[Faith-talk] {Spam?} Across A Frozen Lake, and Back by Jan Charles Haluska

[debby]

Paul, what an interesting article! I never did understand why the Pilgrims went to Holland, and now I understand. How much that little piece of history affected the history of the United States of America, and how it affected many denominations.    Debby

On Oct 11, 2016 9:36 AM, Paul Smith via Faith-Talk <faith-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Today's article is one of a little-known historical figure, but the 
> mere fact that he gave his life for the cause of Christ made it 
> possible for Christians of different religious persuasions to seek 
> sanctuary in this country.  Read more to find out all about it. 
>
> The young man stopped at the edge of the frozen lake.  His footprints 
> led back through the snow for several miles to the prison from which he 
> had just escaped.  An Anabaptist in sixteenth-century Holland, Dirk 
> Willem had been sentenced to burn at the stake.  Now he ran for his 
> life, with one guard in pursuit. 
>
> The ice at the shoreline was thick, but near the center it shaded down 
> to a thinner sheet.  A slight man like Dirk would have a good chance of 
> reaching the other side safely, but his heavier pursuer would need to 
> go around or take a terrible risk. 
>
> Carefully, gingerly, Dirk made his way to the opposite bank.  Just as 
> he arrived, the guard burst out of the woods and began lumbering across 
> the ice as the fugitive sprinted away.  But then--a crack, a shriek.  
> Dirk whirled to see a jagged black hole with his pursuer's head and 
> flailing arms at its center.  Dirk was safe.  Free. 
>
> But he also faced a question.  Was it Christ-like to leave a man to 
> die? How could a Christian live with that cry ringing in his ears? On 
> the other hand, how many people could he reach with his ministry after 
> he'd been burned at the stake? Didn't he have an obligation to stay 
> alive for the sake of their future? 
>
> He went back onto the ice and rescued the guard--who promptly arrested 
> him.  Instead of being miraculously delivered, Dirk returned to jail nd 
> not long afterward was burned at the stake. 
>
> It did not end there, though.  The story swept through Holland, and in 
> shame for the killing of that righteous man, the Dutch passed a law 
> that no person should ever again be put to death for his or her 
> religious beliefs.  It was the first such law in Europe.  Holland 
> became a haven for all kinds of Christian fugitives, including the 
> Pilgrims, who fled there before taking ship for the New World.  Dirk's 
> death enabled a more bountiful outpouring of grace than his living 
> ministry could ever have done.  And once again the blood of a martyr 
> watered the church. 
>
> And there you have today's look back into church history.  If there is 
> time, I'll read this one.  For a sneak preview of what's on tap at 4 PM on 
> http://www.cjoyinternetradio.com, 
> you will hear read an article on the subject of cluttered lives, a 
> historical article on a Christian pioneer from the Middle Ages about 
> John Huss, the story of Coney Island's Nathan's Famous hot dogs, an 
> article on how technology is making the Bible relevant in our 21st 
> century and, of course, what you just read.  If you're interested go to 
> the website I mentioned above. 
>
> And that will do it for now.  Until we see you in the virtual studio 
> today from 4-5 PM eastern time or until tomorrow when another timely 
> article will be posted, may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just 
> keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in 
> which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul 
>
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