… continued from Who are you influencing? (Part 1) Brutus took custody of the bleeding and beaten men. He thrust them into one of the inner cells. Fastened their feet in the stocks. “We don’t need your kind around here. For disturbing order in the empire, you’ll receive the death penalty,” he spewed. “Scum.” Brutus slammed…
storytelling
Who are you influencing?
Life as a Roman guard had its perks. They lived in the middle class working group, receiving pay and housing and some status. The guards took their job of protecting the community quite seriously. They were responsible for people who committed crimes against the others and the state. Even to the extent that if a…
How is your life parable-shaped?
Please welcome author Cheri Cowell… Our tour guide almost casually offered the words that nearly knocked me off my feet. “The stones upon which you are walking are the stones where Jesus could have walked.” I stopped in midstride and looked down at my sneakers. We stood in Jerusalem before the remains of the entrance…
To Blog or Not to Blog?
Why blog? Many people have asked the purpose of blogging. Some would say that we are a society that will not stop talking. Opinions and comments and advise and rants abound. Guilty. As I consider the “to blog or not to blog” question, though, a few things come to mind… Connecting First, I have found blogs…
Visual Story of Jesus
Through a powerful movie filmed mostly in Tunisia and Morocco, here is the biography of Jesus from Matthew’s point of view. The film opens with a brief narrative, then launches into the 4+ hours of word-for-word NIV translation of the first book of the New Testament. So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and click…
The Story of a Christmas Party
I recent came upon a compelling story… A family decided to splurge on a massive birthday party for their soon to be one-year-old child. They invited all their neighbors, friends from work, and family members. They cleaned, straightened, decorated and baked for many days leading up to the party. Many people rsvp’d and everyone was…
Faith and Life in Novels
Integrating faith and life in novels … meet author Sharon Srock. Her debut novel, Callie, came out this Fall! Good reviews are already coming in! It’s an awesome read: genuine dialogue and believable plot with faith intricately woven throughout the novel. Check out the plot… Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. One miracle to save them all….
Week Three (B): Parables and Translations of Mark 4
Welcome to Week Three in How To Study the Bible series! (To begin the series click here.) This article continues the discussion about parables in Mark 4. After understanding the purpose of parables from the previous post, we will now move onto clarifying the differences in the plethora of modern-day Bible translations. The Translation Not many of us can read ancient…
Week Three (A): Parables and Translations in Mark 4
Welcome to Week Three in How To Study the Bible series! (To begin the series click here.) As you explore Mark 4 this week, you will… 1) learn Jesus’ favorite method of teaching 2) learn how to interpret parables 3) understand the differences among Bible translations Review of Week Two: Insights and Tools for Mark 1-3 First, how did exploring the harmony of the gospels chart…
Parable of the Cracked Pot
Adapted from an anonymous folk tale… A water bearer had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. By the end of the…
