Charles Jennens: The Forgotten Behind the Unforgettable

2 Mini Biographies 2 Comments

“Hallelujah! The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!” These triumphant words are used in the famous Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, that musical masterpiece that is traditionally performed at Christmas time.  Year after year people sing and listen to the timeless words of Handel’s Messiah and admire the composer’s genius in creating the magnificent music. However, many do not realize that the words of Messiah, the foundation on which Handel built his music, were not actually written or chosen by Handel. Behind his music lies the work of a man who is hardly remembered: Charles Jennens.

Read More

“Hallelujah! The Lord God omnipotent reigneth!” These triumphant words are used in the famous Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, that musical masterpiece that is traditionally performed at Christmas time.  Year after year people sing and listen to the timeless words of Handel’s Messiah and admire the composer’s genius in creating the magnificent music. However, many […]

Hymns from History #2: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing..?

0 Hymns from History No Comments

You probably know the well-loved ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, a carol which has been sung for over two hundred years. But  have you heard the words ‘Hark How All the Welkin Rings’ ? These were actually the original first words of the carol we know so well.  ‘Hark How All the Welkin Rings’ or rather ‘A Hymn for Christmas Day’ was written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, the great hymn writer and minister who wrote many timeless hymns including ‘And Can it Be’ and ‘Love Divine’

Read More

You probably know the well-loved ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, a carol which has been sung for over two hundred years. But  have you heard the words ‘Hark How All the Welkin Rings’ ? These were actually the original first words of the carol we know so well.  ‘Hark How All the Welkin Rings’ or […]

Philippe Égalité: A Son of the Enlightenment

0 Mini Biographies No Comments

In the late 1700’s, the Age of Reason reached its peak in a time of terror and death: the French Revolution. The revolution became the stage for many fascinating heroes and villains and in this post I want to tell you about one of the villains:  Louis-Philippe-Joseph, duc d’Orléans, later known as Philippe Égalité. Like all villains, Orléans was driven by certain beliefs that made him the man that he was. One of the fathers of the French Revolution, he was a son of Enlightenment Thinking.

Read More

In the late 1700’s, the Age of Reason reached its peak in a time of terror and death: the French Revolution. The revolution became the stage for many fascinating heroes and villains and in this post I want to tell you about one of the villains:  Louis-Philippe-Joseph, duc d’Orléans, later known as Philippe Égalité. Like […]

Some Quotes from Samuel Johnson

0 Uncategorized No Comments

Read More

Samuel Johnson: A Man Who Persevered

3 Mini Biographies 3 Comments

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” Behind these words is the story of a life that powerfully demonstrates the truth of the statement. The author of the statement rose from being the poor son of a bookseller to being one of the most quoted English writers. No, I’m not talking about Shakespeare. Strangely enough, in comparison to Shakespeare, this man is no longer that well known. His name was Samuel Johnson.

Read More

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” Behind these words is the story of a life that powerfully demonstrates the truth of the statement. The author of the statement rose from being the poor son of a bookseller to being one of the most quoted English writers. No, I’m not talking about […]

Hymns from History #1: Be Thou My Vision

4 Hymns from History 4 Comments

Did you know that the words of the timeless hymn Be Thou My Vision are over one thousand years old?  It is believed that the original Irish words were written in the sixth century by Saint Dallán Forgaill. In 1912 Eleanor M. Hull published the beloved English version and it was paired with the tune we know so well.

Read More

Did you know that the words of the timeless hymn Be Thou My Vision are over one thousand years old?  It is believed that the original Irish words were written in the sixth century by Saint Dallán Forgaill. In 1912 Eleanor M. Hull published the beloved English version and it was paired with the tune […]

Adali’s Secret

5 Stories 5 Comments

Adali’s dark eyes flashed as she attacked a dusty corner with the straw broom. Ursula’s words kept repeating over and over in her mind, “Martin Luther was a heretic. He taught things that contradict the Word of God. Why else would the church condemn him?”

Read More

Adali’s dark eyes flashed as she attacked a dusty corner with the straw broom. Ursula’s words kept repeating over and over in her mind, “Martin Luther was a heretic. He taught things that contradict the Word of God. Why else would the church condemn him?”

Martin Luther (1483-1546): The Power of Truth

1 Mini Biographies 1 Comment

“The just shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4). These are powerful words! In the early 16th century they brought light into the dark and desperate soul of a young German monk who in turn sparked a fire which spread throughout Europe and changed history forever. This monk was Martin Luther.

Read More

“The just shall live by faith” (Hab 2:4). These are powerful words! In the early 16th century they brought light into the dark and desperate soul of a young German monk who in turn sparked a fire which spread throughout Europe and changed history forever. This monk was Martin Luther.

Standing for the Truth: Forerunners of the Reformation

4 Uncategorized 4 Comments

When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the church door of Wittenberg five hundred years ago, the world changed forever. This event is what sparked the Protestant Reformation. However, before Martin Luther there were many people who, like him, stood for the truth in the face of terrible persecution. Four of these people were Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, Jan Hus and Jerome Savonarola.

Read More

When Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the church door of Wittenberg five hundred years ago, the world changed forever. This event is what sparked the Protestant Reformation. However, before Martin Luther there were many people who, like him, stood for the truth in the face of terrible persecution. Four of these people were […]

google-site-verification: google736ace4026a920fe.html