Dr Paul Allen

Stained glass window of the sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the former Mosque (Cathedral) of Cordoba, Spain (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda . 33 There he found a man named Aeneas , bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord . 36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas . She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room.  All

Crucifixion of St. Peter by Caravaggio. The early Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) How many times have we heard the saying “ God helps those who help themselves ?” It seems to mean that if we would just get busy, get things done, or turn over a new leaf, God could look favorably upon us. Did you know that saying is not in the Bible ? In fact, it is the very opposite of the gospel message! Consider this story: A man came home from work and declared to his wife that he had become “born again by the Spirit of God.” They were not churchgoers; in fact, they had been known to make jokes about “Bible Thumpers.” The wife feared he had gone crazy. Though he was not looking for God, God had come to him by placing him in the time and place to hear and embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be “raised from the dead” spiritually. The man was changed, and it was not his doing. He no longer wanted the party life they had lived. He gave up drinking and