Who was Mary Magdalene? How much of what we think we know about her is myth, innuendo, or fabrication? Can we clear away the false from the true, remove the layers of unsubstantiated church tradition, Hollywood fiction, rock musicals and imaginings of modern novelists to discover the real Mary Magdalene, friend and disciple of Christ…
Tag: christian history
Numbers in Scripture – Part 2
It occurred to me after posting the first article on numbers that I had not mentioned one of the activities I find enlightening when I come upon any list of things in Scripture. For example, look at 1 John 1:1 and count how many things are stated concerning the Word of Life; 1. That which…
Numbers in Scripture
I don’t remember exactly when I began to see the spiritual truths found in patterns and numbers in the Bible but it has been an ongoing discovery that has continued to open my eyes to this day. The consistency of meaning throughout a book written by different people over thousands of years testifies to God…
Celebrating: Lilias Trotter of Algeria
“It is easy to find out whether our lives are focused and if so where the focus lies. Where do our thoughts settle when consciousness comes back in the morning? Where do they swing back when the pressure is off during the day? Dare to have it out with God, and ask Him to show…
Celebrating Jackie Hamill: Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory
The contrast between the rugged west coast of Australia’s smallest state, Tasmania, and the urban sprawl of Davao City in The Philippines could not be starker. Tasmania’s west coast is a pristine wilderness of misty mountains, winding rivers and impenetrable forest. It is here, in the isolated seaside village of Strachan, that Jacqueline Hamill was…
Celebrating: Anne Askew, The Fair Gospeler
Anne Askew was born into a wealthy English family in Lincolnshire, England, in 1521 during a time when the Bible was becoming increasingly available to the general population. In 1517 Martin Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to a church door in Germany and in 1526 William Tyndale published his English translation of the New…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church Part 3
This is the third article addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE FIRST CENTURY The…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church – Part 2
This is the second of three articles addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. WOMEN LEADERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH…
Women in Leadership in the Early Church – Part 1
This is the first of three articles addressing women in ministry. The first two articles use the Bible to document their service and leadership from the time of Jesus through the first century. Part 3 looks at the factors that came together to oppose the equality found in the early church. What is an Apostle? It…
A View From The Coal Face
The often told story in John chapter 8 of an adulterous woman brought before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees is familiar to many of us. In this post I want to focus in on something Jesus said to the woman after those who demanded her stoning had quietly left the scene: “Woman, where are…
Celebrating ‘The Trio’ – Mildred, Eva and Francesca – Of China
“From Etzingol to Turpan, from Spring of Wine to Chuguchak, we … spent long years in following trade-routes, tracing faint caravan tracks, searching out innumerable by-paths and exploring the most hidden oases. … Five times we traversed the whole length of the desert, and in the process we had become part of its life.” Mildred…
The Factitious Guilt of Eve
That which has been is that which shall be and the thing that has been done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 As I began to work on this article explaining why Eve is blamed for the original fall into sin, it occurred to…
Celebrating: Feisty Females of the Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, or Medieval Period, covered one thousand years of human history, from the fifth to the fifteenth century. It was a time of feudalism, superstition and the rise and fall of kingdoms. It was also a time when Christianity was primarily represented by one established Church, ruled by the Pope in Rome, who…
Celebrating Amanda Berry Smith:”The Singing Pilgrim”
Amanda Berry Smith was born into a poor slave family in Maryland, USA, in 1837. Her father and mother were Bible believing Christians and Amanda later referred to the prayers of her maternal grandmother as being instrumental in her salvation. Samuel Berry, Amanda’s father, laboured long hours as a slave by day and worked in…
Celebrating: Blandina of Lyons
It was the year 177 AD in the town of Lyons, France (then called Gaul). The Roman Emperor was Marcus Aurelius. Christianity had arrived in Lyons 25 years earlier through the missionary Pothinus, who became the First Bishop of Lyons. As the church grew, however, so too did persecution. It began with Christians being beaten,…
When Generations of Silent Women Speak
Many thanks to SheLoves Online Magazine for featuring this article on their website and Facebook Page today! The voices moving around me are strong. They are loud, articulate, and powerful. Most of all they are young, charged with the unmistakable exuberance and vigour of youth. They are young with the outrageous brashness of those who have…
Not Going Under But Over
Catherine Booth (1829-1890) was co-founder of the Salvation Army (with William Booth), as well as a gifted evangelist, apostolic leader, preacher, author, wife and mother. Once when Catherine was preaching, a man objected: “Paul said to the Corinthians it is a shame for women to speak in the church”. Catherine responded: “Oh yes, so he did; but…
Celebrating: Pandita Ramabai of India
A simple wooden cross hidden in scrubby farmland near a railway line now marks the grave of Pandita Ramabai. Yet this petite and remarkable Indian woman, of Hindu descent, was one of the greatest social reformers of her time; a linguist who spoke seven languages; a poet, educator, and author; and a staunch champion…
What Women These Christians Have!
Just posted on our Facebook Page: “Asking why today….why after two thousand years since Christ women believers are still gagged in the church, why numbers of women in leadership are still so disproportional, why I had to go back to a fourth century pagan philosopher to find this revolutionary statement: “What women these Christians have!”.…
Celebrating: Dr. Catherine Hamlin of Ethiopia
When Dr. Catherine Hamlin arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with her husband Reg in 1959, neither had ever seen a case of the medical condition called ‘obstetric fistula’ which would soon become their life’s work. Born in Sydney, Australia in 1924, Catherine was the second eldest of six children. Her father was a successful businessman…
Celebrating Mary Slessor, “Queen of Calabar”
When Mary Slessor arrived in Calabar (modern Nigeria) in August, 1876, the average life expectancy of an African missionary was just a few years. Any who survived and returned home were usually plagued with recurring ill health for the remainder of their lives. Mary, however, was to spend nearly forty years on the African mission…
Who Do We Think We Are?
A little over a year ago I took up photography for a hobby. Armed with my newfangled camera, my tripod and my enthusiasm I set happily off to the beach to catch some waves…..metaphorically speaking. Alas, things didn’t turn out to be as simple as I’d expected. Sure I had an instruction manual, but who…
