Echoes of the Ancient New Testament Cities: Rome

Matthew James Elliott

Ancient Rome

The ancient city of Rome was located on the Italian peninsula, east of the Tiber River, and was built upon seven hills known as the Septem colles. This Wikipedia page provides insight into the significance of those seven hills. As one of the biggest cities in the world during the early church, it had one of the biggest roles in my newest release, The Hope of Inheritance. In fact, most of the book's second half took place in Rome and its surrounding areas. Researching the city took several months to nail down, and there are a lot of events that took place during the time of the early church. Speaking from a historical standpoint, Rome held power over most of the known world, and it held that power with more strength and fear than any other city I have researched so far for this series. 

One of the elements that I bring to life in my newest release is the subject of how the great city impacted those who were followers of The Way. While it would be awesome to make a Star Wars reference about The Mandalorian here, the term 'followers of The Way' was initially associated with Christians. Rome was pivotal to the spread of Christianity and was visited by several of the early church leaders. The community of believers there was booming with zeal and dedication amid some of the most difficult situations in history that I have ever researched in my quest to connect the scripture and history through my stories of Biblical Fiction. 

Great Fire in Rome

In the beginning, those who were followers of The Way were branded with suspicion, fear, hatred, and even blamed for the great fire that took place in 64 AD. Once the branding took place, these believers faced even more difficult trials. Many of them were arrested on false charges, endured persecution, and even death for what they stood for. When Christians refused to worship the Roman emperor and the gods of Rome, it was seen as a challenge to the imperial authority and a threat to the social order of things that the city stood for. I am not sure how to write this without having to place a warning banner on this post, but the things these people endured for their faith were terrifying. 

When the idea for The Hope of Inheritance came bursting through my imagination, I was quite literally shocked. Writing a book about the persecution believers faced in Rome after the great fire of 64 AD was not something I wanted to do.  I wrote the prologue before my book, The Cyprus Journal, was even an idea, and it was terrifying. I was so taken by what I had written that I just could not get past the letter Luke wrote to Apollos in the prologue.

If you look at the research, Nero was one of the worst emperors of the Roman Empire in history. He violently encouraged his army to chase down the early Christians, and was determined to end the movement. When I had to imagine what the streets of Rome would look like in the aftermath of The Great Fire, I also had to imagine what kind of scenes would grab the attention of readers. When I imagined the suffering people endured, it brought me to tears. It was a dark and painfully accurate scene that I struggled to grasp.

Paul's Prison in Rome

Rome had more of a role in the history of the early church as well. Paul was sent there after the events that took place in Caesarea and preached the message of the way while chained to Roman Soldiers. He brought many into the fold of the ongoing ministry taking place there. Biblical influencers such as Priscilla and Aquilla were originally from the city, but were deported from the city during the early days of the church there under Emperor Claudius around 49 AD. This is mentioned in Acts 18. Five or six years later, Paul sent the letter of Romans there in anticipation of his visit.  While he was released around 61 AD, only a few years after he first arrived, the message he, and others, spoke was spreading faster than the fire that came that I mentioned earlier. 

The early church continued to grow despite these things. In the shadow of the empire, those who followed The Way embraced a faith that flourished through adversity. In 66 AD and 67 AD, after Paul and Peter were martyred for that faith, many of the believers departed the city and returned to Caesarea, which you can read more about here, but some faithfully stayed behind working and ministering in those shadows. When Vespasian, the Roman General, brought on the Flavian Dynasty in 69 AD, the city began to stabilize for a season. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, the next city on this tour, Rome, began to rebuild what was lost. 

Rome’s story in the New Testament is filled with political events and persecution. While some sought to crush the followers of The Way, Christianity became a crucial part of the way of life within the city walls. The unwavering faith of believers ensured the gospel story was spread to the very ends of the earth. There are connections from Rome to several other cities in the known world of that time, but Rome was at the center of it all in one way or another.

