1600

Not Pennsylvania Avenue. But the 17th century. I just can not seem to get over it. When I read of men and women who lived then and how they gave their lives for the faith. The Covenanters were a special breed. How would you like this on your tombstone"

"Here lays or near this Ja Thomson who was shot in Rencounter at Drumclog, June 1st 1679 by bloody Graham of Clavers House for his adherence to the Word of God and Scotland's Covenanted Work of reformation - Rev xii 11"

Revelation 12:11 says, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death"

The blood of the Lamb AND the word of their testimony. That hit me today. It means that we really are to fill up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. How in the world would we do that in suburbia?

The other side of Ja Thomson tombstone reads this:

"This hero brave who doth lye here in truth's defence did he appear, And to Christ's cause he firmly stood, until he'd sealed it with his blood. With sword in hand upon the field he lost his life, yet did not yield. His days did end in great renown, and he obtained the Martyrs Crown."

To obtain the martyr's crown. To not love our lives so much. How might we be willing to do that in suburbia? I am not sure, but I think that there is opportunity to stand bravely, not yield and remember those who went before us. Jesus has shed His blood and we are called to testify. Heavy stuff, weighty stuff and joyful stuff I would say.