Sometimes we as Christians have a feeling that God is not interested in the mundane details of our lives. Sure, He cares for the big things...like buying a house or marrying a spouse...but not the little things that make up our days. But God does care for all aspects of our lives. The apostle James tells us in his epistle that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17) I was reminded of this aspect of God's character in a recent interaction.
A number of years ago, my family won a pair of drinking glasses as part of a restaurant's promotion. For some reason, I took quite a shine to these particular glasses and used them as much as I could. One broke not too long ago and it always remained in the back of my mind to hunt down some more of this particular type of glass...sometime.
A friend of ours was holding an estate sale for her elderly mother. All sorts of items (mostly crafts and quilting) were to be sold. We took a trip out there and began to poke around. Suddenly I noticed a glass that was almost identical to my favorite. The size and color were slightly different, but the style was exactly the same. In the box there rested another one. This was wonderful news, especially when I noticed that the box was labeled "Free Stuff!"
The two glasses were added to our collection and I was very happy. But this showed me how God loves to give good gifts to His creatures. He lavishes gifts on me--even something considered as mundane as a drinking glass.
"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." (Psalm 36:8)
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miscellaneous. Show all posts
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Friday, May 26, 2017
2017 Lecture: Know the Past to Understand the Future
"Have you ever wondered why you should study history? While it is interesting to see how people lived in the past, what other uses does history have? Join historian Jordan Jachim in exploring the importance of history in this lecture. Knowledge of the past can help us make decisions in the future, avoiding errors that previous generations have committed. “Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.” But history can also encourage us. While one act of kindness to a stranger sometimes seems insignificant, did you know that this resulted in the discovery of a hidden cache of treasure during World War II? History can also educate us and entertain us, but most importantly, it shows us how faithful God has been in guiding our lives."
The recording is now available for sale (at https://www.alliancerecordings.com/detail.cfm?context=Recordings&cid=58&RID=2157) and I do not make any money if you purchase it. This lecture was accompanied by a slide presentation. If you would like a copy of my slides, just contact me.
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| A piece of artwork I created for one of the slides |
Thursday, April 6, 2017
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe: Lessons of Sacrifice
The theme of sacrifice is woven into C. S. Lewis’ book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the filmmakers who adapted it for a 2005 movie kept this important element. In fact, they amplified it by including more examples than were given in the book. In the movie, we first see sacrifice during the air-raid. Edmund returns to the house to get his dad’s picture, and Peter accompanies him back to the safety of the Pevensies’ bomb shelter.
In Narnia, Mr. Tumnus sacrifices his security to guide Lucy back to the lamp-post after he attempted to kidnap her. When all four of the Pevensie children--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy--arrive in Narnia, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver then put themselves at risk to help these four. They are betrayed by Edmund, who joins the evil White Witch, and a fox sacrifices himself to draw the Witch’s Secret Police off on a false scent.
But the most important example of sacrifice in this movie comes when Aslan the royal lion chooses to die so that Edmund, the traitor who joined the Witch, can go free. This is a parallel to what Jesus Christ has done for sinners, including me. Once I was a sinner who looked down on and snubbed almost all of the people in the world. They lived in the wrong countries, read the wrong books, knew the wrong friends. This is obviously opposed to Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbor as thyself." (see Mark 12:31) But Jesus Christ set me free from those chains just like Aslan saved Edmund from the White Witch’s vengeance.
Near the end of the movie, the Pevensie siblings and Aslan's army engage the Witch's cohorts in a climactic battle, which shows several instances of duty and sacrifice. When Peter’s white unicorn is shot with an arrow, it bucks, sending him flying directly into the path of the Witch’s hordes. To give Peter time to regain his army, the valiant centaur Oreius and a rhinoceros charge headlong at the enemy, ultimately sacrificing themselves (the rhinoceros is wounded and Oreius turned to stone) to help Peter.
As the battle rages, Edmund sees the Witch sneaking toward Peter, who is heavily engaged in the fighting. She wants to turn him to stone with her magic wand. Edmund ambushes her and breaks her wand into splinters. The White Witch stabs Edmund, badly wounding him, but Peter charges to his brother's assistance. He then duels the Witch in an epic swordfight.
