"Everyone knows something's gone wrong in the universe. This is not a debatable statement. The most hardened, atheistic, agnostic, maybe hyper-spiritual but not dialed-in person will freely admit something's broken with us. Alright? The whole reason Oprah Winfrey has a channel is because she's able to go, 'Hey, something's wrong. Let me tell you how to fix it.'"
-Matt Chandler
To me, the above statement seems obvious, but there are actually many people who simply believe that humanity isn't really that bad. Maybe you're one of them. If that's the case, then please don't take offense at what I'm about to say, because it isn't done maliciously; it's meant as a loving reproach, okay?
You're wrong.
Let me lay out a couple of numbers for you. These come from the Bureau of Justice, the National Drug Rehabilitation Center, The Census Bureau, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
-At the end of 2011, there were almost 7 million people incarcerated for various crimes.
Mind you, these are only the people who have been caught and convicted.
-From 2010-2011, there were more than 7.1 million violent crimes (including armed and unarmed violence, as well as sexual assault).
That would, in fact, be more violent crimes than we have criminals in jail.
-In 2009, an estimated 21.8 million people were using some form of illegal (or illegally obtained) drug, with more than 250,000 using heroin, and more than 241,000 using either form of cocaine.
While cocaine use has gone down, heroin use has gone up.
-In 2011, states had, on average, more than 400,000 moving-violation-related offenses.
These include running red lights, speeding, following too closely, etc. That is, give or take, 2,000,000 moving violations in 2011.
-In 2011, more than 32,000 people died in alcohol-related car accidents.
That's just the number of people who died, not the total number of people who drove impaired.
-To date, there are more than 2,000,000 members in Alcoholics Anonymous
Those are just the ones who have admitted to having a problem.
-In 2009, the national divorce rate was almost 52%.
This one is a little tricky, because not all divorces are bad; sometimes a divorce is necessary just to save a life. However, whether the divorce itself is good or bad, it occurs because one or both parties in the marriage are broken.
Now, keep in mind that all of these numbers are for the U.S. alone, and don't include statistics from anywhere else.
Seven million people incarcerated, but three times as many addicted to drugs.
Seven million people incarcerated, but we could more than double that number if we added everyone who committed a violent crime during 2010 alone.
More than half of marriages fail, and there appears to be a severe drinking problem in our society.
And no one seems to think that the driving rules apply to them.
Something is radically wrong in our society. Especially when we add in the small-scale problems that people cause. The jerk at work who threw you under the bus so he could get the promotion you deserved? The neighbor that constantly steals your Sunday paper?
And we haven't even mentioned telemarketers yet (Ouch! Sorry!).
People are broken. We can paint a rose-colored picture about the indomitable spirit of humanity. We can talk about the evolutionary theory that states we are constantly improving. We can gloss over the fact that the two most horrific wars in human history happened in the last 100 years.
But it's a lie. We aren't getting better. Some even believe we're getting worse.
Think about it this way: there are two (basic) views to the history of mankind. Some believe we've only been on the earth for about six thousand year, while others believe we have been on the earth for roughly 200,000 years (in our modern anatomical form, but it's longer if you count the evolution from single-celled organisms up to today). Six thousand years is a long time to work on getting it right. Two-hundred thousand is even longer.
So what's the solution? Well, a car can't fix itself; it needs someone who can think around its problems and reach in there and make necessary repairs.
Computers can't fix themselves, but need someone to go in and fix the problem. Even when a computer runs a self-diagnostic test, it can only go as far as its programming will allow.
Homes don't repair themselves, but need carpenters, plumbers, and electricians to go in and provide the solutions.
Every problem requires someone who is outside - and greater than - the system. Every problem requires someone who knows the system better than it knows itself, and who knows and can see the big picture.
Including us.
But what do we do? We trust in a government to fix our problems - a government made up of broken people like ourselves. We go to better schools, get more degrees - from professors and instructors who are broken people like ourselves. These are not what we need, because they're inside this broken system, too. We need someone outside of us, someone greater than us, someone smarter than us, and someone who can see the bigger picture.
We need Jesus.
This isn't, as it may seem, a matter of religion or faith; it's just common sense. We trust the repair of every other system in life to someone outside of it. But somehow we - we who are broken - think that we can find the answers within ourselves. The author Frank Peretti once put it this way: "If you're searching for answers, don't search within yourself; you're the one who's confused!" We don't pull over on the side of the road and ask ourselves for directions when we're lost.
So let's stop asking ourselves for directions. Let's stop this game of thinking we can fix our own hang-ups, that we can solve our own issues, and that we can somehow better ourselves enough to transcend societal problems. Let's turn to the Mechanic who knows us better than we know ourselves.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Spaghetti
Are you ready? Today, I am posting my super-secret spaghetti recipe. Now the key to this is the combination of vinegar and hot sauce. You really want them to add depth, but you don't want to actually taste either of them, so be conservative; if your spaghetti sauce tastes like a pickle (or a buffalo wing), you've overdone it.
