Matthew James Elliott's Blog, page 4

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: The Pathfinder's Way

 "In the past, there had always been someone for me to lean on and at this point in my life, there was no one to keep me focused. The pain that began throbbing upon my forehead left me motionless at times. Pride had no place in this battle and my spirit grew heavier with every chaotic thought that found its way to the forefront of my mind."

~ John Mark ~

♰♰♰

We often find ourselves in moments that leave us feeling utterly alone. In the first episode of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, John Mark finds himself in a similar situation. He is burdened by the weight of his thoughts and by the absence of support. These words can resonate with anyone who feels they are facing a season of solitude and struggle. However, it is in these moments that we can find significant growth and build a more purposeful connection with God.When we are surrounded by others, we rely more easily on their strength and guidance. I know for me that is something I struggle with often. I don’t enjoy being alone because having someone there with me for the journey ahead means that you don’t have to do everything on your own. The reality, though, is that when I find myself on my own, it is always an opportunity to lean into God on a more impactful level. In those moments of weakness, I can find strength in Him who can do all things. 
At a time when John Mark has found himself unable to rely on the guidance of his mentor Barnabas, his mind is overclouded with chaotic thoughts, and that throbbing pain is all too familiar to me. Sometimes I wonder just how much of myself gets added to my character’s personalities because John Mark and I have a lot of similarities. These feelings often leave me feeling paralyzed and unable to move forward. Why? Well, I’m not really sure, but I believe it is something we all face in these moments. 
One of my biggest faith stories comes from a night I was working at a camp as a counselor. My duty was to prepare devotionals every night and one of those nights the devotional focused on Elijah. It was the story in 1 Kings 19 where God spoke to Elijah in the stillness of God’s gentle whisper. Just like Elijah, I have never heard God’s voice in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. I hear it as a gentle whisper amid the chaotic storm of thoughts that run through my mind on any day. 
It is in those moments that my mind can often get overwhelmed and I must turn my focus to the quiet places to even get close to hearing God’s voice. I get so wrapped up in the moments of chaos that I forget to ask God to show me the way. My focus goes out the window and I can’t respond to a situation as fast as I should. Being the stubborn individual that I am, I frustrate myself because I feel like I should be able to overcome those moments like everyone else. 
What it comes down to, among a few other things, is this feeling of pride? Whether I need to seek help from others or God, I always think that I have to figure out things on my own. In John Mark’s case, there isn’t much of an option because he is about to embark on his journey to Ephesus alone. While he doesn’t hesitate, like I would, to step out and move into this new season of life, there is still this feeling that he has to face the journey ahead on his own. 
While this is not the result of his pride, the thought still has a place in his mind because he can’t control where the chaotic thoughts he is experiencing will take him. In truth, John Mark is struggling to find his way through his chaotic mind. When the moments of solitude and struggle come, we are always faced with the intrusive thoughts that strive to lead us astray. Instead of giving in to those thoughts, we need to turn to God and lean into HIS everlasting arms that lead us into his presence. 
As we do, we discover we are never truly alone. God is with us and he desires to guide us through the chaos and pain so we can find a place of peace and rest. May we embrace these moments of solitude in our own lives? As we seek comfort in knowing that God is our refuge and strength, let us embrace the season we find ourselves in, even when it leaves us feeling alone. May we allow God’s gentle whisper to guide us through the storms we face?

♰♰♰

"God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble."

~ Psalm 46:1 (NASB) ~

See You in the Pages,

M.J.E

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: The Prologue

 “It is never easy to place our trust in something unknown, or that may seem impossible, but part of what we are called to do in this life is to let go. The time is near, the path ahead is there waiting for you to place your feet upon, all you have to do is take that first step.”

~ Barnabas to John Mark ~

♰♰♰

There are many things that drive us to fear what we cannot pretend to understand. In the journey of life, we often encounter moments of uncertainty and doubt. The paths set before us are always going to be there, and it is when we face those moments that we are encouraged to put our trust in something bigger. In my newest series, The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, Barnabas encourages John Mark with the words written above just before he leaves to pursue reconciliation with Paul, someone he did not end on good terms with in the past.

