You don’t say where in Malta these pics were taken. But this island has a fascinating history as the “outpost” that put a stop to the Islamic attempts to control Western Europe in the 16thC. One of the great “battles” of Christian versus Muslim. About 8,000 Maltese, with another 1,000 knights from the Order of St. John against an estimated 30,000 Turks. The Turks not only went home without defeating the defenders of Malta, but it put a stop to their world domination plans. It was to be another 500 years before Islam would raise its head again in Western Europe (and elsewhere).
Pictures in the cathedral are from St. John’s in Valetta.
Charlene Ferguson
Beautiful! Great Photograhy Dr. Moen!
Gayle Johnson
These pictures you have been posting remind me once again of the devotion to our Creator, that has been carried for centuries, in the hearts of His people. Imagine being able to express that love in a way that is still awe-inspiring to ‘modern’ societies. Amazing.
Renee
Renee
September 14, 2012 at 9:36 am
Received 2 emails from you today. And I have an offer for consideration regarding mishpatim in YHVH’s only government which He says is Holy, set apart, and without mixture. YHVH commands that in His governing of man, we are NOT to make graven images For ourselves, and bow down to them.
I enjoy your photogaphical talents, especially the pictures that you send out of the created things of our Eloah. But, the photos of church imagery is full of pagan symbols that are created in part to bring parishoners to reverence to the Holy One of Israel, but rather are a confusing mixture influenced by the author of confusion, and seemingly right in each man’s eyes. These are precisely the things of this world’s religious government that we are to not have anything to do with. Cherubic faces and bodies are distortional regarding the Heavenlies at best.
Skip, you know how much I appreciate you and this ministry. So, please consider Father’s heart in this mispat matter.
For Such A Time as This,
And respectfully,
Renee
Reply
Skip Moen
September 14, 2012 at 9:42 am
Ah, Renee. The first to notice. I use these pictures to demonstrate the syncretism of the Church. Yes, if you look closely and attentively you find all kinds of pagan, idolatrous imagery in cathedrals. Just one more indication that the Roman culture of tolerance and accumulation didn’t change when Christianity became the official religion. These images are merely a fraction of the photographs I have demonstrating this truth. They are very instructive because I am sure that while they were being constructed most parishioners believed they were in fact honoring God. You should see some of the others. Really shocking what it up there on the ceiling.
Thanks for your response. And you can see from the other comments on this page where folks are in admiration of the depictions that according our Creator are wickedness.
One can admire the artistry and craftsmanship, but still be aware of its misplaced worship. What strikes me is the absolute commitment to producing artifacts that were surely intended to honor God AND AT THE SAME TIME violated His own instructions. This only demonstrates how all-encompassing the paradigm is. We are blind to our own worldview.
Dorothy
“Ah, Renee. The first to notice. I use these pictures to demonstrate the syncretism of the Church. Yes, if you look closely and attentively you find all kinds of pagan, idolatrous imagery in cathedrals. ”
She definitely IS NOT the first to notice!
I didn’t make mention of it before because you do or say lots of things I find strange and I thought your seeming fascination with these old buildings was simply one more place where your heart and mine differ.
This IS NOT Christianity! This is idol worship. Old places like this give me the hibie-jebies and I never set foot in them, also quickly go past any pics of them. Besides the obvious, I always think what a waste of time and money that could have been used for REAL Christian work!! –Get off your ladders and feed a child’s empty tummy if you want to honor God ! —
At first I was often incensed at your criticizing of the church in general, but then I began to leave her to Christ’s keeping. Perhaps you really cannot discern the real from the false church. If that is so, I can no more fault you than I would fault a blind man for not seeing a beautiful sunset, and continuing day by day to say all is black and dark.
Well, what is the church to do with her own failures as well as the misunderstandings? I believe we are to simply go on with God’s work.
Jesus, Himself was misunderstood as he spent lots of time healing the sick and casting out demons, He went about doing good, and He was questioned — even by John — whether or not He was the One they had been looking for or should they look for another to come.
He both answered and warned John with a beautitude.