Spaghetti Sauce
1 T olive oil 1/2 t sugar
1 lb. ground beef (optional) 1/2 t salt
1 onion, chopped 1/4 t black pepper
1 bell pepper, chopped 2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
8 oz. fresh sliced mushrooms 1 t white vinegar
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced hot sauce
2 T fresh Basil (or 2 t dried) 1 lb. favorite pasta
2 T fresh oregano (or 2 t dried)
1 T fresh parsley (or 1 t dried)
1 T fresh rosemary (or 1 t dried)
1) Heat olive oil in large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add ground beef, stirring occasionally, until beef is no longer pink, about five minutes. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions and pepper are soft, approximately three minutes. Add mushrooms, cook until browned.
2) Reduce heat to medium-low and add garlic. Cook, stirring once, for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add next seven ingredients (through pepper), and stir well until onions, peppers, mushrooms, and garlic are well coated.
3) Add tomatoes, vinegar, and a few dashes of hot sauce. Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer at least twenty minutes, up to six hours. Stir every hour or so.
4) While sauce simmers, cook pasta according to directions. Serve sauce on top of pasta and, if desired, top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
The Flood of the Earth
This story is taken from my book, Flood Legends: Global Clues of a Common Event. I include it here, not as a prideful thing, but because I think it's an interesting story, and all other versions of it have copyrights attached. Mine does, too, but I'm allowed to use my own work.
I think.
The Flood of the Earth
A race of giants was destroying the earth, and God, angry with them for it, commanded a man to build a very large canoe. The man did as he was told, and as soon as he entered it, the water rose on all sides, until no land could be seen in any direction. Bored with the scenery, the man told an otter to dive down into the waters and see what he could find. The otter returned with a piece of earth. The man took the earth in his hand and breathed on it, and it began to grow. So he laid it on the water, kept it from sinking, and watched as it continued to grow. As it grew and grew, the man saw that it was becoming an island. So he placed a reindeer on it, and the reindeer ran around in a circle, making a quick circuit about the island. The man decided that the earth was not yet large enough, so he continued to blow on it. In time, all of the lakes, mountains, and rivers were formed, and the man knew it was time to leave the canoe.
-From the Montagnais People, Hudson Bay, found in Flood Legends: Global Clues of a Common Event
While I talk about this at length in the book, what strikes me about this legend is how similar it is to the Biblical account. Now, most people assume that it was taken from the Europeans who settled here, but that's not the case, as the Montagnais People already had a fully-formed mythology long before the Bible was brought over. This means that this story is the very same story passed down from generation to generation, stretching back thousands of years, probably to the Tower of Babel.
I think.
The Flood of the Earth
A race of giants was destroying the earth, and God, angry with them for it, commanded a man to build a very large canoe. The man did as he was told, and as soon as he entered it, the water rose on all sides, until no land could be seen in any direction. Bored with the scenery, the man told an otter to dive down into the waters and see what he could find. The otter returned with a piece of earth. The man took the earth in his hand and breathed on it, and it began to grow. So he laid it on the water, kept it from sinking, and watched as it continued to grow. As it grew and grew, the man saw that it was becoming an island. So he placed a reindeer on it, and the reindeer ran around in a circle, making a quick circuit about the island. The man decided that the earth was not yet large enough, so he continued to blow on it. In time, all of the lakes, mountains, and rivers were formed, and the man knew it was time to leave the canoe.
-From the Montagnais People, Hudson Bay, found in Flood Legends: Global Clues of a Common Event
While I talk about this at length in the book, what strikes me about this legend is how similar it is to the Biblical account. Now, most people assume that it was taken from the Europeans who settled here, but that's not the case, as the Montagnais People already had a fully-formed mythology long before the Bible was brought over. This means that this story is the very same story passed down from generation to generation, stretching back thousands of years, probably to the Tower of Babel.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Why I'm Not Talking About Paris
So Paris has been in the news recently, right? Murder, protests, comradery, and so forth. But what sticks out to me is that no one really seems to understand what, exactly, is at stake here. On the one side, you have people blasting all Muslims, calling them psychopaths, freaks, murderous animals, and so on. Then you have people on the other side saying that Islam is a peaceful religion, and that these perpetrators were a fringe group. Then you have everyone else in the middle trying to play both sides of the fence.
But we're missing the point, especially those of us who are disciples of Jesus. The point is not about whether Islam is peaceful or psychotic. The point is not about being angry and rounding up all Muslims in this country, as I've heard some suggest (sounds like unresolved 9/11 baggage). The point is not about placating, either.
