ELEMENTS TO MAKE A WRITER GREAT part 1

Often overlooked in writing, the topic sentence is a foundational ingredient that no paper should lack. Failing to properly introduce a subject in writing is like forgetting the butter in a cake recipe. Normally this ingredient goes unnoticed mixed with sugar and flour and vanilla, but when it is missing, the cake will simply not taste right. To achieve a smooth, moist, and cohesive texture, butter must be added and blended well. Likewise a topic sentence must introduce the gist of a concept and then flow easily into the material at hand. Generally, it is found at the beginning of a paragraph and tells the reader what the following sentences will be about. In some cases--usually in the middle or end of a paper--a transitional sentence needs to preface the topic sentence to help the audience segue to the next issue. The subsequent sentences should support the proposed topic by explaining the position taken or giving background, logical arguments, and examples which will lead the reader to come to the same conclusion as the writer. Again using the analogy of a cake, the body of a paragraph is similar to the other ingredients which are necessary to complete the dessert. Once mixed, the batter must be baked, definitively binding the elements together. So, finally, the concluding sentence should wrap up the concepts discussed and touch again on the same point as the opening sentence, bringing the paragraph back to the place it started and informing the reader through the process.

Purely Radiant

Purity is a positive virtue for any person, man or woman, to possess. Chastity does not only pertain to physical abstinence and outward appearance, but also to steadfastness of the heart. Young people are commanded in scripture to keep their hearts, minds, and bodies pure and honorable for their future spouse. Keeping one's heart and body pure for one person is a hard commitment to make and keep, but it is essential to the Christian walk. A person with a heart and mind focused on serving God and devoting their single years to His service, is more likely to lead a life of purity, than a adolescent with no purpose or vision for their life.

Purity is not displayed by flirting, dressing immodestly, or dating numerous people. Flirting not only entails giddy behavior around other people, but also trying to sit next to the cutest person, always having to touch someone, laughing at witty comments, or talking about subjects of a more personal nature. Clothing that is worn too tightly, shirts that are too low, and skirts that are too short, are all stumbling blocks to others, especially young men. Casual dating does not allow people to get to know each others true character. It is a surface relationship, a facade.

Waiting to give one's heart away till marriage, holds a certain beauty with it that can not be out done. The beauty that shines from a pure bride who has never given herself away and has saved her first kiss for that wonderful guy on their special day, is so astounding and breath taking. Their pure love is radiant. All aspects of life are like the buds of flowers, growing and forming, waiting for the right moment to bloom. When two young lives are tied together with the vows of marriage, they blossom together forming a dazzling bouquet. Continually watered by Christ's overflowing river of grace and love, the healthy blossoms of commitment never wither.

In Psalms, David cries out to God saying, "create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirt within me." (Psalm 51:10) David, a man after God's own heart, struggled with purity and lust, but even he knew that it was sinfully wrong and asked God to renew his heart. This plea can be offered up to God from any struggling heart in a time of need and renewal. God does not give us commands, only to sit back and watch us struggle through them alone. He cares that we keep our hearts pure and that we wait to release our affection to only one person. He holds our every concern in His hands. He is listening and waiting for our cries for help, ready to assist us in our pursuit of righteousness.

A person of chastity ought to be highly praised for their strength of character and restraint. It is no easy task to keep one's self pure in heart, appearance, and character. It takes courage to face a world of opposing views. We must stand fast and not waiver.

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I must say that as I stumbled through this essay trying to determine my audience and where I was coming from, Caity gave me several tips and helped me quite a bit with this essay. You can tell from her post below, she is a gifted writer. That, among her many other talents, is something I would be blessed to be able to imitate in even the smallest way.

friendship...do we really need it? or can we live via the computer?

The art of friendship is a long-lost quality that the modern culture has completely underemphasized. It used to be highly valued; a staple of adult etiquette. People cared about those around them and paused to take the time to show it. A simple cup of tea and a cookie shared with a kindred spirit meant more then any virtual comment or email ever could. Over the years the importance of talking face to face, sharing a meal, or even hand writing a letter has “gone of out style” with the culture.