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew and his wife, Traci, have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, his goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Event~

I’ve partnered with faith-based writers across multiple genres to launch The PenWorks of the Word Blog Tour, a collaborative event running throughout October. 

This tour creates space for Christian writers to connect, create, and reflect on how Scripture reveals itself as living and active in our work and to encourage others through a message rooted in Hebrews 4:12 and 10:23–25. Each post invites readers into the spiritual depth behind storytelling, poetry, and personal reflection. 

The goal is to build meaningful relationships, learn from one another, and explore how the Word breathes through our creative expressions. Follow the journey and join the conversation through #PenWorksOfTheWord. I'd love to see you there and on my website. 

Unexpected Legacies: Simon Cyrene, The Cross-bearer

Matthew J. Elliott

Depiction of Simon of Cyrene 

The story of Simon of Cyrene is a significant telling of a man being forced to carry the cross of Jesus on the road to Golgotha. It was a road marked with suffering and pain for many. The way the story is told in scripture is no doubt one of the most important events recorded in the Gospels. However, we aren’t told who Simon of Cyrene was.

When most people think about Simon of Cyrene, all they see is a bystander who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. They see a man who was forced to give in to the pressure of Rome and serve them in this seemingly insignificant way. There is a deeper purpose in all of this, though, one that is not illustrated in scripture. Take a moment to imagine that you were the person forced to carry the cross. Would that not have a significant impact on you in more ways than one? That is the part of history that my imagination connects with in the stories I write. 

By exploring the Gospel accounts with their narratives, parables, and miracles; we can gain a deeper understanding of his character and message. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told that Simon was ‘forced’ to carry the cross. In the Gospel of Mark, we learn Simon was ‘coming from another country’, showing that Jerusalem was not his home. Both of these details are important.

Luke comes in with even more details, stating that he carried the cross 'behind Jesus'. This suggests that Simon knew who Jesus was and that he respected him as a spiritual leader. When we go back to Mark, we are given one more detail that is important. 'Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.' This detail shows that Mark would have known who Simon was. Because of this, others would have known him too. Mark’s identification of him and his family contributes to this. 

Family history was important to a man’s identity and lasting reputation in the biblical world. It meant everything to the early believers. This matters because the Gospel of Mark was likely written in Rome. Since John Mark likely worked with Peter to write his gospel, they would have done so when the two of them were in Rome around 65 AD. Many believe, however, that the Gospel of Mark was written before this time. Maybe we can save that for another article, but the two Early Church leaders would have had to spend time together to write. 

Ruins in Antioch of Syria

In the book of Romans, Paul even mentions Simon of Cyrene’s son, Rufus and his Mother. This speaks to the idea that Simon was more than a bystander who was in Jerusalem on the day Jesus was being crucified. Paul and the Roman Church knew who Simon of Cyrene was because they knew who his son and wife were. Knowing how strong this possibility is, our cross-bearer must have had a bigger role in the Early Church. 

There is a story in Acts 13:1-3. In this chapter, we are introduced to four people: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene, and then a man named Manaen. During this time, scripture states that these four men were set apart for the Lord’s work. There is more to the story, but for now, let’s focus on Simeon (also called Niger). Simeon is a Greek name, and Simon is the same name in Hebrew. From history, we already know that Simon of Cyrene was from Northern Africa because Cyrene is a city in modern-day Libya. So, it is plausible that Simeon, called Niger, and Simon of Cyrene, are the same person. 

The Simeon from Acts was a person of influence in Antioch in Syria. This is a city well-known in Biblical history. It was filled with a diverse population, and many missionary journeys began or ended there. While scripture does not completely verify the connection between these two men, it is a strong possibility that they are the same. This becomes even more of a possibility when we take a deeper look at how John Mark writes about them in his gospel. 

Depiction of the Cross-bearer

If there is something more to the connection between these two figures of the Early Church. This would mean that the man who was forced to carry the cross became something much more. The impact that the events of the crucifixion would have had on him would have opened the door for him. If you take this even further, it also shows how important his children became to the church in Rome as well. 

