ORDINARY PILGRIMS

With the ceaseless glut of information during this season, I hesitate to even post this. But, it's too good not to. In June, 1944, the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany. In response, the Germans started launching V-1 jet-propelled bombs from mainland Europe to Britain (no small feat at that time). These flying bombs made a loud train-like sound as they flew overhead before descending into the streets of London where they would detonate one ton of explosives. The UK had seen its share of bombardments in previous years during the Battle of Britain, but this brought about a new and terrifying threat. In the first week of the V-1's, there were 10,000 casualties. On the morning of June 18, 1944, forty-four year old Martyn Lloyd-Jones got into his pulpit and led his congregation at Westminster Chapel in London. He had begun his long pastoral prayer when the sound of a V-1 grew louder and louder. He later r...