In an age where facebook and twitter epitomizes the nations’ friendship status, the selfish population is left to themselves--just what they want. That is the way it should be, right? No. Who can really enjoy spending day in and day out without being touched by anyone who truly cares? No friendly neighbor dropping in. No envelope addressed in well-known cursive. No cheery phone call. No sincere friendship. Everything is computerized and impersonal. Yes, social networking, “e-groups,” blog posts, and instant messaging allow people to exchange words in cyberspace, but that can hardly be considered camaraderie.

Communication has become so easy that people no longer have to sacrifice more than a quick minute to say “hey.” Flipping through countless ego-photos, sending any number of a electronic hugs and smiles, posting “likes,” or carrying on brief but surface conversations cannot equate a portion of time deliberately taken out of a daily schedule and devoted to spending the afternoon in the home of a friend. Talking to a friend is relaxing and stimulating. Like a steaming cup of coffee and a cozy blanket and a good book on a chilly afternoon, a friend will always be there to comfort and encourage, ready to conquer the problems of the world, smile through the tears, talk sense when needed, or simply make another mocha.

Being a friend is hard and takes a substantial amount of energy to keep up biblical gregariousness. But God’s disciples are called numerous times in Scripture to surmount this difficult task. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.” Christians need to be available to support and sympathize with fellow believers; in short, extend the hand of amicable friendship. Throughout the Bible, God says to love one’s neighbor, do good to him, and have a brotherly affection for him. Friendship is not an option, but rather an obligation as a son or daughter of God the Father.

Genuine bonhomie takes time. It must be a conscious endeavor to be sympathetic to the hurting, loyal to the unloveable, merciful to the quirky, compassionate to the suffering, faithful to the fickle, sensitive to the weak, considerate to the offended. One has to live sacrificially--especially when it is inconvenient--in order to maintain healthy affable conviviality between brothers and sisters in Christ. Giving up personal plans and desires is one of the hardest but most important acts of kindness someone can demonstrate to a friend. A person trying to live this in this mindset is well on the way to being the type of person that everyone desires to befriend.

writing classically

To effectively write persuasively, a person needs to have an organized plan to follow, otherwise words can tend to ramble on, have no purpose, and fail to articulately convey the essayist's thoughts. Argumentative compositions are especially in need of detailed structure. The Ancients--masters in the art of winning and compelling dissertations--wrote almost all their books, speeches, and discourses according a few basic rules. Classical scholars often study these guidelines and proceed to apply them skillfully to their expositions. These criterion are practical and useful (outside of the classroom too!). So what are these age-old erudite gauges, you ask?

First: awareness of how the audience is going to be persuaded. There are three different arguments that could or should be made. Logos, is using an appeal to reason. This is the most popular and convincing of the three. It is used to show the sense and logical conclusion of the proposed solution. Ethos exposes the appropriateness and plays of the audience's ethic beliefs. The last appeal is that of Pathos. This plea seeks to sway the audience's judgement based solely on what feels right. Because of its uncomplicated and passionate nature, it is often used to such great extent that it has become easy to abuse this emotion adjure. A quality argument will contain a bit of ethos in the beginning--usually in the rousing introduction of a paper.

Second: the basic structure of a paper is imperative. To start off, the introduction paragraph should capture your readers attention and encourage them to keep reading. It should introduce the audience to the topic at hand, and give a bit of background. This is also the place to state the thesis of your point of view. In the next paragraph you should lay a bit more groundwork, slanting it to match your position--you can't skew the facts, just omit the ones that aren't helpful. In the following paragraphs you should explain any terms or ideas that your readers may not be familiar with or already define them as you do and argue logically, systematically starting general ideas and working towards the more specific details. Conclude with a strong emotional appeal to clinch your argument.

Third: the tone used determines how the audience will view the writing. If the paper is rushed and written quickly, in a reckless fashion, the reader will likely not be interested in more than the first couple sentences simply because of the poor construction. Contrarily, if the vocabulary and general style is so difficult and convoluted that it cannot be understood, the reader will not read it either. Also if the stance taken is not well defined or described and the reader is left in the dark the paper will be of no use because now one will read it. A well written essay takes time to compose. For the most part, the more you put into the writing of a piece, the more the readers will get out of it.

