R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 72
July 21, 2014
Book Review: The Harbinger
In reading The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn, I began reading it as an non-fiction work. That was how the book was originally described to me, but I soon found out that it is actually a book of fiction.
Although the story purports to be a real revelation, it bears the marks of fiction by its narrative (a fictional hero and a fictional prophet) and by some of the claims and assertions.
The book concerns a prophecy found at Isaiah 9:10. And this is where the problem with the book begins. Throughout the book the prophet asserts that Isaiah 9:10 is a prophecy to Israel and to America! I believe most Bible scholars would agree that such an understanding of Scripture is false for three reasons:
1) America is not found in the Bible unless you strain and stretch the Scriptures.
2) Applying prophecies directed at Israel to America is not proper Bible exegesis for people who believe the Bible is the Word of God. It is one thing to apply Bible principles to America, quite another to apply prophecy.
3) The word "Vow." According to Bible scholars a vow in the Bible was always between man and God, not between men. The vow in Isaiah 9:10 is such a vow, while the vows made by Americans after 9/11 were made to fellow Americans and to terrorists.
The underlying principle in this book is: Any nation, including America, that turns its back on God can expect God's judgment. This principle has been taught and preached for decades; it is not a mystery.
While I totally agree with the principle, I find the assertion that the prophecy has anything to do with America to be false.
But what about the book? When I read it as a novel I found it hard to put down. It kept me on the edge, wondering what was coming next. Throughout the book the identity of the prophet was a mystery (actually the only real mystery).
If I was grading the book as a novel, I would give it 3 1/2 stars. But the author markets the book as a revelation; a book of factual knowledge. As such I am forced to lower the rating to 2 stars. Its facts are unconvincing and sometimes outright wrong or misleading.
Although the story purports to be a real revelation, it bears the marks of fiction by its narrative (a fictional hero and a fictional prophet) and by some of the claims and assertions.
The book concerns a prophecy found at Isaiah 9:10. And this is where the problem with the book begins. Throughout the book the prophet asserts that Isaiah 9:10 is a prophecy to Israel and to America! I believe most Bible scholars would agree that such an understanding of Scripture is false for three reasons:
1) America is not found in the Bible unless you strain and stretch the Scriptures.
2) Applying prophecies directed at Israel to America is not proper Bible exegesis for people who believe the Bible is the Word of God. It is one thing to apply Bible principles to America, quite another to apply prophecy.
3) The word "Vow." According to Bible scholars a vow in the Bible was always between man and God, not between men. The vow in Isaiah 9:10 is such a vow, while the vows made by Americans after 9/11 were made to fellow Americans and to terrorists.
The underlying principle in this book is: Any nation, including America, that turns its back on God can expect God's judgment. This principle has been taught and preached for decades; it is not a mystery.
While I totally agree with the principle, I find the assertion that the prophecy has anything to do with America to be false.
But what about the book? When I read it as a novel I found it hard to put down. It kept me on the edge, wondering what was coming next. Throughout the book the identity of the prophet was a mystery (actually the only real mystery).
If I was grading the book as a novel, I would give it 3 1/2 stars. But the author markets the book as a revelation; a book of factual knowledge. As such I am forced to lower the rating to 2 stars. Its facts are unconvincing and sometimes outright wrong or misleading.
July 18, 2014
When Your Writing includes Ancestors
I just finished writing a bubble (article) about my book Dead Eye Will and its hero William Riddle.
One of the more interesting challenges in writing Dead Eye Will was involving William Riddle. Generally I have no qualms about writing about people who lived before my time, but this was a little different. William Riddle not only was real, but he was the brother of my ancestor James Riddle.
The Riddles were a Presbyterian family living in Mercer,Pennsylvania. They lived on land given them as a result of Edward Riddle's Revolutionary War service. Edward was the father of both James and William.
Farmers, they worked the land and played a role in their community. In fact, William Riddle eventually married and became a school teacher.
Using relatives, current or past, has built-in problems. One, of course, is the possibility that some relative living now and who knows family history will read the book. And if upon reading it they find an error, they will not stop until they have informed me.