When I think about those words, as someone who is learning, they deal with a lot of anxiety; they resonate with me deeply. I know I wrote them, but I reflect a lot upon what I feel God has given me to write. We all face moments when things seem unclear, and that the path ahead is shrouded in mystery. (Yes, that is a pun for part two, Mysteries in Ephesus. Just kidding, I haven’t written those episodes yet.) However, it is in those moments that we must find the courage to take that first step. We must trust that the road ahead will reveal itself as we embrace that first step and embark upon the journey before us. 

This is an essential part of our journey in life, but also our journey in faith. When David struggled with this same thing in scripture, he took his anxious thoughts to God and praised him for the comfort he gave amid those trying times. There is an internal struggle that we all have to work through when we face uncertainty and our minds can become filled with fear and chaos. I know this happens to me more than I would like it to. Amid this insanity, though, we can find comfort because God is right there with us. His presence can bring peace and we can find delight in His heart. 

There is a song I have been listening to a lot lately called, “Your Heart” by Stephen Stanley, and it has encouraged my faith a great deal. 

“When I don’t know where you are… Hindsight… nothing’s gonna tear us apart…
when I’m in my pride… standing at the edge of the dark… your light…
brings me back to where you start.”

The encouraging part of these lyrics, for me anyway, is about letting go, even when I do not know where I am heading. When my thoughts wander away from HIS light, I can trust that regardless of what lies ahead, HE will always be there to bring me back to the start. 

At this moment in The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, John Mark is in a similar place. He has rediscovered himself through the experiences from the missionary work that he and Barnabas have been doing in my previous book, The Cyprus Journal. However, he does not know where all of this is going to lead. John Mark knows God is calling him to step out in faith and trust that the path ahead will become clear, but the fear of the unknown still has a powerful hold on his heart. Barnabas gives him this one last word of advice before he departs from Kyrenia, and John Mark will have to learn to understand exactly what Barnabas meant along the way.

When fear and anxiety overwhelm us, faith in God and trust in his established plans offer encouragement. We can find peace knowing that we are not alone, even though it may feel that way. Through this faith, we discover the true path set before us. In moments of doubt, turn to God in prayer. Seek HIS guiding hand and embrace the strength that HE provides. Meditate on HIS promises and allow HIM to comfort your heart. 

As you reflect on the words from the above quote and the brief passage below, consider where these things may already have a stronghold in your life. Ask questions such as…

What are the unknowns that I’m facing?

What steps can I take to move forward in my faith?

How can I let go of those things today?

Remember this; You are not alone on your journey. There are always going to be moments of fear and doubt, but when we give the concerns of our hearts to God, he will always guide us through the unknown. Find comfort in this and do your best to let go of those things. The time is near, and the path is right there before us. All we need to do is take that first step, knowing that we are not alone. 

♰♰♰

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me,
Your comfort delights my soul.”

~ Psalm 94:19 (NASB) ~

See You in the Pages,

M.J.E

The Ephesus Pages Devotional: An Introduction

Greetings, 
One of my favorite things about releasing The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins is that there are many quotable moments in the story. While it was not my intent to do this, that is what happened and I have been seeking confirmation about doing this for a few weeks. When I asked God to give me a story that focus more on Paul and some of his Missionary Journeys, the city of Ephesus stuck out to me deeply. 

I kept asking God, "Why Ephesus", isn't it one of the more well-known cities in scripture? Well, it is, but there is a much deeper story to tell. Looking up this city in scripture and in my history books led me down the rabbit hole. Being someone who has recently confirmed that they have Moderate ADHD, this was a lot of fun to chase after. I learned a great deal and I still have not even grasped the surface of how deep this journey will take me. However, one thing is clear to me, there are topics covered in this story that really do matter. 

So... Here is the deal! Instead of cramming out ten more episodes before the end of February for the second part of The Ephesus Pages: Mysteries in Ephesus, I decided to add some devotional content to the story first. This does not mean that I'm going to leave the story behind, it just means there will be more than just a story to experience. My goal is to write a devotional aspect for each episode that has been published and then to also record a short video for social media. I will write these as quick as possible but, I must also keep my focus on finishing my 2025 novel, The Hope of Inheritance, as well.  