So that is a summary of what I have been learning in my writing course this year. What do you all think? Any tips you would add?

an annotated bibliography

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince and Other Writings. Trans. Wayne A. Rebhorn. New York: Barnes and Noble Books, 2003.

Originally written to Lorenzo dé Medici to attain favor, The Prince is the chef-d’oeuvre of Machiavelli’s career. Encouraging the emergence of totalitarian rulers, Machiavelli compiled realpolitik paradigms to write an instructive discourse on how an ideal prince should intolerantly reign, exercising authoritative leadership. He suggests that a ruler, vying for power, should not let ethic morality hinder him from achieving his design. Modern scholars still read and debate the issues discussed in the pages of this philosophical work; it has been one of the most controversial political treatise since it was written in 1513.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Discourses. Trans. Leslie J. Walker S.J. London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1970.

Written in 1531, this book takes on a whole new set of ideals. The Discourses on Livy are an insightful collection of articulate musings. Depicting a society of peace and prosperity, Machiavelli states that a government should have its root firmly embedded in an ethical groundwork. The result would be a civic people who showed deference to the proper authorities. Consequently the people are urged to respect the state more than themselves and to give of oneself in order to assist others. It is radical but pragmatic with a hint of the ideal thrown in--almost those of a republic--to consider.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Art of War. Trans. Christopher Lynch. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2003.

Known as one of the worlds most informative books on war strategy and tactics, The Art of War, was revolutionary in its own time period. Considered a classic, it is one of the main texts used to teach the thought of western warfare, as well as the fundamentals behind the scene. Many of the most famous commanders, Napoleon Bonaparte and Fredrick the Great to name a couple, read and were influenced by Machiavelli’s ideas. It is a great read after reading both The Prince and The Discourses--it further explores Machiavelli’s thought in writing his other two books.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The History of Florence: the affairs of Italy from the earliest years to the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Trans. Henry G. Bohn. London: Tilden Library, 1895.

Cardinal Guilio de’ Medici commissioned the writing of this book. Machiavelli took extensive pains to detail the land and surrounding towns, the family heritage of the prominent people in Florence. It is an in depth study and meant for readers who are ready for a challenge and an astute academic survey to understand the circumstances and details of the ancient Tuscan saga.

about Machiavelli

Politician, playwright, historian, philosopher, and an Italian by birth, Niccolo Machiavelli lived during the budding of the Renaissance and is closely associated with the literary influences from that era. From 1469-1512 Machiavelli was simply a Tuscan statesman interested in political science. He was privately educated and quickly rose to a level of importance, holding the position of Secretary of the Florentine Republic until the Medici family regained authority in 1513, at which time Machiavelli was imprisoned, tortured, and exiled from his homeland on suspicion of treason. Pope Leo X eventually acquit him of sedition and allowed him to return to his family in Florence. It was during these last 15 years of his life that he wrote the books that have made him famous today. The Prince, originally written to Lorenzo dé Medici to attain favor, is the chef-d’oeuvre of Machiavelli’s career. Encouraging the emergence of totalitarian rulers, Machiavelli compiled his realpolitik paradigms to write an instructive discourse on how an ideal prince should intolerantly reign, exercising authoritative leadership. Today, “machiavellian” refers to devious or unethical methods of obtaining something for the betterment of an individual at the expense of others--derived directly from his chimerical book. Some of his other writing include: The Art of War, The Mandragola, and Discourses Upon the First Ten Books of Livy. He also wrote The History of Florence, commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici. After a brief re-introduction into society after his expulsion, Niccolo Machiavelli died in 1527 at the age of 58.

Slant Narrative of Beauty and the Beast

I am always filled with such joy to think of how I was freed from my bondage. My aunt had always loved to play with magic when she was a little girl, or so my mother told me. When she grew up, she still held a fascination for it and it turned out to be my down fall. Once I was a cute little prince, son of the royal King and Queen. One day my mother's sister was in a terrible mood and I happened to be the first one she crossed. Maybe she didn't like me because I was the only heir to the thrown, and if I had been out of the way, her son would have been next in line for the crown. Whatever reason she had, if she even had one, she cast a spell on me, turning me into a horrific beast. My future looked grim.

