 weeks.
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MEET & GREET
Tonight’s introductory ‘meet and greet’ was a great start to what I hope will be an exciting two months. I gave a short pitch at the pulpit for last minute sign-ups (along with the other teachers) and later I had every chair in my classroom full, with even more students to come next week.
This is what is so great
about living and worshipping in Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania… In my class I have
a National Park Service volunteer (Chatham guide), a professional relic hunter
who lives adjacent to the Spotsylvania Battlefield, an Ellwood Manor volunteer
whose backyard butts up against The Wilderness trenches, a retired Army
Intelligence officer who has his advanced degree in Military History, a student
of the Great Southern Revival, a VMI graduate, several lifelong residents whose
ancestors fought for the Confederacy and a couple of 'Yankee' transplants who
moved here for the history. It’s a great mix of age, experience, and knowledge
and I petitioned everyone to contribute to the course with their own insights
as well.
I was VERY happy to see
some ladies register too, as we will be discussing Thomas Jackson’s
relationships with his mother and two wives. It will be a blessing to get a
woman’s perspective. Everyone seemed to get along well and they were attentive
and enthusiastic when I went over the syllabus and workbooks. Next week we kick
things off officially with a viewing of “Still Standing” before diving into the
book and study guides. Stay tuned for postings on the class discussions and
debates that evolve from the readings.
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SESSION 1
Week 1: Introduction to course
Last night we kicked-off
the first ‘official’ installment of the course I am teaching on the spiritual
life of “Stonewall”
Tragically, we had a 49
year-old elder pass away suddenly last week, so many of those who regularly
attend the Wednesday night dinner and programs went to the viewing at the
funeral home. This meant that we had only 12 people in attendance (out of 16 or
so) and I made a point of opening the session with a group prayer for the
grieving family and their loved ones. Fortunately, we were scheduled to watch a
DVD and will not be getting into the actual book and workbook until next week.
Therefore no one missed any of the courseware.
The 40-minute film was “Still
Standing: The Stonewall Jackson Story,” which is a wonderful
religious documentary that specifically deals with Thomas Jackson’s faith and
how it influenced his legacy. Produced by Franklin Springs Family Media and
based on the work of our good friend Richard Williams Jr.,
I used the film as an overview of the Christian character of a man who is both
an inspirational and bewildering subject. I added it so there would be some
familiarity as they began the book. The film also fills in a lot of background
information on
After the movie concluded I
pointed out the contradictions that make this devout believer so fascinating.
Here we have a man who shamelessly practiced civil disobedience while
establishing a Sunday school for free and slave blacks in
It seems that “Stonewall”
left behind a complicated legacy that begs to be examined – especially in a
spiritual sense. Secular historians can say whatever they want, but everything
that made Thomas Jackson the courageous general we remember today was a direct
attribute of his faith in God. If not for it, he would have succumbed to
despair and disappeared from memory. Ultimately his story is just like ours. He
was a believer, a sinner, and a servant - imperfect, flawed, and forgiven.
I can already tell that
this is a real savvy group. The discussions, both on the history and theology
side of things should be extremely insightful and enlightening. This week they
have been assigned to read Chapter 1 of “Onward Christian Soldier” and we will
begin the study guides and scripture readings next week (Psalms and Proverbs).
We are using the King James Bible and I am looking forward to spending time in
the Word.
Maybe it is because I speak
at museums and universities on a fairly regular basis now, but I am really enjoying
teaching and conducting a classroom. The interaction and open discussions
taking place are tremendous and I have found that I am gleaning more wisdom off
my students than they are probably gleaning off of me. I’ve only begun, but I
can already say for a fact that you teachers out there have a great gig. (It's
hard to believe that just a few short years ago, I was absolutely terrified of
public speaking.)
Stay tuned as I am anxious
to get into the prepared courseware which was developed to be very interactive
and intimate. I’ve been in bible studies that can get emotional at times and
although I will never post any personal testimonies that are shared behind
closed doors, I will share general observations on them. For instance, Lesson 1
deals a lot with the multiple family-related tragedies in the
Spiritual strength is the
goal of this entire 10-week exercise. “Stonewall” is simply the foundation for
a study that is intended to show us how to find courage and apply it in our
daily lives. The course is not by any means a forum for hero worship, it’s a
forum for worshipping through a hero.
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SESSION 2
Week 2: Thoughts from Chapter 1 (1824-1842)
This past Wednesday night
we had our second ‘Stonewall Study’ at Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church. I had
another full house and several new members decided to join us. It appears that
this course is a popular one on the SPC schedule (due to the topic – not me)
and we may be moving to a larger classroom to accommodate the growing
membership. I ran out of workbooks and have to get some more produced for next
week’s meeting. What a blessing indeed!
I am ecstatic about the participation
of more women and several students who are not members of our church. In fact,
a growing portion of the class is from outside denominations and/or
congregations. That is a rarity for our Wednesday night programs and I hope
that they will consider joining us after the course comes to a conclusion.
(NOTE: I would love to get some of the participant’s feedback and insights and
share them with you here. Attention: I know some of you “students” frequent
this blog. Please feel free to email your thoughts
and I’ll gladly post them online.)
We examined Chapter 1 of my
book ‘Onward Christian Soldier,’ which primarily focused on the
I presented how this notion
of ‘that which does not defeat us spiritually makes us stronger’ was the basis
for the whole book and quoted the opening paragraph: “This is a story about
faith. A story filled with the kinds of heartache and hardships that would
leave many of us questioning our own beliefs. It is a love story that is filled
with sorrow, testimony, hope and despair. It is a story that reaffirms the
power of prayer and that all things in Him are possible. Ultimately, it is the
story of a man who suffered greatly, but chose to embrace the Will of his
Savior as the foundation for a legendary life.”
We then outlined the
traumatic events that occurred in the first 17 years of Thomas Jackson's life:
o
Age
2: the death of his sister followed 3 weeks later by the death of his father
o
Ages
2–7: witness his mothers illness, and marriage to an uncommitted step-father
o
Age
7: sent away by his mother to live with an unknown uncle
o
Age
7: the death of his mother
o
Age
8 1/2: the death of his stepfather
o
Age
17: the death of his only brother
It is a heartbreaking list
to say the least and would have had a profound affect on any teenager in his
formative years. Therefore, pain and personal loss must have played a part in
young Thomas’ journey toward discovering salvation. I augmented the curriculum
with readings taken from Henderson’s monster bio on Jackson, as well as several
letters about his mother that were penned by Jackson’s stepfather shortly after
her death. (I will continue to augment our courseware with readings from a
wide-variety of Jackson-related studies and publications.) These recollections
presented his mother as a fine Christian woman, who clearly left a positive and
lasting impression on her son. This nurturing relationship, and the fond memory
and example of his mother, was also a building block in his foundation.
Our open-discussion
revolved around the idea of personal tragedy and how faith can provide comfort
and strength to those experiencing it.
By examining a timeline of
Our study guide compared
‘Stonewall’ to Joshua who led
Sound familiar? The goal
with these early lessons is to define what makes an individual so steadfast in
their beliefs and what experiences may have influenced them in the first place.
I have said it many times before that my fascination with ‘Stonewall’ Jackson
is not what he did on the battlefield – it is what would make a man, any man,
‘stand like a stonewall’ in the face of such carnage.
It is my belief that these
untimely deaths in the Jackson family created a void in Thomas’ life that he
was only able to fill after joining the Lexington Presbyterian Church and
starting a family of his own. Faith became his saving grace and gave him a
sense of peace that had been lacking all his life. Unfortunately, more tragedy
would befall the man, but this time he would resolve them to God’s will. Most
Christians share that very same sentiment. I know I do. Romans 8:28 redefined
Jackson's life, as well as mine: "And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love God."
Next week we will be
discussing Chapter 2 and the character traits that defined the man Jackson was
prior to the outbreak of war. I am having the best time teaching and the course
material is proving to be excellent. I plan to add more scripture readings and
some additional DVD viewings in the coming weeks.
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SESSION 3
Week 3: Thoughts from Chapter 2 (1842-1851)
Stonewall course continues... Despite the fact that a few of my 'students' were not able
to come to class last night, it was another blessed evening and the one-hour
discussion was great. Focusing on Chapter 3 of 'Onward Christian Soldier' we
looked at Jackson's experiences at West Point, Mexico and VMI. (He is now on
the brink of his "spiritual awakening," which will occur in
Lexington.) I incorporated a new series of visual aids including photos of a
young Thomas, Lt. and Maj. Jackson, his sister, his VMI statue, and more. I
read several letters written from him to his sister during these periods, and
we examined his exploration of the Catholic Church in Mexico. I also read some
less-than-flattering recollections of his students, as well as excerpts from
Henderson's and Dr. Robertson's books.
One of our members, an attorney
who graduated from VMI, spoke about the legacy that Jackson left on the campus.
We talked about the irony of a terrible teacher becoming the identifying
'brand' of the institution.
We also read extended
scripture from Proverbs and Joshua. In particular, the following lines of
Proverbs 10 reminded me of Jackson's character:
o
(2)
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth
from death.
o
(7)
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
o
(16)
The labour of the righteous tendeth
to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
o
(29)
The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the
workers of iniquity.
o
(30)
The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
Another member, whose
ancestor fought in the Stonewall Brigade, talked a little about his relative's
recorded impressions of "Old Jack.' We all came to a consensus that much
of
The theory that everyone
has a God-ordained purpose here on earth, and that our lives are not at all
supposed to be about us, rings true when examining individuals like Jackson. So
much of the highlights of his life and legacy had nothing to do with directly
benefiting him. He was always part of a greater cause than his own, both off
and on the battlefield. We have collectively decided to view some specific
Jackson-related scenes from 'Gods and Generals' (acknowledging that it is a
dramatization) and take an additional field trip over to the Chancellorsville Jackson Monument near where he was struck
down. This will speak to how he is immortalized today.
I will be quoting passages
from Richard William's excellent book next week as we begin to see Jackson's
rebirth in Lexington where he first plants the seeds of faith and family.
Following the mention of my class in the paper last week, I was also told that
more members may be joining us and that they may ask me to do this course again
next semester. I am amazed at the interest and expansion of what I thought
would be a small bible study.
A professor from Mary
Washington University, who attends our church, said I may have a hidden talent
for teaching. We'll see. At least I know I'll be better than my subject was at
VMI. As far as I know no one's called me 'Old Mike' behind my back. Frankly, I
think we've all recognized the fact that Virginia will let anyone teach a class
on Civil War history, no matter what their perspectives are.
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SESSION 4
Week 4: Thoughts from Chapter 3 (1851-1856)
Last night
we met for the fourth time and covered the third Study Guide section of our
bible-study course on Stonewall Jackson’s principles for lifestyle and
leadership. (My oldest daughter broke several fingers in gym class, which
required me to cancel last week’s session).
Despite
having a small audience (the final presidential debate was on) our discussion
was as usual, very enjoyable, as we focused on the young man Thomas Jackson's
initial spiritual transformation that became apparent around the 1850's. We
examined the untimely death of his first wife and unborn child and how he
handled that tragedy (one of many in his life up to that point) with a much
different resolve.
Once again,
I used several photos (of his first wife Elinor Junkin) along with other images that presented their short
life together. We all found it very sad that Jackson had finally achieved a
sense of real ‘intimate’ purpose only to have it snatched away for reasons
beyond our understanding. A family, for which he had so dearly longed for, was
here and gone before he even had a chance to really embrace the role as a
husband and father.
This IMO,
resulted in a divine spark that not only reinforced
This period
of course was also the point in his life that prayer became a mainstay in his
daily life. I read from several of his personal letters and also from a thesis
written by a Scottish evangelist that focused on Jackson’s creed of “Duty is
ours. Consequences are Gods.” Although I wrote about this earlier in the text,
I returned to it and read excerpts from several Christian-based essays all of
which presented Jackson’s sense of being part of a much higher purpose and
accepting of God’s Will, whatever that may be. There were certain maxims of his
life which had much to do with framing his character. One was that "you can
be what you resolve to be", the other, "do your duty." Both are
inscribed on the walls at VMI.
I quoted
passages from several letters written from Jackson to relatives following his
wife’s death. One verse written in a letter to his sister validated his religious
awakening. It stated: My Dear Ellie
thought to pass over the stage route from here to Beverly was a hard
undertaking for her. After she returned home she was pleased with her visit.
She has now gone on a glorious visit though through a gloomy portal. Her companion are of the glorified Host. I look forward with
delight to the day when I shall join her. Religion is all that I desire it to
be. I am reconciled to my loss and have joy in hope of a future reunion where
the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.
