The Black Plague - Black Death

I was talking about the Gospel with someone yesterday, and was describing sin and how we, so often, do not see our own sin. Somehow, in my mind, I was making a connection to the wordless book, which is a book that tells the Gospel using colors. If you want to learn more about this, go to http://thecolorfulstory.blogspot.com One of the colors is black. In talking about the wordless book color, the colors black and white do not pertain to skin color or nationalities, so keep that in mind. The color black reminds us of sin, because sin is dark and harmful. I was making a connection between the Black death and our own sinful hearts which are darkened by sin. Just as the black plague brought physical death to multitudes, sin brings spiritual death to all of us. Anyway, the Black Plague struck Europe in the year 1347. !2 ships came into a port at Messina, and those waiting for the arrival of these ships were in for a big surprise, for when they arrived and were opened, many sailors were dead. Those who were still alive were very ill. They were delirious with fever and pain. They also had black boils all over their bodies which were oozing pus and blood. Immediately the Silician authorities sent the ships away, but it was too late for the disease had already entered Europe and over the next five years, 1/3 of Europe would be wiped out by this 'Black Plague'. http://www.history.com/topics/black-death

Today in History - All Hallow's Eve

  I have heard many stories on the origins of Halloween, but I have learned some new insights recently. Actually, Halloween isn't the evil holiday we all have been taught that it is since we became Christians and I will attempt to explain the reasons why.

  Some have said that it originated with the Druids. I have heard that it was the response of pranksters responding to All Hallow's Eve by scaring those who celebrate the holiday. Well, I'm sure there are some tie ins here and there, but why has Halloween become the holiday it is today, and why do Americans celebrate this holiday?

    It is becoming big, as there are people even in my neighborhood who put up Halloween lights! The economy is doing better because of Halloween. But what really is Halloween and what has it become?

   This morning, I read an article by James B. Jordan called, Concerning Halloween. The article is excellent and has a whole new understanding of what Halloween was and why people celebrate it today. I will post the url here, in case you want to just read it for yourself: James B. Jordan - Concerning Halloween

   According to the article, All Saints Day was a day celebrated by Christians which was about the Victory of the Saints who are in union with Christ, and began in the 300s. The practice spread in different parts of the world. There was no connection between this day (All Saints Day) and Celtic Druidism.  The practice of the observance of this holiday finalized in the 700s and the date of November 1 was chosen to celebrate All Saints Day.

   The origin of Halloween actually had to do with the defeat over the Powers of Darkness. It has to do with mocking the devil because he is a defeated foe. The Bible says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual, and we can defeat the Enemy only through using the spiritual weapons today. According to the article, Halloween is the celebration of the mockery of the demonic forces, now that they have been defeated by the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

   I would like to throw in a couple of thoughts here as well (hope I don't take up too much room. Will try to take up as little space as possible. I promise!). One thought is that of worship. What is worship exactly and are people really worshiping the Enemy when they dress up in costumes and collect candy from neighbors?

   Worship is an issue of the heart. For example, if I have a decorated Christmas tree in my living room, it doesn't mean that I am worshiping the tree. But, if the tree is my love and my delight, if I treasure this tree in my heart, then that would fall toward worship. If I give power to the tree (if I think the tree can satisfy me or make me happy or fulfilled) then that would be worship. But just having a tree in the house to celebrate and decorate for a holiday is not worshiping the tree! Same thing with Halloween. If I want to go to my neighbor's house to collect candy on October 31st, I am not worshiping the devil! Now, I might be worshiping candy and that is a whole other issue! I have been guilty of that when I was a child, come to think of it. One Halloween came by when I was probably 8 years old, and I had the chicken pox. I couldn't go Trick or Treating that year, and I wasn't happy. I couldn't imagine not being able to collect candy from my neighbors! How horrible! Or so it seemed. If I only knew of God's greatness and power, and if I would have been in awe of God instead, the candy would not have mattered.

   My second (and last) thought is this; is it wrong for Christians to take advantage of this holiday when people are coming to your door? I think it is a great idea to use this opportunity as an evangelistic outreach. This is one of the biggest times of the year when I get to see my neighbors and their kids, but also I get to give out specially imprinted toys with the Gospel message on them. Kids love coming to my house (I actually heard this out of a child's mouth last year) and I want to bless them with the Word of God. I want them to know what this house stands for, and I want them to take the Word of God home with them. I have even had opportunities to share the Gospel on Halloween at my house. And I pray that tonight, God's Word will have an even greater affect on people than in the past years. May more people come knocking on my door for candy, and a lot more!