My parents were horrified when they found out. My aunt said it was not permanent, but the only thing that would cause me to return to my normal state as a human, would be for a young lady to accept me as I was. I felt sure that no one would ever love a beast as ugly as me. Still outraged by her rash action, my parents threw our relative out of the kingdom. I lived in the palace until I was capable of living on my own. At that point, I wanted to be alone, sort things out, and try to figure out what the rest of my life would hold. My parents, the rightful owners of a vast wealth, bestowed on me a gigantic estate. It was truly beautiful and I was satisfied--for a while.

I had been lonely for quite some time and had become desperate to find someone to free me; but more than that, to love me. One day, though I did not know it at the time, the key to my freedom arrived: an old man, obviously poor and out of sorts. Finding no one inside he began to wander around my palace. I almost kicked him out for intruding, but he was so fascinated by everything and looked so tired and unhappy, I had pity on him and, to his astonishment, provided him with several meals. The next morning, as I wondered in my garden, still holding a grudge against my aunt, my guest came out to my garden and picked a rose. "How dare he?" I thought. After all I had done for him, he had the audacity to steal from my garden!

I approached him, nearly forgetting how ugly I was. He was taken aback at being spoken to by a beast. He tried to explain how he had been lost the previous night on his way home from a journey which he thought would have been a success, but had turned out a failure. Intrigued by this statement, I questioned him and found that he had once been a royal, wealthy person living happily with his six sons and six daughters. "Daughters??? Could it be? No. Surely not." I tried to remind myself there would never be a girl for me. My mind turned back to the story at hand. He had lost everything by a series of terrible misfortunes. At one point he had several trade ships, all of which he had thought to have been lost, burned, or stolen; but just recently he had been informed that one of them had docked safely and was loaded with cargo. My guest had left his home only after being pestered by his daughters who longed for the pleasures they had once been accustom too; for dresses, jewels, and luxuries of every kind--all but the youngest. I could tell he had a soft spot in his heart for her. This daughter had asked only for a rose. When he arrived, the cargo had been divided by his former companions who thought him to be dead. The journey had proved worthless. The merchant, began his return home empty handed, when he was caught in a terrible storm. He spent the night in the cold and the next morning renewed his journey upon which he found my castle.

What a story! I wanted to be angry with this man. I wanted to be angry with everyone and everything in the world. Yet how could I? He was obviously not trying to take advantage of me. He was merely trying to bring happiness to his daughter. Could I be so cruel as to deny him this one happiness? I could tell he was being honest with me so I let him off the hook; only on one condition. While he had been telling me his story, my mind kept drifting back to the six daughters. I had to take a chance. I made up my mind. He could go home as long as he brought back one of his daughters. She had to come willingly though, and he had to tell her the truth about me. I didn't want just any girl, I wanted a girl of character, this had made my chances even slimmer, but I had to try. The merchant was agreeable to this and to make sure he didn't fail me, I promised that if he didn't return with one of them in a month, I would find him and it would get ugly after that.

My guest gave me his word and returned home. I wondered if he would really keep his promise, and had begun to give up hope when one day, upon the horse I had given him, my merchant friend returned. In front of him sat a young lady. I knew from his description of his youngest daughter, Beauty, that this was she. Now that she was here, the rest of my life was up to her.

I did not show myself immediately, lest I scare her off too soon. The father and daughter enjoyed their dinner in the solitude of their room, as the merchant had done on his previous visit. As soon as they had finished, I could wait no longer. I walked into the room. I could tell the man was deeply sorrowed at the thought of leaving Beauty in the hands of a beast like me. I could tell the young lady was terrified, but she did such a good job of disguising her fear. She was bold and responded with confidence. I stayed and talked to them for a while and I learned that she really had come of her own choice and was willing to stay even after she had seen just how horrific I really was! "She was willing to stay!" I was thrilled for that much at least.

