The city of Imboden, in Arkansas, was named after the family of Swiss settlers who founded the town. The city was established in the early 1830s. Benjamin Imboden was a man with a good reputation. The city was named after him for his outstanding work in transforming the area from canebrake and trees to habitable land, but no less for his sterling character as a supporter of the church and the law. His son, John Imboden, was a Confederate brigadier general during the Civil War.
The city has claims to several distinctions: Youngest mayor in the U.S. at that time, a polar bear in their cemetery, and a large fire resulting in the destruction of most of their businesses caused by thoughtless human beings.
The incident with the polar bear was a bit trivial, but wouldn't you be proud if you had a dead polar bear in your backyard. The polar bear came from a circus. It died while the circus was in Imboden. Fascinating, isn't it?
The large fire occurred in 1893. It was caused by a firecracker fight. Not knowing exactly what that was, I looked it up. Talk about the stupidity of humans! A firecracker fight means throwing lighted firecrackers at each other. It is very dangerous, and the goal is to throw it before it explodes in your hand and to avoid those thrown at you. It really isn't surprising that a fire started. What is interesting however, is the fact that the fire was on Christmas Eve. It's interesting, because for several years in a row, the city was plagued by fires on that same date.
In 1912, Joe Sullivan was elected Mayor of Imboden. He was only 21 years old. Not only that, but he was a paralytic who made his way around town in a goat-driven cart. He is quoted as saying, "For myself, I am going to use three essentials to success, Faith, Prayer, and Perseverance. They never fail you if you are in the right, and you are already a failure if you are in the wrong." The latter half of the second half of the quote, by the way, is not strictly true. Being wrong does not make you a failure.
5 pieces of random information: 1. Imboden's population is just under 700. 2. The Jones family is predominant in the city leadership, fire department, and water department. (In case that interests you. It did me. It's rather unusual to have a family-run town. Oh, and there is only one female in all those departments! Good for them from a Biblical standpoint!) 3. The city is also very proud of it's first and only brand-new fire engine. I assume this means that they have since purchased only used fire engines since they have retired the one they're so proud of. They were one of the last older cities in the U.S to establish a fire department. (1959) 4. Saloons were voted out in 1889. To the best of my knowledge, they have not been voted back in. 5. The town's first theater was a drive-in, outdoor theater. Children who didn't want to pay the dime admittance climbed on the roof of the building across the street and watched from there.
(This has been: Snippets of: Imboden, Arkansas. Look in next time to read: Stories of My Life:_)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Day in the Life of: George Mueller
The biography of George Mueller was the first biography I ever liked, and the only for a very long time. He continues to be one of my favorite people. I find his life to inspiring, not because of his outstanding work with orphans, but because of his incredible faith in God.
George Mueller began as a ne'er-do-well. At the age of ten, he was discovered by his father, a tax collector, to be stealing small amounts of the government money which he, the father, often left in the house. After the just punishment received from his father, George promised himself it would never happen again. But instead of promising not to steal again, George was promising himself not to get caught again.
At age fourteen, George's mother died. When his father found him to say that his mother was dying, George was gambling and drinking with his friends. He did not return to the house until after he had finished his poker game. By then, it was too late.
When his father decided to send him to the best university in Prussia, (now Germany) George was excited, until he learned that he would have a tutor who would stick to him like glue. Without his father's permission or knowledge, George applied and was accepted to a lesser, pre-university school, much like our community colleges today. There, George lived what he called the 'high life' but we Christians would refer to it as the 'low life.' Afterwards, his father again offered to send him to the university, this time without the tutor. At Halle University, George studied divinity. George did not study this for any religious reasons but merely because at the time, being a Lutheran minister was very lucrative. For a while, George studied without gambling and drinking, but after meeting an old friend he returned to the bars, where he regaled his friends with 'hilarious' stories of his early sinful life.
George gave up his wild way of life, and shortly afterwards felt God calling him to the mission field. The first thing he did was to tell his father that he no longer wanted to study at Halle University. The matter caused a long but temporary rift between the two. Nevertheless, George felt the release from his father's purse-strings to be a relief. That is, until he discovered that now he had no money and could not get himself money in his former sly and unethical manner. It was his first test of faith after the initial step of salvation. At his wits end, George decided to do something he felt was childish and that a grown man would never do; pray on his knees. Within an hour after his prayer, George had both a job and a place to stay. He was ever after a firm believer in the power of prayer. Throughout the rest of his life, George was sustained almost entirely by prayer. He believed and lived as though God would provide, and He did.
In his next test of prayer, George discovered the important truth that God doesn't always provide in the way we expect. George was accepted into a London Missionary School, where he intended to study for going to China. (This was the circumstance God used to get him to England where he lived the rest of his life. He gave up China after three months). Unfortunately, Prussian law required all able men to join the military for two to five years. George knew that this delay was not in God's plan for him, so he prayed that somehow he would be made exempt. In answer, George became desperately sick. When he felt better over a month later, he went to the recruiter. When the doctor examined him however, George was exempted. While he felt fine at the moment, the doctor saw that his recent sickness would never truly go away. (It didn't. George was afflicted with recurrences for the rest of his life.)
