Can we revive this group?

I've been given about a dozen books on Church history, and am fascinated by the challenge of trying to decide and express what is most significant in the incredibly complex history of the Church. I very much enjoyed McSorley's History, although I have many questions I'd love to ask someone. I'm now struggling to get myself to read Bokenkotter, partly because I find it appalling.
Any history buffs still out there?

In a separate group here at LT, titled (approximately) Learning from History, there is a call to discuss the large question of what can be learned from history--and as might reasonably be expected, some argue that almost nothing can be learned from history, while others maintain that history (and Revelation) are the only basis we have for much of our "knowledge."
Probably most members in this group will hold the latter viewpoint, and I ask your comments in this thread or new ones in this group, both in general and in specific terms, what do you think are the most important lessons of Church history?
Offhand, I can suggest a few, but I intend to give this much more thought and hope to be motivated by this group.
-Evil will arise among and around us despite our best precautions and intentions.
-Jesus' teachings not to oppose evil and to flee the abomination were intended to save His Disciples, but not to condemn us forever to oppression by tyrants.
-Christians and our Utopias will be hated and attacked by evil-doers.
-Christianity can bring much peace to corners of the world, but it does not yet seem to be God's Will to have world-wide peace.