tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152956912024-03-14T06:21:24.968-07:00Shan's Story_____________________________ Your current safe boundries were once unknown frontiers - UnknownShanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-37154259266567303252010-06-04T08:50:00.000-07:002010-06-04T08:54:23.543-07:00What Have I Learned?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2gn5zyOdItJtd4HQlRYb27AiVrjOnP_Ch98ZD_LfD4m30MeJhv8Hbsy_hbdtWGSG5Y0EbKEQ36MFR13Sb5hZLknrRFJpGG-XxJDf4SulqT6It2UEN7DSd4FLDlNqZvMccHb9/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2gn5zyOdItJtd4HQlRYb27AiVrjOnP_Ch98ZD_LfD4m30MeJhv8Hbsy_hbdtWGSG5Y0EbKEQ36MFR13Sb5hZLknrRFJpGG-XxJDf4SulqT6It2UEN7DSd4FLDlNqZvMccHb9/s400/IMG_5512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478947354546019522" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, it is now a year and a half after I walked into my first class in Jerusalem Israel. And now, I find myself sitting on yet another plane ride getting ready to embark upon a new adventure. So where have I been and what have I found?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before traveling to Israel, I found myself consumed with questions about faith, God, religion, spirituality, historicity of the Bible,…. the list goes on really. Many of the questions that I was asking numerous people in western circles (United States mainly) seemed to be easily answered with the phrase, “have faith” …. My questions were so easily answered that this created a problem for me. If God can be that easily accepted and followed with answers like, “have faith” then it seems that anybody could create a god and have unknowns that are only explained with “having faith.” </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you don’t really know what it is that you are having faith in, but you are devoted, then this has the potential to be very dangerous. We have seen this play out in numerous cultic massacres. If I’m putting my trust in something whole heartedly, then I want to know who, what, when, how, and most of all why. And nobody should be scared about where it leads. Thus, my adventure to the “Holy Land” began.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I didn’t care what the truth turned out to be (even if it was drastically different than what I had thought)… I just wanted to know, from an academic standpoint, no “faith” involved. I desired to know how the claims of Christianity stood compared to the methods used in the secular realm. I wasted no time in this endeavor. My time in Israel consisted of hiking the lands of our Patriarchs, examining the cultural lifestyles from the time of Moses to the time when Babylon came and stomped out “Israel” as a nation. I studied in “the field” by going to the places mentioned in the text and by testing it for myself to see if the geography and archaeology matched. Yes, I had to use the testimony of secular and Biblical scholars who did all of the leg work before me, but I was able to pull in various opinions surrounding numerous sites. My travels took me from Egypt to Jordan and throughout Israel, including the West Bank. Many times archaeology and geography meshed nicely with the biblical stories…. sometimes it didn’t. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My pursuit of this knowledge allowed me the freedom to venture down the “forbidden trails” of …. WHAT IF GOD ISN’T WHO WE MAKE HIM OUT TO BE? More boldly stated; What if God is an entity that is completely different than who we say He is. Perhaps God isn’t anything like the being we see in our minds… the being that we have created in our own reality based on our cultural norms and in our times. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The question needs to be asked: What if God is just an explanation, like mythology that explains the unexplainable, but doesn’t really exist? </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here is what I learned. Basically, God DOES exist. There is too much history and too much evidence to deny it (coming from Biblical and Anti-Religious scholars who have discovered facts that cannot be denied).</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> How people worship God today differs upon the ancestors that set certain traditions and theories in motion, all according to the culture in which they lived. God did reveal himself to people in various ways. How that looked, in my opinion differed depending upon backgrounds, culture, and experience of the people involved. When Jesus spoke on the Sea of Galilee, he used fishing images to connect with the men… something that would have been foreign to people living in Jerusalem, and vise versa. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">About 3 miles away from Nazareth (where Jesus grew up) a huge Roman town emerged with theaters, bathhouses, arenas, and all of the glamour of the day. Jesus and his father were both “carpenters,” or techtons. Basically, their trade was working with stones (contrary to popular belief). It is not too far fetched to believe that Jesus could have possibly worked in the city where honoring ones body and accomplishments were much more glamorous than the quiet village life that he would have been used to. Do you think he turned his head and condemned the people for following customs that had been engrained in them? Furthermore, did Jesus associate with these men at all? Did he listen to the theater as events were revealed in new and innovative ways that seemed to scream independence, opposite to the communal familiarity of Jewish life? What did he think of them? How did he treat them?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in;mso-list:none;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oftentimes it is easy for us to think that the Bible is so far removed in time and culture. Therefore, it is really difficult to plan our actions or form truths around what we see written in the Biblical text. In addition to that, do we really need to model what is written if it was written so long ago and passed down through scribes years after the events took place?</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in;mso-list:none;tab-stops:.5in"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I’d like to think that the determination of Paul (a follower of Christ who formerly persecuted Christians before becoming one) and all of the other Apostles stems from something that is real and tangible, even today. I’d like to rest in knowing that the 4,000 years of history that is woven into the tapestry of Israel has somehow been an accurate representation of what God would have wanted revealed about himself to us. Though several questions do exist in my mind today, just as I’m sure they existed for the disciples coming from little towns to Hellenized cities, for Elijah as he ran down that mountain to the Negev, and for Moses who wandered lost in the desert; one truth remains concrete. God is God. In our desire to know him more and in our attempt to uncover the mystery of the essence of God in the words of Ecclesiastes, “It is good that you grasp one thing, and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.” Eccl. 7:18</span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in;mso-list:none;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One thing at a time… We’ll get it figured out one day so we might as well enjoy the journey while we are able and make the most out of the opportunities that we do have. I came with many questions. I’m leaving with even more. </span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in;mso-list:none;tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-size:9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:Cambria;font-size:12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-85507289976075486522010-03-28T11:16:00.001-07:002010-03-28T11:18:14.195-07:00Happy Palm Sunday!<div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: -webkit-xxx-large; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: medium; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; "><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/PalmSunday?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_nN0KEnOS8OI/S6-b1lvMv6E/AAAAAAAAF2Y/NhE9BT3rlBs/s160-c/PalmSunday.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/PalmSunday?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Palm Sunday</a></td></tr></table></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;font-size:100%;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></span></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-59413360607203862502010-02-26T08:02:00.000-08:002010-02-26T09:41:47.614-08:00We made it in to Nablus!!!!!!!!<div style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; "><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxh3as2OMGy7hC9Z-iOYKF4o9KHUD2dyLzmfyzolzpwFZFlPEP3wW942bim2VtErAj2OG2bVvT1pr8' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Lucida Grande', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Exactly one year ago, we were not able to go into Nablus </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">because of Political unrest... today.... we made it in to look at one of the most incredible Archaeological finds- the well that Abraham built, then was later re-established by Jacob, and was later visited by Jesus who met with the Samaritan woman! They have not found anything else that could match the exact description... so in my mind... I'm saying "this is the real deal!"</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">To see pics click: </span></i></span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/SamariaFeb262010?feat=directlink"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Samaria Pics</span></i></span></span></a></span></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-72700590956277394782010-02-20T22:33:00.000-08:002010-02-20T23:04:40.326-08:00Benjamin Field Study<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fshantrabolek%2Falbumid%2F5440405437488859665%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you would like to look at pictures slowly, you can click on the </span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/BenjaminFieldStudyFeb2010?feat=directlink"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Benjamin Field Study</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> link or on Shan's pictures on the left hand side of the screen and it will take you to my albums.</span></span></i><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yesterday we went to the region of Benjamin. My favorite site was of Jericho (Old Testament). I liked seeing how Archaeology reveals the city of Jericho was destroyed when the walls around the entire city fell down and the city was burned, exactly as the Biblical account states. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Usually, when armies took over the cities, they would make a hole in the wall and conquer from there... furthermore they would loot whatever was in the city. In this case, Jericho's entire brick wall fell down at the exact same time around the year 1400 BC' ish. In addition to that, wheat and barley were found stored in pottery jars that were burned when the city was burned. Could this be because the Israelites offered up Jericho to God as their first fruits offering??? It was custom to offer something to God at the beginning of harvest season. Normally, all food would have been taken in a war. This does tell us that the time of year is consistent with the Biblical account as well- It was harvest time. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A famous Archaeologist, Kenyon came along and said the dates did not match to the Joshua account- however the sequence does. She, I feel, had an agenda to try and disprove the Bible based off of information that she didn't find instead of looking at what she did find. The old wall was found collapsed in around the entire city, a burn layer was found on top, and no cities existed on top of that city (following the understanding that if anyone built, they would be cursed as it says in Joshua 6). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Kenyon, uncovered the oldest building in the world in Jericho. It is a Neolithic Tower, which makes Jericho the oldest city in the world dating back to at least 9500 BC.</span></div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-6872372232583148012010-01-30T23:50:00.000-08:002010-01-30T23:56:43.019-08:00Back from Break<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJrKv9bgpHKG4cIPU8eqqnQc_-3qIlcOTM9c2C646cZjJ4cCgObWO7dlXnx5ZsrhlSydiG3u9UYR-ZlDl_s72dqfAHGRcF8f3IaS7JjbDD2tS2b7dsB_Agpn6Jrz4uq0YKAXC/s1600-h/IMG_4533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJrKv9bgpHKG4cIPU8eqqnQc_-3qIlcOTM9c2C646cZjJ4cCgObWO7dlXnx5ZsrhlSydiG3u9UYR-ZlDl_s72dqfAHGRcF8f3IaS7JjbDD2tS2b7dsB_Agpn6Jrz4uq0YKAXC/s400/IMG_4533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432808987779764738" /></a>Being back home for the holidays was great! I am always so much more thankful for the freedoms that we have in America when I travel from other places who don't quite have the same thing. It was good to be home!Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-86680518649030576682009-12-28T07:31:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:33:10.602-08:00Egypt!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); white-space: pre; ">Click on the picture below to see!</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); white-space: pre; "><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/EgyptDec2009?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_nN0KEnOS8OI/SzjNNeevLlE/AAAAAAAAFJU/tRk6T6bSX3Y/s160-c/EgyptDec2009.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/EgyptDec2009?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Egypt Dec 2009</a></td></tr></table></span></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-26366600381050909562009-12-01T10:51:00.000-08:002009-12-28T07:35:44.606-08:00Finals Began<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This weekend my Regional Explorations class, made up of 9 Graduate students including myself, ventured up to the region of the Galilee to give our final Presentations. Each one of us was assigned a different region, road, or ridge. I conquered Jokneam Pass while others tackled Nazareth Ridge, Dothan Pass, Shimron Pass, Acco Plain, Megiddo Pass, Harod Pass, Kishon Pass, and Tabor Pass. We needed to research the Ins and Outs of our particular region... why was it named the way it was? What is the Hebrew, Canaanite, Arabic, and native name of the sight? Who has lived there since it was first established? Who fought for it and why? What kind of land made up the area? Was it easily conquered? Click on the Picture below to view all pictures:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); "><table style="width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/JokneamPassKishonPassAccoPlainShimronMtTaborNazarethRidge?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_nN0KEnOS8OI/SxLFp95KdQE/AAAAAAAAE2c/diKe_lkhqXI/s160-c/JokneamPassKishonPassAccoPlainShimronMtTaborNazarethRidge.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/JokneamPassKishonPassAccoPlainShimronMtTaborNazarethRidge?feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Jokneam Pass, Kishon Pass, Acco Plain Shimron, Mt. Tabor, Nazareth Ridge</a></td></tr></table></span><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Basically, we became experts on our region and taught our fellow students. We each chose sites to teach on that best represented our region. I chose an overlook... actually it is a hang-gliding spot in Zichron Ya'acov which overlooks the Mediterranean and the Coast, along with the pass itself. For my second location, we ventured to the Tel of Jokneam and climbed to the top to view the Jezreel Valley on the Eastern side, Mt Carmel to the North, The Pass to the Eastern side, and the Coastal Plain which traveled North and South. We had a great time traveling as one big happy family throughout the region! If I could picture what lots of brothers and sisters would be like on vacation... I think this would be close.... we had a great ti</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">me!</span></div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-35864239684765486272009-11-24T11:44:00.000-08:002009-11-24T11:53:15.763-08:00I'm thankful for "bestest buds"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyOdPM4ZkJECCZc4iLZJDw9lSvn5Iv90KJNq2Ih42Zurk3HDoFxcOuJ1CR9Iku16KkiOspmgWLksbCyPLv0GElH7OxoTCWgwcsIL_csLTCg6ZibzTuwr8bNpWQcVxGE6yorCc/s1600/IMG_3594.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyOdPM4ZkJECCZc4iLZJDw9lSvn5Iv90KJNq2Ih42Zurk3HDoFxcOuJ1CR9Iku16KkiOspmgWLksbCyPLv0GElH7OxoTCWgwcsIL_csLTCg6ZibzTuwr8bNpWQcVxGE6yorCc/s400/IMG_3594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407760021839155826" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah, so... went to school today and I had a package slip waiting for me! One of my very close friends sent me, yet another package full of goodies wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving! She included Thanksgiving materials to make a good ol' fashion Turkey day meal with my favorite foods AND microwave recipes on how to make them (we don't have an oven). Ah, what a treat! She even remembered that this is my favorite holiday! Mom and I used to spend the entire day cooking and preparing a meal for the family who would gobble it down in just a few minutes... not even close to the time that it took to prepare it! </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So all you "Bestest Buds" out there... I just want to say thanks. You make the world a happy place!</span></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-43490351393772337182009-11-16T04:00:00.000-08:002009-11-16T04:34:27.414-08:00Most people work out... apparently, I cry<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Times;font-size:medium;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So... today I was at the gym riding a stationary bike... when this song came on my new mix...</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; white-space: pre; font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><embed src="http://www.tangle.com/flash/swf/flvplayer.swf" flashvars="viewkey=665ce8623e36bd4e3c7c" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="tangle" align="middle" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">S<i>he walked to the mailbox<br />On that bright summers day<br />Found a letter from her son<br />In a war far away</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>He spoke of the weather<br />And good friends that he'd made<br />Said I'd been thinking 'bout dad<br />And the life that he had<br />Thats why I'm here today<br />And that the end he said<br />You are what I'm fighting for<br />It was the first of the letters from war</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>She started writing<br />You're good and you're brave<br />What a father that you'll be someday<br />make it home<br />make it safe</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>She wrote every night as she prayed</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>Late in December<br />A day she'll not forget<br />Oh her tears stained the paper<br />With every word that she read</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>It said "I was up on a hill<br />I was out there alone<br />When the shots all rang out<br />And bombs were exploding<br />And thats when I saw him<br />He came back for me<br />And though he was captured<br />A man set me free<br />And that man was your son<br />He asked me to write to you<br />I told him i would, oh I swore"<br />It was the last of the letters from war</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>And she prayed he was living<br />Kept on believing<br />And wrote every night just to say</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>You are good<br />And you're brave<br />what a father that you'll be someday<br />Make it home<br />Make it safe<br />Still she kept writing each day</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>Then two years later<br />Autumn leaves all around<br />A car pulled in the driveway<br />And she fell to the ground<br />And out stepped a captain<br />Where her boy used to stand</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>He said "mom I'm following orders<br />From all of your letters<br />And I've come home again",<br />He ran into hold her<br />And dropped all his bags on the floor<br />Holding all of her letters from war</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><i>Bring him home<br />Bring him home<br />Bring him home</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Y</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ep, as I rode away on the bike that didn't move, tears popped out of my eyes. Ah, what a beautiful song. I really loved the picture of his mom loving him and waiting for him, all the while writing letters. Her love for him is real and you can almost feel it when listening to the song. </span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It also made me think about all the wars going on in the world... some in Iraq, some between cultures, and some in our cities. People are killing each other for various reasons- some are good reasons, and some don't even have a reason. The picture that is painted here about the young man going off to war to fight in order to protect his family who is awaiting his return just really moved me. He is fighting for protection- this is a good cause. Unfortunately there is a lot of the opposite going on in the world around as well.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Life is short. What I don't like is when people cause war simply because a culture breeds it. It hurts people deeply and causes unnecessary hatred to multiply. I think I'd rather get along with others. Didn't our moms always teach us to play nice with others? What happened?</span></span></p></span>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-69176365123309744602009-11-06T22:40:00.001-08:002009-11-07T02:55:38.662-08:00Hedge or Peg?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrOqVGCOmjmAOQeXTY7MULknf2WwjeMR3D4i97haujfQAXkoo8M51ES1kGQrGkLujcUKMCJnFBuMiphqCFlsGh6itvQo2XauQROzyhi6plEIdSL4Ke5i42jRFlLg0StEu_rdM/s1600-h/IMG_3352.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrOqVGCOmjmAOQeXTY7MULknf2WwjeMR3D4i97haujfQAXkoo8M51ES1kGQrGkLujcUKMCJnFBuMiphqCFlsGh6itvQo2XauQROzyhi6plEIdSL4Ke5i42jRFlLg0StEu_rdM/s160/IMG_3352.JPG" border="0" alt="" style="clear:both;float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, how is life over here in Israel? Busy! Between running to classes and writing numerous papers, there hasn't been much extra play time. My studies have been really good... intense but good. Professors here really challenge you to think for yourself and encourage you to draw conclusions that are well thought out and most importantly, are yours. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I heard an analogy the other day that I liked a lot... I'll share it with you. The topic was "How to approach faith." Straight forward and simple. The two main ways that we talked about were as follows:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> One can draw a protective hedge around them as far as beliefs, ethics, laws, and codes surrounding what they believe. This would be a set of facts that you hold to be true. You hold them tightly within your box, or hedge.... for example, in </span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">today's</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> evangelical world this plays out in cultural norms that our church society somewhere along the lines decided is right and wrong depending on interpretation of scripture at a particular time. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For me it has looked like drawing conclusions about particular ideas and holding them to be truth. Because of my conclusions, I place them within my hedge. Anytime a topic related to it comes up, I can refer back to my hedge, or box where my conclusions are kept and I can draw a new conclusion based on what is already there. Warning....I'm going to stereotype here.... for us Americans, in the church especially it can look like this: Drink, don't drink, drink a little, swear, don't swear, swear only if you have to, The bible is a nice moral story, The bible is 100% correct in all ways, The bible is a document inspired by God and has been written by man's hand.... all of these are assumptions or conclusions that have been drawn based on some other facts along the way, mostly from our interpretation of scripture. According to whatever conclusions we have drawn, we can place them within our hedge and whenever the topic comes up again, we already have an answer waiting. This is the approach that most people I have met, including myself tend to flock towards.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The other approach is to have 1 or 2 main ultimate truths. Shhh.....Relax, and continue reading.... For example: God is the all powerful God above any other thing. Jesus is his divine son who lived a life that encompassed God's picture for how our lives should look. These are two main truths that I know are absolutely correct. All other conclusions or questions should be checked against those two truths from here on out. These two truths are my funnel; any conclusion drawn needs to align with these two. I can now hammer a peg into the ground with the foundation being these two guiding principals. I then connect a rope to the peg and then to myself... this allows me to wander around pursuing God knowing that if things get too complicated, confusing, crazy... I can just draw myself back to the foundational peg where I am reminded of the truth that I started with. I am always connected to those truths no matter what. This is different than the hedge which I am free to run in, but I am inhibited by seeing over to the other side to see what other people are doing, or what other conclusions are being drawn; basically I'm left void of the freedom to explore. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Option #2 is a bit more free and less culturally driven then running around in a box full of assumptions or conclusions that have already been drawn. This isn't to say that there is no truth. It is simply saying that based off of two foundational truths, other thoughts can be drawn, but those thoughts can be drawn under the clause of there is a little bit of wiggle room. Example: In the bible it says, </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-decoration: underline"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1Cor. 11:6</span></span></i></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> For if a wife will not cover her </span></span></i><span style="color:#dd0907;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">head</span></span></i></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her </span></span></i><span style="color:#dd0907;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">head</span></span></i></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, let her cover her </span></span></i><span style="color:#dd0907;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">head</span></span></i></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Option 1 point of view- "This passage is only for a particular time. Your wife doesn't need to cover her head, or cut her hair short." Really, if you are drawing a conclusion that this was just for a particular time, then what other passages are just for a particular time and not for us? Furthermore, what authority do you have to make such a statement? You could also choose to say, "Wife, cover your head because the bible says so." It also says to treat your slave well.... does this mean you will go take a slave and treat them well? Probably not. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Option 2 point of view- Based on my two truths of "God is one, and Jesus is his divine son" I can draw many conclusions about this passage. Perhaps it was culturally correct for a woman to cover her head (Women over here still do this by the way). Perhaps it does have a message for us today about the covering of God over his people, like the "covering, or protection that a man gives over his wife and family." Maybe, our conclusion can have multiple answers. As long as they line up with my 2 truths then I am free to wander around looking for all possibilities. I am not confined to one correct answer.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The second option leaves a lot more room for God to work in ways that he is not confined to.... like a box or hedge. God can act in his divine nature in any way he chooses... I just think if we are looking for him in ways that only "fit within our box" we could miss Him. With both options there is a risk.... the first one- drawing conclusions that are really not true, or are based off of what someone else has told you. Once you put them in your limited box...your conclusions are drawn and you are stuck with an absolute answer, even if it is wrong. With the second approach, you run a risk of things becoming relative. "Whatever is right for you may not be right for the other person." However, even in early church days, didn't our church fathers draw conclusions about the text that culturally made sense to them? Today, we are still practicing the many rituals or traditions that they came up with. They, in a sense had to draw conclusions... I wonder if they exercised the tent peg technique or the hedge with walls?<br /></span><div style="clear:both; text-align:LEFT"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></span></a></div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-82141974832950990462009-10-17T05:14:00.000-07:002009-10-17T05:16:04.068-07:00Wrestling<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ0SyoYUVCSxaLR_GNL4xWoDJCFB9teKcsmOMrWLkii_aYQ85i-QjQngsqWJPFVEEIsQdkN8eU9VpV3lnARwqtuNFTCLu94fLAlj4WpDIMz9N1SdSdUOILe9EhhPqenFp9ngB/s1600-h/IMG_2684.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ0SyoYUVCSxaLR_GNL4xWoDJCFB9teKcsmOMrWLkii_aYQ85i-QjQngsqWJPFVEEIsQdkN8eU9VpV3lnARwqtuNFTCLu94fLAlj4WpDIMz9N1SdSdUOILe9EhhPqenFp9ngB/s400/IMG_2684.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Many of you know that I have been wrestling with big questions- all of which can be summed up in one. Who is God, really? I know, I know… we can’t answer that question. Well, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Questions started piling up when I spent some time in a Romanian orphanage with children who were born into pain and suffering. Babies just lay in their cribs; unwanted, in some cases due to deformity. Other children were abandoned because of disease, in which case, they just lay alone waiting for the disease to take their life. Other children were healthy from birth, but abandoned for other reasons. All these children had one thing in common: nobody was there to touch them, hold them; love them. Why would God create a child so that he can suffer? I reassured myself. God is beyond my understanding.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As life experience snuck in so did my questions… it became more of a dialogue ... I’d ask God why…I’d wait… then I’d wait some more until I would hear something or be ok with silence… either way, it sustained me until the next big question came. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just a couple of weeks prior to visiting Turkey three Christian missionaries had been beheaded for their beliefs. Why? Wouldn’t they be the ones who are useful for God’s kingdom? Again, I was reassured knowing that their deaths would ignite many others.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then death hit close to home for me…. It started with a couple of friends, then my step dad, and then my mom. This hurt.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 ½ years ago I lay on the ground literally crying out to God, “Why are you doing this?” I remember the tears streaming down my face as mom lay in her bed next to me as the cancer overtook her. She was in so much pain. All I could hear was her groaning and trying to get comfortable in the night. Her breathing sounded like gurgling as liquid filled her lungs. This woman who loved helping people is now being punished. What was the point of all this suffering? </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After she died, I as ok for a while… but then anger set in… again, God is bigger than my own understanding. I rested on scripture as I tried to get through the days that followed. It helped.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luke 11:9</span></span></span></u><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">John 14:13</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why does the bible say pray believing that what you are praying for will actually happen? Does it really happen? Not always. I have prayed for people I care about to come to know him in real and intimate ways…some have died before this happened. Why? How were these selfish prayers? I truly believed that He would restore these people who I’d been praying for, simply because His word said so. They weren’t flippant prayers either- fasting, meditating on his word, and waiting to see how he would bring these people to them. When it didn’t </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">occur, I was left with… “But you said.”</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friends comforted me with, “You never know what happened right before they died.” If I agree with what most Christians say the afterlife is, I would be realizing that the 1000’s of prayers I said for these people to know God was trumped by them going and suffering in Hell instead, again, according to modern evangelical belief. I chalked that one up to, perhaps I don’t understand scripture, maybe I didn’t have enough faith, or perhaps some sort of reconciliation did happen. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then I came here, to Israel. People are ready to die for what they believe in: Muslims, Jews, and Christians. I would say for a long time, I was clumped into that group; honoring God whatever the cost, even if it meant losing my life. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you come to a place where the “heaviness” around you is masked by hate, war crimes, and shame it wears on you…. It also makes you think…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So, it sounds like I’m just asking “Why” over and over…and in a sense I am… but if I wanted answers to any of these, all I would have to do is go to the local Christian bookstore and buy the “When God doesn’t make sense” or “Why?” books. I can do that. My bigger questions are in the actual text itself. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You see, what allowed me to reconcile all of those bigger questions above was because what I knew in the bible was true and I knew I could rely on God no matter what, because of what He says.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, fast forward to the present. I have been studying subjects like geography and the history of the bible. These studies don’t occur without running into some roadblocks that produce more questions. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Currently we are identifying some of the holes that exist in how the bible came to be, in our modern way of thinking. In my last class we discussed how Jews explain the origin of the Old Testament. Major questions exist such as, “If the writer of Kings was writing over a 400 year period about information that was true for both the south and the north how did he get this information? If he used other sources, who wrote them? If the writings in Genesis were attributed to Moses, why does it talk about Moses’ death? Why are cities mentioned that didn’t exist until later? Were they corrections that the scribes made so we would know the locations? There are several hypotheses for all of these questions. Actually, the argument for why the Bible is in reality divine is strengthened by some of the conclusions in trying to prove why it isn’t… that is for another day. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We are putting the bible under the microscope and seeing its validity as a historical document. Is this fair to do? There is wisdom literature and prophecy, in addition to historical data in there. If we were to use it simply as a historical document without bringing faith into it, how does it stand? Do the unexplainable events that occur in the bible occur in other writings of the Ancient period? </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This has kept my mind racing. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In a nutshell what I’m saying here is that the journey of trying to understand who God is is a process. The more we learn, the more we realize that there is so much more to the picture. Having faith is a good thing. More importantly, knowing what you have faith in is the key. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yes, I have a lot of questions. I hope I will always have a lot of questions. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Having just enough faith during the times of the events mentioned above was just enough to get me to the next milestone. This doesn’t sustain me now. I want to go deeper. I strongly desire for the foundation for what I believe in to be something that did not come with ease. It actually shouldn’t come without careful examination. One could put faith in anything. I desire to test it, examine it, and make sure it is true. This shouldn’t be scary to anyone. If God is who He says He is, then there is nothing to worry about. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">People say over and over, “Have faith.” Yes, exactly! Knowing what you have faith in makes all the difference in the world. At Easter I heard a sermon challenging people to put their faith in Jesus. What the Pastor failed to do was to tell us who Jesus was and why you would want to put your faith in him. I feel that this is a common problem with the church today. We are quick to say, “Have faith.” But, what is it exactly that we are having faith in?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Questions are good. Do not be threatened by them. If the God that we know is as powerful as everyone who has “faith” says he is, then He will reveal answers to us that will be sustaining. Life is going to get rocky. When we desire something/ someone to lean on… I’d rather be confident that what I’m leaning on is real and true, if it isn’t, then it will be easy to crumble along with whatever ideology went with it. </span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></span></span></a></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-48232838363030376232009-10-05T12:06:00.001-07:002009-10-05T12:38:12.161-07:00Incredible conversation leads to more questions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQx8CpCkAuGMrQWNz2SN2QgQSaYzNnM8EGYkusOn3Yf99L1oSWUZXApTZGQDrDxapgCCZP2WQKy1tAChlfC_2Ve3p0sw5lO9XIpbH5wHpu0ijqlGMZID7ypzCB8SlAeBVWZTl/s1600-h/IMG_2777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQx8CpCkAuGMrQWNz2SN2QgQSaYzNnM8EGYkusOn3Yf99L1oSWUZXApTZGQDrDxapgCCZP2WQKy1tAChlfC_2Ve3p0sw5lO9XIpbH5wHpu0ijqlGMZID7ypzCB8SlAeBVWZTl/s400/IMG_2777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389202421316490642" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After class today, my friend Ada and I stayed and asked our Professor some questions... and like a good Rabbinic teacher, he challenged us with more questions... here are just some of the questions that were discussed:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1. Question- Is it possible that Abraham could have had an entirely different picture of who God was than that of the Hebrews which came later? Furthermore, is it possible that he worshiped a different idea of God than the one that we have today of God?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Answer- Yes, it is highly probable even. Where would Abraham have received any knowledge of the God that we know of after the Mt. Sinai incident?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">2. Question- Is it possible that Moses worshipped a different God, than the God of the Hebrews?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Answer- The question should be, if he did have a different understanding of God, when did it change?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">3. Question- If Moses knew the Hebrew God at Mt. Sinai (after he received the 2 tablets) then did he know Him at the burning bush?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Answer- Why would God have to appear to him at the burning bush if he already knew him?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">4. Question- Moses was raised in an Egyptian home under the Pharaoh. Did he worship the several gods that they worshipped? If not, how would he know not too? At this time, there was no bible. Is it possible that some sort of oral tradition existed from the time of Abraham? But if Abraham didn't know the full revelation of God, including the creation story what would have been passed down to Moses through oral tradition?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Answer- How do you know that Moses was not raised with two cultures (one from his birth mother who was breast feeding him to an unknown age, and one from Egypt). How long was his biological mom or family with Moses? What did they teach him? Did he have an academic Egyptian upbringing and another "home life" upbringing? What did that consist of?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">5. Question- If God did reveal the "real story" to Moses on Mt. Sinai what made the people who were ALL used to worshiping several gods and different creation stories not think Moses was a complete lunatic? Why didn't they think he was crazy?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">Answer- Why didn't Moses' story just fizzle out because it was so different than what the people were used to?</span> </span></div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-82491243927115811642009-09-28T02:53:00.000-07:002009-09-28T03:07:41.612-07:00Tidbits on Ancient Israel and the Early Bronze Age<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><i>Below I have pasted bits and pieces from a research paper I wrote on the Early Bronze Age and Israel. This is a time where there is so much that remains a mystery. Below I have attempted to piece together evidence from archeology and scholars to try and put together a time line of Israel and its early inhabitants. Early Bronze Age: 3300-2200 BC (Before the time of Abraham).</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Egypt in the Early Bronze Age</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Already by 3300 BC Egyptians had learned the art of writing from the Sumerians. The Egyptians adapted the Sumerian writing to their own culture and began writing with papyrus and ink. We have numerous inscriptions that reveal what life was like for the Egyptians; unfortunately, it does not mention ancient Mesopotamia. We also have stories from Manetho, an Egyptian priest who wrote down the basics of Egyptian history, including people, places, and customs. Though his work has been debated, various modern scholars have used his work to match up inscriptions leaving us with a rough estimate of Egyptian rulers and their times. Manetho tells us that once the Egyptian monarchy was established, Egypt went through 30 dynasties until around 2200 BC, the close of the Early Bronze Age. Understanding the life of the Egyptians is crucial because it gives us a glimpse into the very lives of those living close by who would have been influenced by the Egyptians.</span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Palestine in the Early Bronze Age</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><i><u><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Settlements & Cultural Advancement</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Around 3000 BC many abandoned villages that had previously existed in the regions of the land we will call “Palestine” during the Chalcolithic period had started to develop again. In fact, about 25 places around the country seemed to go up overnight. The towns were located on major routes, which allowed for local trade networks to be established. This was very important, especially in the trade and influence from Egypt. The towns were comprised of small houses that were usually surrounded by walls. The walls were built of rough stones or with unbaked mud brick, which varied in design and strength. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In Arad, walls were built with semicircular strongholds separated by a fixed distance. Semicircular towers, along with square towers were used to line walls at Jericho as well. By the end of the Early Bronze period some settlements were surrounded by double or triple lines of walls, making enemy attacks more difficult.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn1" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[1]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> It is evident that the towns were thought out in advance and built accordingly. Remains at Arad and at Ai reveal that large artificial reservoirs were used to conserve water. At Megiddo and Tel-Farah the houses were arranged in blocks separated by narrow lanes, which suggested that builders followed a grid arrangement.