So, in writing about Will and the rest of the family I was careful to do my research first. This resulted in some real interesting facts being included in the story. But it also taught me some family history. And it both enhanced the story and the character.
Although I had to be careful, I found the whole experience very educational. Not only did I learn about my family, but I learned about the War of 1812, and so much more! There were a number of facts that made their way into the story, thus making the story stronger.
One intriguing figure who demanded inclusion and more coverage than originally planned was the Rev. John McMillan. Called The Apostle of Presbyterianism in the West, he carried the gospel wherever he went. Moreover he founded schools, one of which was the forerunner of the University of Pittsburgh. Perhaps someday I will write a story about him.
That is one of the great reasons I love writing. Not only do I get to tell a good story, but my supporting research almost always informs me of new facts. And I become a better person for it.
One of the more interesting challenges in writing Dead Eye Will was involving William Riddle. Generally I have no qualms about writing about people who lived before my time, but this was a little different. William Riddle not only was real, but he was the brother of my ancestor James Riddle.
The Riddles were a Presbyterian family living in Mercer,Pennsylvania. They lived on land given them as a result of Edward Riddle's Revolutionary War service. Edward was the father of both James and William.
Farmers, they worked the land and played a role in their community. In fact, William Riddle eventually married and became a school teacher.
Using relatives, current or past, has built-in problems. One, of course, is the possibility that some relative living now and who knows family history will read the book. And if upon reading it they find an error, they will not stop until they have informed me.
So, in writing about Will and the rest of the family I was careful to do my research first. This resulted in some real interesting facts being included in the story. But it also taught me some family history. And it both enhanced the story and the character.
Although I had to be careful, I found the whole experience very educational. Not only did I learn about my family, but I learned about the War of 1812, and so much more! There were a number of facts that made their way into the story, thus making the story stronger.
One intriguing figure who demanded inclusion and more coverage than originally planned was the Rev. John McMillan. Called The Apostle of Presbyterianism in the West, he carried the gospel wherever he went. Moreover he founded schools, one of which was the forerunner of the University of Pittsburgh. Perhaps someday I will write a story about him.
That is one of the great reasons I love writing. Not only do I get to tell a good story, but my supporting research almost always informs me of new facts. And I become a better person for it.
July 16, 2014
What Inspires You as a Writer?
What inspires you as a writer? I would be interested in knowing.
So what inspires me as a writer? I was recently asked that question and I immediately went back to the year 2000 and a Bible devotion I was doing. On that day I was reading in the Book of Genesis about Noah and the Flood.
As I read the passage it suddenly occurred to me that here was a factual event that little is known about. The Bible gives us some basic facts including a general blue print of the Ark. But little is known beyond the biblical record.
That realization sparked my imagination! Thus began my writing career and my very first book was on Noah and the Flood.
Drawing my inspiration from the Bible has influenced me ever since. Not just the Bible stories. I have also written a novel based on American history. But biblical truths still influenced me.
So the short answer is that I am inspired by the Word of God.
Going deeper though I draw daily inspiration from the knowledge that I have a calling from God. He equipped me at birth with the desire to write, but the calling to write didn't come until I got saved in 1973. He not only called me, but began equipping me with the skills needed.
But you could in all honesty say that my daily inspiration rests upon prayer. Not my official morning prayers, although those are very important. But I have the same right as all born again believers, the right to go to God and talk to Him (that's what prayer is) and seek His help any time I need it. Not just for writing, but in all areas of my life and, more specifically, my writing career (authoring, publishing, and marketing).
What is your inspiration as a writer? I would like to hear about it. And don't forget you always have the option of asking me a question. I will answer.
So what inspires me as a writer? I was recently asked that question and I immediately went back to the year 2000 and a Bible devotion I was doing. On that day I was reading in the Book of Genesis about Noah and the Flood.
As I read the passage it suddenly occurred to me that here was a factual event that little is known about. The Bible gives us some basic facts including a general blue print of the Ark. But little is known beyond the biblical record.