All of these lessons should be exhibited in our own lives. We do not have to duel the White Witch with swords, but oftentimes we need to sacrifice in other ways. Washing dishes, volunteering in thankless positions, being patient with those who are impatient--all of these are a sacrifice just as much as Oreius's charge or the Beavers' hospitality.
In Narnia, Mr. Tumnus sacrifices his security to guide Lucy back to the lamp-post after he attempted to kidnap her. When all four of the Pevensie children--Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy--arrive in Narnia, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver then put themselves at risk to help these four. They are betrayed by Edmund, who joins the evil White Witch, and a fox sacrifices himself to draw the Witch’s Secret Police off on a false scent.But the most important example of sacrifice in this movie comes when Aslan the royal lion chooses to die so that Edmund, the traitor who joined the Witch, can go free. This is a parallel to what Jesus Christ has done for sinners, including me. Once I was a sinner who looked down on and snubbed almost all of the people in the world. They lived in the wrong countries, read the wrong books, knew the wrong friends. This is obviously opposed to Jesus’ command to “love thy neighbor as thyself." (see Mark 12:31) But Jesus Christ set me free from those chains just like Aslan saved Edmund from the White Witch’s vengeance.
Near the end of the movie, the Pevensie siblings and Aslan's army engage the Witch's cohorts in a climactic battle, which shows several instances of duty and sacrifice. When Peter’s white unicorn is shot with an arrow, it bucks, sending him flying directly into the path of the Witch’s hordes. To give Peter time to regain his army, the valiant centaur Oreius and a rhinoceros charge headlong at the enemy, ultimately sacrificing themselves (the rhinoceros is wounded and Oreius turned to stone) to help Peter.
As the battle rages, Edmund sees the Witch sneaking toward Peter, who is heavily engaged in the fighting. She wants to turn him to stone with her magic wand. Edmund ambushes her and breaks her wand into splinters. The White Witch stabs Edmund, badly wounding him, but Peter charges to his brother's assistance. He then duels the Witch in an epic swordfight.Thursday, December 29, 2016
Top 5 Blog Posts of 2016
As 2016 draws to a close and we prepare to enter 2017, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite blog posts of this year.
In position #5 is Unmerited: Movie Review, available at:
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/09/unmerited-movie-review_26.html
In position #5 is Unmerited: Movie Review, available at:
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/09/unmerited-movie-review_26.html
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| The recreated Edinburgh City Guard From facebook.com/edinburghcityguard |
Unmerited is a little gem of a movie, chronicling the story of two estranged brothers who meet after the American Revolution. Since it is free to watch on Youtube or Vimeo, I would recommend taking ten or fifteen minutes to watch it. Its message of forgiveness and love is a powerful reminder as we enter the new year.
Next is Uniforms of Catriona from Contemporary Pictures. This is an illustrated study of the uniforms worn by the characters, major and minor, of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. Did you know that the Edinburgh City Guard carried Lochaber axes and appears in the book? Read this post at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/10/uniforms-of-catriona-from-contemporary.html
Historical studies is my favorite subject matter to tackle, and The Flag of Banastre Tarleton's British Legion is one of the best I have written. Analyzing that cryptic background flag in Sir Joshua Reynolds' famous painting, the case is made that this was based on an actual flag carried in the American Revolution. Was this controversial? You bet! Check it out for yourself at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/04/flag-of-british-legion.html
While Defending the Legacy usually focusses on history, I do interject some modern anecdotes from time to time. In A Tale of Two Authors, I recount an experience which happened to me at a homeschool convention. A businessman manning a table (like I do with Through All Ages LLC, www.ThroughAllAges.com) gets to see other business owners in a different way than the customers do. Two authors were observed--and contrasted. Read it at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-tale-of-two-authors-reflection.html
I enjoyed writing all four of the above blog posts and interacting with my readers through them. But my favorite is one that deals with a lesson I was taught at a conference. No lecturers or acquaintances showed it to me: instead three complete strangers were brought by God to help me learn a lesson I had been resisting. What was it (and why is it important)? Read it at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/09/lessons-learned-from-noah-conference.html
