tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74372067794041488692024-03-13T00:52:06.132-07:00Voice Calling in the DesertDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-84222251405166972892014-10-28T08:27:00.004-07:002014-10-28T08:28:31.295-07:00Making a ChoiceIt is difficult to determine where you are in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The veil of the fallen world distorts our
thinking to a large degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way we
notice this is that we have inconsistent actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, we may believe that abortion is
an evil as we are dedicated to respecting life, but we may also be fine with
innocent, collateral damage in a “just” war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These two ideas are incongruent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we have a guiding principle that life is valuable in every way, then
this should alter the way we think about ALL life.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you hold the Bible as your guide, you will read that
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven (or God) quite often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus first message as he began his ministry
was to “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matt 4:17)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The theme of the Kingdom of Heaven runs all
throughout the New Testament writings culminating in the visions of Revelation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZNdVvKhbelLChTZnpQ3MfpA8YSgDKu9-NPussm5oIcG_0VCx5PQ9iwJ2FMW2IGO-xUsmURJlstIJAYHVz9mdffqXffxSTCOt6WscgYGwBaSrIeuHPptLNyw9-OU3hFjiLIBHJ8c8Z6k/s1600/head-scratching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZNdVvKhbelLChTZnpQ3MfpA8YSgDKu9-NPussm5oIcG_0VCx5PQ9iwJ2FMW2IGO-xUsmURJlstIJAYHVz9mdffqXffxSTCOt6WscgYGwBaSrIeuHPptLNyw9-OU3hFjiLIBHJ8c8Z6k/s1600/head-scratching.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For us to truly understand where we are, we must get this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must see that there are two
and only two competing Kingdoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus inaugurated
the Kingdom of Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brought about
its possibility here on earth, in this realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Up till that time, since the sin of Adam, our realm had been dominated
by the Fallen World System (FWS).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
earmarks of the FWS are death, sin, and evil, only evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even seemingly good actions in the realm of
the FWS have evil at their core.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many believe that there is vast worldwide conspiracy being
perpetrated on humanity by the Illuminati or some other very wealthy and influential
group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe there is a conspiracy
in our world, but it is being enacted by the FWS and that system has a master
who is Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satan seeks only our death
and destruction (John 10:10).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is evil
and everything about his system is evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He attempts the make the evil seem good (see the Garden of Eden).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thus, when Jesus came to bring in the Kingdom of Heaven a
great war began for the realm of earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The realm of earth had been dominated by the FWS for a long time; the battle
began and is continuing today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
battle is not for land so much as it is for the hearts and minds of created
order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus came to free us all from
the bonds of the sin and death (FWS).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can hear people saying, “Don, is not God sovereign and can
He now just defeat Satan with a Word?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer: Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The defeat of
Satan has never been an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue
has always been the battle for your heart, soul, mind, and strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of His love, God gave us the ability to
rebel against Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love can never be
compelled it must be chosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil seeks
rebellion, while Jesus seeks Shalom, a restoration to proper relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The battle has never been about land, money,
and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are weak, deceptive,
and small ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The battle is for your
heart, mind, soul, and strength.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thus, we are confronted with this most concrete reality: There
are two Kingdoms vying your loyalty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first is the Kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
Kingdom always seeks the good even when it is hard and inconvenient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it is not always easy to see the
good, but there is always a good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
there is the Kingdom of the Fallen World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This Kingdom will you use any means necessary to perpetrate evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will even surround evil in apparent good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is much that could be argued for these points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many scoff at such a dualistic way of viewing
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there not shades of
grey?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there not people who are not
Godly, but do good things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is
yes, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are participating
in Kingdom of Heaven realities without even realizing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible is full of these types of
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Egypt was a Fallen World system
that God used for the good of the Israelite people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Balaam was an evil person that God used to
advance the Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list could go
on and on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The greatest challenge we have is how we are to live in a
dual Kingdom reality while discerning which is the good path; the Kingdom of
God path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be sure of this when we
are doing good we are participating in the Kingdom of Heaven, and when we do
evil we are participating in the Fallen World.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The “church” has been used at times to perpetrate great evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it behaves this way it ceases to be the
Church of the Living God, it ceases to be the Church of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It becomes something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ceases to be a church by Biblical
standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you think and what you
do both individually and corporately MATTERS!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The greatest temptation of the Church is to align itself
with the values of the FWS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Church <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fails</b> when it molds too readily the
values of the culture as truth instead of the God’s eternal truth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many are on the sidelines and passively make no
decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They arrogantly sit aside as
an observer thinking that they are above the fray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A passive response to life is actually making
a decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing nothing is a
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot go through life
without actually standing up for something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we do act passively we end up getting steamrolled by the FWS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be easily swayed by its thought
patterns.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The battle really is for your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you think does determine your
actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are reminded that we are to
be transformed by the renewal our minds (Rom 12:1-2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must have clear thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must understand how the World attempts to
pollute our thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must also
choose to fill our minds with the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must be soaked in the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How can we know God’s nature and character unless we know His Word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is outside our self-reflection and
self-actualization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must choose to
live daily in the Kingdom of God dynamic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must always, always, always choose the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, we help advance the Kingdom of
God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I encourage you to really think about your daily
actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do they say about
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you really think about the Godly
good in all situations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we
discern what is the Godly good?</div>
Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-6058500464628777712014-10-22T07:09:00.000-07:002014-10-22T07:09:41.716-07:00You Are Here<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does a Christian respond to the things of the
world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a lot of terrible
things happening right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There really
have been a lot of terrible things happening throughout history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians have at times responded well and
responded poorly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A challenge to a proper response to the world is that many
Christians lack a certain understanding of how Christian ideology should apply
to the world around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians
lack a certain unifying philosophical perspective on life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most people do not understand their own personal
philosophies or where they originate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus, we are not really able to calculate our actions, reactions, and
interactions with those around us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is an example: Most Americans believe that people
should have freedom, and this freedom can only be taken away by the justice
system for infractions against freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When problems arise in Africa, the Middle East, and in Asia, Americans
believe that freedom, democracy, and capitalism are the answers to the issues.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a fundamental philosophy that we hold and we do not
really even know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, our answers
to the problems around us are really not based on the actual problem, but more
based on our philosophy of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Problems are often much more complex than simple glib answers, but the
glib answers allow us to shirk any real thoughtful action on a certain
situation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another example: We believe hard work will lead to
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you ask some wealthy people
about helping poor people and you might get some callous responses like, “They
just need to work harder.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not
really a callous response, rather it is an oversimplified response based out of
someone’s life philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our philosophy
is largely based on our experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
that particular wealthy person hard work has paid off, but for many
disadvantaged people hard work may not produce the same results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, divergent philosophies begin to develop
based on life experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The relative “worth”
of hard work is dependent on many factors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing can be said for certain is that two people living
in the same society can have dramatically views on the world based on their
experience and socialization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether we
realize it or not, our philosophy on life affects every decision we make.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nothing could be more important than developing the proper
view of the world around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
consider another example based on Christian axiom: God helps those who help
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people assert this
philosophy sure that the testimony of Scripture backs this understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is false in many ways and is not
Biblical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is based on the idea of the
Christian work ethic that pervaded America throughout its history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It rang true to many who felt that hard work
lead to their success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus, an axiom
was created to help them define their success and still give a little nod to
the work of God in our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, this axiom is not in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, it is troubling because it does not
mirror the authentic Christian experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For something to be true, it must be able to be applied across all
cultural experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do not have to
read Christian history long to understand that this statement is actually
against some of the very fundamentals of Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did God help Paul because Paul helped
himself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did God help Stephen because
Stephen helped himself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did God help
Abraham because Abraham helped himself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you worthy of forgiveness because you helped yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you begin to flesh out this axiom it is
easy to see how false it really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
must scrub this philosophy from our lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I use this only as an example of how insidious some
philosophies on life can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must be
thoughtful and reflective on our views.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Humanity is greater than its conditioned response to a situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the capacity to learn, to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes more than just muddling
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes actual reflection on
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes reflecting on your
behavioral patterns, both bad and good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It takes understanding yourself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We cannot really understand ourselves until we understand
where we fit into the cosmos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
Christians have answered this question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We should view our lives and our actions in understanding that there is
an active, just, and loving God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christians of all stripes would agree on a basic understanding of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we cannot really understand
all there is to know about God, we can understand His character through the
reading of the Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we miss God
many times; we do not know what He wants because we have not studied His
Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not let His Word and His
character inform our actions; rather we seek to explain our actions by abusing
His Word.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not attempting to argue the existence God to someone
who does not believe in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather,
this is a call for Christians to understand where they fit into the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, it is an attempt to let people truly
see the world, to help us really understand the problems we face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have too quickly adopted the mindset of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has prevented us from
confronting evil the way we should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
has caused us to be overly sensitive to certain things.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C8b_4f_zwzGHOfReSLOpRM04uFp7JmBQv7cQ3bucCr1U6yhtvh6GzkQ6OJiup3dLpRLcv6a4ESaUSMVV6weQjsSB9pZfNZJ4ak_v9QJtAhByIFKQ1FqSS4oxIbV1D44yKt9HUjG1hrs/s1600/you-are-here_big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C8b_4f_zwzGHOfReSLOpRM04uFp7JmBQv7cQ3bucCr1U6yhtvh6GzkQ6OJiup3dLpRLcv6a4ESaUSMVV6weQjsSB9pZfNZJ4ak_v9QJtAhByIFKQ1FqSS4oxIbV1D44yKt9HUjG1hrs/s1600/you-are-here_big.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I remember being young and going Christmas shopping at
Governor’s Square mall in Tallahassee, FL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was really the first time my parents let me navigate something on
my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At intervals around the mall there
were maps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could find your location
using the “You are Here” star on the map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I loved this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comforted
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might not have been where I wanted
to be, but at least I knew where I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first step in getting where you need to go is in understanding where
you are.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We must stop for just a minute and consider why we think or
react to certain things in certain ways. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often do not understand how the fallen
world philosophies have taken over our “faith.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We must take an honest assessment of where we are in the world and what
has influenced us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only then can we
really begin to find where we need to be.</div>
Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-86180259652692800852012-05-22T07:11:00.002-07:002012-05-23T10:28:43.627-07:00Living a Greater Story<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pop culture is full of sermons. <i>Dead
Poet’s Society</i> taught my generation to <i>carpe
deim</i>. This might be the only phrase I
remember from 2 years of high school Latin.
We were taught by <i>Rudy</i> that if
we try hard enough that we can accomplish anything, including playing for a
second rate college football program like Notre Dame. <i>Hoosiers</i>,
<i>Sea Biscuit</i>, and almost any other
sports movie ever made laud the achievements of the hard trying underdog. In our society we eat this sort stuff
up. Frankly, I have just named 4 of my
favorite movies, Notre Dame bias aside.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These movies teach us some really good things. We need to see each moment as an opportunity
to do something great. We need to press beyond
the artificial boundaries that we all seem to be limited by each day. We need to hear sometimes that we should
ignore the people who bring us down or tell us we cannot do something. We need to hear that greatness comes from the
heart. These are all good points and
worth considering. I am still left with
a question, “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why should we attempt to excel at all areas of our
lives? In <i>Dead Poet’s Society</i> the teacher played by Robin Williams says that
his students must seize the day because eventually they are all worm food. Um, I hate to be critical, but he basically
told his students that the achievements of the past are mostly doomed to
anonymity, and somehow this inspired them to read poetry. I tried to like poetry one time, but I guess
I am just not that sophisticated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I reflect on my existential crisis, I come to a
decidedly different conclusion. Most of
the people reading this probably have a similar world view to me, in that we
believe that we live for a greater hope.