   Something for us all to think about.

Lief Eriksson Lands on the Coast of North America

   Around the year 1,000, a Viking boat hit the shores of Newfoundland in North America. The man who was in charge of this ship was Lief Eriksson, possibly from Greenland.
   According to legend, Lief Eriksson was the son of Erik the Red, who was kicked out of Iceland for murdering too many of his enemies. A Viking who was bound for Greenland, but because of a strong wind, was blown off course. Eventually he did get to Greenland, and Lief Eriksson bought his boat. Lief took the boat and landed on many islands. He finally landed on a place he called, 'Vinland' where he found a 'paradise of mild climate, wild grapes, and broad meadows'. He never settled there though, and return to Greenland. He did end up making three trips altogether to 'Vinland' but never stayed.
http://www.almanac.com/content/who-was-leif-eriksson

Viking Ship

Viking funerals were done on ship. They would take wood and make a pile and set it on fire on the ship (pyre) and the whole ship would burn up with the dead person's body in it. It was a form of cremation.
At some point, many Vikings converted to Christianity. As many graves were dug up, Vikings were found to have been buried with sacred icons and with Bibles. 

Good Old King Wenceslas- He really Did Exist and is the Patron Saint of Czechoslovakia

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

We have all sung these words at Christmas time, or at least we have heard them. But who is King Wenceslas and why is he renowned? 

  King Wenceslas lived during the 10th Century, and was killed because of the jealousy of his brother. He ruled for seven years in Bohemia, which is now in the Czech Republic. He was raised by his grandmother, who was a devout Christian. 

  Wenceslas had a greedy mom, who wanted to rule the country. When Wenceslas was thirteen, his father died, so his grandmother, Ludmila, acted as regent for the county, but was murdered by Wenceslas mother who took over the kingdom.

  Even though Wenceslas was not old enough to become king, he banished his mom to another country, and at the same time, encouraged missionaries to preach the Gospel in Germany. He did many good things for people and reformed the rules of the country. In spite of this, he did things that weren't good for the cause of Christ, much like Constantine and Columbus did. Wenceslas ordered people to become Christians and punished them if they didn't respond. 

   Wenceslas had a heart for poor people, which was taught to him by his grandmother, Ludmila. He had become known for his charity toward the poor, hence the words in the carol, 

                      

    "Mark my footsteps, my good page, 

Tread thou in them boldly: 

Thou shalt find the winter's rage 

Freeze thy blood less coldly."

  
  He was killed by his brother and a couple of assassins on September 28, 929, while entering the church building. 
Read the full story here: Christian Timeline King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas was written by
John Mason Neale