To do this, I will be selecting quotes from the story as it is and then turning them into devotionals. The quotes in the story I will be using were inspired by scripture and by personal experiences that I wove into the details of the protagonists as they are learning to grow their faith. It is a really exciting time because this will effectively bring me back to where I started back in 2015 with Ahavah Letters for the Journey, which was the first book I wrote. My hope is that the journey characters like John Mark and Aristarchus are making will offer encouraging words to those who read the story. 

There is much more to say on this, and lots of work still left to be done, but I'm excited to step into this world and am encouraged that I can combine my stories with scripture in this way. For now, I've got to design a few things to get started but I have already selected the quote from the prologue that will become the foundation for the first devotional. This is going to be a journey, and the quotes I focus on will cover some deep topics that are interwoven into the pages of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins.

Thanks again for visiting The Gathering Room, 

See you in the Pages, 

MJE

Let's Wrap up 2024

Where to begin?
I rarely get sentimental or personal about aspects of my life outside of writing and encouraging others, but I have to say 2024 was a whirlwind of chaos and unpredictability. It has been a year of drastic change and a great deal of learning and discovery. While I began the year on a huge positive note by completing the novel, The Cyprus Journal, and then releasing it on Orthodox Easter, things quickly changed. 

In all honesty, these changes hit me much harder than I thought they did and even more than I let on. I don’t know how many of those who read this blog even care about the pressures and worries of being a writer discovering their voice and brand, but you can always skip this posting and move on to something else. I won’t take it personally, nor do I plan to do this kind of post that often. However, I cannot move into celebration of what I believe is to come until I’ve come to terms with how I have gotten to where I am at this present moment.

There is so much I could blast out into the world about why change happens and what scriptures can help people through it all. In truth, I might even write a devotional about it someday. However, there is something about the reality of our struggles, as writers and people, that affects what direction we take with any given new year. We talk about new beginnings almost every year, and what our goals are for the next 12 months, but what we hide from those we care about is the real depth of what we feel.

I wrote about this in the first part of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins. While I was excited to end on a higher note, I won’t keep you with the details of what I’m referring to, but I will tell you that this topic is a huge part of the journey that the protagonists embark upon throughout the first 10 Episodes of this series. In essence, Aristarchus and John Mark will face personal struggles, receiving guidance from specific mentors to help them overcome their challenges. When I wrote these aspects of the story, I was writing from experience and a lot of it came from what 2024 brought me personally.

Let’s be honest here. Sometimes our emotions get the better of us and we struggle to grasp situations that are placed in our path. There are times when we simply just fail. It is a part of life and all of us have to deal with it. Do we like the idea of working through all of these things? Not really, but we can, and should, learn to grow from each experience. Is it easy? Not always, but is it worth it? I can honestly say I believe it is. This year has not been easy in any viable way. With each step I felt I took forward, I discovered it was taking also at least two steps back, and sometimes four or five.

Many of the decisions I faced led me deeper into a seemingly endless forest that I could not find my way in. Without the help of people I trust, I do not think I would have found a better way. Am I out of that forest yet? The path ahead isn’t perfectly clear, but I can see a dimly lit trail in front of me. My understanding of the situations I am facing has grown and I am looking forward to what 2025 brings. This is going to be a season in which I believe resilience is going to be a guiding source of light that will take me into whatever the year will bring. Life’s challenges are always present. To move forward, we must overcome the crippling cost of fear that prevents us from embracing progress and growth. 

Whether we realize it, what holds us back when these situations come toward us is that word; Fear. For me, that word is rooted in overcoming fear of the unknown. I truly believe that impacts others as well and that it keeps us from finding our way. It may manifest in other ways, but that is where it all comes from. There is much more to say on this matter, but this post is already much longer than I expected it would be. So for now, let me leave you with this… 

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”Hebrews 11:1 NLT

See you in the pages, 

MJE

Book Reviews: Reconciled Runaway by D.M. Griffin

 Greetings, 

Rating:  ★★★★★
Description:
Snatched from his Jewish home in the Holy Land by the clutches of Rome, Onesimus found himself living a life he wasn't supposed to live. As a young boy, he thought he was settling a family debt. Instead, he was sold into slavery. With no control over his own fate, Onesimus let bitterness fuel his rebellious choices well into adulthood. He began running away from God long before he ran away from his earthly master, Philemon. 
Though he gave up on God, the Lord did not give up on Onesimus. Through divine intervention, God brings the slave into contact with the Lord's bond-servant, Paul. Would faith in the promised Messiah have the power to reconcile the runaway to God? Could the damage done by embracing darkness be overcome by the light of hope? As an imprisoned man facing death, Onesimus reflects on the life given him in Christ by writing a believer's legacy.