That realization sparked my imagination! Thus began my writing career and my very first book was on Noah and the Flood.
Drawing my inspiration from the Bible has influenced me ever since. Not just the Bible stories. I have also written a novel based on American history. But biblical truths still influenced me.
So the short answer is that I am inspired by the Word of God.
Going deeper though I draw daily inspiration from the knowledge that I have a calling from God. He equipped me at birth with the desire to write, but the calling to write didn't come until I got saved in 1973. He not only called me, but began equipping me with the skills needed.
But you could in all honesty say that my daily inspiration rests upon prayer. Not my official morning prayers, although those are very important. But I have the same right as all born again believers, the right to go to God and talk to Him (that's what prayer is) and seek His help any time I need it. Not just for writing, but in all areas of my life and, more specifically, my writing career (authoring, publishing, and marketing).
What is your inspiration as a writer? I would like to hear about it. And don't forget you always have the option of asking me a question. I will answer.
July 14, 2014
Taking Charge #2
In my last blog I talked about the need for authors to take charge and I mentioned that we have three areas to be concerned with: 1) authoring, 2) publishing, and 3) marketing. In the past I didn't want to be involved with either the publishing or marketing end of the business. I wanted to write.
To be honest, that feeling has not changed. But the real world facts are that we authors must be engaged in all three areas.
At a later time I will discuss what I will be doing on the publishing end of business, but for now I make use of self publishers. In today's blog I want to delve into marketing.
Like I said, I did not like marketing. But I was forced to learn. Since writing my first book in 2003 (some eleven years ago) I have explored a variety of marketing techniques with varying success.
Here are some of the techniques I have used with a brief summary:
Blogging - This was an on again/off again effort. I tried it with Wordpress, with Website Tonight (Godaddy), and now with Goodreads. Up until now this has been erratic and independent of other efforts.
Book Signing - With my first book I began going to bookstores and doing book signings. I actually had a little success, but not all bookstores welcome authors and it is not very rewarding when you compare time invested with actual sales.
Bublish - This is a new tool that I am just beginning to learn about. Having talked to the co-founder I have learned that this tool has the potential to be the most important factor in my marketing.
Facebook - I have been using Facebook regularly and even have a page dedicated to me as an author. It is called R. Frederick Riddle's World. While FB has increased my public image, I have not seen it translate into a marketing powerhouse.
Goodreads - One of the reasons I moved my blog to Goodreads is that it provides a platform where I can market myself. I think it is a good fit and like Bublish has great potential for my marketing efforts.
LinkedIn - I have been with LinkedIn for awhile now, but have not seen it as an asset for an author. I am still evaluating it.
Newsletter - I had a biweekly newsletter that covered Creationism and Evolution. While it was very interesting and enjoyable, the whole idea was time consuming. Still, it had its merits. But as a marketing tool it didn't work.
Twitter - Twitter remains an interesting tool that enables me to keep in touch with a great many people. It has its own marketing features which I want to explore in connection with everything else I do.
In my opinion all of these tools are worthwhile, but there needs to be a coherent policy that unites them. For a long time I have been looking for that one tool that brings it all together under one umbrella and is consistent with my Christian beliefs. I have not found it, probably because it doesn't exist for authors.
I have found sites that are one-stop shopping, so to speak, but they are more suitable for the marketing of merchandise rather than promoting book sales. So what am I suppose to do?
There is one more tool I used: Blog Talk Radio. Today was the last broadcast, but I must admit I enjoyed it. Since its inception in 2012 it has evolved to more of a ministry rather than a marketing tool. In fact I would probably continue it as a ministry but it is quite demanding and my plans are leading me in another direction.
So what is my solution? I have decided after months of prayer that the answer lies within me. Taking a serious look at myself I saw that God first called me to be a Christian author, then He equipped and trained me to write, and He has provided me with the opportunity to write. That being true, I also noted that He has provided me with a ton of experience in marketing though I didn't think of it that way.
God has told me (no I don't hear voices) that it is time to stop asking Him to send someone to be my coach and to take charge. OK. But what does that mean?
