Author: newkingjim

I was fortunate to be able to visit the island of Crete, and even more fortunate to visit Knossos, which is considered to be one of the oldest cities is human history. For people like me who enjoy old, dead ruined things, this is a ‘must see’ location. Not only is it old (like I would need any other reasons), it is also the capital and center of the Minoan culture and the source of the mythological story of King Minos, Theseus, and the Minotaur. In current times, the Minoans are frequently portrayed as a peaceful, gentle, non-militaristic people who ruled over a sort of ‘idealistic paradise.’ If only it were so. But as you walk the site and listen to the guides explain about the culture, you come across a plain looking raised area of brick.

This is a sacrificial altar. This is a place where individuals were restrained and then slaughtered, their blood running freely as an offering to the gods of the Minoans. It’s a difficult subject to consider: human sacrifice. Yet, our human history is filled with cultures who sacrificed human beings (in particular, for their blood) as offerings to gods. In many of these cultures, individuals were generally chosen against their will to be sacrificed or forced to give away their sons and daughters. It’s horrific. Barbaric. But if we look at our Christian religion, we see this idea of blood sacrifice at the center of it. While never easy to accept, if we look at the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood in the context of so many cultures in the past, we can get an idea of how important it was to humanity. Here was a man, claiming to be God, offering his blood (voluntarily) as a sacrifice for the benefit of all men and women. Even more, he was revealing to all people that no more sacrifices of human life and blood need ever be offered to gods again. So we may not see why all this ‘blood stuff’ is in the New Testament, but if we can grasp even a little bit how much the sacrifice of blood was a part of human activity in the past, we can appreciate how much the sacrifice of Jesus must have meant to the people of the world. Both then and now.

There’s always so much talk about the last days, and when Jesus is coming again to establish his kingdom. We Christians can become overly obsessed with the issue. I find it interesting that Jesus addressed this topic in the very last words he spoke to the disciples. The disciples asked him point blank (see Acts 1) “will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” and Jesus said “it is not for you to know.”

To paraphrase, Jesus told the disciples it was none of their business! Not only did he tell them it was none of their business when these future events were going to happen, he told them to go out (after receiving the Holy Spirit) and be witnesses to the whole world. That ‘Great Commission’ thing. And then he left, dramatically ascending into heaven.

The future is none of your business. Get busy with spreading the gospel. Goodbye.

 

I take from that, on a personal level, that I should quit focusing on the future (which is none of my business) and keep busy right now by doing the things that God wants me to do (which is most definitely my business).

 

There are a few other places in the Bible where God tells people certain things are none of their business. Maybe we should pay a little less attention to those things and a lot more attention to the things he tells us are important.

This last year, I’ve been inside two lighthouses and actually climbed to the top of one of them. The journey upward was not an easy one as I’m not a big fan of heights, but I decided to just go for the first window so that I could then tell people (without actually lying) ‘yes, I climbed up a lighthouse.’ It’s strange inside these towers. Sounds are magnified and echo with odd distortions that are other worldly. The stairs are metal and they can move or sway beneath your feet, creaking and grinding with sounds that are reminiscent of the sound effects from Titanic. You are forced into close physical contact with strangers who are coming down as you are going up, and who have not necessarily showered anytime recently. For me it was an altogether unpleasant experience, filled with moments where I was thinking, ‘why am I doing this just so I can lie to people.’ But after reaching the first window, I went for the second window. After just a few steps, I was thinking, ‘I didn’t even have to climb to the first window, I could have just flat out lied.’ Still, I proceeded to the third window and eventually the top. My fear of heights was at full force as I imagined the lighthouse collapsing beneath my feet. I peeked my head out the doorway at the top and took in the view. Magnificent. Others were standing along the railing outside, some actually leaning against the railing. Who are these crazy people? Anyway, I judiciously leaned out the doorway far enough to snap a photo and then quickly began my descent to the ground (and sanity). Much can be said about climbing a lighthouse as a metaphor for the spiritual life. It’s not going to happen by just thinking about it. You can approach it one step at a time, and in phases. You have to constantly choose to keep going. The world around you can distract you and try to dissuade you. You are constantly forced to deal with people in ways you would prefer not to. You have to deal with your own weaknesses. Even the view from the first window is breathtaking. Or you could just pretend and lie about the whole thing. I say start climbing.

Many people have posted a picture similar to this, one of the many Alaskan glaciers. Many have even posted pictures of the glacier calving, that is, small pieces breaking off the main glacier. In order to take such a photo, you have to wait patiently, camera at the ready. You have to stay focused on the glacier, fingers poised for action. If you glance away, or get distracted, or your mind wanders, you miss the shot. Sometimes I think God is like these glaciers. He’s there, but he doesn’t seem to be doing anything. In truth, glaciers are always moving, though it doesn’t seem that way. So too, God. We are frequently looking at other things, thinking of other things. We are distracted. And so we miss God like we miss the calving of the glacier. It takes a little patient, focused, waiting to see or hear from God. The glacier is a reminder of that.

There’s more going on at Glastonbury Abbey than legends about Joseph of Arimathea. Let’s remember that young man known as Arthur, and his round table of knights, and the wizard Merlin (not to mention the evil witch Morgana). King Arthur is one of the most well known figures of history, although he very likely did not exist in the way that his stories have come down to us. Literary scholars continue to study and debate the existence of Arthur, down to the details of the spelling of his name. This is all fascinating stuff. Well, maybe fascinating to the scholars. But in examining the Arthurian legends through microscopic details, we can often miss the whole point of the stories. Arthur was a great king who saved Britain from invasions both terrestrial and supernatural. His stories are meant to inspire readers to remember the past, love their country and to imitate his example of selfless sacrifice. In some ways, this is not unlike the gospels handed down to us by the Apostles. They call us to remember the past, to love the Church, and to imitate the life of Christ. Let me be clear. I’m not equating the gospels to the legends of Arthur. There is a qualitative difference between the two. But in some ways, their purposes coincide. More on this later.

