The Secret Service started out as an organization to catch counterfeiters. How did they reduce counterfeiting from the most prominent criminal activity in the United States prior to the Civil War to a spattering of successful occurrences by 1900? Check out my new series, “To Catch a Counterfeiter” and find out if you have what it took to bring a criminal ring down.
Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the focus on kindness, charity, and family togetherness. The decorations are calming and enjoyable to me. In fact, I spend three days decorating my entire upstairs and downstairs and then three months enjoying it. Yes, my Christmas decorations do not come down before February. 🙂… Continue reading TBT: Merry Christmas – The History of the Nativity Scene
Here are just a few fun superstitions from the Victorian Era about death. These were collected from the Friends of Oak Grove Cemetery. If the deceased has lived a good life, flowers would bloom on his grave; but if he has been evil, only weeds would grow. If several deaths occur in the same family, tie… Continue reading TBT: Victorian Death Superstitions Pt 2
Halloween is just around the corner and since my book does require the death of a secondary character, I thought it might be fun to share some of the superstitions I discovered during research of Victorian funerals and mourning rituals. At the Time of Death If the death occurred at home, the curtains would… Continue reading TBT: Victorian Death Superstitions and Rituals
Fashion through the ages can be quite interesting, especially when examining women’s fashions. You have the simple beauty of the Empire-waist dresses during the Regency era; the elegant, wide sweeping gowns of the Civil War Era; and the form-accentuating narrow skirts and bustles of the Victorian Era. I love to peruse the internet for beautiful… Continue reading TBT: The Trouble with Fashion
Day 5: Peter is Restored Today’s story is pretty short, as well as the context. CONTEXT Last week Peter denied Jesus three times. There is no additional historical context I can give this time except what is missing from the story between last week and this week. After Jesus had been taken away to… Continue reading TBT: The Restoration of Peter
Today our mission team is finishing up our last day of Sports Vacation Bible School, so please be in prayer as we say our goodbyes and travel home tomorrow. Day Four: The Betrayal of Jesus – John 18:1-27 THE CONTEXT: This week’s story starts with the betrayal of Jesus and goes into Peter’s… Continue reading TBT: The Temple Police & Betrayal of Jesus
This Saturday, our church mission team will head to Wisconsin for a week of Sport Vaction Bible School. Pray for use as we reach out and try to light up the world. Below is Day 3 of my preparation for the prayer journals. This week I am going to reverse the order on you. First,… Continue reading TBT: Light Up the World – Phillipians 2
Here is the research and story for Day 2 of or mission trip prayer journal: Day 2: Jesus and Peter Walk on Water – Matthew 14:22-33 THE CONTEXT The Sea of Galilee… or is it? The Sea of Galilee is known by many names, but the two most important to Biblical studies is Lake Gennesaret… Continue reading TBT: Sea of Galilee
Most of us today think of fishing as a relaxing venture with a pole or two in the water, a hat pulled down over your eyes, and a dozing kind of day.
However, the life of a Biblical fisherman was anything but leisurely.
Crystal Caudill 