Joseph and Mary is about two people telling you the story of their own lives as individuals with their hopes, fears, emotions, and faith in the face of the unknown. Jesus is the common thread in both stories. While Joseph's story is shorter, Mary's story goes to the bitter end of Jesus's life, which is also a sweet beginning for us.Even though the stories are fictional, they are based on biblical quotes and references. For instance, how do you think Joseph felt or reacted when he found out Mary was pregnant and knew that he was not the father? What do you think Mary did as her son was being crucified? This book delves into these types of topics and asks you to react. There are questions at the end of each chapter for you to consider or ponder upon.The faith of Mary and Joseph, as individuals and as a family, is explored further. They see and reach the mountaintop but also go through the deep valleys of life, both apart and together. As a family, how would you deal with being refugees in Egypt after running away from the Romans? You will think about the stories you know, but from a different perspective, one that allows you to see the reactions and emotions that could have been.The hopes, fears, and thoughts of Mary and Joseph are fictional since we do not know what occurred two thousand years ago. However, you will have a sense of Mary and Joseph talking to you, about how they felt and what their lives were like.Dave Keim brings the story of Joseph and Mary together in an easy to read text with thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter. This is an ideal gift for both the young and adult reader, particularly at Christmas.Pastor Peter KaltenbaughThis book provides a new perspective into the thoughts, fears and questions that Joseph and Mary may have experienced in their lives. An easy read that would also be a great option for Bible studies, class discussions or Advent.Bonnie Heathole

I Am Peter is the story of Peter, the disciple and apostle, as told by Peter himself. I invite you to walk with Peter or perhaps just listen as he speaks to you about the segment of his life from the time he met Jesus through Pentecost in Jerusalem. Peter talks about learning to know Jesus, being called the “Rock,” walking on water, denying Jesus, the resurrection, and Pentecost. He talks about his doubts, fears, frustrations, joy, guilt, observations, reactions, relationships, and fishing. As you listen to Peter tell his story, you have the opportunity to walk in his shoes and think about what he said or did and imagine what you might have done. Just remember that you are a Jew two thousand years ago and have no knowledge of anything you know today. You have personal contact with Jesus and His teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection. The book is fictional as to Peter’s thoughts and reactions, but the things that occur are based on the Holy Bible with actual quotes and references. Peter as a person was an ordinary fisherman who enjoyed his work but over time became an extraordinary man. He was blunt, outspoken, and brash, but he also was curious, uncertain, and fearful to the point of denying Jesus. Through it all, Peter developed a great faith and passion to spread the Gospel of Jesus. Peter was touched by Jesus, and perhaps you will be touched in a different way after walking with Peter.

Create stimulating, family-oriented Lenten worship that captivates the imagination with this engaging ""dramily"" series. Six humorous sketches, interwoven with brief homilies highlighting key points, update the familiar Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers for contemporary audiences ? providing an instructive and entertaining resource for midweek programs. Additional messages and dramas for Holy Week and Easter Sunday shift the focus to Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. By touching on such universal experiences as family squabbles, sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, jealousy, hatred, false accusations, reconciliation, trust, and healing, Hey Joseph! is certain to resonate with the people in the pews. It offers pastors, worship leaders, and drama groups a thematically unified total package that's flexible and easy to adapt for any size church. A complete list of simple props is included, along with helpful illustrations for constructing ""Joseph's Granary,"" which may be stocked with food donations for local pantries. Even as the congregation chuckled at Joseph in disguise and related to the siblings' rivalry, they were already looking forward to the next week's drama. Arley Fadness's characters give life to Old Testament stories through humor and innovation ? and always with a message of helping those who are in need. Jeff Tengesdal Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Bismarck, North Dakota Hey Joseph! is an excellent resource for the worship life of your parish ministry. We used it and the congregation loved it and learned from it. The involvement of laypeople of every age made it even more delightful. Our Lenten services were filled every Wednesday, with more coming every week. Howard A. Skulstad Pastor, Long Lake Lutheran Church Isanti, Minnesota Hey Joseph! brings new energy to an Old Testament character, making the experiences of his life relevant for today. The series created an enthusiasm that continued to build throughout the Lenten season as our church body united around its central theme. Active participation on the part of youth and children made Hey Joseph! a fun and exciting intergenerational event. Nedra Patenaude Former Youth Director, Messiah Lutheran Church North Mankato, Minnesota Arley K. Fadness is a retired ELCA pastor who has served numerous Lutheran parishes in South Dakota and Minnesota. He is currently an associate pastor at Custer Lutheran Fellowship in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, and is also a congregational consultant coaching churches in visioning processes. A graduate of Augustana College, Luther Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary, Fadness is the author of several CSS Publishing Company titles, including Where's Noah? and Six Spiritual Needs In America Today.

