Guest Post: The Origin of St. Valentine's Day by Bill Federer

American Minute with Bill Federer Origin of Saint Valentine's Day

The origin of Saint Valentine's Day goes back to the 3rd century. At that time, the Roman Empire was being invaded by Goths.

At the same time, the Plague of Cyprian, probably smallpox, broke out killing at its height 5,000 people a day.

So many died that the Roman army was depleted of soldiers.

Roman Emperor Claudius II needed more soldiers to fight the invading Goths. He believed that men fought better if they were not married, so he banned traditional marriage in the military.

Rome was also torn from internal rivalries which continued since the assassination of the previous Emperor, Gallienus. Emperor Claudius II quelled these tensions by requesting the Roman Senate deify Emperor Gallienus, so as to be worshiped along with the other Roman gods.

Citizens were forced to worship the Roman gods, and "deified" emperors, by placing a pinch of incense on a fire before their statues. Those who refused worship of the Roman gods were considered "politically incorrect" or "unpatriotic" enemies of the state and killed.

Emperor Decian's persecution specifically targeted Christians with legislation forcing them to deny their consciences or die.

During the first three centuries of Christianity, there were ten major persecutions in which the government threw Christians to the lions, boiled them alive, had their tongues cut out, and worse.

Roman soldiers would break into church meetings, catacombs, and homes, confiscating and destroying Christian writings, scriptures and church records. Because so many records were destroyed, details of Saint Valentine's life are scant.

What little is known is from the works of Eusebius of Caesarea, compiled around 362 AD and the Martyrologium Hieronymianum (Martyrology of Jerome), compiled around A.D. 460-544.

Saint Valentine is mentioned in Legenda Sanctorum by Jacobus de Voragine in 1260 and in the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493.

Though several individuals may have had that name, it appears Saint Valentine was either a priest in Rome or a bishop in Terni, central Italy.

He risked the Emperor's wrath by standing up for traditional marriage, secretly marrying soldiers to their young brides.

When Emperor Claudius demanded that Christians deny their consciences and worship pagan idols, Saint Valentine refused.

He was arrested, dragged before the Prefect of Rome, and condemned him to die.

While awaiting execution, his jailer, Asterius, asked Saint Valentine to pray for his blind daughter.

When she miraculously regained her sight, the jailer converted and was baptized, along with many others.

Right before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote a note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "from your Valentine." Saint Valentine was beaten with clubs and stones, and when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate on FEBRUARY 14, 269AD.

In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius designated FEBRUARY 14th as "Saint Valentine's Day."

American Minute-Notable Events of American Significance Remembered on the Date They Occurred

In the High Middle Ages, Geoffrey Chaucer, called the father of English literature, wrote a poem called Parliament of Foules (Assembly of Fowls) (c.1393). It it he described how fowls, birds, chose their mates in mid-February: "For this was Saint Valentine's day, when every bird of every kind that men can imagine comes to this place to choose his mate." He made another mention in the final chapter of The Cantebury Tales: "The book of the Duchesse; the book of Seint Valentynes day of the Parlement of Briddes (Birds)."

The association of birds with fidelity in marital love came about because 90 percent of bird species are monogamous.

Many bird species mate for life, such as varieties of: Swans, Canada Geese, Ravens, Cranes, Blue Jays, Barn Owls, Red-Tailed Hawks, Woodpeckers, Ospreys, Raptors, Penquins, and Bald Eagles,

After elaborate courtships, depending on their species, these birds remain together until one partner dies.

Birds that mate for life have offspring that require more extensive care and instruction from parents.

They are able to mate earlier in the season which allows their young more time to develop before the fall and winter seasons of long migrations or harsh winter weather.

*****  Hope you've found the origin of Valentine's Day as interesting as I did! And I love the list of birds that mate for life and their relation to Valentine's Day. Enjoy the cards, candy, and flowers, and send some. Valentine's Day marks a bright spot like the sun rising in an otherwise cold, darker winter season. It is a great opportunity to show our love to others. Google American Minute by Bill Federer if you'd like to sign up for his newsletter. He sends out great historical information.             Happy Valentine's Day! Elva Martin Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for  Wild Heart Books. All three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, Power Over Satan, on the  believer's authority in Christ. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin    Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI

How I Write a Novel - Part 1 Prayer & Faith

By Elva Cobb Martin

Happy  Valentines Week!

Since I've just sent in my fourth novel and am starting work on my fifth, I am inviting you along to see how I write a novel. It will be a good review for me and, hopefully, help to you in writing your novel.