We live for a greater purpose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been reflecting on what I want my life to be
about. The vain part of me wants to be
remembered for being the best at everything!
I want to all of you to look at me and think if only I could be that
guy. However, the logical implication of
this is that my life would be lived only to serve my own ego. It would mean that my story ends with
me. That is it, and Robin Williams would
ultimately be right, I would end up being worm food. This kind of life would lead to resignation not
inspiration. It reminds only me of the vanity
and meaningless of life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Lord tells a different story. He says that my life has tremendous
meaning. He tells me that what I do does
not end with me; rather it has eternal consequences that reach far beyond what
I could possibly imagine. There is one
caveat though. I must realize that my
life is ultimately not about me. I must
live to find my place in a larger story.
I am not the main character in the great narrative of life. Jesus is.
When he becomes the main character, everything I do takes on eternal
significance. Every small, insignificant
action takes on eternal meaning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hebrews 11 tells us of the wall of faith. The one thing that all these people have in
common is that the story did not end with them.
The story is yet to be fully told.
We need to live always pointing to the great unfinished business of
redemption. One day the Lord will come
back and finish the story. But until
then we must tell our “by faith” story.
We must live in obedience to our role in the story. Our lives might ultimately be forgotten. Our legend might fade. But we can sow the seeds of eternal significance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us that we are running a race. We do not look for victory, but we look to
Jesus the “author and perfecter of our faith.”
We are not destined to be worm food, we are destined for glory. Let us live up to that glory. Let us live in the greatest story ever
told and live in anticipation of the final conclusion of that story.<o:p></o:p></div>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-45031491551415828752012-05-13T09:41:00.002-07:002012-05-13T13:57:00.234-07:00A Tribute To My Mom on Mother's Day<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The mother’s voice is the first voice that a child ever
knows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the first voice that comes to comfort when pavement
proves to be harder than your knee. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that reminds you that you are worth
something whether or not that girl you like realizes it or not. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice of wisdom that guides when your life is at
a crossroads. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is often the voice of your conscience reminding you what
is right and wrong, and always calling you back to the right. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice of instruction reminding you of the tenets of
faith and life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice of soothing words of peace that calm the
raging storm that brews inside our hearts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that bids you to get up and keep going,
even though life has beaten you down and crushed you into the ground.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that rejoices with you when you find that
special one to live your life with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that your whispers comfort to her
grandchildren in the earliest stages of life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that tells you that you can do it, even
when the rest of the world doubts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- It is the voice that is full of pride when you become what
God always intended you to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most importantly it is the voice of prayer that pleads with
God Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth for your very life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Voices fade, diminish, and even disappear, but no matter how
far or how distant that voice becomes – It is always the voice telling you that
she is proud of you, that you are worthy, that no matter what comes she knows
you can do it!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom, thank you for your voice!<o:p></o:p></div>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-7698433166656313452012-02-27T06:59:00.003-08:002012-02-27T08:31:53.741-08:00The Attack on Christianity in America<p class="MsoNormal">Fear tactics are effective motivators for people. If you watch television commercials closely you will see that sex or fear (or sometimes both) are being used to compel you to buy something. Politicians use fear to try to frame the opposing candidate as the one who will bring down America. Even the title of this blog post uses a well-known fear to get you to read. Nothing riles up Christians quite like our religious liberties being attacked. We often say, “Our rights are going way!” or “We are being persecuted for our faith!” News channels and politicians capitalize on the fear that these things create in Christians. These are two ideas that I find frankly laughable.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is true that our society, government and power structures are becoming more hostile to true Christianity. It is hard to read the news today and not observe that. Obama is trying to require Christian Institutions to provide something that is inherently against their stated ethics. A small group in California was being fined for having regular meetings in their home. For Christians these are just but of few more signs of a society growing in hostility towards faith, and in particular Judeo-Christian faith.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I want to offer a slightly different take on these things and provide a little historical perspective. Most people know that Christianity started as a small sometimes persecuted faith. The Jews, the Romans, and most local societies persecuted Christians. They were persecuted because they would not participate in the rituals of that society. They were persecuted because they made radical claims about Jesus. They offended the current philosophies and world view of the day. They caused businesses to dry up because they converted people away from idol worship. Societies will tolerate almost anything until you attack their money or their peace.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the early 300s Constantine legalized Christianity and made it the state religion. For many this was and is a great day for Christianity. Finally, Christians would not be persecuted and the faith would spread unabated. However, this moment marked actually one of the biggest attacks on Christianity ever conceived. Christ became mingled with the State and Christians became the puppets of whatever government institution wanted to use them. As time passed, Christians sought to grab temporal power instead of recognizing the tremendous spiritual power available through Christ and the Holy Spirit. They sacrificed real power and truth for a pitiful and weak substitute.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For roughly the last 1600 years Christianity and the State have been mixed together in stranglehold that has largely removed the life and power from real faith. I am largely speaking of Christianity from a Western bias; this is not the story of Christianity in the world-wide theatre.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As I observe the growing hostility towards Christianity in our society, I cannot help but be a little relieved. I think this marks a sign that Christians are finally beginning to be the true salt and light they are supposed to be. The truth of the message of Christ is beginning to be more dominant again. Christians are refusing to be the puppets of the government or a certain political party. What does the puppet master do with a puppet that is no longer of any use? He disposes of it. Christians must continue to stand strong against the manipulative attacks of our society, corporations, government and political parties. We must not be their pawns; rather we must seek to walk in perfect harmonious step with Christ. We must do only what we see the Father doing!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now some of us get fearful at the infringement of religious freedom in America as it relates to Christianity. I believe this reveals in us a certain weakness of faith. We erroneously believe that the world institutions can destroy the true Church. We often see Jesus as the Savior, Friend, Lord, and Brother, but do we really see Jesus as the KING!! Do we really believe that? He is the King!! No scheme of satan or of man will have any success against the King, the TRUE KING. We need to adjust our view of Jesus and the power of His Kingdom as it manifests on this Earth. Worldly institutions are hostile to true Christianity because they recognize the true spiritual power of Christ and not the weak temporal power of government! So as our faith is being attacked, be at peace and rest in this fact: This is good news and evidence that God’s Kingdom is at work in this world and we are right in the middle of it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So let us not be fearful, because we serve the only true King and His Kingdom is powerful. It conquers the world systems, time, nations, hearts, minds, and souls. Our King is a conqueror in His way, not ours. He does not use military might to usher in His Kingdom, He uses love. He is not a destroyer of life; He is a destroyer of sin. His Kingdom will not pass away! Let us face this world and this time in remembrance of the real King.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lord grant us the faith and endurance to handle this. May we always represent your grace and forgiveness as we encounter hostility and derision. Make your presence obvious in all those who follow after you. May your Kingdom come and may your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></p>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-52070315074178057502011-12-05T11:54:00.000-08:002011-12-05T15:16:15.552-08:00A Good Moment<p class="MsoNormal">When I was in high school it became un-cool to decorate the tree with my family. It was an event to be endured, not so much enjoyed. Added to the pain was the type of the ornaments that went on the tree. My mom insisted on putting our school pictures from each year into small frames and displaying them on the tree. From all objective standards our tree was packed and gaudy. As I grew older, I began to be embarrassed of the multitude of reminders of my dorky past. One year, I was into sweat bands and prominently displayed a wrist band for a school picture. What was I thinking? Decorating the Christmas tree with my family became simply an obstacle to doing what I really wanted to do, which was, uh, nothing really.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last night I watched my children decorate the tree with a great amount of joy. Sometimes these moments do not live up to the hype. Children have a way of arguing about things, but not last night. Last night was harmonious and joyful as we decorated the tree. They were polite to one another, they helped one another, it was truly a post card moment. It was one of the good moments of life. It was a beautiful time.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was enjoying moment, but also reflecting back to my own memories. It made me regret some things in my life. I began to wonder at what age my children would think it is un-cool to decorate the tree with mom and dad. I began to feel sorrow for not leaning in to my parents more when I was an adolescent and teen. These moments, the truly great ones are fleeting and sometimes we forget to really enjoy them.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I guess I just want to say to my mom, “I am sorry that I did not enjoy those family moments more. I hope that I did not ruin them for you.” I also want to say, “Thank you. If it was not for your love and hard work, I would not have been able to enjoy that moment with my children last night. I wish you could have been there. I think you would have been proud of me. I laughed with my children, I took pictures, and I danced with my wife. It was perfect.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The lesson I take away from this is to try to remember to lean in. Lean in to the ones who love you. Lean in to ones you love. These moments, these truly beautiful moments are short, enjoy them for all they are worth.