Paul was the greatest apostle. ever.

God Wink Blog

As it was back in his day, so it is now, this ex-terrorist religious zealot and mass murderer of Christians–turned disciple of Christ is greatly misunderstood, even by those in the Church. His character is maligned by many nowadays as a male chauvinist. He is surmised as being somewhat intolerant and slightly harsh by others. He is thought by many to have been prideful and arrogant. But as we study the real Paul of the scriptures we gain quite a different perspective. An entirely different man emerges.

How about this for a completely unbiased and irreligious view of the man:

A Paul filled with joy, beside himself with rejoicing (always), intoxicated with God’s love, a willing bondslave of God, and a masterful wordsmith who, waxing eloquent, wrote arguably the greatest treatise on love ever known (1st Corinthians 13).

The Greatest is Love

Or how about a Paul who put no…

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Correct Formula = 90% Encouragement + 10% Obedience

Or “this is who you are so act like it” vs “what’s wrong with you?! just do what you’re supposed to!!”

Proper perspective is all a matter of vantage point. Adopt the view point of the Infinite One who knows all things! He boils it all down to one question: Are you “in” or are you “out”?

Where you be?

In 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21 we read what happens to a person when they receive Christ, and are received into Christ, by the New Birth:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To witness, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be reconciled to God. For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Please note: The little preposition word “in” is very important in this sentence – and in all the places where Paul writes that we are “in Christ” – but more on that later. We understand by this passage that if any man be in Christ he becomes a New Creation, in which:

1. the old things are passed away,
2. behold! all things have become new!
3. and all things are of God…
4. he is the righteousness of God in Christ.

Are you “in Christ” or outside of Christ? This is the question – if you are a believer in the Good News about God’s free gift of Everlasting Life or Eternal Life as it is called, then you have received the God kind of Life (the Greek word ZOE) into you, and you have been received into Christ. This is God’s free gift, based not on our own good works, but on His completed work (Ephesians 2:8,9). This is promised us in the Bible if we receive Christ’s sacrificial death, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven on our behalf: All that was accomplished for us on the cross.

When writing to the Corinthian church, a rowdy, unruly bunch, Paul begins by encouraging them and building them up on who they are in Christ before he brings correction and addresses their carnality. He starts with encouragement, as to who they are in Christ:

Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God… to the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you…

1st Corinthians 1:1-10

Even though Paul must bring correction to the church in Corinth, he begins by affirming and reaffirming their relationship with God and each other through Jesus Christ and commends them for the fruit they are bearing.

Correct Formula = 90% Encouragement + 10% Exhortation to go and do the works, moving on with God, etc.

Is this the formula you’re hearing when you listen to teaching about God’s Word (the Bible)? If not, you are receiving the wrong mixture. A mixture that only serves to focus on your sinful unworthiness and not on God’s willingness to give you His grace, His unmerited favor, a thing that you cannot earn by self-effort to do good. The correct balance, as it is given to us in the New Testament, considering the whole counsel of God, is summed up in Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery.

While many have said, “if you don’t sin we won’t condemn you,” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

(John 8:10,11)

Is this the emphasis we are hearing from the pulpit today? Are we hearing the proper mixture of encouragement and exhortation?

Encouragement

According to Paul’s epistles… we have been made the righteousness of God in Christ! It is only as we focus on being His workmanship, His handiwork, that we are transformed. Focusing on sin is not going to produce the desired result: Sanctification! Sin has to be addressed it’s true, but even while addressing their sin, Paul is mindful to direct their focus to who they are in Christ, before, during and after bringing correction to them.

Encourage one another daily… (Hebrews 3:13). The King James Version says “exhort”. Even exhortation is to be kept positive, uplifting and edifying.

exhort

Hebrews 10:24 Hebrews 10:25 Acts 11:23 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:11 ;4:18 5:11 2 Timothy 4:2

Prophecy is for encouragement,  edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1st Corinthians 14:3)

Let your speaking be always with grace, seasoned with salt… (Colossians 4:6). Notice: seasoned with salt! Not smothered in it. The legalism prevalent in much of today’s teaching and preaching comes from condemnation. It is a “sin consciousness” which is not in agreement with God’s “righteousness consciousness”. I know it may seem counter-intuitive, it may not be what you’ve been taught, but focusing on your sin will only produce more sin. We are to focus on Christ’s victory in the resurrection, knowing that He accomplished for us, on our behalf, in our place.

True Exhortation

Go and do likewise… Now that you have become these things in Christ… put on Christ… be clothed with the outward behavior since you have been created new beings in Christ, through Christ, with Christ, etc.

The Problem of Sin-consciousness

If you’re already a believer in Christ, chances are you have been challenged many times by other believers to go and do what you’re supposed to be doing as a Christian! This can come in the form of well-intentioned Christian leaders who see the problem and are trying to correct it. They are much like the CEO of a company, looking at the bottom line, and trying to troubleshoot the problems that they blame for a lack of productivity. They point out the sins of their company and say, in effect, “that’s why you’re not what you should be!” or “this is why we are not more successful in business!”

We are taught from day one of our lives to solve problems. From earliest childhood we learn to articulate through the rugged landscape of our lives by doing. Through the school of hard knocks. All too often we’re made all too aware of our problems, areas where we need to improve, and weakness is hi-lighted. Unless you’re a sociopath (someone with a severely impaired sense of right and wrong, or what the Bible calls a “seared conscience”) you are painfully aware of your shortcomings, your short patience, your short fuse, in short, your sins.

Purpose of the Law

This is the reason for the Law: to expose your sinfulness, your prideful, self-willed propensity for waywardness, your guilt before a completely pure, righteous, just and holy God. The Law is also described as our tutor, or schoolmaster, who leads us by the hand and takes us to Christ, the only One who can acquit us from the penalty for breaking the law. I think it may be more accurate to say The Law takes by the hand, and handcuffs us! Then throws us into jail to await execution, until Jesus comes and bails us out! The Law was never given by God to perfect us. It cannot save us. It is only there to point out the problem. It points out Sin. And the only solution it provides is “do it, or you will suffer the consequences!” Do you see that this is all The Law can do? I tell you, it gets worse! The Law wants to kill us!

The Ministry of Death and Condemnation

The Law is called the ministry of death. It is also called the ministry of condemnation. We are not to be ministers of the Old Covenant. The Bible says that by the works of the law shall no one be saved.

all things are lawful unto me, but not all things are expedient, all things are permissable, but I shall not be brought under the power of any thing

1st Corinthians 6:12

where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom…

Q: What about revivals and moves of God in the past where there was a heavy emphasis on sin and repentance?