Separation of Church and State Issue Again - Article by Ray Harker

  I'm going to post a url to a web site explaining about the issue of Separation of Church and State, but before I do that, I want to explain a few things first.
  In very early America, before America was even a country, there was a group of people that came over here on a ship called the Mayflower. There were actually two groups of people who were on the Mayflower as it made its way across the Atlantic Ocean in the year 1620. One group was called, 'Pilgrims' and the other group was known as 'Adventurers'. The Pilgrims were coming to America because of having to live in a stressful environment in which they weren't allowed the freedom to do what they felt God was telling them to do based upon Scripture. In England, the church and government were tied in with each other. Basically, the church had to do whatever the king wanted. And if you are in a church where the Bible is the final authority, and you want to follow that, you would be in conflict in England because you would have to follow the king and whatever he wanted or believed the Bible said. So, the Pilgrims made their way over to this land, far away from England, with the hopes of being able to establish a church that isn't headed by a king! The Adventurers came over to America with the hopes of finding gold and and whatever they could find that would make them happy. They did not profess to be Christian and at times, they made fun of the Pilgrims. It helps to keep this all in mind when dealing with the issue of Separation of Church and State. What originally was intended to provide freedom for the Pilgrims, is now taking a reverse role in America to try to eradicate Christianity, especially when the Christian is communicating Biblical truths on any governmental property. This is NOT how this principle was intended to be used.
   Today, there are cases in which Christians (in particular) cannot even express opinions or share beliefs on God, because it violates something called, 'Separation of Church and State'. This principle is not found in the Constitution, yet, future lawyers are taught that it is, while they are in law school.
   Take for example this ridiculous situation. A teacher was wearing a button that says 'I love Jesus'. When the principle of the school noticed it, he ordered her to remove it. Now, let me ask a question here. If a female teacher comes into her classroom fully garbed in Middle Eastern attire, will she get into trouble. Probably not. And rightly so. In America, she has the freedom to dress according to her religious convictions and she shouldn't be stopped. So, what am I saying? I believe that this whole concept of Separation of Church and State is really to silence the Christian. It holds a belief that Christianity is a threat to other people because of the demands it makes on a person's life.
   When I was in school, it was a lot different (I'll admit, it was a very long time ago). We did the pledge of Allegiance (with one nation under God in it) and we even had prayer, I believe. I am not necessarily advocating having someone say a prayer ever morning over the intercom, as people will be praying to different gods possibly, and its not necessary to do that, but, in the early American days, we could get away with it because everyone in a community, during that era, was on the same page as far as religious beliefs went. I am not saying that everyone was a Christian either. Some were. Others were just in that environment and went along with it.
   But today, there are groups who seem to search out anything that relates to Christianity, and remove it from the schools, and many times, will punish the person responsible for bringing it into the school.
   Yes, we should not ever 'make' people believe in Christianity or the Bible. Only God can change a heart. But there is a great difference between trying to convert people against their will, and just living out a life based upon Scriptures. I find it interesting when I ask people if they ever got one (one, meaning a tract), and they ask me what it is, and I tell them that it has the Gospel message on it, occasionally, they will accuse me of 'shoving religion down their throats' (This phrase is always exactly the same. Must be some kind of anti-Christian conspiracy : )  So, if I give someone a tract, I am shoving religion down their throats? Kind of a stretch, isn't it? But this is exactly what is happening with the concept of 'Separation of Church and State'. It's not in the Constitution, but it is in a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut. These people were very concerned because the memory of the Church of England was still fresh in their minds. They had a valid reason to be concerned. Here is an excerpt from the article I mentioned on the top of the page:
Well, in October 1801 the Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut wrote to President Jefferson, and in their letter they voiced some concerns over religious freedom. They were concerned as to whether the government would ever interfere with the practicing of their faith. Bear in mind that these early Americans had just gained independence from England’s government as well as from its established church. These Baptists had a valid reason for being concerned.
You can read the whole article at Separation of Church and State 2 - Examiner.com
Keep in mind that 'Separation of Church and State' is not in the Constitution. What is in the Constitution is the First Amendment, which places the restriction on the government, not on the people. Now we don't have to worry about the government deciding what we should believe in or what our churches should be teaching. Government cannot interfere with religious practices.
"The intent of the First Amendment was well understood during the founding of our country. The First Amendment was not to keep God out of government; it was to keep Government from establishing a “national denomination,” like the Church of England."
Very well said, Mr. Harker. A far cry from complaining about a Nativity scene in the front yard of a public, government owned building. Sad.
 

Names of Those Who Participated in the Boston Tea Party

Here are the names of those who participated in the Boston Tea Party. When we went to the museum, each person received a card with the name of a person on it, that was part of the Boston Tea Party episode. The name I got was 'John Crane' and according to the story, I got knocked out from having a chest of tea fall on my head! People thought I was dead, but I was only unconscious. Paul Revere was part of the Boston Tea Party? Interesting.

Mary Goose - Related to Mother Goose - Buried in Granary Burying Ground, Boston

I know where Mary Goose is buried. Actually, the story goes like this; Mary Balstan was married to Isaac Goose and they had children, but Mary died. She was the one buried in the Granary Burying Ground. Isaac remarried a woman named Elizabeth and they had some children. One daughter was named Elizabeth as well. This daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Fleet and they had a child. The grandmother, Elizabeth Goose, was ecstatic, and sang ditties and came up with melodies for children to sing to her grandson. Some people got irritated at her singing, but her son-in-law, Thomas Fleet, took her songs and put them in a book. The book was published many years later and we know them as the original Mother Goose rhymes. But Mary Goose is the one who is buried in Granary Burying Ground, not Elizabeth. So you can see Mary's grave if you visit there. Her claim to fame is that she was married to the man who later married the real Mother Goose.
    We visited the Granary Burying Ground in Boston last week. A few other famous people were buried there. Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and those killed in the Boston Massacre are all buried in Granary Burying Ground. We found out the Mary Goose is also buried here. Here is a web site that explains who she is and what she did: Celebrate Boston - Mother Goose

Fourth of July Trivia

Happy Fourth of July! There are a lot of facts involved with this holiday! Here is a trivia question for you.
Three presidents died on the 4th of July. Do you know who they were?