The problem isn't that these terrorists are Muslim. The problem is that they are sinners, and it's the same problem that you and I have. Oh, sure, maybe we're not worshiping their false god, but we're still worshiping false gods. Whether violence is inherent in their faith or not is irrelevant, because they still need a fundamental heart change. This change is needed, regardless of how violent any given Muslim may or may not be. To put it differently, we all need this heart change, whether we're violent people or not, because violence is not the issue.
Sin is.
And so, without being flippant or callous towards the lives lost in the atrocious attack, I don't particularly care that a group of Muslims gunned people down, because I don't see this as Muslims gunning people down. I see this as lost people killing more lost people. I see this as wasted lives, cut off from God, breaking His heart, and in desperate need of a Savior.
Just like the rest of us.
You see, we're all on the same playing field. Not one of us is better - or worse - than any one of those gunmen. If left unchecked, we are all capable of horrible evil. Here's the real kicker, though, we have all been left unchecked, and we have all committed horrible evil. That's what sin is: horrible evil. Lying? Horrible evil. Theft? Horrible evil. Homosexuality? Horrible evil. Marital infidelity? Horrible evil. Murder? Horrible evil. Porn? Horrible evil. I could go through this all night, if I wanted to, because all sin is the same. Sin is nothing short of divine treason, an arrogant attempt to dethrone God.
This is why God hates sin so much. Imagine: the Creator of the Universe, Someone Who sees all, hears all, and knows all, being told by His creation that His Word isn't good enough. Imagine if you were a sculptor who created a ceramic mug, and the mug turned to you and said, "I'm sorry, I'd rather not hold coffee every morning; I'm going to be a plate, instead."
That's sort of like what we do when we sin. We turn to our Creator and say, "What You have for me isn't good enough. I'm going to do what I want, instead." We've all done that.
The Bible tells us that no one is righteous - that is, no one is holy or saintly. Jesus even went so far as to reprimand someone who called Him "Good Teacher," saying, "'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone'" (Mark 10:18). Get it? No one. Not Muslims. Not Jews. Not Atheists. Not Buddhists. Not Jehovah's Witnesses. Not Latter Day Saints. Not Hindus.
And not Christians.
The Bible paints a remarkably bleak picture of humanity that states that all of us are equally bad. Yet before you go away depressed, realize this: this truth that all of us are unlovable and horrendous, treasonous, people, only makes God's love that much more amazing. Because the same Bible that says that all of us deserve Hell also says that God loves us, still. Not only that, but He loves us and desires that none of us go to the Hell we deserve. Not only that, but He loves us enough that He took the sins of all of us - even those terrorists - and died for them. He died for all of us, so that we can experience the fullness of His mercy, the tenderness of His grace, and the unstoppable and unwavering force of His love. He offers us a new life in which we can learn to depend totally on Him, free from the fears and anxieties of this life, and free from the penalty of our sins in the next.
And He even offers it to terrorists. He offers it, not because of what they do, but in spite of it. And I really hope that at least one member of al Qaeda reads this, because I want them to hear the Gospel and know that Jesus does not hate them, even if those who claim to be His followers do. I want them to know that followers of Jesus - authentic ones, not the nominal ones we see far too often - love them, too.
As Christians, this changes nothing about our mission, which is Jesus' mission: to seek and save the lost. So I'm not talking about the tragedy of Charlie Hebdo, though death is tragic. I'm not talking about the evils of Islam, because all of us are evil without God. The only thing that matters is this: whatever you group you fall into: Jesus loves you. And whatever group of people you hate: Jesus loves them, too.
But we're missing the point, especially those of us who are disciples of Jesus. The point is not about whether Islam is peaceful or psychotic. The point is not about being angry and rounding up all Muslims in this country, as I've heard some suggest (sounds like unresolved 9/11 baggage). The point is not about placating, either.
The problem isn't that these terrorists are Muslim. The problem is that they are sinners, and it's the same problem that you and I have. Oh, sure, maybe we're not worshiping their false god, but we're still worshiping false gods. Whether violence is inherent in their faith or not is irrelevant, because they still need a fundamental heart change. This change is needed, regardless of how violent any given Muslim may or may not be. To put it differently, we all need this heart change, whether we're violent people or not, because violence is not the issue.
Sin is.
And so, without being flippant or callous towards the lives lost in the atrocious attack, I don't particularly care that a group of Muslims gunned people down, because I don't see this as Muslims gunning people down. I see this as lost people killing more lost people. I see this as wasted lives, cut off from God, breaking His heart, and in desperate need of a Savior.
Just like the rest of us.
You see, we're all on the same playing field. Not one of us is better - or worse - than any one of those gunmen. If left unchecked, we are all capable of horrible evil. Here's the real kicker, though, we have all been left unchecked, and we have all committed horrible evil. That's what sin is: horrible evil. Lying? Horrible evil. Theft? Horrible evil. Homosexuality? Horrible evil. Marital infidelity? Horrible evil. Murder? Horrible evil. Porn? Horrible evil. I could go through this all night, if I wanted to, because all sin is the same. Sin is nothing short of divine treason, an arrogant attempt to dethrone God.
