Category: History & Biography

To Die is Gain: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

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Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe

A History of the Lives, Suffering and Triumphant Deaths of the Early Christian and the Protestant Martyrs

“This is a book that will never die, so long as men love and serve our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
 
“After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the Book of Martyrs.”


Ever since the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (see Acts chapter 7), followers of Christ have been persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, tortured, and killed for their faith. My last post shared the story of Brother Andrew, who has dedicated his life to helping Christians living in oppressive, atheistic countries. Organizations like Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs provide support and help to many Christians around the world who are not free to worship and express their beliefs openly.

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, as it came to be called, is a collection of stories of Christian martyrs through the centuries recorded by John Foxe, who was born in England in 1517, the same year that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenburg. Continue reading “To Die is Gain: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” →

Strenghthening What Remains: God’s Smuggler

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God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill

“Awake and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death” (Rev. 3:2)…Could it be that God was speaking [these words] to me right now, telling me that my life work was here behind the Iron Curtain, where His remnant Church was struggling for its life? Was I to have some part in strengthening this precious thing that remained?


Here in the U. S. we are so blessed and privileged to have free access to God’s Word, and liberty to speak about our beliefs and worship the Lord as we desire. Over the centuries and even today, this has not been the case in many places throughout the world. Brother Andrew’s story, as told in the book God’s Smuggler, gives us an idea of the oppression suffered by Christians living behind the Iron Curtain, specifically during the 1950’s and 60’s.

It was 1987, the year after my husband and I were married, that we took a trip to Macau to spend a couple weeks working with a missionary family that we knew there. One day the plan was to go on foot through the border into China, accompanied by Mrs. A. While we were tourists there to see the local sites, we also had an ulterior purpose for going there –to deliver Bibles and other Christian literature to waiting recipients. Yes, for one day my husband and I were Bible smugglers, and not only that, but we were caught! Continue reading “Strenghthening What Remains: God’s Smuggler” →

The First Thanksgiving: The Back Story

The First Thanksgiving
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Of Plimoth Plantation by William Bradford

“In this precious volume…is told the noble, simple story ‘of Plimoth Plantation.’ In the midst of suffering and privation and anxiety the pious hand of William Bradford here set down in ample detail the history of the enterprise from its inception to the year 1647. From him we may learn ‘that all great and honourable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be both enterprised and overcome with answerable courages.'” (Roger Wolcott, Governor of Mass., 1897)
The First Thanksgiving
“The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth”
by Brownscombe

What American isn’t familiar with the story of the Pilgrims? Well, I think MANY Americans don’t know the whole story, and some people nowadays talk as if it’s nothing but a legend or exaggeration of what really happened. Of Plymouth Plantation is an account that should be required reading in every American high school, as well as one that every American Christian should be familiar with.

There are only two primary sources which give firsthand accounts of the landing of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving: Bradford’s History (written in 1647) and Mourt’s Relation, attributed to Edward Winslow (published in 1622). Mourt’s Relation (named after the publisher) describes only the events of the first year, from the landing at Cape Cod in November 1620 until the following November. It’s interesting to look at this comparison of the two accounts we have of the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth. Continue reading “The First Thanksgiving: The Back Story” →

Tips for the Would-Be Reformer: Bold Reformer

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Bold Reformer: Celebrating the Gospel-Centered Convictions of Martin Luther by Dr. David Steele

“Just as Luther spoke truth to power in his day, the contemporary church needs courageous spokespeople to identify specific abuses and offer positive solutions now to transform the church of today.”


It’s amazing to think that 500 years ago, on October 31, 1517, a simple German monk unwittingly turned the world upside-down when he took some initiative and boldly posted a list of concerns he had about the church, 95 to be exact. David Steele‘s brief book entitled Bold Reformer looks back to the life and example of Martin Luther, whom God used to reform a corrupt and unbiblical religious system. The author contacted me through Goodreads and asked me if I’d read and review his book, sending me a free copy when I agreed. I initially thought Bold Reformer was a biography of Martin Luther, which it really isn’t. Continue reading “Tips for the Would-Be Reformer: Bold Reformer” →

God at Work, Using People and Nations to advance Truth and Liberty: The Story of Liberty

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The Story of Liberty: So You Will Comprehend What Liberty Has Cost and What It Is Worth by Charles C. Coffin

storyofliberty“If while reading this “Story” you are roused to indignation, or pained at the recital of wrong and outrage, remember that out of endurance and sacrifice has come all that you hold most dear; so will you comprehend what Liberty has cost, and what it is worth.”


In my younger years, history was probably my least favorite subject. In school, I just couldn’t see the purpose in learning about a bunch of random events and dead people and hated having to memorize dates and names. It wasn’t until after having my children, and my husband and I were exploring homeschooling that I discovered what is called the Providential view of history.

In 1876 in an annual election sermon, Reverend S.W. Foljambe defined history as:

The autobiogra­phy of Him ‘who worketh all things after the counsel of His will’ (Eph 1:11) and who is graciously timing all events after the counsel of His Christ, and the Kingdom of God on earth. It is His-Story.

This is in line with Christ’s own words in John 5:17, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” When I began to see history in this way, and understood that every person and event throughout time is part of God’s ultimate plan to bring about His purposes, suddenly history mattered. We can believe that even if we don’t see the whole picture during our lifetime here on earth. Continue reading “God at Work, Using People and Nations to advance Truth and Liberty: The Story of Liberty” →

Being a Christian Behind the Iron Curtain: Children of the Storm

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children-of-the-stormChildren of the Storm by Natasha Vins

“There are no greater riches than Christ, and you feel this especially keenly when they want to take Him away from you, when they forbid you to share these riches with people . . . But people need Him so much! Jesus—is there any name more dear to a redeemed soul?”— Georgi Vins

As Americans, we have enjoyed increasing freedom and prosperity as a nation over the past 200 years. While not every individual has experienced the same level of prosperity or opportunity, generally speaking, we are currently more privileged in many ways than the majority of the rest of the world. We often take our comfort and liberties for granted until we feel they are actually being threatened. We may look at other countries that have had oppressive governments, both in the past and the present, and worry that America could one day find itself moving in a similar direction. One such country that is often used as a comparison is the Soviet Union, the nation behind the dreaded “Iron Curtain.” Continue reading “Being a Christian Behind the Iron Curtain: Children of the Storm” →