I am going to copy and paste this article from a web site that discusses some facts about the Fourth of July. http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/5-surprising-fourth-july-facts-025521346.html

1. John Adams thought Americans would celebrate July 2

The Continental Congress officially declared its freedom from British rule on July 2, 1776, the day that John Adams wrongly thought would be commemorated by future generations. July Fourth, meanwhile, marks the day Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. As copies of the declaration spread across the colonies, celebrations kicked off. Americans lit bonfires, fired celebratory shots from their guns, rang bells, and took down symbols of the British monarchy. At that point, the Boston Tea Party and the Battles of Lexington and Concord had already happened, but the American Revolutionary War wouldn't end until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783.
2. Three presidents died on the Fourth of July
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away within hours of each other on July 4, 1826. The two had been political rivals and then friends later in life, and both signed the Declaration of Independence. James Monroe, the nation's fifth president, was the next U.S. leader to die, and he passed away on July 4, 1831. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, is the only U.S. chief to have been born on the Fourth of July. [Fabulous 4th of July Facts: The 13 Original Colonies]
3. Songs in today's patriotic canon don't have Revolutionary roots
Before the Revolution, "Yankee Doodle" was originally sung by British military officers who mocked the unorganized and buckskin-wearing "Yankees" with whom they fought during the French and Indian War. Our national anthem didn't originate in the war for independence, either. The "Star Spangled Banner" is a poem Francis Scott Key wrote in 1814, when the British relentlessly attacked Baltimore's Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. It was later put to music and became the official national anthem in 1931.
4. The oldest celebration is in the smallest state
It took some time for the Independence Day parties to become the extravagant fireworks-filled spectacles they are today. Most celebrations didn't become regular until the 19th century, but the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, R.I., claims to be the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States, held every year since 1785.
5. The number of Fourth of July revelers has increased by more than a hundredfold
Only 2.5 million people lived in the United States when the colonies first declared independence, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Today, the nation is much bigger than 13 wee states and it's more crowded, too. This estimated population on for July 4, 2013, is 316.2 million people.
Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on LiveScience.com.

• 50 Fabulous 4th of July Facts: All About Patriotism
• The Most Awe-Inspiring Natural Wonders in America
• 50 Fabulous 4th of July Facts: Fiery Fireworks

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Today in History - The Baptism of Geronimo - July 1, 1903

   Although no one really knows whether Geronimo was actually a true convert or not, there is evidence that he heard the Gospel and had been ministered to.
   Geronimo was a cruel, Apache Indian (Native American). He wanted to take revenge on the Mexican people for how he's been wronged and the death of his father. This became a career for him, and he soon became the leader of this event.
   Geronimo was one of the fiercest fighters in the Old West, but the day came when he wanted to identify with Christians. He was baptized in the Methodist Church of Medicine Creek in Oklahoma Territory on July 1, 1903. Although he admired the values of Christianity, he soon fell back into sin by his drinking habits. At a later date, before his death, he was reunited with the church.

For more information on this event, go to: Christianity Today - Church History - Geronimo's Baptism

Geronimo - Courtesy of State Museum Arizona.edu

Paul Revere's Famous Ride

Here is a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. What a great description of that memorable event.

Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year.

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,–
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country folk to be up and to arm.”

Then he said “Good-night!” and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore,
Just as the moon rose over the bay,
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay
The Somerset, British man-of-war;
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar
Across the moon like a prison bar,
And a huge black hulk, that was magnified
By its own reflection in the tide.

Meanwhile, his friend through alley and street
Wanders and watches, with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers,
Marching down to their boats on the shore.

Then he climbed the tower of the Old North Church,
By the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread,
To the belfry chamber overhead,
And startled the pigeons from their perch
On the sombre rafters, that round him made
Masses and moving shapes of shade,–
By the trembling ladder, steep and tall,
To the highest window in the wall,
Where he paused to listen and look down
A moment on the roofs of the town
And the moonlight flowing over all.

Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead,
In their night encampment on the hill,
Wrapped in silence so deep and still
That he could hear, like a sentinel’s tread,
The watchful night-wind, as it went
Creeping along from tent to tent,
And seeming to whisper, “All is well!”
A moment only he feels the spell
Of the place and the hour, and the secret dread
Of the lonely belfry and the dead;
For suddenly all his thoughts are bent
On a shadowy something far away,
Where the river widens to meet the bay,–
A line of black that bends and floats
On the rising tide like a bridge of boats.

Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride
On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere.
Now he patted his horse’s side,
Now he gazed at the landscape far and near,
Then, impetuous, stamped the earth,
And turned and tightened his saddle girth;
But mostly he watched with eager search
The belfry tower of the Old North Church,
As it rose above the graves on the hill,
Lonely and spectral and sombre and still.
And lo! as he looks, on the belfry’s height
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight
A second lamp in the belfry burns.