Her father returned to his home the next day with trunks filled with all the gold, jewels, rich fabrics, costly gowns, and treasures they could fit in them. After he was gone, I let Beauty do as she wished, roaming the palace and gardens to her hearts delight. I truly did want her to be happy; maybe somehow she would learn to like me -- maybe even love me. Each night after her supper, I went to the suite in which Beauty lived and talked to her for one hour. After that time I always asked her if she would marry me. Every time I was rejected; I had to keep trying.

One day, I found Beauty nearly at the point of tears. I was distraught. I asked her the cause of her sorrow and found she wanted to return to her father and siblings. She said she would come back after two months. She had told me she had grown very fond of living here and would be very sorry not to come back. I knew if she left for any longer that two months that it would kill me. I had grown so used to her being here. I truly did love her and would do anything for her. I granted her this wish as long as she would come back. She promised she would. I gave her a couple trunks in which to take back everything she could fit in them.

The two months dragged on for ever and I truly thought she had forgotten me. As the last week began to draw to a close I became terribly sick and lethargic. I was not myself. She had promised. I was holding on to that. Surely she would not have lied to me. On the second to last day, I lay out in my garden, drifting ever closer to death's door, when my "savior" came. Her voice was distant at first almost as a dream, mocking me. But the voice drew nearer and more distinct. She had really come. I gathered all the strength that was left in me and opened my eyes. There she was! She had come back just as she said she would! My Beauty was there beside me, stroking my fur which had gown tangled from lack of care the last few days. She was here! That's all that mattered now.

I had nearly resigned myself to never marrying her, but as long as I could see her and talk to her every night, I could be happy enough. I had to be content with that. A few days went by. Each night I talked to her after dinner. Each night I asked if she would marry me. Each night I was rejected. But one night, my whole life was transformed. As I got up from the chair and said my "good-night" I asked the question again; this time I was astonished by the answer I had longed to hear, but never thought could cross her lips. Yes. "She said yes!" The moment she spoke the word, the spell, cast so many years ago, was broken. Light shattered the room and there stood the prince who had been lost under the disguise of a beat. I had been set free by one word, but more than that, she loved me! We were to marry! I was filled with more joy than ever could be expressed. My mother traveled from my parents castle to congratulate us, and the whole kingdom celebrated with us the next day at our wedding. My Beauty and her Beast have lived very happily thus far and will continue to do so until "death do us part."

The Importance of Leo Tolstoy

Celebrated as Russia’s most renown author, Leo Tolstoy left and indelible mark on the world. He was a man full of new ideas; a visionary; a brilliant mind; a perspicacious author. He suffered through traumatic trials and came out strong. He took his education upon himself and learned more in the first 20 years of his life than many moderns today learn in a lifetime. He lived a self-imposed life of pauperism and ventured to better others with what he had been blest. He influenced writers, laymen, poets, politicians, and average people--his prestige in literature cannot be erased.

Count Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy was born in 1828 to a wealthy Russian family. In the early years of his life, Tolstoy faced some of life’s toughest challenges. He was only two years old when his mother died--that was just the beginning of his suffering. His father, a recognized military officer, did not have much time to spend with his family but did provide good educations for his children and encouraged them to pursue the fine arts. One of his aunts and his paternal grandmother helped Count Tolstoy look after and care for his four children; family life and relationships were prized highly by all his close relatives. By the time young Tolstoy was 13, his father, aunt, and grandmother had all died and it would be just a matter of years before both of his brothers would succumb to death as well.

It was through these miserable years that Leo Tolstoy found comfort in perfervid study. Over the course of his scholastic pursuits, Tolstoy, inspired by his father and grandfather, improved his mind my memorizing poetry, songs, and Russian history, learning to converse fluently in more than 12 different languages, and reading English, French, and Russian authors. He graduated from school and enrolled in a university to study law and languages. Unsatisfied with the quality of education he was receiving, he did not remain long at college and moved on to educate himself. Shortly afterwards, Tolstoy began his stupendous literary career when wrote and published his first book in 1852--the first of an autobiographical trilogy (the other two were soon to follow).

