Day 25- The Significance Of “70”: The Boy Jesus In the Temple

Where’s Jesus? One baffled frown mirrored in the face of another.  A skip of the heart.  A tremor of terror. I thought he was with you. The caravans of pilgrims … Continue reading Day 25- The Significance Of “70”: The Boy Jesus In the Temple

Day 24- “Out of Egypt I Call My Son”: A Priestly Line in Egypt

In the sands six miles north of Cairo, Egypt Hebrew inscriptions can be found among the ruins of an ancient city.  Jewish burial catacombs snake under the dunes.  This is Tell … Continue reading Day 24- “Out of Egypt I Call My Son”: A Priestly Line in Egypt

Day 22- Two Dreams and a Midnight Flight

“Get up.” Moments earlier, there was the blackness of midnight, the stillness of village slumber. Then, sleep was riven by light and alarm. Joseph was no ordinary man. He was … Continue reading Day 22- Two Dreams and a Midnight Flight

Day 21- A Royal Welcome and Three Special Gifts

Herod held his paranoid, murderous impulses together long enough to craft a subtle plan. He would deceive the wise men from the east into finding the child and then revealing … Continue reading Day 21- A Royal Welcome and Three Special Gifts

Day 18- “We Three Kings”: Who Were The Wise Men From the East?

The sun beat down on them by day, and they slept under a canopy of stars by night.  They had been travelling the International Highway for many weeks in a caravan … Continue reading Day 18- “We Three Kings”: Who Were The Wise Men From the East?

Day 17- Baby’s First Trip to the Temple

Crowds filled the streets as the young couple made their way toward the base of the temple complex.  The woman had given birth forty days before and the time for her ritual purification … Continue reading Day 17- Baby’s First Trip to the Temple

Day 13- No Room In the Kataluma

Whenever the Christmas story was read to me as a child I had an image in my mind of Joseph and a very pregnant Mary making their way down a crowded … Continue reading Day 13- No Room In the Kataluma

Day 12- A Manger Not So Far Away: 1st Century Home Construction in Palestine

KC and Sherron Bridges of Quinlan,Texas keep a 6′ tall, 2,100 lb, horned Bison named “Wildthing” in their home.  Most people find that daunting and perhaps a bit frightening, but it … Continue reading Day 12- A Manger Not So Far Away: 1st Century Home Construction in Palestine

Day 6- Betrayal

She was pregnant and he knew the baby wasn’t his. She had promised to be faithful. He was busily preparing their home to receive her as his wife when he … Continue reading Day 6- Betrayal

Day 4- Head Coverings, Veils, and No Twirling In the Street

Head coverings. Veils. No twirling in the street. There could be no hint of impurity during the betrothal period. Her husband’s reputation was now indelibly linked to hers. If at … Continue reading Day 4- Head Coverings, Veils, and No Twirling In the Street