Matthew James Elliott's Blog, page 5

Its Time for an Update

Greetings, 

Well, my dear friends! It has been quite some time since I updated this website, and I'm sorry to say that. After the release of the first 10 Episodes of my next story, The Ephesus Pages, I began focusing on a secret project for my kids that requires a Pen Name, leaving everyone wondering where in the world I had gone. 

My apologies for this. In the midst of working on that secret project, I also started a new position at work that has given me some great education on technical writing that I hope to apply to the world of writing Biblical Historical Fiction Stories that could have been The Deeper Story. While technical writing does not really apply to that kind of writing, I have learned a lot.

I will confirm for you all that I have not taken a full sabbatical from writing. I have simply shifted my focus toward that secret project and some aspects of my faith that God has been reaffirming in my life and in my heart.  There are still stories being researched and flushed out for the next few books and even one that is way down the road, here is a hint on that one.

One of the aspects of my faith that I have been seeking God's guidance on is how faith plays a role in my life. To take it a step further, a second aspect of that would be how that faith-filled role affirms the purpose and calling throughout my whole life, from top to bottom. It is definitely a process that needs to be defined in my life, so while you aren't seeing much content write (pun intended) now, I am still working toward the writer's dream. 

There is still so much more that could be said. However, I will leave you with this for the time being...

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

MJE


PS (If you are curious about my secret project, I will be starting an email series on it soon. You can join my email list here.)

The Ichthys Letters: Pain and Glory

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 begin to work on the next part of the story in book 3, this letter takes us to the end of Finding Philemon, just before Demas and Onesimus leave for their journey to Rome around 95AD. Many of the Founders are long gone and this one letter will usher in the final era of The World of Kedoshim. 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. 

To My Dear Brother Onesimus, 
I am pleased to know you and am honored by your request. It would be my pleasure to visit you and the church in Ephesus. My fondness for the church there was a guidepost for me during my exile on the island of Patmos. In truth, my time on Patmos was very revealing and I cannot wait to share my visions with you, Demas, Marcus, and the others.  
It will be a joy to care for the Ephesian church once more. Gaius, the scribe who has become a son to me, will be traveling with me. He remains excited to see his loved ones and has become of great use to me. The two of us will arrive in Ephesus before you and Demas depart for your journey to Rome. 

Please prepare a room for both of us and know that I am excited to speak with you face to face rather than with ink and parchment. Meeting together in this way will undoubtedly offer us both some much-needed time away from the goat skins we use to fabricate our materials to write our invaluable letters to each other. 

While our great God has never seen fit to send me to Rome, the conversations we have shared in our letters regarding your time there with the other Founders have revealed much to this old disciple's heart. The pain you suffered over the years because of that place could not have been easy to endure. Rome is desolate and I understand your continued struggle. 

The pains we have both endured in life lie deep within the very core of our spirit and they have made us who we are. Is it fair to those of us who understand these pains to continue to endure them? No, I do not believe it is. Is it part of who were are called to be? My Child, Yes, of course. Our Savior endured much of the same pains we have and it is an honor to be chosen for such a time as this.

The way of glory is before us, dear one, and while our great God has called you away from the peace you have found in Ephesus, know that I will remain there to shepherd your flock for as long as it is needed. I know our paths have rarely crossed, but when they have it has always been good to speak with you deeply about the agony we have both endured. 

While I cannot fathom some of the specifics of your experiences, I continue to believe the similarities we do share between our two paths in life have woven us together through the bonds of spiritual sonship. We have a God whose love surpasses all pain, and this love offers all of us a light in the darkness that breeds around us. In the midst of this darkness, His love encourages us to find our way back into the glorious riches of His graceful embrace. 

Do not doubt your strength or knowledge about this attribute of our faith. You have a gift for understanding the glory the Father offers us and do not need anyone to show you the way. So, dear child of God, continue to live the life you have been given. Fear will only hold you back and cause you even more pain than you have already endured. If you continue to follow the teaching you heard from the beginning you will remain in the Father and he will remain in you. 

Let us not lose sight of the promises we have already been taught and learn to confidently speak with others on these matters. These are the last days and I have seen many visions that have assured me of this. We cannot assume there is nothing to fear and that the peace we have both found will remain. The enemy is out there hiding in the darkness and we are called, through the light of His glory, to shine His light in the midst of the darkness.  It falls to us to guide our brothers and sisters, as well as our sons and daughters, home.

