You Can't have Easter Without Purim

 By Naomi Craig

Stamp of Moldova - 2016 - Colnect 610525 - Jesus Enters Jerusalem, Wikimedia

This past weekend was the celebration of Palm Sunday, the common remembrance of when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. His disciples and followers spread their cloaks, waved palm branches before Jesus and and proclaimed Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. This event kicked off Holy Week and lead to the cross, Jesus died the brutal death of a sinner--even though He was without sin-- fulfilling the requirement of death for the payment of sins once and for all. Jesus took your place and mine, paying for our sins, past present and future, and conquering death by resurrecting on the third day (Easter Sunday). Because of His forgiveness, we can have that relationship with God for eternity and also for the here and now.

Did you know that this past weekend was also the celebration of  Purim?

The Feast of Esther by Johannes Spilberg the Younger, Wikkimedia

Though it is a more obscure holiday that most Christian churches don't celebrate, without Purim, there would be no Resurrection Sunday.

My family attended a church on vacation and the service was similar to how Jewish synagogues celebrate Purim. If you haven't been it's quite the experience! The book of Esther is read in its entirety at night and the next morning and it's rather like a melodrama. You cheer for the Hero (Mordechai), you 'awww' for the Heroine (Esther) and boo, stomp your feet, and rattle your grogger every time the Villain is mentioned (Haman). Traditionally, children dress up like their favorite character, and there are snacks! 

Homemade hamantaschen, wikimedia

(The church served Hamantaschen -- Haman's Ear-- cookies after😋) The whole time i was remembering scenes from the Biblical Fiction movie, One Night with the King (2006)

One Night with the King Theatrical Movie Poster, Wikipedia

I'm sure the story of Esther (awww) is as familiar to you as the story of Easter, but the pastor brought up a couple of points I hadn't considered.

If Haman (boo! stomp, rattle) had succeeded in destroying the Jews, it wouldn't have just been the area around the Persian capitol, Susa/ Shushan, it would have been as far reaching as the entire Persian Empire. From India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1) including the province of Israel. At this point in history, a large portion of the Jews had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple under Ezra and Nehemiah.

ALL Jews would have been wiped out if Esther (aww) hadn't risked her life by going uninvited to the King's presence. Not just those in the out-lying Persian areas as I uneducatedly assumed. 

Pastor Rob brought to light that since the devil's curse in the Garden of Eden, he knew the Messiah would come from the line of the Jews. he did his best attempt to stop that from happening.  

Satan is not all-knowing or ever-present like God, so he didn't know the when. 

King Herod killing off the baby boys? the devil trying to stop the Messiah's ministry before it started.

Killing Jesus on the cross? Let's stop this rescue-from-sin-plan from happening. Except that is exactly what the recue plan was.  

So then what about Hitler's massacre of the Jews in WWII? The Bible says God will bless those who bless [Jews]. If the Jews are annihilated, then the outgoing blessing in the world is no longer.

From the beginning of the world, Satan has been doing all he can to destroy our relationship with God and the blessings that come from knowing Him. From the beginning of the world, he has been failing, and sometimes even playing directly into God's plan.

Like Esther (awww), perhaps you were put in your situation, job, circle of influence for such a time as this. May we take seriously our commission and share the Light with a dark world.

Light comes from the dark, wikimedia

This Sunday as you celebrate Jesus' resurrection, remember that there is NOTHING that can stop God's plan from happening. 

If you are in a dark spot, remember, it was dark and bleak Friday, but a lot can happen in three days!

Sunday is coming!

Old statue of Jesus on a cross near Zminj in Croatia, Wikimedia

 Have you read or watched any Esther stories or Retellings?

And Their Numbers Grew

Four Lives. Four Destinies. One Gospel

Rumors of the risen Christ spread like wildfire. Stephen’s brutal stoning accelerates the persecution and sends the faithful fleeing Jerusalem.

While an outraged Saul sets out to arrest them all, the followers press on fervently, with the help of the Holy Spirit—though it may cost them their lives.

Read more about And Their Numbers Grew

Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, and pastor's wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you'll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi is the founder of Biblical Fiction Aficionados Community on Facebook and co-hosts #BehindTheStory on YouTube. When not writing or trying to wrangle social media, Naomi attempts to get her rescue dogs to be cute on command for the many pics she takes throughout the day.

