The Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew is the first book listed in the New Testament and was written by one of Jesus' disciples who at one time was a tax collector. As we had been studying the book of Daniel in house church the phrase in son of man (a reference to Jesus) stood out to me... Daniel 7:13-14
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
i then began to read Matthew looking for other times this title was used for Jesus.  i found over 2 dozen times and each time fills out more of who Jesus is and his love for us.
here are the places in Matthew's gospel where "son of man" are found.
Matthew 8:19-21
Matthew 9:5-7
Matthew 10:22-24
Matthew 11:18-20
Matthew 12:7-9
Matthew 12:31-33
Matthew 12:39-41
Matthew 13:36-38
Matthew 13:40-42
Matthew 16:12-14
Matthew 16:26-28
Matthew 17:8-10
Matthew 19:27-29
Matthew 20:17-19
Matthew 20:27-29
Matthew 24:26-31
Matthew 24:36-38
Matthew 24:38
Matthew 24:43-45
Matt 25:31-31
Matthew 26:23-25
Matthew 26:44-46
Matthew 26:63-65 

The Gospel of Matthew
author: Matthew
46 pages in large leather-bond Bible

The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief is a story of a quest. A quest that spans the east to west coasts of the USA as well as includes a visit to Hades across the River Styx. Percy, a young half-blood, discovers who his dad is along the way. What would it be like to have a god for a dad? Greek mythology mixes with modern-day life and the use of teen-age slang keeps the pages turning...or at least that is what happened to Allie my eighth grade niece. I read on facebook that she was excited about a book she was reading so i decided i would check it out from our school library, not knowing anything about it. Well, my anticipation built as the book was on hold for several students before me! here is what Allie has to say,
"its just like a really good book and its one of those books at least for me that i didn't want to put down.. and it was a story i could like put my self into and like see what was happening its just like an over all really good book :)"
Honestly, I would have never chosen this genre on my own, so thanks Allie for stretching me! My favorite quote from the book took place in a diner in Denver when Percy and his friends first met  very mean and arrogant Ares who had a little side-quest for them to do. Percy asked the question, "why does he need us?" and Annabelle answered, "Maybe it's a problem that requires brains. Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."  That quote later helps Percy toward the end of his quest. If you liked The Lightning Thief, good news...there are at least 4 more books in the series.

The Lightning Thief
author: Rick Riordan
hardback; 375 pages
2005