Simon’s legacy, built either by him or his sons, reminds us how unexpected legacies form. Even random acts of kindness, though forced, can have a deep and lasting impact on the world. Simon was at the very least an ordinary man who took up the cross when Jesus, in his humanity, needed help the most. While this act was forced upon him, he offered compassion when no one else would or could. Simon’s role in the crucifixion offers a message of hope and inspiration amid the suffering and injustice that Jesus experienced. 

The belief that even a common man, wrongly placed and timed, could still stand firm and believe in his purpose, is meaningful. His legacy invites us to reflect on how we can carry the cross, both literally and figuratively, into our own lives and communities. What do you think? Could Simon of Cyrene and Simeon called Niger have been the same person? 

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which gave him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew and his wife, Traci, have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, his goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

My Newest Biblical Fiction Novel, The Hope of Inheritance, is coming out on Father's Day.

One Story Still Untold. Four Unlikely Authors. Together their Message will Speak to Many.

The city of Rome was a vast and beautiful place-- on the surface. That is, until a great fire burned and destroyed most of it. Deep in a world hidden from those who would strike against them, four unlikely men work together to share a message of truth. This truth was spoken by those who were cut down because of the calling to go forth and preach. 

The message has always been clear: The hope of our inheritance is Christ living within each of us. In the echoes of persecution, sorrow, and even death, this message still reigns supreme, but will the people listen? Only time will tell, but before anything, these four men must come together and unite a church separated by fear and suffering.

The Real History of Valentine's Day

By Jennifer Uhlarik

 

Valentine’s Day…leading up to every February 14, you almost can’t enter a store without being ambushed by banners and signs, “Don’t forget Valentine’s Day!” Store aisles are stuffed with heart-shaped candy samplers, boxes of cheesy Valentine’s cards for school kids, and even teddy bears and other plushies to commemorate another “day of love!” So…do you love this holiday, or hate it? I’ve been in both camps at various points in my life. 

·      Single, while most of my friends were in dating relationships—“Maybe I’ll have someone to celebrate it with next year…”

·      Dating my college sweetheart—“I LOVE IT! I love him! I love LOVE…”

·      Married, but not happily—“Meh…”

·      Single after a divorce—“Why the hey-hey do we even celebrate this stupid, over-commercialized “holiday…? It’s only meant to line the greedy greeting card and candy-makers’ pockets, am I right?”

·      Dating the man of my dreams—“Whoop whoop! The magic of February 14 has returned!”

·      Married to the man of my dreams— “Who needs to wait for February 14? Every day is a reason to celebrate our love…”

 

That said, do you know the history behind Valentine’s Day? It’s more than a random date chosen by greeting card companies, chocolatiers, or florists to sell their products. There are multiple St. Valentines in Christian church history, and there’s some question of whether their stories have been morphed into one. But while the details may be a bit muddled due to records being destroyed or lost to antiquity, the general consensus is that the origin of Valentine’s Day dates back to around A.D. 270 in Rome. 

 

Two years earlier, in A.D. 268, the Roman Empire covered much of the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea, and Rome had many enemies. The Goths were invading, and at the same time, the Alamanni were crossing the Alps with evil intentions. The newly ascended Emperor, Claudius II—a pagan man also known as “Claudius the Cruel”—was ready and willing to defend the homeland, but he needed to have a strong, resilient army at his disposal to fight the threats.

 

A coin with image of
Emperor Claudius II, aka
"Claudius the Cruel"

But he had a problem. Roman men weren’t willing to join him as soldiers to fight. After some deliberation, Claudius concluded that these men were not joining 

him because they didn’t want to leave their wives and children. So to combat this obstacle, he made the decision to ban weddings in Rome (whether it was a blanket ban for all citizens or only for the men of fighting age is unclear).

