Friday, March 29, 2013

God's Never-Ending Story by guest blogger Patrick Whalen




Patrick has been a lover of history since an early age and a lover of historical fiction since he picked up his first Louis L'Amour book in high school. The Civil War has long been an era of interest and intrigue due to the dramatic histories, tragedies and triumphs it represents. His love for digging deeper into the real stories and histories of the past played a part in his coming to Christ. His passion is finding God's love and divine hand through the course of past events.

Please welcome Patrick Whalen to Christian Fiction Historical Society. We are so happy to have you here today. Patrick is giving away a $10 gift card. Be sure to leave a comment along with your email addy to be entered.


God’s Never-ending Story

Many people often ask why I am so intrigued by history. The prevailing thoughts of people who ask me that consider the subject to be a dry recollection of dead people, triviality, and tedium. When confronted by such an attitude, my response is almost as strong as when I am given an opportunity to witness to someone about Jesus Christ.

I agree that history is often presented in educational settings as dry, rote memorization of places, events, and dates, but in my mind this is not a proper method of studying history. There is an addictive quality to going deeper into understanding the lives, politics and reasonings of the people who have gone before us.

Perhaps the prevailing attitude is a product of our over-saturated culture. It does take time to reach a deeper understanding of any given time in our past and time seems to be in short supply these days. It is interesting to note however that in the course of many conversations it is not uncommon to hear such words as, “I wish I could just slow down,” or, “I wish I could go back in time to simpler days.” I do want to laugh when I hear such things because in the first case all one as to do is figure out how to find the time to slow down and in the second case, it would be interesting to learn which time in our past are they speaking about.

I can’t gloat though, as if I have never uttered such words because I know that I have. Part of the very reason I am so interested in history is due to my curiosity to discover which time periods before us had it easier than we do today. The fact is, I have yet to discover just such a time, but the stories left for perpetuity are nothing short of fascinating.

When I put down the institutional textbooks and instead picked up autobiographies, diaries, sermons, and official records, the past comes to life before my eyes. People from all walks of life and from every corner of the globe have had stories to tell that can still ignite the imagination. In trying to see the past through the eyes of people who experienced it helps us to better understand the lives we are living today.

Studying primary sources (the actual documents from the time) as opposed to modern, biased retellings also gives one a better understanding of our past. Take for instance George Washington. He, among many others of our Founding Fathers, is being more often represented as a Godless deist rather than a true Christian. There is one book in particular which I love to read over and over again which is full of primary documentation that refutes such claims.

In “Answering the Call: the Story of the U.S. Military Chaplaincy from the Revolution through the Civil War, written by William E. Dickens, Jr., many of Washington’s writings are presented which clearly point out his dedication to the Christian faith and the evangelization of the soldiers. In one instance, Washington was particularly discouraged by the caliber of certain Chaplains appointed to the job in the Revolutionary Army. He submitted a proposal to Congress to rectify this:
“I have long had it on my mind to mention to Congress, that frequent applications had been made to me respecting the Chaplain’s pay, which is too small to encourage men of Abilities. Some of them who have left their Flocks, are Obliged to pay the parson acting for them more than they receive. I need not point out the great utility of Gentlemen whose lives and conversations are unexceptionable, being employed for that service in this Army. There are two ways of making it worth the Attention of such; one is, an advancement of their pay, the other, that one Chaplain be appointed to two regiments; this last I think may be done without inconvenience, I beg leave to recommend this matter to Congress whose sentiments thereon I shall impatiently expect.”

The research into our rich history alone is reason enough to motivate me to write Historical Fiction and I know that I am not alone in this passion. My heart races when I discover some facet of our present day that draws a parallel to some historic period. When we think our experiences are superior or inferior to some other time it isn’t difficult to find pertinent advice from a people or time in the past. I have found that to be my mission, to bring forward the voices of experience into the light of our present.

This is the same mission shared by many writers of the Historical Fiction genre. To read and to write about our discoveries of past events that somehow fit different aspects of modern life. We may romanticize certain aspects and underemphasize others, but the passion of sharing the past remains unchanged. It is in researching the past in order to tell a story in the modern day that we find God’s truths remaining true. While we have always been a people seeking a way to navigate the present, God has woven His providential works throughout the history of humankind and has given us the tools to discover His constant love. “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18 – KJV)

39 comments:

  1. There are several previous time periods that I find fascinating to read about & would like to be able to visit, however - only briefly, just long enough to get a glimpse of the way of life. I wouldn't want to give up today's modern conveniences - to stay there.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win the gift card!

