Blogging the Reformers: John Leclerc

The Cathedral in Metz. Source.

In the 16th century, one of the cities which the French Reformation began in was Meaux. John Lecelrc, a wool-carder, became the pastor there. He had learned theology through the lectures of the doctors, reading the Bible and some other books. Eventually he made some placards denouncing the pope as an Antichrist, and posted them on the cathedral. The townspeople were very angry and he was thrown into prison. He was condemned and was led through the streets to be beaten by the people. After this punishment he was released, and then he moved to Metz.

While he was in Metz he again did a brave, perhaps rash, act against the Catholics. On the night before one of the large festivals where the citizens would worship their idols, John Lecelrc when to the chapel and smashed all of the images. The next day when the worshipers arrived at the church, they found their idols broken in pieces. They ran out and found Lecelrc in the town. He admitted to breaking the idols, and told them they must worship God alone. They decided to burn him to death. They brought him to the scaffold and took heated pincers and lacerated him and pulled his nose off. As they were doing it he recited the passage that says, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not...”1 After torturing him he was burnt with a slow fire. He was one of the first martyrs of France.

1. Psalm 115

Beach

Two weeks ago we went to Duck, NC, which is near Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks. We arrived Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we went to the Wright Brothers Memorial. It is on the hill from which they conducted glider tests, which was next to where they lived while they were down there and where they first flew. There was also a museum about the history of the Wright Brothers before and after they invented and flew the first airplane. After that we went to Jockey's Ridge, which is a bunch of sand dunes. It was fun to walk on and climb and roll down the dunes. Jockey's Ridge is also where people fly hang-gliders, but we did not do that. After that, we went to where the first colony, Roanoke, was located. There we saw a recreation of the earthworks which they had there. Finally, we went to a used book store. We could not stay very long because it was closing time.

On Saturday, Mommy and Rachel went shopping while Joshua and I played Axis & Allies and Daddy started writing Communion of Christ's Body. After lunch we went down to the beach. Even though the water was cold, Joshua and I swam in it while Mommy, Daddy, and Rachel took a walk on the beach. After that we packed up and came home.
A model of the Wright brother's plane while they were preparing it for take-off
Joshua and I at the Wright Memorial
The stone marking where the first flight was made from
In this photo you can see the markers for the distance of each flight. If you zoom in you can see how far the fourth marker is
Daddy, Mommy, and Rachel climbing a dune at Jockey's Ridge
Joshua and I racing down one of the dunes
A sand dune

A recreation of the earthworks at Roanoke

Sunset at our Condo

A Model of one of the Wright Flyers

Blogging the Reformers - Fredrick Elector of Saxony


Fredrick was born January 17th 1463 to the Elector of Saxony. At that time Germany was ruled by an emporer, but was composed of many different states which were very independent. Saxony was one of the major provinces of Germany. Fredrick suceeded his father in 1486, at the age of 23, and he continued in that position for 39 years. He was known as Fredrick the Wise, and was a good ruler.

However, his most important role began near the end of his life as he protected the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther began the Reformation while he was a teacher at Wittenburg University, which Fredrick had founded. It became a place which was very influential through the teaching of Luther and others. When the Pope and the Emporer ordered Luther to be arrested and executed, Fredrick saved his life by hiding him in Wartburg Castle for several years. He refused to obey the Pope's orders to kill Luther and prevented others from doing so. Though he did not abandon all of the false doctrines of the Catholic church, he inclined toward the Reformation and God used him to protect Luther and the other leaders of the movement in Germany. He died May 5th, 1525. D'Aubigne said this of his death:


Meanwhile the cause of the Reformation itself appeared as if it would perish in the gulf that had swalled up the liberties of the people. ... [T]he aged elector of Saxony, that man whom God had raised up to defend the Reformation against all dangers from without, descended to the tomb. ... The doctrine of the Gospel was no longer to him that sword which attacks error, following it up wherever it may be found, and after a vigorous contest tripumphing over it at last; it fell upon his heart like the dew, or the gentle rain, filling it with hope and joy. Fredrick had forgotten the present world: he saw nothing but God and eternity.1



1. J. H. Merle D'Aubigne. History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century. (Harrisonburg, Virginia: Sprinkle Publications, 2003) volume 3, book 10, p. 199-200

Hope vs. Heritage Softball Tournament

Last Saturday Hope Baptist Church of Wake Forest and Heritage Bible Fellowship of Fayeteville met for a softball game and picnic. First there was a game for anyone who wanted to play. After lunch two teams of the men played - Hope Baptist Reformers and Heritage Churchmen. Both teams had hats and shirts made. Stephen Sides, a former NCFIC intern and younger brother of a Hope Baptist Reformer, did a good job as the announcer. The game was very good, at least for the Reformers. At around the 3rd or 4th inning the game was tied at around 4 to 4, but then in one inning Hope made about 10 runs. Heritage was not able to make a comeback, but they did make a few more runs in the last inning. It was also a good time of fellowship. Here are some pictures:

Reformer Michael Arnette comes into first (Jonathan Sides is the first base coach)


Michael Arnette appears to get hit in the head, but it is actually just the camera angle

David Brown at bat

Heritage right fielder catching a grounder

Heritage at bat (David Brown catching)

Mr. Tsantles batting (no homerun for Mrs. Tsantles)

Mr. Merrill, pitcher for the Reformers, at bat

Mr. Merril on the pitcher's mound

Mr. Hernandez going for the ball

Mr. Metarko batting

David Brown comes home

Luke Dellinger at bat


You can see more here.