As I have already stated, my experiences on Patmos were a revelation to me, and they remind me of the lessons I have learned about the true path of glory. I am eager to consult with you regarding these insights, if only for a season, before your journey to Rome. 

I understand you will be gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ there to speak on the matter of God’s glory and am confident our conversations beforehand will be helpful to you and Demas both.  Gaius and I will assuredly depart from Antioch and begin our journey to you before this letter arrives. He expects it will be a matter of days between the delivery and our arrival. 

To the Ephesians, I John, and your brother Gaius, are coming! When we arrive, we will speak about many things. It is encouraging to hear that your faith continues to grow. Let us embrace our joy together as children of God when we come. Peace be with you all.

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE
PS (You can find The Cyprus Journal, currently available to download at this Amazon Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)

The Characters of The Cyprus Journal

It is finally time to make the big reveal. The Cyprus Journal is now out and ready for anyone to grab and the cast is listed below. I am so excited about this story, and I can't wait to keep building the World of Kedoshim. 
These characters are near and dear to my heart and crafting their stories has been a great deal of fun. Please remember that these images are all AI-generated and only what I imagine them to be like in my stories.
See You in the Pages, 
MJE.

Kedoshim: A Journey Remembered (Prologue)

Greetings, 

This is the first scene I wrote for the Kodoshim Story World. There are likely a good amount of things that can and should be reviewed, but it was the very beginning of this dream...

Nathaniel sat in front of a solitary window, his mind a swirling mixture of uncertainty and doubt. He held his staff in one hand and a quill in the other. He vainly searched for purpose in his life as fresh rain began to fall outside the window.  The sound was a comfort to his troubled mind as he paused to watch it. It almost seemed as though this rain, like many before it, fell from the very heavens. If only it could flood his weary soul and clear his cluttered thoughts.  Nathaniel could smell that indescribable scent rain always gave and heard the beat of each and every drop as it hit the ground. He looked at the path that he had traveled so often and his memory took him back to days past. 

These were the days he often thought about, the days his heart truly longed for. It was almost as if the rain was telling the stories he used to tell, the stories he once lived.  He could hear the wind whistling the songs of praise his heart held so dear.  “I want that again, that freedom to sing to my King, to my Creator,” he said to himself. 

As he continued to watch, his heart began to beat faster and it was almost as if he were really there for a second or two; but, alas, it was only his heart letting his thoughts drag him off to the past. They were thoughts of the people he had met in his life, of the journeys he once took, of the man he dedicated his whole heart to, the calling he set his complete mind to, and the life his soul longed for all those years ago. 

Questions flooded his mind, “What was my life worth then?  Did I really live up to the calling I was given? Was I the example I should have been? Why do I feel such misery now as my time here comes to an end?” Nathaniel was at that point in life we all must break through. That point in life when we feel as though we have no purpose when we are all searching for what is next. He did not fear death at all, what he feared was the life he would leave behind one day.

These thoughts compelled Nathaniel to fear the unknown and he simply could not help but write down what was tearing his heart apart. He had been working his way through it for months now.  Each and every day he would stare out the window hoping and praying for a revelation. With every revelation came another part of the letter.  

******

I, Nathaniel, a servant of Christ Jesus by the will of God, along with my brother Zadok, write to you now from Tyre. I write as one of your own, once a slave from Caesarea, freed by the grace of God. I have longed to tell you of my sufferings, of the journey I have taken, and of the journey still to come. I have struggled with writing this to you because I fear the repercussions it may cause; however, the Lord Most High has compelled my heart so that I cannot resist it any longer.

****** 

The door flew open and Nathaniel’s brother Zadok came running into his room frantic about something that he was too anxious to speak of. Once again Nathaniel lost his train of thought. He jumped up out of his chair, startled by what had just taken place.  He spoke abruptly to his younger brother, “What in the world are you doing, brother? Can’t you see that I am in the middle of something important? LET ME BE…” Nathaniel had a temper that could have easily gotten him into trouble on many occasions. Most of the time, it was the compassion of his brother Zadok that kept him from losing it completely.  