A: The ministry of death had glory…

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall the ministration of the spirit be not even more glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glorious, much more the ministration of righteousness exceeds in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excells. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

2 Corinthians 3:7-11

Notice how it says that “the ministration of  death, written and engraved on stones, is glorious” in the above passage? The only law written and engraved on stones is the Ten Commandments. This is referring to the “letter of the law” which kills, but “the spirit of the law” gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6). We know that the spirit of the law, or the intent of the law, is love. “Love works no ill toward its neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10)

This ministration of death and condemnation does have glory, but it is a glory which pales in comparison to the glory of the New Covenant signed and sealed in Christ’s blood, which speaks far better things than that of Abel’s. Remember: Abel’s blood cried out for justice against Cain, but Jesus’ blood cries out for our forgiveness from all sin!

The blood of Jesus sets us free from the curse of iniquity (sinful inclinations passed on through the generations), it gives us room to grow, it keeps us free from the penalty of the law, and most importantly it maintains our fellowship with God. Past revivals where sin was heavily emphasized and confessions of sin were prevalent were glorious but it was a glory that was passing. Remember, even John the Baptist, who brought a heavy repentance message, said of himself, “I must decrease, but He (Jesus) must increase.” This is a pivotal point and a passing of the guard, so to speak. And let’s not forget – John was beheaded! The ministry John paved the way for was Christ, who came not to condemn the world but to save it. The identification of sin must always be covered in God’s mercy, grace, love and a view toward restoration.

The Letter of the Law = Death / but the Spirit of the Law = Love

How much more shall the ministry of righteousness, life, and the spirit of the law of love minister to us life and glory. In our repentance from sin there should be a godly sorrow that leads to a productive turning away from sin but that turning away will NEVER come through your self-efforts, and attempts to get free in the flesh, I assure you. It is only through the progressive work of sanctification as we fasten our eyes on what Jesus did at the Cross. We became New Creations through His death, burial and resurrection! It’s a done deal! Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 over and over, memorize it, meditate on it. This is the ministry you are supposed to bring to the world as a believer. God has made friends with us through Jesus. This is what reconciliation means. This is the ministry of reconciliation. He is not opposed to us anymore. He is not holding our trespasses against us anymore.

All of His wrath against sin was spent on Jesus. In the Old Testament the believer had an imputed righteousness, but in the New Testament the believer has become the very “righteousness of God in Christ”. This is why the Bible says, “Awake to Righteousness and sin not.” As we wake up to who we have really become through the New Birth we lose our appetite for sin. It’s only as we behold God’s completed work through Jesus, which was accomplished in us (“…we are His workmanship created in Christ for good works that we should walk in them” -Ephesians 2:9) if we have received Christ as our Lord. It is through meditation on the Word of God that we become transformed more and more into His likeness. The Word changes us. We are not changed by looking at our sinfulness. It is when we see Him that we become like Him for we see Him as He is (1st John 3:2,3). It is only through looking at Jesus, even though through a glass darkly, meditating on and looking at the glory of the risen Christ that we find somehow we are transformed into that same likeness, from glory to glory, EVEN as by the Spirit of the Lord! (2nd Corinthians 3:18)

The Glory that will not pass away is an apostolic work founded upon the Grace of God. Only the Grace of God can set you free from sinful behavior and lead you to a repentance that will not pass away, grow dim in future generations, and fade away into some distant historical account of an outpouring that happened way back when. Repentance is a gift from God. Let’s treat it as such and not as a bludgeoning tool to make people conform to the Law. Let repentance be a quick work in the earth. Let it be cut short in Righteousness. Let it be by the gift of righteousness by faith!

…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)

[To be Continued]

In the next article, God willing, we’ll look at the following:

• Well-intentioned attempts to keep them from milking the project
• Church Move!
• Stir up the gift that is in you
• Grace Motivation vs Law Motivation
• His delight is in the law of the Lord…
• Head Honkers of the Geese Flock

The Violent Take it by Force?!

FLASH: Late Breaking News Report – Potentially inflammatory speech used by revolutionary and visionary, Rabbi Yeshua Ha-Mashiach…

When speaking to His followers about John the Baptist, Jesus makes this astounding statement,

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

Now if you’re aware of what Jesus taught about The Kingdom you might be thinking to yourself, “What could this possibly mean? Doesn’t Jesus know that the Kingdom is all about joy, peace and righteousness, and that “violence” is not a good thing to talk about, especially when there’s religious extremists, zealots, and radical revolutionaries around?” Basically, Jesus is not pulling any punches here. He’s saying, men like John have their eyes on a spiritual kingdom, not of this world, and do fight against a spiritual foe who is opposed to this kingdom, but more on that later. It is certainly true that Jesus chose this kind of language to get the attention of his audience, but he is in no way being sensationalistic when He alludes to the urgency of the situation at hand.

I like the commentary from Barnes’ Notes on the Bible on the subject:

And from the days of John … – That is, from the days when John began to preach. It is not known how long this was, but it was not probably more than a year. Our Saviour here simply states a fact. He says there was a great rush or a crowd pressing to hear John. Multitudes went out to hear him, as if they were about to take the kingdom of heaven by force. See Matthew 3:5. So, he says, it has continued. Since “the kingdom of heaven,” or “the gospel,” has been preached, there has been a “rush” to it. People have been “earnest” about it; they have come “pressing” to obtain the blessing, as if they would take it by violence. There is allusion here to the manner in which cities were taken. Besiegers “pressed” upon them with violence and demolished the walls. With such “earnestness” and “violence,” he says, people had pressed around him and John since they began to preach. There is no allusion here to the manner in which individual sinners seek salvation, but it is a simple record of the fact that multitudes had thronged around him and John to hear the gospel.

Men were desperate to hear and experience more of this Kingdom John and Jesus spoke of. They were saying that the Kingdom was at hand. Another way to say it is the kingdom of heaven was emergent, and it was already fully there in the form of Jesus, for all who would believe.

In a very real sense, the hands of Jesus were the point of contact between the earthly and heavenly worlds. The finger of God had punched a hole right into satan’s kingdom (Luke 11:20), the Kingdom of God was leaking in and the gates of hell could not stand against the onslaught of God’s standard, rushing in like a flood (Matthew 16:18, Isaiah 59:19). This was a prime ingredient of Christ’s teaching to His disciples and followers. They introduced God as an all knowing, all benevolent, righteous King who desired to protect, provide and care for His subjects, but that there was a thief who’s aim it was to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10), destroy their lives through temptation and sin (Matthew 26:41), sift them like wheat (Luke 22:31), oppress them with sickness (Luke 13:16, Acts 10:38), bring trials, persecutions and cause troubles in an effort to remove God’s word from their hearts (Mark 4:15), and blind them to the glorious light of the good news of this kingdom (Matthew 24:14).

This kingdom is violently opposed by these devils because satan is the god of this world (2nd Corinthians 4:3,4), notice, that’s god with a lower case “g” and he’s operating down here independently of God! He is not God’s police watch dog as some have falsely stated. NO WHERE in the Bible does it say that satan is doing the bidding for God! He’s doing it for himself and whatever he does it is because he is desirous of power and control. As the end of his time here as god of this world approaches he becomes more and more desperate and furious, and will take greater chances of blowing his cover (Revelation 12:12).

