1678. John Bunyan, a Baptist preacher in England, has recently been released from prison. His crime? Leading services forbidden by the Conventicle Act of 1664, which defined ‘conventicles’ as religious services of more than five…
Looking Back
Have you ever hiked up a steep trail, and then stopped at the top to look back and see how high you’d climbed? How about finished a good book? You read the last page, and…
This Day in History: January 28
On January 28, 1547, Henry VIII died, leaving an empty throne and a religious mess in England. He had been crowned at seventeen and reigned for nearly thirty-eight years. He had ruined the lives of…
Rewind, Rewrite
Today marks a year since I finished the first draft of Judah’s Battle. Crazy. Time flies, whether you’re accomplishing things or not. My goal had been to finish the second draft by the end of…
The Villains
A protagonist without an antagonist is like crackers without cheese. Nice, but boring. Antagonists often show the other side of life—the evil; the horrific; the sinful, heartbreaking story of a life gone wrong. They are…
Glass Pens
Upon receiving the gift, her face lit with a sweet smile. My sister almost immediately pulled out the delicate tool – a glass pen – and dipped it into colored ink. It glided smoothly in…
Sergeant
Here I am, a legend in my hand, My brow furrowed at the odd command. “Take Point C with everything it takes.” The mission is a suicide attempt! I look round at my men, cringe…
Morning
The storm has passed Refreshing raindrops rest like Dew upon the grass. A breath of wind rustles Hanging leaves— Gentle breeze. Swallows swoop low Gliding over greening grass First fast, then slow Chirping sparrows, squeaky…
A Peek at Promotion
She came while I was doing sales time at market, and I asked if I could help her with anything. She asked some questions about our products, made a purchase, and was about to leave…
The Privilege
As sons and daughters of God, we have a great privilege: to share the good news of salvation with those who are outside the kingdom. What that looks like is different for each person and…