Locations & Times

  Sometimes I read Scripture and feel a little disconnected or unable to relate to a particular historical account. Then I do a deeper dive and Bam!, my heart is right there in the scene. Such was the case when I read of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8 and Luke 7. The centurion was a man...

I walked toward the plaza with my head down. I knew better than to look around. I could feel everyone’s eyes boring holes into me. I could feel their mean stares burning on my neck like the hot sun. I could hear the whispers of some and the shouts of a few, proclaiming their hatred for me...

Relating to ancient people with whom Jesus interacted can be difficult. I find that bringing those characters into a modern context can help me better understand the gravity of the interaction. What follows is a fictional interview based on the conversation the Rich Young Ruler (RYR) had with...

I couldn’t get to Him on my own. I’d heard the news. Jesus was back in town. And people were saying the same things again … He’s healing people … He’s different … You’ve got to see Him. But for me, just getting across the room was a struggle...

Dressed in the garments of fear and shame, I stood outside the town gate. Hundreds of people were expected to arrive at any moment. The air was filled with aromas of wood fires, freshly baked bread, and fish. Folk music played in the background as women wove and local blacksmiths forged tools...

The Man Nobody Could Fix   He broke every chain they put on him. Literally. The townspeople had tried everything … rope, iron, even sheer manpower. But nothing worked, so they eventually gave up. Instead of trying to contain him they just kept their distance. Now this man lived in a...

  The Samaritan woman carried brokenness from her past. Her story is found in John 4:1-42. During the height of the midday sun, while seeking water at Jacob’s well, she has an unexpected encounter with a Jewish man. A thirsty woman meets a weary Messiah. Their cross-cultural paths...

He’s coming. Jesus is coming. The streets are filling quickly—crowds pressing in, voices rising with anticipation. I’ve heard the stories, the miracles, the authority He carries. And yet, I never imagined I would be this close. But how will I see Him? Even if I push through...

You may have heard the story of Mary and Martha, but have you ever imagined what it might have felt like from Martha’s perspective? Imagine what she might have been thinking, how she might tell the story. It was an ordinary day… until the man everyone was talking about—the...

I began to lose my vision last month.   I don’t know who was more shocked by the results of my scan, the retina specialists or me. My old nemesis, Lyme disease, had stormed back in, which explained why I was having trouble seeing. I felt scared, but not without hope.  I...