–“Blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occassion of stumbling in Me.”–
We have a right to point out all the things Jesus has done thru His real followers. The true church’s first mission is the ministry of alleviation. All of the hospitals that are in the world today are here because of the coming of Christ and the example He set for His followers. Do you realize that? There were no hospitals until Jesus came. Consider the organizations like the RED Cross, operating since WWI. [side note: many in the medical field think that laminin looks more like a caduceus]
Ministering to suffering humanity is not the (real) church’s principal work. Her principal work is introducing men to God so that they can have an eternity of fellowship with God, and be free of all tyranny and oppression, weather by other men or by biological sufferings.
Now, I must add: the last photo, — the ship comming into harbor,– is one of the best captures I’ve anywhere. DOF and Lighting is perfection and the subject sets up an unexplainable longing. Definite congrats on that one.
P.S. For any who want to see the pinnacle of a life under the ministry of Christ, please treat yourself by reading: Miracle at Tenwek: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury
Would you do me a favor please? Rather than aim your criticism at me personally (or at others), would you try to present reasoned arguments for your position. For example, instead of saying “perhaps you cannot discern the real from the false church,” you might have said, “while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.” Your personal attacks are unwarranted and annoying. Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?
While I appreciate your devotion and energy, it seems to me that far too often those in the Christian church either are ignorant of the real history of the religion or they simply turn a blind eye to that history, pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.
You: >>“while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.”<> “pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.”<>”Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?”<<
Me: I do think/hope so, and that was mean of me to have said it in such a way that it was received as an attack, but …ah… the truth is this: I remain unsure by the two examples I've just given. If I must settle on one answer, I will go with "I think so".
P.S. When I 'attack' its the teachings I'm aiming at. I think there is some difference. I do not feel, by your reply, that you are attacking me back, but understand that you do not like the arrangement of my words.
And I could be wrong. Perhaps there is no difference between the two at all. It may be just an idea I have made up and no one else on the planet thinks this way at all.
sorry I don’t know what happened, some of my reply is missing!
Please let me try again. It may be becasue of those chevraon I was using and wordpress saw them differently!!
You: “while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.”
Me: Yes, I agree completely. Wish I had said it that way. You pinned me and I apologize.
You: “pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.”
Me: The inquision was NOT carried out by believers/followers of Christ. Lets double-check. Torture vs. alleviation of suffering, and force vs. free will. no, I still conclude no.
”Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?”<<
Me: I do think/hope so, and that was mean of me to have said it in such a way that it was received as an attack, but …ah… the truth is this: I remain unsure by the two examples I've just given. If I must settle on one answer, I will go with "I think so".
A Rabbi I spoke with recently in Israel told me a major problem in the country was “accommodation”…trying to be all things to all people, not stepping on any toes. He said that if you analyze the dispute between King David and son Absolom you will see this played out. David had a pure heart for YHWH God of Israel and Him alone. Absolom was master at building consensus and indeed became very popular…eventually driving David right out of Jerusalem and taking over. “Can’t we all get along together” I believe the Rabbi is correct. While we differ on the solution I agree with his fundamental premise. Suffice to say that western Christianity is full of attempts to include everybody and everything. Change the names of the pagan feasts but the revelry continues. That is why Christmas remains the high point of drunkenness in our society..that is when the police deploy in large numbers. On a trip to Mexico we were touring a city and the tour guide stopped in front of a church. He said this one was UNIQUE…it was dedicated to Jesus, all the others were dedicated to Mary, Queen of heaven. I was not sure if I should laugh or cry (or both).
On a trip to Rome my wife and our family spent considerable time going through the Vatican Museum. The pope inherited all the Roman pagan culture and artifacts. There are huge rooms full of sculptures of Roman gods. Interesting that the room showing Greek deities and philosophers revealed long hair on all of them. I left with the distinct impression that switching from Zeus to Jesus was pretty smooth..same beard, long hair…
So what is a discerning believer to do today..join the Taliban and destroy ancient culture? (the early Christians decapitated many of the statues as well) or simply recognize the fact that tares are so thoroughly mixed in with the wheat that it will take divine guidance to separate the mess.