In England, George met and married Mary Groves. He became pastor for a short time in a small church near London. At the time, pastors all over the world got their salary from a system called 'pew rent.' After a time, God led George to abolish this practice in the church. Thus, the entirety of George's salary was cut dramatically. At the same time, he was convicted by Scripture that he and his wife owned too many things. He and his wife sold all of their belongings. In spite of this, God always provided. Once, they sat down to the empty table and prayed over the absent food. As they finished their prayer, a neighbor brought over a whole ham.
Later, George went to minister in Bristol, England. There he pastored without a salary at Gideon Chapel and Pithay Chapel jointly with his close friend, Henry Craik. A cholera epidemic swept the city and George's attention was suddenly captured by what would be come his life's work. Thousands of orphans lived in Bristol and after the epidemic, thousands more joined those already there. He began to offer breakfast at his home for the orphans. Every day over sixty orphans plus adults ate breakfast for free. While they ate, George read from the Bible.
Nevertheless, George saw that while caring for 60 orphans was a start, it wasn't enough. In February, 1836, George opened a girl's orphanage for ages seven to twelve. At that time, there were only ten or twelve orphanages in all of England, and only one accepted all orphans including poor and/or deformed ones. Within five years, George had added three more orphanages to the first one. About that time however, he began receiving complaints from the neighbors. Four orphanages on the same residential street just would not work.
By prayer, he was led to purchase a property outside of the city. There he built a huge orphanage. George, who had never had an income since that day when God had told him to give it up, built it and the four subsequent even bigger orphanages debt-free. In the end, George and his wife were caring for over two thousand orphans. Over and over again, the money would run out. At times the children sat down to empty tables. Every time, George prayed, and food would arrive. One such time, a milk truck broke down just outside their property and the milkman asked them to lighten his load. At the same time, a local baker confessed that the previous night he couldn't sleep until he had baked three batches of bread for the orphans. George's prayers were answered every time; often from complete strangers or people across the world.
In 1870, Mary Mueller died. After a few years, George married Susannah Sanger in his mid-sixties. Together, they continued the legacy George and Mary had begun. The two went through 17 years of book-writing and tours. On each tour, the impact of George's faith spread. During these times, George lost both his daughter and his second wife. He returned to live in Bristol and continued to care for the orphans. His son-in-law became the real head of the orphanages however, and more and more of George's time was spent in prayer. Then, one day, George died. He was 93 years old. He was survived by his son-in-law and his granddaughter. He had run the orphanages for 63 years on prayer and faith. Not only that, but George, who rarely had more than a few hundred English pounds in his hand for more than a few days, was able, through prayer, to support other ministries. The one and a half million English pounds that had passed through his hands during his lifetime were never used on himself and never used for any other purpose than that for which they had been donated. At least a quarter of this money was used for supporting missionaries and distributing Bibles. The rest was used for other ministries and the orphanages. In one time of need, he supported the entirety of the China Inland Mission. In his lifetime he had cared for over ten thousand orphans, most of whom were spiritually impacted by him in a positive manner.
Through the power of prayer one man was able to minister to thousands upon thousands of people, young and old. The story of his life continues to impact people today. May we also learn to live so dependently on God, that, like George Mueller, nothing will phase us, because we know that God will provide for our every need.
**Books about George Mueller: George Mueller: the Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge. Autobiographies of George Mueller: A Life of Trust, and A Million and a Half in Answer to prayer, by George Mueller.
(This has been A Day in the Life of: George Mueller. Look in next time to read: Snippets of:__)
George Mueller began as a ne'er-do-well. At the age of ten, he was discovered by his father, a tax collector, to be stealing small amounts of the government money which he, the father, often left in the house. After the just punishment received from his father, George promised himself it would never happen again. But instead of promising not to steal again, George was promising himself not to get caught again.
At age fourteen, George's mother died. When his father found him to say that his mother was dying, George was gambling and drinking with his friends. He did not return to the house until after he had finished his poker game. By then, it was too late.
When his father decided to send him to the best university in Prussia, (now Germany) George was excited, until he learned that he would have a tutor who would stick to him like glue. Without his father's permission or knowledge, George applied and was accepted to a lesser, pre-university school, much like our community colleges today. There, George lived what he called the 'high life' but we Christians would refer to it as the 'low life.' Afterwards, his father again offered to send him to the university, this time without the tutor. At Halle University, George studied divinity. George did not study this for any religious reasons but merely because at the time, being a Lutheran minister was very lucrative. For a while, George studied without gambling and drinking, but after meeting an old friend he returned to the bars, where he regaled his friends with 'hilarious' stories of his early sinful life.
Then, one day, George met another old friend, Beta. Beta had gone to the same pre-university and had had a reputation for being a religious geek. Now, Beta, for some reason or other, had decided that he was done with religion. George took him under his wing and led him farther astray from the straight and narrow road.