Until Now

Not to read more into it than was intended, but the phrase “until now” in Jesus’ statement “the kingdom suffers violence until now” seems to indicate a start/stop timeframe. From the time of His incarnation by virgin birth until He was crucified He lived a sinless life. Since he fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law during His time on Earth, and always spoke in alignment with the Word of God (the O.T. scriptures), and was completely obedient to do and say what the Father was doing and saying, the Spirit of God was operating immeasurably through Him (John 3:34).

Jesus was God walking around in an earth suit (human skin). His existence was completely unprecedented, unique, and unparalleled. For this reason, Jesus said to Nathaniel, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:51). In this Jesus obviously draws a parallel to Jacob’s Ladder.

A door had been opened up through Jesus from heaven directly into the earthly realm and there was quite a bit of stir about it all among the demonic community: “Have you come to persecute us before the time!?” they cried out at Jesus (Matthew 8:29). There was obviously a demonic hierarchy that was being threatened by the presence of this Jesus, God come in the form of a man, and there was a sense of timing involved. The demonic regime knew that Jesus had arrived before the final showdown and they trembled at the prospect, even mentioning their eternal torment! It’s almost as if they’re saying, “Hey what are you doing here already!? Our allotted time isn’t up yet! We’ve got a couple more ages to raise hell down here on planet Earth… don’t we?!” Somehow, legally, in the courts of heaven, the authority to exercise dominion over the Earth and subjugate the Earth had been given to satan. In the transference of power satan was able to enact cruelty and jungle law in the form of a curse which came over all creation (Romans 8: 21,22). This power was given to him, no doubt, by the first man, Adam. But there was a promise given even way back then: The promise of a second Adam who would legally take the power back.

God had a surprise for them! Did He ever! The Gospel is a mystery hidden in God (1 Corinthians 2:7,8). If the demonic spirits had known what God was about to do through Jesus they would never have crucified Him. Thank God they didn’t know and they took the bait.

Immediately after the resurrection wherein God overthrew principalities and powers, through Christ at the cross, there was a complete shift in power, so to speak. The power the enemy once held over the atmosphere immediately surrounding the earth was rendered ineffective when He put them to nought through His cross (Colossians 2:15, 1st John 3:8, Hebrews 2:14,15). The prince of the power of the air, as the devil is called in Ephesians 2:2, was dethroned, stripped naked and dragged through the streets! This is the meaning of the word “spoiled” in Colossians 2:15.

And in Hebrews 2: 14,15 we read that the devil wielded the power of death itself. We know that death is an enemy and will eventually be defeated, and that death has lost its sting, the grave has lost its victory for us who believe (1st Corinthians 15:26,55). No more is he able to delay angels coming and going into the Earthly realms as he did in Daniel’s time (Daniel 10:12-14). This is why Jesus said we would do even greater works than He did (John 14:12). The kingdom was being hemmed in upon on all sides by men and women who were desperate to know its secrets, it was being wrested from the hands of the enemy, it was at hand (ready for the taking) through Jesus, and it would soon become alive and active in men’s hearts by virtue of the new birth, for this was not a kingdom you could join, it was a kingdom you had to be born into. That’s why Jesus spoke of being born again to Nicodemus (John 3) when “Nic” asked him how to sign up for it.

Once the spiritual new birth became available, after Christ arose from the dead, the kingdom of heaven would be birthed into the hearts of all those who believe. Keeping all this in mind, Jesus has already wrested the kingdom from satan’s hands, so it is that he has defeated him, overthrown him and the work is already done. Jesus violently took it from him and He gives it freely to us. Now we follow His teachings, we follow His example, of course, but more importantly, we are caught up in His ascension train and have become seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) so we are in a position of authority with Him, and we bring forth fruit from the new person we have become through Him. This was His teaching and continues to be taught to the churches through the apostles and prophets, especially through the Pauline revelation (Paul’s epistles).

Jesus also said when speaking publicly of John the Baptist that he was the greatest of all men born of a woman, that he was more than a prophet, there was not one greater than he, even though John did no miracles, and yet, Jesus said, he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he (John). What an amazing statement! This is because before Jesus went to the cross and died, before He suffered and paid the price for mankind’s sin, before Christ rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God, before any of this took place, man was not born again, there was no way for him to become regenerated in his spirit man. He had to go by faith with Jesus through the death, burial and resurrection of the cross in a futuristic sense. He had to have an imputed righteousness come on him by faith, in a manner, his faith was projected forward to the coming of the Messiah, the sacrificial Lamb who would take the sins of the world upon Himself. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up from the Earth I will draw all men unto me.” Jesus absorbed the spirits of all who would come to God by faith throughout time and eternity into himself on that cross, so that they could be accredited with what He did. He became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him. Old testament prophets could not be born again. The Spirit of God could not dwell in them. The Holy Spirit could come upon prophets, priests and kings for a block of time but He could not come into them, reside in them, remain upon them. This is because they were still unregenerate in their spirits. Their spirits could not yet be born again.

So we see this scripture about violent men, force and the kingdom has multiple application, it is multifaceted, it has huge ramifications, as do many of the ingenious things Jesus had to say about the kingdom. This kingdom (King’s domain) certainly was suffering violence until now. But that was about to change! It changed drastically after Christ arose from the dead and the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentacost (Acts 3). To understand more of what Jesus taught about the secrets of this kingdom it is helpful to know a few things about Him, who His audience was, the culture He lived in and especially the style of teaching He used.

4 Rabbinical Methods of Teaching

1. PASHAT – literal meaning
2. REMEZ – allegorical
3. DERUSH – metaphorical
4. SOD – hidden meaning

Those who have studied the Jewish teaching styles of the times say that Jesus used a rabbinical method of teaching known as SOD (pronounced SOTE) which means “hidden meaning” or a “hinting” style wherein everything He said hinted or referenced subtly back to the old testament scriptures in some way. This flagged in the Hebrew mindset, by way of association, remembrances of the scriptures they were so familiar with, hence His prolific use of the Parable in teaching. His parables were loaded with O.T. buzz words from which the diligent student could glean deeper personal meaning as well as a greater revelation of general kingdom principles.

Knowing this about Jesus, it is most certain that this statement about the violent taking the kingdom by force has a still deeper spiritual meaning and biblical context, which Christ the master teacher has cleverly hidden: The golden nuggets of truth being much more precious to those who search and find them for themselves! Jesus seems to have an O.T. event in mind when He mentions this taking of the kingdom by force.

Giant Slayer vs Grasshopper Vision

Joshua and Caleb, two men in the Old Testament who were aggressively ready, willing and able to take “the kingdom” specifically the Promised Land, also  took God’s word literally. They actually thought they could beat insurmountable odds stacked against them just because God’s word said so! Didn’t they know that they were greatly out-sized, outnumbered and completely out of touch with reality?!

God had them looking at a reality beyond what the natural eye could see. One of the things that made these guys different, according to the Bible, is that they “completely followed the Lord” with all their heart (Numbers 32:11-12, Deuteronomy 1:35-36, Joshua 14:9).

