Stephen was Full of Faith and Power

Read Acts 6: 8-15

Let's dissect a single verse, verse 8:

Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

Stephen is full of grace (many translations have faith) and power. There are 2 Greek words here: pistis and dunamis. You know me, I love, love getting to the root of these words. Pistis means faith. It also refers to Christian doctrine – all that Christianity stands for – the Gospel and especially reliance upon Christ for salvation.  And it also means persuasion (to be persuaded, to come to trust).

Faith (pistis) is a gift from God, and not something that you can produce. There's a difference between belief and faith. Faith is "God's divine persuasion" – and therefore different from human belief. The Lord gives faith; it is the persuasion of His will (read 1st John 5:4).

"Give Unto Caesar" What Does That Mean?

Paying taxes to Caesar

Examining Matthew 22: 15 – 22 “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.”

On the last week of Jesus' earthly life, he rode into Jerusalem and was hailed as the Messiah. The people thought he was the conquering hero who would overthrow the Roman oppression. However, the day after they hailed him as Messiah, instead of overthrowing the Romans he overthrew the Jewish religious system, throwing the money-changers out of the temple. They didn't know quite how to take that, but the next day Jesus was back in the temple, teaching on the kingdom and preaching the gospel to a huge crowd of people.

The chief priests and the elders challenged Jesus’ authority, but then when Jesus asked them a question they had to admit they didn't know where John’s baptism came from. They must have been irate, humiliated, and incensed. They started looking for a way to arrest Jesus and probably fumed quietly while Jesus told another parable. Then they went out and laid plans to trap him (snare him, entangle him, literally).

The Most Hated Men

During the time of Jesus in first century Israel, there were publicans and tax collectors who could walk up to a man and tax him for what he was carrying! These tax collectors were hated and despised - well, yeah - but not just because they had their hands in others' pockets (or pouches in those days), but also because the tax collectors were usually fellow Jews who worked for Rome. There were lots of taxes needed to administrate the Roman Empire. The taxes paid for roads, law and order, security, and other benefits.

Facebook Q & A with Authors Tonight

Facebook Event: Q & A with Authors Jamie Canosa and Debra Chapoton

Tonight, July 14, from 7 to 8 Eastern time Creative Prose Publishing is holding an online author event through Facebook.


Come and join in as we answer questions about writing, publishing, and whatever questions come up.

Jamie Canosa is a full time author of YA literature, which she absolutely loves! When she's not writing or spending time with her family, she can usually be found with her nose in a book. She currently resides in Upstate, NY, with her wonderful husband and three crazy kids . . . plus the dog, the bird and the rabbit. Dissidence is Jamie's first full length novel and a bestseller on Amazon.

CPP Summer Blastoff!

Creative Prose Publishing is excited to announce our Summer Blastoff!

Throughout the next few months we will be launching several new books as well as reintroducing you to some of our current releases. All of this will culminate in a giant, blow out party at the end of the summer. Refer back here often to keep up on what's coming up. Here is the schedule:

• June 30: Cover Reveal of Tifani Clark's Shadow of a Life (see it here)
• July 7: Cover reveal of Rachel Stiber's Elise's Choice
• July 14: Q&A with authors Jamie Canosa and Debra Chapoton (hey, that's me!)
• July 28: Launch party and release date for Beginnings, an anthology based on famous first lines*
• August 11: Launch party and release date for Tifani Clark's Shadow of a Life
• August 25: Launch party and release date for Rachel Stiber's Elise's Choice
• September 8: End of Summer Launch party and giveaway, featuring all of our authors

*Beginnings features stories from our writing contest winners, authors: Laurie Treacy, Jamie Canosa, M.M. Roethig, and Candace Gleave

Thank you for stopping by,

Creative Prose Publishing

When God Gave the Apostles a Green Light

Acts 5: 17 - 33 tells the story of Peter and the Apostles standing up to the Sanhedrin (the authorities) because they knew they were better off obeying God rather than men.

Here's a powerpoint I used in Bible study to get the point across that even if the authorities put up stop signs, threats, and obstacles, if God has given you a go-ahead to proceed, then rest assured that He will switch your enemies' red lights back to green.