Category Archives: Gratitude

Martha Washington at Valley Forge

Posted on by December 15, 2015

Dolley_MadisonMost people know that George Washington spent the winter of 1777-8, with his troops at Valley Forge. But did you know that Martha Washington joined him there for a time?

She was driven in a carriage by one of her aides and saw miles of the filth, the dead horses, open latrines, and the appalling condition of the soldiers and their camps.

She was escorted through to the hospital which was not much more than a barn which had been made into a system of cots and straw to hold the injured soldiers. She was able to help some of the soldiers who were in dire straits. read more

Our Proud Military

Posted on by December 12, 2015

navy-fleet-QBs-carrier-articleToday I watched the last half of the Army – Navy football game. The helmets of the Navy team were so beautiful in blue with an ocean and an aircraft carrier painted on them. I was impressed.

Navy won the game. And I was also impressed and gratified by the deportment of both teams. It is the tradition for each team to gather together in a group and sing their “Alma mater” song. They did it. Both teams, one after the other. Some with tears in their eyes.

It made you proud to be represented in the military by such valiant young people. Americans should be pleased and gratified to have these steadfast young people protect us and our liberty. read more

Benjamin Franklin and Santa Clause

Posted on by December 9, 2015

Ben FranklinOf all the Founding Fathers, I think that Benjamin Franklin is the most like Santa Clause! Just think about it. Ben was most diplomatic and he just loved people and found a way to get his way in life. He was most industrious, diligent, and hard working.

Ben was perhaps a little bit more rounded than the others, but, alas, he didn’t wear a beard. He was able to mystify his friends with his talents, his knowledge, and his inventions. Ben was also very much in favor of creating happiness and joy at various times of the year, especially at Christmas. read more

Words We Use At Christmas

Posted on by December 4, 2015

ForgivenessThe other day I received a card wishing me Holiday Greetings. That caused me to think about some of the words we ordinarily use during the Christmas season. Think of Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays for example.

Happy is defined as pleasant, pleased, and gratified. Holiday is a day commemorated with festivities and is a day on which one is exempted from work. Does that still work?

Greetings are simply “salutations.” So Holiday greetings are salutations sent for the day you are exempted from work! read more

Merry Christmas!

Posted on by November 29, 2015

ForgivenessA few years ago I sent a Christmas card to my children and spouse. It was a homemade card. Yes, I drew it myself. I drew a Christmas wreath and laying inside the circle of the wreath was Snoopy—with apologies to Charles Schultz.

The words on the card said: “Merry Christmas—it’s as simple as that!”

Then I explained some of the symbolism of the card. Snoopy represents “everyman”. He’s a cool dude. He is snuggled in the wreath meaning he has accepted Christ as his Savior and is “resting” in the arms of the Lord. I told the readers to notice how rested Snoopy looked. read more

Thanks to the Founding Fathers

Posted on by November 25, 2015

Founding Fathers coverHappy Thanksgiving. As I was writing my report yesterday about how thankful I am for learning about the Illegal Trial of Christ, it occurred to me that I wouldn’t have ever written that book if the distributor for my book “Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes” hadn’t known that I had given several presentations about that trial. The distributor knew me well.

When Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion” came out and was so successful, my distributor called me and said they wanted me to put my material about the trial of Christ into a book. And because of current interest, they wanted it NOW! read more

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Posted on by November 22, 2015

800px-Mtchoirandorchestra_ConferenceCenter_(cropped)Oh wow! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir played a rousing rendition of “Prayer of Thanksgiving” today on Music and the Spoken Word, their weekly Sunday program. I hadn’t known before that this folk Hymn was written in the late 1800’s because of the end of a long and dreary war between The Netherlands and Spain in pursuit of religious freedom.

This hymn always reminded me of our own Pilgrim heritage and our Thanksgiving Holiday. Oh well, it still fits, and we should sing it proudly. Here are the words: read more

Governor Patrick Henry, Give Me Liberty . . .

Posted on by November 3, 2015

PatrickHenryI can recall a time after High School, when I could sort of remember the name of Patrick Henry. I even knew that he gave a monumental talk at some point in his life where he said the words: “Give me liberty . . . or give me death!”

I didn’t know when he gave that speech, or where it occurred. But I seemed to think it was sometime around the Civil War period. As you can guess, history was not my favorite subject in High School.

Then in 1976, yes, 1976, as a young attorney, I was elected to represent a Phoenix Mayor’s committee at a National Convention of Citizens Crime Commissions, to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that year. For those of you who weren’t around then, that was our Nation’s Bi-centennial celebration of the adoption of our Declaration of Independence. read more

Happy Halloween, Greet Thanksgiving

Posted on by November 1, 2015

800px-Mtchoirandorchestra_ConferenceCenter_(cropped)They didn’t have Halloween celebrations or trick or treating in the early days of our nation. No masquerade balls, or trunk or treating either.

But they did begin to get ready for Thanksgiving. I hope that’s what we all will do now. It will be here quickly!

“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God, and who has a heart always ready to praise Him.” –William Law read more

Freedom, Founding Fathers, and The Trial of Christ

Posted on by October 26, 2015

HeaderIt’s hard to explain, especially in just a few words, but I’ll try. People always ask me why I wrote my books in such seemingly different areas or topics.

My first book, “Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes” is a book with chapters about six of our Founding Fathers. Men who had the courage to establish the United States of America. The six men are Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James Madison.

My second book, “The Illegal Trial of Christ,” came at the request of my publisher, who knew I gave popular presentations about this topic. This book includes biographical information about the many players involved in the four trials that took place at the end of Christ’s life. In this book I also explain some of the rules, procedures, and laws in effect at that time. Both Roman law and Hebrew law. By understanding these people and their circumstances, readers will come to recognize and grasp why some things are worded the way they are in the four Gospels. read more