Joshua, as you may recall, took the reins of Israel after Moses was called to step down (and step up) by God, right before they were to cross over the river from what is now Jordan (at a place called the Plains of Moab) into Israel, the promised land. He and another Israelite by the name of Caleb had been to this crossing point once before and, while they were ready to go in and take the land, the others were fearful so they had to wait and wander 40 more years in the wilderness until that unbelieving generation died off.

The story goes like this: Moses selected 12 spies, one from each tribe, to cross over and check out the promised land. While there, they saw huge walled-cities and giants in the land. When they got back Joshua and Caleb brought a faith-filled report. They said, “Yes, there are huge walled cities in the land, there be giants… but we are more than able to take the land! God has given us the land! Let’s go…” But for the other ten spies this report was entirely too optimistic. They said, in effect, “Woah! Hold on here, dynamic duo! These giants are huge! We are like grasshoppers in their sight!” While Joshua and Caleb had “faith-filled vision” the others had “grasshopper vision” which spread fear and unbelief throughout the camp and God was so displeased that He swore that they would not enter in (Hebrews 3:11). However He did preserve Joshua and Caleb’s lives and used them to lead the next generation into the sweet promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey! This is the kind of violent faith that the kingdom of heaven is subjected to, and of which Jesus hinted to. God, in effect, says to us what He said to Joshua as he was getting ready to take the next generation into the promised land:

Every place on which your foot steps I have given it to you. No man will be able to stand in opposition to you all the days of your life for I will be with you. Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed! For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!

Read the full version here in Joshua 1:1-9

“Now it came about after the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, ‘Moses, My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Onward Moving Company of God

The children of Israel coming out of Egypt and traveling toward the promised land are a type and figure of the New Testament church in that they were in bondage to Egypt as slaves (representative of us and how we were enslaved to a world system and an ungodly kingdom), being set free by a promised deliverer (Moses representative of the Messiah or Savior), then they came through the Red Sea which closed in and drowned their enemies behind them and they came out the other side, dancing, beating tambourines and singing praises to God (which is just like us having received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, being baptized in water, and being filled with the Holy Spirit and celebrating the victory over our oppressors; the enslaving passions and demonic spirits of this world)! We’re even given the words to the song of praise they sang in Exodus 15!

Once having embarked on this wilderness journey however, there still existed a problem: God had removed His people out of Egypt but now He had to remove Egypt out of His people. In many ways the customs and practices of Egypt were engrained into them. He gave them new laws and new ways of doing things. Much like we in the New Testament have to feed on the Word of God in order to grow spiritually. This is where all believers find themselves at various points along the way in their development. God has delivered them out of their bondage to this world but now needs to get the world out of them. This wilderness journey is reflective of the believer’s pilgrimage toward working out what has been worked into him. The believer is changed from the inside out, not the other way around. This differentiates the true believer from those who merely profess to be believers. It’s where the rubber meets the road, as they say. This is where the process known as mind renewal must take place. For the children of Israel it was a lot of outward observances and practices regarding everything from how to prepare their food to how they were to bury their dead; for us in the New Testament church it involves meditating on the Word of God and putting on the New Man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossians 3:10). Meditation was a vital key then as it is a vital key now  (Joshua 1:8,9, Romans 12:1,2).

The Promised Land

We enter the promised land (all that we have been made to be as new creations in Christ) by aggressive pursuit of what God says is ours. The promises of God are available to all who who take them by faith. There is much teaching of doubt and unbelief out there, that while well-intentioned, only serves to take away from what God has made available to those who will press in, taking Him at His word, slaying the giants of opposition (the flesh, the world and the devil), taking the promises of who we are in Christ (the nine fruits and the nine gifts of the Spirit), and appropriating what the Bible says is already ours by faith. All too often, the enemy comes as a voice of common sense, but it is actually attempting to get us to look out for our own best interest, to become self-centered, to focus on ourselves and distract our attention away from the cross and what was accomplished for us there. Do we have “more than able to overcome” vision. or “grasshopper” vision? Are our appetites, shortcomings, addictions, pitfalls, obstacles too big for us, or is our God more than ready, willing and able to overcome through us, and we through Him? This is the wilderness test. We pass with flying colors if we keep our eyes on Jesus!

The Mystery of the Gospel

People are crying out for answers today. The traditional religious interpretations of scripture, the denominational expressions of divisiveness, the hypocritical judgmental spirits of discernment, so called, have all fallen miserably short and have been pitifully inadequate in satisfying intellectual objections of earnest minded skeptics, to a large degree. Sad to say, there are many out there trying to “witness” for Christ who are doing more harm than good. In many cases, they present a God who rants and raves “IF YOU DON’T LOVE ME AND WORSHIP ME I’M GOING TO BURN YOU IN HELL FOREVER!” Or they present God as a good luck charm, a jolly old Santa Claus, a rub your belly and make a wish God… and people have no concept of what it means to be truly repentant and born again. He that is born of God does not sin (1st John 3:9) – best translation efforts reveal this verse to say, “does not continually sin, or does not desire to sin habitually as before… does not practice sin.” If you have genuinely given your heart to Christ and have received the benefit of salvation through His substitutionary death on the cross and have been born again through His resurrection life in you, then you will not want to keep cussing, lusting, boasting, fighting, coveting. You may still struggle with these things as you undergo transformation through mind renewal but you will not want to continually fall back into these things, or justify worldly behavior that will tempt you to fall back into hooking up, partying with drugs and/or alcohol until you’re wasted, and other types of activity that does not exemplify a Christ-centered life that will lead others to Him. This is just playing games. If you’re a Christian and you’re still doing things like this the answer is not to beat yourself up over it. You need to get your mind renewed! You need to preach to yourself or get yourself to a fellow believer (hopefully faith-filled, spiritual believer of the same sex) who will talk straight with you and pray for you and help you get back on track again, otherwise you will continue to wander in circles in the wilderness.

That was good preaching wasn’t it? Yeah, but you better get it right. Come correct! God is not mocked. You don’t want to go there! That’s what the commandments were really all about. That’s what a commandment was for the Jewish mindset originally. They were really saying “you don’t even wanna go there.” Be that as it may, the Gospel is Good News! The Good News is this: For God SO loved the world (its people) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe on Him would not be destroyed and eternally cut off from Him but would receive the God kind of life! A life that never fades away (John 3:16 paraphrased).

