Theology http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi? http://www.eblah.com en Zion http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1261135940/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1261135940/#num1
I've been thinking about Zion lately - especially as I climb long hills from the Grand River valley.  Heading East to work.  Zion - a holy hill, a promised land, a sacred mountain.  I am well acquainted with its symbolism and various other places that hold similar meaning.  I was raised in the Paha Sapa - The Black Hills - those ancient and sacred mountains.  I understand the feeling of a holy place that nurtures your heart, life and dreams.  I understand seeking visions upon the mountain top.  I understand the internal strength it takes to climb up from a deep valley.  I understand how the effort is lessened by companionship and comraderie.

There is a Zion in everything.  A great obstacle where one may seek, find and be blessed by a Holy God.  Often, I can't even see the summit until I've reached it.  I may not even know I'm steadily climbing until I come face to face with a vista created by the hands of the Living God.  There, I realize how very small I am ... and likewise, how amazing and vast God's grace and mercy is - that He sees it fit to call me His son.

So remember, that immense struggle and long difficult way you're walking ... that thing that challenges and emboldens you ... if you are faithful to keep climbing, He will be faithful to meet with you all along the way.  Be lifted up.

and always aim farther than the top.

I love each and every one of you,
daniel]]> Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:32:20 danielml Gobekli Tepe http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1236789173/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1236789173/#num1 http://www.ebolaworld.com/blog/2009/03/gobekli-tepe.html )
The Gobekli Tepe are some of the oldest structures made by man ever discovered.

"Compared with Stonehenge, they are humble affairs. None of the circles excavated (four out of an estimated 20) are more than 30 metres across. T-shaped pillars like the rest, two five-metre stones tower at least a metre above their peers. What makes them remarkable are their carved reliefs of boars, foxes, lions, birds, snakes and scorpions, and their age. Dated at around 9,500BC, these stones are 5,500 years older than the first cities of Mesopotamia, and 7,000 years older than Stonehenge."

from http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/apr/23/archaeology.turkey

I thought this was thought provoking. This dig started in 1994 and this is the first I heard of it. Another solid piece of evidence in the face of "young earth creationism" which believes the entire universe is from 6,000 to 10,000 years old.]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:32:53 danielml Koinonia Farms http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1205603295/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1205603295/#num1 http://justplainwright.blogspot.com/2008/03/on-pilgrimage-at-koinonia.html

Quoted Text
In an attempt to gain Koinonia protection and aid from the courts, Clarence asked his brother Robert, a lawyer, for help. Clarence’s brother, a man harboring mighty political aspirations, responded, "I can't do that. You know my political aspirations. I might lose my job, my house, everything I've got."

"We might lose everything too," replied Clarence.

"It's different for you," Robert responded.

"Why is it different?” inquired Clarence. “You and I joined the church the same Sunday as boys. I expect when we came forward the preacher asked, 'Do you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?' And I said, 'Yes.' What did you say?"

Robert replied, "I follow Jesus, Clarence, up to a point."

"Could that point by any chance be the cross?" asked Clarence.

"Yes, that’s right. I follow him to the cross, but not on the cross. I'm not getting myself crucified." exclaimed Robert.

"Then I don't believe you are a disciple.” said Clarence. “You're an admirer of Jesus, but not a disciple of his. I think you ought to go back to the church you belong to, and tell them you're an admirer not a disciple."

"Well now, if everyone who felt like I do did that, we wouldn't have a church, would we?" sneered Robert.

"The question is,” replied Clarence “Do you have a church?"


I encourage you to read the whole article as it is profound and inspiring.

-daniel]]> Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:48:15 danielml Jeremiah 10 and Christmas Trees http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1162708921/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1162708921/#num1
Here's the KJV of Jeremiah 10:1-5
Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
  Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.  For the customs of the people are vain:  for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not:  they must needs be borne, because they cannot go.  Be not afraid of them;  for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

--So alright, cuttin' down a tree, deckin' it with silver and gold and standing it up.  I GUESS if you ignore the fact that the modern Christmas tree tradition started in 16th century Germany and Jeremiah was written around 600 bc, you ignore the fact that noone uses hammer and nails to stand a tree up or decorates it with REAL silver and gold - and that noone ... NOONE is afraid of a Christmas tree or believes it capable of doing evil ... then maybe you could believe that this small clump of verses is relevant to our holiday tradition.  

This belief is COMPLETELY abolished by the NIV translation of Jeremiah 10, however.  Here's the NIV:
Hear what the Lord says to you, O house of Israel.  This is what the Lord says:
  "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.  For the customs of the peoples are worthless;  they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.  They adorn it with silver and gold;  they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.  Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak;  they must be carried because they cannot walk.  Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."
(green emphasis added to parts that clearly contradict the Christmas tree theory)

It is clear from the NIV translation that this bit of verses is about idols and idolatry.  I mean, NO SANE PERSON thinks a Christmas tree can speak, do they?

Here's some other links on this passage and the Christmas tree(apparently I'm not the only one who's heard this myth):
http://www.wcg.org/lit/church/holidays/trees.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/messianic_judaism/112301
http://www.thewordsofeternallife.com/jeremiah_10.html
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+10-12
http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm]]> Sun, 5 Nov 2006 01:42:01 danielml Liberal Jesus http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1150485101/ http://danielml.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.cgi?m-1150485101/#num1
Some "Liberal" words of Jesus Christ:

Excerpts from Matthew 5, 6 & 7:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

(...)

  You have heard it said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.  Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
  You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
  Be careful not to do your "acts of righteousness" before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
  And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.  Then your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

(...)

  No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.

(...)

  Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured against you.

(...)

  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

From Luke 18:
  A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
  "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.  "No one is good?except God alone.  You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
  "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven.  Then come, follow me."
  When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.  Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:11:41 danielml