Martin Valleskey

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)      In Scripture, God often describes his people as sheep and himself as the shepherd. The sheep stay close to each other. They move together into pasture. They are gathered together into the pen. At night, they rest side by side in tight quarters. They follow the same patterns and listen to the same voice. It’s a closeness that might seem uncomfortable to us, but for...

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:37-39   Three thousand people in one day! That’s what happened at Pentecost in the...

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:27-29 “You had to be there.” We say that when words can’t do justice to the experience. When it can’t quite be captured unless you lived it yourself. I’ve had friends describe to me...