It means that I am that coach under His guidance. It means that I am responsible for making proper use of all the tools available to me. In short, it means that for the short term I must invest time in learning how to bring all the marketing tools under one roof - mine.
It also means that I will be far more energetic and united in my use of the tools. An example is this blog that I am writing. Using Goodreads, I will post this article as my latest blog. I will then publish it to Facebook. On Facebook I will share it with my Facebook Page and Twitter.
Earlier I mentioned a new tool called Bublish. This tool is really new and already expanding. Basically I upload copies of my books into the Bublish system and then I write Bubbles (articles) about selected sections of the books. Through Bublish I share these Bubbles with Facebook and Bublish itself promotes my books.
But the future of Bublish is more than that and will probably figure prominently in all three areas of writing, publishing, and marketing. It has the potential of being that platform where I can speak with a single voice.
In conclusion, I have determined that instead of looking for someone who understands my writings, my publishing needs, and my marketing needs that I am already here. I understand my writings. I understand my publishing needs. And I understand my marketing needs.
This may not work for everyone else, but it will give me both total control and total accountability. I look forward to it.
Do you or have you faced similar needs? Feel free to share with me.
To be honest, that feeling has not changed. But the real world facts are that we authors must be engaged in all three areas.
At a later time I will discuss what I will be doing on the publishing end of business, but for now I make use of self publishers. In today's blog I want to delve into marketing.
Like I said, I did not like marketing. But I was forced to learn. Since writing my first book in 2003 (some eleven years ago) I have explored a variety of marketing techniques with varying success.
Here are some of the techniques I have used with a brief summary:
Blogging - This was an on again/off again effort. I tried it with Wordpress, with Website Tonight (Godaddy), and now with Goodreads. Up until now this has been erratic and independent of other efforts.
Book Signing - With my first book I began going to bookstores and doing book signings. I actually had a little success, but not all bookstores welcome authors and it is not very rewarding when you compare time invested with actual sales.
Bublish - This is a new tool that I am just beginning to learn about. Having talked to the co-founder I have learned that this tool has the potential to be the most important factor in my marketing.
Facebook - I have been using Facebook regularly and even have a page dedicated to me as an author. It is called R. Frederick Riddle's World. While FB has increased my public image, I have not seen it translate into a marketing powerhouse.
Goodreads - One of the reasons I moved my blog to Goodreads is that it provides a platform where I can market myself. I think it is a good fit and like Bublish has great potential for my marketing efforts.
LinkedIn - I have been with LinkedIn for awhile now, but have not seen it as an asset for an author. I am still evaluating it.
Newsletter - I had a biweekly newsletter that covered Creationism and Evolution. While it was very interesting and enjoyable, the whole idea was time consuming. Still, it had its merits. But as a marketing tool it didn't work.
Twitter - Twitter remains an interesting tool that enables me to keep in touch with a great many people. It has its own marketing features which I want to explore in connection with everything else I do.
In my opinion all of these tools are worthwhile, but there needs to be a coherent policy that unites them. For a long time I have been looking for that one tool that brings it all together under one umbrella and is consistent with my Christian beliefs. I have not found it, probably because it doesn't exist for authors.
I have found sites that are one-stop shopping, so to speak, but they are more suitable for the marketing of merchandise rather than promoting book sales. So what am I suppose to do?
There is one more tool I used: Blog Talk Radio. Today was the last broadcast, but I must admit I enjoyed it. Since its inception in 2012 it has evolved to more of a ministry rather than a marketing tool. In fact I would probably continue it as a ministry but it is quite demanding and my plans are leading me in another direction.
So what is my solution? I have decided after months of prayer that the answer lies within me. Taking a serious look at myself I saw that God first called me to be a Christian author, then He equipped and trained me to write, and He has provided me with the opportunity to write. That being true, I also noted that He has provided me with a ton of experience in marketing though I didn't think of it that way.
God has told me (no I don't hear voices) that it is time to stop asking Him to send someone to be my coach and to take charge. OK. But what does that mean?