 

A Christian priest of the time, Valentinus (the Roman way of spelling Valentine), saw that the emperor’s ruling went against God’s law. After all, God had created marriage when he brought Adam and Eve together in Genesis, and He’d called that union good. So how could this man, Emperor Claudius, later ban the institution as evil. So Valentinus would meet couples in the woods and perform Christian marriage ceremonies for them.

 

As news of this reached those in power, calls came for Valentinus to be imprisoned, which he was. But Judge Asterius listened to the priest’s discussions of Jesus Christ, and he put Valentinus on the spot. The judge’s daughter was blind, so he brought the girl to his prisoner and told him to pray for her healing. Valentinus did, and she was healed that day. Three days later, the judge and his household were baptized, and afterward, Asterius released all the Christian prisoners.

 

Valentinus,
aka St. Valentine

With his freedom restored, Valentinus continued to preach of Jesus, but he was again imprisoned, this time being taken to Emperor Claudius himself. Claudius took a quick liking to Valentinus—until the priest encouraged him to believe in Jesus. Claudius staunchly refused and gave the order that Valentinus must either renounce his faith in Christ or he would be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Valentinus would not recant. So on February 14 in the year A.D. 270 (some sources say A.D. 269), the punishment was carried out. Valentinus was taken to the Flaminian Gate and beaten then beheaded.

 

Whether true or not, I am unsure, but there is an addendum to the above history
that says prior to his execution, Valentinus wrote to Judge Asterius’s daughter whom he’d prayed for and saw her blindness healed—and supposedly, he signed the letter, “From your Valentine.”

 

It is easy to see how this man was someone the Catholic church chose to celebrate. Sometime after his death (and after Emperor Claudius II’s death—which came in A.D. 270 also), a feast in honor of Valentinus was called every February 14^th. And over the years, his continued performing of weddings despite the Emperor’s ban, the apocryphal bit about his unusual signature line on a letter to a young girl, and more, morphed into the celebration of love we now know as Valentine’s Day. 

 

It's Your Turn: What are your feelings about this holiday? Does learning the history of its origin change your opinion of the day? If so, how?

 

Award-winning, best-selling novelist Jennifer Uhlarik has loved the western genre since she read her first Louis L’Amour novel. She penned her first western while earning a writing degree from University of Tampa. Jennifer lives near Tampa with her husband, son, and furbabies. www.jenniferuhlarik.com

 

AVAILABLE NOW

 

Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik

 

A Friendship From the Past Brings Closure to Dani’s Fractured Family

 

When Dani Sango’s art forger father passes away, Dani inherits his home. There, she finds a book of Native American drawings, which leads her to seek museum curator Brad Osgood’s help to decipher the ledger art. Why would her father have this book? Is it another forgery?

 

Brad Osgood longs to provide his four-year-old niece, Brynn, the safe home she desperately deserves. The last thing he needs is more drama, especially from a forger’s daughter. But when the two meet “accidentally” at St. Augustine’s 350-year-old Spanish fort, he can’t refuse the intriguing woman.

 

Broken Bow is among seventy-three Plains Indians transported to Florida in 1875 for incarceration at ancient Fort Marion. Sally Jo Harris and Luke Worthing dream of serving on a foreign mission field, but when the Indians reach St. Augustine, God changes their plans. However, when Sally Jo’s friendship with Broken Bow leads to false accusations, it could cost them their lives.

 

Can Dani discover how Broken Bow and Sally Jo’s story ends and how it impacted her father’s life?

 

Herod the Great:

How a Non-Jew Became King of the Jews

 

Scattered through the Bible we find several references to Herod, almost as if they all refer to one ruler. But research identifies at least three related individuals. In this post, we'll focus on Herod I (c. 72—4 BC or 1 AD). But first, we'll take a look at a major antagonistic force in his life, the Hasmonean Dynasty.

 

Who Were The Hasmoneans?

Ancient Medallion Salome Alexandra

Beginning around 143 BC, descendants of the fighting Maccabee family founded a ruling dynasty of ancient Judea known as the Hasmoneans, derived from an ancestor, Hasmoneus. 