Zadok, though younger, was the only person in Nathaniel’s life that he really ever got along with quite well. Zadok spoke with compassion as he responded to his brother’s unpleasant remark.  He said, “Brother, what are you doing? You’re not going to find the answers you seek by sitting in this room staring out at the rain as you write your random thoughts.  It didn’t work when we first came here and it isn’t going to work now. You have never been the type for that. How long will you go on like this? Don’t let the world pull you down.” It had been almost six months since Nathaniel left that room. Zadok would bring him food, and friends would come and go, but Nathaniel stayed in that room seeking answers and never really finding them. “Zadok, it would be a waste of time for me to do anything other than what I am doing. 

I can’t believe I am saying this, but the zeal for the Lord I once held so dear is slowly dissipating day by day and I need to find it again.” Nathaniel had searched so hard to find what he was looking for, but Zadok knew now that the only way his brother would find the answers he sought was if he left his dismal room and lived among the people again. “Nathaniel, you are my brother and you know I love you, but you need to hear something. You have forgotten who you are! Remember the journeys we have been on, what we’ve seen, what we’ve been taught! Things aren’t meant to be easy for us and Peter even told us when we were in Rome that ‘our trials come to test our faith.’ Where is your faith now, brother, WHERE IS IT NOW?”

Nathaniel paused for a brief moment, resting himself on his stool, and spoke in a way Zadok had not heard for years. “ZADOK, IT ISN’T THAT EASY. Paul has been arrested AGAIN, our brother Peter will soon be executed, Phillip is nowhere to be found, and John is trapped in Ephesus.” Zadok firmly interrupted his older brother in a way he had not done since the days before they were given their freedom. “NATHANIEL, WATCH YOUR TONGUE!” taking a deep breath, “James always told us ‘The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body and it is set on fire by hell.’ Don’t let your tongue get the best of you. You speak as though you have lost all hope! We promised that we would never do that.” 

Nathaniel began to weep amid his thoughts and thanked his brother for his uplifting words, saying “I know you’re right brother and I am sorry. I’m just ready for something new and my mind is playing tricks on me. I hear what is going on outside this window and it is as though the wind and the rain are mocking me. But, my heart knows best. God’s timing is always perfect, I forget that sometimes.” Seeing that Nathaniel was beginning to calm down, Zadok took a moment to console his beloved brother. Suddenly, he remembered why he had interrupted Nathaniel in the first place."

Nathaniel, I have to tell you something, the reason why I interrupted you was because we just received a guest, it’s Marcus.” Marcus was a good friend of theirs who would often come with letters from the church to share with them. With the arrival of Marcus, Nathaniel hoped that he would receive the answer to the prayer he had prayed for so long. As the brothers gathered with Marcus and celebrated his safe return to them, he read the letter to everyone. The brothers were to begin making travel arrangements for the first assembly of believers in the New Year. 

****** 

I, Darcellus, a servant of Christ Jesus by the will of God, now write to you from Caesarea where I am ministering to the churches of our Lord and Savior. I write to our brothers in Christ, Nathaniel and Zadok. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior!  I thank our Lord always for you because his hope remains in you.  For, you have learned many things that ensure that His hope will remain in us. May His blessings be upon you both and may your hearts be enlightened through this letter.

I am sending you this letter in remembrance of the apostles that have been taken into glory, through them we have received much knowledge, and in remembrance of the Savior, in whom we have found redemption and grace. I trust that your hope in the Lord remains strong and that your message is still reaching the nations. The church in Caesarea often prays for you both and your ministry.

I am writing to you to request your presence here in Caesarea at your earliest convenience. We know of the many wonderful journeys you have taken and of the knowledge you have received from our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a great need for disciples, such as yourselves, to come and share your knowledge of the teachings of the Apostles and of our Savior. I also have some unfortunate but encouraging news to share with you So, I implore you, to rejoice in the knowledge that God has seen fit to bring you back to us.

You know that your nephew Marcus, my son, has a heart for God and has a desire to pursue the ministry please utilize him in any way you can while he waits with you as you prepare to join us. The Lord has blessed him with wonderful gifts to offer the Church and he desires to use them in service to our Lord. He is filled with the power of the Spirit and could be of use to you both. He has proven himself useful to us on many occasions. I felt is necessary to send him to you so that he can be of more use to the Kingdom of God and because he has been longing to see you once again. Therefore I employ once more that you accept his gifts and utilize them to further your ministry there.

