The Iron Pen #88

God & Country

In a day of near instant personal communication with cellular phones, beepers and e-mail, it is difficult to picture a time when word of mouth and mail were virtually the only forms of personal communication. Rev. Jedidiah Morse was well known Gospel preacher and soul winner. His son, Samuel Finley Breese Morse was one of the foremost portrait painters in America. But, Samuel had a vision to change and speed up communication. He believed that it was possible to "transmit intelligence instantaneously by electricity." In 1832 he began working to accomplish his dream. He was ridiculed and maligned by many, but he persevered. Finally, early in the morning of May 24, 1844, a small group of dignitaries assembled at the Capitol building, in what was the U.S. Supreme Court, at the time. President Madison’s wife Dolly was there. They would send the telegraph message from there. Another group was assembled at the Pratt Street Train Station in Baltimore, Maryland to receive the message. At 8:00 a.m. Morse checked over his new invention to be sure it was working correctly. Then just a little before 8:45 a.m. Annie Ellsworth, the daughter of the U.S. Commissioner of Patents, entered the Supreme Court handing Morse a note, upon which was written the choice of the Scripture verse which she and her mother hand selected. A precisely 8:45 a.m. Samuel F. B. Morse began tapping out the message in Morse Code…"What hath God wrought!" from Numbers 23:23. Instantly, in Baltimore, Morse’s friend and colleague Alfred Vail recorded the words. Our United States Congress later described the telegraph Morse had invented as "a universal blessing to mankind." To be sure, Samuel F.B. Morse opened the door for the "communication revolution." (I am indebted to Catherine Millard and her book Great American Statesmen and Heroes for much of the information included in this article.)

Stabilizing Truths for Handling Trouble
Ken Collier

[Editors Note: For several years I have given out a little pamphlet called Basics for Hurting Believers by Jim Berg, to the hurting believers that come in to see me. Included in that helpful pamphlet are Stabilizing Truths for Handling Trouble by Ken Collier of The Wilds Christian Association. DLB]

God’s LOVE for me is unchanging: Jeremiah 31:3; 1 John 4:10, 16; Romans 8:31-32, 35-39; John 15:12-13; Deuteronomy 7:7-8a

God’s PURPOSE for me is Christlikeness: Romans 8:28-29; Colossians 1:28; Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 3:18

God’s WORD to me is the final right answer: 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 5:3; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Deuteronomy 6:6-9, 30:11-20; John 16:13-15

God’s GRACE for me is sufficient: 2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 4:15-16; Titus 2:11-12; Psalm 116:5; Romans 5:20-21