Disapproving the general method of schooling available to the public, he started a school for the peasants, hoping to reform the modern system of education. This endeavor failed, but his aspirations for changing the way people thought did not flicker. All in all, Leo Tolstoy wrote 19 books and countless short stories and essays. Tolstoy decided to use pen and ink to inspire his readers to greatness. Most of his writings are based on his life experiences, as evidenced in his two most esteemed novels. Following in his father’s footsteps, Tolstoy joined the Russian army, commanding and fighting in the Crimean War (1853-1856). From this experience, Tolstoy drew the lion’s share of information needed to write the famed War and Peace. Written over four years and published in 1878, Anna Karenina is based solely on Tolstoy’s firsthand knowledge of the twists, turns, and sorrows of humanity, “happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”An exorbitant amount of his life story appears in the pages of this book. After it was published, he actually said that his whole life was part of his novel, “I wrote everything into Anna Karenina and nothing was left over.”

Plagued about the meaning and importance of life and death, Tolstoy struggled internally over these philosophical questions for a better part of his life. He searched for answers everywhere and eventually found his way to the Russian Orthodox Church. For the first time he could make sense of his confused and perturbed questions, ideas, and beliefs. Immediately he began to rectify his thoughts and put his faith into practice. This step towards Christianity radically changed him. Striving for peace and a “better” life, he gave away the majority of his money, lived as a peasant, and tried to show Christ’s loving care to the people around him.

Until Tolstoy was brought to a saving faith in Christ, his life was one of debauchery and vile pursuits. He kept a journal of his activities, which ended in causing marital strife later on. After his conversion he wrote several essays and short stories in which he laid out the basis of his faith and showed how Christianity had changed his life. In 1862 Leo Tolstoy married Sofia Andreyevna Behrs. Together, over the next 33 years, they had 12 children (one died right after birth). Undervaluing the time spent with his family, Tolstoy eventually abandoned his wife and children to find a “deeper meaning” in life--he died at the railroad station that night (1877). Throughout his life, Tolstoy remained active in the political arena, was interested in reforming Russian society, and was writing dynamic literature.

During his lifetime Tolstoy was heavily influenced by ancient authors as well as many of his contemporaries--he actually kept up a correspondence with Noah Webster. Some of his “mentors” were: Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Jean Jacques Rousseau, George Elliot, Henry David Thoreau, Plato, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Alexander Pushkin.

*Tolstoy lived during the same time as a plethora of classic authors. Here are a few that I found:

Emily Bronte

Charles Dickens

Alexandre Dumas

Wilkie Collins

Fydor Dostoevsky

George Elliot

Mahatma Gandhi

Elizabeth Gaskell

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Victor Hugo

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Henry David Thoreau

Noah Webster

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..."

October 25, also called St. Crispin's Day, used to be a celebrated Catholic, Church of England, and Eastern Orthodox holiday. Crispin and Crispinian were twin brothers in Rome during the 3rd century. They preached the gospel to the people during the day and made shoes by night. Under the rule of Maximian, they were martyred for their faith. The church canonized them and dedicated a day of feasting to them. In 1662, due to the doubt of the actual existence of the brothers, the feast day was taken off the church calendar and is no longer observed. However, this day is still remembered by some; why, you ask? Shakespeare wrote a speech in his play Henry V given by the king on St. Crispin's Day, just before the battle at Agincourt (King Henry V and his army defeated the vast army of the French on this day).

notable happenings on October 25:

1400- Geoffrey Chaucer died

1415- the battle at Agincourt during the Hundred Year's War

1854- the battle of Balaklava during the Crimean War (the Charge of the Light Brigade)

1881- Pablo Picasso was born

St. Crispin's Day Speech

What's he that wishes so?

My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;

If we are mark'd to die, we are enow

To do our country loss; and if to live,

The fewer men, the greater share of honour.

God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.

By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,

Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;

It yearns me not if men my garments wear;

Such outward things dwell not in my desires.

But if it be a sin to covet honour,

I am the most offending soul alive.

No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.

God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour

As one man more methinks would share from me

For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!

Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,

That he which hath no stomach to this fight,

Let him depart; his passport shall be made,

And crowns for convoy put into his purse;

We would not die in that man's company

That fears his fellowship to die with us.

This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.

He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,

And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'

Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,

And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,

But he'll remember, with advantages,

What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,

Familiar in his mouth as household words-

Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-

Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.