<o:p></o:p></p>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-25401029196948505582011-10-31T06:15:00.000-07:002011-10-31T06:23:38.926-07:00One Christian's Response to Some Pressing Political Issues - Abortion<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Let me state first and foremost that I have not decided who I will vote for and I am not trying to endorse a certain candidate.<span> </span>I frankly would probably never “endorse” any candidate.<span> </span>Elections have become troubled waters for Christians of late.<span> </span>In the past most Christians were single issue voters and this issue was surrounding abortion.<span> </span>Abortion is rightly a high priority for Christians voting in this country.<span> </span>It is nothing short of the murder of human life.<span> </span>I believe one of God’s highest values is life (John 10:10).<span> </span>A candidate’s stand on this issue is important.<span> </span>I do not know that America will ever do away with abortion.<span> </span>Our best hope is to deal with the underlying causes that lead to abortion. <span> </span>Instead of asking a candidate if he or she is for or against abortion, let’s ask candidates how they will decrease the number of abortions.<span> </span>This is the goal after all.<span> </span>Making abortion illegal will not do away with the problem because the problem is much deeper than Roe v. Wade.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> </b></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>These causes are routed deeply in sin.<span> </span>Not just the sin of the individual, but the sinful state of the world around us.<span> </span>But how can we as Christians combat this sin, and still be loving?<span> </span>This is indeed a tough question.<span> </span>Instead of yelling at people for aborting their babies, why don’t we adopt those babies who were not aborted?<span> </span>I have not adopted as of yet in my life, but I have many friends who have.<span> </span>I praise God for these people who are battling abortion and poverty 1, 2, and even 3 kids at a time.<span> </span>You know who you are and I thank you for picking of the slack.<span> </span>Please do not let us forget to do our job.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> </b></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>There are other ways to battle this problem.<span> </span>Hospitals were originally founded largely by religious organizations.<span> </span>The Catholics, Methodist, Presbyterians, and Baptist all have names that are associated with hospitals.<span> </span>It is with great sadness that I remind us that many hospitals that bear these names are complicit with the abortion problem.<span> </span>These institutions are driven much more by money than they are by helping people.<span> </span>Some people claim to have abortions because they cannot afford the cost to have a baby.<span> </span>Having paid out of pocket for our last child, I understand this concern.<span> </span>It is ridiculously expensive to have a baby, especially if you do not have insurance.<span> </span>Are we as Christians going to let children die because there is not money available to help bring these children into the world?<span> </span>Are we?<span> </span>Are we going to go joyfully on buying our iPads, TVs, cars, and houses while children die?<span> </span>All the while blaming the government for allowing this to happen, it is time to take responsibility for this.<span> </span>We as Christians must repent before God and man, ask forgiveness and BE part of the solution.<span> </span>We need to work with these hospitals to provide for people to be able to have children.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> </b></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>As we listen to the candidates speak on this issue.<span> </span>Listen to the nuanced response.<span> </span>A candidate may say something like, “I am pro-choice, but have an active plan that I hope will reduce the number of abortions significantly.”<span> </span>Someone else my just say, “I am pro-life.”<span> </span>Instead of giving our vote to someone just because they are pro-life, let’s require them to show us a plan that will help alleviate abortions.<span> </span>Let’s raise the level of discussion about this issue to something greater than just a sound bite.<span> </span>We are smarter than that, aren’t we?<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> </b></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>The next phase of this is that we as the Church must be prepared to care for the children born.<span> </span>We must not let them exist in poverty, for this reveals no value for life either.<span> </span>I will post later on some of the other issues facing Christians, such as the faith of the candidate, poverty, social programs, war, defense, and other issues.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b> </b></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>I believe God hates abortion and I do as well. We need to be in prayer about this. We need to repent, and we need to be a part of the solution instead of being angry and vindictive. Please pray, but be ready to act as well. We must act in love, not violence or hatred.</b></span></p>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-7103658446389261032011-05-03T08:03:00.000-07:002011-05-03T13:23:19.468-07:00A Brief Response to the death of Osama Bin Laden<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1026"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> I confess that I have mixed emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I remember very clearly the morning of September 11, 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I remember the outrage and the hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I remember the endless video of the fall of the World Trade Center.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>An enemy had struck at the innocent heart of America.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Justice must be served.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The guilty party must suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I remember those days as if they were yesterday. <p class="MsoNormal">The conflict in me arises when I consider my faith in Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>While I do not wear a WWJD bracelet, I do often think and wonder how Jesus would have responded to the recent news.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of us have lived long enough to realize that the world is truly a complicated place.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are no easy answers or easy solutions to problems like terrorism, war, and poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The problems are largely systematic; they are a symptom of a fallen world that does not function as it should.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Would Jesus celebrate the death of Osama Bin Laden, I would guess that he would not.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many of us would decry that justice was finally served and after all God wants justice.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Really, we want justice to be served.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Grace filled Christians really want justice?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We hear people say that New Orleans and Haiti got what they deserved because of the evil that exists there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most rational people understand that this response is completely inappropriate and moronic.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As if humanity knows the will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As if all humanity does not deserve annihilation for its deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Does the death of bin Laden fix or provide justice for the loss and pain that was experienced on 9/11?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For me the answer is: no.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not even close.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, the day of justice for all humanity was when Jesus carried the sins of humanity on his shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once and for all, period.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That was the type of justice that God dished out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The sacrifice had been made and justice had been served and we have now been saved.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 24:17 reminds us that the wise person does not rejoice over the fall of their enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus in Matt 5 further states that we are to love our enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Paul reminds us in Rom 5 that we were enemies of God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We often forget that when Jesus went to the cross, WE were his enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was not just the Pharisees, the Romans, the Jews, it was all of humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus died for us while we were his enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I have heard people say that it is OK for us to dislike our enemies, but still love them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This argument is so ridiculous it is hardly worth discussing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Greek word behind this love in Matt 5 is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">agape</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It is a godly love.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus’ godly love for his enemies did not stop at toleration but moved to complete sacrifice for the ones who would openly oppose him and abandon him in his hour of need.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now if Jesus is our master and we are his disciples, then we are trying to be like the master. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span>Right?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So now I ask you, how would Jesus respond?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think his crucifixion answers the question emphatically for us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He would forgive them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Luke 23 reports that right after Jesus had been crucified, he forgave.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jesus forgave.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Wow, on his worst day Jesus is better than I will ever be. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, it is usually on our worst days that our true character is revealed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Forgiveness is often times the missing part of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">agape</i> love for humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We do not truly forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even though we have been forgiven so much, we do not truly forgive others. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, this day I will not celebrate or revel in the death of another human being.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This unfortunately is not the end of war or poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This is not the day when all those who are in the bondage of slavery both physical and spiritual have been set free.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No, this is not that day.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When that day comes, I will celebrate, because victory will finally be won over the corrupt systems and structures of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Order will be restored.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Death will be gone forever.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is day I will celebrate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Finally, this is a quote from a Reuters News Article (http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/05/02/idINIndia-56718720110502).</p> <p>Watching the flag-waving on television in New York, Donna Marsh O'Connor, whose pregnant daughter died in the Sept. 11 attack, said she saw little reason to celebrate.</p> <p>"Osama bin Laden is dead and so is my daughter," she said. "His death didn't bring her back."</p> <p>There was only one death in the history of the World that would ever bring life again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That is the death of Jesus on the cross.