Take a pilgrimage with Steve and Janet Ray!
How do YOU Read the Bible?
A Little Poem about Reading/Studing
the Bible in Context
I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah,
Certain Psalms (the twenty-third),
Twelfth of Romans, first of Proverbs —
Yes, I thought I knew the Word!
But I found that thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, a-weary,
And yawn through a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book,
Just a paragraph, disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look.
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible through.
Amos Wells, Leading the Way by Paul Borthwick, Navpress, 1989, p. 139. Galaxie Software. (2002; 2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press. Copied from Logos Bible Software.
How Big Was Jesus in Mary’s Womb at the Visitation – and what could he do?
“How big was baby Jesus in Mary’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth?” That is the question I asked myself while visiting the Church of the Visitation in Israel. What I learned was quite revolutionary and amazing. This is one of the best pro-life arguments from Scripture and one I’ve not heard discussed before.
It also says a lot about who Jesus was and the “stranger than fiction” event taking place in space and time in the womb of a young girl about 15 years old.
Pictures sometimes show Mary very pregnant — better get to Bethlehem fast! But in reality, that is not the case. In scientific terms, Jesus was just a blastocyst, a few hundred miniature cells no bigger than a millimeter (0.039 inch).

How big was Jesus? Read this article I just wrote and step back in time to the first days of Jesus’ life taking on a human body even though you could have barely seen him with the human eye at the time.
Here is an excerpt from my new article “How Big Was Jesus at the Visitation?”
“When Mary arrived for the Visitation, as we Catholics refer to the her visit, she was not “showing” yet. Isn’t if funny how we see pictures of a very pregnant Mary as though the baby was ready for Bethlehem. But in reality Jesus—100% God and 100% human — was so small he was practically invisible.
Though this blastocyst attached to Mary’s uterus had not seen the light of day He had created with his soon-to-develop eyes, nor breathed fresh air He had created with His still-to-develop lungs, yet He was very alive and very human. The cells were replicating at a rapid rate and they were already developing distinct bodily features. It contained the DNA—the genetic code of Mary.
The microscopic cells were not just extraneous tissue in the mother’s body—something to be discarded, a disease or something. It was human life with a soul. From conception Every baby shares in the image of God and true humanity with inestimable value long before it takes it’s first breath—right from conception.
These replicating cells in Mary’s body were truly human life, God himself taking on human flesh. St. John tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt (literally, “pitched his tent” of flesh) among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father” John 1:14).
One thing many people do not think about—what was Jesus’ size and the stage of development in the womb when Mary arrived at the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth? And, how did Elizabeth and the unborn baby John the Baptist react upon pregnant Mary’s arrival?” …
Continue reading the full article, click HERE.
Older Posts
Praying for a Baby, Incredible Story
Anna pilgrimage to Israel, Janet explained the 54 day novena and how it helped our daughter achieve to pregnancies. Many years later we met this
Vocation Story: Orphanage, to Cocaine, to Faithful Priest
This story was shared by a good friend, Richard Pinion. Very moving account of God’s redemptive work and the redemptive work of a priest who
“I never said you stole the money” – An Excellent Explanation of How Easy it is to Misinterpret the Bible
Patrick Madrid is a friend of over 30 years and is one of the brightest Catholic apologists on the planet. This is his excellent article
Are Saints Only in Heaven? NO! You are called a Saint in Scripture!
My article “Saints or saints: Is There a Difference?” was published by Crisis Magazine HERE. But below is the full text. You may be surprised
How Many Churches Did Jesus Intend?
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for
The Eucharist: “the Flesh Profits Nothing”
I was recently asked a questions question on Answers Live. Capernaum is where Jesus said “Eat My Flesh; Drink My Blood.” I thought it would
Epiphany? So What?
What is Epiphany anyway? And why should I care? The Feast of the Epiphany – the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus and the Miracle of
Israel 10: Safety Comments, Recollections and Good-byes
Well, this marvelous pilgrimage has come to an end. It went flawlessly, everyone felt secure and safe, the children had a blast, especially sharing it
Israel 9: Jordan River, Dead Sea, Camels, Qumran, Jericho, Museum
Everyone considers this “the fun day“. After breakfast, we drive to the Notre Dame Center for Mass. Then it’s down 4250 feet from the top
Simple Chart on Hierarchy of Authority, Infallibility, Dogma and Doctrine in the Catholic Church
From Jimmy Akin: Periodically, I’m asked what the difference is between dogma and doctrine. People have the idea that they are kinds of Church teaching,
Israel 8: Gethsemane, Western Wall, Upper Room, Dormition of Mary
These great pilgrims have earned a little free time and today the reward arrived. A busy morning but the late afternoon and evening free. A
Faith is Like a Hotdog – youth group’s fun skit 🙂
Hi Steve, some of the members of a youth group that I lead watched one of your videos and loved your description of faith being




























Upcoming Events
Random Quote
When will we stop thinking of Islam as merely a religion when primarily it is a political ideology. The two can never be separated.
Blog Calendar
Blog Categories
- Apologetics (553)
- Art, Music & Science (84)
- Artifacts & Biblical History (229)
- Atheism (27)
- Bible Study (179)
- Biblical Exposition (394)
- Books (80)
- Canon Law (143)
- Catholic Answers Live (173)
- Catholic Controversies (94)
- Catholic Issues (346)
- Church History (104)
- Computers-Software (51)
- Conferences (283)
- Conversions (289)
- Cultural Chaos (44)
- Current Affairs (207)
- Death & Dying (10)
- Eastern Churches (5)
- Economy (7)
- Education (74)
- Evangelization (31)
- Family and Kids (333)
- Footprints of God DVD's (182)
- Friends (63)
- Fun Stuff (484)
- Health/Running (187)
- Heresy, Cults (13)
- Heroic Models (22)
- Holidays/Feast Days (261)
- Homosexuality (46)
- Inheritance Pilgrimages (13)
- Islam (196)
- Israel and Middle East (225)
- Jesus/Godhead (85)
- Jews & Judaism (48)
- Liturgy & Priesthood (174)
- Mary (127)
- Miscellaneous (93)
- Moral/Sexual Issues (297)
- Movies, TV & Media (123)
- Nature & Birds (28)
- News, In the (135)
- Papacy & Catholic Hierarchy (210)
- Patristics/Church History (40)
- Persecution, Suffering (38)
- Philippines (45)
- Philosophy (15)
- Photographs (9)
- Pilgrimage (856)
- Pilgrimages (1,634)
- Pilgrimages Inheritance (1)
- Politics/United States (767)
- Pope Benedict (87)
- Pope Francis (167)
- Pope Leo XIV (4)
- Prayer & Spiritual Life (222)
- ProLife & Family Issues (508)
- Protestant/Other Christians (154)
- Radio & TV Shows, Steve's (270)
- Radio & TV, others (20)
- Religions, Non-Christian (48)
- Reviews, Critiques, Surveys (166)
- Riddles and Fun (175)
- Sacraments & Sacramentals (152)
- Saints and Fathers (206)
- Social Issues & Action (204)
- Sports & Celebrities (10)
- Steve's Talks & Real Audio (138)
- Steve's Writings (98)
- Teaching & Suggestions (98)
- Theology (116)
- Travel (326)
- Uncategorized (403)
- Video Clips (129)
- Virus (6)
- Virus and Health (11)
- Website, mine (66)
- Website, others (44)