Fast-forward several generations to Salome Alexandra, a beloved Hasmonean queen who ruled Judea for nine peaceful years (76-65 BC.) Her death, however, put her two sons in conflict. Hyrcanus II had a peaceable but timid nature. His ambitious younger brother, Aristobulus, assembled an army of mercenaries and marched on Jerusalem intent on dethroning his brother. 

After several battles, the younger brother captured Jerusalem. Hyrcanus conceded, and the brothers came to a peaceful solution. Hyrcanus would be the high priest and Aristobulus king. The Hasmonean brothers might have ruled cooperatively, if not for Antipater the Idumean.

 

Who was Antipater?

 

Antipater shows Caesar his scars.
Wiki Commons

Antipater, the satrap of Idumea (formerly Edom), spotted an opportunity to gain power by allying himself with the more controllable brother, by telling Hyrcanus his brother planned to have him assassinated. Antipater then suggested they ask the Nabateans for help.

 

Conflicts between the Hasmonean brothers resumed and escalated until Antipater aligned Hyrcanus with the Romans. As a favor to Antipater, Caesar appointed Hyrcanus as Ethnarch of Judea in 47 BC.

Herod's Rise to Power

 

But the Jews resented Rome and Antipater, who had brokered the conflicts that delivered Judea to Rome. They regarded Antipater as a nominal Jew, an “Ishmaelite” who had only reluctantly converted to Judaism. Despite their distaste, Antipater's influence continued to grow, and he named two of his sons governor, Phasael and Herod.

 

One of Herod's first official acts further alienated him from his constituents. He captured a band of Jewish dissenters and, wanting to please Caesar, executed them without a trial, in blatant disregard of Jewish Law. This increased Jewish distrust of the "Idumean usurpers." Judean leaders and weeping mothers of the slain finally convinced Hyrcanus to summon Herod before the Council. 

 

Defiant, he appeared before the court clad, not in black as was customary, but in purple and surrounded by armed escort. He offered no excuse but proffered a letter from Caesar threatening Hyrcanus with dire consequences were Herod not cleared of charges.

 

Shemaya, President of the Council said, "Is it not the intention of the accused to put us to death if we pronounce him guilty? And yet I must blame him less than the king and you, who suffer such contempt to be cast upon the Law. Know then, that he, before whom you are all trembling, will one day deliver you to the sword of the executioner."

 

Herod emerged unscathed and continued to advance in Rome's favor by promptly paying war taxes and sending Judean soldiers to support Rome during periods of unrest.

 

Murders, Marriage, and War

 

Prise de Jerusalem par Herod le Grande
Public Domain via WikiCommons

Like his father, Herod displayed shrewdness in political maneuvers. The flip side of his perspicacity caused him to suspect everyone, even family members, of treachery. His suspicions were not always unfounded. Antipater was assassinated by a man seeking the Idumean's influential position. But Herod quickly avenged his father's death and stepped into his shoes. Herod subsequently quelled a revolt against Rome and Hyrcanus gave his beautiful granddaughter, Mariamne, as a prize. Marriage to the popular Hasmonean princess further solidified Herod's position, but he also loved her—obsessively.

 

After the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, the Jewish Nationalist Party met with the victor Antony, plotting to end Herod's rule. But Herod reminded Antony how his father, Antipater, had supported Antony in eastern battles. Hyrcanus added his support, and Antony ratified Herod's appointments in Judea.

 

Overcoming Upheavals and Eliminating Rivals

 

In 40 BC, a Parthenian attack placed the Hasmonean Antigonus back on the throne of Palestine. Herod and his family escaped to the fortress of Masada. Leaving them there, he sought help from Cleopatra. When she only offered a generalship in her army, he fled to Rome and appealed to the Senate, where his skillful diplomacy won over another Roman—Octavianus. 

