Where you die, I will die…

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ruth & naomi 2

The bible is the source of every truth that exists regarding our relationship with God, and with each other.  Here is another example.  Just recently a dear friend got married and it gave me pause to think again about that commitment.  Not every marriage lasts forever, sadly, although I am pretty sure all start with that intention.  Being blessed with a long marriage is something special, and certainly God’s intention for all His children that may be so moved to do so, regardless when it may occur.

While looking for an appropriate verse to add to a small video clip of the ceremony, I was taken to the one below.  Although the context of this bible verse is actually a young widowed woman speaking to her mother-in-law, it still remains in my opinion, the strongest expression of commitment that I have ever seen, heard or read.  When and if it comes time that our kids ever discuss marriage with us, I will ask them to read this passage Continue reading →

Jesus Freaks and the Empty Tomb

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saint-thomas-jesusI recently looked up the definition of the term ‘Jesus Freak’ in Urban Dictionary, and this is what I found:

  • Someone who displays an unusual or embarrassing amount of enthusiasm for Jesus. 
  • Someone who:  Has a bracelet, bumper sticker, t-shirt, etc with Christian phrases on it. 
  • Is a born again Christian. 
  • Goes to church. 
  • Talks freely to many people about their beliefs. 
  • Has the fire of Jesus in their heart.
  • Someone who persists in talking about the importance of Jesus in their life and the world to the point of being rude.

First, why Urban Dictionary?  Well, I think it provides a better cross section of secular opinion, including as you can see here to some degree, examples of misinformation, ignorance, brilliance, prejudice, honesty, legend, rumor and all of the other things that make up public opinion.  So, that said, I have therefore come to the conclusion that by today’s terms  I am a Jesus Freak (with the exception of being rude.  I don’t think I am being rude – am I?)

I then confirmed what many of my friends and family have already probably thought Continue reading →

Archaeological Layer Cake

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layer cake

Man is an interesting creature.  Once we find a place we like, it’s hard to move us.  Location, location, location is what it is all about – in real estate and archaeology   Jerusalem is prime real estate, has been for thousands of years.  All three of the great monotheistic religions lay claim to Jerusalem as holy ground.  So it is not unusual for a particular holy site to have layers of construction, one over the other as generations come and go.  So when you are strolling through the Holy Land it is not unusual to find yourself looking down.   One such spot is the Pool of Siloam.   The pool was built as public bathing area used for ritual bathing by the Jews.  It also plays a crucial role in Continue reading →

The Benefits of a Good Guide

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Subway map

There are a lot of good people out there, with very good intentions that come to a point in their spiritual journey where they pick up a bible and start reading.  They believe that this is what they should be doing because it sounds logical and good.  I mean, reading the Bible is an important part of understanding our relationship with God, His Son and one another…and it’s the Word of God for goodness sake!

But navigating through the Bible’s many books and chapters without a guide is a bit like going from JFK to Times Square by subway without a map.  You can probably do it, but you would not like the experience.  Worse yet you may even miss a very important message that could change your life, or change what you thought you believed.  I say this because it was true for me.  For instance, take the subject of Judgment Day: 

There are a lot of Bible-reading Christians, true believers, that still worry Continue reading →

Water: nature’s holy trinity

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ice-water-steam

Water – drinking it is only second to breathing air as necessary for human life.  The earth is covered in water over 70% of its surface.  Our body largely consists of water.  In the womb we are suspended in water.  When we are baptized, we emerge from water, re-born.  Water is the essence of our physical being.  

This past week we celebrated the mystery of the Holy Trinity – One God, Three Persons.  Most of it is too deep for me to hold on to, and is normally where my faith needs to fill in the gaps.  But, a few years ago it came to me that there is a very common physical element that can be used as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity – water.  I don’t know of any other natural element that can exist on the surface of the planet in all three physical states: solid/ice, liquid/water, gas/vapor.  And can you think of a more appropriate metaphor?  So, although the essence of water is Continue reading →

Christ-Eye View

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Dali-Ascension-of-ChristSo there is this incredible model in the Israeli National Museum in Jerusalem.  It is a model of the city during the Roman occupation and the time of Jesus Christ.  It is very realistic and built so that you are looking slightly down on it which enables you to see it all – like Google Earth.  It came to me that no one at the time of Christ would have ever gotten exactly the view we had of the model.  They city is built on a hill and so there is no high point that could give you that view…..unless you were a bird, or a bug…..or Jesus being carried up to heaven on His last day on earth.

I guess there was a reason that I took these two videos – they are from the same view point, only the view of the model is about 500 feet higher in scale.  (The golden Dome of the Rock is in the same spot today as the temple is in the model.)

What was He thinking as He ascended?  What would you think as you watched Him ascend?  Tell me.  > Click Here

The ABC’s of (Salvation) History: Jesus was here!

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landmarks

Most of us at one time or another has stood in the presence of history.  Whether it be some roadside marker or plaque, or in front of a monument or edifice where an epic event took place.  The experience can be inspiring, enlightening or any number of other emotional responses.  I have learned that historical sites fall into one of three categories – an A, B, or C site.  An ‘A’ site is one where there is sufficient evidence and documentation that supports the conclusion that the event took place at a very specific spot.  For instance, the actual spot where Lincoln sat in Ford’s Theater the night of his assassination – that is an ‘A’ site.  A ‘B’ site would be one where we know with certainty that the event took place in the general vicinity of where we might be standing.  If we were to visit Gettysburg, PA we could be certain that the greatest battle of the Civil War took place within yards of some of the spots we might stop.  And finally a ‘C’ site is considered the traditional location for some event, like: Do we know exactly which island and exactly what part of that island Columbus stepped on to shore?  No, but we know that it was in the area of present day San Salvador in the Caribbean.

These same criteria are applied to historical events described in the Bible.  These sites exist exactly as Ford’s Theater, Gettysburg and S. Salvador.  Having now stood at some of the Bible’s cornerstone event locations it is as remarkably overwhelming as I could have imagined.  There is still a physical presence in such a place as to transcend the ages and turn story into history, and legend into fact.  Continue reading →

A view from on high

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High View

There are many (I’m  not sure how many, but a lot.) of biblical events that take place on a mountain, or a hill, or some precipice.  (Think about that for a second and recall one…..)  And normally it is a place where God and man talk.  The mind of man somehow rationalizes that if I want to talk to God, I have to get closer to Him.  So, you walk up a mountain and you are closer to God.  Now, I also know that we experience communion with God in many other places.  But when was the last time you were on a very high place, or at least the highest place in the area, and not thought about God in some way?  All of us know that God lives within us and is there whenever we call on Him, no matter where we are…but there is something about the top of a mountain.   These are two in Israel…Click > Arbel.Nazareth.Arbel.  Maybe not the best examples of God and man communing, but these Continue reading →