This Day in Christian History: April 22  April 22, 1864: In God We Trust is engraved on US coins for the first time 1864 Two Cent Coin with the new Motto: In God We Trust A little known fact about the Civil War is the revival that swept the nation during that time. In fact, what is now commonly known as the Bible Belt originated during this period. According to the US Treasury Website, "The motto IN GOD WE TRUST was placed on United States coins largely because of the increased religious sentiment existing during the Civil War." The Treasurer received letters from Christians requesting that God be acknowledged on our coins. One such letter states: You are probably a Christian. What if our Republic were not shattered beyond reconstruction? Would not the antiquaries of succeeding centuries rightly reason from our past that we were a heathen nation? What I propose is that instead of the goddess of liberty we shall have next inside the 13 stars a ring inscribed w...

Deanna enjoying books with a young class. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Deanna Klingel. Deanna is at home in the mountains of North Carolina. She and her husband lived many places during his IBM career while they raised their seven children. The children are grown and married now and Deanna and Dave fill their empty nest with golden retrievers and books. Deanna has published eight books,several short stories, and has other books under contract.  Welcome Deanna! Tell us a little bit about yourself.  I live in the mountains of western North Carolina. It's our retirement home. I'm married to my high school sweetheart. Our seven kids are grown now and off with families of their own How did you discover your calling to be a writer? I've been a writer I'd say for all my life, since I first held a crayon. But for publication, only after the children were grown and gone. What books have influenced your life most? Oh boy, there are so m...

This Day in Christian History: March 20 March 20, 1852: First Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe At the age of 41, Harriet Beecher Stowe published her anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin . The book created a lot of controversy between the Abolitionists and those that were pro-slavery. It is said that Harriet's book "laid the groundwork" for the Civil War, because it fueled the tension that eventually led to succession nine years later. Uncle Tom's Cabin features a black slave named Tom, and the stories of all the other characters revolve around him. A very emotional novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin depicts the stark reality of slavery, but also proclaims that Christian love can overcome something as terrible and destructive as the enslavement of fellow human beings. Uncle Tom's Cabin became the best-selling novel of the 19th century, as well as the best-selling book, next to the Bible. 

This Day in Christian History: March 4 March 4, 1850: James A. Garfield is baptized, 31 Years later takes the oath of office. (1881) Garfield at age 16 At the age of 18, James A. Garfield followed the Biblical commandment with a public profession of his faith in baptism. Afterwards, he began a preaching circuit traveling around to neighboring churches on a regular basis. Garfield also served as an elder in his local Church of Christ. 31 years to the day after his conversion, James A. Garfield was sworn in as the 20th President of the United States. He was the first president to have been a clergyman. Forced to resign his position as elder, Garfield told the congregation, "I resign the highest office in the land to become President of the United States." Another thing I found interesting is that Garfield took on a debate against evolutionist William Denton in 1858. The debate lasted over a week, but it was said to have been a convincing win by Garfield. Garf...