Church History 101: Maewyn Succat aka St. Patrick

Read the introduction to this series – 50 people you need to know: Church History 101

While millions of people around the world “celebrate” him every March, most have no idea who he was or what he did. St. Patrick has become a patron saint of wearing green, not getting pinched and drinking until you throw up.

In reality Patrick (c. 387 - c. 460), whose birth name was Maewyn Succat (I'd probably go by “Patrick,” too), was a slave turned missionary who used innovative methods to spread the gospel among an unreached people group. A passion for Jesus and church planting – that's his real legacy.

Since our culture recognizes the name, but knows next to nothing about him, Patrick is someone you really should know.

The secret to keeping life from being a roller coaster

Roller coasters are exciting and fun – as long as you can get off and back on solid ground again.

Imagine if you tried to live your entire life on a roller coaster. Among other things, you would have to give up eating a bowl of cereal. I love Froot Loops too much to do that.

It is easy to recognize part of the enjoyment of roller coasters is that they provide a break for the stable ground we walk on every day. No one, except possibly 12-year-olds everywhere, wants to stay strapped in the cart for good.

For too many Christians, however, they have traded a secure foundation, which would enable them to build and achieve great things, for a life off perpetual ups and downs.

Maybe you know you are on the roller coaster, but you have no idea how you can get off.

It's all about your focus. It's about where you place your trust. If you change that, you will change your foundation and find freedom from the roller coaster life.

Top 10 songs from New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men & 98 Degrees' new tour

Exciting news for all you women who should be old enough to know better - New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees are teaming up for a summer tour ... in an RV around retirement villages in Florida. I'm kidding ... kind of.

They were looking to make it even bigger and bring N*Sync, but one of their members is a bit too busy making new entertainment to take part in a nostalgia tour. I mean, Joey Fatone's still doing My Family Recipe Rocks for the Live Well Network, right?

This summer's The Package Tour will be reuniting some of the most famous acts of the 90's. Having all three groups on one stage will also mean a cast reunion for the latest Old Navy commercial and everyone in line for dinner yesterday afternoon at the local cafeteria restaurant.

Look, I'm not saying the guys are getting older, but they scheduled tour stops around the days Social Security checks arrive in the mail. Plus, their contracts specifically state that there can be no interviews while reruns of Matlock are on.

So, with a little bit of advancing in age, the guys thought they might need to update their songs to fit their lives right now and better connect with their fan base. Here are the top 10 songs from New Kids On The Block, Boyz II Men & 98 Degrees' new tour.

No, Kermit Gosnell is not an outlier or an isolated case

This is how abortion advocates are spinning the murder conviction of abortionist Kermit Gosnell.

He's just one abortion provider. It's not like what he did is common or anything.

That's the only way they can proceed, since their proposed "solutions" lie in direct contrast to the grand jury report in the Gosnell case. NARAL, Planned Parenthood and other extreme pro-abortion groups and individuals argue this demonstrates why abortion providers should have less restrictions on them, a decrease in government oversight.

The non-partisan grand jury, with a diverse opinion on abortion, however, declared the atrocities were allowed to happen and continue to happen because pro-choice politicians intentionally looked the other way when damaging information came to light and essentially refused to inspect Gosnell's disgusting "clinic."

The only way their argumentation sounds remotely reasonable is if Gosnell actually is who those passionately in favor of abortion say he is — just one rogue abortionist with no connection to other abortion supporters or providers. Their problem? That's not the case. At all.

If you had one wish ...

If you had one wish, what would it be?

We've all played the game or at least thought about the idea. You've watched Aladdin and you know, no, you cannot wish for more wishes. That's cheating.

What if God came to you and promised to grant you one request, how would you respond? Solomon faced just such a moment and the way he responded revealed what was in his heart. The same is probably true for us.

Church History 101: Augustine

Read the introduction to this series – 50 people you need to know: Church History 101

More than any other on the list, I struggle with how to even quantify or sum up the life and impact Augustine of Hippo (354-430) had on Christianity and church history. To speak of his legacy properly, however, I believe you have to go back further to his mother Monica.

While Augustine's father was a pagan, Monica loved Christ and prayed for her son to follow her in the faith. She perserved in her prayers and efforts for over thirty years, through Augustine's hedonistic young adult years and his adoption of pagan philosophies as a professor.

The moment when Augustine responded to what he describes as the voice of a little child telling him to "take up and read" Paul's epistles, the trajectory of philosophy and theology changed. Augustine, in an answer to the prayers of his mother, became a Christian and spent the rest of his life thinking through and writing about the issues confronting Christianity.

Augustine is someone you have to know, if you want to know anything at all about church history.

Grand pronouncements are not as important as little sacrifices

Once, when I was a teenager, I remember telling someone, "I think I'm going to die for my faith one day."

Why exactly did I say such a thing? I was an idiot.

OK, maybe, that is being a bit harsh on myself, but like so many Western Christians, I felt free to make such a ridiculous claim while living in a nation that protected my rights to believe as I chose.

It is easy to boldly proclaim my willingness to become a martyr while the possibility of that happening was virtually zero.

Often times the boldest claims of an unlikely outcome can mask insecurities and fear over a very absolute reality.

Far too frequently, we are like Peter who made grandiose promises, but failed to accomplish simple tasks.

Top 10 punishments God is considering for the Jets after releasing Tebow

This week the New York Jets released quarterback Tim Tebow ... and invited the wrath of God on their entire organization. They claimed it was purely a financial decision, which is true in part. By cutting him, the team did save 30 pieces of silver.

It's about to turn ugly in the Big Apple. God hasn't been this upset with a apple since the Garden of Eden. Now, He is left with a decision — how, not if, He is going to punish the team for cutting Tebow.