What Victory Motivates

One of my favorite stories is what nineteenth-century circuit-riding preacher Peter Cartwright said to President Andrew Jackson.

Cartwright had a reputation for boldness. It was Sunday morning and Cartwright received word that President Andrew Jackson would be in the congregation. And he was warned about the need for diplomacy. When he stood to preach, he said, “I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks.” Then, he followed with this salvo: “Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn’t repent!”

The shocked congregation nearly had apoplexy! After the service, Jackson went straight to the preacher and said, “Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world!”