Finally, my brothers, maintain your faith and hope in the Lord. I know that times have been rough, but as our brother Paul once wrote to the Thessalonians, Stand firm, hold on to what you have been taught. Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loved us. By HIS grace God gave us comfort that will last forever. The hope he gave us is good. May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father comfort your hearts and may you stand strong in every good thing you do and say.

Greet all the believers and send them my blessing. I, Darcellus, have written this with my own hand so that you may know that I care for you both and so that you may be encouraged by this message. May the hope of our Lord be with you always, Amen.

******

This brought great joy to Nathaniel and he felt that this was truly the answer to prayer that he had been searching for. It had been many years since they had been back to Caesarea and it would be good to finally go back home.  The rest of the day people came and went and the brothers seemed to have an energy that had not been seen by any of their brothers and sisters in Christ who lived with them in Tyre.  

The thought of Caesarea brought back so many memories. Some of them were good, but many of them were not. To be summoned to Caesarea instead of Jerusalem was strange since Jerusalem was where most of the church family was, but that did not matter, Caesarea was where it all began. Now, after all they had been through, God was leading them home, to the very beginning of their story...

See you in the pages, 

MJE

The Latest Updates

Greetings,

It has been a whirlwind of an adventure so far in 2024. There have been some exciting things taking place. I was honored to be part of a Facebook takeover and even some really fun giveaways. One of which is still going on until 3/26. You can sign up for newsletters and get placed into a drawing for several gift books from more than 20 authors. It's been fun and you can see the giveaway here. 

I'm not asking you to sign up, but if you wanted to get some information from other authors who write Biblical Fiction, that would be the place to do it. I have even started my own Newsletter, which you can sign up for here. I have no intention of selling things, my intention is more focused on building a community of people who love reading Biblical Fiction. Thanks to the newsletter event, I've already gained a good start-up list but would love to add you also. 

Outside of that, there are several other things in the works, The Cyprus Journal, which is my new novel, is coming soon, hopefully before summer. The Ichthys Letters is my blog project and that is just beginning. It will be an ongoing project and has been a lot of fun to develop. Later this year, I also have a new limited series in the works called The Ephesus Pages, but I'm not ready to reveal much about that just yet. There are so many other things to write about, but I will leave you here, with this short update, for now. 

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

MJE
PS (You can find all episodes of my new Episodic Series, Finding Philemon, currently available to download at this Affiliate Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)

The Cyprus Journal- Cover Reveal

Here it is everyone, 

Finally ready to share this with you all. 

The Ichthys Letters: Joy and Wisdom

Greetings, 

I am excited to finally publish the first draft of this letter for my newest blog series, The Ichthys Letters. This is a series I have actually been working on for most of February and to have these tie into The World of Kedoshim is going be a lot of fun. There will be little connections in these letters to stories, I'm working on and even stories that I plan to write down the road. I pray you will find these letters encouraging in their own right and that God will speak to you through them as much as he has spoken to me through creating them...


I, James, the Brother of Jesus, write to you, John Mark, with a great sense of joy in my heart. 

It was a privilege to hear from you regarding your stay in Caesarea, a place I have longed to visit again for some time. Your visit, however brief, has been a blessing to the church there and I am encouraged that you found common ground with Phillip and Cornelius, both of whom have served through faith and obedience in these trying times. 

Simeon, who has been a partner in ministry, speaks of you often and we were all greatly strengthened to hear about your ministry together in Alexandria. It is hard to accept, at times, that our God calls us out of bondage to fight another day and I was discouraged to hear about the struggles the two of you endured while there. 

As I write this letter to you, I am not writing to the child I once knew. Rather, I am writing to the man you are becoming. My joy, dear friend, comes from knowing that you found common ground with Phillip and Cornelius while you were serving with them and that you have been able to put aside your desire to return to Alexandria so that you all can work hand in hand to accomplish the goal set before us— furthering the faith. Your actions speak a great deal to Myself, Peter, and the other Founders and it is a privilege to witness the growth taking place in your faith. 

It is not common to see this kind of strength through adversity. Your past has not taken hold of your spirit and it will not define your future. There are always times when we have to step back so we can move forward in the hope of the inheritance we have been promised. In time, the path you are choosing today will lead you to the fulfillment of that promise. It will do this for all of us.