My Review:

I’ve wanted to write this review for a long time, and I finally just had to do it. This book is one of the best books I have read in a long time. A great deal of historically accurate facts are woven into the pages of this story. The characters are some of the most realistic characters I have had the privilege to read about in my life. I was so captivated by the world depicted in this story that I dove further into its historical context.
The content of this story applies to anyone who has desired to learn their place in this world. With every page, the suspense built. This pulled me further into the story and made me curious about the ending. Every chapter holds a captivating element that further immersed me in the unfolding story. Every character added to the rich tapestry of the narrative. Their interwoven stories contributed to the overall plot and pushed the story forward. 
Although Philemon and Onesimus are obscure figures to most, D. M. Griffin’s narrative makes their story believable. As someone who favors writing stories about lesser-known characters, I have fallen in love with the stories I read from this author. It is obvious to me that she puts a significant amount of effort and research into what she writes. There is always a valuable lesson to be learned from one of her stories.
My goal with any review is to provide spoiler-free and useful thoughts on what I read. I can honestly say there is so much value in this story that writing a positive review is not a stretch at all. 

The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins

 
Greetings, 
I'm so excited to let everyone know that The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins is now available for downloading.  It is crazy to think that this story started off as an eight part mini series and has now developed into three different parts of the same story. While Part I: A Journey Begins released today, Part II: Mysteries in Ephesus is still being written and should be ready in the first quarter of 2025. It will be uploaded as additional content to the story that released today when the time is right. 
As released to my email subscribers, I plan on keeping this story at .99 cents until January 10th, 2025. I wanted to give back a little this holiday season and I hope that many of my readers will take advantage of this opportunity. I love this story and John Mark and Aristarchus both hold a high place in my heart as Characters in The World of Kedoshim. I have enjoyed learning as much as possible about these two people as well as others and can't wait for readers to engage with this story. 
In The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins, you will begin to see a unique story telling adventure from two different perspectives. Some of the episodes in this series are told from John Mark's perspective while others are told by Aristarchus in Ephesus. The two stories are different but also the same and they will converge at some point down the road, but in Part I it should be pretty clear who is telling what part of the story.  Both Characters have a common goal in mind that will lead them closer to the ministry they have been called to and I hope that those who read Part I will enjoy the context of what has been written. 
If you Pre-Ordered this one, please make sure you download the most recent file. There were some unexpected last minute changes that had to be updated. Don't worry though nothing major, it's just best to have the newest version of the story. If you remove the download from your Kindle app and then redownload it from your library, it costs nothing and will give you the updated version. With every story there are those moments where... Well, you just have to make an update or two.
There are so many quotable lines in this story and I've had a great deal of fun over the course of the last ten days sharing them with everyone on my social media accounts. While I did not anticipate that this would happen, I truly believe that God gave me every word of this story as a means for encouragement to you, my readers, and honestly, myself. It is exciting to see his hand at work in this story and I look forward to any feedback given with regard to the outcome of The Ephesus Pages: A Journey Begins.

~

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE

PS (Keep a look out on my Facebook page, Writing the Journey, for more content.)

