Reviews from

Journey of Faith

Viewing comments for Chapter 2 "Simon of Cyrene"
Along the Way in my Life with Jesus

28 total reviews 
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

That story never ever fails to give me goose bumps. It can never be told to many times. I love hearing it, but hate that we did that to Him. He proved He was God's only son every day he walked on Earth. It was a lovely story the way you told it, Mary Kay. Will we see His return? I think I'll be long gone when that beautiful day happens. Well done, I just loved reading this. Warm hugs, Sandra xxx

 Comment Written 11-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
    Thank you, dear Sandra, for your beautiful review. I appreciate the review of my story, but of course, without HIS story, there wouldn't be a story to tell. I believe we will all see His return -- if not while we still walk this earth, then He's going to wake up these bodies of ours from sleep, and the dead in Christ will rise first -- yes, it's age before beauty! Truly, we will all be beautiful, because "this mortal shall put on immortality," as Paul said. I'm so happy that you enjoyed reading my story. May God bless you, my friend.
    Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from AnnieDawn
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Wow. You are really good at writing about what has gone on in history. I really enjoyed reading your story and in going through could fin not one error. Thanks so much for sharing. An excellent post.

 Comment Written 11-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 12-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much, Annie, for a great review, and also for your thoughtful comments and for the five stars. It makes me so happy, knowing that you enjoyed my story. May God bless you, my friend. Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from Jasmine Girl
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

You are such a theology scholar. You have made this bible story so human and so enjoyable. I have never heard of the story of Simon the Cyrene who marched with Jesus in the end of His life. What a courageous man!

Exceptionally done and good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 11-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    To my dear friend Lisa, thank you so much for your beautiful and very meaningful review of my story, and especially for the six stars. I'm so blessed that you enjoyed the story, and that I was able to help bring it to life for you. Thank you for saying I'm a theology scholar -- I don't know how much I am, but I did take a few courses, and enjoyed them very much ;-)
    Yes, Simon had courage. I don't think we know much about his early life (farming is just a totally wild guess), but it is said that he became a leader in the church, even a bishop, and died a martyr; his conversion may very well have been the result of his brief but significant encounter with Jesus on "La Via Dolorosa" -- the name later given, centuries later, to the road to Calvary; it means the "Way of Suffering." A beautiful, contemporary Christian song was written about it, "La Via Dolorosa." I hope I spelled it right.
    Thanks for everything, and God bless you!
    Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from Nubian Queen Shyt
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

That was really thoughtful and I enjoyed it even more because I felt your thoughtfulness as I read through this passage. I appreciate you! Thank you highly!

 Comment Written 11-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Thank you so much for this lovely and very meaningful review. Your appreciation of me and enjoyment of my story mean a lot to me. May God bless you, abundantly.
    Love, Mary Kay xoxo
Comment from bob cullen
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

What an amazing and inciteful write. Obviously I've read the Biblical account of the Crucifixion and the role of Simon of Cyrene but this presents the story in a new light. Truly brilliant.

 Comment Written 10-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Wow, Bob! Thank you so much for your spectacular review of my story about Simon of Cyrene. Thank you, especially, for the six stars. It did take a lot of imagination, and I hope I was close to the truth in Simon's re-telling (obviously the conversation with his granddaughter is complete fiction). I realized later that I was off in a few small details, which I will correct when the contest is over, and I can revise freely.
    I am touched and blessed by your glowing review!
Comment from royowen
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I love the stories that we can imagine happened in an educated way about folk that were involved in Jesus' life, death and resurrection, as Simon who was commissioned to take the physical weight of the cross, and of course the power of the blood he would have been touched by, I didn't know he was reputed to be a martyr, but that makes sense. Beautifully written, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 10-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Thank you so much, Roy, for this wonderful review, and all the beautiful things you wrote about my story. I need to change a few details to better match the facts, but I'll do that after the contest is over tomorrow. Yes, Simon is said to have joined the community of believers, and is even believed, according to my research, to have become a bishop, before his death as a martyr. Blessings to you also.
reply by royowen on 11-Sep-2021
    Bless you
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    God bless you too, my friend and brother! I would have said it before, but it was a blind review, and it's kind of my trademark to say that (even though I'm not the only one who does) and I didn't want to give myself away. Now the contest is over. Anyway, thanks again! - Mary Kay
reply by royowen on 11-Sep-2021
    Well done Mary Kay
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    You're very welcome!
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Woops, I responded to the wrong comment. What I want to say to you is:
    Thank you so much, Roy!
reply by royowen on 11-Sep-2021
    My pleasure
Comment from Eunice Amero
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You have a lovely story here and so true. It must have hurt God's people to see Him being picked on and having no mercy. But He went to the cross because He love you and me so much. We were no better than those soldiers, our sins put Him there. But the great news is HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD to never die ever again. The price is paid. We will see Him soon. Praise Jesus.

