Yesterday I wrote about a named woman of the Bible called Joanna. Her life story, gleaned from what little we know of Luke’s two verses, seems interesting. I’m intrigued by these glimpses of the different people the Bible shows us.
Always remember these people are real people. They aren’t characters in a book, though they are in a book, THE Book. They really lived in a real culture and had feelings and families and tears and joys.
In my essay, I delved into Joanna’s life, and afterward I wondered for a good while what her life must have been like. I thought of her contrasted with Potiphar’s wife. Joanna was wife of Chuza, Tetrarch of Galilee. A Tetrarch was a Roman governor of a province or country. It’s a pretty high up position, and the Tetrarch’s steward would hold a high position of authority and status.
Luke has this intriguing little nugget tucked in to the beginning of chapter 8.
Women Accompanying Jesus
1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
We only find her mentioned by name one other time in any of the Gospels or even the rest of the New Testament. It’s in Luke 24:10, where the women were the first to find the empty tomb of the resurrection and went back to tell the apostles: Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. (Acts 9:36-41).
As a God-fearer, Lydia used to meet with other women by the riverside. (Acts 16:13).
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
I can imagine that Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher of the 1800s, was thinking of his own conversion as he wrote this devotional. It was a snowy January day in 1850. The young lad had been raised by a loving father who preached the Gospel rightly. His mother had given him loving instruction at her knee since Charles was a babe. Charles was sent to live with his Grandfather for a period, and his grandfather was also a preacher, with many coming to conversion under him. His grandfather also had inherited a fabulous library as preacher, and Charles read theological books voraciously. As a teen Charles himself attended a Congregational church, and he read the Bible diligently.
Charles had a good education and access to eloquent teachers and preachers. Yet he was miserable and disturbed in his soul that he was not saved. He made a vow to himself that he would visit every Congregational Church in his area until he found someone who would tell him the way to heaven and how to be released from the condemnation of the Law. He felt the Law’s condemnation acutely, painfully, almost physically.
A reader asked me my opinion of a certain author, which happens a lot. In this case it was Linda Dillow. I had not heard of her or her ministry.
It is encouraging to me when women are careful before getting involved rather than asking me how to get out after they already have been grabbed by false teachers.
I was not familiar with Linda Dillow. As I went about searching for information on her, I thought it would be a good idea to present how I vet an author. Mine isn’t a foolproof method, and there are undoubtedly things I’m overlooking, but I feel it gains me enough information initially as to whether to proceed in absorbing the author’s material or recommending her to others. My discernment radar is always up after accepting an initial positive assessment. Discernment’s not a “one and done” kind of thing.
As always, check yourself, check ME out, and pray for wisdom.
I was asked by a reader how I share the Gospel. I know the angst. I often ask myself if I’m doing it right…if I’m doing enough…if I’m bold enough… I admire street preachers SO much! Anyway, I’ve shared in 3 ways:
1. Share the straight Gospel. If someone brings up religion say, at work, then that is an opening. The rule in my work is, if they ask or bring it up, we can answer. Sooo…I try to create an atmosphere where that happens, like, wearing a cross necklace, mentioning religious words, etc. Be sure to know the rules at your work and work within their limits but balance that with conscience. Continue reading ““How do you share the gospel?””→
I hope where you are, you are enjoying a change in weather. I live in the American South, so this time of year is my favorite because the oppressive heat has broken and the days are fresh and clear. I also love Fall in the South because the season lasts a while. In Maine where I lived for most of my adult life, fall lasts but a few weeks. The word ‘fleeting’ doesn’t cover it. In Maine also, fall was hard to enjoy despite the beautiful foliage, because the harsh winter was coming. It was a busy time of year, buying, delivering, and stacking the winter’s firewood, laying hay around the foundation for insulation, checking the roof, getting the snow tires on the car, and a myriad of other tasks to prepare for surviving winter. The fall leaves were mainly a harbinger of what was coming.
Cooler weather also means more indoor activities. These first two links are for your entertainment enjoyment. RedeemTV is a free, donor supported Christian streaming service with lots of Christian media to watch: Redeem TV. I’ve seen some good shows and movies on there.
This next one is a new Christian streaming service, AGtv. Costi Hinn is on the Board and he wrote recently,
“It’s a new era for the “American Gospel.” If false teachers can pound the airwaves and invade screens around the world, so can we. Couldn’t endorse this enough and thankful to be on the board of AGtv.”