Yes, destroy all the garbage.
No, do not join the Taliban.
Human history is mostly worthless and more especially where it shows devil worship.
Do not museum it, protect it, shelter it, display it, — grind it to dust!
Renee
Renee
September 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm
And yet again we see the sin of the golden calf at the base of the mountain. Dualism vs ETERNITY. The sin of the golden required the death of 3000 souls that day and a cup of jealousy became the required element for the adulterous bride! Yeshua, our Bridegroom, Kinsman Redeemer, our Savior, our judge and our soon and coming King, submitted to drinking that cup of jealousy in the Garden of Gethsemenne. Our adultry with golden calfs which by the way are always expensive beautiful artistry, cost our Messiah His suffering, affliction, and death! Trample not on the blood of the Lamb of God! He delivered us out of Egypt by that blood the first time and tested us in the wilderness so that we might come out of ourselves to worship Him, and to know our hearts. Trample not the blood of the Lamb of God at the cross in our apologetics and theologies! He came to earth to set us free from the slavery to the world. Repent precious souls! The artists, their artistry, and the church’s design on creating something for themselves to worship YHVH is NOTHING less than the golden calf all over again and again and agin.
Shemot 20 (exodus 20) from Hebrew
“Elohim spoke all these statements, saying:
I am YHVH your God Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. There shall not be unto you the gods of others in My Presence. You shall not make for yourself, a statue, nor any image of that which is in the heavens above, or that which is on the earth below, or that which is in the water beneath the earth: you shall not prostrate yourself to them nor shall you worship them, for I am YHVH your God a God Who is jealous, Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children to the third generation, and upon the fourth generation for My enemies: but Who acts with kindness for thousands generations to those who love Me and to those who observe My commandments…”
Human justification will never stand in the face of the Justice of YHVH. Yeshua said “if you love Me, keep My commandments”. I love Him, and I also care for the well being and blessing of the generations that come after me. I praise Yah that I have His Torah to show me His teaching and instruction so that I can choose to not follow in the sin of the fathers at the feet of that golden calf. Consider, and reconsider all your ways. It is a path and cycle that will lead to repentance. Be Blessed precious ones. Shabbat Shalom.
The first one makes me think of Ulysses alone at sea
And my favorite song by Eric Clapton, Tales of Brave Ulysses
The pictures in the cathedral from St. John’s in Valetta
Make me think of the lyric “the violence of the sun”
And the torturous journey Ulysses had endured on his way home
As I recall there are similar cathedrals in Rhodes as well
Somewhat different than the ones in Northern Europe
Unlike the ones in Northern Europe, which have a soothing effect
The Mediterranean cathedrals are somewhat unsettling
Sort of like finding the fire in your belly 🙂
So the final picture is perfectly placed
Ulysses coming home to a very calming safe harbor
The first and last picture are sort of like Heaven
And the ones in between are sort of like Hell
What the poet William Blake referred to
As The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
robert lafoy
What to do!! Tear em’ down or admire em’.
The apostle Paul walked into a certain city that was filled with idolatry (do you think he was grieved?) and there saw statues dedicated to many gods. Althoug I’m pretty sure he may have been tempted to tear them down, and it’s sure he was repulsed by what they represented, I find it interesting that he didn’t jump right into condemnation of this pagan culture. As a matter of fact, we find him “complimenting” them (sort of 🙂 ) as being “very religious”. He picked the one erected to the unknown god, (just in case they missed one? or maybe the a misty vestige of the one true God? ) and used it as a platform to announce the restoration of God to men through Yeshua.
There will be a day when the idols are removed (hopefully sooner than later) and we can remove them easily enough in our own lives and world, however I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go removing them from the vatican, or a neighbors house for that matter, it may have the results of cutting short your ministry. (maybe Paul was on to something there) However we CAN look for an opportunity (or maybe even “make” one) to preach the good news, in deed and action, to the nations.