Moving to Africa in 1979, from rural, small town Mississippi was a leap of faith and a catalyst for great adventure. With graduation from college looming and looking for direction, a Peace Corps flier crosses Mary Duncan’s path. Mary volunteers to teach Cameroonians how to grow fish for food by building fish ponds in Cameroon. After four months of training, she is assigned to a very isolated post in Yoko. She must adapt to a French speaking, half Muslim world without electricity and plumbing. For the first year, the only other volunteers in the area are a 12 hour bush taxi ride away. Mary gains a unique view of what life is really like in Yoko, where the local tribe, the “Bavuté”, speaks their own patois (language) and are happy to share their opinions on a wide range of topics including homosexuality, polygamy, nuclear bomb programs and whether or not pygmies are indeed human. The first year Mary is occupied with work and survival: learning how to live without modern conveniences, communicate with the locals, and with very little to eat. During the second year, as the locals begin to know and trust her, she gets to look under the surface and discovers not everything is as innocent as it seems. On this journey to the third world, Mary learns as much about herself as she does of the people around her. Mary’s cross-cultural experience attests the commonalities of human beings on higher levels than the boundaries we build between us, and that many challenges that we face are universal: the need for shelter, friendship, and fish. For those thinking to joining the Peace Corps or those looking to travel abroad on a road less traveled, this book can give you honest insight into what you can expect on your own journey.

There are twenty four chapters in this book. Each one leads the reader deeper into the intricacies of three realities that commingled during the crucifixion. Five Apostles, Judas, John, James, Peter, and Matthew refute sayings attributed to them. Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, Grandmother Anna, and Mariam, Jesus' adopted sister give insights into the Holy Family. Saint Luke states he was Edgar Cayce. Archangel Michael urges people to call upon him. Jacob-Israel tells of his twelve sons, the names to be the Twelve Tribes. Joseph of Egypt was the soul, Jesus. Plato and the Goddess Athena add their stories. God, the Father makes comments in the Introduction, dictates a chapter, and closes the book. The richness of the information in this book will educate you, intrigue you, and change your belief systems forever.

This fun series introduces the youngest children to the great characters of the Bible. For ages 0-3.

“It’s showtime! Intriguing, astonishing, standing ovations, hilarious, breathtaking, soul stirring, powerful, and showstopping.” Introducing Jacqueline Sutton Ball! One of the greatest African American female playwrights of all time! This book shows God’s love and grace through her well-written and family-friendly gospel stage plays. Her storylines demonstrate everyday life situations that audiences can relate to. They are integrating messages to inspire, motivate, entertain, and change lives! These plays will minister to and entertain all genres of life: Sunday school classes, youth ministries, theatrical performances, family gatherings, school programs, special occasions, fundraisers, etc. Stage plays with a purpose—to change lives and to glorify Jesus Christ.

This book is a great stand-alone devotional or story-by-story companion and reinforcement tool for "My First Study Bible." Each devotion is contained on a two-page spread and expands on a Bible story with real-life applications, fun facts, Scripture challenges, and amazing mysteries.

Acting is defined as a dramatic representation on stage. In his “Poetics”, Aristotle also defines drama as an imitation of an action. These definitions clearly place drama in the category of performing arts. Watching a play is usually a pleasurable experience, and is a form of recreation, it may also be described as therapeutic since it tends to relieve tensions and stress. Drama does not only benefit the spectators but the performers as well. Among the benefits which gratify the cast, are the facts that the spectators welcome the unfolding plots, the powerful emotions and suspense while they await the outcomes. The actors also feel elated to know that the audience admires the elegance, or appropriateness of their costumes, as well as the majesty of the spoken words, as penned by prolific writers.

Children’s Bible storybooks, children’s Sunday school lessons, Bible story coloring books, flannel board Bible story presentations, and video of children’s Bible dramas have all unwittingly conspired to create in our mind’s eye a storybook image of the people in the Bible. Even as adults, we have understood Bible characters as something less than human; we somehow want them to be sacred, different, set apart from who we are. In the process, we have failed to realize that people who lived two thousand years ago were much like each of us today. Like us, when they encountered Jesus, either as a baby in a crib or as Christ on a cross, their lives were transformed. Something happened. They didn’t fully understand it. They just knew that something happened deep inside them. In the presence of the Son of God, they were brought to their knees, humbled by an overwhelming feeling of being in the presence of power and majesty. The testimonies in this book are fictional, based on Biblical accounts and historical information. They are designed to give a real person glimpse into the minds and hearts of those who might have witnessed the events of the birth and death of Jesus. They represent a cross section of society whose lives were profoundly changed by Jesus.