Both 'History Friday' and 'Wellness Wednesday' regular features are on hiatus for the summer, allowing me some much needed time with my family. They will return in September will all-new articles. Have a great summer!
The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser
On May 26, 1828, a young man appeared on the streets of Nuremberg, Germany. He was a stranger and, though the boy appeared to be around sixteen years and in good physical health, he was seemingly intellectually impaired. He was babbling, incoherent, and confused. Concerned citizens took him to local authorities who discovered a note … Continue reading The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser
The Most Loving “No”
My son hates math. And I totally get it. I do too. But the weird thing is, as much he hates it, he's actually fairly good at it. When he tries. And therein lies the problem--most of the time, he simply doesn't want to try. Let me give an example of a typical afternoon in … Continue reading The Most Loving “No”
The Original, Horrific, True Crime Documentary
We Americans love our true crime stories. There's something fascinating about the macabre, and the media has taken notice, supplying a steady diet of books, podcasts, Netflix documentaries, and Dateline episodes. And, while the phenomenon may have exploded in recent years, it's highly a "new" form of entertainment. All the way back in the 1930's, … Continue reading The Original, Horrific, True Crime Documentary
Choose Joy
Mother Teresa once said that "the best way to show our gratitude to God is to accept everything with joy. Never let anything fill you with sorrow that forget the joy of Christ risen." This sentiment seems in direct opposition to our culture's mantra today. Our world doesn't believe in choosing joy; instead, it demands … Continue reading Choose Joy
The Hero’s–or Villain’s–Escape
In late April 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett was called away from Lincoln to collect taxes in the nearby settlement of White Oaks. He didn't want the assignment. Didn't trust it. He had a notorious outlaw in his jail at the moment, and it wouldn't do to be out-of-town even for a minute, given this particular … Continue reading The Hero’s–or Villain’s–Escape
I Need Help
So, I have a little problem. Okay, it might be a big problem. My problem is that I *hate* asking for help. (Please, can I get a few 'amens' from the peanut gallery here so I know I'm not alone?) My father was a typical, burly Midwestern "man's man," and he raised his daughters to … Continue reading I Need Help
The Untold Story of Lincoln’s…Kidnapping?
We all know the story: On April 14, 1865, less than five days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox effectively ending the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth, a stalwart Confederate, shot President Abraham Lincoln as he and his guests watched a performance of Our American Cousin inside Ford's Theater. The president died the … Continue reading The Untold Story of Lincoln’s…Kidnapping?
Happy Easter!
There is no #historyfriday post this week to allow me to spend this Holy weekend with my family. Regularly scheduled posts will return next week. Happy Easter, friends! It may be Friday...but Sunday is coming!
Is It Worth It?
Following Jesus is hard. Even as an adult Christian, I find a life of obedience extremely difficult at times, especially considering our present culture. There are times I just want to fit in, to do the things everyone else is doing without having to wrestle with a moral dilemma. I'm in my forties; you'd think … Continue reading Is It Worth It?