MOTHER LOAD From the very beginning The burden was clear Sometimes bearable Sometimes severe Ate from the apple Shared it with him Disobeyed the order Indulged the whim. What was the outcome? The fruit of the act? She ‘knew’ good and evil? She experienced it in fact? Did the earth creature join her? Did he crumble into dust? Did he die in an instant? Or just tumble into lust? To love and to cherish Becomes ‘desire and dominate’ Objectify... Read more
Temple Beth-el is indeed a very old synagogue. Here’s an old snapshot….. Synagogues are places where history is highly valued and treasured and rightly so. In the cabinets in the hallway of the synagogue we find all sorts of things ancient and modern including an historic Torah scroll rescued from the Warsaw Ghetto before the Nazis destroyed things. But there are also modern gifts to the synagogue for instance….. Read more
Continuing with our tour of Temple Beth-el (i.e. house of God), there are many other spectacular features to take note of, for example the gorgeous tapestries woven and framed and hung to the right and left of the high altar. Th The top one shows images of creation with the word Hallelujah (as in Praise Yahweh) above it in Hebrew, and the bottom one was the same superscript but below it images of the various festivals of Judaism. Outside the... Read more
There are some spectacular churches and synagogues in San Antonio and we fortunately got to take the sacred sites tour while at the SBL last month. This post will be about the largest of the synagogues— Temple Beth-el… This is in fact a huge synagogue which indicates a very large Jewish community in San Antonio. It was quite difficult to get pictures of the outside of the synagogue so I had to settle for a stock image, while concentrating on... Read more
Here’s a podcast about an often mistranslated verse which actually reads ‘no room in the guest room’ https://exegeticallyspeaking.libsyn.com/no-inn-in-which-to-have-no-room-with-ben-witherington-iii-luke-27https://exegeticallyspeaking.libsyn.com/no-inn-in-which-to-have-no-room-with-ben-witherington-iii-luke-27 Read more
The Asbury Seminary library is already dead quiet. Most of the time, no one is there except the student works at the desk, or other library staff in their little rooms working away. But the main part of the library seems mostly abandoned these days. No students studying, occasionally students passing through to pick up or drop off books. But otherwise. QUIET. So it struck me as hilarious that on the check out desk at our library there now resided... Read more
INCOGNITO He came in incognito, A thinly veiled disguise The not so subtle son of man, A human with God’s eyes. The messianic secret, Left many unawares A God had walked upon the earth And shared our human cares. We did not see his glory, At least not at first glimpse, It took an Easter wake up call, Before it all made sense. The truth of Incarnation, Of dwelling within flesh, Shows goodness in... Read more
The very term holiday is in fact a mash up of the words holy day. But what has happened to our holy days is they have been over-run with commercialism, cartoon characters, and frankly a brief spurt of compassion for our fellow human beings who are less fortunate than we are, especially those in war torn places like Ukraine or Gaza or Israel. In reflecting on this situation I’ve written various Christmas poems, and here is the shortest among them….... Read more
THE BONDING A cold and listless season, And full of cheerless cheer, When hopes are raised and dashed again And joy dissolves in tears. The search for endless family The search for one true Friend Leaves questers tired, disconsolate With questions without end. Best find some potent pleasure quick Some superficial thrill Than search for everlasting love When none can fill that bill. So hide yourselves in shopping And eating ‘til you burst, Use endless... Read more
CREATURES OF HABIT Creatures of habit, Day after day Go about life, The same old way. Nothing disturbs Their orderly routine All must be neat, And all must be clean. They’re making their lists And checking them twice, Trying to make sure Their work will suffice. Impatient by nature They don’t suffer fools Gladly or otherwise Because of the rules. A place for everything For all there’s a place Don’t touch the guest towels But... Read more
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