 

Herod was promised the throne and given a small army, but two generals supposedly supporting him had been bribed by Antigonus, so he was unsuccessful at first. He returned in 37 BC with a larger Roman force and laid siege to Jerusalem.

 

When Jerusalem fell, Herod convinced Antony to execute the Hasmonean Antigonus, along with forty-five prominent supporters. To fill Herod's empty treasury, their estates were confiscated and their bodies shook to loose hidden gold from their shrouds.

 

The Murder of Aristobulus
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

During his interim rule, Antigonus had sliced off the ears of his elder brother Hyrcanus, this mutilation disqualifying him from returning to the high priesthood. Needing a new high priest, Herod chose an unknown Babylonian Jew. Herod's mother-in-law, Alexandra, thought her son, Aristobulus, entitled to the office. She complained to her friend Cleopatra, sending her a portrait of the youth. Antony, who was rumored to enjoy both men and women, asked for Aristobulus to visit. Herod feared Antony's influence could make his handsome Hasmonean brother-in-law a rival, so he quickly named Aristobulus high priest.

 

But when young Aristobulus appeared in his priestly robes, he was enthusiastically cheered by the Jews. Now sure that Aristobulus presented a threat, Herod bribed several young men to drown Mariamne's brother in the baths, making it appear a foolish drunken accident. Though Herod professed grief, his mother-in-law was not fooled. She wrote Cleopatra again, who told Antony, who summoned Herod.

 

Jealousy and Obsession

 

When Herod left Jerusalem, Herod ordered his Uncle Joseph to kill Mariamne should he die in Egypt, "so they might be together in the afterlife." Joseph let the plot slip to Mariamne, later confessing the gaffe to his wife, Salome. Herod’s sister saw means of ridding herself of a husband she had tired of and revenging herself on the woman who often taunted Salome about Idumean ancestry. 

 

When Herod returned, again having talked his way out of a tricky situation, Salome told Herod that Mariamne and Joseph had committed adultery in his absence. At first, Herod ignored the charge, but when Mariamne accused Herod of wanting her dead, he concluded Joseph must have revealed the plot during a moment of passion. He executed his uncle. Though Mariamne was allowed to live, seeds of distrust were sown all around.

 

Later, a civil war erupted between Herod's friend Antony and Octavius. When Octavius prevailed, Herod feared execution because of his friendship with Antony. 

 

Herod decided to meet Octavius in Rhodes, Herod decided to ensure no Hasmonean heir could supplant his children. In an eerily repetitive incident, he ordered Sohemus, to guard Mariamne and her mother, and slay them both should he not return. Then he accused the aging Hyrcanus of treachery and had him executed.

 

Mariamne Leaving the Judgment Seat of Herod
John William Waterhouse,
Public Domain via WikiMedia Commons

Despite his concerns, Herod convinced Octavius that friendship would benefit him as it had Antony. Herod returned triumphant, expecting marital bliss. But Mariamne angrily (and accurately) accused him of plotting her death and murdering her brother and grandfather. Salome again charged Mariamne with adultery, this time with hapless Sohemus, who was instantly beheaded. Still in a rage, Herod sent his wife before a privy council, which judged, condemned, and executed her.

 

Almost immediately regretful after Mariamne’s death, Herod fell prey to sickness. He called for his wife with loud sobs and tears. He even had her body embalmed in honey, so he might keep her near him. His doctors feared for his life—and his sanity.

 

Next month: Some good and more of the bad in the Herodian dynasty.

For further reading:

• Project Gutenberg's History of the Jews, Vol. II (of 6), by Heinrich Graetz, Chapters 1-3 

• New Testament History by F. F. Bruce, Chapters 1-5

• Life in Year One by Scott Korb, Chapter 1

Biblical fiction that focuses on this history:

• Jerusalem's Queen and King's Shadow, both by Angela Hunt

RAIN ~ Whispers in the Wind Book 1

Aban yearns to join the priesthood of Ba'al, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity's voice. But first, he must survive a perilous initiation ceremony. 