Clearly, as
most Christians do, Jackson looked at his love’s untimely death as a
bittersweet blessing as she was now in the presence of her Lord and Savior. He
in a way, celebrated her journey from this life to an eternity in Heaven and
looked forward to the future when they would be reunited. This was a very
different response from what likely occurred during the deaths of his father,
mother, and sister. He was maturing on multiple levels. Church was a place of
sanctuary for him and would become THE keystone in his future foundation. It
was as if every tragedy in his life led him to the Lord’s
table.
We briefly
discussed
I will also
be distributing this reading list of recommended titles including
Recommended
book on the life of Thomas J. Jackson (by M. Aubrecht)
o
Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the
Soldier, the Legend
by James Robertson
o
Stonewall Jackson's Book of Maxims by Stonewall Jackson and James I. Robertson
o
Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man's
Friend by Richard G. Williams Jr.
o
Life and Campaigns of Lieutenant Gen.Thomas J Jackson by Robert Lewis Dabney
o
Stonewall
Staff Memiors
o
I Rode with Stonewall by Henry Kyd Douglas
o
With Stonewall
o
Hunter Holmes McGuire: Stonewall
Jackson's Doctor by John W. Schildt
Military Studies
o
Shenandoah 1862: Stonewall Jackson's
Valley Campaign by Peter Cozzens
o
The Class of 1846: From
Religion In
The Civil War
o
Christ in the Camp or Religion in
the Confederate Army
by Rev. J. William Jones
o
Religion and the American Civil War by Randall M. Miller,
Harry S. Stout, Charles Reagan Wilson
o
Faith In The Fight: Civil War
Chaplains by John W. Brinsfield, William C.
Davis, Benedict Maryniak, and James I., Jr. Robertson
o
The Spirit Divided: Memoirs of Civil
War Chaplains--The Confederacy by John Wesley, Jr. Brinsfield
o
The Spirit Divided: Memoirs of Civil
War Chaplains--The
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SESSION 5
Week 5: Thoughts from Chapters 4 & 5 (1856-1861)
Last night’s session was
some of the best interaction we’ve had to date. I started our discussion with a
short timeline review (on the board) that highlighted noteworthy events from
the life of Thomas Jackson, from a young boy, up to just before he married his
second wife Mary Anna Morrison. The point of this visual was to trace his
journey (or path) towards religion.
I recalled the untimely
deaths of his beloved family members, his anti-social behavior at West Point,
his successful, but unpleasant experience of fighting a war in Mexico, his
unpopularity as an awkward teacher at VMI, and of course the horrific death of
his first wife, Elinor Junkin,
and unborn child. Cleary this timeline of tragedy and despair would have been
enough to destroy any man’s constitution, yet
I also correlated these
misfortunes as tests of faith, much like those presented in the Book of Job. I
interpret this scriptural lesson to be that everything that happens in our
lives (including tragedies) occur according to God’s
Will. We may not always agree with them, or understand why they occur, but we
must accept the fact that God is in control. It is our role as believers to
summon the spiritual strength necessary to survive the bad times that may
befall us. Only then can our faith be truly exercised, as it is far too easy to
be a ‘good Christian’ when all is going well.
Job 1:18 While he was
yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters
were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 1:19 And,
behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners
of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am
escaped alone to tell thee.
Job 1:20 Then Job
arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground,
and worshipped, 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked
shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the LORD.
I moved on to Jackson’s
early introduction to service in the Presbyterian Church, first as a struggling
speaker, failing miserably at public prayer, (he later became a gifted orator)
– to a deacon, and finally a Sunday school teacher, who practiced civil
disobedience while educating both free and slave blacks on the Word of God. We
also examined his relationship with the Reverend White and the strict daily
regiment of bible study and devotions that were practiced in the
The rest of the class we
focused on his second marriage. I read several letters from his wife Mary Anna
Morrison, a devout Christian woman and student of the Word, and we all
concluded that only she would have been able to fill the void in
I will tell you that
Miss Mary Anna Morrison, a friend of mine in the Western part of N. Carolina
and in the Southern part of the State, is engaged to be married to an
acquaintance of yours living in this village & she has requested me to urge
you to attend her wedding in July next. To use her own words she says "I
hope your sister will come. You must urge her to do so. I should be very glad
if she could come." The wedding is not to be large. I told her that I
would give the invitation & having done so, feel that I am free from all
further responsibility in the matter. I told her that I didn't think that you
would be able to accept it, and if you can't just let me know in your next
& transfer the invitation to your humble servant, and he will not decline,
for he is very anxious to go as he is much interested in the ceremony & the
occasion & the young lady is a very special friend of mine.