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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    1. I didn't come to this realization until I joined a "hardcore" Civil War reenacting group that tried to live as true-to-life as possible the daily life of a campaigning soldier. It is one thing to read about hardships, it is a complete other experience to try to live it out. I really do enjoy the grocery store and air conditioning (not to mention shorts and a T-shirt!

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  2. Hey Patrick, nice to meet you. I enjoyed reading your post. I agree that the teachings we received in school about our history was dry and boring. I learned to hate history when I was in High School. It is just recently that I have been embracing our nations history, through wonderfully written Historical Fiction novels. I find myself wanting to know more and more. Thank you for being a part of my new 'learning' experience. God bless.
    debsbunch5[at]jesusanswers[dot]com

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    1. Glad to have you aboard the history express!

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    2. Congratulations, you are the winner of the $10 Amazon Gift Card! Please let me know how I can best get that to you.

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    3. Yeah! Thank you so much, Patrick! You can have Amazon email it to me at debsbunch5@jesusanswers.com

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    4. Oh, use the name Debbie Mitchell. :)

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  3. It is distressing to me when I realize that we don't teach the proper history information in our schools, and that this is increasingly the norm. And then to understand that the news that we hear and read every day is already twisted from what "really" happened. I'm grateful to the writers who are diligent in their research and devoted to presenting the truth. Thanks for your post.

    bcrug(at)myfairpoint(dot)net

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    1. What has been fascinating to me has been reading press coverage of historical events and realizing that this "twisted" news really is nothing new. When reading an historical newspaper, try to find out who published it and then see if there was a competing paper in the same area. I bet you'll find the same political spins!

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  4. Hello Patrick, when I saw your comment about reading Louis L'aMor books it brought back an image of my daddy sitting with his books reading. I have always liked history too. I am partial to the pioneer days and how folks worked so hard and got through their lives. I have recently been reading about all the women that did so many things way back when, smart couragous women. would love to be in your drawing and nice to meet you.

    Paula O(kyflo130@yahoo.com)

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  5. You are so right - the same God Who was in the past is the same God today! He worked in the lives of men and women throughout history and He's working in us today. It really is neat to visit the past and discover the truth about these very real people, to see how God worked in them, to see how their faith in Jesus Christ formed the person that they were.
    Thanks, Patrick - appreciate what you had to say!

    jimmynmatthewsmom [at] netzero [dot] com

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    1. My favorite historical figure lately has been DL Moody. His testimony and actions across his vast history are awe inspiring!

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    2. I can understand that interest! I find myself really enjoying reading the words of Charles Spurgeon right now, another man mightily used of God.

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  6. I have to say that I agree with you about the way History was taught in the classroom. I can remember hating History as it was always a matter of memorizing events and dates. My only true enjoyment of History was in the 6th grade when my teacher would read to us each day from the "You Were There" books. They were based on filmstrips narrated by Walter Cronkite. My favorites were about the Boston Tea Party and signing of the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, the following years of studying History in school did not interest me.

    Now, as an adult, I absolutely love learning about our History. I too enjoy learning about the Civil War period and I also enjoy reading about the WWII period. My husband is a BIG History buff and I love it when he finds out something and shares it with me.

    Thank you for your post today.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Happy Resurrection Sunday!

    Cindy W.
    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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  7. I wasn't a big fan of history classes in high school, but I do love to read and have discovered I learn so much that way. Historical fiction is my favorite genre!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. You can start with Adam and Eve and follow the history trail through the ages to see God's handiwork in every era. History is the amazing thread that has woven us into who we are today. The best is yet to come. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

    In the best of times and the worst of times ...may we all remain faithful.

    Thank you for your post today.

    Brenda
    harvey.girl (at) live (dot) com

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  9. I've always loved history, but I think that is because as a child my parents fostered that love in our family members by spending time visiting historical places. I think parents should make an effort to supplement the public school history curriculum, if at all possible.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. I couldn't agree with you more Kay! It wasn't until I became a Civil War reenactor and actually visited actual sites that history truly came alive for me.

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    2. I've visited the battlefields in Gettysburg twice and both times, I was overcome with the magnitude of what took place there. It is a very sobering experience.

      I think what hooked me on history was my first visit to Colonial Williamsburg. After that, there was no going back--LOL!

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  10. Primary resources really do make history come alive. I had an opportunity once to transcribe handwritten letters of a local Civil War soldier. His humor and language resonated on the page, and even his lovely handwritten script brought something to the experience that could never be duplicated in a text book account.
    Nice post! Great to have you here.

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    1. Kathleen, I agree! My mom was recently given a handwritten diary of an ancestor that traveled the Oregon Trail. She hasn't let go of it long enough for me to study it deeper, but it is incredible stuff to read.