</p>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-11825587494586773602011-01-02T11:01:00.000-08:002011-01-05T05:52:11.036-08:002011<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Standing over the edge of 2011, I sense that my toes are peeking out over a high precipice.<span style=""> </span>The fear of heights is overtaking me.<span style=""> </span>Why am I here?<span style=""> </span>What am I doing?<span style=""> </span>I must be an idiot.<span style=""> </span>I seek to blame, to doubt, to avoid.<span style=""> </span>Yet I sense also a promise.<span style=""> </span>I sense something that I cannot see.<span style=""> </span>The clouds are thick and the sky is dark.<span style=""> </span>There is something out there; I do not quite know yet what it is.<span style=""> </span>This could be the year when I fall to my ultimate doom.<span style=""> </span>It could be the year of restoration.<span style=""> </span>It could be another year of struggle.<span style=""> </span>I do not even know if I am at the top of the mountain yet.<span style=""> </span>Where will I go from here?</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Slowly I realize the self-centeredness of this all.<span style=""> </span>The “I” is way too prevalent in my life.<span style=""> </span>My love for the Lord seems directly correlated with what He does for me.<span style=""> </span>If this is the year when I am laying in broken pieces at the bottom of the cliff, if I am in valley of peace, or if I am bearing the burden of more climbing, my reaction will not change.<span style=""> </span>I am going to praise the Lord.<span style=""> </span>Not for what He has done or for what He is going to do, but for who He is.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">My praise and adoration need not be linked to my life circumstances.<span style=""> </span>I will praise the Lord because He is worthy.<span style=""> </span>I praise Him because of who He is.<span style=""> </span>Come what may, I will praise Him.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">The song of my heart which was written over 335 years ago:</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="">Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;</span></i><span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="">Praise Him, all creatures here below;</span></i><span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="">Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;</span></i><span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; line-height: normal;"><i><span style="">Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.</span></i><span style=""></span></p>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-53268370846637785482010-08-21T06:44:00.000-07:002010-08-25T07:54:29.933-07:00The Tan Lines are GoneAs I stare down at my feet, I see that the tan lines are almost gone. I wore my Keen Sandals for roughly 3 weeks in Israel. This created some interesting designs in my feet that I wore as a badge of honor. Well my feet are homogeneous now, and as the tan lines have faded, so has the nearness of my trip. I will forever be impacted by what I experienced, but memories are no longer fresh.<br /><br />This might be disappointing to some of you, but I am not more spiritual for having gone on this trip. This does not mean that I did not have spiritually impactful moments. In fact, I had many. Praying at the Western Wall of the Temple complex was a one of the top ones. The Jews believe this area is where the Spirit of the Lord dwells. I cannot comment on the veracity of that claim, but I do know that Spirit of the Lord dwells inside of me. I am now the Temple. Inside of me is the Holy of Holies. It is also inside of you. It was a great offense to desecrate the Temple. In fact, Antiochus IV sparked the Maccabean Revolt by desecrating the Temple in 167BC. He sacrificed a pig to Zeus in the Temple. What you see below is called the Western or Wailing Wall. It is what is left of the outer wall of the Herodian Temple complex from the time of Jesus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSK2EUJI6m0FVRoPHxzu1NlaekrNCjJ2Y6LIp1REJEeYbNB8YOue6efHvxgNTIy4mYZLvjQfjso2E50aX_AbMRTfECER-aOizzxoMAYfDW-FQWs2kicPo765Se7iak0kSQ33U28z-5aI/s1600/Western+Wall+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSK2EUJI6m0FVRoPHxzu1NlaekrNCjJ2Y6LIp1REJEeYbNB8YOue6efHvxgNTIy4mYZLvjQfjso2E50aX_AbMRTfECER-aOizzxoMAYfDW-FQWs2kicPo765Se7iak0kSQ33U28z-5aI/s320/Western+Wall+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507868207249335506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Do I have a high enough view of my temple? There are things from the outside that assault my temple to the Lord. Most of these happen because of my own decisions. Sometimes they happen because we live in a fallen world. Other times unfortunately I desecrate my own temple. I become too passive about my own sin. I put up with it way too much.<br /><br />I need a higher view of the Spirit which dwells inside of me. I need a larger appreciation of the Lord's decision to make His dwelling place inside my heart. This is not so I can laud my own spirituality in front of others. This is not so I can prove myself worthy of the Lord (I could never). This is so I can show respect and appreciation to the one being that is worthy of all my praise and adoration. His deep love for me must move me to change. If it does not, then I have not really accepted his love.<br /><br />This wonderful trip I was able to go on will have a lasting impact. However, I, we must be about doing the things that bring lasting and permanent renewal in our lives. We must have a high view of the Spirit which lives inside of us. Otherwise, we are simply practicing religion just like every other major faith in the world. We need to move beyond the ritual movements of Christianity. Just like a trip to Israel did not make me more Spiritual, neither does the act of going to church, the act of fasting, the act of giving, the act of praying, the act of reading the Bible. Bear in mind, none of these are bad. In fact, I could easily argue that they are all good. However, doing these things does not bring Spiritual growth. They can put is the right posture for Spiritual growth, but there are plenty of people who have done these things for years, but do not know the Lord any better. They have listened to hundreds of sermons and can probably quote a lot of Scripture, but the do not know the Lord any better. Even those like me who have gone to Seminary. This does not make me know the Lord better, only to know more about the Lord.<br /><br />The answer is found in active faith. We all need to more intentionally rely on Him. We need to allow Him to move us into situations where we HAVE to rely on Him. This is what He desires. To get to know Him well, sometimes we need to strip away all the other things: the material excesses, the religiosity, the drive for success, and many other things. Do we have what it takes to really belong to the Lord? Do we really want it? Do we really think He is worth it?<br /><br />Blessings<br />DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-52382967724564593132010-07-04T05:25:00.000-07:002010-07-04T05:54:58.017-07:00Summing Up, Roll Tide, and More to ComeI spent some of my free time Saturday doing a few things that I was not able to do earlier. We were actually a day late getting here, so I missed out on a few things. So on this day I started at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This Church is shared by 7 different Christian denominations. The main two are the Catholics and the Greek Orthodox. This church supposedly is built on the site of Calvary and the burial place of Jesus. I went by myself and this was one of the most disappointing things that I did while I was here. You almost have to do this, but it is a frustrating experience. You must push through the crowds and almost be rude or you will get run over while trying to see this site. They have so obscured these sites that archeologists cannot tell whether these sites date to the proper time. I was never more frustrated in Israel than I was here. Give me Jericho at 110 degrees anytime over this. Anyway, here are some pictures the first is the outside of tomb, the second is the supposed resting place, and the third is the supposed site of Calvary. Most people actually believe this to be the actual site, but the Garden Tomb experience for me preserved the atmosphere and authenticity. Once again, He is not there, He is Risen, and He is risen indeed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYEcDEMc3cFD4MWxaEHYuQr0yBRp9J7mWRFhlhAWi-OKq8Sh5DLk4OymaHQA_5VOr1yxVPA9j4z8aybSH-vWV7b11F25Db12MSbN4g9GHxeBwsi5I5p0AZTmjkSwlwUDgegEIOH1IbEM/s1600/Holy+Seplucher+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYEcDEMc3cFD4MWxaEHYuQr0yBRp9J7mWRFhlhAWi-OKq8Sh5DLk4OymaHQA_5VOr1yxVPA9j4z8aybSH-vWV7b11F25Db12MSbN4g9GHxeBwsi5I5p0AZTmjkSwlwUDgegEIOH1IbEM/s320/Holy+Seplucher+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490030196770539650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhct4P5jyzasBGw6F-Sc-sSCXcq9HGzVth0C4E1SjOHamY5Dtppp8vjn7dtXKZSIq7ycC-aYp_5G9SOnvIG89GAF63TwS5SGJdnJ35WaFERKY7B7vxqIHpV6eUiWJoz9rO8eSphXafxk/s1600/Holy+Seplucher+3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhhct4P5jyzasBGw6F-Sc-sSCXcq9HGzVth0C4E1SjOHamY5Dtppp8vjn7dtXKZSIq7ycC-aYp_5G9SOnvIG89GAF63TwS5SGJdnJ35WaFERKY7B7vxqIHpV6eUiWJoz9rO8eSphXafxk/s320/Holy+Seplucher+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490030183131119586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpvHvgkPnPBkSZXTix9GDd3bzIVtSO4XOH_kForFJX6fxgY507-QwUN68p3vJXY_ekUhEM0Vk-5uSJnB3bNNPTLq9iU1k1cLwBSC2lA3WoUQuxD42p6PlqoJUHZAz9l7xrxclM-Bj0Ro/s1600/Holy+Seplucher+5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpvHvgkPnPBkSZXTix9GDd3bzIVtSO4XOH_kForFJX6fxgY507-QwUN68p3vJXY_ekUhEM0Vk-5uSJnB3bNNPTLq9iU1k1cLwBSC2lA3WoUQuxD42p6PlqoJUHZAz9l7xrxclM-Bj0Ro/s320/Holy+Seplucher+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490030202515059074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Later that day, I had some time so I went with some friends to the grave of Oskar Schindler. If you do not know who this is you can Google him. I was expecting some grand display, but we actually found his grave by luck. It was not set apart from any of the other graves except for the rocks that people place over the top. This man gave his wealth to save some Jews in WWII and felt remorse for not giving more. I want to give it all to tell others about Jesus. My prayer is to finish the race used up completely by the Lord. Here is a picture of his grave.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0oDAlJoVJtwut13uZDZt5ClKqUzCW19A2lRSmhG8pIsKgfSX4Rw072mbchWh3k1VVk8mJxu8l31ZWTGZ3X27oi3OxwuCJThukXfI0x-TBOoo94TwnnaUiMxesWRSSTY5fBw2S2vaAX4/s1600/Schindler+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0oDAlJoVJtwut13uZDZt5ClKqUzCW19A2lRSmhG8pIsKgfSX4Rw072mbchWh3k1VVk8mJxu8l31ZWTGZ3X27oi3OxwuCJThukXfI0x-TBOoo94TwnnaUiMxesWRSSTY5fBw2S2vaAX4/s320/Schindler+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490030209218092226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also that day I went shopping in the Old City and finished buying some gifts for my family. As I was walking through I came across this store. ROLL TIDE. The shop owner has a brother attending the University of Alabama and they had Tide stickers inside the store as well. I took pictures of this, I think you should be able to make out the stickers in the second picture. I almost cried when I saw this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCn0NswS3mYV7Sw71eRKZGkAK3Twc5YO5c-sHhBywGTTEPyICwCWHqsc40umt3ymo_AZTd7B1CcCiYYLdvf_9RpwRW1VBnfR7Dy4Q94cYW0WSHKR_qpD1gbO4WPAa2IjsPZLrcIKZF4g/s1600/Shop+in+Old+City.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCn0NswS3mYV7Sw71eRKZGkAK3Twc5YO5c-sHhBywGTTEPyICwCWHqsc40umt3ymo_AZTd7B1CcCiYYLdvf_9RpwRW1VBnfR7Dy4Q94cYW0WSHKR_qpD1gbO4WPAa2IjsPZLrcIKZF4g/s320/Shop+in+Old+City.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490030219120956642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYE1wITirEQDx-Ksid5wU68sUOME6aMeitJGr9k1lpXjJlAkgaZntMT6n292QyFr7zgrFVGQh0D6qsQ0Fj78w1u1prbArNAyhNCgLBzLpV_PoYAkZ0_U6CX5HRDBTvNSZuD9JdFvbocI/s1600/Shop+in+Old+City+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYE1wITirEQDx-Ksid5wU68sUOME6aMeitJGr9k1lpXjJlAkgaZntMT6n292QyFr7zgrFVGQh0D6qsQ0Fj78w1u1prbArNAyhNCgLBzLpV_PoYAkZ0_U6CX5HRDBTvNSZuD9JdFvbocI/s320/Shop+in+Old+City+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490031808192113186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to everyone who read my blog. My course officially came to a close on Friday. In case any of you forgot, I was taking an actual class with tests, prework, and reflection reports. I finished the last of the work on Friday. It has been difficult since my plane does not fly out until Monday night, meaning I will not see my family until Tuesday morning, hopefully.