History

Inspiration from Fire and Brimstone and Redemption--the history of the Great Awakening

Inspiration from Fire and Brimstone and Redemption.

Lynette M Burrows

I come from a family with deep roots in conservative religion and found inspiration from fire and brimstone and redemption. Where did I find that inspiration? American Christianity has a history of periodic revivals of conservative religious fervor called the Great Awakening. During each of these periods of Awakening, there were widespread revivals led by evangelicals The phrase “Great Awakening” refers to all the periods collectively. The term Awakening refers to the awakening of interest in religion. REVIVALS Revivals were a series of religious gatherings. They lasted from three days to a week or more. Meetings would happen in the same location at the same time every day or evening. At these meetings, the evangelist preached of fire and brimstone and redemption. In the American South revivals were commonly held in tents through the summer months. In the northern states, halls and auditoriums were rented. Some areas and denominations continue to hold annual tent revivals to this day. Thousands attended these revivals. The evangelists produced a profound sense of conviction and redemption among believers. The Fellowship in my novel, My Soul to Keep, was created with this history in mind. WHEN Historians agree that there were three Awakenings. The First […]

It’s Time We Honor Our Indigenous People

Lynette M Burrows

Today in furthering my discussion of time, I’m honoring Indigenous People’s Day. What has that to do with time, you ask? It’s time we honor our indigenous people not just with pictures but with time spent learning and honoring. They are people we have abused, misused, and ignored for far too long. Did you expect pictures of Native American’s in their headgear or in teepees? This day needs to honor all Native American’s and not all Native American’s wore headdresses or slept in teepees. Learn more at the links below. If aliens visit us, the outcome would be much as when Columbus landed in America, which didn’t turn out well for the Native Americans.  Stephen Hawking WHAT IS IT? Wikipedia describes what Indigenous People’s Day and how it came about. If you think it’s about time we honor our indigenous people, check to see if your city has a plan to celebrate. Here is a list of cities and states that celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Chief Seattle NATIONAL MUSEUM Did you know there is a National Museum of the […]

How to Time Travel Without a Delorean

Lynette M Burrows

Would you like time travel in a Delorean? In 1981 a Delorean cost $26,000 US dollars. In 2016, the Delorean Motor Company planned to make three hundred replicas of the 1982 Delorean. Each of those vehicles cost approximately $100,000. I don’t know about you, but that is too pricey for my budget. What if I told you how to time travel without the Delorean? In fact, what if I said you needed a Ford or a Studebaker? Would you still want to travel into the past? When writing a novel, the right details create a verisimilitude that helps your story take on a life of its own. This is especially true when writing an alternate history like My Soul to Keep. Thank goodness I learned the secret of time travel and a way to make a new, alternate America. By now you’ve guessed the secret to time travel—the internet. Not participating in WWII, America would be a bit slower coming out of the depression. So when I looked for vehicles I looked for those that were around ten- to twenty years earlier than the 1960s when Miranda’s story takes place. I found a treasure trove in antique and classic car […]