David played the harp for Saul and for the LORD | Ferrell's Travel Blog

David played the harp for Saul and for the LORD | Ferrell's Travel Blog:

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David played the harp for Saul and for the LORD

Posted on September 26, 2011 by ferrelljenkins| Leave a comment

As a young man David became well known in the royal household and was called upon to play the harp (Hebrew kinnor; often English lyre) for King Saul.

So it came about whenever the evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evil spirit would depart from him. (1 Samuel 16:23 NAU)

The statue in our photo is near the “Tomb of David” and the room of the Last Supper on the traditional Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

Statue of King David playing the harp (Jerusalem). Photo by F. Jenkins.

David called upon the harp and lyre to awake. He said, “I will awaken the dawn!.”

A Song, a Psalm of David. My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth. That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and answer me! (Psalm 108:1-6 NAU)

David was later described as “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1).

HE HAD COMPASSION!

HE HAD COMPASSION!

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 

Matthew 9:36–38

Compassion - harassed - helpless. These are all words that evoke emotions, and in this instance, used by Matthew to move the reader into feeling the same compassion for others as Jesus did for the crowd that day. More than a mere broken heart, Jesus was moved to extraordinary compassion when he saw so many people beaten down by life, facing problems and they they didn’t even know where to go for help (Matthew 9:36). He then looks to His disciples and states, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” 

Even today, there are so many people who need relief—who need to know and experience God’s compassion. Yet, they don't know where to turn. Jesus understood that it is humanly impossible to be in more than one place at once and so He asks YOU  -  "I need you to help with this harvest” 

Jesus calls us to join him in his work. He calls us to pray that others will join us in this work. God has given us His love and compassion so we can minister to those who are harassed, helpless and beaten down by life (Eph.4:16; 2 Tm.2:2; Tit.1:9).   We carry the good news that Jesus helps us overcome the heartache of our circumstances and tribulations.

I am amazed though at how unmoved many are. Many who are Christians never take the initiative to show, share, lead and extend what they KNOW to be the answer of life's problems to others. YOU know the answer! Can you then claim to be Jesus' disciple and NOT share that answer?

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." 

Isa.6:8

Jim

The water system at Gezer | Ferrell's Travel Blog

The water system at Gezer | Ferrell's Travel Blog

The water system at Gezer

Posted on September 22, 2011 by ferrelljenkins| Leave a comment

Water is necessary for life. Much has been learned about the provisions made for water in the cities of the biblical world. We know about the tunnels dug to bring water into the city at Hazor, Megiddo, Gibeon and Jerusalem, and about the well at Lachish.

For many years we have known about the water tunnel at Gezer. Now, as a result of the current Gezer Water System Expedition, new information is coming to light about the water system there. This project is a joint effort of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

I appreciate this comment by Dan Warner, associate professor of Old Testament and Archaeology at NOBTS:

“The research at Gezer is important to Baptists because of our commitment to understand the Bible within its historical context,” Warner said. “Any information we can gain to give better insights into the cultures of the biblical world helps us interpret the Bible.

“Most think of the Canaanites as an old, rustic culture — not so,” Warner noted. “Digging the water system took great technical and hydraulic skill. This was a very advanced and sophisticated culture that had pronounced impact in biblical times.”

A news release from NOBTS says,

It is believed the Canaanites cut the massive tunnel around the time of Abraham using flint tools. Measuring nearly 13 feet wide by 24 feet high at the opening and stretching 150 feet into the ground at a 38 degree slope, the Gezer tunnel is the largest ancient water system ever unearthed.

Late in the last week of the 2011 dig, the NOBTS team found the natural cave at the end of the massive rock-hewn water system — the prime objective of this season’s dig. It is believed that the system’s original water source is located in or near the opening of the cave.

Two reports on the recent work may be read here. Here is one of the photos available with the reports.

Excavating the Gezer Water System. Photo by Art Beaulieu. Courtesy BP & NOBTS.

The photo below is an aerial shot that I made in December, 2009. This shows the massive Canaanite wall and the entrance to the water system to the right of center in the photo. The path goes down into the shaft that is now being excavated.

Aerial view of the Canaanite Wall and Water System at Gezer. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

We included an aerial photo of Tel Gezer suitable for use in presentations here. From that same post we summarized the biblical information about Gezer.

