I started reading crime novels about fifteen years ago. Like any pastor, so much of what I read relates to theology or ministry that I needed to find some genre of reading that would take me away from what I do twelve hours a day; something to capture my imagination. I started with John Grisham and read everything he has written. Then I moved on to Swedish author Henning Mankell and read all of his stuff. More recently, I have been reading the murder mysteries of Lee Childs. There is nothing like a good “whodunit” to take my weary brain away from council meetings and budget conversations.

I mention this to you this morning because of a quote I recently came across from Ray Stedman. He wrote:

Parables can be as exciting and challenging as detective stories. But parables, like detective storie…