Have you ever thought of yourself as the hero of your own story? Many of our most popular stories, told through the medium of film, follow a similar pattern. A hero is called, he may or may not at first reject the call. Eventually he takes up the call, crossesContinue Reading
In the 1970 movie “Patton,” there is a scene that vividly depicts the faith of the general in the enterprising nature of the human spirit. It is during World War II and Patton’s forces are pinned down by heavy gunfire and shelling as they are trying to punch through enemyContinue Reading
One of the more significant battles of the second world war was the Battle of Crete. The small mediterranean island made a critical staging point for the German army and in May of 1941 the Germans launched the first ever major assault carried out by airborne paratroopers. The assault centeredContinue Reading
In 1942 a horrifying discovery was made in the Polish forest of Katyn. Workers uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of over 20,000 Polish citizens, military and civilians, who were seen as a threat to the Soviet regime. Each victim was found with their hands tied behind their backContinue Reading
In front of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, in the middle of the great square, there is a unique witness to four thousand years of human history. Four huge bronze lions, their tails intertwined, wrap around a large square base, on the base is an Egyptian obelisk that dates back toContinue Reading
Do you remember the story of Odysseus? It used to be required reading in school. The Odyssey follows the pattern of the Hero’s Journey. But it is also the pattern for our lifelong spiritual journey. Odysseus, the king of the island nation of Ithaca, is called to fight in theContinue Reading
In all of the Gospels, there is only one time that a person refers to Jesus by His name. Usually people call Him master, or rabbi, or teacher. But one person turns to Him and says, “Jesus.” The penitent thief, no doubt gasping in pain, calls to Him, “Jesus… remember me… whenContinue Reading
One of the great mysteries of Christianity is how God uses the virtues of humility and persistence to achieve great things. We see this throughout the Bible and throughout the history of Christianity. It even shows up in the least likely places, such as the old west. The Reverend Dr.Continue Reading
Faith truly can move mountains. It can even win a battle against overwhelming odds. The tension between the Christian and Muslim world is nothing new. It has been going on for centuries. In 1571, Christian Europe was in chaos. The Protestant Reformation had broken the unity of the Church andContinue Reading
What is prudence? In 1845, two ships under the command of Sir John Franklin left England. Their goal was to discover the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean, across the Arctic, to the Pacific. Neither of the ships nor any of the 138 men ever returned. For more than twentyContinue Reading