The Lighthouse Keeper Who Came Back from the Dead

Race Rock Lighthouse, NY,
Photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com

By Marilyn Turk

Off the eastern end of Long Island Sound, you’ll find Fishers, Little Gull, Great Gull, and Plum–a string of islands. Many ships pass between the islands, but the deepest gap, called “The Race,” is just off the end of Fisher Island near a reef called Race Rock. The dangerous current that flows through the gap has been the doom of many vessels, especially before 1871, when the lighthouse built on the reef became active.

A stag station (men only), the lighthouse housed one keeper and two assistant keepers. The families of the married keepers lived on the mainland, and were visited when a keeper had leave to go home. Located eight miles off the coast from New Haven, Connecticut, going to and from the lighthouse was sometimes difficult for the keepers, depending on the tide. Waves can run in two directions where the water at the mouth of the Race meets the water of Fisher’s Island Sound. In bad weather, these waves can be quite large.

In April 1892, the new head keeper at Race Rock, twenty-four-year-old Christopher Culver, ran into those huge waves. After a brief shore leave to visit his family in New London, Culver set out to return to the lighthouse in a twelve-foot rowboat with a sail. Captain R.M. Jerome, a retired sea captain, watched Culver as he made his way out to the lighthouse. When Capt. Jerome saw Culver’s sail go down in the rough seas, he reported that the boat had capsized.

The ensuing search showed no trace of the keeper, and the newspaper reported his drowning.

In reality, Keeper Culver had abandoned his attempt to reach the lighthouse, lowered his sail, and rowed instead to Great Hay Harbor on Fishers Island where he found food and shelter at Mr. Oakley’s farm. Two days later, the keeper arrived back in New London aboard a steamship, and was reunited with his relieved and jubilant family.

At his sixty-ninth wedding anniversary, Culver recalled his premature death notice published sixty-four years before, thankful for the life he’d had since his “death.”

Keeper Culver didn't really die, he was just misplaced. 

At Easter, we celebrate the real resurrection of Jesus Christ, who really did die and really did come back from the dead, defeating death and sin simultaneously. We therefore have even more reason to be thankful for the life Christ has given us now and forever. 

Marilyn Turk

Historical fiction flavored with suspense and romance

 Marilyn Turk’s roots are in the coastal South. Calling herself a “literary archaeologist,” she loves to discover stories hidden in history. She is the author of two World War II novels, and the Coastal Lights Legacy series set in 1800s Florida—Rebel Light, Revealing Light, Redeeming Light, and Rekindled Light—featuring lighthouse settings. Marilyn’s novella, The Wrong Survivor, is in the Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides collection. She also writes for the Daily Guideposts Devotions book.

She lives in Florida, with her husband, 9-year-old grandson, and a 17-year-old cat. When not writing, Marilyn can be found playing tennis, gardening, walking, fishing, or kayaking. She and her husband have visited over 100 lighthouses so far, but the RV is ready to travel to go see more.

Website: @http://pathwayheart.com

Email: marilynturkwriter@yahoo.com

The Dogwood Tree and Easter

Legends of the Dogwood Tree

Late winter and early spring in East Texas means the Dogwood tree will bloom and color the landscape with its white or pink blooms. I have always loved this tree, but never had any success trying to grow one here in Houston.

The trees are beautiful along the sides of the highway running from Houston up through Woodville and Jasper, Texas where my aunt and uncle lived at one

time.

I discovered that many legends about the Dogwood abound where the tree blooms. From ancient times to the Indians to modern days, legends may be religious or cultural.

Some of the legends concern the name, others the shape of the flower, size of the tree, and another one the “little people” the trees sheltered.

One of the funniest stories comes from an Old English version of how the tree got its name. The wood of the tree became very dense and hard as a rock when it dried. The limbs were used to make “dogs” or “doggerwood” meaning “a stick used to skewer meat.” Another version had the English using the sticks of wood to cure the mange by washing their dogs with the stick.

The Cherokee people believed that a divine race of little people lived among the trees sent to teach people how to live in harmony and at peace with the woods. These were “Dogwood People” and were very kind as protectors of babies and older, infirm people. The English word that came to be used for the people is Brownie.

Two religious legends have been passed down through the years. The first one says that Satan learned that the Dogwood was Adam’s favorite tree, so Satan climbed up a locust tree to sneak into the Garden of Eden and destroy the tree. However, his attempts were foiled by the cross-shaped four petal flower, and he was able only to take a bite from each petal. Supposedly this little intrusion left the tree forever with petals looking like a bite had been taken from them. The locust tree was also cursed with thorns so it could no longer be used for devious purposes.