Next is Uniforms of Catriona from Contemporary Pictures. This is an illustrated study of the uniforms worn by the characters, major and minor, of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. Did you know that the Edinburgh City Guard carried Lochaber axes and appears in the book? Read this post at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/10/uniforms-of-catriona-from-contemporary.html
Historical studies is my favorite subject matter to tackle, and The Flag of Banastre Tarleton's British Legion is one of the best I have written. Analyzing that cryptic background flag in Sir Joshua Reynolds' famous painting, the case is made that this was based on an actual flag carried in the American Revolution. Was this controversial? You bet! Check it out for yourself at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/04/flag-of-british-legion.html
While Defending the Legacy usually focusses on history, I do interject some modern anecdotes from time to time. In A Tale of Two Authors, I recount an experience which happened to me at a homeschool convention. A businessman manning a table (like I do with Through All Ages LLC, www.ThroughAllAges.com) gets to see other business owners in a different way than the customers do. Two authors were observed--and contrasted. Read it at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-tale-of-two-authors-reflection.html
I enjoyed writing all four of the above blog posts and interacting with my readers through them. But my favorite is one that deals with a lesson I was taught at a conference. No lecturers or acquaintances showed it to me: instead three complete strangers were brought by God to help me learn a lesson I had been resisting. What was it (and why is it important)? Read it at: http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/09/lessons-learned-from-noah-conference.html
This post has covered my top five blog posts, but there is another one which I wrote for a friend's blog. Why Modern Readers Should Care About History is my look at why history is important, and building a case why all people, and especially Christians, should study it. Read it at: http://ladybibliophile.blogspot.com/2016/07/why-modern-readers-should-care-about.html
I hope that you all had a good 2016! Did you have any favorite posts, either on here or on your own blogs? Let me know. As always, reader interaction is crucial for bloggers.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Freedom of Speech Threatened
http://www.landmarkevents.org/blogs/blog/landmark-events-goes-to-federal-court
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
A Tale of Two Authors: A Reflection
Every person sees a different facet of the world. Others see things which I cannot; and conversely, I see things others do not. Working as a vendor with Through All Ages LLC* allows me to see people in a way that customers are not able to.Now in the merry month of May, Through All Ages was attending the annual Information Network for Christian Homes (abbreviated INCH) Convention. As I am the company president—actually the only employee at Through All Ages—I went to INCH.
When I arrived, I set up my booth and took stock of my neighbors. To my right was the end of an aisle and to my left was a well-known educational book supplier. It was staffed by three friendly ladies who spent most of their off-duty time chatting with each other. They were very friendly to me when we met.
Across the aisle, facing my booth, was an author who will be referred to as Mr. A. Next to him was an association to teach young children about God’s Word. Beyond them was another author, Miss B. Next to Miss B. were some of my friends, selling lotions and soaps. This was as far down the aisle as I could see, although there were other booths.
As the conference began, few people came through the vendor hall. Traffic was sporadic and the rest of my family were attending lectures. This left me plenty of time to think, to observe, and to read. Unfortunately, the book I had brought was busy supporting a display of products. Bother.
Now INCH is a two-day conference, and I arrived bright and early for the second day. Because I was a vendor, I could enter the vendor hall earlier than the shoppers. I scrutinized my booth, making certain it displayed my products in a visually appealing way. When I was satisfied, I sat down and waited for customers when the doors opened at 9:00 AM. With no customers inside, the vendor hall was quiet and any sound would carry a long way.
While I waited, Mr. A’s daughters entered the hall. He began barking at them because they had not arrived earlier. One of his daughters offered that her mother was overworked and unable to arrive sooner. After hearing this, Mr. A growled that if his messages had been followed, everything would have worked out smoothly.
Across the aisle, facing my booth, was an author who will be referred to as Mr. A. Next to him was an association to teach young children about God’s Word. Beyond them was another author, Miss B. Next to Miss B. were some of my friends, selling lotions and soaps. This was as far down the aisle as I could see, although there were other booths.