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn2" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[2]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Copper was the metal used in the Early Bronze Age, despite the name. The few tools and weapons that have been found were made from open moulds, though there is not a lot to suggest that the methods from the Chalcolithic period had been phased out. Pottery finds and a well-preserved Early Bronze kiln found at Tel Far’ah reveal the technological progress of this time period. Compared with earlier pottery, the use of the wheel and firing allowed for the clay to be prepared more carefully.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn3" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[3]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Though their neighbors were advancing in writing and language, the lack of written archaeological evidence would suggest that the inhabitants of this land lacked the art of writing during this time. However, according to Gabi Barkay, a well known archeologist in Israel, there was writing during this time, but just on materials that did not last.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><i><u><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Political situation</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“The number of times the fortifications of Jericho, Tel-Far’ah and Ai, were repaired and strengthened suggests that this was not a peaceful period.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn5" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[5]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Inter-town rivalry could have contributed to the abandonment of</span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">many towns at the end of this period. In fact, Egyptian records reveal that there was military intervention that occurred from the country.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn6" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[6]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">However, it would appear that most Early Bronze towns, like Arad and Tel Far’ah were abandoned peacefully. What are the reasons? There are various indications that an established relationship between the inhabitants of “Palestine” and the Egyptians existed. In fact, at Arad, a symbol of the King of Egypt was found dating to about 3000 BC proving that some sort of trade interaction existed between the two regions. Pottery vessels made in Israel were also found in Egypt. If there was a large Egyptian trade decline, this could have caused the towns to be abandoned due to a severe economic decline. Unfortunately, we do not have a definite reason for this abandonment. Other artifacts continue to prove that some sort of interaction existed between the people living in Egypt and in “Palestine.” In Abados, a monumental palette of Narmer was identified revealing Narmer in Canaanite dress. At the bottom of the palette “sand dwellers,” stood in defensive poses.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn7" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[7]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> A walled city is also seen on the bottom right side illustrating the current city structure of the people living in “Canaan”. Lastly, a desert kite can be depicted on the palette. These were hunting structures that were specific to Southern Israel. The only way the Egyptians would have known what they looked like was for them to actually be in contact with the people living there.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 150%"><i><u><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Additional Events within Ancient Texts</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent: .5in;line-height:150%"><span style="line-height: 150%; font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> A commander of the army during the reign of Pharaoh Pepy I in 2300 BC took an expedition to the land of the “Antelope-nose,” otherwise known as Carmel. He writes, “I made a landing at the rear of the heights of the mountain range on the north of the land of the Sand-Dwellers. While a full half of this army was on the road, I arrived, I caught them all, and every backslider among them was slain.”</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn8" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[8]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> He describes the land as an area with 20-25 big cities. He also reveals that the language, along with the identity of the people is unknown.</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftn9" name="_ftnref" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[9]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Soon after the condition of these cities began to change. Some became bigger with large fortification walls while many became neglected or destroyed, leaving settlements abandoned and desolate. Perhaps with further excavations the mystery of those living in this land during the Early Bronze age will be uncovered.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <div style="mso-element:footnote-list"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[1]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> James B. Prichard, ed., </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Times Atlas of the Bible</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, ed. James B. Prichard (New Jersey: Crescent Books, 1996).</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[2]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Ibid, 28.</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[3]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Ibid.</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[4]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Dr. Yigal Levine, "Class Notes 9/07/09."</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[5]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Prichard, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Times Atlas of the Bible.</span></i></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[6]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Ibid, 29.</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[7]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Dr. Yigal Levine, "Class Notes 9/07/09."</span></p> </div> <div id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[8]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> James B. Pritchard, ed., </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ancient Near Eastern Texts</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, ed. James B. Pritchard (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1955).</span></p> </div> <div style="mso-element:footnote" id="ftn"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=15295691#_ftnref" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">[9]</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Ibid.</span></p> </div> </div> <!--EndFragment-->Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-56378780680966636772009-09-26T10:55:00.001-07:002009-09-26T10:57:49.454-07:00Hiking<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiyryJFD5bPzVEYMLlemYNHIbMTlzDi4ly7L2i4DrUSEsybHYt7-9LJM3xnC93GlQ43WJLWBYiHJyK-jyOOKMhdNip-WUpleN149ZnXUGS3J6K03mJvx1a1zggL4ZlieIpW8H/s1600-h/IMG_2649.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjiyryJFD5bPzVEYMLlemYNHIbMTlzDi4ly7L2i4DrUSEsybHYt7-9LJM3xnC93GlQ43WJLWBYiHJyK-jyOOKMhdNip-WUpleN149ZnXUGS3J6K03mJvx1a1zggL4ZlieIpW8H/s400/IMG_2649.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>Our school went hiking today to celebrate the New Year! We hiked up in the Golan and found ourselves at the base of a waterfall! It was amazing! To see more pictures click: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/shantrabolek/DevoraWaterfallHikeFall09#">Hiking Pics</a><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-14897700803465836962009-09-22T05:07:00.000-07:002009-09-22T05:35:55.031-07:00Visitors from Slovakia<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dobrý deň, vitajte do Jeruzalema, Maria a rodinu!</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(Hello, welcome to Jerusalem Maria and family!)</span></span></span></p></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOie9lHYy71CnZ_LUyTwIpkHHtw5jCi0lI5laEifwN8IdpB0Q3VCX7s9uU2tWjzd8pjayvFb6v4YsFsSaU_2ee8V8p9FOmhffbt49n-QKK_sEfmsYNNCcYqmEEwUNkOSd4xRYA/s400/IMG_2631.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384263116500764178" /></div><div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;font-size:16.0pt;">Y</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">esterday I received a phone call at 6:30 am, "Shantra, you know wall of cry?"</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I sleepily made the connection, "Yes..."</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"We are on our way there now, can you meet us?"</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I rolled out of bed and began the trek to the wall.</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The phone call came from a previous Slovak student of mine named Maria. It had been 3 years since I had</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">seen both her and her family! When I lived in Slovakia teaching 5th-9th grade Conversational English, Maria's family </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">welcomed me in. They poured out wonderful Slovak hospitality while I was there and they even taught me how to</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">make one of the finest Slovak foods- Langosh! </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our reunion at the Western/ Wailing wall was wonderful! We walked</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">arm in arm around the plaza catching up on life. I just could not wipe the smile off of my face. It sure was good to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">meet up with them again. A couple of weeks ago some friends from England stopped by while on a cruise through</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the Mediterranean! I hadn't seen Scottie and Andrea since Colorado! Oh, being around the "sweetness" of friends</span></span><span style="font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and those you care about is such a good thing!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-52414819716033533562009-09-20T03:19:00.000-07:002009-09-20T03:22:44.144-07:00Happy New Year<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; "><h5 align="center"><span style="font-family:Marquee Engraved;font-size:6;"><b><i>SHANA TOVA</i></b></span></h5><h5 align="center"><span style="font-family:Marquee Engraved;font-size:6;"><b>HAPPY NEW YEAR!</b></span></h5><p><a name="0.1_graphic0B"></a><span style="font-family:Matisse ITC;font-size:100%;"><b><img src="http://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&attid=0.1&disp=vahi&view=att&th=123cbf950453a0f2" height="1" width="1" alt="Your browser may not support display of this image." /> </b></span><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;"><i>Rosh Hashana</i> is one of the Jewish High Holy Days or Days of Awe. It is the Jewish New Year falling in the 7<sup>th</sup> month on the Jewish calendar, <i>Tishrei,</i> celebrating the month in which God created the world. In the Days of Awe and during the preceding weeks, Jews are instructed to scrupulously examine their deeds and misdeeds during the previous year. According to Jewish tradition, God also decides who will live and who will die that coming year. "God sits in judgment; before Him are three great books. The first volume contains the names of</span><span style="font-family:Miriam;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">the good;</span><span style="font-family:Miriam;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">the second the names of the bad; the third the names of those who are neither very good nor very bad. While He gives judgment immediately on those whose names are found in the first two books, those in the third are given 10 days - until <i>Yom Kippur</i> - to attempt by prayer, repentance, and good deeds to have their names moved to the first book.