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  11. Welcome, Patrick. I prefer primary resources, when they can be found. When I was teaching my kids history we often used living history book and primary resources.

    I'd love to get my hands on any of my ancestors' diaries. How cool is that!!

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  12. I know I felt the same...in high school learning about history...it all seemed to blend together into dates and times we had to memorize...I come from a long line of history buffs so I knew if you just looked deeper than a timeline you can find a treasure of information.

    thanks for the reminder.
    truckredford *at* gmail (dot) com

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  13. Thanks for sharing your insights. I never liked studying history, as I found memorizing dates, etc. to be something that seemed to lack any long-term benefit. However, I have to say I love historical fiction. I even check the dates as I am reading .... lol. I'm sure primary sources would have made history much more interesting for me.

    bettimace(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. Patrick, I loved your post......very informative! I always loved history in school (long ago!!) and love to read historical fiction now.
    Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
    Jackie Smith
    jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net

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  15. Those are words I've uttered....oh to go to a simpler time..then I think of the hours and hour of work I'd have and figure it would be no different.

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  16. If history had been presented to me in the manner historians relay it and speak of it then I would have aced History class! I am totally fascinated with history of all kinds and places. All you have to do is talk to people and let them tell their story. We have an elderly man in our church who loves to tell the story of how he and his brother would run from the Germans when they were little. Our lives are so "boring" compared to the hard times that came before us!
    farmygirl at hotmail dot com

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  17. I'm thankful to live in the present time period. But I do enjoy reading about other time periods. Thanks for having the giveaway.

    Rose
    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. Great post! History is so much more interesting without having to memorize boring details which is how it was done in school. I live near Gettysburg and seeing it in person and reading about the Civil War is so much more interesting. History comes to life when you can see where it happened. Thanks for the opportunity to win a gift card...Linda
    dmcfarl101(at)juno(dot)com

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  19. I never was good at memorizing historical facts in school. Now, I do enjoy reading historical books. If we do not read and research things for ourselves, do we just believe everything that is told to us today?

    Martha
    josieringer@gmail.com

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  20. I love history...always have, and sometimes feel like life must have been simpler then. But I'm sure life would be difficult without our modern conveniences! I think I'm way to spoiled! Great post...thanks!

    Sherrinda
    sherrinda (at) gmail (dot) com

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  21. I too am a lover of history and have been since I was young, but I am the only one in my family that likes history. Thank you for the giveaway

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

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  22. I've learned more about history through well-researched historical fiction than I ever did in school. I really appreciate authors who take the time to research their time period and topic to make their depiction as accurate as possible.
    Thanks for your post and giveaway.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  23. Thanks Patrick for this great post. I really enjoyed reading it. I was like the others as to history class in school. It wasn't so much my not being interested, as not being able even way back then to remember the places, names, and dates that were required to take test and make a god grade. I only kept my grades high by studying really hard just before test time. But, I have sure enjoyed the historical information from all of the Historical Fiction since I got in with all of these authors. The way they tell it will help me remember better. Much more interesting presentation to us. What I hate nowdays is that many of our children aren't even going to know America's history, because the government is changing things already about our history facts, and adding stuff about where muslims had such a big part in making this country what it is. I would love to win the gift card. Thanks, Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  24. I loved reading Patrick's bio and finding out how his love of history played into his faith journey. And I also enjoyed how he likes discovering parallels in history and today's events. Found the site via Fiction Addiction Fix ... I'll be back!

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  25. Sorry for the delay folks! The weekend typically keeps me far away from a computer. But we DO have a WINNER for Friday's drawing.....drumroll....chaplaindebbie...CONGRATULATIONS, you win the $10 Amazon Gift Card!

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  26. Thank you so much! I responded above. :)

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  27. "His Constant Love ~ It is in researching the past in order to tell a story in the modern day that we find God’s truths remaining true." God's Word is true for every generation. How wonderful to discover this for yourself! Historical Fiction is my very favorite genre. I appreciate the research the authors do to place their characters within the events/happenings of the time. So much deeper than we learned in school. Your post reminded me of when I worked with special needs students for history. We went to the small quiet conference room off of the counselor's offices, where we had a bulletin board to display work and a chalkboard to draw and write verbal answers to have the word spellings. I had them draw on 3x5 cards and a vocabulary word on the bottom, putting the unit together with two rings for a flip book. They were then able to go into the main classroom, tell their drawn story before the class and it was so awesome! Word pictures!
    Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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    1. Odd; I posted this here but it isn't showing up: http://christianfictionhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2013/03/gods-never-ending-story-by-guest.html?showComment=1364621154896#c7273342703558737390
      Lane Hill House March 30, 2013 at 1:25 AM

      Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

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