It means that I am that coach under His guidance. It means that I am responsible for making proper use of all the tools available to me. In short, it means that for the short term I must invest time in learning how to bring all the marketing tools under one roof - mine.
It also means that I will be far more energetic and united in my use of the tools. An example is this blog that I am writing. Using Goodreads, I will post this article as my latest blog. I will then publish it to Facebook. On Facebook I will share it with my Facebook Page and Twitter.
Earlier I mentioned a new tool called Bublish. This tool is really new and already expanding. Basically I upload copies of my books into the Bublish system and then I write Bubbles (articles) about selected sections of the books. Through Bublish I share these Bubbles with Facebook and Bublish itself promotes my books.
But the future of Bublish is more than that and will probably figure prominently in all three areas of writing, publishing, and marketing. It has the potential of being that platform where I can speak with a single voice.
In conclusion, I have determined that instead of looking for someone who understands my writings, my publishing needs, and my marketing needs that I am already here. I understand my writings. I understand my publishing needs. And I understand my marketing needs.
This may not work for everyone else, but it will give me both total control and total accountability. I look forward to it.
Do you or have you faced similar needs? Feel free to share with me.
July 11, 2014
Taking Charge
Being an author in today's world involves a great many more things than ever before. Consider: there was a time when a person wrote a book, submitted it to a publisher, and, if accepted, waited for the royalties.
But those days are long gone. Today you have choices, such as traditional publishing or self-publishing. Either way you still have to make additional choices, namely under the heading of marketing.
In other words, the modern author has be be something of an entrepreneur. And now even self-publishing entails choices. Now you have the choice of using a self-publishing company or using an online printing resource.
You read that right, an online printing resource. Earlier this year I came across the website of an online company where you can upload your document and publish it for a very reasonable cost. I have not yet tried it with a book length of 300 pages or so, but my investigation indicates that the cost will still be reasonable.
What is reasonable? Everyone has their own ideas on this, but for me keeping the cost per copy at $15 or below would be very exciting. (That cost would include among other things the printing, color or B&W, binding, and shipping to me.)
You will notice I have not identified the company. That is because I want to be sure before I put the name out there. In that regard I am currently experimenting with my book Christian Workers Total Workout, which is only 93 pages long. This will allow me the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the work.
I will let you know the results.
All of these choices press upon us daily. And, if we let it, the whole weight of it could prove depressing. But I look at it differently.
As a Christian, I not only believe in God, I trust Him. He is the One who has given me the talent, the inspiration, the tools, and the direction to go. He is more than able to lead me!
With that in mind, I look at these choices as opportunities or, if you will, doors. Some doors are not viable for me, some require opening and looking around (perhaps for awhile), and then there are doors that are "right."
The right door for me is the one that will bring me success God's way. I have learned over the years that we Christians make a mistake when we measure success the same way the world does: by looking at dollars and cents.
While those measurements are important and have a necessary place and use, real success is measured in godly terms. Without going into detail let me summarize: Real or godly success is knowing that what you are doing is what God wants you to do! There is no dollar figure on that.
In conclusion, we authors are more than authors. We are authors, publishers, and marketeers. How involved we are in each area is driven by our choices. But whatever choice you make, you are involved in all three areas.
But those days are long gone. Today you have choices, such as traditional publishing or self-publishing. Either way you still have to make additional choices, namely under the heading of marketing.
In other words, the modern author has be be something of an entrepreneur. And now even self-publishing entails choices. Now you have the choice of using a self-publishing company or using an online printing resource.
You read that right, an online printing resource. Earlier this year I came across the website of an online company where you can upload your document and publish it for a very reasonable cost. I have not yet tried it with a book length of 300 pages or so, but my investigation indicates that the cost will still be reasonable.
What is reasonable? Everyone has their own ideas on this, but for me keeping the cost per copy at $15 or below would be very exciting. (That cost would include among other things the printing, color or B&W, binding, and shipping to me.)
You will notice I have not identified the company. That is because I want to be sure before I put the name out there. In that regard I am currently experimenting with my book Christian Workers Total Workout, which is only 93 pages long. This will allow me the opportunity to evaluate the quality of the work.
