Captain John Smith was one...
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Captain John Smith was one of the most fascinating adventurers who ever sailed the seas. By the time he was in his middle twenties the farm boy from Lincolnshire had already fought battles in Hungary against the Turks. He was always eager to explore what was unknown. Smith is most famous today for his leadership in founding the colony of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1606-07. Smith was a practical man who could not brook idleness. He urged the young English colonists in Jamestown to build homes, plant crops, and develop trade with the Indians. Many of the colonists preferred searching for gold instead of engaging in the hard manual labor required to get the fledgling settlement through the winter. Smith quoted our passage to the idlers in Jamestown who refused to work. One report states that only forty persons labored while 150 folks idled away the day. Smith did more than quote Paul in Thessalonians. He made up a chart listing each person by name and the duties he or she was expected to do during the day. Those who did not do their jobs were not allowed to eat. In the local parish we find faithful folks who are doing the work. Perhaps the words of Paul to the Thessalonians can remind us all that in the colony of Christ in the world we are all to be busy about our God's business.
-- Mills
-- Mills