Here's a quick outline teaser of the coming blogs:

Part 1 Cover the project in prayer and faith - Today's blog
Part 2 How I Write the First Draft
Part 3  How I Write the Second Draft
Part 4 Print Out Second Draft to read and mark.
Part 5 My Editing Process 
Part 6 Fine Tuning and Final Checks before sending off

Part 1 - Faith and Prayer

Every time I start a novel, I have to believe God as though it were my first. There it is. I admit it. This keeps me depending on Him versus my own ability.

Two Important Aspects 

A) Study and confession of the Word of God--especially the promises relating to writing.

Jesus said in John 6:63: "These words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life."

In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable..."

A Greek study of the word inspiration reveals it means God's breath. God breathed into those He chose to write the Bible, and the words they wrote had God's breath in them. Think of a balloon you blow up and tie in a knot. Your breath, part of you, is still in that balloon even though you're no longer blowing into it.

God's breath is still contained in the Word of God, the Bible. This is why Jesus could boldly say, "These words...are spirit and life."
No other words or books can make this claim truthfully.

This is why I read through the Bible systematically each year. This is why I attend a Spirit-filled, Bible-preaching church weekly. I want God's breath to keep blowing on me. I want more of His Spirit and His life flowing through me and my writing.

Another great way to release God's breath into our lives (and writing) is by verbal confession of scriptures, and having faith in those words to bring life.

I have compiled some Christian Writers Confessions of Faith

If you email me at elvacmartin@gmail.com, I'll be happy to email you a copy of my 12 Christian Writers' Faith Confessions." 

Here are the first three:

1) My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Ps.45:1

2) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good.    Luke 6:45

3) (My) pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Prov. 16:24

B) Prayer - Mine and Others

1) Prayer Partners

I have a group of prayer warrior partners to whom I send a monthly prayer request list of personal and writing needs. They are free to send me their personal requests to lift up. Their prayers have helped in many ways.

2) Daily Prayer for my Writing:

Lord, I invite and thank you for being a Co-Laborer in my writing today.

Help me work hard and not get distracted. In faith I ask for:

1) Your plans, wisdom, inspiration, plotting, characterization, dialog, clear DPOV, my best writing, and Christian theme and nuggets to impact readers’ lives for good.

2) Good computer operation and time spent, efficiency, best daily schedule, right diet, exercise.  Help me not spend too much time researching, but get accurate details.

3) Strength, energy, good health, good sleep and good chair posture.

4)We ask favor and divine connections to helpers, editors, for best editing, publishing, book covers, great street team and reviews, sales and good social media action.  

Help me write a great book in six months and give favor for a movie contract.

I thank You in advance that You are going to pull this off perfectly as I trust You and WRITE.  Ps. 37:5  The Passion Translation. Amen

In my next blog I will tell you how the Lord gave me the first bare outline of the novel I am beginning --during my prayer time last week.

Thanks for stopping by. Would love to read your comments and please share this blog by clicking on the small icons below.

Elva 

Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for  Wild Heart Books. All three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, Power Over Satan, on the  believer's authority in Christ. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin  
 Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI  

2020, the 400th Anniversary of America's Covenant with God

by Elva Cobb Martin

This year, 2020, is the 400^th  Anniversary of America’s Mayflower Compact with God. And that’s exactly what it was, a covenant with God for a new godly nation.

September, 1620 one hundred and two passengers set sail on the Mayflower with the blessings of their pastor, John Robinson.  Their 66-day journey of 2,750 miles encountered terrible storms. One youth, John Howland, was swept overboard  by a freezing wave but they were able to rescue him. And I’m so glad they did.

His descendants include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and George W. Bush.

During the pilgrims’ voyage, one man died and a mother gave birth. Intending to land in Virginia, they were blown off course and landed in Massachusetts which they named Plymouth Rock after their port of Plymouth they departed from in England.

Before disembarking from the Mayflower, William Bradford, wrote up what we now call the Mayflower Compact in November of 1620:

“In the name of God. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King and Defender of the faith. Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith, and the honor of King and Country a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts... do solemnly covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body politick...”

One signer is Steven Hopkins—an ancestor of Dr. Mark Hopkins!

Then the Pilgrims disembarked from the Mayflower. Gov. Wm Bradford wrote to describe this: “Being thus arrived in  a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven.

Many are praying that in 2020, the 400^th anniversary of the Mayflower Compact, God will revisit America with a Great Awakening. I certainly agree with that prayer.

How does the Jamestown settlement (1607) compare with the Plymouth colony's godly goals?

The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River about 2.5 mi southwest of the center of modern Williamsburg. I've visited this area several times.

Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company of London in 1607. The colony was sponsored by the Virginia Company investors who hoped to profit from the venture. Making money for the investors, even hoping to find gold, was the main goal of this Jamestown settlement. This was quite a different goal than that of the Puritans at Plymouth whose hope was the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus' Christ.

These two vastly different streams of motivation and goals--love of money and living out the gospel of Jesus Christ--still flow in America to day.

They flow in politics, business, religion, and yes, even in writing. 

I am part of the the American Christian Fiction Writers, the premier organization in the US for the training and celebration of Christian fiction. (acfw.com) We have a double job and opportunity—to write exciting fiction that people will want to read and to plant nuggets of God’s truth that can impact lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here's a prayer I lift up for you today and this new year of 2020:

Prayer: Jewish Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26

The lord bless and keep you this coming new year.

The lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

AND, IF YOU'RE A WRITER, I PRAY HE GIVE YOU GREAT WRITING, GOOD CRITIQUE PARTNERS, GOOD CONTRACTS, AND GREAT SALES. Amen

Elva

PS One good way to get constructive critiques if you are a writer, is to join our SC Chapter of ACFW of which I am current president. We meet the 4th Saturdays of each month at North Anderson Baptist Church, Anderson, SC. Visitors are welcome.  Check out our chapter blog at http://scwritersacfw.blogspot.com  or if you'd like to be added to our chapter email list for meeting announcements contact me through my web site contact page at http://www.elvamartin.com   We'd be delighted to keep you posted of the great plans we have in store for writers this new year. Check out the calendar on the chapter blog I'm getting ready to update with speakers for Jan - May.

Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol, Book 1 in a new Charleston Brides series for  Wild Heart Books. All three novels have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, Power Over Satan, on the  believer's authority in Christ. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin  
 Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI  

Story of the Tablecloth- Miracles Can Happen at Christmas Time!

Story of the tablecloth:“Miracles Can Happen at Christmas Time” 

(copied and shared with joy!)

A few days before Christmas a number of years ago a terrible storm hit a suburb in Brooklyn, NY.   A driving rain hit the area and lasted for two days.

On Dec. 21 a pastor went over to his church which was an old building and his heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster to fall off the wall just behind the pulpit.  The whole front of the church looked terrible. 

After cleaning up the mess as best he could, he thought about postponing the Christmas Eve service.  On the way home he noticed a local business having a flea market sale for charity and he stopped in.

One of the items for sale was a lovely ivory colored hand crocheted table cloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center.   It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the plaster, so the minister bought it and headed back to the church.    By this time it had started to snow and he noticed an older woman standing on the corner who had missed the bus.   He invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus forty-five minutes later.

She sat in the pew and paid no attention to him as he got a ladder and hung the table cloth up on the wall behind the pulpit.   The minister couldn’t believe how lovely it looked.  It covered up the whole problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle, her face white as snow.

“Sir,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?”

The minister explained.  Then the woman asked him to check the lower right corner and see if the initials EBG were crocheted into it.   They were.   They were the initials of the woman who had made that tablecloth thirty-five years earlier in Austria.

Then she explained that before WWII she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria.  When the Nazis came she was forced to leave.  Her husband was going to follow her the next week.  But she was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or home again and was able to get to America after the war.

The minister wanted to give her the tablecloth but, she made him keep it for the church

The minister insisted on driving her home which was on the other side of Staten Island

She had only been in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

 On Christmas Eve the church had a wonderful service.  The building was almost filled.

At the end of the service, an older man continued to sit in the pew after others had left.

He asked the minister where he’d gotten the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one his wife had made in Austria before the war.   He told the minister how he forced his wife to flee for safety and he was supposed to follow her but he got arrested and put in prison.  He never saw her or his home again, but finally made it to America.

The minister asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride.  They drove to Staten Island and a certain apartment the minister had visited earlier.  There the minister witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

                                                              ***

Have a blessed Christmas and EXPECT a miracle in your life and family!

Elva Cobb Martin

Elva Cobb Martin is 2020 President of the SC Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. She has three inspirational novels published, Summer of Deception, a contemporary romantic suspense, and two historical romances, In a Pirate’s Debt, and Marisol. All three have spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers List for Women’s Religious Fiction. She has indie published a Bible study on Amazon, Power Over Satan, on the  believer's authority in Christ. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have carried Elva's articles. She and her husband Dwayne are retired ministers. A mother and grandmother, Elva lives in South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site http://www.elvamartin.com, Twitter www.twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin; Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin;  and Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin  
 Link to her romance novels and non-fiction works on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI