With the launch of Advance from Antioch, my third and final book in the Leaving Bethany trilogy, I thought I would write a mini-series of blogs, examining the historical and Biblical background of the stories. This month we begin with the first, Leaving Bethany. The novel opens with house-proud Martha sweeping the dust out ofContinue reading “The Historical and Biblical Background to Leaving Bethany”
Tag Archives: faith
God the Midwife
I was thinking what to write for my Christmas post and wondered about the things less said. Have you ever wondered about the time between Mary and Joseph arriving at the inn or stable, on the (supposed) donkey and the appearance of the shepherds? This is the actual moment of Jesus’ birth. It always raisesContinue reading “God the Midwife”
Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church
The Desert Mothers The conversion of Emperor Constantine in 312 AD elevated Christianity to a state religion and brought an end to three centuries of state persecution. The church moved from the margins of society into the centre. It was at this time when Christians began to feel at home in the world that someContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”
Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church
Women Martyrs I recently bought a book “The Story of Christianity 2,000 Years of Faith”, published in 2000 by Dorling Kindersley to celebrate the millennium. I found it languishing on a shelf in a charity shop and thought it might be interesting. Opening it I was struck by how few women were mentioned in itsContinue reading “Celebrating Women Pioneers of the Early Church”
Aemilia Metella Interviews Mary of Bethany
The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet Sunlight streamed through an open window, and the gentle breeze brought the smells and noises of Larnaca Harbour into the bright and cheerful room. I sat on the edge of a couch nursing a cup of wine, wondering about the woman I had come to see. Despite interviewing manyContinue reading “Aemilia Metella Interviews Mary of Bethany”
The Lives and Times of New Testament Women
Part 3 – Women’s Spiritual and Everyday Lives Welcome to the third and final part of my series on the lives of women in New Testament times. If you have not done so, check out the first two. Part 1 Women in a Patriarchal Society Part 2 Marriage, Sexuality and Children This time we areContinue reading “The Lives and Times of New Testament Women”
Elizabeth and Mary
Active Participants in the Christmas Story Elizabeth is a name that’s come down my family line. One grandmother was called Elizabeth and the other, like me, had it as a middle name. I even chose it as my daughter’s name. Despite all that, and even knowing that Elizabeth is a character in the Bible, andContinue reading “Elizabeth and Mary”
Leaving Bethany 