From: Kent Hovind
Sent: June 27, 2009
To: General Hood
First Read: 1 Kings 19:18 and Romans 11:4
KH: Good morning, Lord
GOD: Good morning, Son.
KH: Lord, is this almost over? What are You doing with me here?
GOD: Oh, Son! It’s all fine. I’ve got you in reserve. Let’s go for a walk. General John Bell Hood can explain it to you…
OK, Son, that’s General Hood under that shade tree. Go talk to him, and listen carefully to what he says. It will help you.
KH: OK, Lord…Excuse me, Sir. May I ask you some questions?
General Hood (GH): Sure. How can I help?
KH: Well, it sounds like there is quite a war going on all around us, but you and your men are just lying around and fixing breakfast. Can you explain what is happening?
GH: Sure. The Yankees have been gathering over east of us by the thousands and trying to break through our lines. General Lee chose this little town of Sharpsburg (Sept. 17, 1862) to take our stand. Most of the Yanks are on the other side of Antietam Creek.
KH: It looks to me like there are a bunch of them over here, too!
GH: Yes, that’s true. My boys fought a hard fight last night; we are resting now. We are in reserve. General Jackson will call for us when he needs us.
KH: Would that be Stonewall Jackson?
GH: That’s the one. My men all love him and trust him with their lives – literally!
KH: So what’s that old building up on the hill?
GH: They call it the Dunker Church. I hear they dunk people under the water after they get saved.
KH: That’s what the Bible says is supposed to happen (Acts 8:37). Anyway, it sounds like a lot of shooting is going on over there on the other side of the hill. Shouldn’t you be helping out?
GH: General Stark’s boys are getting hammered pretty hard by a bunch of Yanks from Wisconsin, but they are holding the line. The Yanks want this high ground around the church. It’s our job to keep em off. There’s a lot more of them than there is of us, but we won’t run when it’s our turn to fight. A couple days ago we held off about 12,000 Yanks as they tried to get through Fox’s Gap. They finally made it, but we made ‘em pay a dear price! Why, General Lee even let me off house arrest for that battle.
KH: What had you been arrested for?
GH: Oh, I had a little spat with another general about some Yankee wagons we captured at Second Bull Run. I’m from Kentucky, and I command a rough bunch of boys called the Texas Brigade. We tend to get a little bull headed from time to time. Anyway, back to yer question. I’d love to be over there helping out in battle! Me and my boys are always itchin’ fer a fight with Yanks. But, we are really tired and hungry right now. General Jackson told me to bring my boys back here for a rest and breakfast. He knows what is best. It’s his job to keep an eye on the bigger picture. I just go where he tells me and do what I’m told.
KH: That’s a good way to do things.
GH: That’s the way it has to be in the army. It would be chaos any other way.
KH: I guess you are right. My Commander has me “in reserve” right now, too. I don’t like it, but I trust Him.
GH: While yer in reserve, that doesn’t mean it is time to get lazy! No sir! That’s the time to rest, study, pray, and keep yer weapons clean and sharp. General Jackson can march his troops further in a day than any other general in either army. He knows the secret.
KH: What is that?
GH: Yer not a Yankee spy, are ya?
KH: No sir. I’m Norwegian.
GH: Nor what?
KH: Never mind. I’m not a spy.
GH: Good. Well he makes his men stop and rest every hour fer five minutes. You can’t just stop and stand around or sit down. No sir! You have to put yer head on the ground fer five minutes. It does wonders fer the body!
KH: I did that in Boy Scouts on long hikes too.
GH: What’s a Boy Scout?
KH: Never mind, they won’t be created for awhile.
GH: Anyway, a good commander knows his men have to rest once in awhile. Why, the good Lord gave His people a day of rest every week and a year of rest every 7 years (Ex 23:10, Lev. 25:1-7). He sometimes has to make us lie down in green pastures (Ps. 23:2) fer our own good. Why, fellers like me would work ourselves to death if the general didn’t make us take a break once in a while. We’ll get time to fight. Matter-o-fact, here comes General Jackson now. I bet he’s got orders fer us to get movin’ again. I need to go now.
KH: Ok, thanks for your time.
GOD: Let’s go home, Son…Does that help?
KH: Yes, Lord. I really enjoy traveling and preaching about Yer, I mean Your creation. I miss my freedom and family more than words can ever explain, but I trust you as my commanding general to know when to make me rest and lie down. I feel pretty rested, Lord. Can I go back into the fight yet?
GOD: Now, Son, just because you feel ready doesn’t mean it’s the right time for Me to send you in. Being “in reserve” is tough. I know. Elijah thought he was the only one left serving Me and I couldn’t do the job without him, but I had 7,000 in reserve (1 Kings 19:18; Rom 11:4). I always keep an eye on the bigger picture. I will win this war, Son. Relax. Go get ready for the ball game this afternoon. You are pitching. I’ve got yer back.