Month: March 2015

Ever wonder what happened to Simon of Cyrene after he carried the cross?

Many characters in the Bible appear, participate in God’s grand story, and then seemingly vanish from Scripture. Today on Discover the Word, let’s do a little biblical speculation about the end of Simon of Cyrene’s story. Discover some intriguing possibilities in our conversation!

Foley Artists

Crunch. Crunch. Whoosh! In the early days of film, Foley artists created sounds to support the story’s action. Squeezing a leather pouch filled with cornstarch made the sound of snow crunching, shaking a pair of gloves sounded like bird wings flapping, and waving a thin stick made a whoosh sound. To make movies as realistic as possible, these artists used creative techniques to replicate sounds.

How do you view serving others?

Sometimes we raise our hand and volunteer. Other times, it can seem like we’re pushed into helping. Join us today as we discover how Simon of Cyrene came to carry Jesus’ cross.

The Definite Choice

Coming from someone who used to value ancestral gods, my 90-year-old father’s statement near the end of his life was remarkable: “When I die,” he spoke laboriously, “nobody should do anything other than what the church will do. No soothsaying, no ancestral sacrifices, no rituals. As my life is in the hands of Jesus Christ, so shall my death be!”

Discover how one man’s holiday trip with his sons was interrupted by a Savior bearing a cross

Do your holiday celebrations ever go as planned? Doesn’t it seem like there is always some sort of disruption that gets in the way? Our study continues as we discover how Simon’s holiday was interrupted.

God’s Clocks

Ivisit two elderly women from time to time. One has no financial worries, is fit for her age, and lives in her own home. But she can always find something negative to say. The other is crippled with arthritis and rather forgetful. She lives in simple accommodations, and keeps a reminder pad so she won’t forget her appointments. But to every visitor to her tiny apartment, her first comment is always the same: “God is so good to me.” Handing her the reminder pad on my last visit, I noticed that she had written the day before “Out to lunch…

Looking at the events around Jesus’ crucifixion through the eyes of Simon of Cyrene

Jesus said, “Pick up your cross, and follow me.” Join us for a fascinating discussion as we discover more about the man who picked up Jesus’ cross.

Simply Trusting

When our children were young, taking them to the doctor’s office was an interesting experience. The waiting room was filled with toys they could play with and children’s magazines I would read to them. So getting that far with them was no problem. But as soon as I picked them up to carry them into the appointment, everything changed. Suddenly the fun turned into fear as the nurse approached with the needle for the needed shot. The closer she got, the tighter they hugged my neck. They would cling to me for comfort, probably hoping for rescue, not knowing that…

Who was Simon of Cyrene and why is his perspective so important?

Two thousand years after the event, we still marvel at the death of Jesus. This week we are invited to walk around in the sandals of Simon of Cyrene as we follow Jesus towards Calvary.

Son Reflector

The cozy little village of Rjukan, Norway, is a delightful place to live—except during the dark days of winter. Located in a valley at the foot of the towering Gaustatoppen Mountain, the town receives no direct sunlight for nearly half of the year. Residents had long considered the idea of placing mirrors at the top of the mountain to reflect the sun. But the concept was not feasible until recently. In 2005, a local artist began “The Mirror Project” to bring together people who could turn the idea into reality. Eight years later, in October 2013, the mirrors went into…

The Family Of Faith

During the 1980s, a singles’ class at our church became a close-knit family for many people who had lost a spouse through divorce or death. When someone needed to move, class members packed boxes, carried furniture, and provided food. Birthdays and holidays were no longer solitary events as faith and friendship merged into an ongoing relationship of encouragement. Many of those bonds forged during adversity three decades ago continue to flourish and sustain individuals and families today.