This story shall the good man teach his son;

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,

From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remembered-

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,

This day shall gentle his condition;

And gentlemen in England now-a-bed

Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Xmas and Christmas: A Lost Chapter from Herodotus

by C. S. Lewis

Here's a fun Christmas story that I read:

"And beyond this there lies in the ocean, turned towards the west and north, the island of Niatirb which Hecataeus indeed declares to be the same size and shape as Sicily, but it is larger, though in calling it triangular a man would not miss the mark. It is densely inhabited by men who wear clothes not very different from the other barbarians who occupy the north western parts of Europe though they do not agree with them in language. These islanders, surpassing all the men of whom we know in patience and endurance, use the following customs.

"In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound they have a great festival which they call Exmas and for fifty days they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe. First of all, every citizen is obliged to send to each of his friends and relations a square piece of hard paper stamped with a picture, which in their speech is called an Exmas-card. But the pictures represent birds sitting on branches, or trees with a dark green prickly leaf, or else men in such garments as the Niatirbians believe that their ancestors wore two hundred years ago riding in coaches such as their ancestors used, or houses with snow on their roofs. And the Niatirbians are unwilling to say what these pictures have to do with the festival; guarding (as I suppose) some sacred mystery. And because all men must send these cards the marketplace is filled with the crowd of those buying them, so that there is great labour and weariness.

"But having bought as many as they suppose to be sufficient, they return to their houses and find there the like cards which others have sent to them. And when they find cards from any to whom they also have sent cards, they throw them away and give thanks to the gods that this labour at least is over for another year. But when they find cards from any to whom they have not sent, then they beat their breasts and wail and utter curses against the sender; and, having sufficiently lamented their misfortune, they put on their boots again and go out into the fog and rain and buy a card for him also. And let this account suffice about Exmas-cards.

"They also send gifts to one another, suffering the same things about the gifts as about the cards, or even worse. For every citizen has to guess the value of the gift which every friend will send to him so that he may send one of equal value, whether he can afford it or not. And they buy as gifts for one another such things as no man ever bought for himself. For the sellers, understanding the custom, put forth all kinds of trumpery, and whatever, being useless and ridiculous, they have been unable to sell throughout the year they now sell as an Exmas gift. And though the Niatirbians profess themselves to lack sufficient necessary things, such as metal, leather, wood and paper, yet an incredible quantity of these things is wasted every year, being made into the gifts.

"But during these fifty days the oldest, poorest, and most miserable of the citizens put on false beards and red robes and walk about the market-place; being disguised (in my opinion) as Cronos. And the sellers of gifts no less than the purchaser’s become pale and weary, because of the crowds and the fog, so that any man who came into a Niatirbian city at this season would think some great public calamity had fallen on Niatirb. This fifty days of preparation is called in their barbarian speech the Exmas Rush.

"But when the day of the festival comes, then most of the citizens, being exhausted with the Rush, lie in bed till noon. But in the evening they eat five times as much supper as on other days and, crowning themselves with crowns of paper, they become intoxicated. And on the day after Exmas they are very grave, being internally disordered by the supper and the drinking and reckoning how much they have spent on gifts and on the wine. For wine is so dear among the Niatirbians that a man must swallow the worth of a talent before he is well intoxicated.

"Such, then, are their customs about the Exmas. But the few among the Niatirbians have also a festival, separate and to themselves, called Crissmas, which is on the same day as Exmas. And those who keep Crissmas, doing the opposite to the majority of the Niatirbians, rise early on that day with shining faces and go before sunrise to certain temples where they partake of a sacred feast. And in most of the temples they set out images of a fair woman with a new-born Child on her knees and certain animals and shepherds adoring the Child. (The reason of these images is given in a certain sacred story which I know but do not repeat.)

"But I myself conversed with a priest in one of these temples and asked him why they kept Crissmas on the same day as Exmas; for it appeared to me inconvenient. But the priest replied, “It is not lawful, O stranger, for us to change the date of Chrissmas, but would that Zeus would put it into the minds of the Niatirbians to keep Exmas at some other time or not to keep it at all. For Exmas and the Rush distract the minds even of the few from sacred things. And we indeed are glad that men should make merry at Crissmas; but in Exmas there is no merriment left.” And when I asked him why they endured the Rush, he replied, “It is, O Stranger, a racket”; using (as I suppose) the words of some oracle and speaking unintelligibly to me (for a racket is an instrument which the barbarians use in a game called tennis).