<br /><br />I am probably done blogging from here, but as I continue to decompress over the next few weeks I plan to continue blogging about my experience. I have been incredibly blessed to be here and I hope in some small ways I have shared this blessing with you. Please pray that I have a safe and uneventful trip home. I miss my family terribly. Being away from them has helped me see what a tremendous blessing they are to me.<br /><br />DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-82097645301648674252010-07-03T11:58:00.000-07:002010-07-03T12:25:05.184-07:00Thinking About What I Want to ForgetThis day was different from the others. We started the day at the Yad Vashem Memorial site. This a place dedicated to remembering the holocaust victims from WWII. This was a difficult experience for me. For really the first time, I realized how weakly the Church, especially in Europe, responded to this outrage against humanity. I was also forced to consider the impact of this on the children. Having children of my own, this impacted me deeply. I only took a few pictures. The one below is a picture of one of the train cars used to transport the Jews.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KfhCsPuFIu-5Xa2A9Z2xkl4RP6_MXBazULXWtFtL2u3O61BteUaF16Yn8uVf_EG1MPHTAAibDt0LBy7b6ptGW9GzLpSCr4edHWIzGDRMZc2tFQixetsT13vM6WzKpRvwzYkvJ_Hqj3M/s1600/Yad+Veshem+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KfhCsPuFIu-5Xa2A9Z2xkl4RP6_MXBazULXWtFtL2u3O61BteUaF16Yn8uVf_EG1MPHTAAibDt0LBy7b6ptGW9GzLpSCr4edHWIzGDRMZc2tFQixetsT13vM6WzKpRvwzYkvJ_Hqj3M/s320/Yad+Veshem+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489760174934227826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we went on to the Jerusalem Museum where they have assembled a large model of the 2nd Temple Jerusalem. This model is based on the best archeological evidence available. We also were able to look at a few of the Qumran documents that were on display. I was not able to take pictures of these documents, but here is an image of what many believe the Temple looked like in the days of Herod.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89k4fR3EP7-fp4thjlpk0FwRS36AA86MsrvuITxSV75CGPcymmyTMJfocXJz0pq_h-8UtGdUkNszc1fUQZsd0KsWCODR1eVG0bZm6Zu6OqDS-4E1B9AX_OpTavqhJPDgLw6jWbaPUDJk/s1600/Model+of+2+Temple+Jerusalem+4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89k4fR3EP7-fp4thjlpk0FwRS36AA86MsrvuITxSV75CGPcymmyTMJfocXJz0pq_h-8UtGdUkNszc1fUQZsd0KsWCODR1eVG0bZm6Zu6OqDS-4E1B9AX_OpTavqhJPDgLw6jWbaPUDJk/s320/Model+of+2+Temple+Jerusalem+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489760180979973186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Later we went to Shiloh, where the Tabernacle was kept prior to the Ark's capture by the Philistines and the subsequent destruction of the Tabernacle. Below is the place that some believe held the Tabernacle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ant8elMWNwy5SHtigcTd7UZJwpjrkOFQ2x4p79zG91WS_4PLwVV5VEMwOeNnL3oClS94uIgIp8c4aRvQpY_Zuw3KYHYU8mA02htzE1D0nypP_yup2yRsbPzgHCO1PDEFCMq554DDuW0/s1600/Shiloh+Potential+Tabernacle+Site+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ant8elMWNwy5SHtigcTd7UZJwpjrkOFQ2x4p79zG91WS_4PLwVV5VEMwOeNnL3oClS94uIgIp8c4aRvQpY_Zuw3KYHYU8mA02htzE1D0nypP_yup2yRsbPzgHCO1PDEFCMq554DDuW0/s320/Shiloh+Potential+Tabernacle+Site+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489760188254240578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly we ended the day at the Garden Tomb site. This is a site that some believe was actually the site of Jesus' death and burial. This is based on a skull that some see in the rocks on the side of the cliff and the tomb that was excavated . Archeologists are dubious on this clain, but this site captures what I believe is the essence of the site, unlike the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I must say this was a pretty cool experience.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE53I7WSFU6fuvEvfrTIzyD99BS4nqEbQEqAA7yPaVmd9gVQpNzTPB7H3d9nJ6RB7zjtPNgnADaS970XXrKq2pElHJbRjtjEdnRzvGbjNhIeYpSagLzS3vvIr02aMdVSetdNb9sgMdcI/s1600/Garden+Tomb+Skull.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE53I7WSFU6fuvEvfrTIzyD99BS4nqEbQEqAA7yPaVmd9gVQpNzTPB7H3d9nJ6RB7zjtPNgnADaS970XXrKq2pElHJbRjtjEdnRzvGbjNhIeYpSagLzS3vvIr02aMdVSetdNb9sgMdcI/s320/Garden+Tomb+Skull.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489760199315726754" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9vq6g-tpqBJ5GUCX4zLF2PbODkR0bYIbozV8PolWkUEu9IYkqgrVWGBfWszJ4eQ4e3NU9zKPPX8Y0zAjF-TO6Ft2q0FS6dFEcV7Wn6FKsiM37dZwoEHTzQl7xr4dE1bK58MRtp6VIsQ/s1600/Garden+Tomb+3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9vq6g-tpqBJ5GUCX4zLF2PbODkR0bYIbozV8PolWkUEu9IYkqgrVWGBfWszJ4eQ4e3NU9zKPPX8Y0zAjF-TO6Ft2q0FS6dFEcV7Wn6FKsiM37dZwoEHTzQl7xr4dE1bK58MRtp6VIsQ/s320/Garden+Tomb+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489760205411667202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The gentlemen who gave us a tour of this site was passionate for Christ. He was talking about the tomb and the potential for this being the burial place of Jesus, he stopped and reminded us all that the big deal about the tomb is that Jesus is no longer there. He is risen. He is risen indeed.<br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-74691282423293645392010-07-03T06:52:00.000-07:002010-07-03T07:59:22.062-07:00Nazareth to ScythopolisWe started this day at Sephorris. This was a city that was being built by Herod Antipas at the time when Jesus was a boy to young man. Scholars have speculated that he and his father would have worked on this city. It is filled with beautiful mosaics. It is an opulent city that combined Greco-Roman culture with Hebrew culture. It was a tremendous symbol of the Hebrew people of the day living in two world views. The picture below is of one of the mosaics and it depicts a centaur. It is interesting to consider that Jesus may have worked here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdimCetpP17OAlfCGlnC2ZakpxOUXjCJy72MiSXAtqtbKq__GeL1ghh4uhHbGrUkTuzGxC4UbO_-Ie_i7lXoLJh9Aqvj6QHy4d5FGGjXSqv_vIw8tWEb1P6fEAeoZI7l2YcZW2OwUU4o/s1600/Imported+Photos+00114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNdimCetpP17OAlfCGlnC2ZakpxOUXjCJy72MiSXAtqtbKq__GeL1ghh4uhHbGrUkTuzGxC4UbO_-Ie_i7lXoLJh9Aqvj6QHy4d5FGGjXSqv_vIw8tWEb1P6fEAeoZI7l2YcZW2OwUU4o/s320/Imported+Photos+00114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489679532394064338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we drove through Nazareth. Frankly there is not much to see in an antiquity site. Archaeologists and scholars alike believe this town was no bigger than 300 people. They barely left a mark. It was situated in a little bit of a hole. It would have been unnecessarily hot because of this position as it would not have gotten the sea breeze. However, they needed to live close to a meager water source. We did go up onto a nearby cliff where the story of the people of Nazareth trying to throw Jesus off a cliff might have happened. The picture of me is as close as I would get to the cliff. This cliff also overlooks the Jezereel Valley where most of the battle involving Barack and Deborah took place. The mound behind me is the Hill of Moreh. Nazareth now is a fairly big town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijx8WjPM-28MzGNSCieK0NxWz7rfbhHGGftyX2Lh-MRotd4tk9Wb9tto6Ies6n9CvWsPRMFYDzQshdw7kh59Y7bmBnLzfkTaiiLl0zE2Y6KS6t7AAYssy8WGLKdkNwitFBOXDgdyVtvqA/s1600/Imported+Photos+00122.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijx8WjPM-28MzGNSCieK0NxWz7rfbhHGGftyX2Lh-MRotd4tk9Wb9tto6Ies6n9CvWsPRMFYDzQshdw7kh59Y7bmBnLzfkTaiiLl0zE2Y6KS6t7AAYssy8WGLKdkNwitFBOXDgdyVtvqA/s320/Imported+Photos+00122.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489679517861560722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />One of the last places we went was Beth Shean also called Scythopolis. Scythopolis was the only city of the Decapolis west of the Jordan River. It was Greco-Roman in construction. This was our last stop on the 4 day trip to Galilee and I got a little silly. There was a communal latrine on this site and I could not resist this picture. Also there was a theater where I proceeded to dance my way across the stage while singing I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady. I did not realize that there was a tour guide leading a tour in the seats until after, I had done this. This was my first and only obnoxious American moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGdAnvRhcGJFSGFM2B3MeHUqxIMNZoTcRYlyFsoSEM0M3m1S8RJbC_lF4-ENg4IcQa0wpOVvp6I83IdRrzHMyINN74JzmvJHTWXfXGbB2nuZNZVW8YLiVKBTeemHEv7MIT9eiA64C21w/s1600/Imported+Photos+00134.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGdAnvRhcGJFSGFM2B3MeHUqxIMNZoTcRYlyFsoSEM0M3m1S8RJbC_lF4-ENg4IcQa0wpOVvp6I83IdRrzHMyINN74JzmvJHTWXfXGbB2nuZNZVW8YLiVKBTeemHEv7MIT9eiA64C21w/s320/Imported+Photos+00134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489679534240501634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After here we drove back to Jerusalem. It felt odd coming back to the Old City after being in Galilee. We truly went from the country to the city.<br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-39231202990542116372010-07-03T01:27:00.000-07:002010-07-03T01:56:19.353-07:00The Cliffs of Arbel (Ooohhh)I must start with this last part of the day first. The Cliffs of Arbel weighed on me like a ton of bricks this entire day. You see, I am reallllly afraid of heights and there was a hike down the cliffs along a trail then back up them again on another side. The Cliffs of Arbel factor into the Jewish mindset around the time Herod was securing his kingdom with the full approval of Rome. Jewish rebels lived in caves that were completely inaccessible to others. Herod wanted to root them out so he lowered his troops in baskets holding long hooks to pull the people out and then drop them down the cliff. Herod did give these people a chance to surrender with no consequences and some did. There is a story of that one man would not let his family surrender, he preferred to kill them instead and then commit suicide. This is all recounted for us by Josephus. Why is this important? This event took place about 30 years prior to Jesus birth and about 10 miles from his home. The Cliffs are situated along the Sea of Galilee. This story would have been legend and goes to the mindset of the people in and around the area that Jesus grew up.<br /><br />I was ready not to do the hike, I felt good physically but was terrified. One of my friends here shamed me into doing it and I am glad he did. Below are a few pictures. There was a steep, scary descent and ascent, but I was able to push through my fears and do it. There is something to be said for not letting fear get you down. I am glad I did it. After this particular hike, I had a surge of energy that has served even to this moment now. I feel great again. By the way the temperature was over 107 this day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQvH8E8y7xPKhRnDGtll_bRfJKLDMgZG1Uel0PMqAJUj7rGzGTIjsJtqKAkgJCI9R_k5C6P24Tr_JND5m4wCXIzmTWFyCxoFv6feNJsz5dw88q28NjvBr4k1WaQU7xmeISuTbmF7ErT8/s1600/Imported+Photos+00108.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQvH8E8y7xPKhRnDGtll_bRfJKLDMgZG1Uel0PMqAJUj7rGzGTIjsJtqKAkgJCI9R_k5C6P24Tr_JND5m4wCXIzmTWFyCxoFv6feNJsz5dw88q28NjvBr4k1WaQU7xmeISuTbmF7ErT8/s320/Imported+Photos+00108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489598024131198066" border="0" /></a><br />Me trying to smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnikSi-lHEqAXFmYsIlHCb9K32mC-lIa4WW6SgfdDLpcjWbiw5dxwy2NzQZ98Dcls5baKbZyP_sRFGzygg5xcTuS0x_Mr_BuDr8uR6tILw7SIrGzii3Rb6VNIQPmHZ54BUmgP7XjFS3i8/s1600/Imported+Photos+00110.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnikSi-lHEqAXFmYsIlHCb9K32mC-lIa4WW6SgfdDLpcjWbiw5dxwy2NzQZ98Dcls5baKbZyP_sRFGzygg5xcTuS0x_Mr_BuDr8uR6tILw7SIrGzii3Rb6VNIQPmHZ54BUmgP7XjFS3i8/s320/Imported+Photos+00110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489598027442321810" border="0" /></a><br />The way down<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S3XYNG3VIoD5mac8xCZhI0J8tv1y9CE8x3OTzUEiHgq7_EFM_hGt-JD4A18BUR5SxL72xbapG7gUk-2pT8XL79rURqOFd_dSJGggw5594FUdDoaNFx2e1v-SnTLzzbIreo5xD24zI3Q/s1600/Imported+Photos+00112.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S3XYNG3VIoD5mac8xCZhI0J8tv1y9CE8x3OTzUEiHgq7_EFM_hGt-JD4A18BUR5SxL72xbapG7gUk-2pT8XL79rURqOFd_dSJGggw5594FUdDoaNFx2e1v-SnTLzzbIreo5xD24zI3Q/s320/Imported+Photos+00112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489598038351209394" border="0" /></a><br />Part of the way back up.