I will let you know the results.
All of these choices press upon us daily. And, if we let it, the whole weight of it could prove depressing. But I look at it differently.
As a Christian, I not only believe in God, I trust Him. He is the One who has given me the talent, the inspiration, the tools, and the direction to go. He is more than able to lead me!
With that in mind, I look at these choices as opportunities or, if you will, doors. Some doors are not viable for me, some require opening and looking around (perhaps for awhile), and then there are doors that are "right."
The right door for me is the one that will bring me success God's way. I have learned over the years that we Christians make a mistake when we measure success the same way the world does: by looking at dollars and cents.
While those measurements are important and have a necessary place and use, real success is measured in godly terms. Without going into detail let me summarize: Real or godly success is knowing that what you are doing is what God wants you to do! There is no dollar figure on that.
In conclusion, we authors are more than authors. We are authors, publishers, and marketeers. How involved we are in each area is driven by our choices. But whatever choice you make, you are involved in all three areas.
July 7, 2014
Ask the Author
I have added to my blog your ability to ask questions of me.
These questions can be on my books, my faith, my politics - just about anything. As a start I will be answering questions on Friday afternoon.
I look forward to your questions.
These questions can be on my books, my faith, my politics - just about anything. As a start I will be answering questions on Friday afternoon.
I look forward to your questions.
July 4, 2014
Independence Day
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Independence Day.
This day is set aside to celebrate our declaration of independence from the then Kingdom of Great Britain (now the United Kingdom). But today it means so much more.
Today we celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and a variety of other activities including political speeches. But again there is more to this day than all these things.
As a Navy veteran I celebrate the men and women who served and perhaps died for their country. Our flag waves freely today because men and women have been willing to pay the ultimate price for our country's freedom. But it is more than that.
Independence Day resonates with all of us no matter what are color, our faith, or our politics . Our hearts beat a little stronger when we see Old Glory flying on a flagpole. What is it all about?
It is about an idea. The idea that "all men are created equal." An idea expressed in our founding document, The Declaration of Independence. An idea whose roots go deep within the Bible, God's Holy Word. The idea that God so loved mankind that He, a Just and Holy God, sent His Son to bear the ultimate penalty for our sin.
God loves us! When you work through it all that is what Independence Day is all about. Let me state it this way: God loved us enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us; He loved us enough to give us His Word; He loved us enough to inspire men and women to found this republic and to base its laws upon the Word; and, finally, He loved us enough to give us a group of men, most of whom were God-fearing men, to write a Constitution that is still relevant today: a Constitution under which we can all live, work, play, worship, and die.
Think of it: The equality of men under a Holy God free to worship Him as we see fit.
However you see Independence Day, celebrate it. Be proud you are an American! Give thanks to God for allowing you to be born or to become an American. And if you have ever asked and received Christ as your Savior, thank the Lord for His magnificent sacrifice!
This day is set aside to celebrate our declaration of independence from the then Kingdom of Great Britain (now the United Kingdom). But today it means so much more.
Today we celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and a variety of other activities including political speeches. But again there is more to this day than all these things.
As a Navy veteran I celebrate the men and women who served and perhaps died for their country. Our flag waves freely today because men and women have been willing to pay the ultimate price for our country's freedom. But it is more than that.
Independence Day resonates with all of us no matter what are color, our faith, or our politics . Our hearts beat a little stronger when we see Old Glory flying on a flagpole. What is it all about?
It is about an idea. The idea that "all men are created equal." An idea expressed in our founding document, The Declaration of Independence. An idea whose roots go deep within the Bible, God's Holy Word. The idea that God so loved mankind that He, a Just and Holy God, sent His Son to bear the ultimate penalty for our sin.
God loves us! When you work through it all that is what Independence Day is all about. Let me state it this way: God loved us enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us; He loved us enough to give us His Word; He loved us enough to inspire men and women to found this republic and to base its laws upon the Word; and, finally, He loved us enough to give us a group of men, most of whom were God-fearing men, to write a Constitution that is still relevant today: a Constitution under which we can all live, work, play, worship, and die.