As the conference began, few people came through the vendor hall. Traffic was sporadic and the rest of my family were attending lectures. This left me plenty of time to think, to observe, and to read. Unfortunately, the book I had brought was busy supporting a display of products. Bother.
Now INCH is a two-day conference, and I arrived bright and early for the second day. Because I was a vendor, I could enter the vendor hall earlier than the shoppers. I scrutinized my booth, making certain it displayed my products in a visually appealing way. When I was satisfied, I sat down and waited for customers when the doors opened at 9:00 AM. With no customers inside, the vendor hall was quiet and any sound would carry a long way.
While I waited, Mr. A’s daughters entered the hall. He began barking at them because they had not arrived earlier. One of his daughters offered that her mother was overworked and unable to arrive sooner. After hearing this, Mr. A growled that if his messages had been followed, everything would have worked out smoothly.
In a few minutes, the vendor hall opened and everyone looked out eagerly for customers. No one was shopping for my paper soldiers, and as I glanced down the hall, I saw Mr. A asking a passerby if she had anyone interested in novels. He was smiling as though he was good-nature itself, and looked polite as she answered in the negative. I was repulsed—no, to be more accurate, I was sickened. Here was a man whom I had seen angrily barking at his daughters fifteen minutes earlier, now looking pleasant and gentlemanly to the customers. He was a man with two faces: one for his family and one for his customers. Yet I daresay that few of his customers ever suspected he had been berating his daughters not a quarter-hour earlier.Now there was another author I watched: Miss B. She had no family at her booth; yet whenever I saw her in a lull between customers, she had a pleasant and amiable face. I talked with her and she seemed a kind lady. What a contrast between these two authors!
I came away from INCH thinking about what I had seen. How often are we kinder to strangers, whom we have not seen before, than to our families, who love us? I am not speaking from an ivory tower; I too am a fellow-struggler in this area. Hopefully this tale of two authors will cause us all to be kinder--both to our families and strangers.
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”—1 John 4:20-21
*More information about Through All Ages LLC can be found at www.ThroughAllAges.com
Friday, June 3, 2016
Yorktown Speech Update
A little while ago, I mentioned that I would be giving a speech on the Battle of Yorktown at the Information Network for Christian Homes convention. (To read it, go to http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2016/03/an-announcement.html)
While at INCH, before I was to speak, I was very nervous when I thought about it. When it came time for me to give my speech, God took away all my fears. My dominant thought was that I was talking to friends about a subject I love and am passionate about.
My brother counted the audience and stated that there were about 50 people in attendance. This, again, was God's blessing, for I had only expected 6-12 people. Afterwards, a few people said they learned something new about Yorktown.
This speech was recorded and is now available for purchase at: http://www.dovecds.com/shop/inch/069-jachim-jordan-a-providential-view-of-the-battle-of-yorktown-funshop/. In the interest of full disclosure, I make no money if you order this MP3.
This is a description of my workshop, taken from INCH's website. (https://www.inch.org/conference/inch-speakers/workshop-by-speaker/)
A Providential View of the Battle of Yorktown The 1781 Battle of Yorktown ultimately decided American independence from Great Britain. In this lecture, homeschool graduate and history lover Jordan Jachim will show how God was working to bring all the pieces together at a little-known port named Yorktown. See how the plans of Benedict Arnold, Lord Charles Cornwallis, General Rochambeau and George Washington worked to bring about this battle. Discover heroes in the American, British, and French armies. And learn how God directed even the wind and tides to bring about His purpose.
Monday, March 21, 2016
An Announcement
"The 1781 Battle of Yorktown ultimately decided American independence from Great Britain. In this lecture, homeschool graduate and history lover Jordan Jachim will show how God was working to bring all the pieces together at a little-known port named Yorktown. See how the plans of Benedict Arnold, Lord Charles Cornwallis, General Rochambeau and George Washington worked to bring about this battle. Discover heroes in the American, British, and French armies. And learn how God directed even the wind and tides to bring about His purpose." (description from https://www.inch.org/conference/inch-speakers/workshop-by-speaker/)
If you will be at INCH, I would love to see you!
Friday, February 19, 2016
Introducing Red Coats and Ruffles!