* The liturgy prayers on that day also attempt to influence God's decision. The <i>shofar </i>(ram's horn) is blown in the synagogue 100 times each of the 2 days of <i>Rosh Hashana</i> to motivate repentance. On the eve of <i>Rosh Hashana</i>just before the evening meal, everyone dips pieces of apple in honey and eats them; symbolizing the hope that the coming year will be prosperous and sweet."</span><br /></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:78%;"><i>*from <u>Next Year in Jerusalem</u> by Teddy Kollek with Tom</i></span><span style="font-family:Miriam;font-size:78%;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:78%;"><i>Dowley, pp. 232-234</i>.</span> </p></span>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-21785007371893193602009-09-07T22:20:00.000-07:002009-09-07T23:01:31.721-07:00Questions surrounding Writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB_FFTJfDsGKvWNpGivVXBPEooiG_Cn-zXefMSTsGKK0OgnIejov-744pefPtss9wwjM2QaA6ICUdVg5iFecB540c5j_Jqyso4zfF5XakIbyWgaY5AXYsGEn2HTqQVN4e3ppK/s1600-h/IMG_2518.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVB_FFTJfDsGKvWNpGivVXBPEooiG_Cn-zXefMSTsGKK0OgnIejov-744pefPtss9wwjM2QaA6ICUdVg5iFecB540c5j_Jqyso4zfF5XakIbyWgaY5AXYsGEn2HTqQVN4e3ppK/s400/IMG_2518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378962555567668002" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">While sitting in class last night, my foot began to twitch, my fingers started typing faster than the speed of light and I could hardly sit still. The reason: A discussion surrounding the validity of Ancient Texts. If I, as a God believing human am going to research the beginning of faith (leading to Jesus) then my eyes need to be open to all possibilities that could have contributed to the world/ language/ texts that have helped shape the documents that have contributed to Christianity as we know it today. It is smart and necessary to inspect the origin of important texts and the purpose for which it was written.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 12598 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">Written documents are the backbone for which historians work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>However,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>written Documents are problematic. They are written by people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are not objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are subjective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Any written document that we chose to use must be studied methodically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We cannot just assume that the info is reliable. Where does the document come from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>How did we get it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it an inscription found in the earth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it found in the earth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was it used for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Was it a monumental <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">inscription</span>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Temple wall?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What was the time and purpose?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What language was it written in?</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 12767 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">We are not native speakers of the languages of these inscriptions/ documents… we have put together what we think they mean… a lot of inscriptions have been misinterpreted, or misread… even if the errors are fixed… research can still be done on the originals… the correct version never catches up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The historian will read it as it was read 50 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>Every spoken language as a lot of subtexts, hidden meanings, hidden references.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We don’t know what they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Even a Native Hebrew speaker today will not understand ALL biblical Hebrew because we can’t know the “insider stuff”... Ex: If you say, "Break a leg" (good luck) or "That's tight" (that's cool)... someone who is ancient won't have a clue as to what that means. When the historians come across something like that, do they use their own interpretation? Do they fill in the blanks with someone <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Else's</span> thoughts on it? Do they change the wording completely to make sense in their day?</span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 12884 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">We oftentimes find inscriptions in a fragmented state. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We have to reconstruct the text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We make educated guess work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Inscriptions that we have are focused… meaning, they are not all books… the person in the day knew who the inscriptions were about… we don’t .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Inscriptions can be more like cell text messages, not diaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For the person they were meant for, they are understood with ease…for anyone else who enters the equation, the code can seem like a mix of words that don't make sense; they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">weren</span>’t written for us.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 12987 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 12987 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">So far, we have only talked about texts that are found by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">archaeologists</span> in the ground. What about texts that haven’t been found in its original state, but texts that are handed down from generation to generation….there are problems with those as well</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13012 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">1. Problems with copying… "D"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">odanim</span> vs. "R"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">odamim</span>…. In Hebrew the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Dalet</span> (D) and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Resh</span> (r) look very similar. It is easy to misinterpret one for the other, as we have seen in numerous texts. Also, the scribe or copiest might skip a word or a line.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13032 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">2. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">copiest</span> who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">didn</span>’t have copy writes in those day could write and embellish and not get caught… he could have added a few words to help it make sense which could have “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">bauched</span> the meaning”</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13083 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13083 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">You still have to ask yourself what kind of text you are looking at:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Literary creation, royal inscription, military account, religious account, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">propaganda</span>… each text has its own literary convention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Each writer will know that there are things to write and not to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you don’t know something, you fill in the gaps as well as you can so that your message can come across.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13158 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;"><span style="'mso-element:"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13158 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">4 basic questions you have to ask when dealing with any text</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> W</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">ho wrote it…who is his audience?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">What is his context?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> W</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">hen was it written...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">was it written by someone who was there? Does he live several generations later which he could have pulled together more sources… or it could be false?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13174 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">why was it written...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">What is the agenda?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>What is he trying to do?</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-begin'"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>ADDIN AudioMarker 13177 </span><![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><span style="'font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times'"><span style="'mso-element:field-end'"></span></span><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">What are its sources?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">Where is he getting his material from?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Verdana; mso-bidi-font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">Himself or from a friend of a friend?</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">So why am I writing this? Is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Shantra</span> questioning the bible now too? I'm writing because this makes me excited. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">We have been finding texts starting with the Sumerians in 3300 BC. The first Hebrew bible (Torah, first five books of the bible) was not constructed until much later. It doesn't mean that stories were not being told orally though. The Egyptians had writing before the people in Canaan/ Israel. What does this mean? Furthermore- they had stories to explain creation, flooding, and in some cases one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Deity</span>... not too far away from the stories found in the bible. What does this mean? Did one culture borrow from the other? Did one culture start the tradition and another culture play off of it (like the telephone game)? Do all cultures have the exact same story, but explain it differently to make sense to them according to their culture? What if there is an early text in Israel and it just hasn't been found yet? Last but not least, of the texts that have been found, how correct are they? From what perspective were they written? What was the purpose? Was it to give a historical account of dates, places, and times? Was the text's purpose to tell a moral story? Was the text written in code so that someone had to look deeply to find the true meaning?