If you’ve ever tried to pick a Bible translation, you know the spiral…. Which one is closest to the original text? Which one is easiest to understand? Which one adds interpretation? Which one is used in church… or in seminary? Who wrote the study notes, and can they be trusted? Is there controversy around this version? It used to feel like I wasn’t just choosing a Bible… I was choosing a theological position without realizing it. It stressed me out, it still kind of does. I don’t just want to...

Recently, I spent over two months on the Monterey Peninsula; a place where ocean mist meets redwoods, and the days are often framed by the sounds of waves and wildlife. I found myself outdoors constantly, simply watching: sea birds gliding low over the surf, deer moving quietly through the fog, sea otters floating and playing together, and sea lions basking on the rocks. As I slowed down to notice them... to really notice them, I began to reflect. Time in nature always does that for me....

Scripture References: Matthew 9:20–22 • Mark 5:25–34 • Luke 8:43–48 Let’s start by understanding the Four Gospels and Their Perspectives… The story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment appears in three of the four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These three are often called the Synoptic Gospels (from the Greek syn = “together,” opsis = “view”), because they share many of the same events and can be “seen together” in parallel. Each of these Gospel writers records the same...