My two brothers are the greatest mentors I could have ever asked for (as was our Dad). My oldest brother (Ed Chinn, Founder and Editor of the Timberline Letter https://timberlineletter.substack.com) is also a great writer.
His recent commentary on the book, The Taste of Silence, can be read at https://timberlineletter.substack.com/p/the-taste-of-silence. He wrote about the author of that book (Bieke Vandekerckhove).
In one paragraph of his review of Vandekerckhove’s book he wrote,
As I read this book, I thought of Hebrews 11:34, which speaks of those who “became powerful in battle.” They found success as it was forged in the heat of life, not through knowledge or credentials.
Like I often do when anyone says something stunning about a particular scriptural passage; I lock onto that one thought like a lion on a catchable zebra and start chasing it through the bush, while the message (or article) goes on like background noise. Much later I came back to his original article (which I encourage you to read), but for a few days I was chasing thoughts spawned by Hebrews 11:34.
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.[i]
Those few words from the 11th chapter of Hebrews (the Faith Chapter) spoke to me like never before.
Our pastor recently said, “Sometimes I’ve been on a ship I didn’t think would make it to shore.” I’ve rode that ship. I’ve had battles in my life. I've known the feeling of such weight I couldn’t stand. I’ve stood anyway only to be knocked back down violently by an enemy yelling, “stay down!”
And I got up again anyway.
I didn’t realize it then, but now I know; I was becoming powerful in battle.
Think About it
You've responded to a calling, in which you should be confident in. If you are called into battle, don’t hesitate. Move in quickly and decisively.
Be as confident in the specific battle as you are in life. It will strengthen you.
[i] Hebrews 11:32-24 (NIV)

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