In Luke 2, the scripture says that the Roman Caesar Augustus ordered everyone in the area to go to the home of their ancestors to be counted for purposes of taxation. At that time, Quirinius or Cyrenius was the Governor of Sysria, but Cyrenius was also a Roman. Because of that order, Joseph and Mary…
Category: #Bible Study
The Seed for My Picture Book The Donkey’s Song Was Planted When I Was A Child – #Memoir – Harvest Your Past
In October of 2022 Doubleday for Young Readers [a Division of Penguin Random House] Published My Debut Picture Book The Donkey’s Song. Everything about The Donkey’s Song is a miracle. One of the greatest miracles is that when Donkey was published, I was 72. But I had been carrying that story with me all my…
God Paved the Way for the Birth of Jesus – Before Zaccheus Needed a Tree to See Jesus, God Planted the Seed
In 2024, I plan to officially begin the Advent Season on December 1. The date of the beginning of Advent varies, but in 2024, it begins on December 1. I have already talked about several things that I will do to celebrate Advent. I’ll light candles, I’ll play music, I’ll read my Bible, and I’ll…
Luke the Physician and Evangelist in the Bible
Luke the Evangelist Luke was not one of the 12 Disciples of Jesus, but he was active in the early church. It is believed that Luke was Greek but that he was born in Syria. Greek traders had settled along the coast in the Bible lands. . Image Credit: History Alive Textbook 1. Identity. “Luke…
Leaders of Ancient Rome – First Century
For the past several days, I have been engaged by the television series Domina, which I believe you can view via Amazon Prime. I was prepared not to like this series, but when television is well done and seems to bear some semblance of history, I find myself wanting to know more. It is less…
What My Church Taught Me Today – Be Teachable!
“Be Teachable. You’re Not Always Right.” – Toby Mac While we did not talk about Toby Mac today in church, I thought about his words throughout the lessons of the day. One of my first thoughts, however, was about a passage in Luke that I bet I’ve read 10,000 times before and yet, I have…
Communion – The Gifts of God for the People of God – Thoughts Shared by the Reverend Furman L. Buchanan
Off and on, I have worshipped in one Episcopal Church or another. Episcopal services share something with Walmart and McDonald’s — they are always recognizably similar. Many times, I have watched the vicar bless the bread and wine and repeat these words: “The Gifts of God for the People of God.” Recently, I visited a…
How to Prepare to Celebrate Advent – The Season of Light – #Advent — A Free Advent Calendar
This year something fortuitous has happened. Advent begins on December 1, and that is a much more tidy day than it has been in many years past. Advent ends on December 24. Therefore, in the year of 2024, Advent takes place during the first 24 days of December. I think that is special Many years…
A Look at Barbara Kingsolver’s Words about the 2024 Election — Quotes from The Poisonwood Bible
In The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver wrote: “Imagine a ruin so strange it must never have happened.” After the 2024 Presidential Election in the USA, she may have recalled those words, but from somewhere deep within herself she managed to say the following: “Truth and love have been smacked down so many more times in…
November 1 – The Beginning of a New Year – Blessing of the Water
Yesterday was October 31, which–over time–has become the date of Halloween. Today is November 1, which–over time–has become [for Catholics and Christians] the date of All Saints Day. I have said this before, but again, I want to add that the Catholic Church and the Early Christians evoloved out of a Pagan Culture, and I…