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">As you can see, there are so many questions surrounding our history... this is just a tiny sliver pertaining to the writings in the Ancient Middle East. There are so many more questions to be asked. I asked my Jewish professor, if any of these Sumerian or Egyptian stories that seem to parallel the Hebrew bible stories ever create angst inside of him. To me it creates a sense of "Oh crap, what does this mean?" ... coupled with excitement for what I might find around the corner. He answered, "No, no- not at all it all fits together perfectly." </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I know in the upcoming weeks we will be diving into more of the details surrounding the similar stories between belief systems, especially with Egypt. Ahhh... yes! When talking with Jess on the phone last night I was telling him about all of the nuances and connections that we are learning about. He replied, "It looks like you are finally finding out some of the answers that you came to Israel in search of." </span></span></p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left:.25in;mso-add-space:auto;text-indent: -.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;tab-stops:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I can't wait.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-52713267748827419042009-08-30T09:35:00.000-07:002009-08-30T10:17:52.843-07:00Differences<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29BiB3WtZfkSdUrT_7mVQqT0zVtF3b_8MmChP0nQLGWvzzgx6_QYC21QH46I7_1dLDhxNWh4JcSAKUtZlg6ipzv0l20lUqBTZ_jrTdHxCrh-YUNhpFGsxjF9wdcCmto8BXay2/s1600-h/IMG_2480.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29BiB3WtZfkSdUrT_7mVQqT0zVtF3b_8MmChP0nQLGWvzzgx6_QYC21QH46I7_1dLDhxNWh4JcSAKUtZlg6ipzv0l20lUqBTZ_jrTdHxCrh-YUNhpFGsxjF9wdcCmto8BXay2/s400/IMG_2480.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>When you get used to living somewhere the differences that seemed so obvious when you began tend to blend in with life as you get adjusted... quickly the differences become the norm... I'm still waiting for that to happen... but enjoying the "journey" along the way.<div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">Tacoma and Jerusalem- Are they really that different?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">1. When you want to buy groceries in Jerusalem and don't want to sell yourself in order to pay for them... you walk 2 miles to the outdoor market. You can buy meat, bread, veggies, toilet paper, shoes, radios... it is a one stop shop!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">2. When people living in Jerusalem throw their hands up with some sort of orderly motion, relax... they are praying- not throwing gang signs.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">3. Toilet paper? What toilet paper? If you do have some, it only goes in the waste basket NOT the toilet.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">4. In Jerusalem, if you need to cross the street do NOT wait for the cars to stop... even if you are in a cross walk. You will wait all day. You jump in front of those cars and walk proudly (they will stop).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">5. Jeans under skirts, sweatshirts under tank tops= one outfit. I love this!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">6. In Jerusalem you are considered an outcast if you don't worship a God... a little different than home.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">7. Only in Jerusalem can you tell a shop keeper that what he sells is way too expensive for the cheaply made item... then walk away with a better quality product that you got for the same price as the cheap trinket...after all "for you there was a special price" </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">8. When leaving the country security inspects EVERYTHING in your checked luggage as well as carry on. Nothing like having your undies on display at the airport!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">9. Tourists are everywhere... if you don't believe me look for the colored hats- they are all hot pink and matching.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#990000;">10. You can eat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">falaffel</span> for days and move on to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Shwarma</span>... then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hummous</span>... then pita... then... oh the list goes on and on.</span></div></div><div style="clear:both; text-align:CENTER"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-52826765573959937132009-08-22T22:40:00.000-07:002009-08-22T22:57:22.951-07:002012<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKgBBMgqn9TG0P6_ELmy7Sfub6SIlQU-OPAOkhAf1YVPvS7mKpnY6vSDv9ka68rMT7id8bm6iaNKpeyu741NmZw31TrTaj0Y-MoOFDiPk7Bii0P0GLLbOJj5ao5mNnzNceOAz/s1600-h/IMG_2411.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKgBBMgqn9TG0P6_ELmy7Sfub6SIlQU-OPAOkhAf1YVPvS7mKpnY6vSDv9ka68rMT7id8bm6iaNKpeyu741NmZw31TrTaj0Y-MoOFDiPk7Bii0P0GLLbOJj5ao5mNnzNceOAz/s200/IMG_2411.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373030306161066818" /></a>So... apparently the world is ending in 3 years. I may be the only one on the planet that is intrigued by this thought... but judging by the results on google when I type in "2012 Maya," thousands of hits come up. Dialogue on this has been going on for a while. There is a quite convincing argument for why human existence as we know it will change in December of 2012. I'm just beginning the search for credibility on the Mayan calendar which has "predicted" other major events. <div><br /></div><div>I find this incredibly fascinating. If any of you have done research on the topic, I'd love to hear your thoughts. In the meantime, I guess just rack up the credit card bills, buy big houses, and take grand vacations... only make sure you put off the payments until 2012. You will either be a really happy camper when the time comes (knowing you lived life to the fullest before the black hole sucked you in)... or for 3 years you had the time of your life... and you will be paying for it for the many years to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>Whatever happened to "not knowing the time or the place"? I think I like that better.</div><div><br /></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-87838080341674836022009-07-19T05:55:00.000-07:002009-07-19T06:09:38.113-07:00Cultural Differences or Cultural Blunders<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPNsViS6oSYCibQl7BVPZpNGWt-sdpp57ocfetBPvtNND_WN2I_X9UDChHjmwDIdj1PaOtIXj6kG52F7TBMiy7iqkw3q9E0xzeO-TKLeX9NO_kCYU-K2nCumP_4d1M_z5kcff/s1600-h/IMG_2343.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPNsViS6oSYCibQl7BVPZpNGWt-sdpp57ocfetBPvtNND_WN2I_X9UDChHjmwDIdj1PaOtIXj6kG52F7TBMiy7iqkw3q9E0xzeO-TKLeX9NO_kCYU-K2nCumP_4d1M_z5kcff/s400/IMG_2343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360156023009875234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So, it dawned on me today just how confusing being a girl over here can be. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Depending on whom you happen to be with at the moment can depict what your status is here and how others treat you. I was hit with an ugly moment today when a Jewish boy tripped over a wire and fell directly in front of me. It was only he and I in the park and he was grabbing his ankle asking for me to help him up. His face led on that he was in pain. I just stood there frozen. What do I do? Back home- no problems… help the boy up and be on your way…Here- it is not so clear. I have heard of this before… people “acting” hurt or like they need your help but really they just want your wallet or something more…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Surely, this couldn’t be a trap. I looked around and nobody else was there (one of the qualifications for when this can occur). It could be a trick. So, on an impulse I told him to wait and I ran back up the road and found another Jewish male (the kipa...a head covering... is a dead give away) and asked him to help out this poor boy who appeared to be in excruciating pain.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">On my way back home, I thought to myself when did I become so cynical or skeptical? Yuck! Then I thought back to only a few weeks ago when I called on an apartment. The man, with whom I thought was the owner agreed to show us around. Only after signing a lease did he demand a “broker fee” of an enormous amount for his services. He has harassed us ever since. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then there is the opposite…I met a very nice young man at the gym the other day that unknowingly walked me half way home. He was very respectful and just his presence solidified my safety in walking home at dusk. Little did he know that just hours prior, I was followed and I had to dodge wine bottles being chucked at my head. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I tell you… the more time I spend here, the more I am aware of the uncertainties and the trials that some women face in cultures such as these. I do love being here… don’t get me wrong… but sometimes it can be a challenge.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lYidHswG4PWVsgqNuHrSMExZZ9smIsk-1J0tjxc0sh_xC_h2zhlqXI4rUTwwGaZ0rR0IgALyz8cNa5XMWcZwZOL70I1SGMAmEEcivGLmNJDO4NBiCF1jDSbkwqs4_MQv8s-c/s400/IMG_2351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360156739494641570" style="text-align: center;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><i></i></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, -webkit-fantasy;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:x-small;">Some of the other Graduate ladies and I stood on top of a roof in the Old City overlooking the rooftops</span></div></i></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZL72ZAMegx-IlRhEIwY3tiAksEHry_VHt51RARaYeCntXl5HK2nXwWp4P1eOmiqSv8cA5tgoI5YA4nYJAx7djzuLBvX78oGUGPWvCecbIYKBos4bMCwUTVnXMbvyvfSAstjhn/s1600-h/IMG_2343.JPG"></a>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-40606373590704465752009-07-10T11:30:00.000-07:002009-07-10T11:32:09.247-07:00Hebrew Classes<div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI9U9LrDbpHHCuRmP93hjg2QtwOOFHn_Roj3CHBkCIIRlOaBatFpHtuX-uLB856eRV6V3Mvb2hT0AZIr9n4At7BitcNmgATKYEYWE6ftV2d0ocstCZx0dIl-8B8OzEnC3qBdZ/s1600-h/IMG_2315.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI9U9LrDbpHHCuRmP93hjg2QtwOOFHn_Roj3CHBkCIIRlOaBatFpHtuX-uLB856eRV6V3Mvb2hT0AZIr9n4At7BitcNmgATKYEYWE6ftV2d0ocstCZx0dIl-8B8OzEnC3qBdZ/s400/IMG_2315.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>So... I am studying Hebrew at a Kibbutz here in Israel and this week we went on our first field study! This picture above is of a few of the students and I climbing Mt. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Arbel</span>...<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyL74nul6KMjCqG5mz0QpmUMAkgsT3erZXwEnljIOmavzv1tztAqBtt-rJyitic8V7LoSzrmxk4-NqCZ-ai-8HRrx08-6XBt-mRr1fpIReyolsH_gfewZvb0VNtECKt1f2j8N/s1600-h/IMG_2317.