Antioch

Today we walked in Saul/Paul's footsteps.  There were some amazing things, especially what Saul says in Acts 13 when he enters the synagogue at Antioch.  He was brilliant in the way he used text and culture, blending them together to really put the people of the city into a place where they have to believe.  Look at the passage and see what you think.  Pay special attention to why the Jews are angry with Saul and Barnabas.  It is an amazing way to speak to people in order to tell them about Jesus.

Next we talked about how during Caesar's coronation he would come down from Capitoline Hill and prisoners would be lined up.  As Caesar walked down the line he would say to some death, and to some, life.  Thus showing that it was Caesar who has the power of life and death.  But who really has the power of life and death?  Anyone could kill another person with the right motivation, but Jesus laid his own life down, that others may live.  Not only did he lay it down but he was able to take it up again.  That is power over life and death.  Caesar may take your life, but Jesus can raise you from the dead.

Last we tried to hike to the top of the mountain, but after several miles we were turned back by the rain.  We were forced to come to the hotel and do our study.  For the first time on this trip, I was disappointed in how we behaved.  We were given the opportunity to have coffee while we listened to the lesson.  You would have thought we hadn't even started the trip, we were up giggling and talking.  It took 15 minutes to get settled down, and then we were still talking the entire time RVL was teaching.  We instantly turned back into the people we had been before this trip, and it broke my heart.  I realize it seems like a small thing, but the ideas of hellenism are so ingrained in who we are that we can't even recognize them most of the time.  We don't think in terms of the group, we think in terms of the self.  Even the pagans can do this, even the pagans can give good gifts to those they love.  How does this make us different?  What is our witness that G-d exists?  Our witness is how we love each other, I know i am repeating but this is so central to who G-d wants us to be.  Look again at the last supper in John, what does Jesus pray for his disciples and for us?  I don't mean to be to hard on our group, it is not only them, I struggle with thinking of others, everyone I know does.  What if Jesus would have, even for one day or one moment, done something just for him?  Would we be here?  We think of how great his sacrifice on the cross was, but which is more amazing?  Dying on a cross, which tens of thousands of people have done or living a sinless life?  how many have done that.  Everyday of Jesus' life he made the choice of you and me.  Search your hearts for places where selfish desires lie, we must really learn to love one another starting with me.  Not starting with loving me but with me loving, you get the point.  Pray for us, pray that over the 3 days we have left G-d will help us to recognize the things in us that need to change and that he would give us the strength to change them.  May G-d give us all feet for the path.

Tben