Another Terrorist Attack!?

Say a prayer for your fellow countrymen. Boston was bombed at 2:50pm today. No one knows who's behind all this.

Pictures from the Conference

Entire album here...

International Graduate Historical Studies Conference at Central Michigan University

We at CMU enjoyed hosting another successful history conference, with very fine graduate projects from students all over the world. I had the very incredible honor of presenting my paper on Sir Edward Elgar and British Imperialism to Harvard intellectual historian Dr. David Armitage. His critique was extremely helpful, and having come from England and growing up with Elgar's music, he enjoyed my research and interests.

Palm Sunday and Easter Sermons

Here are two excellent sermons on the authority of Jesus Christ and the redemptive effects of the Resurrection from my pastor Reverend Sarafolean at Christ Covenant Church. We are working through the Ten Commandments, a very convicting series, but made an interlude for these two.

Palm Sunday Sermon: Kings in Contrast

Easter Sunday Sermon: We Shall All be Changed (start at 6:45 after the Pastoral Prayer)

Michigan Academy Annual Conference

Victorian Michigan Farm

(©photo by Rodney Campbell, courtesy of morgueFile.com from americanfeast.com)

Yesterday, I attended the annual conference for the Michigan Academy of Science Arts & Letters. Many great scholars from all over the state (and some outside it) presented very thorough research papers. My own work on Imperialism and its contradictions on the cultural history of Edwardian Britain in the music of Sir Edward Elgar was favorably received. I hope to gain more critical attention on my work during the International Graduate Historical Studies Conference at Central Michigan University. While driving to Holland yesterday, I journeyed past the beautiful "Bundee Hills" again, amid the rolling farm country and dense old woodlands of the Michigan countryside. Snow still lay on the ground; dazzling. As I sped past the ancient farm houses of wood and stone, the old country churches, and a few rustic inns on the byways of our Michigan roads, the words of the poet Longfellow wafted into my memory:

As ancient is this hostelry
As any in the land may be,
Built in the old Colonial day,
When men lived in a grander way,
With ampler hospitality.

Thesis Finished

It is with great joy and thankfulness that I write to say my oral examination went flawlessly, and I will have my Master's at the end of the semester. My thesis was accepted, and now all is just a matter of paperwork. I am so very grateful for the prayers of my church and Christian friends who have poured out their souls to God on my behalf. He has heard our prayers and blessed His servant Wesley. Thank you all for your assistance, suggestions, and encouragement.

McClureville 2003

This was our inspiration; Grandpa and Grandma McClure's McClureville. It received front page coverage on the Vincennes Sun Commercial for Christmas 2003. Grandpa's old trains that he played with as a boy are up and running...