<br /><br />We started the day on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. We got a demonstration on 1st Century fishing methods in the Sea. It was a great feeling to cross this Sea that Jesus crossed so many times. Below is a picture from the boat looking towards the modern and ancient city of Tiberius.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrFfvZhoeUHr3HqIHkiGA7e_WjgoxztfPZGQ_bctFfQNyGNTUA-srkauExSyG04UpgItsYhK5I0uHOv7STFnOHwIpxIFq4GxcdWeHktwnOPucTX86IHB6Tg97G3udx6Lyqkp3VJHQMQM/s1600/Imported+Photos+00083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrFfvZhoeUHr3HqIHkiGA7e_WjgoxztfPZGQ_bctFfQNyGNTUA-srkauExSyG04UpgItsYhK5I0uHOv7STFnOHwIpxIFq4GxcdWeHktwnOPucTX86IHB6Tg97G3udx6Lyqkp3VJHQMQM/s320/Imported+Photos+00083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489598013041770722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We stopped at a museum where they kept a fishing boat that was dated to the early 1st Century. This would have been the exact type of boat that Jesus crossed the Sea in. Below is a picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeMrXC04nmRvq_5RdMuT-K3gA6lyMWz_KOYKPW-Ndu_IQmrSJM1L0nCZz-yT-OUOBJLTJ0p8k2f0Vo_D67llPOz5sZmF2C4YV2jvah9v6b8GVBb_lIFAzYcvvTkqNT9-OBr7SaqcVDdU/s1600/Imported+Photos+00086.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeMrXC04nmRvq_5RdMuT-K3gA6lyMWz_KOYKPW-Ndu_IQmrSJM1L0nCZz-yT-OUOBJLTJ0p8k2f0Vo_D67llPOz5sZmF2C4YV2jvah9v6b8GVBb_lIFAzYcvvTkqNT9-OBr7SaqcVDdU/s320/Imported+Photos+00086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489598014907288546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went to some other sites this day. We saw Capernaum where Jesus based his ministry. This site had been excavated by a Church and they believe they found Peter's house here. The pictures of this did not come out well. We also went to Tahbga where Jesus is said to have multiplied the fish and bread and we went to the Mt of Beatitudes where they believe Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. Churches had taken over these areas for better or worse. They were neat places, but they did not preserve the natural site. Anyway that is all for now.<br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-57479016611996350142010-07-02T04:54:00.000-07:002010-07-03T05:30:05.697-07:00Hazor, Dan, and PlowsharesWe started this day at Hazor, which is an exciting location. This is where archeology confirms a Biblical account. We are told that Joshua burned the city of Hazor and there is evidence to this fact. In the picture below, I am squatting next to basalt tiles that are cracked. Basalt is formed by volcanic activity and only cracks under extreme heat. This cracking is dated to the same time that Joshua is said to have burned the city. Interesting. Hazor was also an important city on the trade routes and encompassed an area of 200 acres. There were many pagan worship sites found here and there is no doubt that the destruction of those sites was complete.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cO8wRRSxIrs0WCBqTFvWfb4ie6fFlWSedXEPmmSvEufYHpdCi94xFXAJdfboVEygBQqwbqKabEgJsX5_xsF1DscIWWdKSToCQ-bzmzHtFbLiEZsEVj3rbuVU8GnrXlGdPD9m2VduhIY/s1600/Burn+Layers+at+Hazor.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-cO8wRRSxIrs0WCBqTFvWfb4ie6fFlWSedXEPmmSvEufYHpdCi94xFXAJdfboVEygBQqwbqKabEgJsX5_xsF1DscIWWdKSToCQ-bzmzHtFbLiEZsEVj3rbuVU8GnrXlGdPD9m2VduhIY/s320/Burn+Layers+at+Hazor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489277767578147778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We later went on to Dan, which is where the Danites settled after they were not able to control the Philistines in their allotted space. There is a powerful spring at Dan that helps feed the Jordan River. We had to hike up to the location and it was beautiful. Dan was one of the 2 sites that Jeroboam built his unauthorized temples when the Nation split in two. This temple complex had become a place of syncronistic worship. YHWH was honored with Baal. This tribe of Dan was out of its place and out of its religion. Over and over again I see how the Israelite people did not follow God as the should. They combined the religion of the land with the one true faith. I wonder what our religions of the land are. What do we combine with the true faith? Anyway food for thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2nmAaU-icNrZ1jzPh0l4JdXoV82N5M8XWtbnvwBbOS718LygsKk61dq0mV43FgovLOD3h6d9kkknZMk0anIgvMn5s0TlBMyz5BEnw4LFstVtwaMBOQgCF_3aWXpvSMtm8D-RhGjrHUw/s1600/Spring+at+Dan+4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2nmAaU-icNrZ1jzPh0l4JdXoV82N5M8XWtbnvwBbOS718LygsKk61dq0mV43FgovLOD3h6d9kkknZMk0anIgvMn5s0TlBMyz5BEnw4LFstVtwaMBOQgCF_3aWXpvSMtm8D-RhGjrHUw/s320/Spring+at+Dan+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489279657951066434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Y6QWzRe4nFxg1cJzKiXZ-tYeKLsMBCr2_UYlNbntKCVRmBFL1CTW8AD5lzC_j9OPSeWb97cOHspehsd4m04w_-xK6JxcG5ubgMZcx1CVoRgN7a_bayl60joYo1IM9oatj51IZHuQYH8/s1600/Dan+Temple+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Y6QWzRe4nFxg1cJzKiXZ-tYeKLsMBCr2_UYlNbntKCVRmBFL1CTW8AD5lzC_j9OPSeWb97cOHspehsd4m04w_-xK6JxcG5ubgMZcx1CVoRgN7a_bayl60joYo1IM9oatj51IZHuQYH8/s320/Dan+Temple+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489277773452398914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We then went to Ceasarea Phillip, the Golan Heights, and stopped at a little place called Qazrin. There are no Biblical things that happened here. However, they had excavated and recreated the living space of the 1st Century here. Below is a plowshare that in times of battle would be beaten into a sword. The condition of your plowshare would tell others a lot about your situation. Anyway here is a picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-z2W53qG5omi-x1k-JGnTyYvolkjSB0CwlonKxCZtV6sBfhpxqSjIo9Pk6KvcCIMlW7G0z4PjJThB0cuDJ0xMkIdah7KixB3UTG4x13wKWHy0m0x52-rLjRkti4jxWg3tC-KEV0m_s/s1600/Plowshare+from+Qasrin.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-z2W53qG5omi-x1k-JGnTyYvolkjSB0CwlonKxCZtV6sBfhpxqSjIo9Pk6KvcCIMlW7G0z4PjJThB0cuDJ0xMkIdah7KixB3UTG4x13wKWHy0m0x52-rLjRkti4jxWg3tC-KEV0m_s/s320/Plowshare+from+Qasrin.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489277790140113650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I forgot to mention on my last post that we were staying on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee every night. We were able to swim in the evening when we returned from these long hot days. On this night we got to see the sunset and it was beautiful. Here is a picture of me and the sunset. I would like to say I was thinking about deep theological things, mostly I was just missing my wife.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr8GRSoOqzb4l0qt2UKOWX7QxqRk8fln_36I5DEdxq-UANnD6sJNaH8XPPnMUAVBBvl4wT0aTWAizfW3IcDTroPzCQPG3hs8TIh8FzogDkXJWLKytTzCIJOZmkzQmMDXNuvc-cPn6PFc/s1600/Me+at+Sunset+at+Galilee.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr8GRSoOqzb4l0qt2UKOWX7QxqRk8fln_36I5DEdxq-UANnD6sJNaH8XPPnMUAVBBvl4wT0aTWAizfW3IcDTroPzCQPG3hs8TIh8FzogDkXJWLKytTzCIJOZmkzQmMDXNuvc-cPn6PFc/s320/Me+at+Sunset+at+Galilee.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489277785268634482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-23905895746140902352010-07-02T04:19:00.001-07:002010-07-02T04:49:39.561-07:00We Were Off AgainAfter a couple days break and some more recovery from Herod's Revenge, we were of again for a 4 day trip into the region of Galilee with a few stop overs along the way. The first was at Ceasarea (Maritima) along the Mediterranean Sea. Once again this city is testimony to Herod's building prowess. He built this city and an artificial harbor. It had the finest in Roman planning with a large palace that had a pool that jutted out into the sea. The pictures below show this. I am standing at the outer edge of what was once the pool, and second is a picture looking back into the coast. This city is where Paul was kept after he was seized at Jerusalem (Acts 23:23). This is where he left from to appeal his way to Rome. For the power hungry people of the 1st Century, Ceasarea was their link to Rome. The city also had a theater and a hippodrome both located adjacent to Herod's palace. Herod also built a temple to Augustus here to reinforce his relationship with Rome and advocate the Imperial Cult that was surfacing at the time. Paul references this cult directly and indirectly several times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94iJiqYb75Hu__6E8WuEXyZthLDe3QLxLM0h-XKNLAR336-0oSOg5vtQG4Tj0Fi045Fdox91wbdbUyCiH6qXQonewcVlBGI7p9FEZWz3m6Wif8ZFBe0q0JdEMC9_RG31KeaPtCt4pZM8/s1600/Me+at+Ceaserea+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94iJiqYb75Hu__6E8WuEXyZthLDe3QLxLM0h-XKNLAR336-0oSOg5vtQG4Tj0Fi045Fdox91wbdbUyCiH6qXQonewcVlBGI7p9FEZWz3m6Wif8ZFBe0q0JdEMC9_RG31KeaPtCt4pZM8/s320/Me+at+Ceaserea+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489269085764185650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-oKTMlD0Nkl5IoP80FFlyObJ6_aZm5dVD2ziDnhp_-dBfXlTt8GtZYFBQY0YAMLQHJceK-uUTiGNL_tGTQfH7_4nGOAyLsT66tM-l95J7Z1UVbbsPrkvzFuZdPRpUYUJA7QfDLqeL0k/s1600/Herod's+Pool+at+Ceaserea+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-oKTMlD0Nkl5IoP80FFlyObJ6_aZm5dVD2ziDnhp_-dBfXlTt8GtZYFBQY0YAMLQHJceK-uUTiGNL_tGTQfH7_4nGOAyLsT66tM-l95J7Z1UVbbsPrkvzFuZdPRpUYUJA7QfDLqeL0k/s320/Herod's+Pool+at+Ceaserea+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489269095955705138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we went to Mt Carmel. There is a monastery on the highest point of the mountain where they believe the event in 1 Kings 18:19-40 took place. Below is view of the Jezereel Valley from the mountain. From this spot you could see the Mediterranean Sea as well, thus we got a breeze coming off of the Sea. The picture below is pointing towards Megiddo which I will write about next.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzPKWSvuhF_ovEpySZBfkYwyY0EvcM_hBbFRtbeAyGMgpgCj6AuzTMMbffYYPjHuH1y6X_1H8ONre1hUoXbhO3bKCZBVQ21h_rsC814CSKN-_uLhs4d6z2hyOEB95c53e-kb3lqYPa8M/s1600/Monastery+on+Mt+Carmel+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzPKWSvuhF_ovEpySZBfkYwyY0EvcM_hBbFRtbeAyGMgpgCj6AuzTMMbffYYPjHuH1y6X_1H8ONre1hUoXbhO3bKCZBVQ21h_rsC814CSKN-_uLhs4d6z2hyOEB95c53e-kb3lqYPa8M/s320/Monastery+on+Mt+Carmel+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489269099564692386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last on this day we went to Megiddo. This is the city that guarded the major path from the Philistine Coast into the Jezereel Valley. Every major power in the area wanted control of this city as a means of controlling trade. This is the place where Josiah meet his early end and it is the place that many believe is referenced in Rev 16:16. Har Meggido is the Hill or Mount of Megiddo and when it is put into Greek many transliterate it into Armageddon. Any way, food for thought. Below is a picture of a Solomonic large 6 chambered gate. Solomon reinforced this city because of its importance in trade routes and in protecting the Israelite people. Also elders would meet at the city gates like this one to discuss political and legal issues. Consider Prov 31.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J8jPMNZNAklCt5acHn9085hEHSeuRqssj7zTWdkkVvu3vfQPDJZGTgEsA3zRjWBwzXXnmFHJeYB6PqnYbd-4xo_3G9XqD8f3JpV48QasOUAP9RmiSfD8EeoIRxUJjGjzz6aOKXiWlm0/s1600/Megiddo+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J8jPMNZNAklCt5acHn9085hEHSeuRqssj7zTWdkkVvu3vfQPDJZGTgEsA3zRjWBwzXXnmFHJeYB6PqnYbd-4xo_3G9XqD8f3JpV48QasOUAP9RmiSfD8EeoIRxUJjGjzz6aOKXiWlm0/s320/Megiddo+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489269107700985202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-90389071734924270382010-06-26T05:19:00.000-07:002010-06-26T06:01:35.517-07:00The RockOn the last day of our 3 day trip we were extremely busy. We started at Masada. This was one of the things I was looking forward to the most. Herod built this fortress out of fear that Anthony would give the territory to Cleopatra and he would need a place to hole up. This fortress was built on 24 acres on top of an isolated rock along the Dead Sea. The drop to the East was around 1500 ft, but the drop on the West was much less. Later the Zealots took this fortress as a refuge against the Romans who had just destroyed the Temple. The Romans laid siege to this unsuccessfully. They then spent 3 years building a siege ramp to push the wall down and attack. The remnants of the siege ramp are still there. Anyway, this place was another amazing achievement by one neurotic and disturbed person. Here are just a few pictures. The first is a picture of the North Palace's 3 levels. The second was only part of the hike one side and you can also see part of the siege ramp that the Roman's built.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG1yBtlVYwp8GSuVbKTvocJYnmR1qP7tQlada61ry3CJS1rPlbLxgvL7qmruHdcSn_SG4kY5xdolSoT-8HG0mKul02UgWaNZ9t-8spoYIcUkNotP1U3sSgza6dJsH8LobSxPaS_RiqDU/s1600/3+Northern+Palace+Levels.