Joseph, The Levite

 Greetings, 

This is a throw back to my post on the HHH Blog. You can see the original post here.
I am re-posting this here as an introduction to a few posts that will be added to help me build consistency in my posts. May you find encouragement through it. 

~~~ By Matthew J. Elliott

AI Generation of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark

One of my favorite things to do is research. It inspires me in more ways than one, especially when it is biblical research. There are so many questions that are left untouched in scripture that we often find ourselves questioning things on our own, I know I do. One of the things I’ve questioned lately is the story of one of the main characters in my upcoming book, The Cyprus Journal, which will be released in May. 
You see, when I write a story I want to know everything I possibly can know about the person I am writing about so I can find a way to relate to them and understand what kind of personality they could have had. It helps me write the stories I develop when I have this information. In this particular series, I’ve shared with you two of my favorite historical figures, Brother Lawrence and Madame Guyon. For this post, and the next one, we are going to go even further back in time, back to the ancient biblical times. I must admit upfront that this post, and the next months, focus on what I have learned writing The Cyprus Journal. The Legacy these two biblical characters built is about more than just their history, it is about how their actions changed the essence of the Early Church altogether.  

Barnabas curing the sick by Paolo Veronese

Joseph, The Levite, was one of the people who found their way to Jerusalem in the aftermath of the Crucifixion. Little is known about him before this point in history, but we do know that he was well off and sold everything so he could give all of the profits to the Early Church in support of their ministry. Contrary to what I’d love to believe, there is little evidence that this is Joseph of Arimathea, the man who gave up his tomb for the burial of Jesus. There is, however, sufficient evidence that he was the man who was eventually given the name Barnabas The Son of Encouragement. That evidence is provided in Acts chapter 4:32-37. It is here that scripture gives Joseph, The Levite, his new name, and it is also here that brings me back to my questions about Barnabas. His story has always been one of encouragement to me. He likely found his way to Jerusalem during one of the Passover cedars when Jesus was ministering there. Some have even said he was around when Jesus had his conversations with Nicodemus. This may further allude to the notion that Barnabas could have been Joseph of Arimathea, but that is not where this post will lead. 

Joseph, now called Barnabas, has something significant to add to the Legacy of the Early Church, and the choices he made ensured that two of the most prominent historical figures in the bible would continue the legacy the early church built, Paul and John Mark. Now, if I may, there is so much more to John Mark's story than one may realize, but I plan to write about him next month. This post's purpose is to highlight Barnabas's importance to the success of the Early Church.  Later in the book of Acts, we learn that Barnabas had a proven track record, so to speak, of being ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith.’ Because of this, the church in Jerusalem sent him to a more centralized area called Antioch. (Acts 11:19-30). Here, Barnabas found favor in the eyes of a community from Cyprus and Cyrene who fled from Jerusalem after The Martyrdom of Stephen and began spreading the Gospel. It was at this point that Barnabas found his way to Tarsus, where the newly accepted believer was holding out until the Disciples figured out how he could practice his newfound redemption.  A redemption made possible by, you guessed it, Barnabas, in the first place. If Barnabas ignored the signs, Saul would have never become Paul.

Wikimedia Illustration- Anonimo Lombardo

It was through Barnabas that Saul found himself accepted by the original disciples. It was through Barnabas that Saul, now calling himself Paul, was able to speak to the masses of people during the first missionary journey, which solidified Paul's place as a fellow believer. That is not all though, I mentioned John Mark too, he was there on that first missionary journey as well.  John Marks' time was a great deal less because he left the group right after the trip through Cyprus was completed. A few years after that whole ordeal was done, John Mark is brought back into the picture, but not in a positive light. John Mark was the brunt of a huge argument between Paul and Barnabas that led to them both going their separate ways. Paul headed one way with a scribe named Silas and Barnabas headed back to Cyprus with his nephew, the young man who abandoned them both. It was on this second missionary journey to Cyprus that John Mark's life began drastically changing, for the better. This apprenticeship would eventually give John Mark the courage to reconcile with Paul and embrace his church role as a gospel writer and a valiant defender of the faith.  

The Legacy here does not come from the unexpected past that Barnabas had to endure, it comes from the unexpected impact he had on the New Testament church as a whole. His ability to encourage and strengthen others still exists today. There is so much to say about Barnabas and the ministry he took part in, but even in the midst of weakness (Gal 2:11-16) he found his way. The struggle was always there, but he overcame it and helped others do it. His legacy is a legacy of encouragement and growth. Is it filled with unanswered questions? I believe it is, but the reality of it is more meaningful to me. How about you?

~~

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE

PS (Keep a look out on my Facebook page, Writing the Journey.)

----

Sources:

Scripture is from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Ephesus Pages- Authors Note

Greetings, 
I thought that for today's post, I would share a bit about why my upcoming release was written. Without further delay, this is the Authors note. The Ephesus Pages Part I: A Journey Begins is live as a Pre-Order right now and will be released on my oldest daughter's birthday 12/20/24. I hope you will check it out for yourself. 

    The Ephesus Pages is a story that takes place outside the current timeline in The World of Kedoshim. Its purpose was to shed light on John Mark, clarifying his identity and the way his ministry would develop. It is not a prequel to The Cyprus Journal or even a follow-up to The Petros Journals, the first book ever written in ‘The World of Kedoshim. The story told in this limited series will tie directly into The Cyprus Journal. When I imagined what stories I was going to tell through the World of Kedoshim, my goal was to write the stories that people wondered about from scripture.     I asked questions such as…What happened during this moment in biblical history? How did that particular experience impact the ministry of The Early Church on a deeper level? Where did those people even come from? There are so many of those questions to ask and I desired to have the answers for myself. So with that mindset, I dove deep into the research, the church tradition, and even the scriptures themselves, of course. While I don’t claim my stories are entirely factual, I’ve thoroughly researched the possibilities they explore.     This story is about identity. It is about gaining experience in the real world and solving mysteries that no one knew could have existed. There is more to this story than just Part I as well. In truth, there are three parts to this story that I am spreading out over the next two years because they tie into other stories at different times. The Ephesus Pages focuses solely on the three years of Paul’s ministry in Ephesus during his third missionary journey, a period rich with activity and spiritual significance. However, the three parts tie into three other stories. It’s going to be a crazy ride for sure, but it will all come together in the end.     For now, my hope is that readers will get to know more of the characters who have roles in other stories that take place in The World of Kedoshim. Embrace the journey of John Mark and Titus as they make their way to Ephesus and learn from Aristarchus and Paul as they build the ministry in Ephesus. Meet some unexpected characters as find your way through the mystery as it unfolds in this emotional tale of growth and compassion. I have grown to love many of these specific characters and I am blessed to share them with those who join me in the pages of Part I of this story. 

~

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE

PS (Keep a look out on my Facebook page, Writing the Journey)

John Mark, The Runaway

 Greetings, 

This is a throw back to my post on the HHH Blog. You can see the original post here.
I am re-posting this here as an introduction to a few posts that will be added to help me build consistency in my posts. May you find encouragement through it. 