Hello everyone! I recently started a new blog called Red Coats and Ruffles. Red Coats and Ruffles is dedicated to my painted toy soldier collection. Each soldier will be tagged with their historical era, manufacturer, and army. There will be historical figures as well as some from movies and books (like Will Reynolds, left). The primary era Red Coats and Ruffles will cover is the 1700s and most soldiers are in 54mm scale. Visit it at www.redcoatsandruffles.blogspot.com!
Friday, January 29, 2016
New "About Me" Page
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| Me at Fort Michilmackinac 2012 |
Defending the Legacy is fast approaching its sixth birthday (May of 2016), but in all that time I have never put up an "About Me" page. At last, that is remedied (better late than never)! I hope that this helps you my readers get to know me and this blog a little bit better. This page includes:
1. A brief overview of my love of history
2. Why I chose the name Defending the Legacy
3. The blog's journey over these 6 years
To read more, please click below:
Friday, January 1, 2016
Defending the Legacy--Plans for 2016
As the new year dawns, I want to write 50 blog posts (about one a week) here on Defending the Legacy. By December 31, 2016, I hope to have written:
The remaining 31 posts will mainly include the same things that usually appear here: painting galleries, historical quotes and articles.
- At least 12 book reviews (including one of King by J. Aaron Gruben)
- At least 4 movie reviews (including a review of Alone yet not Alone)
- 6 short stories (including The Homeschool Spaceship)
- At least 6 photo galleries of painted soldiers (including the grenadier and center companies of the 80th Regiment, Royal Edinburgh Volunteers)
- An "About Me" page (to introduce myself more personally)
The remaining 31 posts will mainly include the same things that usually appear here: painting galleries, historical quotes and articles.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
2015: My Top 5 Blog Posts
2015 has been a good year for Defending the Legacy. 34 blog posts have been written this year (well, this makes post #35). They have covered a wide variety of subjects including but not limited to the American Revolution, the East India Company, Books, and Short Stories. The Christian movie Beyond the Mask was released this year, and because I had followed it for many years, many blog posts were naturally written about it (see them at http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/search/label/Beyond%20the%20Mask).
Here are my top 5 blog posts of 2015. They were chosen for a variety of reasons, including most-viewed and best-researched.
#5: "Lord Clive Receiving From the Nawab of the Carnatic a Grant of Money For Disabled Soldiers and Officers"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/09/lord-clive-receiving-from-nawab-of.html. This one I chose because of its unusual subject matter. British East India Company uniforms of the Seven Years War are not often focused on, but the 18th Century painter Edward Penny gave us many details of the uniforms in the painting that is analyzed in this post.
#4: "Providence and a Book" http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/02/providence-and-book.html. This is one of my more personal blog posts as I trace my journey to acquire a copy of Augustine's Confessions.
#3: "Analyzing Benjamin West's Painting 'Sir William Johnson Saving a French Officer'"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/11/analyzing-benjamin-wests-painting-sir.html. This post I consider one of my best-researched and most interesting of 2015. It is also, according to Blogger's count, my #3 most viewed post that was published in 2015.
#2: "Beyond the Mask--Charles Kemp's India Jacket" http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/04/beyond-mask-charles-kemps-india-jacket.html. Without question, this was my most-viewed post of 2015 according to Blogger's statistics. In it, I explore one costume from the movie Beyond the Mask that may seem unusual; however it is solidly based in historical fact.
#1: "With Truth and Grace"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/12/short-story-with-truth-and-grace.html.
I am very pleased with how this short story turned out, especially considering that I had been on a long hiatus from writing fiction. But this is more than just a story; it is based on a real journey that I went through. I wrote this in an effort to distill the lessons that I learned and share them with others.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who read and comment on my blog. Blogging can be a very solitary activity, and I love hearing your thoughts and reactions to what you have read. I hope that you all had a good year in 2015!
~Jordan
Here are my top 5 blog posts of 2015. They were chosen for a variety of reasons, including most-viewed and best-researched.