There have been great victories along the way but let’s be honest, the church of modern times pales in comparison to the church in the book of Acts! Today’s churches are largely reprobate. They have a form of godliness but deny the power. We need the church to be what she was in the book of Acts. A church of power, demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power, the power that accompanies the declaration of truth with signs and wonders! But let’s not focus on where we have gone wrong in the past, save when and where it leads us to the solution. Jesus is the solution. As we look to Him he promises answers (Jeremiah 33:3), He promises we will be transformed as we behold Him in the scriptures by the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1,2, 1st Corinthians 13:12, 2nd Corinthians 3:17,18, 1st John 3:2). God is already doing these things worldwide. Here’s a video that shows some of the miraculous things that are going on in mission fields around the globe:

The Finger of God (Part 1 of 10 Parts on youtube)

Looking Unto Jesus

So! Let us rather look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, for we are His people, the sheep that He shepherds, we are the tabernacle of witness, everywhere we go He goes with us! We are living stones built up as a holy temple to the Lord! We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people called apart for His glorious purpose and plan, that we should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light! And every place where our foot steps heaven touches earth, the Kingdom comes, His will is done, He is enthroned upon the praises of His people, He inhabits the praises of His people, He is released into the earth and the surrounding atmosphere through the praises of His people! He encamps round about His people! He that keeps them neither slumbers nor sleeps! He shall encompass you about with songs of deliverance! Remember that as Paul and Silas were in prison praising God (Acts 16:25) the ground began to shake, the cells were burst open, their chains were broken off and they were set free! Incidentally, even in actual physical warfare the Lord had the worshipers go out before the armies of Israel (2 Chronicles 20:21,22). The emphasis is always on God’s power and might being manifested as we render thanksgiving, praise and worship. As they did so the enemy was defeated before them. The battle we fight is spiritual, not physical (2nd Corinthians 10:4,5).

The Best Defense is a Good Offense

This is how we lay hold on all the promises of God for healing, protection, provision as we travel toward becoming all that He intends for us to be, a city shining on a hill, we behold Him as He is and we become like Him! All that stands in opposition to His purposes in us are made subject to us. Let us pursue with a relentless fervor (that comes from Him) as we edify, build one another up, encourage one another daily, while it is still yet today, especially as we see the end drawing near. Don’t become weary and faint in your mind! Never give up! Believe and keep on believing! Be strong and courageous! It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises. Faith and perseverance. Feed your spirit man on the spiritual manna from heaven (Jesus the living Word), keep following the column of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, stay where He stays and move where He moves. And above all, gird up the loins of your mind and prepare to stand in the evil day, having done all to stand, stand therefore! Take what God has given you. Let no man steal your reward! Do not back down or be afraid. Stand on the grounds of the righteousness of God in Christ which He has given to you and violently oppose every condemning voice which says it’s not so!

There is a mighty rushing wind of God’s Spirit available to all those who come to God through faith in His completed work at the cross and His consequent resurrection. You have been regenerated through union with Him. You have His life in you. If you have believed the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus having paid the price for your sin, then you are a citizen of God’s kingdom. Know what has been made available to you through studying the scriptures. On every page it is written, “paid in full” by the blood of Jesus. It is a revealing of who you have become as a believer. You are a new creation in Christ, old things are passed away. behold! All things are made new! And all things are of God (2 Cor 5:17-21).

Take it by the Force of Faith

Jesus tells us exactly how to do this, true to His usual form, he hides it in a story about a strong man’s house and shows us how we must use the authority given us in His name. We have His power of attorney. We overcome the devil(s) by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:1).

No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house (Mark 3:27)

Jesus has already done this for us, it’s true, but we must appropriate it. We do this by standing on the word and though it may seem foolish, tell the enemy to go in Jesus name. God has given us the pattern in the life of Jesus. Jesus tells us that it’s no big deal to command demons and see them depart but rather we should rejoice that our names are written in the book of Life (that we are Saved!). It’s interesting to note that when the disciples returned and told Jesus, “Even the devils are subject to us in your name…” it says that Jesus rejoiced in His spirit (one translation says He actually danced in the Spirit!) (Luke 10:17-21).

Fight the good fight of faith! Whether you’re hacking through wilderness thicket or attempting to cross some impasse, mixaphorically speaking, know this, God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms in Christ. He is not holding out on you. He is not “allowing” you to suffer the operation of sin and death in the earth to try to make you strong, He has set you free from condemnation. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Jesus is your strength. Jesus has already spoiled principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, dragging them through their streets in His victory march, triumphing over them in Himself, in the cross (Colossians 2:15). He wants you to take up the full armor of God fully aware that you are not wrestling with Him, you’re not wrestling with flesh and blood, you are wrestling with principalities, against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, but we must do it with the power of His might (Ephesians 6).

Religious thinking has taught us that God is in control of everything that happens down here on earth. This is a subtle lie sown by the enemy to get you think God is at fault for your problems. No. God’s not your problem. If you want to find a blame for evil in the world don’t blame God! He is incapable of evil. He cannot allow it to continue, it had to be paid for, that’s why Jesus had to die on the cross for us, the just for the unjust, that’s why when Jesus returns the operation of evil will be once and for all shut down. Evil is not in God’s nature. The Bible says, if it’s killing, stealing and destroying it’s the devil, not God. God says, “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6) – there’s your reason for why bad things happen – a lack of knowledge! Knowledge of God. Knowledge of His Word. So now you know. To take the kingdom promises by force means to lay hold on them by faith and know that God is with you every step of the way. It’s confidence in what He did, not in what we can do but rather what He can do through us. In order to make that happen we simply need to aggressively carve out time in our busy schedules to spend time with Him, yielding our hearts to Him in prayer, and meditating in His Word. Faith is the hand that catches the blessings of God which God has already laid up for us in Christ. Faith is the hand that wields the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, by which we pierce through the devil, and put a hurting on him! Isn’t it wonderful how God allows us to share in the fight? Remember, keep looking to Jesus. We walk by faith and not by sight. This is how we are changed. Not by human effort. This is the work of grace! The “work” of beholding His glory and being changed thereby. Thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph in Christ!

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life (Greek word “ZOE” – the God kind of life), to that you are also called, and have professed a good profession (testimony) before many witnesses. (1st Timothy 6:12)

Other Related Links

Mind Renewal

A RAP Parable

Taking Your Place In Christ – Mark Hankins

Threefold Purpose of the Law

Civil War Diary of JJ Magee

This diary was found in an old chest with an armed service uniform that had dematerialized into dust. The chest was located in the attic of the childhood home of my Grandmother, Mary Helen Hall, in the old historic district of Fernandina Beach, Florida.

In the transcription of this diary I have added very few grammatical changes (i.e. commas, periods, quotation marks) to make for an easier read. The rest is written verbatim.

I have also added links to some of the places and persons and events mentioned throughout the course of these writings. At the end of this diary I will add corroborating historical facts and links to augment the documentation of the events herein recorded.

What follows the first few pages, on the flip side, are JJ Magee’s notes about various aspects of his time in service, hence the random nature of the following:

These memoranda are taken at all times, standing, sitting, lying, walking, etc.

The pages that are numbered were written in order. the intermediate pages filled in afterwards.

Hay sticking to a fellows back is called soldier’s feathers.

No sheets in our bunks but we never know the difference when asleep.

Each man furnished by the state with 1 pair blankets, 1 tin cup, 1 tin plate, a knife & fork, 1 tin canteen, 1 blue flannel shirt, 1 pair satinett pants blue, tin pans, pots, kettles etc for each mess, 1 pair blankets.