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG1yBtlVYwp8GSuVbKTvocJYnmR1qP7tQlada61ry3CJS1rPlbLxgvL7qmruHdcSn_SG4kY5xdolSoT-8HG0mKul02UgWaNZ9t-8spoYIcUkNotP1U3sSgza6dJsH8LobSxPaS_RiqDU/s320/3+Northern+Palace+Levels.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487064658730234802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9db2dJATG1EmPvYMCkHlNXxmhKqqjFvkdR8SzVPrQSZ2sKCNUqKfcMMqDSKyvAKOqoeIQ07k99t936dgpsdRbb5AOIVBgSnuCCNZXYjwO4Rhxb5z-RNiyA_Sp75ohc2i-BHesHWaMevE/s1600/Hike+up+to+Masada.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9db2dJATG1EmPvYMCkHlNXxmhKqqjFvkdR8SzVPrQSZ2sKCNUqKfcMMqDSKyvAKOqoeIQ07k99t936dgpsdRbb5AOIVBgSnuCCNZXYjwO4Rhxb5z-RNiyA_Sp75ohc2i-BHesHWaMevE/s320/Hike+up+to+Masada.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487064668398141826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we had lunch at the Dead Sea near En Gedi. It was extremely hot and I was not feeling well this day so I did not get all the way in the water. The water is not refreshing. It is hot and full of things that I do not want to know about. The mineral content of the water is around 35% while the Ocean is around 7%. Incidentally, this is the lowest place on Earth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2r3Di22IUkOaC8bRAPYvzTzuANsLvNjtx6L3lE2uYPwfkpPQvPEViBXN-Ro-mgmMhSqx3p-cW7asNgvHFA5aPAmCfoja98S2kYDvbKTLoc5A_GPc_rv5uvS1B1PeL4b7Cdm5jgUMjyw/s1600/Me+in+the+Dead+Sea.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2r3Di22IUkOaC8bRAPYvzTzuANsLvNjtx6L3lE2uYPwfkpPQvPEViBXN-Ro-mgmMhSqx3p-cW7asNgvHFA5aPAmCfoja98S2kYDvbKTLoc5A_GPc_rv5uvS1B1PeL4b7Cdm5jgUMjyw/s320/Me+in+the+Dead+Sea.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487064672742851794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After lunch, I was struggling but En Gedi called and I really wanted to do this. I was rewarded with a beautiful and inspiring hike. Additionally, I got to swim in one of the pools and was refreshed to my bones. I know why David hid hear. It was a lush green garden in the midst of a vast wasteland. Here I got some energy back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMpLENchMx3RwBI8WNU3gn1ttw5yl-QLJ3SLRkFaGGYw3z7VZB7GYdyLafDs8Rhx3HJQ_d3XMuZGSIsbu-dqx3B9ar2l4DHcn4kuDnDUr-h4jJQtG3EwUmydCEVyG-nTe390hp2a7Lak/s1600/En+Gedi+5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMpLENchMx3RwBI8WNU3gn1ttw5yl-QLJ3SLRkFaGGYw3z7VZB7GYdyLafDs8Rhx3HJQ_d3XMuZGSIsbu-dqx3B9ar2l4DHcn4kuDnDUr-h4jJQtG3EwUmydCEVyG-nTe390hp2a7Lak/s320/En+Gedi+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487066638584402098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our last stop was Qumran. We were not able to explore the caves at all, but only the communal site of the Jewish Monks. This was a little disappointing and I will not include a picture of this. However, at this place the most important archaeological find of all time occurred since Joshia recovered the Book of the Law.<br /><br />I am preparing for a 4 day trip to the Galilee region after having had 2 days off. Unfortunately, my days off have consisted of resting and trying to get better. I am feeling much better today and I am ready for the trip north. I will check back with you in a few days.<br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-16384381674574911902010-06-26T04:31:00.000-07:002010-06-26T04:59:46.908-07:00Going to the Super BowlWe stayed overnight at Mitzpe Ramon in a youth hostel (it was actually fairly nice). It is situated on the edge of the Super Bowl - which is a geological feature that has carved a huge depression in the ground. I had a chance to do my quiet time on an edge of a cliff overlooking this huge depression. The variety of beauty that God has placed on this Earth is amazing. Below is one picture and it does not do the area justice. Additionally, it had been blazing hot everywhere we went, but at Mitzpe Ramon the weather relented and brought us all refreshment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXo0Rxc1TcPtzk_H6IOrRT9-P3qTuIZ9MqaBCL1Eid3Iv9eA7lQW9ZmvwjnLWbmVfCeRIsxsQZrzZC721tw31eiaQakG6B155KqxiEqvWPmbRzjUHSSYB_32lN3xzv4caZc-seEqfJX0/s1600/Super+Bowl+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXo0Rxc1TcPtzk_H6IOrRT9-P3qTuIZ9MqaBCL1Eid3Iv9eA7lQW9ZmvwjnLWbmVfCeRIsxsQZrzZC721tw31eiaQakG6B155KqxiEqvWPmbRzjUHSSYB_32lN3xzv4caZc-seEqfJX0/s320/Super+Bowl+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487046817910849234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We later went to Avdat (an important Nabotean City). This town was eventually converted to Christianity and had to Churches. I find this interesting that a town in this time period had two Churches and they were within 150 ft of each other. Then we spent time at a Wadi near Avdat. This was a beautiful area that had a challenging hike up the side of the Wadi wall. This was an amazing hike and I was feeling good, so I went. Here is a picture of the Wadi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GJ-PGqT4QDj_h6pR7M66sATj6BPc920_2nMcL2VZDqhGS7tzPviONRJe5Ykapfzu7yKBqUdy19d80tRDvbiyrXY6j0yS2ePOHii5o9dxD1uhyzrtBySmPOBKFdjTZg9u2_4Va2YcmzE/s1600/Wadi+at+Avdat+6.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GJ-PGqT4QDj_h6pR7M66sATj6BPc920_2nMcL2VZDqhGS7tzPviONRJe5Ykapfzu7yKBqUdy19d80tRDvbiyrXY6j0yS2ePOHii5o9dxD1uhyzrtBySmPOBKFdjTZg9u2_4Va2YcmzE/s320/Wadi+at+Avdat+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487046828449248338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We went from there to Beersheba. They found an altar their that looked half pagan and half Jewish in design. The excavator of the site was Amaroni and he was never every to firmly establish the location of the temple area. Typically temple areas where built on top of old cultic sites, so he was intrigued as to why he was not finding this. They did find a room that had no floor going down very deep. His conclusion is that Hezekiah uprooted the temple so completely that he dug up every temple going as far back as they could dig. Here is a picture of the reconstructed altar found there with a living sacrifice on top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHnhQVFY1SEouBF6fGp024BA1wi9Fhxzub-gPJ4M21l8A3uXm8q0iPcao8eJQLzSrC1RCeeGGPIRmY_ycs-VZo4cvZRupg4LxD56pls8jIot2vnauMoBfEEET-A8xV8DW-TkAj2ejXmA/s1600/A+Living+Sacrifice.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuHnhQVFY1SEouBF6fGp024BA1wi9Fhxzub-gPJ4M21l8A3uXm8q0iPcao8eJQLzSrC1RCeeGGPIRmY_ycs-VZo4cvZRupg4LxD56pls8jIot2vnauMoBfEEET-A8xV8DW-TkAj2ejXmA/s320/A+Living+Sacrifice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487047768691742930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The last place we stopped was Arad, where we explored the site where they found a temple that reflected Israelite worship and design. Inside of what would have been the Holy of Holies were two standing stones. Some scholars believe that one represented YHWH and the other Ashura. Other scholars think that these two stones were to represent the law given the absence of the Ark of the Covenant in their temple. Intriguing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwVeU66AlIhBiB40J8YVnpvUO6zr_ztIOQGEGlqFPCI9U-oWSpYovaLUfu5SXrbgiaSb9hJkT9YYI-0YFYxXUWwrjm330wJD-aeczojcfb8IZqVZJ7m8oyvbD3pEztu1U6oWPDe9X4To/s1600/Temple+Area+at+Arad.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwVeU66AlIhBiB40J8YVnpvUO6zr_ztIOQGEGlqFPCI9U-oWSpYovaLUfu5SXrbgiaSb9hJkT9YYI-0YFYxXUWwrjm330wJD-aeczojcfb8IZqVZJ7m8oyvbD3pEztu1U6oWPDe9X4To/s320/Temple+Area+at+Arad.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487046812421000402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-58195848812077421202010-06-25T07:06:00.000-07:002010-06-25T07:32:37.074-07:00My Day as an OutcastThis day had a lot packed in. We were going to the Valley of Elah (David and Goliath), Lachish, Askelon (for some learning and swimming in the Mediterranean), and lastly onto Mizpah Ramon to spend the night.<br /><br />As I noted earlier I had been struggling with "Herod's" Revenge and bus travel was somewhat treacherous for me. I was not able to do many of the sites. I had to stay by the bus and bathroom, and I had no energy to do anything. This was extremely difficult for me as I trained hard for this trip so that I would not miss anything. All morning and early afternoon I would try to keep up, but was ultimately not able and had to retreat to the bus or lay in the shade. I felt like a leper (OK that is hyperbolic, but it was difficult). The last place we stopped was at Ashkelon along the Mediterranean Sea where I once again had to lay in the shade. At Ashkelon I received His peace.<br /><br />I did not get to explore this impressive ancient city. Instead I lay in shade and prayed. -<br /><br />I prayed for my wife that she would continue to have the strength to endure with me gone. I thanked God for her and the strength she provides for me.<br /><br />I prayed for my children that they would make the lives of each other and others richer as they have made my life richer. I thanked God for them and their endless energy and heart for Him.<br /><br />I prayed for my parents and parents in law and thanked God for their loving support in our lives.<br /><br />I prayed for my brothers and their families. I thanked God for the way they have loved me and accepted me. I prayed that my children would feel the same way about their brothers as I do about mine.<br /><br />I prayed for the Watsons, Degoughs, and Dreyfus' as they wait on that phone call telling them to come get their children.<br /><br />I prayed for the Boykins and the Davises as they enter into a dry and thirsty land.<br /><br />I prayed for the myriad of people that I know are wanting to get pregnant. May God release this upon you.<br /><br />I prayed for many others whose requests I know, but are too private to mention. I prayed that the Lord would provide what you need.<br /><br />I needed this day. I needed this day badly. I am in a great place learning great things, but one of the true blessings of Christ is those that I get to live my life with. So on a day when I was missing some of the best educational teaching available, it was not a waste, because I prayed.<br /><br />Lord may I never let the pursuit of knowledge of You get in the way of my life that is lived for You.<br /><br />Below are two of the few pictures I got this day the first is from the Valley of Elah (I also got a smooth stone from the Valley) and the second is a picture of the Mediterranean Sea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3WfiuE7uSLyLnxfha_nhlMx74S9nYJYYlZC_TOtZpvJ9F9xhUuefGRC4W9A4oVd0KKOtnQhwrrEEOZCTVP7wFzqX7M1OVC0Ou0kKrFBCpQy8Ac_t6xShAemoBle-8mSsVn9FfcGBkAg/s1600/Valley+of+Elah+from+Azakah.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3WfiuE7uSLyLnxfha_nhlMx74S9nYJYYlZC_TOtZpvJ9F9xhUuefGRC4W9A4oVd0KKOtnQhwrrEEOZCTVP7wFzqX7M1OVC0Ou0kKrFBCpQy8Ac_t6xShAemoBle-8mSsVn9FfcGBkAg/s320/Valley+of+Elah+from+Azakah.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486714006465811474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiihLlsojLeqgyHhwINzYaXKTXiuzYUnU23mOy-oeQBaObgLpsS5LcyfPhcBEvf6_wCL7x_RE-BVxE5QseZ1-sqpm53yw_JgCKAoMVg_vvTY3H3woTd4gxR1y0LbXD4SZDLJ0fbqBR9ik/s1600/Mediterranean+Sea+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiihLlsojLeqgyHhwINzYaXKTXiuzYUnU23mOy-oeQBaObgLpsS5LcyfPhcBEvf6_wCL7x_RE-BVxE5QseZ1-sqpm53yw_JgCKAoMVg_vvTY3H3woTd4gxR1y0LbXD4SZDLJ0fbqBR9ik/s320/Mediterranean+Sea+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486714015073975090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Be Blessed - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-70933411555493466312010-06-25T01:11:00.001-07:002010-06-25T03:19:49.774-07:00The Herodium to BethlehemOn this day we went to the Herodium to observe this massive pleasure palace built by Herod the Great just a decade or two before the birth of Jesus. This area is south of Jerusalem and adjacent to Bethlehem. Herod built this by basically combining two different mounds to an unnatural height. The first picture below is from the top pointing down towards one of the luxury pools and Roman baths and another is a picture from a tower looking down into the complex. This place was a spectacle of human achievement. There was a even a theater with parade grounds down below. This structure was meant to impress the world. It was meant to be on display.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc9rnxNZPZWJULtlHxHw6bxk9TM5TFP2Yy8RhsbBZDP5sQy_wvukChAyqAbSHzScV0XE2R1mnYrfHGM9QuCmUtCriK_Whp8lm2HfuK_Mgop6TckkpmrHto7vkMRmD7MctadaeXPuynCI/s1600/Herodium+Pools.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc9rnxNZPZWJULtlHxHw6bxk9TM5TFP2Yy8RhsbBZDP5sQy_wvukChAyqAbSHzScV0XE2R1mnYrfHGM9QuCmUtCriK_Whp8lm2HfuK_Mgop6TckkpmrHto7vkMRmD7MctadaeXPuynCI/s320/Herodium+Pools.