~~~

By Matthew J. Elliott

As I have often claimed, researching biblical concepts is one of my favorite hobbies. It comes from my college days at OkWU. Many of the classes I took while earning my degree in Biblical Studies were directed studies. This means that I worked one-on-one with my professors on research projects that focused on Bible events and the characters we read about in Scripture. Some of the most memorable encounters and revelations in my faith came from those stories and that is a legacy left to me by my professors. At first, I only took the directed study courses so I could get out of sitting in the classroom and avoid taking exams. All of my final projects required me to investigate topics that were confusing to see others. Why am I sharing about me when the title of this post is about John Mark's unexpected legacy? 

Antique Scroll similar to what John Mark wrote on

It all ties into why I do what I do as a writer today. It was the legacy I received that opened my eyes to people like Brother Lawrence, Madame Guyon, Barnabas, and even Gene Edwards whom I intend on writing about next month. More importantly, though, I share this seemingly random information about my past, because John Mark's past is very similar to mine. He was a well-educated young man, even before being mentored by men like Barnabas, Paul, and Peter. The knowledge we both received, in the beginning, was about the research, the topical information, and the historical details. It was not until we both experienced real aspects of our lives that we began to learn about our true Legacies.

While my legacy is still unpredictable in many ways, the legacy left behind by John Mark is a phenomenal example of internal growth and acceptance. It was only through the experiences he had in places like Cyprus, Rome, Ephesus, Jerusalem, and Alexandria that he began to see his true calling.  As an educated young man, John Mark knew who Jesus was. He knew that there was something significant about his three-year ministry, and to an extent, what would happen in the end. His mother, Mary, hosted many of the believers in the upper room of her home in Jerusalem. (Acts 12:12) Many even believe it was in her home that Jesus appeared to his followers and told them to wait for the spirits coming. While there are no claims in Scripture that John Mark ever met Jesus, he did have many encounters with those who did.