Old “Lun” is an old black man about sixty years old and looking twenty years younger. He is drummer for the Greensboro Artillery and drummed through the Creek and Mexican wars, and Seminole.

Old Grimes, given out in couplets and sung by all hands to a Methodist tune.

Appetite more used so that I have to put my teeth on double duty.

Dr McCord, our surgeon, received news that since leaving Selma he became the happy father of a little gal. He proposes to call her “Fort Morgan”.

Found a fisherman on Dolphin Island with barnacles on his hat.

January 11th 1861 – Friday

Independant Blues & Governor’s Guards left Selma on Steamer “Senator” for Fort Morgan Mobile Bay. 

Flag presented to us by ladies of Selma.

Dinner at hotels, by invitation of citizens.

Shook hands three times with a young lady I never saw before.

January 12th 1861

On Steamer “Senator”

I, finding at bed time the floor covered two deep with soldiers, spread a mattress upright against State Room door and pretended to sleep standing against it. Result: great merriment. One full grown man was daft enough to ask me if the Zouaves, who he was told I had served with, actually slept in that way.

John Crysons of the guards and myself got off a pretty good sell on all hands, he pretending to mesmorize me and I doing whatever he willed: a tap on one shoulder and my mouth would fly open, a tap on the left and it would as suddenly close, now he would hold me off at right angles as stiff as a post and then set me up like a statue amid roars of laughter. Many persons enquired of my sensations and of course I satisfied them.

January 13th 1861 – Sunday

Arrived Mobile. Remained only long enough to take breakfast at The Battle House. Commenced at the top of Bill of Fare and went clear through nearly committing suicide thereby. Sailed on Steamer “Dick Keyes” for Fort Morgan. 30 miles down the bay of Mobile on the boat. Meeting was organized and several speeches made. Col. Wetmore and myself represented the Blues.

Col. Wetmore is a lawyer, fine looking and portly and take him altogether, a regular brick. He holds his title through courtesy having joined as a private with me.

On our arrival we were sumptuously dined by a company from Mobile:  The Cadets.

After Ten PM quiet is the order. It was observed by the cadets the other night as follows: A rooster crowed in a top bunk and was answered from below. The Sargeant, in trying to find the offender, woke up a crying baby and started a number of cats to meowing and dogs to barking.

Upon his threatening to report the whole company an owl sung out: “To Who To Whoo?”

“To Col Todd, you damn swell head!” was the answer.

January 14th 1861

Spent the day putting bunk room in order and fixing up generally at night.

Serenaded the company that feted us.

January 15th 1861

Cleaning arms, receiving and returning visits. Serenading, drinking whiskey, smoking, gambling, etc. myself not included in the latter.

January 16th 1861

I was put on sentry duty at 8 AM for 24 hours, 2 hours on and 4 hours off duty during the 24.

Morning watch – Capt Kent, the officer of the day, succeeded in getting my gun from me and then lectured me for letting him have it. No one will ever handle it again.

Evening watch – I arrested two of the Tuscaloosa Company for promendading on the ramparts. Two of their officers, hearing me challenge them, came up and told me to let them pass, as they were unaware of the rules: the officers being ignorant of the countersign shared the fate of their men. I placed the four under the charge of the corporal of the guard. A little later arrested two more as above and later still 2 more, making 8 in all. Still later reported a suspicous light in the woods. Still later notified the corporal of the guard that there were three suspicious characters prowling about in the enclosure and called for their arrest. Waited half an hour and no notice being taken by the Seargeant I challenged thus “halt who goes there” – no answer – “advance and give the countersign” – no answer – “halt halt” – no attention being paid – I fired…

and killed a hog.

January 17th 1861 – Thursday

eat & slept and visited and serenaded all around.

January 18th 1861

Uncle Samuel attempted to remove stores from Fort Gaines about 3 miles opposite us accross the bay – his nephew sent a delegation from here who seized fort stores and all, with little ceremony. There were three men detailed from each company. Captain Kent, Horace Nottier, and Tom Morris from the Independant Blues. Seargeant Anderson  received a severe fall while on duty.

January 19th 1861 

Fine large pound cake, nuts, pickles, cakes ad infinitum, etc etc. arrived placing Cressons, Burr, McAnley & Magee under special obligations to their lady friends in Selma.

January 20th 1861 – Sunday 

Two steam boats arrived with a number of visitors.

Went on sentry duty at 8 AM for 24 hours.

Arrested one of the guard and a labour for being out after drum beat.

Lynch by D McAnley.

January 21st 1861 

Off duty at 9 AM

Slept until 4 o’clock.

weather drizzly and disagreeable.

in our own quarters tonight.

violin playing, dancing, reading, writing, singing, card playing and a barrel of lager beer all at one time.

January 22nd 1861 

Very much of a sameness.

I am getting tired of the monotany.

Want to fight mighty bad.

Will go to Pensacola first chance.

January 23rd 1861 

Took a walk to the cove four miles off before dinner. Quite a small village inhabited by pilots.

Mr. Devotie, a young Baptist preacher, supped with us.

Grace said for the first time and cussing suspended temporarily.

Great laughter caused by Privett, remarking that he got along very well without it.

January 21st 1861 

Monday Morning

Squad sent to fire the morning gun. We stole a march by loading from top of embankment thereby saving the trouble of hauling the gun in and out.

Lots of Sheephead may be caught at the wharf.

January 24th 1861 

Bill of Fare

Roast Beef

chicken pie – with chicken left out

Pork & beans

Pork & rice

Pork & crackers

Pork & molasses

Pork & pickles

Hog & Cheese

Beans & mustard

Tomatoe Sauce & corn bread

water straight

water & molasses

pickled cucumbers

Shouse a la Morgan

Without Col Wetmore he being in Mobile

Our bunk room is the best in Fort Morgan: A large room about 25 ft high to ceiling and plastered, the bunks occupy one side of the room and are arranged five, one over the other, two men in each. I have one to myself. We are furnished bale hay to spread in place of a matress, as there is only a pair of blankets to spread it does not take long to make up a bed. A fire place in each end of the room makes it quite comfortable.

Col. Wetmore beat Huggins in a foot race.

January 25th 1861 

Rain, rain… Self on Police, excused on account of weather.

Two ladies from Selma, Miss Sallie & Miss Todd visited our quarters.

Worth $1,50 a sight. Still another lady, Mrs White Privett creates a sensation coming in with cook’s apron on before them, the ladies partake of wine.

After a short stay the Blues & Guards escort them to the boat. Mrs White and Miss Todd are sisters of Mrs Abe Lincoln. To sum up: the visit done us all good. Ladies looked charming: Neat petticoats and clean stockings.

The day has proved remarkable for the number of cakes and good things arrived. A very considerate lady sent a box bountifully stored for those of the Blues that had no relatives in Selma (many swore they never had a mother).

