GOD and TEXAS: Jim Bowie’s Bible | Community | fbherald.com – Fort Bend Herald
Ill wager no wounds were found in his back! Purportedly, theseare the words of the mother of Alamo hero Jim Bowie when she heard of hisvaliant death. Bowies life has beenwell documented in history books, andHollywood films where such notable actors as Alan Ladd, Richard Widmark, andJames Arness portrayed Bowie.In his early days, Bowie was known as a carousing woodsman with a violent temper. But in 1828, he made a public commitment of faith in Christ. Six months later, Bowie married Maria Ursula de Veramendi, and he was the father of two children.While most of us have heard about Jim Bowies knife, few knowabout his Bible. According to an 1897 article inThe Southern Mercurynewspaper, Jim Bowies Bible came to rest inthe library of the Texas SupremeCourt. The Chief Justices have used this same Bible to inaugurate governors,and other elected officials for over 150 years.Published in 1816, this pocket-sized King James Version of the Bibleis bound in brown sheepskin and is inscribed on the flyleaf with the words,Supreme Court of the Republic ofTexas, 184[?]. We do not know the lastnumber because half of the page was torn off. Tradition says that Sam Houston gainedthe Bible and wrote his name in it, but someonestole his signature by tearingoff the page.Ever since, this same Bible has been referred to as Sam HoustonsBible, and over 30 Texas governors have placed their hand on it including RickPerry and Greg Abbott. At hisinauguration in 1995, Governor George W. Bushstated unambiguously that the Bible upon which his hand rested was SamHoustons own.Numerous studies have been done to verify or disprove that thisBible actually belonged to Sam Houston and Jim Bowie. Convincing arguments havebeen made on both sides, butin the end, the governors continue to take theiroath of office by placing their hand on Sam Houstons Bible.Did Houston or Bowie ever own this Bible? No one knows for sure. Butthe overriding reality is that the governors of Texas believe in the authorityof the Bible! By taking their oath ofoffice publicly with their hand on aBible, they validate the importance of the Word of God.Recently, Jordan Peterson, a highly-regarded Canadian psychologist,stated that the Bible is way more than just true, its the bedrock of Westerncivilization. Indeed, the Bibleprovides wisdom, guidance, and Divinerevelation for governing society.Conversely, if the Bible is ignored or disparaged, society isdoomed. Could it be that devaluing the Bible is a major cause of our current problemslike raging violence, breakdown ofthe family, racial tensions, rampantimmorality, and so many more societal issues?Jesus said, It is written: Man shallnot live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.(Matthew 4:4 NIV) It is still true today.
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David G. Rose has been a credentialed minister for over 55 years. He is the author of the book GOD and TEXAS, and the founder of David Rose Ministries in Richmond, TX. Comments may be sent to parsonrose@aol.com, or visit http://www.davidroseministries.com.
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GOD and TEXAS: Jim Bowie's Bible | Community | fbherald.com - Fort Bend Herald