Wikimedia Image of John Mark

As a much older young man, John Mark found himself assisting Saul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey, probably believing that he was unstoppable, only to learn through some misguided experiences in Cyprus that he was not ready to accept the calling he imagined. Abandoning Saul and Barnabas in Pisidia (Acts 13:13), for reasons we have little documentation on, was one of the worst, and yet, best decisions he would ever make. While some believe it was out of fear of the unknown, or even that he received word his mother was ill, we will never know. The reality here is that making that one choice changed his life, forever branding him as the runaway. There is so much more to his story than being branded in this way and his legacy, in this writer's opinion, is worth discovering.

After making his way back to Jerusalem, John Mark spent a great deal of time learning about his faith under the watchful eye of Peter and others who remained in Jerusalem during the persecution that was taking place. At some point during this time some believe that Peter began sharing the stories we find in Mark's Gospel. As an educated man, it fell to John to write those stories down. Other parts of his story claim that John Mark may have been commissioned to leave Jerusalem and travel to Alexandria, where he among others, planted a church. In the wake of the controversy about Circumcision, a meeting of the believers was called in Jerusalem, and John Mark and others were called back to Jerusalem from their prospective missionary journeys. (Acts 15)

AI Generation of The Jerusalem Council 50AD

In taking part in this Jerusalem Council, John Mark was reunited with Barnabas and even Paul. At this point, we lose sight of what happens with John Mark and don't hear about him in Scripture until Paul is in Rome. Somehow between the Jerusalem Council, believed to have happened in 50AD, and arriving in Rome, which happened around 60AD (Col. 4:10), John Mark has found himself and is considered a valuable asset in Paul's ministry. Something had to change because when Barnabas recommended bringing John Mark on the second missionary journey, Paul was so much against it that he broke his partnership with the man he'd spent years ministering alongside. (Acts 15:36-42) What could that change in John Mark have been though? Was it just that he matured with Age? I am not sure it was!

In my book, The Cyprus Journal, John Mark has some experiences that could explain how this change took place, but that is not where I'm heading with this post. I honestly believe that when Barnabas took him to Cyprus, he gave John Mark the time he needed to learn the true meaning of leaving a Legacy behind for future generations. I also believe that hearing the gospel story through the hearts of those who knew Jesus personally opened his eyes to the possibilities. Sometimes we need to open our eyes and look at the world around us. Sometimes the lessons we learn teach us the value of acceptance and that is where John Mark truly finds his calling. The legacy he left behind proves that no matter how far we stray off the path, we can find our way back. No matter how many times the fears of life take hold of us, we can overcome them and embrace who we are meant to be.

~

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE

PS (Keep a look out on my Facebook page, Writing the Journey)

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Sources:

Scripture is from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Ichthys Letters: Loss and Grief

Greetings, 

I am so excited to share this Ichthys Letter with you all today. There are more on the horizon as well. Since I began this series back in February, The World of Kedoshim has grown. It is no longer just a vision hanging on my living room wall and in all honesty, there is actually less space on that wall now. 

As I continue to work on the next part of the story in book 4, The Hope of Inheritance, this letter takes us to the end of The Cyprus Journal, but just before the beginning of The Hope of Inheritance. This is a season of transition and change and I can't wait for you to read this. Consider it an introduction to book 4. 

Yes, I know, I'm just getting started, but do not worry, there is a specific reason I am releasing this Ichthys Letter now, feel free to post your guesses in the comments below. 

John Mark, My Brother, 

I write to you from Caesarea in the midst of a ministry that is ever-changing. My time here has been impactful. It is strange to think about what has brought us to where we are but ministering alongside Phillip, the one called Obedient, and Cornelius, the one called Faithful, has been eye-opening. 

While I desire to share stories of the growth, the church has seen since Paul’s release from Rome and his immediate departure toward Crete thereafter with Titus and Tychicus; I have sent Tertius, whom we both cherish, with this letter addressing the death of your dear mentor, Barnabas. I have been waiting for the right time to send this letter to you and while it may be later than I anticipated, I believe the time is right.

The news of his death filled my heart with sorrow, and that sorrow compelled me to write to you. Tertius has given me a clear understanding of everything that unfolded in Cyprus after you left us in Rome with Onesimus. I am pleased that you have found Onesimus useful in Ephesus for the time being while ministering with Timothy. 