Despite all these tales, one unknown person penned a poem around Easter time that tells an entirely different story and is my favorite.

It is said that Jesus had a love for the Dogwood tree that grew to be as large as the oak trees we know today. The trunk grew strong and firm as the English people described. Because of its strength and stability, the legend says a Dogwood tree was used to fashion the cross upon which Jesus was crucified. Because it was used for such a cruel purpose, the tree was deeply saddened. However, Jesus, with His gentle love for everything, told the tree that because of its great sorrow, it would never again grow large enough to be used for such a purpose. Therefore, it would be slender with twisted trunks and branches and the four petals would represent the cross with special coloring on each one to denote the blood of Jesus and the center of the flower to represent the crown of thorns. 

The problem with this beautiful story is that the tree is native to North America and didn't grow in Israel in Jesus' time. No matter, the legend is loved, and the flowers are beautiful.

As the tree blooms in the spring, leaves are scarce but the flowers are profuse. They fill the countryside with their beauty, and because of the poem, people are reminded of the sacrifice our Lord Jesus made on the cross that day.

The tree to the right is on the road to Jasper in East Texas. Below is a closer view of the pink variety of the Dogwood tree.

Copies of the poem can be found all over today. Commemorative plates,

plaques, decorative handwork in watercolors and needle work, crosses, jewelry and even tattoos can be found bearing the design of the dogwood blossom. 

No matter what can be proved or disproved, the beautiful blossoms on the tree are a reminder for all of us during the season of Easter.

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and multi-published author from Realms Fiction of Charisma Media and Winged Publications. She was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009. She is a member of ACFW and writes the weekly Verse of the Week for the ACFW Loop. ACFW awarded her the Volunteer of the Year in 2014. Her first electronic series from Winged Publications, Love in the Bayou City of Texas, debuted in the spring of 2015.  Martha is a frequent speaker for writing workshops and the Texas Christian Writers Conference. She is a retired teacher and lives in Houston with her husband, Rex. Their favorite pastime is spending time with their twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The Legend & History of the Dogwood Tree

Blogger: Amber Schamel

Since Easter is coming up, I thought I’d share a beautiful legend that always comes to my mind this time of year. The legend behind the dogwood trees. Some of ya’ll may have heard it, but perhaps you don’t know some of the other history behind the tree.

Down South, the Dogwood Trees are a symbol of Spring. There are festivals every year that celebrate Spring and the blooming of the dogwood tree. In fact, three states have honored the tree with state plant status. The dogwood is the state tree of Missouri, the state flower of North Carolina, and Virginia loved it so much that it is actually their state flower AND state tree.

In the mid 1500’s, the trees were known in Europe as the dagwood, because the small stems were used for dags, daggers, arrows or skewers. Later, around 1615, the name was changed to dogwood. No one knows for sure why the name changed from dagwood to dogwood. Perhaps it was a pronunciation thing. Or perhaps it was because the tree sometimes made the sound of a dog barking when the branches knocked together in the wind. Or perhaps it was due to the medicinal properties of the bark, that were often used to treat mange in dogs.

The native Americans used the dogwoods for many purposes, including medicines and dyes. The tree was seen as masculine, and many of the ceremonies consisted of the males eating their berries. The sap, however, is toxic and was used as a poison amongst the tribes. When the dogwoods bloomed in spring, the Native tribes knew it was time to begin planting.

Thomas Jefferson is one of the main reasons that the dogwood tree became popular as an ornamental tree. He loved them and promoted them for landscaping, including many of them in his estate plan at Monticello.

Notice the unique petal tips

Growing up in Colorado, I had never heard of dogwoods until I started volunteering in the rural Ozarks near where my dad was raised. He’s the one that original introduced me to these trees and the beautiful legend behind them. My dad stopped the car beside the road, snapped off a branch and held it out to us as he explained the legend. They are a rather small tree, rough and crooked looking. Around Easter every year, it bursts forth with beautiful, fragrant blooms. These blooms have four petals that look somewhat like a cross. The tips of the petals are unique, looking almost as if they've been imprinted by nails, and having red coloring that almost looks like blood stains.
 
No one knows for certain where the legend originated, or who is responsible for it, but it goes something like this:

The Dogwood Tree by Anonymous

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew

The blooms look almost like a cross,
with a crown of thorns at the center.

