The Dynamic Inventor of Dynamite

Some time back, I came across this compelling story about Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite. The article below was written by Dr. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Since reading this, I've used Nobel's example several times in sermons and speeches. Hope you enjoy it!

Alfred Nobel:

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish Chemist who invented dynamite and other powerful explosives used for weapons. When his brother died, one newspaper accidentally printed Alfred’s obituary instead of his brothers. It described Alfred as one who became rich by enabling people to kill each other in unprecedented numbers.

Shaken by that assessment of his life, Alfred stared at his own mistaken obituary, and resolved that the fortune he had made from his accomplishments would thereby be used for the benefit of all humanity, and thus began the Nobel Peace Prize. Nobel came to a defining moment in his life. He had the opportunity to look at his life and start over.

Barry E. Fields

All Things New is the preaching and teaching ministry of Barry E. Fields, pastor of Hawesville Baptist Church, a regional congregation on the Ohio River with two campuses in Kentucky (Hawesville) & Indiana (Crossroads Tell City) and membership in five counties.

Originally from Bowling Green, he grew up at Glendale Baptist Church under the ministry of Pastor Richard Oldham, competed for Western Kentucky University's nationally recognized speech and debate team before receiving a B.A. in History in 2007, completed an M.Div. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville in 2010, a Th.M. in 2012, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Homiletics and Church History at Southern, serving as Garrett Fellow to Dr. Hershael York from July 2012-December 2014. He has also taught theology and church history as an adjunct instructor for Campbellsville University. Before coming to his present ministry, he was pastor of Mt. Tabor Baptist Church in Buffalo, Kentucky, for almost 5 years.

Active in denominational life, Barry currently serves on the Southern Baptist Convention's Young Leaders Advisory Council, a small group of pastors and ministry leaders seeking to engage the next generation in cooperative missions and ministry; recently completed a term on the SBC's Committee on Committees; currently represents the Blackford Breckinridge Baptist Association on the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Executive Mission Board; and has served on the KBC's Committee on Nominations, as well as several associational roles.

In his free time, he enjoys reading history and politics, listening to WKYU's Barren River Breakdown (Bluegrass and folk music) along with a variety of podcasts, as well as watching historical and political documentaries and the Andy Griffith show. Barry has a desire to help people fulfill the Great Commission through the Great Commandments: by showing the love of Christ, we can better share the love of Christ, and make disciples of all nations. And just so you know, he bleeds BLUE (UK Basketball)!