#5: "Lord Clive Receiving From the Nawab of the Carnatic a Grant of Money For Disabled Soldiers and Officers"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/09/lord-clive-receiving-from-nawab-of.html. This one I chose because of its unusual subject matter. British East India Company uniforms of the Seven Years War are not often focused on, but the 18th Century painter Edward Penny gave us many details of the uniforms in the painting that is analyzed in this post.
#4: "Providence and a Book" http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/02/providence-and-book.html. This is one of my more personal blog posts as I trace my journey to acquire a copy of Augustine's Confessions.
#3: "Analyzing Benjamin West's Painting 'Sir William Johnson Saving a French Officer'"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/11/analyzing-benjamin-wests-painting-sir.html. This post I consider one of my best-researched and most interesting of 2015. It is also, according to Blogger's count, my #3 most viewed post that was published in 2015.
#2: "Beyond the Mask--Charles Kemp's India Jacket" http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/04/beyond-mask-charles-kemps-india-jacket.html. Without question, this was my most-viewed post of 2015 according to Blogger's statistics. In it, I explore one costume from the movie Beyond the Mask that may seem unusual; however it is solidly based in historical fact.
#1: "With Truth and Grace"
http://defendingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2015/12/short-story-with-truth-and-grace.html.
I am very pleased with how this short story turned out, especially considering that I had been on a long hiatus from writing fiction. But this is more than just a story; it is based on a real journey that I went through. I wrote this in an effort to distill the lessons that I learned and share them with others.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who read and comment on my blog. Blogging can be a very solitary activity, and I love hearing your thoughts and reactions to what you have read. I hope that you all had a good year in 2015!
~Jordan
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Through All Ages's Facebook Page
I have started a business selling historical posters, postcards, and paper soldiers. You can see it at www.ThroughAllAges.com. As part of promoting my business, I also created a Facebook page for my business. There, I cover many of the same things that I do here, like historical paintings and quotes. I also spotlight a different product every week, with behind-the-scenes tidbits or historical background on it. And sometimes, I even post a sneak preview of an upcoming product! Check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Through-All-Ages-LLC/922590424422622
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Liebster Blog Award!
My blog has been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Pearl of Tyburn at www.silverscreenspiritual.blogspot.com! I am very grateful! Thank you very much!
The rules for this award are: 1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog. 2. Answer their 11 questions. 3. Post 11 random things about yourself. 4. Nominate 11 other blogs with under 200 followers for this award. 5. Ask them 11 questions.
So here are Pearl of Tyburn’s 11 questions.
1. What do you consider the greatest movie of all time and why?
I believe that the greatest movie of all time is the Jesus film by Campus Crusade for Christ. A well-made adaptation of the Gospel of Luke, it has travelled the world with its important message.
2. What do you consider the worst movie of all time and why?
I’m afraid I am not able to answer this question. I have enjoyed most movies I have watched (except for Sybil Ludington and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel). However, picking the worst of film history is beyond me.
3. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Difficult to answer. One actress’s performance that I was impressed by was Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities (1936).
4. Who is your least favorite actor/actress?
I don’t know, but I have seen some rather poor performances.
5. What scene from a movie do you find the most inspirational?
The most inspirational scene for me is from The Longest Day, when the British paratrooper commander remembers his orders to “hold until relieved”, with only a handful of men. Honorable mention to Brotus (from Pendragon) ordering his line to be extended and meeting the criticism of “it’s certain death” with the retort “Then we die here!”
6. What movies have made you laugh the most?
Bugs Bunny, hands down, even though it is not a movie.
7. What movies have made you cry the most?
I’m not usually one to cry though movies, but probably Mrs. Miniver.
8. What movie do you find the most hoaky?
Definitely Sybil Ludington, but honorable (dishonorable?) mention to the end song of The Longest Day.
9. If you could only watch one more movie forever, what would it be?
The Longest Day.
10. What are some movies you’ve wanted to watch but never gotten the chance?
Beyond the Mask (I’m an extra in it!)
