Men and women are created by God, equal with different roles. How did Jesus treat women? He included women in his teaching, he healed them, he encouraged them. In the fourth chapter of John, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at the well. The encounter is unusual for several reasons. Jews…
Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14. The Farmer’s Almanac gives the history of this day, pointing to three women who promoted respect and support for motherhood. In the middle of the 19th century, Ann Reeves Jarvis sponsored Mothers’ Day work clubs. Her goal was to improve the living condition for…
During the past couple weeks I was going through my book shelves and found a book that I had picked up at a resale shop. The Galileans: A Novel of Mary Magdalene was written by Dr. Frank Slaughter and published in 1953. But I never read it. It was time…
Family relationships are a vital part of our life. The fifth and sixth chapters of Ephesians focuses on the family. Chapter five begins with Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love . . . In our human, imperfect nature we have problems in family relationships. We make…
There are many novels about WWI and WWII, because there are many points of view, many stories to tell. Recently I found Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini at the library. During WWI young women went to France to operate the switchboards for the Allied Army. These young women had experience…
Today the 50th March for Life is taking place in Washington D.C. In 1973 the Supreme Court (nine men) made the decision that abortion is a human right based on right to privacy. Although the decision has been questioned over the years, there was doubt that it could be overturned. Last…
It took me just an instant to see a favorite author on a display of new mysteries at the library. Candace Robb has the fourteenth book in the Owen Archer mysteries, A Fox in the Fold. The novels are set the 14thcentury in York, England. Another new release that I…
In 2013 the movie, Lincoln, was released. I saw it twice in the theater. I learned about President Lincoln’s perseverance in getting the thirteenth amendment to the constitution passed–the amendment that abolished slavery. It was a tough fight because slavery had become woven into the fabric of our nation. The economy…
During WWII Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany. Like many occupied countries, there was a resistance movement. Mandy Robotham has written a historical fiction book, The Resistance Girl, based on events that took place during that time. The main character, Rumi, is a young woman who is the daughter of…
When I attended the Law and Life Summit at a conference center this summer, I discovered that the Catholic Writer’s Guild was also meeting. The Guild sessions were open to Law and Life attendees, so I joined a couple offerings. Stephanee Landsem was presenting at one of the sessions. I…