Rich Me! A Chronicle of Laodicea (Heartbeats of Courage) - 4740

Oh, those fabulous cities in the Roman Empire where a few families amassed great wealth, living in luxury. People admired them for their generosity! We can still see the ruined buildings and monuments with their names engraved for all to read! Remember the stories written about their fabulous banquets? Or the historical tales of wisdom, conquest, deceit, and control calculated to bring such honor and riches to the leaders! Laodicea and Hierapolis, found in southwestern Turkey, were two of those cities. Situated on a major trade route, Laodicea welcomed traveling merchants from all the Asian provinces. Hierapolis was blessed with hot water pools from underground springs, which attracted people from all regions of the Roman Empire seeking medical cures. “Rich Me! A Chronicle of Laodicea” introduces the reader to the competition in the city. Competition is fierce in the banking system. Merchants reveal their lust for greater success. Miriam arrives at her uncle’s home, expecting to receive hospitality, but the door slams shut on her soldier husband, Anthony. And, she learns, her values differ significantly from those for whom the accumulation of more wealth is the first consideration. Each visit to her uncle and aunt’s spacious home increasingly reinforces this reality. While Laodicea is a source of discomfort to Miriam because of the nature of selfishness among competing families, Hierapolis, where Anthony serves at the local army garrison, offers other challenges. The cruelties of slavery and the deep-rooted religious beliefs about the many Roman and Greek gods go against the Christian faith that Miriam and Anthony profess. Within the home of Nicanora, the widow of the previous city mayor, comfort takes the shape of hospitality. A small congregation that meets in her house begins to grow dramatically. Anthony, a seasoned soldier, is accused by his previous military commanders of rebellion against the army’s authority and the emperor. He refuses to state the daily oath of loyalty, “Caesar is lord and god.” For this and several other charges, he is jailed and scheduled to defend himself at a court-martial. How will these early Christians cope with the difficulties of slavery or show compassion to destitute widows, orphans, and the poor? What role does music play in the life of a struggling congregation? Can followers of the Jewish Messiah live at peace in the Greco-Roman world, where worship of the emperor and Roman gods are essential for social acceptance?
ASIN: 1989871089
VSKU: BVV.1989871089.A
Condition: Acceptable
Author/Artist:Phillips, David|Parsekian, Daphne|Whittaker, Jerry
Binding: Paperback