A hurry of hoofs in a village street,
A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark,
And beneath, from the pebbles, in passing, a spark
Struck out by a steed flying fearless and fleet;
That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of a nation was riding that night;
And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight,
Kindled the land into flame with its heat.
He has left the village and mounted the steep,
And beneath him, tranquil and broad and deep,
Is the Mystic, meeting the ocean tides;
And under the alders that skirt its edge,
Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge,
Is heard the tramp of his steed as he rides.

It was twelve by the village clock
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town.
He heard the crowing of the cock,
And the barking of the farmer’s dog,
And felt the damp of the river fog,
That rises after the sun goes down.

It was one by the village clock,
When he galloped into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
And the meeting-house windows, black and bare,
Gaze at him with a spectral glare,
As if they already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon.

It was two by the village clock,
When he came to the bridge in Concord town.
He heard the bleating of the flock,
And the twitter of birds among the trees,
And felt the breath of the morning breeze
Blowing over the meadow brown.
And one was safe and asleep in his bed
Who at the bridge would be first to fall,
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket ball.

You know the rest. In the books you have read
How the British Regulars fired and fled,—
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farmyard wall,
Chasing the redcoats down the lane,
Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road,
And only pausing to fire and load.

So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm,—
A cry of defiance, and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo for evermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Statue of Paul Revere with the
Old North Church Steeple in the background

Here is a web site full of information on Paul Revere: http://www.legallanguage.com/resources/poems/midnightride/

Samuel Adams- Signer of the Declaration of Independence

     Samuel Adams, born, played many roles in Early American days. He was born September 27, 1722 in Boston, Massachusetts. Although he did many things in his lifetime, he was not successful at the brewery. Some things he did that were successful were; He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, was a member of Massachusetts State constitutional convention in 1781; was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Mass. in 1789; and was elected Governor of Massachusetts, for the years of 1794-'97. His cousin's name was John, and both of them were thought of as the 'Adams Brothers'. Samuel died on October 2, 1803 in Boston. He is buried in Granary Burying Ground in Boston, MA.
City of Boston - Granary Burying Ground
US History.org - Adams Signer of Declaration of Independence

Samuel Adams Sept. 27, 1722- October 2, 1803
Granary Burying Ground, Boston, MA

Today in History - June 25, 1876 - The Battle of Little Bighorn

 Today in History - The Battle of Little Bighorn - June 25, 1876  

                                          Today in History, in the year 1876, the Battle of Little Bighorn took place.
The battle took place near the Southern Montana's Little Bighorn River, and the rivals were the Native Americans, led by Sioux tribe leaders, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, verses General George Armstrong Custer.
  General Custer marched his troops into the territory, but was surprised when they were met with 3,000 Native Americans and were defeated. Every soldier under Custer was killed. It was a serious defeat for the U.S. and a major victory for Native Americans, who were trying to resist the U.S. government from confining them to reservations. But within five years, the Native Americans were sent to live on reservations in spite of their overwhelming victory at 'Custer's Last Stand', the Battle of Little Bighorn.
http://www.history.com/
http://www.nps.gov/libi/ 
http://thetruepast.blogspot.com/
The True Past - Sitting Bull

The Cemetery Where Ben Franklin's Parents Were Buried

Here is a pic of the cemetery Ben Franklin's parent's were buried in. The tall statue is the spot of their burial plot.

Also, in this cemetery are buried Paul Revere and John Hancock and family. The name of the cemetery is Granary Burying Ground. Those who were killed in the Boston Massacre (March 5, 1770) are also buried in this cemetery. 

  Did you know that Ben Franklin used a secret name and wrote stories that got published at his brother's printing place? When his brother found out the 'Silence Dogood' was really Ben, he got angry with him. http://fi.edu/franklin/timeline/birth.html