Later in the year however, Beta turned around again and refused to join George at the bar. Embarrassed, he explained that he was going to a Bible study. George suddenly saw himself telling his friends at the bar the latest hilarious story, of the time when he went to a Bible study. To Beta's dismay, George went along. There, he found himself drawn in in spite of himself. George was particularly impressed with the leader of the group who talked as if God was in the room and who actually got on his knees to pray. Several weeks, and many meetings later, George offered his life to God.
George gave up his wild way of life, and shortly afterwards felt God calling him to the mission field. The first thing he did was to tell his father that he no longer wanted to study at Halle University. The matter caused a long but temporary rift between the two. Nevertheless, George felt the release from his father's purse-strings to be a relief. That is, until he discovered that now he had no money and could not get himself money in his former sly and unethical manner. It was his first test of faith after the initial step of salvation. At his wits end, George decided to do something he felt was childish and that a grown man would never do; pray on his knees. Within an hour after his prayer, George had both a job and a place to stay. He was ever after a firm believer in the power of prayer. Throughout the rest of his life, George was sustained almost entirely by prayer. He believed and lived as though God would provide, and He did.
In his next test of prayer, George discovered the important truth that God doesn't always provide in the way we expect. George was accepted into a London Missionary School, where he intended to study for going to China. (This was the circumstance God used to get him to England where he lived the rest of his life. He gave up China after three months). Unfortunately, Prussian law required all able men to join the military for two to five years. George knew that this delay was not in God's plan for him, so he prayed that somehow he would be made exempt. In answer, George became desperately sick. When he felt better over a month later, he went to the recruiter. When the doctor examined him however, George was exempted. While he felt fine at the moment, the doctor saw that his recent sickness would never truly go away. (It didn't. George was afflicted with recurrences for the rest of his life.)
In England, George met and married Mary Groves. He became pastor for a short time in a small church near London. At the time, pastors all over the world got their salary from a system called 'pew rent.' After a time, God led George to abolish this practice in the church. Thus, the entirety of George's salary was cut dramatically. At the same time, he was convicted by Scripture that he and his wife owned too many things. He and his wife sold all of their belongings. In spite of this, God always provided. Once, they sat down to the empty table and prayed over the absent food. As they finished their prayer, a neighbor brought over a whole ham.
Later, George went to minister in Bristol, England. There he pastored without a salary at Gideon Chapel and Pithay Chapel jointly with his close friend, Henry Craik. A cholera epidemic swept the city and George's attention was suddenly captured by what would be come his life's work. Thousands of orphans lived in Bristol and after the epidemic, thousands more joined those already there. He began to offer breakfast at his home for the orphans. Every day over sixty orphans plus adults ate breakfast for free. While they ate, George read from the Bible.
Nevertheless, George saw that while caring for 60 orphans was a start, it wasn't enough. In February, 1836, George opened a girl's orphanage for ages seven to twelve. At that time, there were only ten or twelve orphanages in all of England, and only one accepted all orphans including poor and/or deformed ones. Within five years, George had added three more orphanages to the first one. About that time however, he began receiving complaints from the neighbors. Four orphanages on the same residential street just would not work.
By prayer, he was led to purchase a property outside of the city. There he built a huge orphanage. George, who had never had an income since that day when God had told him to give it up, built it and the four subsequent even bigger orphanages debt-free. In the end, George and his wife were caring for over two thousand orphans. Over and over again, the money would run out. At times the children sat down to empty tables. Every time, George prayed, and food would arrive. One such time, a milk truck broke down just outside their property and the milkman asked them to lighten his load. At the same time, a local baker confessed that the previous night he couldn't sleep until he had baked three batches of bread for the orphans. George's prayers were answered every time; often from complete strangers or people across the world.
In 1870, Mary Mueller died. After a few years, George married Susannah Sanger in his mid-sixties. Together, they continued the legacy George and Mary had begun. The two went through 17 years of book-writing and tours. On each tour, the impact of George's faith spread. During these times, George lost both his daughter and his second wife. He returned to live in Bristol and continued to care for the orphans. His son-in-law became the real head of the orphanages however, and more and more of George's time was spent in prayer. Then, one day, George died. He was 93 years old. He was survived by his son-in-law and his granddaughter. He had run the orphanages for 63 years on prayer and faith. Not only that, but George, who rarely had more than a few hundred English pounds in his hand for more than a few days, was able, through prayer, to support other ministries. The one and a half million English pounds that had passed through his hands during his lifetime were never used on himself and never used for any other purpose than that for which they had been donated. At least a quarter of this money was used for supporting missionaries and distributing Bibles. The rest was used for other ministries and the orphanages. In one time of need, he supported the entirety of the China Inland Mission. In his lifetime he had cared for over ten thousand orphans, most of whom were spiritually impacted by him in a positive manner.
Through the power of prayer one man was able to minister to thousands upon thousands of people, young and old. The story of his life continues to impact people today. May we also learn to live so dependently on God, that, like George Mueller, nothing will phase us, because we know that God will provide for our every need.
**Books about George Mueller: George Mueller: the Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff Benge. Autobiographies of George Mueller: A Life of Trust, and A Million and a Half in Answer to prayer, by George Mueller.
(This has been A Day in the Life of: George Mueller. Look in next time to read: Snippets of:__)
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