• The king of Gezer fought against Joshua and the Israelites during the conquest (Joshua 10:33; 12:12).
• Gezer was allotted to Ephraim (Joshua 16:3).
• Gezer became a city of the Levites (Joshua 21:21). It was designated as a city of refuge (1 Chronicles 6:67).
• Israel failed to drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer (Joshua 16:10; Judges 1:29).
• By the time of David the Philistine seem to be living at Gezer (2 Samuel 5:25; 1 Chronicles 14:16; 20:4).
• Pharaoh, king of Egypt, captured Gezer, burned it, and gave it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife (1 Kings 9:16).
• Solomon (re)built the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer (1 Kings 9:15-17).

The excavators are looking for volunteers for the 2012 season. This provides a good chance to do the kind of work you hire someone else to do at home.

Update: I failed to call attention to the web site of the Center for Archaeological Research at NOBTS here, and Can You Dig It?archaeology blog here. Under PHOTOS you will find a large gallery of photos and videos of the recent excavation.

HT: Joseph Lauer

BiblePlaces Blog: Springs in the Dead Sea

BiblePlaces Blog: Springs in the Dead Sea:

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Springs in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea not only has freshwater springs along its shore—En Gedi, Ein Feshka, Ein Bokek—but underneath the water’s surface as well. From the Jerusalem Post:

A Ben-Gurion University research team has discovered a series of deep freshwater springs that spring from the floor of the Dead Sea and help replenish the body’s dwindling water supply, while a German group has meanwhile pinpointed new types of microorganisms growing in fissures on the saline seafloor near the springs, the university announced on Wednesday.

[...]

Dead Sea groundwater springs have been known and visible for decades as they produce ripples on the water surface, but the current research has given scientists to the ability to study springs that are hidden from the eye, according to the statement.

Much like the Dead Sea itself, the springs have been around for thousands of years, and while it is “uncertain” whether they’ve existed quite as long as their host body of water, they have been there “for a very long time indeed,” Laronne told The Jerusalem Post.

The springs, he continued, can be found at locations within the sea as deep as 30 meters down, and the largest spring observed thus far was 15 meters in diameter – with some spring systems totaling hundreds of meters in length.

The full story is here. The Arutz-7 report is here.

Hot spring on shore of the Dead Sea

Evidence for Christianity - The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as a Type of Jesus and the Thieves on the Cross

Evidence for Christianity - The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as a Type of Jesus and the Thieves on the Cross:

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The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons as a Type of Jesus and the Thieves on the Cross

Below is an article on the Ordination of Aaron and his sons (Leviticus 8) as a prefigure of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is written by John Oakes, but the idea comes from an anonymous contributor to the site. The Ordination of Aaron A Prefigure of the Crucifixion of Jesus John Oakes 12/2009 In my book From Shadow to Reality (www.ipibooks.com), I discuss many examples of the sacrifices in the Old Testament being physical types of spiritual realities found in the New Covenant under Jesus Christ. This brief article is a discussion of an example not found in my book which serves as a further example of the truth that the entire Old Testament is about Jesus Christ. The ceremony for the ordination of Aaron and his sons as high priests of the Most High God is found in Leviticus chapter eight. To summarize, the ordination of these men to serve as mediators between men and God required the sacrifice of a bull and two rams. As we will see, the bull in this sacrifice serves as a type/prefigure of Jesus, while the rams are a types/prefigure of the two thieves who were killed along with Jesus on Golgotha, outside Jerusalem. First, there is the bull. The bull which was given as a sin offering (Leviticus 8:14) was sacrificed so that Aaron could make atonement for the sins of the people. The bull was burned outside the camp (Leviticus 8:17), as Jesus, the antitype was also sacrificed as a sin offering outside of Jerusalem, at Golgotha. As with Aaron, this sacrifice made Jesus High Priest of Israel, but in his case he is High Priest forever of spiritual Israel: the church (Hebrews 7:11-28). Then, interestingly, there are the two rams which were also sacrificed with the bull. Perhaps this is a coincidence, but the parallels with the thieves "sacficed" along with Jesus is uncanny. In fact, given the many other examples (see FSTR Ch. 6) of specific types and antitypes in the levitical sacrifices, the coincidence explanation seems far fetched. The first ram for the burnt offering (Leviticus 8:18-21) was slaughtered and burned, but the entrails and shanks were washed with water before being burnt because they were unclean. This can be seen as representing the thief who rejected Jesus was not forgiven of his sins. This parallels the symbolism of the normal burnt offering (Leviticus 1). In this case, the head of the bull, which represents Jesus, did not have to be washed, but the body of the bull, which represents "us" (ie those who are saved by the sacrifice of Jesus) was washed before being burned. In the case of the first ram, the entire body was burned up in the sacfifice. None was "saved." The differences between the first and second rams in this sacrifice is interesting as a type. The second ram was also sacrificed and burned, but the differences are striking. First, it was not washed with water. Second, only part of this ram was burned. Some of the blood was used to purify Aaron and his sons, while the breast of the ram was saved from the fire. It was "waved" before the Lord and not burned up. The symbolic prefigure of the other thief is hard to miss here. The second thief acknowledged Jesus and put his faith in him. Because of his faith, Jesus told him "Today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43) The implication is that he was forgiven of his sins and saved. Like the second ram, he did not need to be cleaned with water, as he was forgiven of his sins by Jesus. Like the second ram, he was saved from the fire. He will not be in hell, but instead is with Jesus in Paradise. It is truly striking that this historical detail was so wonderfully prefigured in the ordination ceremony of the High Priest Aaron who was a prefigure of our High Priest Jesus Christ. It is inconceivable that human minds could have produced this dramatic symbolism. This is not a coincidence. It is further evidence, both that the Old Testament is inspired by God and that Jesus Christ is the prophetic fulfillment of the Old Covenant given to the Jews by God well over one thousand years before Jesus was born. There is more encouragement here. Through the ceremony in Leviticus eight, the sons of Aaron were also vicariously purified and prepared for service as priests of the Most High God. Only those born by direct descent from Aaron could serve in this capacity. By prophetic analogy, we, like the sons of Aaron are direct descendents and inheritors of Jesus by faith (Ephesians 2:12-19) and we, too, are priveleged to serve as priests (1 Peter 2:9) in the true, heavenly sactuary with God (Hebrews 10:19-20). Jesus did not have physical descendents, but those of us who join with him in burial and resurrection in baptism (Romans 6:2-4) are born again as spiritual, priestly descencents of Jesus. Thanks to Tom Turowski for pointing this one out! John Oakes

