What was Ritual Purity in First Century Judaism?
As I’ve said in previous posts, I’m in no way a Jewish scholar. Yet learning about the practice of ritual purity can give us…
Christians and Jews: A Common Foundation in the Word of God
First, let me say that I don't claim to be an expert on Judaism. Still, as I’ve immersed myself in research for The Well,…
A Fall Gourmet Dinner, Biblical Style
When we think of Biblical food, we often think of simple fare: the bread and fish fed to the 5,000, the locusts and wild…
Joy, Beauty, and Generosity in Brazil
South America: it conjures up visions of jungles, political unrest, and poverty. What was I doing bringing 24 kids to a continent I knew…
Why I'm heading to South America with a Backpack and Sleeping Bag
You won't be hearing much from me in the next two weeks. No facebook posts, no tweets, no blog entries. I won't be talking…
What do demons in the Bible tell us about Jesus?
For the past two weeks,I've shared some of my research into demons and demonic possession in first century Israel and the surrounding lands. I've…
How does one become possessed by a demon?
Voodoo Doll, 4th century : photo credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikimedia Commons "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can…
Demoniacs in the Bible: real or not?
What is demonic possession? It is tempting to try to explain away what the Bible refers to as demonic possession. Some say that demonic…
Jews Vs. Samaritans: What’s the Difference?
The Good Samaritan In The Well, the conflict between Jews and Samaritans is part of the story of Mara, Shem and their journey to…
Jews Vs. Samaritans: Insult and Injury
Last week, we saw how the conflicts between the Jews and Samaritans began. So how did the two warring peoples treat each other, living…