Mr Magee received a choice bouquet from a young lady of Selma it was as fragrant and choice as it was acceptable. Good looks will tell. Spent the afternoon ogling the ladies, cleaning my gun, smelling the bouquet and eating cake.

January 26th 1861 

I went as relief guard to Fort Gaines leaving Fort Morgan at 2 PM.

About 5 o’clock

JJ Magee esq (here the laugh comes in) Might be seen O ye Gods –

washing dishes, setting table & cooking…

Somebody write my obituary! Quick!

Result – a good Supper, I receive a vote of thanks.

January 27th 1861

An opportunity offering I send to Col. Wetmore at Morgan the following communication:

Fort Gaines

January 27th Year 1

My Dear Col.

Terrible Encounter

Glorious Victory, etc. our entire force engaged. not a man lost. we were drawn into line at 7 1/2 o’clock and attacked. Simultaneously, a huge fish of oysters routing them completely. Not one of them left to tell the tale. All the men distinguished themselves. The Lieutenant of the Warrior Guards is deserving of particular mention. Also “Myself” ask Col Todd to fire a salute for us. I send this day by a special messenger, in haste.

JJ Magee

January 28th 1861

Sanders and Setlemeyer having absented themselves from the Fort on their return at my suggestion a posse of us were detailed by the Lieutenant to arrest them, a court martial was held and after many excuses and apologies for not being aware of the rules, etc. they were ordered to be calaboosed. After a short imprisonment they were brought back and Lieut. Comegys handed them a piece of paper having on it in large letters:

“SULA”

amid great merriment, they owned the corn and pledged champagne at the first opportunity.

A couple of hours after they had the satisfaction of helping to put Franklin of the Guards through the same course of sprouts for the same imaginary offense. The charge of the Lieutenant was admirably given, he not cracking a smile, and poor Franklin swallowing every word in dead earnest. After being locked up as he had missed his dinner I took him a cup of water and a cracker by order of the Lieutenant and a large mince pie that I pretended to smuggle in on my own account for him. He thanked me heartily and promised me faithfully, while he demolished the entire pie, that he would not say anything about it lest I might be punished for it.

When he was brought back and shown the same ominous word “SULA” the scene may be better imagined than described and when I sung in out through the hall of the open door before the whole crowd, “Franklin, for the Lord’s sake don’t say anything about that pie,” he fairly wilted.

January 29th 1861

Returned from Fort Gaines to Morgan after dinner on Steamer Dick Keyes. Had some trouble getting a mule on board, as often as its up, he would back off from the boat. At my suggestion he was finally shipped by an attempt being made to lead him off. He of course backed on the boat.

January 30th 1861

Heavy infantry drilling in company, also artillery.

January 31st 1861

Our company expecting to be ordered to Mount Vernon arsenal; calculations knocked in the head by Gov Moore ordering us to be kept here until 15th of March.

February 1st 1861

The Independant Blues on Guard for 24 hours, a whole company goes on guard at once instead of a detail from each company as formerly. I arrested 2 men for getting over ____ [?].

February 2nd 1861

3 PM: Reported a vessel off the bar. She passed the Fort at daylight (Merchantinian).

Afternoon: A ship came in without showing colors and failing to hoist them. She had a shot fired across her forward bow. She _____ ______ [?] and dropped anchor. She hailed from ________ [?] and did not know that Alabama had gone out. [Note: Diary is illegible, indicated by blank spaces, due to fading].

Spent the afternoon cleaning my gun which is a great nuisance and impossible to keep clean, the salt air acting on it.

Wetmore plays the fiddle: Tremendous applause.

I received three pocket handkerchiefs from my lady friends in Selma with my name marked on them – bless their little souls.

February 3rd

Very much of a muchness

February 4th

Dull of the Company in Hardee’s tacktrick

Col Wetmore turns a summersault

Sailor crackers-

“Mon oun” and water proof, fire proof and bomb proof.

weather ver fine

Sham “court martial” Johnston and McRay presiding

J.N. Dougherty on trial for sleeping on his watch.

Magee counsel for the defendant – so embarrassed the court with points of law that in order to secure his client’s conviction they ruled that the prisoner was not entitled to counsel whereupon I informed my client that the next best thing was for him to make himself scarce, which he did, in consequence of which I was hunted up in one of the top bunks and put upon my trial for tampering with a prisoner and for contempt of court.

Brown for prosecution-

Whetmore and self for defence, terrible entertainment!

February 5th

Fine concert in our quarters by members of the Continentals, Montgomery Rifles, Guards, Blues

– fife, flute, violins, banjo

A speech from Grant

My knapsack is the only pillow I have had since I came here.

Although the Company agreed on making a butt of no one, John Philpot is one naturally and is, in consequence, worried nearly to death.

Our company has now 52 members. One of the odd things in our company is a long legged “Drake” and another is that although opposed to Monarchys we have a “King” and have no fear of running out of provisions while we have plenty of “Bacon” -turn to next “Page”

A hoop skirt was hung up in the Guard’s quarters for the boys to look at. Citizens of Selma sent to the Guards and Blues $1000

A Virginia gentleman sent to the troops here 30 boxes of tobacco.

When at Fort Gaines we put on a small pot full of rice and as soon as it got hot it began crawling over. Had the mischief to pay take out a lot of it and more would crawl up.

February 6th

Our Company has a general holiday and are leaving in every direction.

February 7th

Continentals woke up with a smutted of a as…

Quite a number of ladies visited the fort, among them was Selma Ladies: Miss Tax and Miss Porter and Miss Whatley.

McCord left for Selma to see the little McCord.

February 8th

Nothing of Interest

February 9th

The Blues on guard for 24 hours

Steamer arrives – more ladies

Think I saw Miss Lesisne among them but being on sentry duty at the time could not speak to her although she twice passed by close to me.

Turned out not to be her.

Ben Whitfield – Mrs McRory’s uncle visited the fort a few days ago.

February 10th

I wrote an answer to an article signed Wanger in the Selma Reporter and signed it Blue.

Gulf City Guards on sentry duty.

Cussons won a bit by passing in and o ____________

[that damn fool Hanck Faxon shoved my elbow and made me make the above scratch!]

…out of the fort after night without being detected. He left one of his shoes in the citadel and the other at the hospital several hundred yards off.

February 11th

Nothing of Importance

February 12th

About 3 AM the long roll was beaten. All the Company turned out of their quarters in a remarkably short time. The Blues were the first reported at headquarters all ready. The larm was caused by a sentry firing his piece at what he supposed to be a man, but it proved a mistake.

Another alarm at 12 AM. The Blues again first reported (a false alarm)

More Ladies arrived. I made the aquaintance of Miss Ellen Brown and played the agreeable.

When the steamer was about to leave just after night set in the Reverend Noble Devotie, chaplain to Fort Morgan fell off the wharf and was drowned. Mr Devotie was a Baptist Minister, a fighting member of the Governors Guards from Selma and a very fine young man. His body has not been found.

February 13th

Drilling etc.

February 14th

Col Seibels armies here.

