Month: October 2013

On This Day In History, TheologyLeave a comment

Happy Reformation Day!

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On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed the following 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. _______________ Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther (1517) Published in: Works of Martin Luther: Adolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacobs, et Al., Trans. & Eds. (Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company, 1915), Vol.1, pp. 29-38 _______________ Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts … Continue reading Happy Reformation Day!

Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Review of ‘Why Study History?’ by John Fea

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 John Fea, Why Study History? Reflecting on the Importance of the Past (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013). Paperback / Kindle Why study history? John Fea sets out to answer this question in his eponymous new book, which is subtitled, “reflecting on the importance of the past.” Fea is associate professor of American history and chair of the history department at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. An evangelical Christian teaching at an evangelical college, he has written or edited several books, including Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? A Historical Introduction[1], The Way of Improvement Leads Home: Philip Vickers … Continue reading Review of ‘Why Study History?’ by John Fea

On This Day In HistoryLeave a comment

Moby-Dick Published

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October 18, 1851: On this day in history, Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” was published in London as “The Whale.” It was published in New York City on November 14 of the same year. According to a 2011 survey in American Book Review, the novel’s opening line, “Call me Ishmael,” rank’s first in a list of “100 First Best Lines from Novels.” Continue reading Moby-Dick Published

Book Reviews4 Comments

Review of ‘The Poverty of Nations’ by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus

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 Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus, The Poverty of Nations: A Sustainable Solution (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013). Paperback / Kindle  The Poverty of Nations is an ambitious book. The goal of authors Wayne Grudem (a theologian) and Barry Asmus (an economist) is to provide “a sustainable solution to poverty in the poor nations of the world, a solution based on both economic history and the teachings of the Bible.” Toward that it end, their book focuses on what nations should do if they want to move from poverty to prosperity. What does it mean for a nation to move from poverty … Continue reading Review of ‘The Poverty of Nations’ by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus

On This Day In HistoryLeave a comment

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

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On this day in history–October 16, 1859–John Brown led a raid on the federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. His goal was to seize weapons and ammunition and arm slaves for a revolt against their slaveholders. Thirty-six hours after the raid began, troops led by Colonel Robert E. Lee stormed the house where Brown and his men were holed up, captured them, and turned them over to Virginia authorities for trial. He was tried, sentenced to death for treason, and hanged on December 9. When the Civil War began on 1861, Union soldiers sang “John Brown’s Body” (also known as … Continue reading John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

On This Day In HistoryLeave a comment

The Battle of Hastings

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On this day in history–October 14, 1066–William, duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II of England at the Battle of Hastings. Because of this battle, William became known as William the Conqueror. Just as Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, so William became the first Norman king. William’s reign introduced many changes into English society, not the least of which was the evolution, over time, of Anglo-Saxon and old French into the modern English language. Continue reading The Battle of Hastings

Politics & CultureLeave a comment

Starbucks Goes Political with Petition

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This morning, I received an email from Starbucks, encouraging me to sign its “Come Together Petition.” I doubt many people would have trouble signing the petition, given how anodyne it seems. Nevertheless, to my mind, it contains two questionable assumptions. “Reopen our government to serve the people.” This assumes that the government has closed, which which is misleading. Parts of the government have shut down, but according to one estimate, 83 percent of the government is still operating. “Pay our debts on time to avoid another financial crisis.” This is sage advice, but it fails to note that the partial government … Continue reading Starbucks Goes Political with Petition