This is why God hates sin so much. Imagine: the Creator of the Universe, Someone Who sees all, hears all, and knows all, being told by His creation that His Word isn't good enough. Imagine if you were a sculptor who created a ceramic mug, and the mug turned to you and said, "I'm sorry, I'd rather not hold coffee every morning; I'm going to be a plate, instead."
That's sort of like what we do when we sin. We turn to our Creator and say, "What You have for me isn't good enough. I'm going to do what I want, instead." We've all done that.
The Bible tells us that no one is righteous - that is, no one is holy or saintly. Jesus even went so far as to reprimand someone who called Him "Good Teacher," saying, "'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone'" (Mark 10:18). Get it? No one. Not Muslims. Not Jews. Not Atheists. Not Buddhists. Not Jehovah's Witnesses. Not Latter Day Saints. Not Hindus.
And not Christians.
The Bible paints a remarkably bleak picture of humanity that states that all of us are equally bad. Yet before you go away depressed, realize this: this truth that all of us are unlovable and horrendous, treasonous, people, only makes God's love that much more amazing. Because the same Bible that says that all of us deserve Hell also says that God loves us, still. Not only that, but He loves us and desires that none of us go to the Hell we deserve. Not only that, but He loves us enough that He took the sins of all of us - even those terrorists - and died for them. He died for all of us, so that we can experience the fullness of His mercy, the tenderness of His grace, and the unstoppable and unwavering force of His love. He offers us a new life in which we can learn to depend totally on Him, free from the fears and anxieties of this life, and free from the penalty of our sins in the next.
And He even offers it to terrorists. He offers it, not because of what they do, but in spite of it. And I really hope that at least one member of al Qaeda reads this, because I want them to hear the Gospel and know that Jesus does not hate them, even if those who claim to be His followers do. I want them to know that followers of Jesus - authentic ones, not the nominal ones we see far too often - love them, too.
As Christians, this changes nothing about our mission, which is Jesus' mission: to seek and save the lost. So I'm not talking about the tragedy of Charlie Hebdo, though death is tragic. I'm not talking about the evils of Islam, because all of us are evil without God. The only thing that matters is this: whatever you group you fall into: Jesus loves you. And whatever group of people you hate: Jesus loves them, too.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Free Book Giveaway!
Just a reminder, we're drawing THREE names from among the first twenty people who follow this blog on Google+ Those three people will each win a FREE copy of Giants: Legends and Lore of Goliaths, coming this June from Master Books! But hurry, because the winners will be drawn on June 1st!
As always, if you have questions, you can leave a comment, or e-mail me at charlesmartinjrauthor@gmail.com.
As always, if you have questions, you can leave a comment, or e-mail me at charlesmartinjrauthor@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
David and Goliath
I decided to include a Bible story this week for two reasons: 1) I like the Bible, and 2) Not many people know the Bible. Sure, many people - especially here in America - know of the Bible, but they don't really know the Bible. They're vaguely familiar with a few of the stories, maybe some of the broader concepts, but most people have no idea what the Bible stories actually say; nor do they really have any idea that they have no idea - they don't know that they don't know the Bible.
So I'm including the story of David and Goliath this week, because most people view it as a fairytale in which a little boy kills a giant, but there is so much more going on in the story than that. So here it is; discover the awesomeness of it, and enjoy!
David and Goliath
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. [King] Saul and the Israelites camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels [125 pounds]; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels [15 pounds]. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was old and advance in years. Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war: the firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep in Bethlehem.
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah [22 litres] of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."
Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his line and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.
Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."
David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."
When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
"Now what have I done?" said David. "Can I even speak?" He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the man answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."
But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."
David Confronts Goliath
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.
-I Samuel 17:1-54, NIV Translation
The most interesting thing about this story is how different it is from most people's perception of it. Most people believe it's a very simple, very basic story, without having any idea how many geographical details, as well as how many nuances and subtle lessons there are in the story. The story goes so far as to tell us how much grain David was taking to his brothers when he encountered Goliath (although even that detail - that David was running an errand - is lost on most people). I suppose that what I'm driving at is that most people dismiss the story of David and Goliath - or, worse yet, symbolize it - and they honestly have no idea what the story even says.