"But what Hecataeus says, that Exmas and Crissmas are the same, is not credible. For first, the pictures which are stamped on the Exmas-cards have nothing to do with the sacred story which the priests tell about Crissmas. And secondly, the most part of the Niatirbians, not believing the religion of the few, nevertheless send the gifts and cards and participate in the Rush and drink, wearing paper caps. But it is not likely that men, even being barbarians, should suffer so many and great things in honour of a god they do not believe in. And now, enough about Niatirb."

(Niatirb is Britain spelled backwards =D) enjoy "plundering the egyptians" this season!

Courage

Bravery is defined as courageous behavior or character. A person with courage is prepared for nearly every task. They are willing and capable of facing rough situations without hesitation and are willing to step forward when a hard task comes along. A man may possess many characteristics, but without bravery or courage, he is unprepared for life. The journey of life is full of unexpected, surprising, and sometimes difficult situations that requite a person to be intrepid. It takes spunk and boldness to stand up for political and biblical issues; to be a salt and light in a world of darkness; to embark on a new stage of life, whether high school, college, marriage, or something else; to be willing to confront people on issues that need to be address; or even to talk to people you've never met. Every day we face situations of one kind or another which demand some level of grit.

A person lacking bravery will not make it very far in this world of constant change, uncertainty, and difficulty. Christians especially, must be courageous enough to stand up for what the believe and be willing to face a world of different opinions and worldviews with confidence. People who are unaccustomed to living fearless lives are cowards. How strong will a coward stand in the mist of a spiritual battle?

God told the people of Israel through Joshua, "have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Where could anyone ever find a better command to be strong and courageous?

People are not born with courage and fearlessness, but rather are trained up in such a way as to instill courageous character in the young people. It takes dedication from the parents to train their children to become what they should be. Teaching them the importance of spending time in God's Word, living a life honoring to Christ, and standing up in the face of giants. The family and friends surrounding a person play a huge roll in who they will become and thus it is important that the parents help guide and council their child as to wise relationships. It take hard work and dedication to produce the caliber of young adult with bravery that our nation is in such need of.

Courageous people are well worth of praise. They have withstood trials and faced difficulties with endurance. They stood when others would fall, and persevered when others would quit. They are also influential in inspiring other around them to pursue the same quality.

bravery.

One of the most admired and encomiumized virtues, unfeigned bravery is a jewel of mankind. The popularity of this virtue is not just a current fad of this generation or nation as a whole. Accolades of this character trait have been prominent since ancient times. The Greeks actually prized bravery in a man above all else and the men would gladly die in order to be remembered as “brave.” In the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary, bravery is defined as “courage; fearlessness of danger; generosity or dignity of mind which despises meanness and cruelty, and disdains to take advantage of a vanquished enemy.”

Winston Churchill says that bravery is “what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” This is very true. Being brave does not mean that the person can be prideful and boastful. Quite the contrary. If a person is truly brave, meek and selfless qualities will also follow. To complete the mental picture of this attribute another quote will help round it out to a more full perspective. “[Bravery] doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. (Mary Anne Radmacher)” It often takes very little to get discouraged and quite trying, but persevering through the tough times is what really builds character.

Bravery is not a characteristic that a person is either born with, or not; it is a goal that must be sought after. Acquiring it takes lots of effort and determination. Many trials will come and it is through these that a person gains the courage to struggle and eventually conquer. The friend and family that comprise a person’s companions will determine what kind of man/woman the person will become. If the friends are always trying to make life easy and coddle the person, he/she will never learn proper fear nor how to deal with situations which call for valorous deeds.

When courage and steadfast boldness are nurtured in a person from an early age, bravery will be connate and a lasting virtue. This will result in a person of rich character that will be prepared to face any obstacle in any situation. “Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.” (Morihei Ueshiba)