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyL74nul6KMjCqG5mz0QpmUMAkgsT3erZXwEnljIOmavzv1tztAqBtt-rJyitic8V7LoSzrmxk4-NqCZ-ai-8HRrx08-6XBt-mRr1fpIReyolsH_gfewZvb0VNtECKt1f2j8N/s400/IMG_2317.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>We left at 4:45 am just in time to hike during the sunrise... it was beautiful! Above: Kristina, from New Zealand (she is a volunteer at the place we stayed) & Emily (Grad student at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JUC</span>)<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UGiK_5EzzHR5DB662-bnnhnq9HIEr_68pupCNpd0qMmR77yvY4nTFgh9Anl0P4pA15BbEPsJijb_Ksdw1e_cSHx94YaS0dS8EpjotjT2K1jx9HGK08YdJcoRZRmTwuGtY3eJ/s1600-h/IMG_2318.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UGiK_5EzzHR5DB662-bnnhnq9HIEr_68pupCNpd0qMmR77yvY4nTFgh9Anl0P4pA15BbEPsJijb_Ksdw1e_cSHx94YaS0dS8EpjotjT2K1jx9HGK08YdJcoRZRmTwuGtY3eJ/s400/IMG_2318.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>Here we are half way up the Mountain... taking a breath... or two... or...three or four...<br /><div style="text-align:center;margin:0px auto 10px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTxlTDfBPmel1yX5GguWdOXHVcxNUHbZrugiMvbPBs-EISJKD2kPJV1nSoKiwaPfqcAr9qgt1CeHnsx9eDoB1tqzyS4p8sfnwIRDQyLPq5j3davmlsxYwwzdSYFGCjTeOEEN0/s1600-h/IMG_2320.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTxlTDfBPmel1yX5GguWdOXHVcxNUHbZrugiMvbPBs-EISJKD2kPJV1nSoKiwaPfqcAr9qgt1CeHnsx9eDoB1tqzyS4p8sfnwIRDQyLPq5j3davmlsxYwwzdSYFGCjTeOEEN0/s400/IMG_2320.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div>We made it to the top... Emily is overlooking the sea of Galilee...<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-13894037204979751782009-07-03T11:12:00.001-07:002009-07-03T12:24:49.108-07:00Bus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiFtRfIqOx2QxgqTE3d_C8jWoWDhfbZDbmnnKu0il9QCrDdhosEcU3vosAmfVLZ_MNSfwtP1IfVZ_2pBJ6hM71s8ErhvXIi6nDV7g5-kulmlQnLlU7skerZCERYpU75yQItgM/s1600-h/Ramparts+Walk+around+Jerusalem+008.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiFtRfIqOx2QxgqTE3d_C8jWoWDhfbZDbmnnKu0il9QCrDdhosEcU3vosAmfVLZ_MNSfwtP1IfVZ_2pBJ6hM71s8ErhvXIi6nDV7g5-kulmlQnLlU7skerZCERYpU75yQItgM/s200/Ramparts+Walk+around+Jerusalem+008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354315867341314402" /></a><div><div><div><p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ah! After a long plane ride, many granola bars, moving twice, and finally the beginning of my Hebrew classes I am now starting to settle back in. It feels good to be back. I do miss the simple things- soft bed, car, drinking water, and of course friends and family.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">...but it all seems so miniscule in comparison to what I'm about to share. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It all began with a late bus and two Hebrew students trying to make it back to Jerusalem.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yesterday, "Mo," a friend from my Hebrew class, and I were waiting for a bus back into Jerusalem when we realized it wasn't coming for a while... so I asked him about "his story." Who are you? What are you doing here?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The man, not much older than myself was born in Sudan. As many of you know, there have been violent hate crimes and ongoing wars that began a while ago. Mo was not very old when both parents died and he, as a 10 year old, became the father figure for his siblings. The extremists from the North raided his village and killed many that he loved barging in several times throughout the course of his time there. Each time they would kill men, women, babies, pregnant women, dogs... anything living- they killed. Over the course of the next few years, not only was his sister raped and left alone to raise a child 9 months later, but Mo was pursued several times as well. If caught, death awaited him. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At this point in the story, he rolled up his sleeves to reveal dark scars from where the soldiers had attacked him, but he escaped with his life. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> As his journey continued, he fled to a nearby country where the government did not welcome him. The local government partnered up with the Sudan government and therefore began shooting Sudanese refugees randomly. He escaped with his wife. </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fast-forward 2 years. I walk into Hebrew class for the first time and a joyful young man with a smile across his face introduces himself. "I'm Mo." Over the course of some time, we decide to study together after class, as he has a knack for languages, especially Arabic. We share small chit- chat as he tells me about his wife and son with whom he is separated from. This being our second time studying outside of school, we decide enough is enough and it is time to head back to Jerusalem. We ventured to the bus with our minds full of Hebrew pronouns and verbs. We waited.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The 4:20 pm bus never came so we sat and waited some more. "So what is your story Mo?" As we waited, his story began to unravel before me. Two hours later when the bus did actually come, I didn't want to get on, desiring to hear more. The power in this man's voice and the compassion for his people that have been murdered moved me greatly. He spoke, as not one reciting a "speech" for the 50th time, but as one who cared about what he has seen and who is determined to conquer the hate over there.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the bus drew near the station I asked him, "How could you not become angry and full of hate.” He answered, "If I were to become angry and determined to get revenge, I would be no better than those who have killed." </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As the bus stopped and the doors opened I followed him back into the world of bustling people rushing to the market. The cars honking and the familiar foreign languages filled my ears again. Everything seemed so small. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mo's story just placed everything back into perspective for me. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:0in"><span style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next time you are sitting on a bench waiting for the bus and it never comes, don't get angry... sometimes something far better than what we expect will greet us instead.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-60403042663950127012009-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:002009-05-04T14:01:13.494-07:002 Weeks to Go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkxl2Ozq-tO1LNZUngR1wDS3SE5finEQV_c-EXYt_7gV5NCKVm4LDXnGQX01XMfb2YuoLgITIer88otrI91iwt5fz_7jPtZjj9xACY4mhHnj7vgLgEY_tvyroKV8AK7OqiqKJ/s1600-h/Shantra+%26+Julia+ANGELS.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkxl2Ozq-tO1LNZUngR1wDS3SE5finEQV_c-EXYt_7gV5NCKVm4LDXnGQX01XMfb2YuoLgITIer88otrI91iwt5fz_7jPtZjj9xACY4mhHnj7vgLgEY_tvyroKV8AK7OqiqKJ/s400/Shantra+%26+Julia+ANGELS.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332070628598302738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">So, we went on a field study last weekend to some caves in Israel. My friend Julia and I saw a great area in the cave where the light was shining through, so we went and stood in the light! Our friend Brad snapped a picture, and this is how it turned out! Amazing isn't it?</span><br /> <br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Ah, so in between cramming for those finals I have been reflecting on the last 3 1/2 months. My time here has been very good. In just this short amount of time I have been challenged to the core. When I arrived, I came with many questions about God. Who is He in the Eastern world? What was going on with the culture during the time that the original Hebrew bible was written? How much of it was handed down verbally? I was hoping to find some sort of path that might lead me to answers. Since arriving those questions have quadrupled. But this has been a good thing. <br /><br />The more I read, the more I have questions. It seems that every avenue I travel down, there is always a side street to venture down which leads to another secret side street, which leads to another, and another. From time to time, I hit a pot of gold, otherwise known as an answer to a question and then I continue on the journey as before. <br /><br />Ok, I know my "nerdy-ness" is going to show now... but it is true- I love learning. I feel like a CIA agent or the guy from Indiana Jones... life is a treasure hunt or a mystery (depending on how you look at it). Each clue leads to another. Sometimes you unknowingly pursue a rabbit trail and sometimes you find the treasure. I am looking forward to continuing this adventure for the next 1 1/2 years.<br /><br />FYI- I'll be home for a month and then back to Jerusalem again at the end of June for Hebrew training! See you soon! Shalom!<br /></span>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-35019910248130688902009-04-20T13:47:00.001-07:002009-04-20T14:01:05.616-07:003rd Roommate<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYm7KgkIYZs7xyKApNruNitk5F1IhetzD38H6jT-Ueuv02jJDaS2YUwm9YEpGuqXfEfzJf-PkbyxMKNSk6YUULo4b0X0EmfV9dY7XFHNxGUrePBm67UZUFYT_1qT6Op1IRSHh/s1600-h/Ramparts+Walk+around+Jerusalem+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326878965777617170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYm7KgkIYZs7xyKApNruNitk5F1IhetzD38H6jT-Ueuv02jJDaS2YUwm9YEpGuqXfEfzJf-PkbyxMKNSk6YUULo4b0X0EmfV9dY7XFHNxGUrePBm67UZUFYT_1qT6Op1IRSHh/s400/Ramparts+Walk+around+Jerusalem+047.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">Yep... this was in my room today... I about had a heart attack! Nothing like a tarantula living with you! It was too big to squash so I had a boy do it instead! Its legs went flying... so gross!</div><br /><div></div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15295691.post-18533556878591699312009-04-20T13:40:00.000-07:002009-04-21T03:54:25.523-07:00Jordan<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPw84H9fD7JaadhXSgV3U7EwjwpEEgpO8e9Qaz-bAgprWkq1GrK9c5cdzKd2RiWmMSRtAkND2NNH6Ei4mRRps2-5fP_qFftStQhBpz_4k-Yxfs7qXxHBUd89BnVMsO4AHtMI8/s1600-h/Jordan+and+Petra+006.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPw84H9fD7JaadhXSgV3U7EwjwpEEgpO8e9Qaz-bAgprWkq1GrK9c5cdzKd2RiWmMSRtAkND2NNH6Ei4mRRps2-5fP_qFftStQhBpz_4k-Yxfs7qXxHBUd89BnVMsO4AHtMI8/s400/Jordan+and+Petra+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">We went to Petra!<br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHluo2DHhd7w0KqaOnUsP-yVhqluUUHmeBjmwl7wOecEzBwBjysoTOLr5xHEf4FYKd-ugXjaWs0393ZGHDm_Sg5hYPfadQf5pnXLyp5dbqSvqYrd2dYFuRQ5pdYa4ohok9d6Q/s1600-h/Jordan+and+Petra+016.jpg"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHluo2DHhd7w0KqaOnUsP-yVhqluUUHmeBjmwl7wOecEzBwBjysoTOLr5xHEf4FYKd-ugXjaWs0393ZGHDm_Sg5hYPfadQf5pnXLyp5dbqSvqYrd2dYFuRQ5pdYa4ohok9d6Q/s400/Jordan+and+Petra+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><p align="center">We walked through the deep valleys within Petra<br /></p><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Jordan pictures: click on the slide show on the left hand side! Yes, I know... I'm becoming updated with this whole blog thingy!</div>Shanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03543884751232249813noreply@blogger.com1