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban must choose a side in Yahweh's war against the Ba'als - and it may cost him his life.

Book 2, working title WHIRLWIND, coming February 2023.

Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger, and romance, but she had a problem—she also needed a lot of peace and quiet. She learned to visit that dream world by stepping into a book.

Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered about the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?

Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.

Learn more about Dana and her books at her website: DanaMcNeely.com

Newsletter subscribers receive a free book: https://bit.ly/danasnews

 

With This Symbol, I Thee Wed

 By Kathy Kovach

Let's go way back into history. The date was July 12, 1975. An epic day, at least in my life, when I wed the cute boy from church. Okay, 46 years may not be way back there, but it does give me the opportunity to highlight the time honored tradition of marriage.

Specifically, the ring.

This tiny piece of metal, (or leather, or twine, or thimble...more on that later,) really packs a punch in the symbolism trade. Let's take a stroll—to the tune of the Wedding March—through the years to explore this trinket of love.

We'd have to travel back some 3000 years to Egypt to find the first wedding ring. Several symbols were attributed to it because, well, ancient Egyptians loved to attach meaning to inanimate objects. The design of the ring meant no beginning and no end. A pledged love throughout eternity. The circle reminded them of the sun and moon, which they worshipped. Today, we could say the sun and moon represent our heavenly Father and His Son. The empty space within the circle was said to be a pathway to the unknown as the happy couple stepped into the future together, naïve and probably a little frightened. They wore this symbol on the fourth finger of the left hand, just as we do today, with the belief that the vein in that finger is directly connected to the heart. We know now this isn't correct, but the sentiment is lovely and worthy of continuing today.

The tradition continued into Greece and later into Rome. The material varied, with copper and iron most prevalent. In some cases, a key motif was worked into the metal to symbolize that the wife was now in control of the household goods. By the 2nd century CE, gold had become the preferred metal.

On into Medieval times, the gems themselves carried significance. Sapphires symbolized the heavens, rubies were for passion, and diamonds reminded one of steadfast strength. Of course, diamonds did hold steadfast, especially thanks to marketing in the 1950's where we were told diamonds are a girl's best friend.

Amongst all this talk about gold and shiny gems, the Puritans went the practical route. A thimble was given as a pledge of love. The new bride accepted it in the sweet way that Wendy presented the kiss—or thimble— to Peter Pan. The puritan bride then went on to sew items for the couple's new home. Once that was done, her groom would often cut off the top of the thimble for her ring. Now, I'm as pragmatic as the next gal, but give me a sparkling bauble and I'm good.

The Hebrew nation eventually adopted the ring from the countries in which they lived. However, they kept them free of jewels or intricate embellishment. Rather, the idea of a simple gold band held monetary value, as could a coin, property deed, or any other token of worth. The groom was not buying his bride as his property, but more precisely buying her intimacy, sealing the contract that she agrees to be with him and him alone. Traditionally, the ring had no gems, as the ring itself was to be presented as the true worth. Once precious stones were finally allowed, they needed to be of the finest quality, and not imitation. For the union itself should be pure as the purest gold, free of distractions, and simple in its faith between two people and their God.

Symbolism is an excellent way to ground one's belief. Yes, we've exchanged rings, but what does that mean? They are a reminder that our marriage is to be steadfast and true, free from distractions, and intimate in its very nature.

James and Kathleen, July 12, 1975

Happy 46th anniversary, my love! 

MissAdventure Brides Collection
Seven daring damsels don’t let the norms of their eras hold them back. Along the way these women attract the attention of men who admire their bravery and determination, but will they let love grow out of the adventures? Includes:
"Riders of the Painted Star" by Kathleen E. Kovach

1936 Arizona
Zadie Fitzpatrick, an artist from New York, is commissioned to go on location in Arizona to paint illustrations for an author of western novels and falls for the male model.

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother, though much too young for that. Kathleen is a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

Website

Blog With A Giggle
CraftCinema

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