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486623677391792674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF0QuqfJ0KduSoOWHxEjzfwcT-YZ2dcfVmXO4al31rdyR7gN6_FcS8gpIXi74oj-f7OiWDiweC9gZkB6TYQb4KgVDg8JQW4Gr1ZYQQTkwnPVwH9KeZzoOLnyexX0BmWWwJm907dI5S1Y/s1600/Herodium+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF0QuqfJ0KduSoOWHxEjzfwcT-YZ2dcfVmXO4al31rdyR7gN6_FcS8gpIXi74oj-f7OiWDiweC9gZkB6TYQb4KgVDg8JQW4Gr1ZYQQTkwnPVwH9KeZzoOLnyexX0BmWWwJm907dI5S1Y/s320/Herodium+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486628117546918658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we went to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This Church is a Greek Orthodox and is built on top of the supposed birth place of Jesus. Jesus as you know was born in the humblest of circumstances and in the humblest of places. I do not know what I was expecting, but I was extremely disappointed and underwhelmed by what this church had done. As you will see below, it looks like a gaudy and never used fireplace. They have filled the area with symbols and icons. It is now a place of opulence instead of humility. I think you see where I am going. Are we a people of opulence or of humility? It seems to me that both the American Church and American Christian Culture reflect the Herodium instead of the Stable. This sad alteration of the supposed birth place of Christ must have seemed like a good idea at the time, for me it seemed to deface it and its intent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWc6_k4EbyWjWhL0R2ePewGPwa-HKlbm8d3YMc-e43CgD2igoxI7ai2HuM5uMnenqtZ7-040oqM2Qmi0cwh15he2xYr2GQ8Q68sQqLy-YLj7-9HRC-n9UIbK0kicNIhLlOsmlg8TDgJo/s1600/Birth+Place+of+Jesus.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWc6_k4EbyWjWhL0R2ePewGPwa-HKlbm8d3YMc-e43CgD2igoxI7ai2HuM5uMnenqtZ7-040oqM2Qmi0cwh15he2xYr2GQ8Q68sQqLy-YLj7-9HRC-n9UIbK0kicNIhLlOsmlg8TDgJo/s320/Birth+Place+of+Jesus.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486653024655998898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The last thing is that I am also loading almost all the pictures I have taken onto Facebook. I have labeled them and you are free to email me and ask any questions. It is lengthy to upload pictures to this blog site. Friend me on Facebook if you want or you can go to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/dcaulley1">http://www.facebook.com/dcaulley1</a>.<br /><br />Blessings - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-24259444767349541682010-06-21T19:35:00.000-07:002010-06-21T19:37:46.717-07:003 Day TripI will be gone on a three day trip to the Negev region and I will not have my computer. I will update when I get back. Please be praying for me as I am getting over a case of "Herod's" revenge as well.<br /><br />DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-65346838345902848822010-06-20T04:34:00.000-07:002010-06-20T05:01:59.129-07:00More Photos and ThoughtsWe did a lot of driving on this day. We started in the luscious western part of the country and saw Beth Shemesh (birthplace of Samuel). This land was given to tribe of Dan, but they were ultimately not able to hold it and moved north above Galilee. Think Ceseria Phillipi area. Next we went to Gezer the "front door" to the hill country. And drove east and had lunch and Nebi Samwil (the supposed burial site of Samuel). This is one of the tallest locations in all of the hill country. With great views of modern and ancient Jerusalem and Ramallah. This was and has been a strategic hill through out the history of the land. On clear days they say you can see from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea. Impressive. This day it was not clear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1_fU8XnVxuZrqmQylmb__mL6kh81P2h3avhEKg3_ysSgh55ud4JQUD2ciGRdLFze82bVWFbojM-qFlun1l8fXyHDLn_Yw8s5dq3MVPcDKYCSiw20P0lDh2mLK1tP0XJgE4-h7eHImM/s1600/View+East+from+Nebi+Samwil.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1_fU8XnVxuZrqmQylmb__mL6kh81P2h3avhEKg3_ysSgh55ud4JQUD2ciGRdLFze82bVWFbojM-qFlun1l8fXyHDLn_Yw8s5dq3MVPcDKYCSiw20P0lDh2mLK1tP0XJgE4-h7eHImM/s320/View+East+from+Nebi+Samwil.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484819610948777090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we traveled thorough the Benjamin Wilderness to Jericho. It was hot. 110 Degrees in the shade. The site at Jericho had been picked clean, but it is a place where many springs feed a otherwise desolate area. The next part of my day was my favorite. We stopped in the Judean Wilderness close to the old road that lead from Jericho to Jerusalem. This is the road Jesus walked several times and the road where the parable of the good Samaritan is set.<br /><br />As some of you may know Anna and I have been going through something of a wilderness time for the last several months. I will spare all the details. We do not feel abandoned, only that God is stripping away the unnecessary parts of our life. Seeing the wilderness is what I was looking forward to the most. My Dad took this picture of me, and it struck me through the heart as I feel this picture captures aspects of my life. Only when you look close you see the oases along the bottom of the Kelt Wadi. These areas of green sustained people and flocks in this wilderness. My oases is my wife and kids. I am in the wilderness, but it is not joyless because of my family. God has used them to sustain me and we will be His people as we cross over the Mt of Olives and into the land that God has prepared for us. Only we will not be faithless and we will not back down and we will not give in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLDsOZ-5mv0rx1QDC167aEEHBAQBn_E2-xAXiRG0gJYH-cZBp9Ur_gGkCr92MzKmJ1ckG5ThAnMZhXJDsdODYdKnZRnBHqIiX5o15Zlih3lLeeFjutxttOkiHRvciB59TrAGj6tpmUq8/s1600/Me+at+the+Judean+Desert.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXLDsOZ-5mv0rx1QDC167aEEHBAQBn_E2-xAXiRG0gJYH-cZBp9Ur_gGkCr92MzKmJ1ckG5ThAnMZhXJDsdODYdKnZRnBHqIiX5o15Zlih3lLeeFjutxttOkiHRvciB59TrAGj6tpmUq8/s320/Me+at+the+Judean+Desert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484822512986192466" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My last thought from this day is the vast difference between the east side of Jerusalem and the west. Within 10 miles the land changes significantly. This last picture is from the Rephaim Canyon where we started our day. This picture below tells it all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo69lS04MFVdOVgs0QrRcEt02UW6LAtTfvwqJsGXPhZGJSK-sznjxNEuu6aW-Zx9HY-NFy7hZOFR21dGf78pfNvEclKlynwv2172bbmeVB1HujJxys_NexdyPW1wr-xIT-uRpvGhcUm4/s1600/Rephaim+Canyon+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo69lS04MFVdOVgs0QrRcEt02UW6LAtTfvwqJsGXPhZGJSK-sznjxNEuu6aW-Zx9HY-NFy7hZOFR21dGf78pfNvEclKlynwv2172bbmeVB1HujJxys_NexdyPW1wr-xIT-uRpvGhcUm4/s320/Rephaim+Canyon+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484824048755890818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Be Blessed - DCDon Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-56539289851674886922010-06-17T20:37:00.000-07:002010-06-18T08:30:26.275-07:00Some Pictures from Day TwoThe Dome of the Rock - This is a shrine on the Temple Mount that some believe covers directly over the place where the Holy of Holies was in the Temple and that this was also the place where Abraham bound Isaac.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYhuJIT_Gsj2eoGiYzqjMZDFVj_3Tr6tL2HBIY3p2LnY0N-7NrzQ0_X7LeoeINQO3lqO1DGueJTnkpttwUXSbTGr5yNAM5E7n2KiT9dPd_lMavSWN2cyozWN2bD9SgOzNRN9ydf3i3Ms/s1600/Imported+Photos+00044.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYhuJIT_Gsj2eoGiYzqjMZDFVj_3Tr6tL2HBIY3p2LnY0N-7NrzQ0_X7LeoeINQO3lqO1DGueJTnkpttwUXSbTGr5yNAM5E7n2KiT9dPd_lMavSWN2cyozWN2bD9SgOzNRN9ydf3i3Ms/s320/Imported+Photos+00044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484135852124854370" border="0" /></a><br />For some reason this was very interesting to me. I am standing on what archeologists believe are the stones turned over from the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD. This were found when they dug towards the southern part of the Western Wall.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpXTArxdwmRbiCoEcCM3cgxJe-pMFJzp-ueaWARSkaj4VlgE5LdUjE6iuDI3s1JmLUFjS2LCR3ZpgiqT9O8gviSJEUIkea0SSs0yXZ32ZbbcDiWlo0yedJ5FYXrGiTp20VZHnUkd3wLo/s1600/Imported+Photos+00051.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpXTArxdwmRbiCoEcCM3cgxJe-pMFJzp-ueaWARSkaj4VlgE5LdUjE6iuDI3s1JmLUFjS2LCR3ZpgiqT9O8gviSJEUIkea0SSs0yXZ32ZbbcDiWlo0yedJ5FYXrGiTp20VZHnUkd3wLo/s320/Imported+Photos+00051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483943654209226402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Below is a picture of me and my Dad at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). There were Bar Mitzvahs going on during our whole time there. This was a unique experience.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmkOfzcc6x1hmsJdsWFgIAMI1ZZYFIL_XZ4ehlCdu9IilANVftWGwhuR7nWDpitZegiVqnmvarhOQuVJ0k7xs2iVv_GHeTAMf9GY9qqQ26-SxDYO18dCeecDqKVoV-AAHNJ7n07LpgdQ/s1600/Imported+Photos+00048.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmkOfzcc6x1hmsJdsWFgIAMI1ZZYFIL_XZ4ehlCdu9IilANVftWGwhuR7nWDpitZegiVqnmvarhOQuVJ0k7xs2iVv_GHeTAMf9GY9qqQ26-SxDYO18dCeecDqKVoV-AAHNJ7n07LpgdQ/s320/Imported+Photos+00048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483942873715008802" border="0" /></a>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-73728087994746947762010-06-17T07:14:00.000-07:002010-06-17T19:54:23.090-07:00Some Video from NT Jerusalem WalkI am going to upload 3 videos. The first is video from the Temple Mount where the Dome of the Rock is located. The Temple Courtyard area is 37 acres.<br /><br />The second video is from the West Wall also called the Wailing Wall. You will see a Bar Mitzvah processional, a tourist taking pictures and people praying against the wall. This was amazing. Men have unlimited access to this area given that their heads are covered.<br /><br />The third is a Bar Mitzvah processional that starts a little further out. The singing and dancing is fun to watch and they blow shofars along the way.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzfGHpcn5RA4SMAc49BPTq5MlHIx-CDu0EIjfUZlaPppgRIxt1cmq0sfTCnC7wTFPQbSb-cNH9NfyTVfjS5' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXQ8hq9yJafPevBll9aVJrNClqXCkbl8ZQSDSIEkJySpKDgQYu33CA9YYCH7kvbJlJPlaoOuMOQSgIjudL7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzF04NHrUTKOr0v7tWhsfKi_OHVE2vMuShO_sADjcsb4hO70vxKsRXfLA9RxMa_jiRuMeldCVd-mMMBqahTBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7437206779404148869.post-7772412637592544622010-06-16T21:12:00.000-07:002010-06-16T21:13:49.425-07:00Hezekiah and the Dead<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cdcaull%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cdcaull%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cdcaull%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-name:"Normal\,Paper"; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:200%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p.MsoNoSpacing, li.MsoNoSpacing, div.MsoNoSpacing {mso-style-update:auto; mso-style-priority:1; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">It is difficult to not be impressed with Hezekiah’s tunnel.<span style=""> </span>Modern people, me included, tend to think that we have advanced way beyond the ancients in knowledge and skill.<span style=""> </span>Things like this tunnel prove otherwise.<span style=""> </span>When you consider the tools and technology available to them at that time, this feat was amazing.<span style=""> </span>The necessity of the tunnel for defensive purposes demanded a solution.<span style=""> </span>While Hezekiah was a Godly king, he still saw the need to sure up this weakness.<span style=""> </span>This monumental task was so important that the difficulty did not stop the workers.<span style=""> </span>When the need is great so is the solution many times.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">Also, the presence of the cemeteries is hard to ignore.<span style=""> </span>In the US cemeteries are often put to the side, but here the memorials to the dead are a constant presence no matter where you go.<span style=""> </span>I have never paid much attention to the burial practices of societies, but Jerusalem forces you to consider this.<span style=""> </span>What does it say about a society that it memorializes its dead in this way? (And not just the kings and queens)<span style=""> </span>Consider that in Egypt there is little doubt as the occupant of a tomb, but in Israel there is almost no certainty, even for the greatest leaders in the county’s history.<span style=""> </span>Interesting.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">DC</p> Don Caulleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13701102288740534237noreply@blogger.com0