Dawn on Lake Tiberias And Other Stories

Free ebook from the author of this blog Dawn on Lake Tiberias And Other Stories. Biographies and stories about historical Christian in creative nonfiction style.



https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/378705

Bio of C.S. Lewis who died on November the 22th 1963. - This Week in Christian History for the week of November the 17th through the 23th

 

Clive Stapes Lewis was born in Belfast Ireland on the 29^th of November 1898. His childhood was filled with books; he especially liked the ones with talking animals. His mother died of cancer when he was young and he suffered from health problems. He eventually had to go away to a health resort and attended school there.

While he was a Christian when he was younger, he became an atheist and became interested in the occult and nature. He read about old Icelandic myths and he experimented with different forms of writing like epic poetry. C. S.was accepted into University College at Oxford and underwent a mild culture shock. He met Yeats while there, and was astounded that his English companions didn’t appreciate his work.

C. S. served in the English army during WWI. He had made a pact with one of his fellow servicemen that if either one died the other would take care of their family, which C.S. did after the man died. C. S. was wounded and returned to his studies after he was discharged. He began to embrace Christianity, partially from the influence of his friend J. R. R. Tolkien, and partially from the works of George MacDonald. He adopted the Church of England, which disappointed Tolkien who wanted him to become Catholic.  

He met Joy Davidman and married her in a civil ceremony, which was probably a ploy to keep her from being deported. He eventually fell in love with her and they got married in the Church of England. She died and C. S. took care of her two sons.

After he converted to Christianity his books became more popular than the ones before and most of his books were overtly Christian. The Legend of Narnia series, The Screwtape letters, The Abolition of Man, and Mere Christianity are still popular among readers.

C. S. became ill with kidney failure in June of 1961. He recovered by 1963, but then suffered a heart attack. After he was discharged his health never fully recovered and on November 22, 1963 C. S. died. He was buried in the churchyard of Holy Trinity Church, and his brother was later buried alongside him.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past      

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

 

The Mayflower Compact was signed on November the 11th 1620 - This Week in Christian History for the week of November the 10th through the 16th

In England the only official religion was the Church of England. Puritans wanted to leave England to have religious freedom and were granted the right to settle in the colony of Virginia. The Mayflower left England but had to turn back two times since the ship which it was sailing with leaked. A violent storm broke one of the beams that supported the ship, but it was repaired with a great iron screw.

Partially because of their difficulties they landed well north of their original destination. Since this was outside of any English colony, some of the settlers felt as if they would not be bound by the laws of England, but would be free to pursue their own liberty. William Bradford, the head of the Separatists, drew up the Mayflower Compact and it was signed by most of the adult males on board.

The compact didn’t establish rules or ordinances, but it stated that all would abide by whatever rules were established for the colony. This was also important since not all of the Pilgrims were Separatists; some still belonged to the Church of England. The colonist headed up the coast from where they had landed and established a town where some Native Americans had lived. The Native Americans had almost all died from sickness. The colonists built their houses while living on the ship. They didn’t finish until the next spring, at which time the Mayflower left for England.

 The Mayflower Compact has been seen as an important document in defining the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. While many presidents have declared days of thanksgiving to commemorate the Pilgrims and our heritage, It was Abraham Lincoln who declared an official date for the celebration of Thanksgiving. Some have speculated that he did it to help promote the idea of America as a unified nation.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past      

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

Short bio of Elijah Parish Lovejoy, who was killed on November the 7th 1837 - This week in Christian History November 3rd through the 9th 2013

Lovejoy was born on November the 9th 1802 in Maine. He graduated from Waterville College at the top of his class and taught at China Academy. He felt called to move to the South or West and was advised that he would be able to serve God better in the West. He moved to Boston and New York trying to get a position to be able to afford the journey to Illinois, where he decided he should go. He sold newspaper subscriptions, but was unable to save the money he would need for the journey and received assistance from his former college. He changed his destination to Saint Louis and was able to find a position there editing the St. Louis Observer and heading a private school. He became a minister and was strongly abolitionist. Missouri was a slave state surrounded by three free states, and this made it a center of the free verses slave debate. He continued to be an editor and his printing press was destroyed three times by slavery supporters. He moved across the river to Alton Illinois and continued to print abolitionist literature. Since Illinois was a free state he thought it would less risky to print there, but on November the 7th 1837 a pro slavery mob surrounded the warehouse where his printing press was and fired shots at Lovejoy and Weller, one of his supporters. Lovejoy returned fire and killed one of the mob. They sent a boy up a ladder to set fire to the warehouse and Lovejoy threw the ladder down. When trying to fend off the second attempt Lovejoy was shot five times and died, and Weller was wounded. The mob threw the printing press out of the window and destroyed it. No one was convicted of the murder.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

On October 31st 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the door of Castle Church.

        It was the day we know as Halloween, but no one wore costumes or went door to door searching for treats. Dull gray clouds obscured the sun and took the sharpness off colors. Martin wandered past a row of trees, which now looked like sticks, carrying a few papers, a hammer, and nails. He wondered towards Castle Church, which stood fifty feet tall; it looked as it were a hundred shades of stone gray in the darkening sky. A few students walked about and some of the surrounding houses had orangish lights shining through their windows.

Another professor nailed a thesis on the door of the Castle Church. He asked, “How’s it going, Professor Luther?”

Martin said, “Not so well. I had another parishioner tell me they weren’t going to repent because of the sale of indulgences. I have to do something to try and stop it.”

