Review: Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue

Check out this brief book on the (ignored) history of the English language. We have a pretty amazing language. Best of all, you’ll get a kick out of this engaging read.

Poetry: Beowulf

“Do you want me to read it?” Before me sat half a dozen middle schoolers, watching with that wide-eyed curiosity and amazement that I know will be hidden in only a few short years. They watched and giggled and nodded their heads, some of them even cheering me on. They had already heard me read …

Continue reading Poetry: Beowulf

Threading Through Labyrinths

"But when you have killed him, how will you find your way out of the labyrinth?" "I know not, neither do I care: but it must be a strange road, if I do not find it out before I have eaten up the monster's carcass." "... I will give you a sword, and with that …

Continue reading Threading Through Labyrinths

On One Palmy Day

As Palm Sunday is coming up, I thought a post on the etymology of the word palm was in order. I was originally only going to look up the word palm, but I came across palmy and decided it needed to be added as well. Yes, palmy is a word - a word coined by Shakespeare no …

Continue reading On One Palmy Day

The Lord’s Prayer: Temptation

Following the part of the Prayer that asks for forgiveness and grace, we go to the reason why we need such things: sin. Sin is part of fleshly nature, and its desires lead us into this rebellion against God. Thus, we ask, "And lead us not into temptation, ..." (Mat. 6:13). But why do we …

Continue reading The Lord’s Prayer: Temptation