Remind yourself of this often and you will never lose sight of that promise. Trials come and they always bring unwanted troubles, but just as I have found joy in hearing about your triumphs, and even your failures, you will learn how to find joy in all circumstances. I have written these words to you before and I pray you will take them with you wherever the calling that has been placed upon you will eventually lead. 

Especially with someone who has meant so much to our brother in faith, Barnabas. He speaks often of you my dear friend, and I am grateful for your partnership with him. He intently cares for you, as if a father cares for his son, and the same is true for you, as if a son cares for his father. Knowing of the loss you suffered as a young child, it speaks to my heart to know you have found that fatherly guidance again. Continue to develop this together as you begin your journey through his homeland, Cyprus. 

Do not doubt your value to him on this journey and seek to find joy in all circumstances. Do not be fooled by those around you. In Cyprus, you will find unexpected circumstances that will test your faith in ways you cannot even imagine. In truth, dear friend, you may even experience worse tribulation than what you and Simeon encountered in Alexandria. 

Listen and be slow to speak, in doing this you will find more wisdom than even I can give you. Joy is always on the horizon and even when you cannot see it, there is a hand above that will guide you back to it. It will be wise for you to remember that the joy you seek is not a fleeting moment it is a state of being. While your actions may give you a temporary feeling of happiness they do not often give you the joy you seek. Joy, dear friend, stands firm amid even the hardest of circumstances. Give yourself completely to God and joy will find you. 

Speak kindly to Paul and Silas once you arrive in Antioch, and trust that Barnabas encourage you more as you minister together. You will depart from Seleucia again, and even though your past experiences there were less than ideal, your journey is just beginning. Do not worry about your mother Mary; she will continue to serve as she has been called. Peter and his wife are already preparing to further their ministry with her here in Jerusalem.

If you see our brother, John, please tell him that I hope to come stay with him there soon. He has sent word that he too will begin a journey of his own and I wish to see him before he departs. He has done well taking care of my mother, and I am grateful for his dedication. Upon your arrival, greet the elders with an open heart, and they will speak and teach you many things.

To the Church in Antioch and the Elders serving there, I pray that the Lord will grant you great joy in the midst of all circumstances. Though we may not always understand the Lord's purpose, let us continue to move forward patiently, eagerly waiting for his return. Remember to draw near to him who provides us with wisdom and understanding. 

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE
PS (You can find all episodes of my new Episodic Series, Finding Philemon, currently available to download at this Affiliate Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)

The Ichthys Letters: The Letter to Philadelphia (The One that Began it All)

Greetings, 

With my introduction to the Ichthys Letters being released just under a week ago now, I thought it would be really fun to share the very first letter, as it was written for my college assignment, here for everyone to see. I am going to re-write this one in the tone, and mindset, that I write today, and will also give you more background into these characters in another post, but it's always fun to remember, isn't it? I will publish the second one soon as well. Without further ado? 

The Epistle to the Philadelphians

Nathaniel, a servant of Christ Jesus by the will of God, who now writes to you from Troas as one of your own, once a slave from Colossae, now freed, a mand of the lower class, from the tribe of Judah, who is now serving the Lord most high all through Asia Minor.

To the Church of our Lord in Philadelphia, and the Churches throughout Asia Minor, May the hope of God be ever present with you in everything you do. I thank our Lord always for you, because his hope remains in you, for we have learned many things that ensure that this hope will remain in us. Let us not be concerned about the slaves and their masters more than we need to be. 

You have read in Brother Paul's letter to Timothy that "all who are slaves should respect their masters, even if our masters are not believers so that God's name will not be insulted" 1 Tim 6:1-2, but we must be careful not to lose sight of the true meaning of that statement. 

We have already been taught that "he who was a slave when he was called by God becomes free," 1 Cor 7:22, and that "We are not meant to 'Lord it over' one another" 2 Cor 1:24. As we know our dear brother in Christ, Paul, has written down all these words, I admit that these teachings of Paul seem to teach two different ideas, but let us take a deeper look at this topic so that we may be able to truly understand that our brother Paul has not changes his view on slaves and their masters. In truth, we have misunderstood that Paul is teaching us a deeper understanding of how a slave should treat their master.

