At our
meeting last night, I used a new example to explain the meaning of the words of
very well-known prayer. They liked it so I thought I would share it with you
today. It was a Jewish prayer in the first century, and became a Christian
prayer later. It was a prayer that Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor and I talked about many
times. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/224da59f597c/what-would-life-on-earth-be-like
The
Hebrew University in Jerusalem
posted this article today: “First burials: Compelling evidence that Neanderthal
and Homo sapiens engaged in cultural exchange.” The first-ever published
research on Tinshemet Cave reveals that Neanderthals and Homo
sapiens in the mid-Middle Paleolithic Levant not only coexisted but actively
interacted, sharing technology, lifestyles, and burial customs. For more
information - https://mailchi.mp/d0bb9ad83f4a/formal-burial-customs-appear-in-israel-110000-years-ago
Aspects
lists are found in multiple ancient cultures of the Middle East. This accumulation
of aspects serves to produce a sense of understanding of the field as a whole
and provide wisdom for making decisions and judgments. These lists are part of
legal documents called Alliances and Covenants. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/626877a6cc17/the-universal-genesis-alliance
The last positively identified Akkadian text
comes from the 1st century CE. The ability to read the Akkadian language faded
into the distant past until 1767 CE, 9 years before the Declaration of
Independence. The
Stele of Hammurabi was discovered in 1901. It would be another century
before it before its relationship with the Bible would be heard by people
outside the circles of scholars. Today it is helping us better understand the
Bible. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/6ef476bfdfec/establishing-justice-and-maintaining-order-together
One
can point to multiple trends that knocked down our wiser selves. Traditional
institutions that have drawn us together around more noble purposes have been
overtaken by political messages. The “Greatest Generation,” which filled
our country with a sense of moral purpose after World War II, is gone. Civility
has largely broken down. Differences of opinion have now become occasions for
unleashing vitriol, identifying those holding alternative views as not just
misguided but evil and dangerous. Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/330bf7448c36/how-did-we-get-here
The
first major conflict in the Jesus Movement was resolved by the Jerusalem Council (50 CE). Even though all
but one apostle had been personally taught by Jesus, the council led by Jacob (James),
the brother of Jesus, and included “elders.” Their ruling became an “institutional
truth” of the Jesus Movement. The councils of the Roman Catholic Church also created
“institutional truths.” A major change occurred in the 16th century.
Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/411e17e0df3f/know-the-difference-between-institutional-and-individual-truths
I
was working on an email about Martin Luther’s movement beginning on university
campuses in 1517 CE. I took a break to write recommendations on two books -- Your
Professors Are Lying to You About Israel and The Road to Wisdom: On
Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust. The first book deals specifically with
five false accusations. The second book deals with Postmodernist claims that “An
author didn’t actually know what was meant in a text that he or she had written,
so readers were therefore free to create their own meaning for a work,
unrelated to all previous interpretations.” Continue reading at - https://mailchi.mp/7115186f402e/the-age-of-transparency-has-arrived-in-america
