An Ear, and a God

It was a normal morning,

All was well,

But his ear started to bother,

This was not a simple matter,

“My ear hurts” he complained,

To his mother he did.

Days went by and his ear continued to hurt,

Simple remedies seemed useless,

As his ear just became worse.

Then one morning,

A week after his complaint,

His ear was dis-formed,

And not in correct manner,

“My ear does not seem right”

He stated to his mother,

“This surely is not good,”

His mother proclaimed.

To the doctor they went,

In a hurry,

No less,

The doctor said surgery,

The boy is not pleased,

He is scared to say the least.

To the hospital they drive,

The situation is dire.

They pray for the child,

That the operation would be successful.

The operating room he enters,

Laying flat on his back,

Bright lights all around,

Then poof!

All is black.

The boy wakes up,

In a room with his family,

They rejoice,

Their prayers had been answered,

God had been with him,

During that dire situation.

This is a true story,

And God is with you,

Whether your situation,

Is dire or not.

When things are not looking up,

Do not be afraid to pray,

Whether quiet or loud,

Because He hears you,

And He will answer.

And even when it seems,

That he will not answer,

He will,

Just at the time that is right.

James Monroe: And the Monroe Doctrine

James Monroe was born on April 28, 1758, in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was a founding father, lawyer, and president. He is also known for his foreign policy, the Monroe Doctrine.

Being the oldest child in his family he was expected to inherit his father's farm when he died. But when James was just 16 years old, Monroe's father died and things took a turn. When he grew older he ended up selling the farm.

Soon after, James enrolled at the College of William and Mary. But when the Revolutionary War broke out just months later, he dropped out of school and went to fight for independence. After the war, James never returned to school. Instead, he studied law under Thomas Jefferson. Monroe really had no desire to become a lawyer but saw it as a good way to make money.

After passing the bar exam, (the test you take to become a lawyer) Monroe set up a law firm in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Monroe's political career started when he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates. He also served as an anti-federalist in the Constitutional Convention. This meant that he actually opposed the ratification of the new constitution. But Monroe and a small group alone couldn't stop the ratification of the constitution. It narrowly passed in Virginia and eventually became the new governing document a few years later.

Skipping ahead in time, James Monroe decided he would run for president in the election of 1816. Pretty much uncontested, Monroe became the 5^th President of the U.S. One of the first things that happened in his presidency was the signing of Mississippi into the union on December 10, 1817. Then a year later, both Illinois and Alabama were signed into the union within a week of each other.

Then, only a month after that, the economic downturn of 1819. This was the first economic downturn in America's short history. Real estate values collapsed, and a severe credit contraction (an inability to secure bank loans) inflated the monetary system and caused imports and prices to fall. In March, the price of cotton collapsed. The conservative policies of the Second Bank of the United States, founded in 1816, accelerated the crisis. Things didn't get much better until 1823.

In 1820 the Missouri Compromise happened. This “compromise” stated that everything above a certain line could not be a slave state except for Missouri. It also said that when a slave child, who lived in Missouri, grew to be older than 21 he or she was now a free person. So that meant that there would be slaves in Missouri for a while but when all the old slaves died there would only be slaves above 21, meaning everyone would be free.

In 1823 Monroe introduced what became known as the Monroe Doctrine. It stated that any European country that tried to colonize any part of the independent Americas (North America and South America) would be seen as an act of aggression. If this happened, the U.S. would start intervening and send troops to that new settlement. At the same time, the doctrine noted that the United States would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies. This policy was put in place at the same time that the Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America were gaining independence. This policy has been used by many other presidents including Teddy Roosevelt, JFK, and Ronald Reagan. The intent and impact of the Monroe Doctrine continued with only minor variations for more than a century.

The Technology of World War 1

The “War to End All Wars” started in 1914. It started very unexpectedly when the Germans invaded the neutral country of Belgium. Everyone was surprised. Why would they attack a neutral country? Well, they did it to gain a better position on the French. But it led to Great Britain joining the war effort on the side of France. This ended up not helping the Germans. Why? Well, one reason was because the Brits had the latest and greatest war machine, the tank.

Now the tank wasn't a huge factor in the war but it did give the allies an advantage. Tanks, at least the Brit's tanks, were agile and almost indestructible. The Germans did end up building their own tank, but it was not as agile and destructive as the Brit's.

The Allies' tank:                                  The German's tank:

So as you can see big differences in how the two tanks were built.

But what were some technological advances in WW1 that were bigger factors? Well, the biggest one of all was the new invention of the Airplane.

Now, if you'll remember the war started eleven years after the first successful flight by the Wright brothers. But immediately after the start of the warplanes became a huge factor. In the beginning, planes were only used for spying behind enemy lines. But in 1915 Anthony Fokker invented the interrupter gear. The mechanism was used to be able to shoot a machine gun (another big tech advance) through the propellers of the plane. The gun was connected to the propeller so that the gun was only able to shoot without hitting the propellers. This invention gave the Germans a big advantage in air battles.

Another advancement in this war was the invention of the flamethrower. The flamethrower was used to launch blasts of fire towards your enemies' trench line and burn them out at a long range.

The tracer bullet was invented in 1915 as a device to see where your bullet hit. The first one left a white for 50-100 yards. But this one wasn't very successful and was soon eclipsed by a tracer bullet that left a greenish-white trail for 800 yards. So you can see why the first one stopped being used.

But there are even more inventions and innovations than the few I've mentioned.

There were innovations with artillery. They were made to where you could shoot ammunition miles upon miles. One gun was made, called the Paris Gun, that could shoot 75 miles, although it didn't have good accuracy.

There was also the invention of poisonous gas. You could spread the gas over the enemies' trench and kill lots of people that way. But, there was also the invention of gas masks, which almost made the gas a mute point. Also, the invention of the zeppelin, a big blimp, helped the Germans

Yes, that thing actually flies. There was the invention of sanitary napkins, sort of like today's gauze pads, that were more absorbent and helped clean wounds better. These were used in army hospitals. Also, the first air traffic control system was used during this war. Submarines were used a lot by the Germans. Which led to the invention of depth charges. Depth charges were bombs dropped in the water and were set to blow up at a certain depth.

You can see just how many new things were used in this war. And most of them are still used today.

The Titanic

Everyone knows the story (at least I hope so) of the Titanic. It was the "unsinkable ship." But on its maiden voyage, the ship hit an iceberg and sank within a few hours. But did you know that the ship's engineers and builders never called it unsinkable? No, they actually never said it. The people who said it were bystanders and people who didn't know much about ships, (obviously) because it DID sink. One person said, "God couldn't sink it himself!" Okay, yeah, umm, definitely over exaggerated that one. In this paper, I'm going to delve into some things that you may not know about the infamous Titanic.

First, I'd like to say something that is pretty creepy. At least I think it is. (comment below if you think so too) In 1898 (14 years before the Titanic's first voyage) Morgan Robertson wrote a book called, Futility, or as it's called now, The Wreck of the Titan. You can probably see where this is going. The Titan was a ship that, while being built, was deemed an “unsinkable ship.” Then it set sail from Europe to America through the North Atlantic ocean. (so did the Titanic) During the month of, you guessed it, April. Okay, if you're not creeped out yet then you watch way too many horror movies or something. Then, the Titan hits an iceberg during the night, (so did the Titanic) on the same side as the Titanic. It hit the iceberg at 25 knots/hour. The Titanic hit the iceberg at 22 ½ knots/hour. CREEPY. And to add on to it, they were both 400 miles away from Newfoundland. So, you creeped out yet? Well, there is more. Both of the ships carried too few lifeboats for how many people they were carrying. Then when they sank, 2500 died on the Titanic, 2200 died on the Titan. After the disaster of the Titanic, Robertson was asked if he had clairvoyance. He said the similarities were because he knew a lot about shipbuilding and maritime trends. That has got to be the eeriest coincidence ever.

Here are a few things you probably didn't know:

Originally, a lifeboat drill was scheduled to take place on board the Titanic on April 14, 1912 - the day the Titanic hit the iceberg. However, for an unknown reason, Captain Smith canceled the drill. Many believe that had the drill taken place, more lives could have been saved.

Although most passengers had to share bathrooms (only the two promenade suites in first class had private bathrooms), third class had only two bathtubs for more than 700 passengers.

When the Titanic began sending out distress signals, the Californian, rather than the Carpathia, was the closest ship; yet the Californian did not respond until it was way too late to help. At 12:45 a.m. on April 15, 1912, crew members on the Californian saw mysterious lights in the sky (the distress flares sent up from the Titanic) and woke up their captain to tell him about it. Unfortunately, the captain issued no orders. Since the ship's wireless operator had already gone to bed, the Californian was unaware of any distress signals from the Titanic until the morning, but by then the Carpathia had already picked up all the survivors. Many people believe that if the Californian had responded to the Titanic's pleas for help, many more lives could have been saved.

In what is now an iconic image, the side view of the Titanic clearly shows four cream and black funnels. While three of them released the steam from the boilers, the fourth was just for show. The designers thought the ship would look more impressive with four funnels rather than three. (I think it does, do you? Comment below.)

So as you can see there are a lot more things to the Titanic than meets the eye. Even though it was a magnificent ship, it was not, “unsinkable.”

Here are a few pictures to end this paper:

The Titanic today:

The infamous first class staircase:

The top of the stairs:

The Cafe Parisien:

The 1st class gym:

A 1st class cabin:

The Roaring '20's: And American Entertainment

Flappers, motion pictures, Fords, radio, voting, the Charleston. What do these all have in common? They were all big parts of the era in American history we now call, “The Roaring '20's.”

Most of the time when we hear the phrase, “the roaring '20's,” we think of the dancing and the dancers. But there was a lot more to that era than just dancing. I mean, after all, it's not called, "the dancing '20's." So what were the other things that were critical in making the 1920's, "the roaring '20's?"

Well, first we'll start with the new innovations. Like now, there were a lot of new things coming out at that time. To name a few, cars, radios, motion pictures, oh and here's one we use a lot, the band-aid. But that is only a few of the things that were either invented or were big in the '20's. (if you would like a full list, go here, http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/inventions-in-the-1920s.htm)

Now, being a car guy, I kind of have to delve into some of that history as well. We all know (at least I hope you do) that the Ford Model T was the car that pretty much put the car industry on the map. But did you know there was actually a car before that one made by Ford? It was called the Model N. Boom, I just blew your mind. That's right there was a car called the Model N. It sold for $600, which in today's money is about 16k. Henry Ford sold a hundred Model Ns a day. He sold 100 of them in 1 day. So with the success of the N boosting his morale, Ford introduced the infamous Model T. The Model T sold for $825, or about 22k in today's money. So it was a little more expensive but that didn't keep customers from coming. And remember he introduced the assembly line in 1913. So, by the time the Model T's life was over, in 1927, he was able to sell the coupe for only $290! Which, in today's money, prepare to have your mind blown, is only $4000! (BOOM!) And the price wasn't the only thing that is mind blowing. Do you want to know how many he sold in 18 years of production? Get ready. He sold, 15 MILLION. 15 million Model Ts! That is a lot of cars!

Okay so now we know about one thing that made the '20's “roaring” What about radio. Well, radio shows were pretty much exactly like our TV shows. Except, obviously, that there is no picture in radio. So here is a scenario: You get home from school on Friday at say, 3. That leaves you an hour to get your homework done before Amos 'n' Andy is on! See, told you it was like your favorite TV shows. ;) (Here is a link to a script from that show, http://home.hiwaay.net/~ajohns/retro/A&A19280429_No.30.5.htm)

And to add on to the excitement from the shows, at that time radio was a brand new thing! You like to use or buy the latest and greatest thing, right? Radio was the latest and greatest thing!

Then there were motion pictures, or what we call today movies. Nowadays we take it for granted that we have movies with prerecorded dialogue. But in those days there wasn't even sound with movies. The only sounds were live orchestras playing along with the movie. But in 1927 that all changed for good with the introduction of Warner Bros. "The Jazz Singer." "The Jazz Singer" wasn't the first motion picture with prerecorded sound. But it was the movie that changed everything. Sort of like the Model T not being the first car, but being the car that changed everything.

By the end of the '20's, it was estimated that 75% of ALL Americans went to the theater at least ONCE a week. At least once a week?! Good grief that is a lot of wasted money! I mean do you go to the theater once a week today?! NO! That just proves how popular motion pictures were back in the '20's.

Okay, so let me see what else is on the never ending list? Oh yes, what about women's voting rights.