When we take a look at the elements of the story, what is most surprising is that all of the elements have either been confirmed, or are at least plausible. Consider:
-The Philistines were real (vs. 1)
-The Philistines and the Israelites were at war with each other during this time period (vs.1)
-Socoh and the Valley of Elah exist (vs. 1)
-The first king of Israel was named Saul (vs. 2)
-Gath existed (vs. 4)
-The method of warfare (two champions facing off) was a common method of battle in those days (vs. 8-11)
-The Ehprathites were a people group (vs. 12)
-Bethlehem exists (vs. 12)
-David existed, and eventually became king (vs. 12)
-Slings were a common weapon (vs. 40)
-Beheading a slain enemy was a common practice (vs. 51)
-Ekron existed (vs. 52)
So what does that leave us with? The only piece of information that is inconclusive is Goliath's stature, but does this make the entire story impossible? Could Goliath have existed, and, if so, could he have been over nine feet tall? Well, gigantism is a known medical condition. It is usually caused by acromegaly, a condition in which the pituitary gland continues to produce growth hormone for the duration of the person's life (author Malcolm Gladwell makes an interesting case for just such an explanation in the story of David and Goliath). So the only unverifiable relevant detail is still quite plausible.
And yet our educated society continues to dismiss it as a fairy-tale, ridiculing those who believe such stories as superstitious, stupid, and biased. This is an absurd practice, and I firmly believe it must be stopped. If, after all, the people, places, and practices of a story can be confirmed, then what, really, is there to doubt? Perhaps the doubts stem, not from the accuracy of the story, but from the personal bias of the "educated" and willfully-doubting reader. If that is the case, then is there really any difference between the "legitimate" beliefs of the educated, and the "illegitimate" beliefs of the superstitious and uneducated? In other words, if both groups of people believe, not based on evidence, but on personal choice and bias, then can the educated truly claim intellectual superiority over everyone else?
So I'm including the story of David and Goliath this week, because most people view it as a fairytale in which a little boy kills a giant, but there is so much more going on in the story than that. So here it is; discover the awesomeness of it, and enjoy!
David and Goliath
Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. [King] Saul and the Israelites camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels [125 pounds]; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels [15 pounds]. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." On hearing the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul's time he was old and advance in years. Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war: the firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father's sheep in Bethlehem.
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.
Now Jesse said to his son David, "Take this ephah [22 litres] of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance from them. They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines."
Early in the morning David left the flock with a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and greeted his brothers. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his line and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.
Now the Israelites had been saying, "Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his father's family from taxes in Israel."
David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, "This is what will be done for the man who kills him."
When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."
"Now what have I done?" said David. "Can I even speak?" He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the man answered him as before. What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.
David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him."
Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."
But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."
David Confronts Goliath
Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.
"I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.
Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was only a boy, ruddy and handsome, and he despised him. He said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron. Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp. David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put the Philistine's weapons in his own tent.
-I Samuel 17:1-54, NIV Translation
The most interesting thing about this story is how different it is from most people's perception of it. Most people believe it's a very simple, very basic story, without having any idea how many geographical details, as well as how many nuances and subtle lessons there are in the story. The story goes so far as to tell us how much grain David was taking to his brothers when he encountered Goliath (although even that detail - that David was running an errand - is lost on most people). I suppose that what I'm driving at is that most people dismiss the story of David and Goliath - or, worse yet, symbolize it - and they honestly have no idea what the story even says.
When we take a look at the elements of the story, what is most surprising is that all of the elements have either been confirmed, or are at least plausible. Consider:
-The Philistines were real (vs. 1)
-The Philistines and the Israelites were at war with each other during this time period (vs.1)
-Socoh and the Valley of Elah exist (vs. 1)
-The first king of Israel was named Saul (vs. 2)
-Gath existed (vs. 4)
-The method of warfare (two champions facing off) was a common method of battle in those days (vs. 8-11)
-The Ehprathites were a people group (vs. 12)
-Bethlehem exists (vs. 12)
-David existed, and eventually became king (vs. 12)
-Slings were a common weapon (vs. 40)
-Beheading a slain enemy was a common practice (vs. 51)
-Ekron existed (vs. 52)
So what does that leave us with? The only piece of information that is inconclusive is Goliath's stature, but does this make the entire story impossible? Could Goliath have existed, and, if so, could he have been over nine feet tall? Well, gigantism is a known medical condition. It is usually caused by acromegaly, a condition in which the pituitary gland continues to produce growth hormone for the duration of the person's life (author Malcolm Gladwell makes an interesting case for just such an explanation in the story of David and Goliath). So the only unverifiable relevant detail is still quite plausible.
And yet our educated society continues to dismiss it as a fairy-tale, ridiculing those who believe such stories as superstitious, stupid, and biased. This is an absurd practice, and I firmly believe it must be stopped. If, after all, the people, places, and practices of a story can be confirmed, then what, really, is there to doubt? Perhaps the doubts stem, not from the accuracy of the story, but from the personal bias of the "educated" and willfully-doubting reader. If that is the case, then is there really any difference between the "legitimate" beliefs of the educated, and the "illegitimate" beliefs of the superstitious and uneducated? In other words, if both groups of people believe, not based on evidence, but on personal choice and bias, then can the educated truly claim intellectual superiority over everyone else?
