Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 519

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 27, 1941: German battleship Bismarck sunk by British, only 115 survivors out of 2300—after this, Germans rely on U-boats rather than surface ships. President Roosevelt declares an unlimited national emergency, allowing more military shipments to Britain and increased patrols in Atlantic.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 26, 1941: On Libya-Egypt border, Rommel retakes Halfaya Pass from British.

Kids Count

"If Jesus lives in your heart, does that make Him a parasite?"


For the past seven years, I've fielded questions like that from my class of fourth- and fifth-graders in Sunday school. When I started teaching, I was a little concerned. What if they asked questions I couldn't answer? What if I made a fool of myself? What if they were too cynical, too cool, too "all that" for Jesus?

Well, they ask tough questions, but nothing I can't answer with the Lord's help. And the bigger a fool I make of myself, the more effective I am as a teacher. But the biggest surprise and the greatest joy is the kids themselves - far from being "too cool" for Jesus, they seek Him with all their hearts! In one week at Vacation Bible School last year, three kids told me, "I want to learn more about Jesus. Tell me how I can learn more about Him." Wow. When the gospel message is placed in front of children, most of them gobble it up like a box full of sour gummy worms.

Children hear the gospel message with different ears than adults. They don't think about what Christians are like (and how we fail), what churches are like (and how we fail) - but only what Jesus is like. And they want Him.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these'" (Matt. 19:14, italics mine). Note that He didn't say "drag" the children to Me, but "let them come." As in, that's where they want to go naturally. So let them come. Don't stand in their way.

You can be a doorway to let children come to Jesus. Tell your children and grandchildren. Help in a Sunday school class or at VBS. Watch children's faces light up when they hear the joyful news that God loves them, there's forgiveness for their sins, and they can have eternal life in Him! You'll be as blessed as the children.

Is your church currently searching for summer Sunday school or VBS help? Why not step forward, try something fun, and make this a summer that counts?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 25, 1941: German Admiral Raeder declares US convoys to Britain are act of war. 2500 die in storm in Ganges Delta, India.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 24, 1941: British battlecruiser HMS Hood sunk by German battleship Bismarck and cruiser Prinz Eugen—only 3 survivors out of crew of 1400.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 23, 1941: Joe Louis defeats Buddy Baer to retain heavyweight boxing title.

Sheep in 'Chutes

Conducting research for historical fiction is usually interesting, sometimes dull, but occasionally yields an odd or funny story. I found this little story while reading The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 1: Plans and Early Operations: September 1939 to August 1942 by Wesley F. Craven and James L. Cate (Washington DC: Office of Air Force History, 1948).

When the Italian army invaded Ethiopia in 1935, they faced a serious supply issue. The army was operating hundreds of miles inland from ports, with few good roads for transporting supplies by ground, and few good airfields for supply by cargo planes.

At the same time, the Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) had developed a fleet of bomber aircraft. Italy's General Giulio Douhet had published the controversial book, Command of the Air, in 1921, which called for aggressive aerial bombing. His doctrine stated that prolonged bombing of a civilian population could break the will of the people so that they would convince their government to surrender, thus making ground armies completely obsolete.

However, the Regia Aeronautica found few targets in Ethiopia. Instead the bomber aircraft were used to drop supplies to ground troops, including food, water, and ammunition.

In an odd twist - one that would never happen today! - the Italian Air Force experimented with dropping live sheep and goats in parachutes. The animals then joined the march through the desert until they were needed for fresh meat.

Let the jokes begin...or let the protests begin...

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 22, 1941: Luftwaffe attacks British fleet off Crete in history's first major air-sea battle; British cruiser HMS Gloucester sunk, 693 killed.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 21, 1941: US freighter Robin Moor is sunk by a U-boat in the South Atlantic, the first US ship sunk in war; crew spends over 2 weeks in lifeboats. Germans attempt amphibious landings on Crete but are stopped by Royal Navy.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—May 20, 1941: Germans invade Crete in first major airborne invasion in history. US forms Office of Civilian Defense under Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia of New York.