Today in History - June 19, 1834 - C. H. Spurgeon is Born

   Today in History, in the year 1834, a well known Baptist minister was born. He is the hero of many Christians today. His name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and he was born in Kelvedon, United Kingdom, in the county of Essex.
   Although he had no formal training, he began his preaching career at age 15. His excellent preaching began to draw crowds of people to listen, and he ended up pastoring at the 5,000 seat Metropolitan Tabernacle.
   Spurgeon also wrote articles, as well as preached sermons. He started an orphanage and oversaw evangelistic enterprises. He also served as president of the Pastor's College which he founded in 1857.
  Married to Susannah Thompson, they had twin boys in 1857.
   On June 7, 1891, C. H. Spurgeon preached his last message. He died seven months later, in France, and is buried in Norwood Cemetery.
  One last note: In doing a quick research on Spurgeon, I found that he was the one who invented the 'Wordless Book' which is a book that has a color on each page which represents the Gospel message.
Gold - Stands for the streets of gold in heaven. God wants us in heaven with Him when we die, but something is in the way.
Black - Stands for sin. Sin is the bad things we do that God will punish us for. Sin keeps us out of heaven and separated from God.
Red - Stands for the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, who died a horrible death by being nailed to a Cross, in order to take the punishment for our sins.
White - Stands for a heart that has been cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ.
Green - Stands for growing things. God wants us to be spiritually healthy and growing in Him, after we come to know Him, by repenting of sin and putting our trust in Him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wordless_Book
http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/sermons/chsbio.html

Spurgeon preaching at the Surrey Music Hall
circa 1858

The Origin Of The Word 'Testimony'

   I found this info in a little book called, 'Stupid Ancient History'. We use this word a lot and have a good understanding of it's meaning. Do you know what the origin of this word is? Where did it come from to begin with, not that it really seems to matter much to people.
  It had to do with Ancient Rome, when a Roman was taking an oath. He was to swear to tell nothing but the truth, the whole truth. He would place his right hand (turn your head. Close your eyes now) on his testicles. I can't imagine what this actually looked like and don't know if I would want to!
   I'm glad that we don't practice that in America today. It may have been practiced even before this, in the Old Testament. Here is a web page containing some info on this: Yahoo Answers UK

Today in History - May 6, 1937 - The Hindenburg Disaster

Today in History - May 6, 1937 - The Hindenburg Disaster

   On May 3rd, of 1937, the Hindenburg, a large airship, started its journey from Frankfurt, Germany on its way to Lakehurst's Navy Airbase inAmerica. It was the largest airship that was ever built and it was the pride of Nazi Germany.
   The airship was lifted into the air by being blown up with hydrogen and was able to fly at a speed of 6 miles per hour. It would take about two and a half days for the airship to reach its destination at Lakehurst. It carried 61 people and as it was nearing its landing place, something caused the airship to burst into flames. The airship and all aboard fell quickly at about 200 feet above the ground. Thirty-five people died and many had serious injuries due to the accident. This happened today in History in the year 1937.
                                         
                                                         

History.com-Hindenburg Disaster

Today in History- April 30, 1945 - Hitler Commits Suicide

   For those of you who are not familiar with the name 'Adolph Hitler' allow me to inform you of who he was and why he did what he did, that made its mark on History.
   Adolph Hitler was born to Alois and Klara Hitler in 1889 in Austria. There is somewhat of a mystery of his father's ancestry, as he was an illegitimate child of Maria Anna Schickelgruber. It is not known exactly who Alois Hitler's father was, but it may have been Johann Georg Hiedler, who married Maria Anna after Alois Hitler was born. So Johann and Maria were married and now Alois took on the last name of Hiedler, which is where Hitler comes from.
   Adolph Hitler must have liked art, but his art work was not accepted by his teachers. He became a German citizen in 1932. He seemed to have a hatred for Jewish people, and there are speculations as to this, but no one knows for sure the reason. He obviously did not see the human race as one group, but rather a divided group with those who were not looked at with dignity. He believed his race (caucasian, white) was the superior race compared to other so called races, especially the Jewish 'race'. As time went on, it became obvious that he had plans to eliminate those other 'races' so that the superior race, the white people, would be able to be the only race that existed. What Hitler failed to understand is that all 'races' are part of one race called the human 'race'. Hitler appeared to embrace what Darwin taught in his evolutionary views, that there are some people groups that are not as developed as others (such as the black people). Of course, Darwin also believed that humans came from apes, and his belief system was based upon that idea. So Hitler wanted to eradicate the Jewish people and also those who were handicapped as well.
   Those who were alive during that time remember well the horror of this event. Many documents were written and many people died (at least six million Jews were killed). Older people who are still alive to tell about it are doing so.
  Hitler made his mark, and his name is not spoken of with honor. Two things that are amazing that I see today; One is that some people actually deny that the Holocaust ever happened. The reason could be that these people are embarrassed at how evil human beings can be, and don't want to accept the fact that we are really that evil. The other thing that is amazing is that on our college campuses, when a student is asked his opinion on Adolph Hitler, many have never even heard of him! What in the world have these students been taught (or not taught)? It's easy to assume that everyone knows about the Holocaust, but not everyone does. I personally believe that it is intentionally not taught, because if our students understand how horrible a Socialistic government (Fascism) is, they would rise up and do whatever they could to prevent it from happening. But there are those in our government today that do not want us to look at History in order to learn from our mistakes because they want to begin to implement a powerful government and in turn give less freedom to the people.
   Things were not going well for Hitler in 1945, and on this day, shortly after he was married to his mistress, both committed suicide in his bunker by taking cyanide pills. The day before this, Mussolini also died. Hitler was sensing that this was the end of the 'Third Reich' and took his own life.
   Adolph Hitler sadly believed many lies during his lifetime. He rose to power with these lies as part of his being. One thing that was ironic was that on the belt buckles of those in the German army were the words 'Gott mit uns' which means 'God with us'. Many mistake this to think that Hitler had some kind of trust in the true and living God, but that was not so. Everyone has something or someone they trust in, whether it be an idea, a living being, or something else. Hitler trusted in something, but it wasn't in the God of the Bible, for if he really did trust in what the Bible said, he would never have done what he did to hurt so many people. There are two specific commands in the Bible. One of them is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The other is to love your neighbor as yourself. Our love for God is evidenced by how we love our neighbor. If we hate our neighbor, then realistically speaking, we hate God. The Bible says that if we hate our brother, than we don't know God. It continues and says that we are a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. This shows us that we can have all the Christianese talk and lingo, we can have the bumper stickers and T-shirts describing our love for God, but if we don't love our neighbor, we really don't know him, no matter how many T-shirts we have. By their fruits we will know them, the Bible says.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1940s/a/Hitler-Suicide.htm