Think of it: The equality of men under a Holy God free to worship Him as we see fit.
However you see Independence Day, celebrate it. Be proud you are an American! Give thanks to God for allowing you to be born or to become an American. And if you have ever asked and received Christ as your Savior, thank the Lord for His magnificent sacrifice!
July 3, 2014
Did You Know About Independence Day?
As an author, I am required to do a great deal of research; the results of which I am sharing with you.
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Did You Know About Independence Day?
Independence Day is commonly known as the Fourth of July and is a Federal holiday here in the United States. The day is set aside to celebrate our declaration of independence from the then Kingdom of Great Britain (now the United Kingdom).
Tomorrow we celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and a variety of other activities including political speeches. But historically speaking this day commemorating July 4, 1776 as the date when the Declaration of Independence was signed actually took place with the war already underway.
This Friday is July 4th, 2014 some 238 years after that historic moment. If we survive for another 12 years we will celebrate 250 years of independence. But if that is to happen it will probably be necessary for Americans to get reacquainted with both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
One particular activity that should be held in conjunction with Independence Day is prayer. Specifically prayer for our nation. It should be public, but it should also be private.
R_Frederick Riddle
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Did You Know About Independence Day?
Independence Day is commonly known as the Fourth of July and is a Federal holiday here in the United States. The day is set aside to celebrate our declaration of independence from the then Kingdom of Great Britain (now the United Kingdom).
Tomorrow we celebrate with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and a variety of other activities including political speeches. But historically speaking this day commemorating July 4, 1776 as the date when the Declaration of Independence was signed actually took place with the war already underway.
This Friday is July 4th, 2014 some 238 years after that historic moment. If we survive for another 12 years we will celebrate 250 years of independence. But if that is to happen it will probably be necessary for Americans to get reacquainted with both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
One particular activity that should be held in conjunction with Independence Day is prayer. Specifically prayer for our nation. It should be public, but it should also be private.
R_Frederick Riddle
June 23, 2014
Did You Know About Christopher Columbus
As an author, I am required to do a great deal of research; the results of which I am sharing with you.
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This article does not pretend to cover the life of the man regarded as the one who opened up the Americas for exploration and settlement. By the very nature of this article I can only give a brief, albeit true, synopsis of the man.
Christopher Columbus was born sometime between October 31, 1450 and October 30, 1451 in Genoa to a respected weaver and local politician. He died on May 20, 1506 a broken man and not knowing the true value of his discoveries.
Like many in Genoa he was a Catholic. I don't know how strong a Catholic he was, but you will see in a moment the influence of Catholicism. I was brought up revering Columbus and, in my early years, thought of him as the discoverer of America (he wasn't).
About the best that can be said about Columbus is that he was a great sailor and explorer. He believed the earth was round and that one could sail west from Europe to reach China. That in itself makes him important to our heritage.
But on the spiritual side, he appears to have been deeply influenced by Ferdinand and Isabella (think Spanish Inquisition at Seville). Although he initially talked of converting the natives to Christianity, his real aims seem to have been: a direct route to China for trade purposes, bringing home great treasures, and the enslaving of natives. The influence of Ferdinand and Isabella may have contributed to his attitude and ultimate treatment of the natives he discovered. Whatever the cause, it is a sad chapter.
Was he a man of his times or an extraordinarily cruel man as some depict? I will leave that up to others, such as Dr. William P. Grady (What Hath God Wrought). But the fact remains that when many people thought the earth was flat Christopher Columbus believed it was round. This in itself puts him head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries. His boldness and the discoveries he made opened the New World to exploration and settlement.
So you have two sides to Columbus: The one side is that he opened the New World for others to explore; the other side is that he was either directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of many natives and his sailors spread a previously unknown disease (syphilis) throughout Europe.
It is a mixed legacy. But the real tragedies are that (1) he never understood the havoc he wrecked upon native populations, nor the criminal activities done in his name, and (2) he never knew about America's existence.
