What if Jesus wrote a letter to Mary Magdalene? What if that letter explained how each person must integrate their masculine and feminine sides in order to be whole? What if those teachings had the power to heal relationships, not only between individuals but also between Jews, Christians, and Muslims? Presbyterian Pastor Ruth Huizenga Everhart reviews the new book, The Galilean Secret.

When I was a child, my mother made my brother and me memorize Bible verses on a weekly basis. I have to admit that we didn’t take this practice too seriously, even though, at the height of the Cold War, my mother counseled us, “If they take away your Bible, you’ll still have the word of God imprinted in your mind.” Today, I have reclaimed the practice of Bible memorization but with a different twist. I call this practice “affirmative faith” or “spiritual affirmations.” Bruce Epperly dishes some spiritual food for thought this Monday morning.