Where Did Germany Get It's Name From?

I thought this was interesting as I read from an article called, 'The Table of Nations' by Tim Osterholm. He explains the origin of the term 'German' and how this name came to be.
   The term "German" comes from Latin (Roman) sources.  The Assyrians occupied a Mesopotamian city on the lower Tigris River called "Kir" and placed captive slaves there (also referenced in 2 Kings 16:9, Isaiah 22:5-6, Amos 1:5, 9:7).  The city was populated by the Assyrians for many years, and the inhabitants became known as "Kir-man."  The Assyrians (Kerman) were driven from their land shortly after their fall about 610 B.C.  They migrated into central Europe where they were called "German" or "Germanni," a general name used by the Romans to represent all Assyrian tribes.  The known Assyrian tribes were the Khatti (also, Chatti, Hatti and Hessian)—Chatti is still the Hebrew term for German, and Khatti was also used by the Romans to represent various Germanic tribes; the Akkadians (Latins called them Quadians); the Kassites (or Cossaei); and the Almani (or Halmani, Allemani was the Latin name).  Almani or Almain were historical terms for Germans living in southern Germany.  Without question, these Assyrian Germans assimilated with the previously established tribes of Askaeni (descendants of Gomer) and adopted their Indo-European language, becoming one people. http://www.soundchristian.com/man/

Today in History - April 22, 1934 - Gangster Kills FBI Agent

Today in History - April 22, 1934 - Gangster Kills FBI Agent

Today in the year of 1934, Gangster George 'Baby Face' Nelson killed FBI agent W. Carter Baum during a raid. George Nelson was born Lester Gillis, and retained his 'baby face' as he retained his youthful look. In 1929, Nelson joined Al Capone's gang, and was later kicked out of the gang because of his unpredictable violent behavior.
   After living many years in criminal behavior, he ended up in Illinois where he was spotted while driving. He ended up in a gunfight with two FBI agents, and he shot and killed them. The next day Nelson's body was found in a ditch. He had been on the run since he killed FBI agent Baum, months prior to this.

FBI Agent killed in a raid

Today in History - April 7, 1963 - Tito is Named President For Life

Tito is Named President For Life - April 7. 1963

   Today in History, Josip Broz, known as 'Tito' was made president for life of the newly formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He was born 1892 in Croatia, fought in World War I against Serbia, was captured, and converted to Bolshevism, then fought in the Russian Revolution. After that, he returned to Croatia.
   He joined the Communist Party of Yugoslavia and became a political agitator and was arrested in 1928. After his release, he climbed the ladder of the ranks of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, and took on the name 'Tito' as he went underground to serve the Party's work.
  He died in May, 1980, a few days prior to his 88th birthday.

