The Battle of Crete and A Light in the Darkness
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
Katyn and the Virtue of Humility
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
A Witness to History
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
Odysseus and Vocation
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
Jesus Remembers
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
The Persistence of the Burro
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
The Battle of Lepanto and the Power of Faith
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
La Calavera Catrina
The history behind La Calavera Catrina, “the dapper skeleton,” is long, complicated, fascinating, and not without some controversy. But in contemporary culture it has become associated with the “Day of the Dead” celebrations. Dia de Muertos, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, are the days in which we rememberContinue Reading
The Lost Expedition and the Virtue of Prudence
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
Corrie ten Boom and God’s Goodness
Corrie Ten Boom lived in Denmark during World War II. She and her family helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust. Acting on information from an informant, the Nazis arrested the entire ten Boom family and sent them to Scheveningen prison. While in prison, Corrie watched her sister Betsie starveContinue Reading