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Lessons from the Edge
I'm really big on knife safety in the kitchen, I really am. But no matter how safe you are, you will get cut. Sometimes badly.
Sometimes very badly.
Believe me . . . I can testify. About a year ago, I sliced off about a quarter of an inch from my left index finger. It was enough of my finger that I was able to put it in a plastic bag and take it with me to the ER, just in case they needed to sew it back on. In hindsight, I probably should have known better, but, hey, it was my first time losing an appendage. Luckily, they didn't have to sew it back on, and it eventually grew back (apparently, I'm part starfish). For a while, though, my finger looked like a fresh slice of ahi tuna. Fun stuff. Should have scrapbooked some pictures.
I tell this story because it struck me that while safety is important, it is not foolproof. I know the safety rules: I keep my knives sharpened and honed, I never raise the tip of the blade off of my cutting board, I feed the food in and keep my fingers curled under. But accidents happen and as a result, fingers get carved into nice little tuna-colored fragments.
And that's sort of the way with life, isn't it? We do important things like wear seatbelts, but seatbelts don't prevent another car from running into the back of us. We invest in a 401(k) or an IRA in order to protect our futures, but we die of cancer at the age of forty. We check for radon, install smoke detectors, and buy fire extinguishers, and a tree falls through our roof. Or we follow the safety rules and still cut off part of our finger.
I guess what I'm driving at is that maybe, just maybe, we need to stop trusting in the things we do to keep ourselves safe, because those things can't keep us safe. Not ultimately. Illness doesn't respect your financial plan. Laws can't force people to obey them. Nature didn't sign a treaty with us, promising never to interfere. We are not as in control as we delude ourselves into thinking; we are not as strong as we think we are. Then again, if we're so fragile that a single accident with a cooking utensil can send us to the hospital, do we really need to be in control? Shouldn't we, you know, find someone a little better? Maybe we should trust in Someone Who will outlast our savings, our governments, and nature itself.
Just a little something to think about this weekend. :-)
Sometimes very badly.
Believe me . . . I can testify. About a year ago, I sliced off about a quarter of an inch from my left index finger. It was enough of my finger that I was able to put it in a plastic bag and take it with me to the ER, just in case they needed to sew it back on. In hindsight, I probably should have known better, but, hey, it was my first time losing an appendage. Luckily, they didn't have to sew it back on, and it eventually grew back (apparently, I'm part starfish). For a while, though, my finger looked like a fresh slice of ahi tuna. Fun stuff. Should have scrapbooked some pictures.
I tell this story because it struck me that while safety is important, it is not foolproof. I know the safety rules: I keep my knives sharpened and honed, I never raise the tip of the blade off of my cutting board, I feed the food in and keep my fingers curled under. But accidents happen and as a result, fingers get carved into nice little tuna-colored fragments.
And that's sort of the way with life, isn't it? We do important things like wear seatbelts, but seatbelts don't prevent another car from running into the back of us. We invest in a 401(k) or an IRA in order to protect our futures, but we die of cancer at the age of forty. We check for radon, install smoke detectors, and buy fire extinguishers, and a tree falls through our roof. Or we follow the safety rules and still cut off part of our finger.
I guess what I'm driving at is that maybe, just maybe, we need to stop trusting in the things we do to keep ourselves safe, because those things can't keep us safe. Not ultimately. Illness doesn't respect your financial plan. Laws can't force people to obey them. Nature didn't sign a treaty with us, promising never to interfere. We are not as in control as we delude ourselves into thinking; we are not as strong as we think we are. Then again, if we're so fragile that a single accident with a cooking utensil can send us to the hospital, do we really need to be in control? Shouldn't we, you know, find someone a little better? Maybe we should trust in Someone Who will outlast our savings, our governments, and nature itself.
Just a little something to think about this weekend. :-)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The Realm of the Sea God
Here's a myth from Japan that's pretty cool. Enjoy!
The Great Fire-Glow was a prince who was adept at fishing in the ocean, and caught all manner of sea life. His younger brother, Fire-Fade, was a mountain man, skilled at hunting the wildlife of the earth. The two brothers one day decided to try their hands at the other brother's occupation. Fire-Fade took to the sea, but was unable to catch any fish. In fact, at one point, he even lost his brother's fishing hook beneath the waves! When his brother, Fire-Glow, requested his hook back, Fire-Fade responded, "I was unable to to catch anything, and, alas! lost your hook in the sea."
Fire-Glow was angry, because he had taken great care to return his brother's bow and arrows. He demanded that his brother retrieve the hook from the bottom of the ocean. Unable to comply, Fire-Fade fashioned another hook for his brother, but Fire-Glow demanded the original hook once more.
So Fire-Fade melted down his sword and, with it, fashioned five-hundred hooks for his brother, but Fire-Glow would not take them. Fire-Fade then made a thousand hooks for his elder brother, but this was not good enough. "I want my hook back," Fire-Glow demanded.