Source: Tito Made President-for-life- History.com

The History of Amazing Grace

History of Amazing Grace

    Many of us have heard the song, 'Amazing Grace', but we probably don't have the appreciation for this song that it deserves. Here is a brief summary of the story behind it:

    One night, on March 21,1747, there was a terrible storm at sea, and the ship that John Newton was on, was starting to experience the effects of the storm. John did what he could to help relieve the ship of all burdens as he saw the impending dangers that could be ahead. At this moment, he remembered those things that were installed in him as a child. Although he was well taught in the Scriptures, and knew that the Bible was true in what it said, John Newton had not personally responded to the Gospel. In fact, what he was doing was evil, for he was involved in the slave trade. He became a bitter man toward God.

  As he was thinking back on his life, he concluded that his sins were too great to be forgiven. He looked at the situation with the ship he was on, as an act of his doom. But when he realized that the ship was going to be ok, he understood God's sovereignty and mercy of God on him in that moment. He meditated on the death of Jesus that He took in order to pay for his sins and was astonished at God's mercy and grace to him.

   The ship arrived in Ireland, and John had now had a genuine conversion. There was no turning back for him! Over time, he began to see that slavery was wrong, and he became an abolitionist. As he reflected on his life, he penned the words to this most famous hymn called, 'Amazing Grace'. This song came out of the heart of a man who really saw his sin as evil, and the grace of God as amazing.

  Parents, this is an encouragement to you, to be diligent in teaching your child the Gospel, and the Scriptures. It is an encouragement to always be praying for our children. Many times they leave home without responding to the Gospel, but God can work in their circumstances many years later and bring them to repentance and faith.

Source: http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1701-1800/john-newton-converted-by-amazing-grace-11630250.html
John Newton Amazing Grace for Children

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Gospel Song Lyrics - Amazing Grace

Saint Patrick

Everyone knows that today is Saint Patrick's Day. We think of the Irish and shamrocks, and wearing green. But, there is a real person we call Saint Patrick, whose real life is in obscurity.
Saint Patrick was born around 390 in Great Britain. His parents may have been followers of Jesus Christ, but we don't have enough information on that. When Patrick was 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and brought to the land of Ireland where he learned to shepherd sheep. Some time later, he managed to escape and returned to England. It is not really known when he came to Christ, but when he returned to his home land, he received a vision of God calling him back to Ireland. Perhaps he was able to see the desperate need for the Gospel to be there while he was living in captivity in that land.
Here is a quote from Saint Patrick, himself: “Thus I am a servant in Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
From what we can tell, from some of his own words, Patrick identified himself as a sinner. He realized his own need for a Savior, and went to Ireland to spread the Gospel to the Irish people. The religion of the day that was in opposition to the Gospel was that of the Druids. It is said that this divine call of the Gospel went forth from Ireland for at least 600 years.
   Here is a good web site with information on Saint Patrick: Christian Answers
Here is another source, although a little more vague:
History.com-Saint Patrick

Today in History - February 13, 1689 - William III Came to the Throne

William III Came to the Throne - February 13, 1689

   Today in History, William III of Orange came to the throne in a bloodless battle. The reason this could happen was because of the power of the Roman Catholic king. England already had a king, James II. William III was the son-in-law of King James. Read about the story here:
Christianity.com Church History - William III Comes to the Throne

Today in History - January 24, 1848 - First Gold Nugget Discovered at Sutter's Mill

First Gold Nugget Discovered at Sutter's Mill - January 24, 1848

   Today in History, in the year 1848, a man named James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutter's Mill in northern California. This discovery led to the Gold Rush of '49 (California Gold Rush). Source: Tribune Newspapers

  "The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in early 1848 sparked the Gold Rush, arguably one of the most significant events to shape American history during the first half of the 19th century. As news spread of the discovery, thousands of prospective gold miners traveled by sea or over land to San Francisco and the surrounding area; by the end of 1849, the non-native population of the California territory was some 100,000 (compared with the pre-1848 figure of less than 1,000). A total of $2 billion worth of precious metal was extracted from the area during the Gold Rush, which peaked in 1852." History.com- Gold Rush of 1849

Today in History - January 7, 1789 - The First U.S. Presidential Election Takes Place

The First U.S. Presidential Election Takes Place - January 7, 1789

    This day, in the History of the United States, the first presidential election took place in 1789. The only people who were allowed to vote though, were white males who owned property. The voters cast their ballots for the first time, in order to choose state electors. The electors are the actual ones who vote for the president.
  We know who won the election, of course. It was George Washington. Did you know that George Washington was a direct descendant of Norman duke William? This article explains God's providential care for His people throughout History. Christmas, Vikings, and the Providence of God

Source: History.com-First US Presidential Election