I sent a valentine to Miss Kate Anderson in Mobile. Never saw the lady. Seibels says our Companies will be relieved in a few days.

February 15th

Nothing of Importance

February 16th

The body of Mr Devotie was found on the beach a few hundred yards from where he was drowned. The Blues & Guards had a joint meeting and passed resolution concerning him.

The forks for some days being very scarce at table I got tired of using my fingers to eat with so Bacon and myself turned in and hid all the knives and forks thereby forcing a new supply.

Sovereign State of Alabama to JJ Magee –

Due to extra work in masse eating

hard buscuit 15 cts

digesting do 25 cts

                     ——-

                     40 cts

Boat arrived with lots of cake, turkey, etc.

An old beaver hat in our quarters is worn by nearly every man in the Company and few can resist the temptation to give it a slap whenever the opportunity offers.

John McGuire arrived here as a “regular” enlisted for three years. Always thought him a fool and now I know it. Had lots of fun at his expense in Selma. Made him advertise for a wife. Cussons wrote and published a humorous answer. Self ditto. And likewise several others. Got up a correspondence. Dressed a young man up in woman’s fixins and made him call several time to see (him) her.

February 17th

It is at last settled that the Guards & Blues leave for Selma on Wednesday next.

Our Company on guard today for 24 hours.

About 10 PM several bomb shells were exploded a short distance from the fort. The long roll was immediately beaten. In less than no time, Capt Kent, being the officer of the day, had the outer and inner gates closed and barred and the sentry doubled at every post. The several Companies occupied their posts on the ramparts while the Warrior Guards divided into three directions and acted as scouts. They found the place where the shells exploded behind the sand hills and brought fragments of the shells. There is no clue as to how the shells came there but hte surmisal is that either it ws done by officers of the fort to try the boys or else some of the boys done it to alarm and play off a practical joke on the garrison. Capt Kent denies any knowledge of it.

I think the former. The Blues were on guard. I assisted in closing the gates and instructing the sentinals how to operate them. It was astounding to see with what rapidity and precision everything was done and that too by brand new soldiers.

February 18th

Steamer Dick Keys arrived today from Pensacola with her smoke stacks blown off and loaded with soldiers who have been relieved. One Company stopped here and have in their possession a little black puppy stolen from Fort Pickens. They call him “Sumner” after the Lieutenant in command there.

At night Jake Main put on an old white beaver hat, all squashed up, and an old torn coat, and got one of the Gulf City Guards to arrest him and take him to the Guard Room and report him for fighting. Jake passed off for an Irishman and so well did he take one off, and kept up such a fuss, swearing be dad that he didn’t start the mess, that he had a dozen bayonets drawn on him to compell silence but all in vain. One of the guards at last taking a close look at him recognized him and sung out, “Lord, this time it’s one of the Blues!”

Capt Kent was sent for to identify him. When Jake identified the Captain as “the man wot kept de coal yard” the Captain left saying that he didn’t know him.

After 10 PM the Blues fairly outdone themselves and everybody else in making noise. They for two long hours out-barked the dogs, out-squealed the pigs, out-meowed the cats, out-crowed the cocks and out-snored the devil. Whenever one excelled in imitation he was greeted with a shower of applause. The officers on guard thought discretion the better part of valor and did not attempt to stop us.

The Montgomery Rifles stuffed a figure of a man and laid it in the Captain’s bed. He is a quick tempered man and raised a perfect storm. Ordered his Sargeant to get a posse of men and take the drunken rascal to the Guard Room. When he saw into the joke however he enjoyed it as much as anyone!

February 19th

We gave a salute(?) to the Mobile Cadets, singing “Danny” etc. Dave Cavalier, top bunk, caused considerable sport, knocking off caps with a fishing pole, the boys accusing each other of doing it and never thinking of looking overhead.

After taps our boys terribly noisy about 12 o’clock. I caused a great sensation by pretending to be very sick. A number of the boys promptly came to my assistance and when they found that the heaving was artificial and the discharge from cistern water poured at proper intervals from a tin cup the sell was acknowledged and duly applauded.

February 20th

All the Selma boys packing up to go home. Both Companies discharged honorably at dress parade. Our bunk room presented in the evening a lively scene. Visitors from all the different Companies. Cake, champagne and lots of fun. I was taken forcibly out of bed and made a short speech after ten o’clock. Several loud reports were heard in the adjoining room. Capt Kent summonsed us to fall in without arms as there was good chance for a hand to mouth conflict. The result was that a splendid colation quickly disappeared with a champagne accompaniment. The officer of the day came around to stop the noise and we captured him and made him join us.

February 21st

We left Fort Morgan escorted by the Mobile Cadets and Gulf City Guards. We parted amid prolonged cheers. Arrived in Mobile. Marched to the Armory and stacked arms.

Companies dismissed until 3 o’clock.

At three o’clock we were marched to a saloon and champagned by the “Continentals” and then escorted by them to the boat.

Our Companies attracted considerable attention.

February 22nd

Washington’s Day on the Alabama River. We fired three rounds in honor of George.

February 23rd

Arrived in Selma amid the firing of cannons and the greeting of the multitude.

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I arrived in Pensacola March the 21st – 1861 at my own expence and on my own hook.

Looking for a fight.

One of the best stories told here by the volunteers is on some of the Pensacola boys that divided intotwo parties and while one serenaded may chase the other stole his turkeys, one of the turkeys, moving very poor, was returned two days after to the yard having a label on its neck marked “won’t do”.

The above was added almost as an after thought in the final pages of the diary. There is no record of what took place with JJ Magee between February 23rd in Selma and March 21st in Pensacola. However in the back pages of this diary were many notes, quotes from books, etc. no doubt recorded at random, along with diagrams and addresses and I’ve included some of the written notes below, as some of this may be of interest to someone out there. I will also include some additional “liner notes” in the initial face pages of this diary.

M. Estelle D Paisley

Mrs M E Paisley, Benton AL

A ship on a storm from which there is no retreating, P.36

P.37 Let millions invade us we’ll meet them undaunted and conquer or die.

P.48 The soldiers whose deeds live immortal in story.

P.123 The dogs sniff up the gall.

P.132 If the pulse of the Patriot Soldier or Lover have throbbed at our lay.

Our foes prepare for us a bitter cup we’ll make them drink to the dregs.

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One of the soldiers in seeing the Light House observed that it was the biggest chimney for a small house that ever he saw.

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Capt Crump

Col Clark of GA

regiment

Lt Tresvant LA

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Pensacola Graveyard – one stone to Mrs Dorothy Walton, a matron of the Revolution consort of a signer of the Declaration.

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One man from the state of M-A-I-N

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Fairwell to all – My days are oer

With you on earth I’ll spend no more

Cease to weep or shed a tear

Lamented wife and widowed dear.

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Related Links

1861 in History

JJ Magee mentioned in document dtd 1861?

Census and death data for JJ Magee?

Captain JJ Magee 1864 in SC?