Washington Tour - Day 4 Valley Forge



Washington Tour - Charge at Yorktown



Here the boys charge the men at Redoubt No. 9 on Yorktown battlefield.

Washington Tour Treasure Hunt Video



On the Washington tour my brother, Stephen Breagy and myself made a treasure hunt for people on the tour. This video shows the very end and the prizes being given.

Note - If the video takes a long time to load, select 480p from the menu on the bottom right.

Sunset

These pictures were taken right before sunset with cloudy skies. These were not edited at all.

There is a rainbow if you look closely, starting between the two trees on the left.

Washington Tour - Yankee Doodle



This is another clip of Charlie Zahm from the tour. Here he sings Yankee Doodle.

View it on Vimeo in HD

Washington Tour - Day 6

The first thing we went to on Day 6 was Yorktown. We walked to Redoubts 9 and 10, and Joshua talked about the battle and the importance of capturing them. After that we drilled the boys into a company so that we could charge the "British" and capture the redoubt. The "British" were the fathers on the tour. After Yorktown we went to Surrender Field. We did not get any pictures of Surrender Field, because our camera's memory card was full. After that we had our closing lunch at Golden Corral, where Joshua talked about the rest of the War for American Independence after Yorktown.

Joshua speaking about the Battle of Yorktown
The boys marching towards the redoubt

The Charge

The battle re-enactment, where the Americans were victorious

Sword of Bunker Hill by Charlie Zahm


A clip of Charlie Zahm singing the Sword of Bunker Hill on the Life of Washington Tour.

Washington Tour - Day 4 Climbing at Germantown



While eating lunch at Germantown battlefield, some young men decided to try to climb a tree by standing on each other's shoulders. Here is the video.

Washington Tour - Day 5

The first thing we went to on day 5 was the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Here is a link to the last time we went to Washington Monument. Almost everyone that wanted to was able to go up to the top of the monument. Next we went to Mt. Vernon, where George Washington lived. Mr. Brown did a talk about Washington's Manhood, and Daddy did a talk on biographies of Washington. After we left Mt. Vernon, we went to St. John's Church for a reenactment of the meeting of the Virginia Convention where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech for Liberty.


The Washington Monument

The Mount Vernon Mansion and Surrounding Buildings


The Mt. Vernon Mansion


Mr. Brown Speaking Behind Mt. Vernon


Daddy Speaking

The Inside of St. John's Church

Washington Tour - Day 4

The first thing we went to on Day 4 was Chadd's Ford at the Brandywine Battlefield. This is where part of the British army held the American army while the rest went around to attack them in the rear. After going through the visitor center we moved on to the Birmingham Quaker Meeting House & Cemetery. There is a monument to Lafayette, Pulaski and a few other soldiers who fought at Brandywine. Joshua talked about the rest of the battle there.

Daddy speaking at the Lafayette Monument

Lafayette Monument


Joshua talking about the battle

Then we drove to Cliveden, a house that was central in the battle of Germantown. A group of British soldiers barricaded themselves in it and the Americans sent several regiments against it, but were unable to capture it. While we were eating lunch were, some boys decided to try to climb a tree. (see a video here) After lunch and tree climbing Joshua spoke about the battle.

Tree climbing

The front of the Cliveden house the Americans charged

Our last stop was Valley Forge. We walked 4-5 miles there because the buses had to leave and the shuttles were not running. Valley Forge was where the army spent the winter and were retrained under Von Steuben. Daddy and Joshua did various talks on the way about important generals and events.

The "Grand Parade" where the men trained

Leaving one of the encampments

Some huts like they lived in


Washington Tour - Day 3

Our first stop on day 3 was Washington's Crossing. This was where Washington crossed the Delaware before attacking Trenton. I spoke about the crossing there, and my father talked about Charles Lee, one of the American Generals who was not useful because he was too prideful.

Where Washington crossed the Delaware

A monument to Washington

Next we went to Trenton where the actual battle took place. There is a monument where the artillery was placed that destroyed the Hessian formation. We had never been there before, and the monument was very impressive. Unfortunately we were not able to go up it because the elevator is broken.

Trenton Monument

After Trenton we went to Princeton Battlefield, where George Washington next attacked the British. I talked about the battle, and how this was Washington's greatest strategic victory. Also we saw the tree that General Mercer was killed under. It fell down a few years ago, but they planted a sapling from it on the same spot.

Joshua speaking at Princeton

After the battlefield we went to Princeton University. My father talked about its history and problems. It was founded before the Revolution by great men like John Witherspoon and Jonathan Edwards but later became very unbiblical. We walked around there for a while, and went in the chapel. It was very much like a Roman Catholic church, with the idols etc. I am fairly sure that the founders would not have approved of the chapel today. Then we went to Princeton Cemetary where many of the preachers of the great awakening are buried, including Samuel Davies, Jonathan Edwards, Arron Burr Sr., John Witherspoon and many more. Mr. Brown spoke about the family life of Jonathan Edwards and some of the other great pastors buried there.

Daddy Speaking

The Chapel at Princeton

Mr Brown at the Cemetary

For dinner Charlie Zahm, a folk musician, joined us at the Spaghetti Warehouse. After dinner he sang some songs, and then my father spoke on the Declaration of Independence, followed by some more songs. It was very good, and we will probably post some video clips in the future.


Charlie Zahm singing

Daddy speaking about the Declaration of Independence