On the false teacher front, Beth Moore is still pumping out false teaching, polluting the faith with her brand of harmful education. She has a new “teaching” series coming out alleging to go through Galatians, so I thought I’d do my best to remind and warn again to stay away from her. I missed this essay when it came out last year: 5 Sins Beth Moore is guilty of.
I love the encouraging reports from HeartCry Missionary Society of missionaries’ work around the world. The missionaries and pastors abroad post short weekly updates. They don’t gloss over the difficulties but they also focus on the victories. Here is one, it is about Sister Paula
Did you know there is a National Cowboy Museum? It is a great place, from what I can see of its social media posts. This week they launched a new series. The letters back home from men and women pioneering the west are read aloud. The Museum blurb goes:
“Today we’re launching a new blog series called “Voices from the West,” featuring audio recordings of historical documents from the Museum’s Dickinson Research Center. Our goal is to show that history is more than a timeline. At its core, it’s about people. And not just the famous and infamous, but the everyday and ordinary. Mothers and daughters, fathers and husbands, brothers and sisters, family and friends. The Dickinson Research Center preserves and shares these stories, revealing the American West one photograph, one diary and one voice at a time. Voices from the West: Lula Briscoe“.
Pretty neat! I also think sites like this are important. With all the historical revisionism happening in our country now, and with the astounding lack of knowledge in our young people of our past, America’s history is all the more important to know and teach. I plan to listen to the letter about Lula this afternoon after work when I get home and settle in with a cup of tea
Last, we can all use extra measures of grace and patience. I think the lockdown and freedom restrictions are starting to wear on us all. My emotions are riding higher and my temper is nearer the surface. I think others’ are too. Let’s keep praying, and pray even more. Let’s stick with our spiritual disciplines, sticking with them even more. The one thing I took from the HeartCry missives is the missionaries’ and pastors’ relentless focus on Jesus and His victories and graces. So taking their cue, Jesus won! Jesus is King! Jesus reigns! Jesus loves His own!
Reading with children “Engaging children in reading experiences presents infinite opportunities for developing language and emergent literacy skills,” says this education site in Victoria, Australia. Other sites around the world find the same research outcomes. Further, “The frequency of reading to children at a young age has a direct causal effect on their schooling outcomes regardless of their family background and home environment.”
As an educator myself, I’ve seen the same results. In 1998 I participated in creating and implementing a longitudinal study called Project Story Boost, where at-risk young elementary children were paired with an older student and read with/to once per week for an extended period, with friendly discussions afterward. We found that that reading aloud using an interactive style improved children’s early literacy skills, comprehension, and story vocabulary. The experience highlighted the fact that both the quality of book reading experiences and the frequency of book reading are critical. Engagement and motivation for reading increased. It was all good.
The project has been replicated in the United States and as far afield as Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
It sounds simple, but the results and longevity of the impact on children in reading startled even us, who expected such results.
How much more important is it to read the Bible with your children? It is never too early to read God’s word to them. Even as a baby, the comfort they feel of being held by mom or dad, hearing the soothing cadence of the voice as the story is read, the closeness of the experience, all will embed in their body. The words of truth embed in their soul.
The Spirit takes the words from His inspired Bible and circulates them in the child’s brain and spirit. As they grow and begin to understand language, the words will come to mean even more. The intimate experience of sharing the most important thing: God’s word, will create an atmosphere of love and trust like no other.
If random strangers forging a relationship over texts with children in a busy elementary school impact children so dramatically, the daily encounter between parents and their own children at home forging truth via God’s word will not only impact, not only show dramatic results, but will have eternal consequences.
Read the Bible with your children. Discuss. Answer their questions. It is the thread of life.
Prophecy says that as we near the very end days, the culture will worsen. (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:11-12,) and that the body of believers will grow less effective in the battle against satan, less of an example to a dark and dying world and less approved by God (1 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:8, Revelation 2:4, Revelation 3:16). We see this now.
Before the first global judgment of the flood, we read that demons were rampant in the world. The fallen angels had mated with human women, all that they chose, (Genesis 6:1-2) and the resulting situation was chaos. All the people on the earth were thinking of only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5-6). Continue reading “Cultural decline and righteous perseverance”→
the-end-time.org 