As a former slave, it is important to respect one's master, and it must not be forgotten, because it shows our love for God. We have also been taught that God commands us to "obey our earthly masters of respect and fear, with a sincere heart just as we would obey Christ-- because it brings favor in the eyes of the Lord." Eph 6:5. When our brother tells us to respect our master, he is teaching us to respect our masters in the same way we respect God. “We must remember that we have been set free from sin and have not become slaves to righteousness.” Rom 9:18. In knowing this, we understand that yes we are free, but from sin, not from our earthly masters.

As I continue to serve our master, I will always be free, but while I may be free and my spirit belongs to no man, it will forever belong to God, and as such the message Paul teaches, applies to us all, “we are all called to serve everyone, so that we may win more into the kingdom of God." 1 Cor 9:19.

Our hope must remain in the Lord most high, so that his will, will be done, and we are called to be respectful to those that have authority over us, as if they were Christ himself. Knowing this, we can establish that Paul is teaching us that those in authority over us were given that power because God has willed it to take place. We must offer the same respect to our masters that we offer God, and this is what Paul is teaching us through his view on slavery.

This is why we can have hope because the Kingdom of God will prevail when the end comes. We have been taught about how the Living Hope sets us free in spirit from all that surrounds us. Let us continue to press into this hope we have come to possess. As you have read this letter, remember to show respect for those God puts in authority over you, in the same way you show respect for God.

Tell Jabez he must remember to stand firm and continue to place his hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. While his days in the hole that has become his home, his faith must remain. Tell Zadok, my brother, God is with you always and that I hope to visit soon. Greet the elders, Onesimus and Demas, and also the saints in the church at Laodicea the message I have written you today, so that they may know they are in my prayers. 

In Christ alone, my hope will always be found.

---

Post Script: (Required by the Professor)

My Character, Nathaniel, was once a slave in Colossae. He became a believer along with his brother Zadok when Paul first visited Galatia on his first missionary Journey. Nathaniel and Zadok were sent to Galation on an errand for their slave owner, Jabez, who also became a believer after he saw the way faith changed Nathaniel, his brother, and even their sister Elena. After Jabez was converted, he freed and pardoned Nathaniel and his siblings. The Brothers became missionaries in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece while Paul was traveling with Luke and others on the second and third missionary journeys. They often interacted with other characters from the biblical narrative. 

When Nathaniel received word that the churches in Asia Minor were confused after receiving Paul's first letter to Timothy, he was compelled to write this short letter to clear up any misunderstandings that had taken place.  He understood that if he did not clarify what Paul was teaching, believers everywhere would become lost and confused about what Paul was actually saying. In many ways, this is what Paul did when he went on his journey through the world he lived in. Just as Nathaniel wanted to make sure he didn’t lose any of the newly converted believers, Paul encouraged him to do the same. 

Nathaniel speaks of hope and what it means to embrace that in everything we do. In responding to Paul's letter this way, he implies that hope is required when loving others, even those in authority over us. Nathaniel believes that man can be freed from their inner sin, as well as the masters placed in authority over them, but not necessarily in the physical sense. He encouraged others to treat their masters as they would want to be treated. God wants us to respect those who have authority over us because it is what he would do, and what we would want others to do if we were that authority over them. We should be honored to offer our respect to those who have been placed in authority over us, in the same way we show our respect to God.

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE
PS (You can find all episodes of my new Episodic Series, Finding Philemon, currently available to download at this Affiliate Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)

The Ichthys Letters: The Letter to Philadelphia (The One that Began in All)

Greetings, 

With my introduction to the Ichthys Letters being released just under a week ago now, I thought it would be really fun to share the very first letter, as it was written for my college assignment, here for everyone to see. I am going to re-write this one in the tone, and mindset, that I write today, and will also give you more background into these characters in another post, but it's always fun to remember, isn't it? I will publish the second one soon as well. Without further ado? 

The Epistle to the Philadelphians

Nathaniel, a servant of Christ Jesus by the will of God, who now writes to you from Troas as one of your own, once a slave from Colossae, now freed, a mand of the lower class, from the tribe of Judah, who is now serving the Lord most high all through Asia Minor.