Waterloo
Zulu
11. What are your top 5 movies you would like me to watch and review?
Beyond the Mask
Alone Yet not Alone
Zulu
The Lego Movie
Waterloo
11 Random Things about myself
1. I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and am glad to be part of a church that loves Him too.
3. I love root beer, especially in a root beer float.
4. Building with Lego bricks is a hobby of mine.
5. I am the oldest of four siblings.
6. I was a construction worker and extra for the Christian movie Beyond the Mask.
7. I think that John Williams is the greatest modern composer.
8. Most of the books I own are about history
9. I paint my own 54mm plastic American Revolution soldiers and am expanding into Seven Years War in India
10. I love old paintings.
11. I am a contributor for the Young Patriot Magazine.
And now for my blog nominations:
And here are my 11 questions:
1. What is your favorite movie?
2. In the Seven Years’ War, would you side with the French or the British?
3. Do you play chess?
4. John Williams or Hans Zimmer?
5. What is your favorite historical era?
6. Do you like root beer?
7. How far back can you trace your family’s history?
8. What is the most interesting job that you have worked at?
9. What is the most important thing you have learned while blogging?
10. What is your least favorite movie?
11. Would you be interested in hosting a giveaway of Through All Ages’s products? (Check them out at ThroughAllAges.com and please contact me if so!)
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Announcing my New Business!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Liberty Day 2014
For several years our family has attended Liberty Day in central Illinois. Liberty Day is a celebration of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech. Check it out (and watch the award-winning trailer) at www.libertyday.net. Hoping to see you at Liberty Day 2014!
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Thought on the New Year
"And yet ye cannot tell what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and afterward vanisheth away."--James 4:14God has been so good to give us all the year of 2013 and the beginning of 2014. But we must remember that our life is passing away and that we must "the night cometh when no man can work." (John 9:4) God has given us today--let's work for Him!
Painting "Life is like a Sundial" by Laslett John Pott.
Monday, December 2, 2013
A Request of My Blog Readers
2013 has nearly ended and the new year is almost upon us. For 2014, what would you like to see on this blog? Please leave comments and be as specific as possible. Do you want more coverage of a certain time period (e.g. War of the Polish Succession 1733-36)? Or do you like a certain kind of post (e.g. art galleries)? Or are you entirely pleased with the way things are now? Your feedback is very important to me. Thank you!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Reformation Day Faire—After Action Report
Reformation Day Faire—After Action Report
From October 18-20, my family and I went to Providence
Church’s Reformation Day Faire. The
theme of this year’s Faire was “Celtic Christianity” and the lecturers were Dr.
Marcus Serven, Dr. R. C. Sproul Jr., and Providence’s own Rev. James
McDonald. It began Friday afternoon and
lasted until Saturday night. Pastor
McDonald stated his three goals for the conference: “to strengthen your faith,
to encourage your family, and to have fun!”
Friday began with a lecture by Dr. Serven. Entitled “Doctrine Divides,” it was an
overview of the distinctive doctrines of the Celtic Church. For those interested, all lectures are
available, for free, at http://www.providencecpc.org/category/resources/media/special-messages/reformation-day/
The next lecture was by Dr. Sproul Jr. It was titled “Liturgical Worship and Celtic
Christianity.”
After another break came Psalm Instruction, where all who
desired could learn/practice singing in four-part harmony. There were two songs this year “Psalm 144”
and “We Lift up as our Shield God’s Name,” a shortened version of St. Patrick’s
Breastplate.
Next came “The Celtic Church and Missions” a lecture
charting the amazing missionary endeavors of the Celtic Church. St. Brendan and others were featured in this
lecture by Dr. Serven.
After this lecture came a dinner break, followed by an
informal “jam session” from Andy Kenway and his two brothers. Next came a concert by Mr. Charlie Zahm. The concert closed a fun-filled day, but
there was another action-packed day to come.
The first lecture on Saturday was “The Living Theology of
Patrick” by Dr. Sproul Jr. This lecture
detailed how Patrick of Ireland’s theology influenced all of his life.
After another break came “One Simple Life: Reflecting on
Patrick of Ireland” by Rev. McDonald. He
gave an overview of the extraordinary life of Patrick.
The last lecture of the conference was “From Minister to
Parish” by Dr. Sproul Jr. It was a call
to action for all Christians, to go into their parish, the world, bringing
Christ’s light.
