Hello friends.
I hope you have been well. Sunday, April 15, 2018 is Titanic Remembrance Day. One hundred and six years ago, that ship and the lives of so many became etched into history forever. I have a very special story to share and I hope you are blessed by it. The first time I read it, I was deeply moved, and still am each time I read it.
But first, allow me to share a special cup of tea with you.It is the RMS Titanic Blend from Harney & Sons. A wonderful, rich, hearty black tea. I thought it appropriate to brew a pot and sip while I write you.
Here are the ingredients if you are interested.
And now for our story. |
| Rev. John Harper & daughter Nana |
John Harper was born to solid Christian parents on May 29th, 1872. It was on the last Sunday of March 1886, when he was thirteen years old that he confessed The Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior of his life. He never knew what it was to "sow his wild oats." He began to preach about four years later at the ripe old age of 17 years old by going down to the streets of his village and pouring out his soul in earnest entreaty for men to be reconciled to God.
As John Harper's life unfolded, one thing was apparent... he was consumed by the word of God. When asked by various ministers what his doctrine consisted of, he was known to reply "The Word of God!" After five or six years of toiling on street corners preaching the gospel and working in the mill during the day, Harper was taken in by Rev. E. A. Carter of Baptist Pioneer Mission in London, England. This set Harper free to devote his whole time of energy to the work so dear to his heart. Soon, John Harper started his own church in September of 1896. (Now known as the Harper Memorial Church.) This church which John Harper had started with just 25 members, had grown to over 500 members when he left 13 years later. During this time he had gotten married, but was shortly thereafter widowed. However brief the marriage, God did bless John Harper with a beautiful little girl named Nana.
Ironically, John Harper almost drowned several times during his life. When he was two and a half years of age, he almost drowned when he fell into a well but was resuscitated by his mother. At the age of twenty-six, he was swept out to sea by a reverse current and barely survived, and at thirty-two he faced death on a leaking ship in the Mediterranean. Perhaps, God used these experiences to prepare this servant for what he faced next...
It was the night of April 14, 1912. The RMS Titanic sailed swiftly on the bitterly cold ocean waters heading unknowingly into the pages of history. On board this luxurious oceanliner were many rich and famous people. At the time of the ship's launch, it was the world's largest man-made moveable object.
At 11:40 p.m. on that fateful night, an iceberg scraped the ship's starboard side, showering the decks with ice and ripping open six watertight compartments. The sea poured in.
On board the ship that night was John Harper and his much-beloved six-year-old daughter Nana. According to documented reports, as soon as it was apparent that the ship was going to sink, John Harper immediately took his daughter to a lifeboat. It is reasonable to assume that this widowed preacher could have easily gotten on board this boat to safety; however, it never seems to have crossed his mind. He bent down and kissed his precious little girl; looking into her eyes he told her that she would see him again someday. The flares going off in the dark sky above reflected the tears on his face as he turned and headed towards the crowd of desperate humanity on the sinking ocean liner.
As the rear of the huge ship began to lurch upwards, it was reported that Harper was seen making his way up the deck yelling, "Women, children and unsaved into the lifeboats!" It was only minutes later that the Titanic began to rumble deep within. Most people thought it was an explosion; actually, the gargantuan ship was literally breaking in half. At this point, many people jumped off the decks and into the icy, dark waters below. John Harper was one of these people.
That night 1,528 people went into the frigid waters. John Harper was seen swimming frantically to people in the water leading them to Jesus before the hypothermia became fatal. Mr. Harper swam up to one young man who had climbed up on a piece of debris. Rev. Harper asked him between breaths, "Are you saved?" The young man replied that he was not.
Harper then tried to lead him to Christ only to have the young man who was near shock, reply no. John Harper then took off his life jacket and threw it to the man and said, "Here then, you need this more than I do..." and swam away to other people. A few minutes later Harper swam back to the young man and succeeded in leading him to salvation. Of the 1,528 people that went into the water that night, six were rescued by the lifeboats. One of them was this young man on the debris.
Four years later, at a survivors meeting, this young man stood up and in tears recounted how that after John Harper had led him to Christ. Mr. Harper had tried to swim back to help other people, yet because of the intense cold, had grown too weak to swim. His last words before going under in the frigid waters were, "Believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus and you will be saved." Does Hollywood remember this man? No. Oh well, no matter. This servant of God did what he had to do. While other people were trying to buy their way onto the lifeboats and selfishly trying to save their own lives, John Harper gave up his life so that others could be saved.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends..." John Harper was truly the hero of the Titanic!
Author Unknown. Sources for this article: "The Titanic's Last Hero" by Moody Press 1997," John Climie, George Harper, & Bill Guthrie from "Jesus Our Jubilee Ministries" in Dallas, Oregon
I can not recall how I first came across the above story or its writer, but I am so happy to have saved it in my email for several years & to be able to share it with you.
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| The tiny cross was a recent gift from a friend who traveled to the Holy Land, cup and saucer were a gift from my daddy in 2006. Teeny plate a keepsake from my brother's wedding. |
Here is a related video, but the story does seem to differ slightly in some areas.
On a completely different note, April 13th was National Scrabble Day. I had some fun with that with my kitties.
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| She loves to explore. Here she is up by the TV on my dresser. I find her randomly hanging in odd places! |
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| Max IS my Guard Cat and actually growls if strangers pass by or approach the house. He promptly attacked the scrabble tiles! |
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| I could not have planned this any better. As I set up the tiles, a bird made noise outside the window and her eyes bugged out of her head! |
Hugs and a cup of tea,
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| I can not recall where I first saw this lovely quote, but I suspect it was from a dear friend & fellow blogger, Stephanie over at The Enchanting Rose. I thought it poignant for this post. |
