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 'They had left our hymnals' ~ Extreme Devotion

Nicolai Ceaucescu had a brainstorm called “collectivization.” As the vicious dictator of Romania, he probably thought it was a good idea to get the people to voluntarily surrender all of their possessions to the state for the common good of all.

Farmers, landowners, and peasants everywhere lost everything: fields, sheep, cattle, houses, and furniture. The once-thriving agricultural sector of Romania was destroyed. Every farmer now became a slave of the state, working for pathetic wages on the state’s field. Families stood in line just to obtain bread.

To keep the people from becoming resistant to his strategy, the dictator himself helped in the initial launch. In the Romanian province of Dobrogea, all of the villagers were gathered together in the town center and asked to willingly give up their possessions. When no one volunteered, Ceaucescu shot ten people with his own gun. The vote was taken again: “Who is willing to give up all of their possessions?”

They played military music and chanted the praises of Communism. As the people were forced to dance, a video was made propagating their enthusiastic adherence to socialism. One farmer who had lost everything reported later, “They thought they took everything. But they left something very important—our hymnals. So we sat down and sang praises to the Lord.”

[i]
People often play games to get new people talking and learning about each other. One of the more revealing questions is to ask people what one thing they would bring if they were stranded on a deserted island. Most people have a hard time deciding and have to be reminded that this is only a game. However, the people of Romania did not have the luxury of playing a game; they were experiencing real life. Their government didn’t even allow them one possession. However, the villagers realized the presence of those overlooked hymnals brought joy to their village, which now resembled their own deserted island. The people treasured the hymnals, and God treasured the people.[/i]

 2009/4/21 15:42
fuehrerbe21
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Joined: 2008/10/21
Posts: 151
Wisconsin

 Re: 'They had left our hymnals' ~ Extreme Devotion

Roniya,

As always, thank you for sharing this.

I was speaking to my wife the other day and told her I am thankful for the country we live in. I know the Lord gives us the strength we need when we face persecution.

As much as I'd like to think I am a strong, valiant warrior for Christ, I am nothing but a trembling coward trying to stay away from the front line.

Oh, what a mighty God we serve!

In Him,
-Ben


_________________
Ben Fuehrer

 2009/4/21 15:48Profile





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