Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World by Eric Metaxas (Goodreads Author)

5 stars out of 5 stars  *****

It is quite appropriate that I finish listening to Eric Metaxas's biography of Martin Luther on October 31, 2017. This day marks the the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of a document that exposes the Catholic church, the only powerful Christian religion, of professing misinterpreted scripture as truth and misleading people to pay for their sins with money as well as payment, known as indulgences, for less time spent in Purgatory. 

Metaxas narrates his beautifully written text which reveals how particular the German Augustinian Monk, Martin Luther, is in his discovery of the truth. Luther feels the failure of good works with conscientious penance to fill his soul with the Holy Spirit, a feeling that should give him peace, love, and joy. 

Luther could not accept the spoken word by his fellow man as the word of God. Luther's own discernment and devotion to truth enables him to understand what the Apostle Paul means when he writes that man is not saved by good deeds but by faith alone. It is this moment that awakens Luther to that Holy Spirit he craves and he, from this day forward, defends his revelation to all the powers of the world who feel the threat of Luther's teachings. 

The common man understands Luther's compelling new explanations and agree with his scrutiny of the elite powers who are both church and state. Those who choose this path are asking to burn at the stake as a heretic but Luther knows the truth will set him free. 

This comprehensive biography is full of interesting facets about customs and beliefs people hold during a time of war with Islam to the east and maintaining kingdoms to the west. The printing press is invented just before Luther starts to publish which spreads the truth about the Papacy very quickly. Even though Luther is prolific in his writings, he does not profit much from them. 

Luther also translates the Bible into German so that the common folk can learn the word of God. He also includes explanations based on his scholarly study that are accepted and recognized by the world's great scholars, like Erasmus. Martin Luther proves to be one of the most significant men in history who influences the world using his idiosyncrasies for detail and pursuit of truth. 

Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide: Exodus; Leviticus, Fall 2017 by Steve Gaines (Editor), Matt Capps

5 out of 5 stars  *****

My bible study weaves nicely with books I read and the Audiobooks to which I listen. Learning how the Old Testament foretells what transpires in the New Testament through Christ Jesus is an amazing verification of the divinity of Jesus, a man born in Bethlehem, as prophesied, who lives a life without sin so he may sacrifice his exemplary life with his blood on the cross for mankind's sins, past present, and future. 

Leviticus describes the blood sacrifices, as instructed by God, to be made for His people's atonement of their sins. This outward, physical ceremony occurs regularly because mankind cannot obey God as Jesus does. 

Exodus lays the foundation for mankind's obedience to God. Following God's instructions for a holier life is the expectation as the Ten Commandments delineate. The first four address mankind's interaction with God and the remaining six are for the behaviors of men and women toward each other. 

This bible study teaches how early this covenant is made by God to all those who obey His laws. the ones he gave to Moses. God's law is the same today as it was then. It is constant as is God, never changing. Mankind's failure to adhere to these directions is the reason mankind needs a Savior. 

The exploration of this segment of the bible reminds us how much God loves us as well as how impossible it is for us to be with Him for eternity without the blood sacrifice that first occurs in Leviticus and culminates in the crucifixion of the Son of Man, God, here on earth, for mankind's redemption and salvation.

The Secret Life of Words: English Words and Their Origins by Anne Curzan

4 out of 5 stars  ****

A most interesting, scholarly but congenial presentation about the life and history of the English language and its words. It is hard to pinpoint the exact time when English became a language and it is impossible to state how it fares in the future.

There is an array of other languages from which English borrows and Anglicizes. Spoken English, itself, changes within its own region as shortcuts for phrases or polysyllabic words become part of the English lexicon. What we recognize today as new Modern English will eventually be more of a Middle English which differs from Old English.

Anne Curzan narrates her own work in a structured course to a live audience. She maturely handles the curse words, emotive words, with candor and does not exclude them from the discussion like certain dictionaries do, Webster's, for example. She also includes sayings or phrases people use now as well as in the past. Phrases responsible for many English words have their own intriguing history which are all but forgotten, unless one studies the English language. This captures students' interest and continues to excite many who find this subject both challenging and fascinating.

Today's language is rich with new technology, electronics, medicine, and entertainment lingo. Avenues of communication are immediate and evolutionary with the advent of the Smartphone.
Change in English culture influences how one says something as much as what one says. Curzan uses the term, Homosexual, as an example for carrying negative connotations; whereas, Gay and Lesbian, are favorable terms for the same expression.

This course is comprehensive and loaded with information worthy of study. One must listen and review this excellent presentation to fully appreciate all it has to offer. 

The Story of Human Language (The Great Courses: Linguistics # 1600) by John McWhorter

5 out of 5 stars  *****

Fascinating, educational, and comprehensive describe this work by John McWhorter, The Story of Human Language.The content is so extensive that one needs to pay close attention when listening to grasp all the nuances along the trails and adventures of human culture responsible for the varied languages in the world today.

In this course one learns how quickly language changes over the course of distance and time. New languages crop up from groups of people who expand and settle in regions with a certain language and eventually alter that language in sound because of slang or laziness - it doesn't matter - to form a dialect; it becomes specific for this social group. Dialects are further altered with the introduction of new people into that region with their own languages and dialects. A blend of two or more languages can borrow from one another and in a very short time in history, a different sounding language develops. McWhorter explains how and why diverse groups would come together besides exploration; conquest and slavery are two examples.

Now a region can have new cultures and subcultures within its society and with that comes their street language, which is not a real language but a Pidgin language. Again, over time, cultural influences blend and language may be the first sign of their influences. When a language comes out of pseudo-languages and develops rules which apply to that language and for that region it may be a Creole. This reader learns that Creole is not just one language but a blend of languages that differ from one another depending upon their influences and regions of the world.

As new languages develop, old languages die. This occurs within one culture. English, for example, has Old English, which if heard might sound a bit incomprehensible today. The study of language does allow one to trace ancestral cultures and from whence that culture derives. The author alludes to the fact that when a language dies, that culture also dies. That being said, if a language changes, the culture changes.

This course makes this student realize that there is not a wrong way of saying something, just a different way. One learns the written rules of language and that slows the rate of change. Written language did not exist for most of mankind's existence. Communication via language develops early with mankind and, most certainly, undergoes many changes unhindered by correction from a controlling society who writes the rules. There are those who develop a language meant for global communication but they are, now, just another language with a set of rules spoken by those who wish to learn the arcane labors of an individual. Such languages are not spoken by any society in any region of the world.

There is much more in this course that one may discover about language and, in doing so, learn about cultures of the world. Communication comes in many forms. The Internet shrinks the world and communication with other cultures around it is not just speaking via video or written using text. Texting, itself, is developing its own shortcuts and pseudo-language, some of which is already accepted in dictionaries of the world. The internet opens up languages of icons, emoji's, gifs, etc. This language is pictorial and assimilates easily with varying cultures.

This reader believes that a worldwide language may come from this technological, or tech, industry. It is as if communication is out of the hands of those who desire control and are uneasy with change. Language tells mankind's story of who we are and indicates where we are going. It is a fascinating field to observe and about which to learn.

I was going to write, "It is a fascinating field to observe and to learn about", but that would break the rules - God forbid, I end a sentence in a preposition.