521 HT: Dan Graves TRADITION SAYS Columba was born in Gartan, Ireland, on this day, 7 December 521. He was of a noble family. Originally he was named Criomhthan, meaning “fox” but later people called him Columba, “dove,” or Columbkille/Colmcille, “dove of the churches,” because of the gentle character he developed and his part in founding many…
1829 HT: The Reformation Resurgence India in the 18th century bore a scar so deep it cried out to heaven—Sati, the burning of widows alive. Women, stripped of hope and dragged to the flames, were sacrificed on the altar of cruel tradition. This wasn’t worship. This wasn’t devotion. It was murder wrapped in religion, a…
1685 HT: Dan Graves When John Wycliffe sent his barefoot preachers throughout England in the 14th-century, carrying the Scripture in English, and calling for real heart changes, his message crossed the border into Scotland. There Murdoch Nisbet heard and believed. He acquired one of the rare English-language manuscripts of the Bible. Murdoch’s son, grandson and…
298 HT: Dan Graves The merry-making was at its height that July, 298. The troops in North Africa celebrated Emperor Maximian’s birthday with feasting and drinking. As usual, there were sacrifices to the emperor, who was ranked with the gods. But not everyone was in a party mood. Marcellus, a centurion (officer over a hundred…
1882 HT: Dan Graves Never mind that father had forbidden it. Father was far away. Nine year old Titus Coan was going sledding with a friend on a frozen pond. Out onto the ice he whizzed. It broke. Titus could not find the bottom and rose to the surface, screaming for help. His friend was…
1846 HT: Dan Graves In accord with the Redeemer’s command and assured of His presence, we are going forth to those lands where Satan has established his dark domain. I know that suffering awaits me. But to bear the Redeemer’s yoke is an honor to one who has felt the Redeemer’s love.” Those words were from…
1888 HT: Christian History Institute Andrew Bonar was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland and a leader of Christian revival in Scotland. Among his friends was revivalist Robert Murray McCheyne, whose biography he wrote. He wrote other books, including Christ and His Church in the Book of Psalms and The Gospel Pointing to the Person of…
1731 HT: Christianity.com God… …moves in a mysterious wayHis wonders to perform;He plants His footsteps in the seaAnd rides upon the storm. William Cowper, who wrote that hymn, was born in England on this day, November 26, l73l. His life was full of personal anguish. At five, his mother died, and Cowper, a timid and sensitive…
John Knox was the fiery reformer of Scotland. His last day of life on earth was on this day Monday, 24 November, 1572, dying peacefully near midnight. Three close friends sat by his bed. Knox entrusted the care of his wife to one of them. Later that day he asked another one to read the fifteenth chapter…
1873 HT: Christian History Institute During a revival in Newark, New Jersey, Etta Campbell wrote a hymn of warning and appeal for lost souls titled “Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By.” It became a favorite in Great Britain, thanks to Dwight L. Moody’s songleader Ira Sankey who sang it there. The evangelistic team began a series…