Glastonbury Abbey, now in ruins, was once a thriving community of monks, nuns, and friars. The grounds are open to visitors, and one can wander aimlessly over the stone walls and one’s own imagination.  And there is much to imagine. Ancient legends claim that Joseph of Arimethea left the holy land in the first century and came to England where he founded the abbey. Historical records cannot prove this. In fact, historical records cannot prove Joseph ever left the land of Israel. Yet the story persists and is thought to be true by many Christian believers. Perhaps this was an early version of what we today call ‘fake news.’ Maybe ‘legendary news’ is a better term. Whatever the truth may be, worship of God has continued in this location for 2000 years. Even today, masses and vigils are held amongst the falling walls and in small alcoves beneath the rock foundations. The legend may be fake, but the worship is real. God’s church is anywhere God’s people gather to worship Him.

In the course of the day, I’ve started seeing a variety of comments on the subject of ‘God is in control.’ Most of these comments involve one of two ideas. First, there is the usage of the term in a way that sort of ‘rubs salt’ into someone’s wound. You didn’t like how things turned out? Sorry, but God is in control. Second, some have started using it as a rallying cry to mobilize people for future political and cultural battle. A sort of ‘make lemons out of lemonade’ spiritual application. Now, there’s really nothing wrong with either recognizing God’s ultimate control of temporal things or gathering people together to fight for a cause. But it seems to me that when the theme ‘God is in control’ comes to the forefront of scripture, it is usually in a particular context: the context of faith and suffering.

The disobedient nation of Israel is sent into exile for 70 years and the people must recognize that God is in control of these events. Job loses everything and must learn to accept God’s purposes in his life. Israel endured 400 years of enslavement, crying for deliverance, and that is portrayed as God’s will. Jesus tells his disciples that they will be persecuted as he was persecuted and most of them were killed for their faith.

The book of Revelation has this theme of God’s control all through it. We have a picture of martyrs in heaven crying out to God, ‘how long until you stop the killing?’ and God tells them, ‘a little longer.’ God is in control when believers are being persecuted and killed. God is in control when he judges the living and the dead for their faith or lack of faith. God is in control no matter how much it seems he is out of control.

I don’t like seeing the phrase ‘God is in control’ used like a weapon to motivate or to say ‘I gotcha.’ It is a deep reality that challenges every believer to look at the worst in their lives and in their world and to recognize that things are amazingly complex and incomprehensible yet we can hold fast to our faith because God is in control of human history- past, present, and future.

This strange mosaic is known as the Lod mosaic. It was named such since it was discovered in the city of Lod in Israel. Serious creative thought was put into the naming process.

Although it looks small in this picture, the Lod mosaic is some 50 by 30 feet. It is actually the floor to a Roman house. It is also quite a mystery to scholars who have yet to determine whether this mosaic is Christian, Jewish, or Pagan.  After looking at various close ups of the images, I can see why. The mosaic has an odd mixture of animal pictures. There are angry, vicious looking beasts. But then there are animals with goofy smiles. There are a number of hunting images, with beasts killing other beasts. There are also a number of fish depictions. Fish eating fish. Fish around a sailing vessel. Fish in a basket. I was beginning to think this was the floor of a Roman fisherman and hunter, the mosaic being his version of a trophy case. Then I found the answer.

If you look very closely at the image between the two lions, just above the elephant’s head, you will see the key to solving the mosaic mystery.

Yes. That’s right. It’s Scooby Doo.

 

Participating in softball playoffs this week (in which our team was eventually crushed) has got me thinking about various venues of competition. The Coliseum is probably one of the most famous arenas of battle. I was fortunate enough to see it first hand. It’s big. It’s impressive. It has graffiti carved into its walls and columns.  Still, you can stand inside of it and imagine gladiators battling wild animals (or you could just watch the movie).

And if you think those ancient Romans were bloodthirsty barbarians, you can probably also summon modern pictures of bloody boxing fights, vicious ice hockey checking and slamming, and other such ‘civilized’ activities of the modern age. We are competitive creatures, although I think our ancestors would have a few choice words to say to us if they observed our modern practice of removing people from the battle if they are actively bleeding. They might also have something to say about our practice of awarding everyone a trophy.  Maybe performance motivation based on ‘you lose, you die’ is a bit extreme for our civilized world, but throw in some popcorn and hot dogs for the audience and I think they would be on their feet chanting ‘Death! Death! Death!’

Humans are fascinating beings, capable of amazing good and frightening violence.

During the second visit to the house we were eventually going to buy, I started wandering to the furthest ends of the jungle-like yard. Hearing the sound of water ahead of me, I pushed through some thick foliage and came upon something unexpected. Wooden stairs that descended toward the water. Stepping carefully on the wet, mossy steps, I made my way down to a landing overlooking a part of the creek.

And what did I see when I looked up and down the creek? A small waterfall! I had a nice place to put a bench where a person could sit down and just have some nice solitude.

I don’t have to go to the Everglades, or Costa Rica, or Zimbabe. I have a nice little jungle retreat right in my own backyard. And so does anyone else who comes to visit me! It’s surprising what you can find close by if you just venture out to the edges of your comfort zone.