 Comment Written 10-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Praise Jesus, Amen! For His life, His sacrificial death and His resurrection!
    Thank you for your wonderful review. Oh, yes, we know it hurt His disciples and His family immensely, to see Christ so mistreated, mocked, and executed mercilessly as a criminal. It hurt the Father, beyond what we will ever know or understand, especially here on earth. But you're absolutely right, His resurrection is the great news, and when the contest is over, I must add something about that in my Author Notes, to give a balanced perspective -- especially for anyone who doesn't already know! Amen! He is coming again, soon.
reply by Eunice Amero on 10-Sep-2021
    For sure. You are so welcome its wonderful to know there are others who know Jesus
reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Yes, it sure is. I'm blessed to know many believers on FanStory!
Comment from nomi338
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

If I id not already know the story I would have accepted the thrilling account in full as being totally factual. You did a fine job of mixing fact with fiction to weave a compelling account of the execution of Jesus of Nazareth and his encounter with Simon the Cyrenian.

 Comment Written 10-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Thank you for your beautiful review, Nomi. I appreciate your thoughtful comments and focus on the central theme of what I was trying to convey to my readers. It seems that I may have been off in a few small details, which I will fix, as soon as the contest is over -- I try to avoid doing any important edits, while a contest is in progress.
    It was an exciting challenge, but one I did with "fear and trembling," asking myself at each turn, as Jesus interacted with Simon, "What would Jesus do?"
    Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review this.
Comment from DSchlosser
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

It's a good story of Simon and his work he did for Jesus, although I doubt the bit of racism that was added into the story that I had found in the middle. Society back then was actually more accepting of different races since most people during Jesus' time were darker of skin and living near the same regions. Even the Roman soldiers would have been men who were from a lot of the regions in which those people lived after they had been conquered by the military from Italy itself.

Places like Libya were actually important areas where some of the most notable Romans have come from even Emperor Septimus Severus. It wasn't until later when Nero had taken control when the some of the first potential mentions of any sort of racism started to be adopted.

Overall, I found not errors in the writing, and everything flowed pretty good.

 Comment Written 09-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 10-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much for this fine and thoughtful review. I'm sorry if you were offended by my assumption of discrimination towards Simon; you obviously have a better knowledge of history than I do. When the contest is over in a few days, and making changes in the content would not become an issue, I will adjust these details to reflect the new information you've offered here.
    I appreciate your time reading and reviewing my story, as well as your kind advice.
reply by DSchlosser on 10-Sep-2021
    Don't worry you didn't offend me in any way. I know currently this is an issue we are dealing with in the United States, but I know with cultures like the Romans they tended to accept a lot of cultures as they gradually took over the known world at the time. The larger the empire the better it was. I wish I knew why it changed over time to have the type of racism we have now, especially since the world was far more accepting back then.
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much for your kind understanding. I have made some minor revisions in the story to reflect the information you gave me, and also a concern from another reviewer, so that nothing contradicts the scriptural accuracy at the core of the story. When taking on an exercise like this, one has to tread carefully, not crossing the lines between dramatic license and taking liberties that cause offense. I really appreciate your careful and informed reading of my story, and I do wish we, as a society, were as enlightened as the ancient Romans, about racial equality. God bless you, my friend. - Mary Kay
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much for your kind understanding. I have made some minor revisions in the story to reflect the information you gave me, and also a concern from another reviewer, so that nothing contradicts the scriptural accuracy at the core of the story. When taking on an exercise like this, one has to tread carefully, not crossing the lines between dramatic license and taking liberties that cause offense. I really appreciate your careful and informed reading of my story, and I do wish we, as a society, were as enlightened as the ancient Romans, about racial equality. God bless you, my friend. - Mary Kay
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much for your kind understanding. I have made some minor revisions in the story to reflect the information you gave me, and also a concern from another reviewer, so that nothing contradicts the scriptural accuracy at the core of the story. When taking on an exercise like this, one has to tread carefully, not crossing the lines between dramatic license and taking liberties that cause offense. I really appreciate your careful and informed reading of my story, and I do wish we, as a society, were as enlightened as the ancient Romans, about racial equality. God bless you, my friend. - Mary Kay
reply by the author on 11-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much for your kind understanding. I have made some minor revisions in the story to reflect the information you gave me, and also a concern from another reviewer, so that nothing contradicts the scriptural accuracy at the core of the story. When taking on an exercise like this, one has to tread carefully, not crossing the lines between dramatic license and taking liberties that cause offense. I really appreciate your careful and informed reading of my story, and I do wish we, as a society, were as enlightened as the ancient Romans, about racial equality. God bless you, my friend. - Mary Kay
Comment from RPSaxena
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hello Friend,
Nice piece of Spiritual Fiction having lucid as well as perfectly matching the theme phraseology, captivating flow throughout from the beginning to the end, and transparently depicting the horrifying journey of Jesus' crucifixion through Simon the Cyrene via Penelope.
Just like live description, Interesting Indeed!
Good Luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 09-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 09-Sep-2021
    Thank you very much, RPSaxena, for your excellent and very thoughtful review. I appreciate your well considered comments and observations. I'm glad you found my story, rooted in the Gospel account, to be engaging and alive. It means a lot to me.
reply by RPSaxena on 11-Sep-2021
    Hi Mary KB,Most Welcome!
    With best wishes,
    ~ RP