To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen

Being distressed at the use of the wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
"Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so

Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown
And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.

All who see it will think of Me,
Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished this tree shall be
A reflection to all of My agony."

While history tells us that these trees didn’t grow naturally in Palestine, (and therefore would not have been around during the time of Christ) and the legend most likely originated in the early 20th century, the story of the Dogwood Tree is just that…a story. However, it is a fantastic tool for telling others, especially young children, about the story of Jesus’s sacrifice & our redemption. The tree does bear resemblance to the story, which makes it an easy way to share the Gospel. I’ve witnessed my dad sharing it this way many times. So now, when you see the sign of Spring in the Dogwood Tree, remember its Creator, and His love for you.

Have you heard the legend of the Dogwood Tree? What other legends have you heard about Christ’s crucifixion? 

*****

Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest".  Her title, Dawn of Liberty, was awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year award in Historical Fiction. She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

The Legends and Symbolism of the Lily

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (Matthew 6:28-29, NLT)

While there are many varieties and colors of lilies today, from the brilliant pastels of tiger lilies to the warm, bright orange of the common daylily, in this article I’m considering the symbolism of the white lilies we often attach to Easter.

I was surprised to find in my research that they were symbolic in Greek mythology. They represented the Greek goddess Hera, from whose drops of left over breast milk they were said to have sprung. Even the Roman goddess, Venus, had her part to play. Jealous of their beauty and purity, legend has it that she added an ugly pistil to the their center to mar their loveliness. 

CC 2005 by Solipsist

Lilies were mentioned in Old Testament scripture. In ancient Judaism they were symbolic of righteousness, resurrection, and even of Israel. While lilies may wither in the sunlight, but for being watered, God was like the dew which nourished and protected Israel.

In early Christianity it was said that lilies arose from Eve’s repentant tears when having to leave Eden after the fall into sin. They became associated with innocence and purity and thus, the Virgin Mary.  

Jesus, Himself, referred to the “lilies of the field” during the Sermon on the Mount, reminding us that God is a better clothing designer than His people are. His proof is in the beauty, delicacy, and color of even lowly flowers of the field which He created. He is the ultimate provider of clothing. Perhaps the most likely connection of the lily to Easter is that it is said lilies were discovered in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus’ death and resurrection. They have been nick-named “the white-robed apostles of hope.” 

Since throughout the centuries they have been associated with innocence and purity, it makes sense that they would become prevalent as we remember our pure and sinless Savior, Jesus Christ, who died to cleanse us from sin and rose from the grave to give us new life in Him.

PD Sermon on the Mount by I. Makarov

Fast-forward to 1919, when Edward Houghton, a United States veteran first brought home the Easter Lily which was originally called the Bermuda lily. It flourished in his home state of Oregon. By 1945 more than 1000 lily farmers could harvest and sell bulbs across the country. They have since become readily available for Easter services and celebrations everywhere flowers are sold. The rest, as they say, is history!

Giveaway information: It's the one-year anniversary of the publication of
my first full-length novel, Rumors and Promises. Please leave a comment
for a chance to enter, by April 25th. Paperback for U.S. and Canada only.
E-book version for other international entries. 

Sophie Biddle, an heiress on the run with a child in tow, considers herself abandoned by her family and God. Wary, self-reliant Sophie is caught off guard when meeting a kind, but meddling and handsome minister at the local mercantile. 

In 1900, Reverend Ian McCormick is determined to start anew in Stone Creek, Michigan, believing he has failed God and his former flock. He works harder than ever to forget his mistake, hoping to prove himself a most pleasing servant to his new congregation and once again to God. 

While Sophie seeks acceptance for the child and a measure of respect for herself, the rumors swirl about her sordid past. Should Ian show concern for Sophie plight, he could risk everything - including his position as pastor of Stone Creek.

Now the pair must choose to trust God and forgive those who slander and gossip, or run. Will the scandals of their pasts bind them together forever, or drive both deeper into despair?

Kathleen Rouser has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could read. She desires to create characters, who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. Her first full-length novel, Rumors and Promises, was published by Heritage Beacon Fiction, an imprint of LPC Books, in April, 2016.

Previously a homeschool mother of three, she more recently has been a college student and sometimes a mild-mannered dental assistant by day. Along with her sassy tail-less cat, she lives  Michigan with her hero and husband of 35 years, who not only listens to her stories, but also cooks for her.