The truth goes a long way if presented rightly. I’ll challenge you to consider this; christianity is as convinced that it’s right, in spite of the pagan garb that covers it, as were those religions that Paul encountered in his travels. How do we convince? There was a recent post that addressed a passage on offending, “neither jew, nor gentile nor the church…” How bout’ taking/making an opportunity and let God take care of the rest. Maybe they’ll tear down their own idols and you won’t have too, that way it’s done in love. (you know, that stuff that covers a multitude of sins!!)
If two dogs are given two bones and they begin to fight over one of them, you (as a passing dog) can either join in the fray and certainly get hurt and probably leave hungry, OR you can use the fact that their busy at the moment to get a free meal and walk away happy and unscathed. We get to choose.
…..as for my part, and my comment on grinding them to dust, I mean that is my opinion in THE DAY anyone asks my advice! [which hasn’t happened lately, lol].
I respect the property of another, including a near neighbor who has a concete Mary on her lawn.
God gave me a fantastic opportunity to witness to a ‘Mary-exaulting’ neighbor one day, –after several years of prayer asking for the opportunity. It was very special and God set-up. No amount of planning on my part could have brought things into play as He did that day, –it was definitely a Divine appointment. All glory to His Name.
I agree with you on this one Dorothy, there are certain things, no matter how artful or lofty they seem, that deserve nothing but destruction. At the moment though, we have to work with what we have. There’s a difference in living in the Kingdom of God “in us” and the Kingdom as manifested in the physical, ie. ancient Israel and the coming millenial Kingdom.
BTW, not too many ask me my opinion about such things either. I suppose they figure it would only confirm what they think I think about it anyway. 🙂 On the other hand, I suppose I don’t really have to ask their opinion on certain issues either, they manifest it pretty well in their living.
Faith’s a funny thing!! A pretty deep subject, but not really all that complicated.
Skip,
You don’t say where in Malta these pics were taken. But this island has a fascinating history as the “outpost” that put a stop to the Islamic attempts to control Western Europe in the 16thC. One of the great “battles” of Christian versus Muslim. About 8,000 Maltese, with another 1,000 knights from the Order of St. John against an estimated 30,000 Turks. The Turks not only went home without defeating the defenders of Malta, but it put a stop to their world domination plans. It was to be another 500 years before Islam would raise its head again in Western Europe (and elsewhere).
Pictures in the cathedral are from St. John’s in Valetta.
Beautiful! Great Photograhy Dr. Moen!
These pictures you have been posting remind me once again of the devotion to our Creator, that has been carried for centuries, in the hearts of His people. Imagine being able to express that love in a way that is still awe-inspiring to ‘modern’ societies. Amazing.
Renee
September 14, 2012 at 9:36 am
Received 2 emails from you today. And I have an offer for consideration regarding mishpatim in YHVH’s only government which He says is Holy, set apart, and without mixture. YHVH commands that in His governing of man, we are NOT to make graven images For ourselves, and bow down to them.
I enjoy your photogaphical talents, especially the pictures that you send out of the created things of our Eloah. But, the photos of church imagery is full of pagan symbols that are created in part to bring parishoners to reverence to the Holy One of Israel, but rather are a confusing mixture influenced by the author of confusion, and seemingly right in each man’s eyes. These are precisely the things of this world’s religious government that we are to not have anything to do with. Cherubic faces and bodies are distortional regarding the Heavenlies at best.
Skip, you know how much I appreciate you and this ministry. So, please consider Father’s heart in this mispat matter.
For Such A Time as This,
And respectfully,
Renee
Reply
Skip Moen
September 14, 2012 at 9:42 am
Ah, Renee. The first to notice. I use these pictures to demonstrate the syncretism of the Church. Yes, if you look closely and attentively you find all kinds of pagan, idolatrous imagery in cathedrals. Just one more indication that the Roman culture of tolerance and accumulation didn’t change when Christianity became the official religion. These images are merely a fraction of the photographs I have demonstrating this truth. They are very instructive because I am sure that while they were being constructed most parishioners believed they were in fact honoring God. You should see some of the others. Really shocking what it up there on the ceiling.
Thanks for your response. And you can see from the other comments on this page where folks are in admiration of the depictions that according our Creator are wickedness.
One can admire the artistry and craftsmanship, but still be aware of its misplaced worship. What strikes me is the absolute commitment to producing artifacts that were surely intended to honor God AND AT THE SAME TIME violated His own instructions. This only demonstrates how all-encompassing the paradigm is. We are blind to our own worldview.
“Ah, Renee. The first to notice. I use these pictures to demonstrate the syncretism of the Church. Yes, if you look closely and attentively you find all kinds of pagan, idolatrous imagery in cathedrals. ”
She definitely IS NOT the first to notice!
I didn’t make mention of it before because you do or say lots of things I find strange and I thought your seeming fascination with these old buildings was simply one more place where your heart and mine differ.
This IS NOT Christianity! This is idol worship. Old places like this give me the hibie-jebies and I never set foot in them, also quickly go past any pics of them. Besides the obvious, I always think what a waste of time and money that could have been used for REAL Christian work!! –Get off your ladders and feed a child’s empty tummy if you want to honor God ! —
At first I was often incensed at your criticizing of the church in general, but then I began to leave her to Christ’s keeping. Perhaps you really cannot discern the real from the false church. If that is so, I can no more fault you than I would fault a blind man for not seeing a beautiful sunset, and continuing day by day to say all is black and dark.
Well, what is the church to do with her own failures as well as the misunderstandings? I believe we are to simply go on with God’s work.
Jesus, Himself was misunderstood as he spent lots of time healing the sick and casting out demons, He went about doing good, and He was questioned — even by John — whether or not He was the One they had been looking for or should they look for another to come.
He both answered and warned John with a beautitude.
–“Blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occassion of stumbling in Me.”–
We have a right to point out all the things Jesus has done thru His real followers. The true church’s first mission is the ministry of alleviation. All of the hospitals that are in the world today are here because of the coming of Christ and the example He set for His followers. Do you realize that? There were no hospitals until Jesus came. Consider the organizations like the RED Cross, operating since WWI. [side note: many in the medical field think that laminin looks more like a caduceus]
Ministering to suffering humanity is not the (real) church’s principal work. Her principal work is introducing men to God so that they can have an eternity of fellowship with God, and be free of all tyranny and oppression, weather by other men or by biological sufferings.
Now, I must add: the last photo, — the ship comming into harbor,– is one of the best captures I’ve anywhere. DOF and Lighting is perfection and the subject sets up an unexplainable longing. Definite congrats on that one.
P.S. For any who want to see the pinnacle of a life under the ministry of Christ, please treat yourself by reading: Miracle at Tenwek: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury
Dear Dorothy,
Would you do me a favor please? Rather than aim your criticism at me personally (or at others), would you try to present reasoned arguments for your position. For example, instead of saying “perhaps you cannot discern the real from the false church,” you might have said, “while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.” Your personal attacks are unwarranted and annoying. Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?
While I appreciate your devotion and energy, it seems to me that far too often those in the Christian church either are ignorant of the real history of the religion or they simply turn a blind eye to that history, pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.
Hello, Skip —
Can we try to shake this out?
You: >>“while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.”<> “pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.”<>”Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?”<<
Me: I do think/hope so, and that was mean of me to have said it in such a way that it was received as an attack, but …ah… the truth is this: I remain unsure by the two examples I've just given. If I must settle on one answer, I will go with "I think so".
P.S. When I 'attack' its the teachings I'm aiming at. I think there is some difference. I do not feel, by your reply, that you are attacking me back, but understand that you do not like the arrangement of my words.
And I could be wrong. Perhaps there is no difference between the two at all. It may be just an idea I have made up and no one else on the planet thinks this way at all.
THe difference between the two? What two? I need you to fill in the information because I am answering and reading a dozen blog comments at a time.
sorry I don’t know what happened, some of my reply is missing!
Please let me try again. It may be becasue of those chevraon I was using and wordpress saw them differently!!
You: “while Christian history is certainly filled with examples of waste and idolatry, there is still the real church behind it all.”
Me: Yes, I agree completely. Wish I had said it that way. You pinned me and I apologize.
You: “pretending that the creation of hospitals somehow overturns the horrors of the inquisition.”
Me: The inquision was NOT carried out by believers/followers of Christ. Lets double-check. Torture vs. alleviation of suffering, and force vs. free will. no, I still conclude no.
”Do you really think that I can’t tell the difference between true followers and the hypocrisy of the institution?”<<
Me: I do think/hope so, and that was mean of me to have said it in such a way that it was received as an attack, but …ah… the truth is this: I remain unsure by the two examples I've just given. If I must settle on one answer, I will go with "I think so".
and my PS is up there.
Yes and Amen! The first and the last are great!
A Rabbi I spoke with recently in Israel told me a major problem in the country was “accommodation”…trying to be all things to all people, not stepping on any toes. He said that if you analyze the dispute between King David and son Absolom you will see this played out. David had a pure heart for YHWH God of Israel and Him alone. Absolom was master at building consensus and indeed became very popular…eventually driving David right out of Jerusalem and taking over. “Can’t we all get along together” I believe the Rabbi is correct. While we differ on the solution I agree with his fundamental premise. Suffice to say that western Christianity is full of attempts to include everybody and everything. Change the names of the pagan feasts but the revelry continues. That is why Christmas remains the high point of drunkenness in our society..that is when the police deploy in large numbers. On a trip to Mexico we were touring a city and the tour guide stopped in front of a church. He said this one was UNIQUE…it was dedicated to Jesus, all the others were dedicated to Mary, Queen of heaven. I was not sure if I should laugh or cry (or both).
On a trip to Rome my wife and our family spent considerable time going through the Vatican Museum. The pope inherited all the Roman pagan culture and artifacts. There are huge rooms full of sculptures of Roman gods. Interesting that the room showing Greek deities and philosophers revealed long hair on all of them. I left with the distinct impression that switching from Zeus to Jesus was pretty smooth..same beard, long hair…
So what is a discerning believer to do today..join the Taliban and destroy ancient culture? (the early Christians decapitated many of the statues as well) or simply recognize the fact that tares are so thoroughly mixed in with the wheat that it will take divine guidance to separate the mess.
IMlO [in my little opinion]
Lol, you should have “both”.
Yes, destroy all the garbage.
No, do not join the Taliban.
Human history is mostly worthless and more especially where it shows devil worship.
Do not museum it, protect it, shelter it, display it, — grind it to dust!
Renee
September 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm
And yet again we see the sin of the golden calf at the base of the mountain. Dualism vs ETERNITY. The sin of the golden required the death of 3000 souls that day and a cup of jealousy became the required element for the adulterous bride! Yeshua, our Bridegroom, Kinsman Redeemer, our Savior, our judge and our soon and coming King, submitted to drinking that cup of jealousy in the Garden of Gethsemenne. Our adultry with golden calfs which by the way are always expensive beautiful artistry, cost our Messiah His suffering, affliction, and death! Trample not on the blood of the Lamb of God! He delivered us out of Egypt by that blood the first time and tested us in the wilderness so that we might come out of ourselves to worship Him, and to know our hearts. Trample not the blood of the Lamb of God at the cross in our apologetics and theologies! He came to earth to set us free from the slavery to the world. Repent precious souls! The artists, their artistry, and the church’s design on creating something for themselves to worship YHVH is NOTHING less than the golden calf all over again and again and agin.
Shemot 20 (exodus 20) from Hebrew
“Elohim spoke all these statements, saying:
I am YHVH your God Who has taken you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery. There shall not be unto you the gods of others in My Presence. You shall not make for yourself, a statue, nor any image of that which is in the heavens above, or that which is on the earth below, or that which is in the water beneath the earth: you shall not prostrate yourself to them nor shall you worship them, for I am YHVH your God a God Who is jealous, Who visits the sin of the fathers upon the children to the third generation, and upon the fourth generation for My enemies: but Who acts with kindness for thousands generations to those who love Me and to those who observe My commandments…”
Human justification will never stand in the face of the Justice of YHVH. Yeshua said “if you love Me, keep My commandments”. I love Him, and I also care for the well being and blessing of the generations that come after me. I praise Yah that I have His Torah to show me His teaching and instruction so that I can choose to not follow in the sin of the fathers at the feet of that golden calf. Consider, and reconsider all your ways. It is a path and cycle that will lead to repentance. Be Blessed precious ones. Shabbat Shalom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BGlFsf9DM8
Hi Skip,
The pictures are really beautiful
The first one makes me think of Ulysses alone at sea
And my favorite song by Eric Clapton, Tales of Brave Ulysses
The pictures in the cathedral from St. John’s in Valetta
Make me think of the lyric “the violence of the sun”
And the torturous journey Ulysses had endured on his way home
As I recall there are similar cathedrals in Rhodes as well
Somewhat different than the ones in Northern Europe
Unlike the ones in Northern Europe, which have a soothing effect
The Mediterranean cathedrals are somewhat unsettling
Sort of like finding the fire in your belly 🙂
So the final picture is perfectly placed
Ulysses coming home to a very calming safe harbor
The first and last picture are sort of like Heaven
And the ones in between are sort of like Hell
What the poet William Blake referred to
As The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
What to do!! Tear em’ down or admire em’.
The apostle Paul walked into a certain city that was filled with idolatry (do you think he was grieved?) and there saw statues dedicated to many gods. Althoug I’m pretty sure he may have been tempted to tear them down, and it’s sure he was repulsed by what they represented, I find it interesting that he didn’t jump right into condemnation of this pagan culture. As a matter of fact, we find him “complimenting” them (sort of 🙂 ) as being “very religious”. He picked the one erected to the unknown god, (just in case they missed one? or maybe the a misty vestige of the one true God? ) and used it as a platform to announce the restoration of God to men through Yeshua.
There will be a day when the idols are removed (hopefully sooner than later) and we can remove them easily enough in our own lives and world, however I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go removing them from the vatican, or a neighbors house for that matter, it may have the results of cutting short your ministry. (maybe Paul was on to something there) However we CAN look for an opportunity (or maybe even “make” one) to preach the good news, in deed and action, to the nations.
The truth goes a long way if presented rightly. I’ll challenge you to consider this; christianity is as convinced that it’s right, in spite of the pagan garb that covers it, as were those religions that Paul encountered in his travels. How do we convince? There was a recent post that addressed a passage on offending, “neither jew, nor gentile nor the church…” How bout’ taking/making an opportunity and let God take care of the rest. Maybe they’ll tear down their own idols and you won’t have too, that way it’s done in love. (you know, that stuff that covers a multitude of sins!!)
If two dogs are given two bones and they begin to fight over one of them, you (as a passing dog) can either join in the fray and certainly get hurt and probably leave hungry, OR you can use the fact that their busy at the moment to get a free meal and walk away happy and unscathed. We get to choose.
Shabbat shalom, may YHWH bless you and keep you….
…..as for my part, and my comment on grinding them to dust, I mean that is my opinion in THE DAY anyone asks my advice! [which hasn’t happened lately, lol].
I respect the property of another, including a near neighbor who has a concete Mary on her lawn.
God gave me a fantastic opportunity to witness to a ‘Mary-exaulting’ neighbor one day, –after several years of prayer asking for the opportunity. It was very special and God set-up. No amount of planning on my part could have brought things into play as He did that day, –it was definitely a Divine appointment. All glory to His Name.
I agree with you on this one Dorothy, there are certain things, no matter how artful or lofty they seem, that deserve nothing but destruction. At the moment though, we have to work with what we have. There’s a difference in living in the Kingdom of God “in us” and the Kingdom as manifested in the physical, ie. ancient Israel and the coming millenial Kingdom.
BTW, not too many ask me my opinion about such things either. I suppose they figure it would only confirm what they think I think about it anyway. 🙂 On the other hand, I suppose I don’t really have to ask their opinion on certain issues either, they manifest it pretty well in their living.
Faith’s a funny thing!! A pretty deep subject, but not really all that complicated.
:-)) SO true!!