Dr. Sproul’s was the last lecture, so we dispersed for lunch,
but the conference was far from over!
After lunch was “Towne Square”, an ambient area of the
parking lot dedicated to hands-on activities from the era. For example, you could copy a manuscript, or
dip a candle, or participate in many other crafts.
When the “Towne Square” had finished, we followed the bagpiper
to a nearby park, to participate in Highland Games. Young men could toss the caber (a large log)
or throw a roughly 40 lb. rock. For
younger athletes, a smaller rock was provided.
When everyone who wanted to had sent the caber and rocks
through the air, the last event of the Highland Games was announced: the
far-famed Boffer War. A “Boffer” is a
PVC pipe, wrapped in foam (to lessen the impact) and then liberally covered
with duct tape. These are used like
swords as men and boys run around and try to deck someone else with them. The rules for the game are very simple: “One
hit and you’re out; hit someone on the head and you’re out.” The head is protected, but this didn’t stop
at least one person from getting his glasses hit and twisted on his face.
The most-anticipated part of the Boffer War, though, is the
melee. The players are split into two
teams, who then battle it out. The last
team left on the field, wins. In that
round, I managed to lose any teammates I recognized (or any enemies I recognized
for that matter) and spent most of the battle wandering around cluelessly. I was not alone in this confusion, as I
walked into a group of perhaps fifteen other baffled Boffer-ists. Finally, I was hit by an opponent and went
out of the game for that round.
After the games came dinner, prepared by the folk of
Providence Church. As always (this is my
third year at Reformation Day Faire), the dinner was delicious.
The last event in the queue was a Historic Ball. The dances were of the English Country sort. This was an enjoyable end to a very enjoyable
weekend! Pictures will be forthcoming.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Recap of 2012--Thank You!
First, a thank-you to all my readers. Without you, this blog would not be where it is today. If I have encouraged, inspired, or challenged any one of the readers of this blog, I am satisfied (but would like a comment!). And if something in my writing has been unclear or slightly off-target, please point it out.
Quotes from great men appeared, whether on humility, or the use of the Bible. Anecdotes, too, were shared during this year. Some came from the 1755 Battle on the Monongahela, while one was on "Mercy at Prestonpans."
One series I see as especially important was on the five-year anniversary of Vision Forum's Jamestown Quadricentenial. The Quadricentenial was a turning point for our family.
The "Noble Women" series was continued for another 12 months. This series pays tribute to some of the perhaps lesser-known, yet noble, women of the 17th and 18th Centuries. In 2012, Madame de Drucour and Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska were honored, among others.
Also during this year, I posted "French and Indian War Gallery by Howard Pyle", to share some of that great artist's pictures of the 1754-1759 period. This post was found and linked to by the author of "Flintlock and Tomahawk", which was a great blessing to me.
"Dance and Covenant Community" and "On the Buckley Rule" dealt with dancing and conservatism, respectively.
For 2013, what would my readers like to see? Please drop me a comment if you have a topic/subject/etc which you would like me to cover!
"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. (Psalm 115:1)" That is my prayer for the new year.
Quotes from great men appeared, whether on humility, or the use of the Bible. Anecdotes, too, were shared during this year. Some came from the 1755 Battle on the Monongahela, while one was on "Mercy at Prestonpans."
One series I see as especially important was on the five-year anniversary of Vision Forum's Jamestown Quadricentenial. The Quadricentenial was a turning point for our family.
The "Noble Women" series was continued for another 12 months. This series pays tribute to some of the perhaps lesser-known, yet noble, women of the 17th and 18th Centuries. In 2012, Madame de Drucour and Princess Maria Clementina Sobieska were honored, among others.
Also during this year, I posted "French and Indian War Gallery by Howard Pyle", to share some of that great artist's pictures of the 1754-1759 period. This post was found and linked to by the author of "Flintlock and Tomahawk", which was a great blessing to me.
"Dance and Covenant Community" and "On the Buckley Rule" dealt with dancing and conservatism, respectively.
For 2013, what would my readers like to see? Please drop me a comment if you have a topic/subject/etc which you would like me to cover!
"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. (Psalm 115:1)" That is my prayer for the new year.
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