In his frustration, Fire-Fade stood at the edge of the ocean and cried out to the sea spirits. At last, Shihi-tsutsu no Oji stood by him and asked, "What is wrong, that you grieve so?" Fire-Fade told him the story, and the old man responded, "Do not worry, for I will help you." So he fashioned a water-tight basket for the hapless brother, and lowered it into the ocean with Fire-Fade inside (for the basket was lowered upside-down, so as to be filled with air).
In time he found himself situated on the bottom of the ocean near a pathway, where, leaving the basket, he soon found himself at the Palace of the Sea God. The palace was adorned with towers, battlements, and fierce means of defense. Fire-Fade, afraid to enter uninvited, stood next to the gate until the princess invited him in. She took him before the Sea God, who asked Fire-Fade his purpose there. Fire-Fade told the story of the fishing hook, and the Sea God questioned all of the fishes, to see whether they had seen Fire-Fade's missing hook.
They had not, they responded, but one of their kind had suffered with a wound in her mouth for quite some time. The Sea God called her forward, and, upon examination, it was discovered that the hook was caught in her mouth. It was removed, and returned to Fire-Fade.
However, having seen the beautiful daughter of the Sea God, Fire-Fade desired to remain in the kingdom. So he married her, and they lived in the palace for three years. Eventually, Fire-Fade began to miss his home, and his wife, the princess, saw his distress. She told her father of Fire-Fade's deep sighs, and the Sea God granted her husband permission to return to his home. Upon his departure, Fire-Fade received two magical stones, which would allow him to control the waves, causing them to ebb and flow at his desire. The Sea God suggested that he use the stones to drown his older brother, who was most unreasonable about the ordeal with the fishing hook.
Before he could leave, however, Fire-Fade's wife informed him that she was with child, and would soon join him on land to give birth to their child. "When the waves and sea are stormy," she told him, "I will come and wait for you on the seashore."
Fire-Fade returned to his home, and, with the stones, convinced his brother to repent. Soon afterward, Fire-Fade's wife emerged from the depths to give birth to their child. As she was about to deliver, she told her husband that she would have to take her natural form, and begged him not to look at her in that condition.
However, as he stood in the hallway awaiting the birth, Fire-Fade looked in upon his wife, and lo! she was a dragon! She was saddened and ashamed at this, and told him, "If you had listened, I would have made the sea and land peaceful with each other. As it is, the two kingdoms shall never be at peace again." And so she abandoned her child and descended into the depths, barring the way to the castle.
-Found in the Kojiki and Nihongi, Japan
The most interesting part of this story is the existence of what appears to be an actual city on the ocean floor off of the coast of Japan (don't worry, it's uninhabited!). Could an adventurous person have made a rather primitive sort of submarine, as depicted in the story, and actually seen these ruins?
The Great Fire-Glow was a prince who was adept at fishing in the ocean, and caught all manner of sea life. His younger brother, Fire-Fade, was a mountain man, skilled at hunting the wildlife of the earth. The two brothers one day decided to try their hands at the other brother's occupation. Fire-Fade took to the sea, but was unable to catch any fish. In fact, at one point, he even lost his brother's fishing hook beneath the waves! When his brother, Fire-Glow, requested his hook back, Fire-Fade responded, "I was unable to to catch anything, and, alas! lost your hook in the sea."
Fire-Glow was angry, because he had taken great care to return his brother's bow and arrows. He demanded that his brother retrieve the hook from the bottom of the ocean. Unable to comply, Fire-Fade fashioned another hook for his brother, but Fire-Glow demanded the original hook once more.
So Fire-Fade melted down his sword and, with it, fashioned five-hundred hooks for his brother, but Fire-Glow would not take them. Fire-Fade then made a thousand hooks for his elder brother, but this was not good enough. "I want my hook back," Fire-Glow demanded.
In his frustration, Fire-Fade stood at the edge of the ocean and cried out to the sea spirits. At last, Shihi-tsutsu no Oji stood by him and asked, "What is wrong, that you grieve so?" Fire-Fade told him the story, and the old man responded, "Do not worry, for I will help you." So he fashioned a water-tight basket for the hapless brother, and lowered it into the ocean with Fire-Fade inside (for the basket was lowered upside-down, so as to be filled with air).
In time he found himself situated on the bottom of the ocean near a pathway, where, leaving the basket, he soon found himself at the Palace of the Sea God. The palace was adorned with towers, battlements, and fierce means of defense. Fire-Fade, afraid to enter uninvited, stood next to the gate until the princess invited him in. She took him before the Sea God, who asked Fire-Fade his purpose there. Fire-Fade told the story of the fishing hook, and the Sea God questioned all of the fishes, to see whether they had seen Fire-Fade's missing hook.