DISCIPLESHIP

• DISCIPLE - A person who learns from another, especially one who then teaches others; An active follower or adherent of someone.  
• DISCIPLESHIP - the act or position of being another's learner.

These are good words to become familiar with, because as Christians we are all disciples of Jesus. We have chosen this (Mt.11:28-30). It means not just academically learning what the scriptures say, but learning of Jesus to come to a point of DOING what Jesus did. To become a DOER of what He taught, and to teach others how to do the same (Mt.7:24; 1 Jn.5:3-5).

Yet, Jesus warns us, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Mt.10:37,38)." 

Discipleship is not like a career that we map out for ourselves. We cannot arrange our service to God to suit ourselves; otherwise, we end up serving Jesus according to what WE think. We promised Him that we would "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...(Mt.6:33)."  Jesus knew that there would be those who would adapt the "service to suit" path.  In Luke 9:61,62 he tells the instance of one who states that they obediently follow Jesus, but then turn the tables and decide on our own what should take priority in our lives. We may accomplish many good things, but that doesn't make us HIS disciple.  We are HIS only when we seek HIS will above our won (Jas.4:15).  

Looking back is double-mindedness (James 1:8, 4:8). It makes us unstable and uncertain, and that’s the exact opposite of what Jesus expects of us. It means there are moments in our relationship with Jesus when we say, “I’ll get back to you on that, Jesus, just as soon as I finish with my what I need to get done.” 

Are you holding off truly following Jesus until he fits into your schedule? Is biblical teaching, values, and the way of God on hold "until I get through this stage of life?"   Then you might wish to consider what Jesus stated further in Luke 9:59-62 "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Jim

Byzantine-era anchor found in Israel might shed light on ancient sailing:

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Byzantine-era anchor found in Israel might shed light on ancient sailing

English.news.cn 2011-09-13 21:36:32

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The recent discovery by Israeli lifeguards of three ancient iron anchors might help archaeologists understand more about ancient sailing and lead to the discovery of an unknown anchorage site.

Lifeguards at a Bat Yam city beach, south of Tel Aviv, came across the first 300 kg, two-meter-tall anchor after spotting it submerged in shallow waters, 30 meters offshore.

Though the lifeguards initially thought it to be a modern artifact, they contacted the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) after suspecting that it might, in fact, be an archaeological find.

An IAA marine archaeologist confirmed that the find was about 1, 700-1,400 years old, belonging to the Byzantine era.

