Human Interest
Dealing with the pain
There is a very old adage, one that has been proven wise and considered throughout the ages. It is “Honesty is the best policy”. While many will view this rule of thumb as a loose [more…]
Philosophy
Christianity
The Old Testament Prophets in Retrospect
The Major Old Testament Prophets – Making Sense of Them We have now reviewed in some detail the major Old Testament Prophets: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel, the ostensibly minor prophet Jonah, and [more…]
Christianity
Daniel – a Prophetic Vision Part 5
Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness, Belshazzar’s Feast and the Fall of Babylon In a prophetic book of such striking imagery and dramatic scenes as that of Daniel, the accounts of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness, Belshazzar’s Feast and the Fall of [more…]
16th Century
The Grand Siege of Malta 1565 – Part 4
Senglea and Birgu On the day St Elmo fell La Valette received news that a relief force had landed in the north of the island. Under pressure from the Order, the Viceroy had sent two [more…]
Christianity
Shepherds, Kings and Angels – Some Thoughts on the Nativity
We are all familiar with the ingredients of the nativity story: the birth of Jesus foretold. The Census of Caesar Augustus (tax censuses were a regular feature of the Roman Empire and a Quirinus was [more…]
Arts
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Painted in about 1470/75, it is in the National Gallery. One of my favourite carols: Merry Christmas! OldTrout 2019
Christianity
The Paradox of Christ’s Nativity
“In the beginning was the Word. and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was [more…]
Arts
The Holly and the Ivy
The words of the carol occur in three broadsides published in Birmingham in the early nineteenth century. An early mention of the carol’s title occurs in William Hone’s 1823 work Ancient Mysteries Described, which includes [more…]
Arts
The Coventry Carol
The fourth Sunday of Advent. #Love Original spelling Modernised spelling Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child, By by, lully, lullay thow littell tyne child, By by, lully, lullay! Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child, Bye [more…]