Peter answers Herod’s question: Who is this guy?

One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other ancient prophets risen from the dead.”Then he asked them, “But who do ... Continue reading

Who is this guy?

When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man ... Continue reading

He turns winter into spring

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.” —L.M. Montgomery, Anne of AvonleaJesus was walking along a road, a large crowd following, when he was stopped by the leader of a nearby synagogue. His daughter was very ill, he explained. Could Jesus please ... Continue reading

All My Knotted-Up Life: A review

I grew up in a spanking new suburban community surrounded by woods and farmland. The forest was crisscrossed by meandering trails leading in all directions; I knew many of them by heart and spent hours every week wandering and exploring. One trail led to a stream that tumbled along a steep granite ... Continue reading

The man who lost his mind

So they [sailed to] the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and ... Continue reading

Lost in a world of my own

My favorite pastime has always been reading, and when I'm reading, I don't hear or see anything but the words on the page in front of me, as long as the story is well-written, the characters are interesting, and the plot is believable.It's a joke in my family that when I'm immersed in a book, ... Continue reading

Shining light on good deeds

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone ... Continue reading

Apostles’ Creed: I believe in Jesus Christ

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, —The Apostles' CreedWe have three options. 1. Jesus Christ never existed. 2. Jesus Christ was a mysterious historical figure about whom we know little for certain. 3. Jesus Christ is as the New Testament portrays him.An honest look at ... Continue reading