The anchor's surprisingly well preserved state was due to it's having been buried for centuries in the seabed and only being recently uncovered, an IAA statement read.

Following the discovery, other two similar anchors were found nearby, one made of iron and another one made of stone, which archaeologists believe could mark the beach at Bat Yam as an ancient anchorage for Mediterranean sailors.

"The discovery of the anchors indicates the possible existence of an ancient anchorage site that previous research did not show," IAA archaeologist Dror Felner said.

"Another possibility is that the ship originally carrying these anchors might have searched for a refuge site in light of a sudden storm, yet was swept up off the shore of Bat Yam close to the port of Jaffa," Felner said.

Jaffa and its ancient ruins and jetty lies just to the north of Bat Yam.

The sea floors of Israel are rich in archaeological remains which many divers collect without reporting to the IAA.

The IAA warned that the penalty for damaging or removing antiquities from the sea is punishable with up to a three-year prison sentence.

Editor: Yamei Wang

7 Ways Successful Creatives Think Differently than Unsuccessful Ones:

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7 WAYS SUCCESSFUL CREATIVES THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN UNSUCCESSFUL ONES

Ihave worked with authors for more than three decades. I have also worked with speakers, recording artists, and other creatives. I have had the privilege of working with the best—and the challenge of enduring the worst. Ninety percent fall somewhere in the middle.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mbortolino

What separates them is not talent. Surely, this plays a role. But it doesn’t fully explain why some creatives with marginal talent become successful and others with extraordinary talent never really make it. (I could name names, but I would get myself in trouble on both counts!)

Instead, I think the determining factor is to be found in how they think. Successful creatives think differently than unsuccessful ones. This is evident in seven ways.

1. Successful creatives think big. The best creatives think, “Go big or go home.” If they are going to go to the trouble of writing a book, preparing a speech, or recording an album, they might as well make the biggest impact they can. They aren’t naive about the amount of work it will take, but they still dream big. They are always asking, “What could we do that would exceed everyone’s expectations?”
2. Successful creatives take responsibility. The best creatives take responsibility for the outcome. They don’t expect someone else to make them famous or successful, though they realize they can’t succeed without others. They own their work and accept responsibility for how it is received by the market.
3. Successful creatives listen well. The best creatives are not know-it-alls. They understand that being good at one thing (e.g., writing, speaking, or singing) doesn’t mean they are good at everything (e.g., packaging or marketing). As a result, they listen to those who have more experience. Ultimately, this raises their probability for success.
4. Successful creatives seek help. While the best creatives accept ultimate responsibility for the outcome, they enroll everyone they can to help them succeed. They understand they can’t do it alone. As a result, they build a world-class team around them. They are constantly asking, “Who else can I enroll to help get me where I want to go.”
5. Successful creatives work hard. The best creatives are not lazy. They don’t assume that their work is done once the book is written, the speech prepared, or the album recorded. In a real sense, their work has only just begun. They don’t display a spirit of entitlement. Instead, they roll up their sleeves and do the work that lesser creatives are unwilling to do.
6. Successful creatives remain humble. The best creatives know that success is illusive and fragile. They know that they didn’t attain it on their own, nor will they preserve it on their own. This makes them grateful and humble. Though they face the same temptations to become arrogant, they understand the dangers and comport themselves accordingly.
7. Successful creatives give praise. The best creatives take all the responsibility and little of the credit. They are quick to give that away to the numerous people who helped them get where they are. These creatives are especially good at praising in public and shining the spotlight on others.

The bottom line is that you have more control over your success than you may think. However, you must develop a winning mindset and cultivate the habits of successful thinking. This is what separates the best creatives from all others.

The fig tree | Ferrell's Travel Blog

The fig tree | Ferrell's Travel Blog:

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The fig tree

Posted on September 12, 2011 by ferrelljenkins| Leave a comment

When the children of Israel came to the end of the period of Wilderness Wandering, the LORD reminded them of the wonderful land into which He was bringing them.

“For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. (Deuteronomy 8:7-9 NAU)

The fig is the first fruit tree specifically named in the Bible. Adam and Eve used the leaves of the fig tree to make coverings (loincloths) for themselves when they learned their condition before God.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. (Genesis 3:7 NAU)

During the past two weeks we noticed ripe figs in several places in Israel and the West Bank. The photo below of the ripe figs was taken at Tel Balata (= Shechem).

Ripe figs at Shechem, Early September. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.