Unfortunately, more tragedy
is still to come for the newest
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SESSION 6
Week 6: Thoughts from Chapters 6 & 7 (1861-1862)
I was blessed at last
night’s Stonewall class with another excellent session. My students added some
excellent commentary to our discussion and really helped to expand the lesson
beyond the workbook. I am VERY fortunate to have several guys with both
military and history experience who add some wonderful insights, as well as
some real Bible scholars. It makes it very easy for me to facilitate a
discussion and we ran for almost 2 hours. (My lovely wife even stopped by to
drop off some extra Halloween goodie bags that were left over from her
children’s class.)
At this point in the course
we are half way through my book and in the early stages of the Civil War.
Many forget that the split
between the Northern and Southern states resulted in the split between the
denominations, as well as Bible producing societies, and Christian missionary
groups (whether they publicly voiced their support for either cause or not.)
Many churches across the south (even here in
Moving from the home-front
to the field, I focused on the wartime contributions of the Reverend Beverly
Tucker Lacy and his peers. I read from several letters commending chaplains and
clergy on both sides for their selfless contributions to the cause. We examined
their blessings in providing both strength and encouragement before a battle
and comfort and charity after it.
We then discussed
All Christians likely felt
a sense of sadness (maybe even guilt at times) over taking another man’s life,
and
The curriculum included a
wonderful and in-depth comparison to
Joshua 8:1 And the LORD
said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of
war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king
of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: 8:2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and
her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a
prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
Joshua 8:3 So Joshua
arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out
thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them
away by night.
Joshua 8:4 And he
commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even
behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: 8:5 And I,
and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall
come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee
before them, 8:6 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from
the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we
will flee before them.
The belief of
This concept is that faith
and fearlessness are admirable traits, but they also can be dangerous.
Historically, religion has always played a part in every major conflict,
whether for good or evil. The GOOD is that faith in one's God can provide a
great sense of strength and comfort to soldiers and civilians. The BAD is that
it can also be distorted for the justification of aggression and atrocity.
Simply stated, it can be a blessing as well as a danger.
In regards to Stonewall
Jackson, the strength of his faith, and his belief in Presbyterian doctrine
that states that our deaths are predestined, played a role in how he conducted
himself on the battlefield. This resulted in both triumph and tragedy. He
himself repeatedly stated, "My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe
in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time of my death." He added,
"I do not concern myself about that, but to always be ready, no matter
when it may overtake me." This (IMO) is a wonderful way to live, but I see
it as being somewhat problematic in a war zone.
The belief that his time of
death was already determined, enabled him to stand, unflinchingly, amid the
chaos on the battlefield (often, it inspired his troops to achieve victory
against all odds), but in another way, this "divine inspiration" was
self-destructive and contributed greatly to Jackson's untimely demise. He also
may have felt protected as he stated, "Our God was my shield. His
protecting care is an additional cause for gratitude." This (IMO) may have
played a role in his accident at
In other words, his feeling
of invincibility (as a soldier for the Lord), combined with no logical fear of
death (on the battlefield) made him incredibly courageous, and a little
careless at times. I consider
We all agreed that religion
plays a tremendously positive role, especially in times or war, BUT… it can be
used to spread evil ideology, inflame division, and justify acts of atrocity.
It can also be perverted, or politically skewed, for the recruitment and execution
of an unrighteous cause. We have seen this before, and we still see it today.
Man’s ‘Holy Wars’ are rarely "holy" at all.
(Next week’s class we will
examine the bittersweet story of “Old Jack and Janie Corbin,” as well as
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SESSION 7
Week 7: Thoughts from Chapter 8 (1862-1863)
This week’s class yielded
another great discussion that went far beyond the book material and into our
class’ own personal experiences as parents. The main focus of the session
revolved around
I read the wonderful letter
that Mary Anna, his wife, sent to announce the birth of their daughter. She
wittingly composed the letter as if it was written from baby Julia herself:
My own dear father,
As my mother s letter
has been cut short by my arrival, I think it but justice that I should continue
it. I know that you are rejoiced to hear of my coming, and I hope that God has
sent me to radiate your pathway through life. I am a very tiny little thing. I
weigh only eight and a half pounds, and Aunt Harriet says I am the express
image of my darling papa, and so does our kind friend, Mrs. Osborne, and this
greatly delights my mother. My aunts both say that I am a little beauty. My
hair is dark and long, my eyes are blue, my nose straight just like papa s, and
my complexion not all red like most young ladies of my age, but a beautiful
blending of the lily and the rose. Now, all this would sound very vain if I
were older, but I assure you I have not a particle of feminine vanity, my only
desire in life being to nestle in close to my mamma, to feel her soft caressing
touch, and to drink in the pearly stream provided by a kind Providence for my
support. My mother is very comfortable this morning. She is anxious to have my
name decided upon, and hopes you will write and give me a name, with your
blessing. We look for my grandmother to-morrow, and expect before long a visit
from my little cousin, Mary Graham Avery, who is one month my senior. I was
born on Sunday, just after the morning services at church, but I believe my
aunt wrote you all about the first day of my life, and this being only the
second, my history may be comprised in a little space. But my friends, who are
about me like guardian angels, hope for me a long life of happiness and
holiness and a futurity of endless bliss.
"Your dear little
wee Daughter.”
We also discussed the
heart-wrenching story of “Old Jack” and Janie Corbin. In the winter of
1862-1863, Stonewall's troops made headquarters at Moss Neck Plantation,
located on the banks of
We examined the mutual
benefits of this relationship. Innocence like Janie's was rare in war times,
and her wonderful gift of laughter lifted the morale of all that met her. Above
all others though, it was her relationship with the general that quickly
blossomed, and was nurtured by the fact that they temporarily filled a void in
each other's life. With Richard's absence, Thomas became an "adopted"
father of sorts, and Janie happily played the role of a daughter who
In March, General Lee sent
orders to
This led to a talk about
Session 8 will be our final
classroom meeting and our field trip to the 'Stonewall' Jackson Shrine is
slated to take place on November 22. I’ll be sure to take plenty of photos and
share the final recap of the course here. I have a very special prayer planned
for the occasion. Our last class session will focus on Jackson’s resolve that
God’s will be done (even in his final hours), his memory as a Christian warrior
today, and we will be watching the 15 minute bio on Jackson that is included on
the G&G DVD.
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SESSION 8
Week 8: Thoughts from Chapters 9-10 (1863)
Our final
classroom session covered the last two chapters of ‘Onward Christian Soldier.’
These of course dealt with
We were all
struck by the grace, courage and resolve that
At one
point Jackson asked his surgeon, “Doctor, Anna informs me that you have told
her that I am to die today; is it so?” After
hearing the doctor’s confirmation he replied, “Very good, very good, it is all
right.” When staff member Pendleton came into the sickroom at
As word
spread throughout the South of “Stonewall’s” untimely
and tragic death, many supporters of the Cause fell into hopelessness and
despair. No one, most of all his own staff, believed that anyone could ever
replace him. Even today, many historians credit the death of
Perhaps the
most decisive of all battles,
The subject
of
We will be
examining his legacy in more detail at our field trip to the “Stonewall”
Jackson Shrine in two weeks. Following a NPS tour of the outbuilding at Guinea
Station, we will be sharing a special prayer session on the lawn. That will
conclude the course and I’ll be sure to share my final thoughts and a few
photos. I am also hoping to petition a few of the students to share their
thoughts on the course from the attendee’s perspective. I promise to post them
here.
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Field Trip to the “Stonewall”
Jackson Shrine
This morning I had the
honor of leading a small, private tour of Stonewall Jackson’s last days. After
meeting at Spotsylvania Presbyterian Church, I took both students and visitors
on a carpool caravan along
Following my talk, we were
treated to a wonderful tour of the shrine’s interior by NPS Volunteer Kin
Wagner. Kin has a special gift for telling the story of
Last year, I was approached
about doing a complete tour of