We’ve seen enough from Onesimus to know his heart, and Paul and I are overflowing with gratitude for the incredible blessing he’s brought to the church. Please encourage him in the faith and accept him as one of your own. 

Barnabas would have wanted it this way and while his sacrifice enabled much growth in Salamis, he was loved by both Paul and I. Sometimes the pain of this world can destroy the joy we find all around us. Losing someone we care deeply enough about to call a friend is not an easy endeavor to overcome. One day we find ourselves filled with all the joy we could ever imagine and the next, everything is out of balance. 

There have been moments in my own life where I have felt this pain and it has completely disrupted my ongoing mission to document the history of our faith so much that I became incapable of moving forward for a time. It is in these moments that we must grasp our faith more deeply than ever before. It is in these moments that the most important step we can take is to give our pain to the one we call Savior. 

I understand that finding the strength to let go of the pain we both share will not happen in an instant. There are always moments for us to remember that pain and to honor our loved ones through that pain. As Tertius has described the events leading up to your escape, I cannot fathom the hurt that is building up inside your heart. 

To witness someone so close to you die at the hands of the very souls we were all called to love could not have been harder for myself or anyone else. While I can not comprehend the way I would respond to something as devastatingly painful, I am grateful to have learned you are continuing your journey and mission. It is encouraging to know that your faith remains, even in this pain.

I must caution you, though, do not ignore your pain, dear child. This will only lead to destruction. The weight of this loss is heavy and you need not hold it on your shoulders. There is no reason for you to bear this burden alone, and you are not responsible for what took place. You responded just as you have been called to and it may not be during our life here on earth. The day will come when Barnabas will find his way back to us both. 

I plan to travel through Myra on my way to meet with Aristarchus and the others in the coming months. I am sure his family continues to grow as they serve God as they have been in Tyre. Sending him there when I requested Nathaniel and his brother come here has proven encouraging. 

I often think of the days we all spent together in Ephesus and even Rome with great Joy. Amid everything we endured, I knew Theophilus would find his way back into your life, and am encouraged that he could be there with you, Timothy, and Onesimus for a time, despite the pain of losing another dear brother of ours. 

The grief that Onesimus feels for Philemon is just as profound as the grief you feel for Barnabas, a deep sorrow that echoes in both of your souls. They were both taken from us too soon. The same holds true for James. John’s grief was profound and immeasurable. His heart was shattered by the brutal death of his brother in Jerusalem. Time has given him the strength to carry on, despite the weight of his grief. I imagine you and Onesimus could learn a lot from him.

In our letters to each other, he has taught me many things. One specific interchange we explored was regarding the essence of grief. His explanation is worth sharing with you. I only ask that you share it with Onesimus as well. I still remember the words he wrote to me as if it were only a day ago…

I have determined that grief cannot simply be ignored. In truth, it is the essence of our love, and it stands the test of time. It is everything we have ever wanted to give someone but could not. The deeper our bond with that person, the stronger it becomes. All of it builds from within. 

When the one we have given that love is gone, it makes its way from the deepest part of our heart and manifests through the pain we bear with our tears and sadness. We have no control over it because it is the perseverance of our bond, even after death. 

His words spoke deeply to me. They provided solace and comfort during the difficult time of Paul’s incarceration in Caesarea. It seems as if it was so long ago. Much of what he endured while here was painful to witness. 

While Paul’s ailments and experiences do not compare to the loss of someone like Barnabas or Philemon, John’s words were purposeful for my heart during that time. The way of glory comes from any direction, but grief is powerful, and I consider it a gift that reminds us of the bonds we share with those closest to us.

Speak kindly to our brothers and sisters in Ephesus. Encourage them with the news of my journey through Myra and remember, dear child, you are not alone in your grief. You’re not alone in this trial, and you are a dearly loved brother in Christ. I, Luke, look forward to visiting. 

Make room, as I will send another letter to Theophilus before I journey there. Continue to grant him favor and do not underestimate his worth to you, regardless of your current contempt toward him. I hope to visit before he leaves for Rome. May our great God be with you.

~~
Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE
PS (Keep a look out on my Facebook page, Writing the Journey. I will be making an announcement about how to get a free copy of The Cyprus Journal and Book 4 soon.)