Hello Friend,
I’m working on my next book, which is actually the FIRST book in a series of FOUR different books (I think? Things change, so you never know. HA!). The books are about the Gospels …
Matthew.
Mark.
Luke.
John.
… and each book will focus on a different Gospel and the stories of Jesus as told by that Gospel writer.
The objective of each book is to give the reader a look into the original audience of the Gospel (the original readers or listeners) and a taste of …
What they were experiencing.
What problems they were facing.
What struggles were in front of them.
… so that we can (then) look at various stories of Jesus from that Gospel through the lens of its background and context.
We want to let each Gospel and each Gospel write speak for itself/himself.
Each book will open with a chapter about the original audience along with some of what we know of them and their circumstances and then will contain anywhere from 20-30 different chapters/reflections/entries/whatever you want to call them on various stories from the Gospel; AND each entry will end with a couple of reflection questions and plenty of space for you to journal your own thoughts and reflections.
Maybe you’ll read one entry a day.
Or one a week.
Or 10 a day.
Maybe you’ll read the book devotionally.
Or maybe you’ll read it in one sitting.
Or return to it again and again and again.
How you read it is totally up to you, but I’m REALLY excited about this project because I feel like it’s stemming from my sweet spot and my deepest passion (Jesus and the Gospels) along with what I’ve learned from my friend Alexander John Shaia and his lifelong work with the 4 Gospels. I was trained in Biblical studies back in seminary and love to dig into and reflect on the stories we find in the Bible, especially in the Gospels … and that’s what these books are shaping up to be.
All of that to say, today I want to share with you an unedited excerpt from chapter 3, which a reflection on the story of Jesus’ dad - Joseph.
Enjoy, and thanks for supporting my work!
Glenn || MY BOOK || PATREON || BUY ME A COFFEE
When our worlds come crashing down around us, that crashing can very often feel all-consuming, right?
A family member with cancer receives all of your focus and all of your worry.
The loss of a job sends your mind spiraling with worst case scenarios – what if I never get another job? What if I can’t pay the bills? What will I do about health insurance?
A broken relationship can send you into a season of despair and loneliness that feels never-ending.
… What I’m trying to say is that when a massive life change beats on our hearts and breaks down the door, it unleashes a fury of emotions and feelings and worries that make it very hard to hear anything other than the echoes of our own sobs.
Our inner voice of wisdom seems to go silent.
The voices of others are a dull whisper.
God’s voice seems gone altogether.
Perhaps that’s why Matthew included the story of Joseph in his Gospel – the story of a good, righteous man whose entire life was turned upside down when his soon to be wife said “I’m pregnant”.