Well, there is nothing like designing a month long challenge, picking out the words, and then having an off day of shooting! I thought altar would be a great word for Easter Sunday (with lots of options to substitute just in case) and I took a half dozen shots yesterday of all the lilies decorating our altar at church. However, last night when I uploaded them, there wasn't a single shot in focus! I don't know what I was thinking, or if I just wasn't paying attention, but they were blurry beyond repair. No effect in this world was going to save those pictures!! So after six attempts of post-processing resuscitation, I gave up and went to bed.
I decided to go back into my digital archives and pull out a picture from my travels in Israel. This altar was uncovered in Megiddo and is part of an entire sacred precinct devoted to pagan worship. Archaeologists have dated it to the Bronze Age, 2700 BCE. There were two temples here, one dedicated to Baal and the other to his bride, Ashterah. Both were associated with fertility. When the area was being excavated thousands of pig bones were uncovered along with figurines of musicians and dancers.
Sadly, the ancient Israelites at times turned their back on the sole worship of Yahweh (God) and succumbed to the worship of these idols. And where God had outlined the only way to build His altar (Exodus 25-27) and where to build it (Jerusalem), they worshipped Baal and Ashterah here, even sacrificing their children as part of the fertility rituals.
Although my altar shots in my church were blurry, I am thankful that my thinking is not. And I am also thankful that this is not the kind of God I worship. He never wanted this and even commanded against it. But I don't see myself as superior to those who fell prey to these false gods. I know that the way I think can be faulty in other ways. So the sadness of this altar is not a means of relief (I'm so glad I'm not like that!), rather a reason to examine and test my own understanding in order to stay true to the God I believe in.
I guess I'm feeling a bit introspective today. Thanks for patiently wading through my ramblings!
I too thought of diving into my archives.. for the altar.. ancient history is amazing.. shows us how far we have come.. and sometimes.. how same we are.. wars are a new form of sacrificing your own children I believe.. great photo .. by the way.. =) have nice week..
@inertie Thank you Inertia. Since I hadn't taken a shot of any of the substitute words yesterday (I was so certain I'd gotten a good shot at church) I was forced to break my own rules! Oh well life is sometimes like that!
What a time in history this must have been. I pray for clarity everyday, least I fall prey to similar falsehoods. Our God is Wonderful and Just, lean on Him.
@tklein Thank you Tina! I loved going to this land and have been blessed to be there 3 times through my studies. I always walk away thinking that I could easily be just as blind- even with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit- if I let my own self-centeredness be my guide. So, yes, I am very thankful for God's mercy and lovingkindness.
@prttblues Thank you Bev! Well I never expected to travel where I did- and I wish I still had the financial ability to travel now because there's so much more I would love to see! But I am very grateful for the small amount I did do. I went to Israel through the school I was attending. It was an amazing experience!
A great photo from the archives Ann. I liked the write up, and I think from time to time we all need to be a bit introspective and take heed of what holds priority in our lives. We know what our priorities should be, but day to day life can distort what we know, and it is so easy to slip away, even if it's just a bit off track. I think it helps to keep us humble, and God in His proper perspective. I'm just thankful He is always there to steady our course again.
this is a great photo and a much welcome scenery. i find the ramblings interesting, too. when i read a long rambling, i know it's a good one when i don't fall asleep :-)
@cimes1 Thanks Carole! @crickle1969 Thanks Chrystal!
Glad you both enjoyed it. I've been thinking about posting some of my other pictures from this trip- it's such a beautiful country.
What an amazing photo! A little bit of synchronicity, too--Israel keeps popping up in my conversations with friends. Two of them (one Christian, one Jewish) recently went on separate trips to Israel and had very different reactions to their trips. I'd love to see more of your pictures.
@eudora Thank you Diane. I have found the key to a trip to Israel is twofold- first the person who takes you and secondly the people you go with. Of my 3 trips, I loved all of them, but the second was my favorite. Fantastic leader and a very small group made for a wonderful time of learning and growing there. I am thinking I will post a few more of my favorites as the year progresses.
@httpgeffed Ohhhh- sorry about that Colleen! Well, if I can dig one out of the archives, so can you!
@kimmistephens Thanks Kimmi!
@juleswoome Thanks Julie! I do have some great memories from this trip.
@crickle1969 Thanks Chrystal!
Glad you both enjoyed it. I've been thinking about posting some of my other pictures from this trip- it's such a beautiful country.