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This article does not pretend to cover the life of the man regarded as the one who opened up the Americas for exploration and settlement. By the very nature of this article I can only give a brief, albeit true, synopsis of the man.
Christopher Columbus was born sometime between October 31, 1450 and October 30, 1451 in Genoa to a respected weaver and local politician. He died on May 20, 1506 a broken man and not knowing the true value of his discoveries.
Like many in Genoa he was a Catholic. I don't know how strong a Catholic he was, but you will see in a moment the influence of Catholicism. I was brought up revering Columbus and, in my early years, thought of him as the discoverer of America (he wasn't).
About the best that can be said about Columbus is that he was a great sailor and explorer. He believed the earth was round and that one could sail west from Europe to reach China. That in itself makes him important to our heritage.
But on the spiritual side, he appears to have been deeply influenced by Ferdinand and Isabella (think Spanish Inquisition at Seville). Although he initially talked of converting the natives to Christianity, his real aims seem to have been: a direct route to China for trade purposes, bringing home great treasures, and the enslaving of natives. The influence of Ferdinand and Isabella may have contributed to his attitude and ultimate treatment of the natives he discovered. Whatever the cause, it is a sad chapter.
Was he a man of his times or an extraordinarily cruel man as some depict? I will leave that up to others, such as Dr. William P. Grady (What Hath God Wrought). But the fact remains that when many people thought the earth was flat Christopher Columbus believed it was round. This in itself puts him head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries. His boldness and the discoveries he made opened the New World to exploration and settlement.
So you have two sides to Columbus: The one side is that he opened the New World for others to explore; the other side is that he was either directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of many natives and his sailors spread a previously unknown disease (syphilis) throughout Europe.
It is a mixed legacy. But the real tragedies are that (1) he never understood the havoc he wrecked upon native populations, nor the criminal activities done in his name, and (2) he never knew about America's existence.
June 17, 2014
Did You Know About History of Father's Day?
As an author, I am required to do a great deal of research; the results of which I am sharing with you.
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Did You Know About The History of Father's Day?
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers, fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days. Father's Day was inaugurated in the United States in early 20th century to complement Mother's Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood.
Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd after hearing a sermon about Mother's Day. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910 where her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, a single parent, raised his six children.
It did not have much success initially. In the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago. In the 1930s Dodd returned to Spokane and started promoting the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She had the help of those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers.
Since 1938 she had the help of the Father's Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men's Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Americans resisted the holiday during a few decades, perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother's Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes.
But the trade groups did not give up: they kept promoting it and even incorporated the jokes into their adverts, and they eventually succeeded. By the mid-1980s the Father's Council wrote that "(...) [Father's Day] has become a Second Christmas for all the men's gift-oriented industries."
After several attempts for national recognition, it was finally achieved when in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
Did you have a great Father's Day? Tell us about it.
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Did You Know About The History of Father's Day?
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers, fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other days. Father's Day was inaugurated in the United States in early 20th century to complement Mother's Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood.
Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd after hearing a sermon about Mother's Day. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910 where her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, a single parent, raised his six children.
It did not have much success initially. In the 1920s, Dodd stopped promoting the celebration because she was studying in the Art Institute of Chicago. In the 1930s Dodd returned to Spokane and started promoting the celebration again, raising awareness at a national level. She had the help of those trade groups that would benefit most from the holiday, for example the manufacturers of ties, tobacco pipes, and any traditional present to fathers.
Since 1938 she had the help of the Father's Day Council, founded by the New York Associated Men's Wear Retailers to consolidate and systematize the commercial promotion. Americans resisted the holiday during a few decades, perceiving it as just an attempt by merchants to replicate the commercial success of Mother's Day, and newspapers frequently featured cynical and sarcastic attacks and jokes.
But the trade groups did not give up: they kept promoting it and even incorporated the jokes into their adverts, and they eventually succeeded. By the mid-1980s the Father's Council wrote that "(...) [Father's Day] has become a Second Christmas for all the men's gift-oriented industries."
After several attempts for national recognition, it was finally achieved when in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
Did you have a great Father's Day? Tell us about it.