They had not, they responded, but one of their kind had suffered with a wound in her mouth for quite some time. The Sea God called her forward, and, upon examination, it was discovered that the hook was caught in her mouth. It was removed, and returned to Fire-Fade.
However, having seen the beautiful daughter of the Sea God, Fire-Fade desired to remain in the kingdom. So he married her, and they lived in the palace for three years. Eventually, Fire-Fade began to miss his home, and his wife, the princess, saw his distress. She told her father of Fire-Fade's deep sighs, and the Sea God granted her husband permission to return to his home. Upon his departure, Fire-Fade received two magical stones, which would allow him to control the waves, causing them to ebb and flow at his desire. The Sea God suggested that he use the stones to drown his older brother, who was most unreasonable about the ordeal with the fishing hook.
Before he could leave, however, Fire-Fade's wife informed him that she was with child, and would soon join him on land to give birth to their child. "When the waves and sea are stormy," she told him, "I will come and wait for you on the seashore."
Fire-Fade returned to his home, and, with the stones, convinced his brother to repent. Soon afterward, Fire-Fade's wife emerged from the depths to give birth to their child. As she was about to deliver, she told her husband that she would have to take her natural form, and begged him not to look at her in that condition.
However, as he stood in the hallway awaiting the birth, Fire-Fade looked in upon his wife, and lo! she was a dragon! She was saddened and ashamed at this, and told him, "If you had listened, I would have made the sea and land peaceful with each other. As it is, the two kingdoms shall never be at peace again." And so she abandoned her child and descended into the depths, barring the way to the castle.
-Found in the Kojiki and Nihongi, Japan
The most interesting part of this story is the existence of what appears to be an actual city on the ocean floor off of the coast of Japan (don't worry, it's uninhabited!). Could an adventurous person have made a rather primitive sort of submarine, as depicted in the story, and actually seen these ruins?
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Root Beer
So I figured that the first official post today should involve something (almost) everyone loves: root beer. Honestly, this recipe isn't quite as good as some of the better commercially-available brands out there, and I'm not sure how it stacks up with store-bought stuff, nutritionally-speaking, but it's pretty darn tasty, so I don't actually care. Truthfully, I'm not much of a health nut, anyway. I figure that since we're all going to die anyway, we might as well go out eating things we like . . . like cholesterol and sugar. Rich Mullins once said that if you remove all the fat and calories from food, what's the point in eating? I tend to agree with that, at least to some extent.
But none of this has anything to do with this post, which is about root beer. So let me know how it turns out, and if you have improvements, don't be shy!
Root Beer
Stalk and fronds of one fennel bulb, coarsely chopped
2 quarts water
2 T dried anise
1 T dried fennel seeds
1 t dried cardamom
2 c light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1) Combine ingredients, except for vanilla and sugar, in heavy stock pot. Bring water to boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes.
2) Carefully strain out solids, reserving liquid. Repeat until almost all solids are removed. Discard solids.
3) Pour liquid into medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat. Slowly stir in sugar and vanilla. Reduce heat to medium. Boil, stirring frequently, until mixture is reduced to a thick syrup, about forty-five minutes.
4) To serve, mix 1-2 T of syrup (depending on taste) with 8 oz. cold seltzer.
Don't forget to follow on Twitter and Facebook!
But none of this has anything to do with this post, which is about root beer. So let me know how it turns out, and if you have improvements, don't be shy!
Root Beer
Stalk and fronds of one fennel bulb, coarsely chopped
2 quarts water
2 T dried anise
1 T dried fennel seeds
1 t dried cardamom
2 c light brown sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1) Combine ingredients, except for vanilla and sugar, in heavy stock pot. Bring water to boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 20 minutes.
2) Carefully strain out solids, reserving liquid. Repeat until almost all solids are removed. Discard solids.
3) Pour liquid into medium saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat. Slowly stir in sugar and vanilla. Reduce heat to medium. Boil, stirring frequently, until mixture is reduced to a thick syrup, about forty-five minutes.
4) To serve, mix 1-2 T of syrup (depending on taste) with 8 oz. cold seltzer.
Don't forget to follow on Twitter and Facebook!
Welcome!
Welcome to the all-new Stranger in This Strange Land! We're really excited about this new site, and we want it to be a free exchange of ideas and debates. As a way of saying thank-you for your support, we're going to have a drawing! Here's the deal:
Follow with Google+ (near the top right corner of this page). We will choose, at random, three names from the first twenty people who sign up, and those people will get a signed copy of my new book, Giants: Legends and Lore of Goliaths, when it comes out this spring!
So sign up, get involved, and enjoy!
Follow with Google+ (near the top right corner of this page). We will choose, at random, three names from the first twenty people who sign up, and those people will get a signed copy of my new book, Giants: Legends and Lore of Goliaths, when it comes out this spring!
So sign up, get involved, and enjoy!
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