Everyone probably (hopefully) knows that women didn't always have the right to vote. Yes, as sad as it is, they weren't allowed to vote until August 18, 1920. That was almost one hundred years ago and we're still talking about gender equality. Whaaaat ? Okay, sorry I had to slip that in there somewhere. But it's true, the U.S. ratified women's voting rights and equality 97 years ago and we are still talking about gender equality. Anyway, back to the previously scheduled show. The ratification of the 19^th amendment was huge. After this, women changed a little, they started to wear shorter skirts, they started to smoke, drink. Before the '20's it wasn't considered lady-like to do any of those things. Women also found it easier to find jobs in the same areas that men had jobs in. (Oh no, I'm going to bring up modern politics again! Nah, I'd rather not)

In the 1920's there were a lot of changes. Changes in entertainment, transportation, and the way we lived our lives as Americans. But not everything was good during the “roaring '20's.” There was also the 18^th amendment. (I know what you're thinking, “ah, not more politics” but this one I had to mention)

The 18^th amendment was the law that banned all sales and production of liquor and alcohol products. This amendment was ratified between the years 1918 and 1922. So, right as the '20's were getting started. As you have probably already heard, this amendment created total chaos in the crime world. When you restrict something that is a part of a lot of people's lives, things will go wrong. I know this is an extreme example, but it would be like the

government saying, "oh no, electronic devices are bad for Americans health, and a lot of

people use them for bad things. We must ban them immediately!" That would be crazy! (Look, I'm not a supporter of alcohol, I'm just trying to get the point across that even though some people abuse alcohol doesn't mean everyone does. And the government shouldn't be allowed to take away private things.) What were the bad things going on? Well as you might have guessed people went along buying and producing alcoholic products. Instead, now it was in secret. And now that they weren't allowed to drink alcohol people wanted it more and started abusing it even more than they had been before.

So, as a recap, there were good things and bad things going on in the 1920's. But it would have been an exhilarating time to live in.

The Book of Titus: By the Apostle Paul

The book of Titus is actually a letter written by Paul. Paul wrote this letter to encourage Titus in his Pastoral role (Paul had left Titus on the island of Crete to pastor a new church).

The ongoing theme throughout the letter was to set a good example to the people on the island. Paul said, “A Bishop (pastor, teacher, or overseer) must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money. But hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, and self-controlled.” (Titus 1:7-8) The first chapter basically follows this pattern.

The second chapter continues what was said in the first chapter but puts it into greater detail. Paul said, “exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent be ashamed, having nothing evil to say about you.” (Titus 2:6-8) That last part I think is big, “that one who is an opponent be ashamed, having nothing evil to say about you.” I think we should all strive to be like that. To get to a point in life where one of our enemies in life, or even the enemy, wouldn't have anything bad to say about us.

Chapter three pretty much wraps up the book when Paul asks Titus to come visit him in his home sometime soon. Then, the book of Titus ends.

I think we should take heed of what Paul said in the first two chapters. What he said doesn't only apply to the Bishops and Pastors. We need to become hospitable and a lover of what is good. 

Paul and James: Did They Contradict Each Other?

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

This is one of the more well known verses in James. James is telling his congregation that faith is good, but faith is dead if you don't show your faith through good works. In verse 21 James says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” You can see here James gives an example, from the bible, of a man showing his faith through his works.

But in Romans Paul seems to completely contradict James by saying in chapter 3 verse 28, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Then Paul continues saying in 4:2-3 , “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” These two verses seem to completely contradict James by saying that Abraham was justified by faith and not works. And if that doesn't seem to contradict James enough, Paul wrote to the Galatians saying, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6) Okay so now it looks like they contradict each other again. But it's not added works like circumcision that earns God's favor. What will earn it then? “Faith” But what kind of faith? “Faith working through love.” Okay so now we can see that they don't contradict each other. At least as much as we thought.

But how can scripture seemingly contradict each other? It can't. In 2 Timothy it says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2T 3:16) This says that all scripture comes from God. So how could God's own words contradict each other. It also says in John, “and Scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35b) So this verse pretty much seals the fact that God's word can not be contradictory. Paul even said, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6)

Reading these two views on faith and works, tells us that they are both equally important. You can't have works without faith and you can't have faith without works.