To the Church of our Lord in Philadelphia, and the Churches throughout Asia Minor, May the hope of God be ever present with you in everything you do. I thank our Lord always for you, because his hope remains in you, for we have learned many things that ensure that this hope will remain in us. Let us not be concerned about the slaves and their masters more than we need to be. 

You have read in Brother Paul's letter to Timothy that "all who are slaves should respect their masters, even if our masters are not believers so that God's name will not be insulted" 1 Tim 6:1-2, but we must be careful not to lose sight of the true meaning of that statement. 

We have already been taught that "he who was a slave when he was called by God becomes free," 1 Cor 7:22, and that "We are not meant to 'Lord it over' one another" 2 Cor 1:24. As we know our dear brother in Christ, Paul, has written down all these words, I admit that these teachings of Paul seem to teach two different ideas, but let us take a deeper look at this topic so that we may be able to truly understand that our brother Paul has not changes his view on slaves and their masters. In truth, we have misunderstood that Paul is teaching us a deeper understanding of how a slave should treat their master.

As a former slave, it is important to respect one's master, and it must not be forgotten, because it shows our love for God. We have also been taught that God commands us to "obey our earthly masters of respect and fear, with a sincere heart just as we would obey Christ-- because it brings favor in the eyes of the Lord." Eph 6:5. When our brother tells us to respect our master, he is teaching us to respect our masters in the same way we respect God. “We must remember that we have been set free from sin and have not become slaves to righteousness.” Rom 9:18. In knowing this, we understand that yes we are free, but from sin, not from our earthly masters.

As I continue to serve our master, I will always be free, but while I may be free and my spirit belongs to no man, it will forever belong to God, and as such the message Paul teaches, applies to us all, “we are all called to serve everyone, so that we may win more into the kingdom of God." 1 Cor 9:19.

Our hope must remain in the Lord most high, so that his will, will be done, and we are called to be respectful to those that have authority over us, as if they were Christ himself. Knowing this, we can establish that Paul is teaching us that those in authority over us were given that power because God has willed it to take place. We must offer the same respect to our masters that we offer God, and this is what Paul is teaching us through his view on slavery.

This is why we can have hope because the Kingdom of God will prevail when the end comes. We have been taught about how the Living Hope sets us free in spirit from all that surrounds us. Let us continue to press into this hope we have come to possess. As you have read this letter, remember to show respect for those God puts in authority over you, in the same way you show respect for God.

Tell Jabez he must remember to stand firm and continue to place his hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. While his days in the hole that has become his home, his faith must remain. Tell Zadok, my brother, God is with you always and that I hope to visit soon. Greet the elders, Onesimus and Demas, and also the saints in the church at Laodicea the message I have written you today, so that they may know they are in my prayers. 

In Christ alone, my hope will always be found.

---

Post Script: (Required by the Professor)

My Character, Nathaniel, was once a slave in Colossae. He became a believer along with his brother Zadok when Paul first visited Galatia on his first missionary Journey. Nathaniel and Zadok were sent to Galation on an errand for their slave owner, Jabez, who also became a believer after he saw the way faith changed Nathaniel, his brother, and even their sister Elena. After Jabez was converted, he freed and pardoned Nathaniel and his siblings. The Brothers became missionaries in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece while Paul was traveling with Luke and others on the second and third missionary journeys. They often interacted with other characters from the biblical narrative. 

When Nathaniel received word that the churches in Asia Minor were confused after receiving Paul's first letter to Timothy, he was compelled to write this short letter to clear up any misunderstandings that had taken place.  He understood that if he did not clarify what Paul was teaching, believers everywhere would become lost and confused about what Paul was actually saying. In many ways, this is what Paul did when he went on his journey through the world he lived in. Just as Nathaniel wanted to make sure he didn’t lose any of the newly converted believers, Paul encouraged him to do the same. 

Nathaniel speaks of hope and what it means to embrace that in everything we do. In responding to Paul's letter this way, he implies that hope is required when loving others, even those in authority over us. Nathaniel believes that man can be freed from their inner sin, as well as the masters placed in authority over them, but not necessarily in the physical sense. He encouraged others to treat their masters as they would want to be treated. God wants us to respect those who have authority over us because it is what he would do, and what we would want others to do if we were that authority over them. We should be honored to offer our respect to those who have been placed in authority over us, in the same way we show our respect to God.

Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 
MJE
PS (You can find all episodes of my new Episodic Series, Finding Philemon, currently available to download at this Affiliate Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)

The Ichthys Letters: An Introduction

Greetings, 
One of the most useful communication methods to hit the dirt running during the New Testament Era was letters. Letters were sent all over the Biblical Landscape and the message that was sent along with them was usually one of significance. Not just anyone could write either. In truth, most of the Letters that became what we know as the Biblical New Testament Narrative were not even written directly by the authors they are attributed to. 
They were written by scribes. One of the more well-known scribes was Silvanus (or as Paul called him; Silas) and he wrote the words of two of the more influential Apostles of that time, Peter and Paul. While many, including myself, attribute the letter written to the Hebrews to this man in some way or another, it is not a complete, proven fact. Another well-known scribe was a man named Tychicus. He traveled with Paul for many years and may have even traveled with him on a 4th missionary Journey to Spain. 
The Letters that make up the New Testament we refer to today are valued more today than the writers, and even the scribes, could have ever imagined and this just proves why letters still have relevance outside of that world. Many of those letters are lost in time or hidden in some forgotten family heirloom that is buried in the depths of history, but that doesn't mean they are any less important to us today or that we can't imagine what they could have etched upon their papyrus or paper. There were times when the contents of a letter written during that time impacted someone else's future so much that it completely changed their path in life. Regardless of what one may think though, letters are more of a sentimental art.
Even if you step out of the New Testament Narrative for a bit, I know—how could you even think that would be okay? Stay with me here. Throughout history, letters have been a vital form of communication. Military officials and generals have used letters to communicate battle plans and terms of surrender. Politicians have used letters to ensure their campaign comes out on top during elections. Couples who fell in love while at college or summer camp have used letters to continue their relationships. People in foreign countries have used letters to build Friendships that stand the test of time in more ways than one. Solitary monks and Religious People have used letters to share messages they believe come from the heavens with those they felt called to write to. When every other communication method fails, letters are the most likely to survive, at least in my opinion. 
This is what brings me to my Newest Project, The Ichthys Letters. This is a blog series that I will be creating from the perspective of some of the characters in The World of Kedoshim. If you have not read the introduction to this world, there is a tab at the top of this page that will take you there, or you can click this link. As many already know, I’m building a world based on the New Testament Church with the books I’m working on right now. I am so excited to share that this will tie into this blog as well. Before we get to that though, let me give you an explanation for the title. I am sure that it seems a little strange, but it will all make sense once you read the next paragraph of this introduction post. 
The Ichthys symbol is the symbol believers would use to confirm who they were during biblical times. When those who belonged to the New Testament Church met others who claimed the same faith, this is a symbol many believe that they bent down and drew in the sand. One person would draw the first half of the symbol and then the second person would finish it. This symbol was a fish. There are even people who believe that Jesus himself used this symbol when he drew a line in the sand. I cannot confirm, or deny, this of course, but the idea is that when two people wanted to ensure they were protected and could speak openly about their faith, this symbol provided that assurance. So, using this symbol while communicating what many would believe were ‘secret’ or ‘hidden’ letters is a very plausible idea. Thus, The Ichthys Letters is the title of this series.
Over the next several weeks, or whenever all of them have been written, I will start publishing these letters here. Each of the letters will continue parts of the story that have already been written and introduce characters that will show up in a future story based in The World of Kedoshim. While these letters are not meant to replace biblical content, my hope is that they will inspire others to look at scripture more for themselves. This series will be fictional but based within the context of the times to the best of my ability. As you read through them, biblical topics will be presented through the eyes of the characters in my stories. 
I can’t wait to share these with everyone. Who knows, maybe The Ichthys Letters will end up becoming its own story. Only time will tell.  The only thing I know for sure is that I’m quite about coming back to my roots, so to speak—Well, write. The first book I wrote was a book of letters and The World of Kedoshim itself was born through a few letters I had to write in college. Who would have thought I’d be back there today? 
Thanks again for visiting 'The Gathering Room' and I’ll see you in the pages. 


MJE
PS (You can find all episodes of my new Episodic Series, Finding Philemon, currently available to download at this Affiliate Link. You can also follow my author hub, Writing the Journey,  on Facebook.)