The professor asked, “Is that what you have brought?”

Martin said, “Yes, it is what I have brought.”

The professor said, “Then I guess I won’t have very many people show up to debate me over the usefulness of Plato in modern times.”

Martin said, “No offense, but I hope not. This may not affect very many people, these things never do, but if we can impress them upon the minds of the thinking people, then we can effect change.”

The professor said, “As long as the wrong people don’t see it too soon.”

Martin asked, “What do you mean?”

The professor said, “The Pope’s agents.”

Martin said, “I don’t think that the Pope would go against the basic philosophies of his own Church. I plan on sending a copy to Albert of Mainz. If they are guilty of conspiracy in this regard, then they deserve a chance to openly debate the matter. If anyone can show me with Scriptures or plain reason where I am in error, then I will recant. Otherwise they should, it is that simple.”

The professor dropped his hammer and ran away from Martin. He looked back with terror in his eyes.

Martin said, “You forgot your hammer,” then started to nail his own thesis to the door. He knew his words were heavy, but he still thought the professor to be overly worried. I only want the truth, who can be against that? he thought. I only want a debate; certainly, I have the right to debate these things openly. He looked at his theses and wondered how he could protect more people from the evil of indulgences. If they trusted in an indulgence instead of repentance, then they could endanger their mortal soul. He would have to think of some way that he could get his message across to more than the few dozen at best who would be at the debate, but he didn’t know how.

Martin walked away from the door onto lengthening shadows of houses and trees. A hooded figure walked towards him carrying a lantern which illuminated the path. The figure was black and somehow reminded Martin of the time Germany had been infested with the plague.

The hooded figure asked, “Martin, what are you doing here?”

The voice was familiar; it was his old friend. Martin said, “Alexius? You shouldn’t walk out like that; you practically scared me to death.”

Alexius said, “I wanted to come out and see what sort of thing would be posted on the church door.”

Martin said, “I have posted a list of grievances with the practice of indulgences. They are an obstacle to salvation. They are against true repentance and I cannot believe the Pope has sanctioned them.”

Alexius said, “It looks like my feeling was correct. I thought there would be a good debate posted tonight.”

Martin said, “Another professor was here and posted a debate on Plato. I think I will agree with his premises, but I think my argument has much greater weight.

Alexius said, “I will have to look at his thesis as well.”

Martin said, “I am glad to see you, old friend, but I must get back to sing vespers.”

Alexius said, “Of course. I wish you well.”

 

Here is another article; Martin Luther refuses to recant his 95 thesis

http://thisweekinchristianhistory.blogspot.com/2013/10/this-week-in-christian-history-for-week.html

The rest of Martin Luther’s story can be found in my new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

Thank you for reading.

 

 

 

Constantine defeats Maxentius-This Week in Christian History for the week of October 27nd-November 2nd, 2013

 

Constantine was born to a Roman solder who would work his way up through the ranks to become governor of a province, then Caesar, which was the deputy director of the western empire, then Augustus, the senior western emperor. The scheme of appointing four emperors was to try and prevent civil war and to make the position more based on merit than lineage; however Constantine was understood to be in line for his father’s position once he died or retired.

Constantine went to the court at Rome, but would almost be considered a hostage there. Constantine did undertake several military campaigns successfully. Both of the Augustus’ retired at the same time, and both Constantine and the other son who was expected to take the other position of Caesar were snubbed in favor of other candidates.

Constantine’s father requested that Constantine come to aid him conquer Brittan. His father died and he became Caesar. A series of civil wars followed that Constantine managed to stay out of. The four pronged approach to rule was failing, and it was becoming obvious that there would only be one ruler of Maxentitus was the last opposing ruler, he held on to Italy and Rome itself and attacked Constantine’s forces. Constantine conquered city by city until he was at Rome’s door. Maxenitus was expecting a long siege, but Constantine avoided Rome and conquered the lands around it. Maxenitus drew his army out to face Constantine on an open plain. Constantine claimed to have a vision of the cross, and had the sign painted on his army’s shields. On the 29^th of October 312 Maxenitus’ army was routed, and Constantine became the ruler of all of Rome.

Constantine declared Christianity to be legal and forbade all actions against it. He donated a lot of money to the church and organized the Council of Nicaea. His patronage of Christianity has had mixed effects since there was a paganizing of Christian ideas and holidays as a result of his patronage.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

Bio of Ignatius Loyola who was BornThis Week in Christian History for the week of October 20-26th 2013

Ignatius Loyola was born a wealthy family in the Basque region of Spain. He joined the army and fought many duels, including one with a Moor that denied the divinity of Jesus, who he ended up killing. He successfully endured battles with no injury. It was when he was defending the fortress of Pamplona that things changed. The French had cannons, they did not. Ignatius argued that they should not surrender until they could withstand no more, anything else would disgrace them, this was not popular with the other troops. He was wounded when his legs were hit by a cannonball.

After the battle Ignatius was sent to one of his families castles to recover. While recovering he would spend a lot of time reading, but there were not many books on knights errant that he enjoyed since he was a boy. He only had religious texts to read. He experienced a profound religious conversion, gave away his riches, and undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He formulated “The Spiritual Exercises” which is still used today.

Upon reaching Jerusalem he was told to go home by the Franciscans there, one reason was because of his lack of education. He went to Paris University. It was there that he form what would be known as The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.
For more information on the Jesuits, read my blog The Jesuits were formed

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.