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: Jesus
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”
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”
The Lives and Times of Women in the New Testament- Part 2
Marriage, Sexuality and Childbirth Welcome to part 2 of my series on the lives and times of women in the New Testament. In part 1, I examined women in a patriarchal society, and this time we will look at women’s everyday lives in terms of marriage, sexuality and children. Life was tough and disease wasContinue reading “The Lives and Times of Women in the New Testament- Part 2”
The Lives and Times of New Testament Women
Part 1 – Women’s lives in a patriarchal society “So many women with a love for Jesus. You have brought their stories to life! Wonderful.” One of the most frequent comments about my writing and blogs has been that they bring the Bible to life. Showing how the women and men lived within their communitiesContinue reading “The Lives and Times of New Testament Women”
Jesus’ female disciples
What springs to your mind when you hear of Jesus’ disciples? If you are like me, you grew up with the image of Jesus surrounded by the twelve disciples, all men, following him along the dusty roads from village to village. But is this image correct or was there more to it? Before we lookContinue reading “Jesus’ female disciples”
Father and Son
An original short story for Christmas Mary watches her husband and son working and reflects upon his birth. Who will the boy become? Sunlight filled the courtyard and lit up the faces of those working below. I sat on the roof intending to sew, but as usual, I was watching those I loved. “That’s it,Continue reading “Father and Son”
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 