Parts of Speaking Publishing

 When I was in Turkey, I saw the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great in the Archaeological Museum of Turkey in Istanbul. (A day we walked over eleven miles and saw everything I would want to, except maybe the Topkapi Palace. Last night I watched Rick Steves' most recent show on Istanbul, which was a nice "walk down memory lane." He did not include the archaeological museum, which is wonderful, but did include Topkapi Palace and, unfortunately, shots of himself in a Turkish bath. My eyes still hurt from that.) All that to say is that I saw paint on Alexander's sarcophagus! Not a lot, but very clear peach-colored paint. Dispatch Media sent me in this direction, and it is a must read for anyone who thinks the Greeks and Romans painted their sculptures to look like children's garish toys.  Article

  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not  [ a ] comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name  was  John.  7  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  8  He was not that Light, but  was sent  to bear witness of that  Light.   9  That [ b ]  was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. (Or alternately translated, "that was the true Light , which coming into the world, gives light to every man.") 10  He was in the world, and the world was made through Hi...

 Dispatch Faith has a better reflection than mine on Advent and Darkness Hannah Anderson quotes Fleming Rutledge: Advent is the season that, when properly understood, does not flinch from the darkness that stalks us all in the world. Advent begins in the dark and moves toward the light—but the season should not move too quickly or glibly, lest we fail to acknowledge the depth of the darkness. As our Lord Jesus tells us, unless we see the light of God clearly, what we call light is actually darkness … Advent bids us take a fearless inventory of the darkness without and the darkness within.”

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 The Life Group literature is about Daniel this month, and it came to me to teach the three lessons. Tomorrow I don't expect a full group and class is cancelled on the December 28. So this is my casual but factual lesson.  Daniel is actually mentioned in other parts of the Bible. Ezekiel 14:14 , 14:20, 28:3 Even  if  these three men, Noah,  Daniel , and Job, were in it, they would deliver  only  themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord  God . even  though  Noah,  Daniel , and Job  were  in it,  as  I live,” says the Lord  God , “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver  only  themselves by their righteousness.” Ezekiel 28:3 (Behold, you  are  wiser than  Daniel ! There is no secret that can be hidden from you! A message to the prince of Tyre, sarcastic, judgment. Ezekiel lived in Judah and then Babylon and this proba...

 The four gospels all start differently.  Matthew: like a good Jew, with a chronology of "begats" to link Jesus back to antiquity and Abraham and Adam.  Mark: Let's get this part started: John the Baptist's ministry.  Luke: Let's get some context here; Why I'm writing this and when it started.  John: Takes a totally different approach; he goes back to Genesis 1, in a way.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not  [ a ] comprehend it. As I wrote yesterday, tomorrow is the darkest day of the year. Yet light shines in physical darkness; "the sun comes up, it's a new day dawning" as the song goes; "His me...