Crossing over the Jordan — and perhaps the Rubicon

Further conflicts are ahead as the trivial and outmoded concept of religious liberty clashes with the new Prime Directive:

“Mirror image: What if an evangelical politico doxed gay protesters at Family Research Council?”

“For your 2020 agenda: The Democrats’ Equality Act sets up a religion-news sleeper issue”

“Not Getting Your First-Choice Gay Wedding Cake Is Nothing Like Getting The Measles: A New York Times op-ed suggests allowing any religious liberty claims opens the door to spurious claims of religious liberty. This is utterly foolish.”

***

Oh my.  Should such articles as the following even be legal?

“No, Christianity Doesn’t Need To Endorse Homosexuality To Grow: Rev. Oliver Thomas is simply one in a long line of terribly misguided clergy who believe the best thing for the church is to stop being Christian.”

***

An article from Dennis Prager in National Review:

“Why the Left Mocks the Bible: The Bible tells of a greater source of truth than human reasoning. The Left can’t handle that.”

***

Last night in Jerusalem, our cozy little group broke up.   Some are going on to Egypt with us, but others headed to the airport bound for home and some are flying to other destinations.

We spent the night in Jericho, rising this morning at a leisurely 6:30 AM.  We had a remarkably smooth border crossing into the Royal Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the King Hussein Bridge — formerly (and still commonly) the Allenby Bridge — and drove from there to the summit of Mount Nebo or Mount Pisgah, from which Moses is said to have gazed into the Promised Land, which he was not permitted to enter.  The weather was quite clear, and we could see not only Jericho and the Dead Sea but a bit of Jerusalem itself.

After a good lunch, we paid a visit to the famous Madaba map that is located in a church in the Jordanian town of that name.  It’s a wonderful help to understanding the ancient understanding of the geography of the area — and it supports my inclination to credit the Jordanian Maghtas baptismal site (known from the Israeli side as Qasr al-Yahud) as the authentic location of John’s baptism of Jesus.

This little visit to Jordan was wholly unexpected to me.  But it’s nice to be here again, even if only for a very short time. It may be a while before we’re back.

Posted from Amman, Jordan