We began the day with a fun but, again, challenging hike with some rock crawling.
Check out this view of Ephesus – it is a huge city.
On the ground we got an incredibly moving story at the Magnesian Gate about the callousness and suffering created by the Roman practice of abandoning unwanted newborns for economic reasons, and the overwhelming love of the adoptive parents and faith communities that took them in. After all, our Father in Heaven has adopted all of us and given us a new inheritance.
The theatre, where Paul’s teachings stirred up a crowd and caused him to be unjustly accused of blaspheming Artemis. It was thrilling to be standing in the very place where a dramatic scene from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles happened. RVL noted this and many other similarities in Paul's life to the life of Jesus. A rabbi following his Rabbi. 
After leading us through the life of Paul, RVL took us through John's context for the Book of the Revelation. In a stirring and vivid recounting of the arrival of the persecution of the Christians by Domitian, RVL brought to mind the way our ancient brothers and sisters walked the walk: read the text, learn the text, teach the text, live the text, die the text. Hundreds of thousands died in this place.
We showed our solidarity with our ancient brothers and sisters by tracing a carving of a fish that laid buried for thousands of years.
Grace and Peace.
KTR
4 comments:
Thanks for proving that McNitzky and Mark are actually with you guys!!!
Thanks so much for your faithful blogging!
Sweet dreams!!
Shema!!
Debbi Chesney
Please pass along Happy Birthday wishes to my good friend Jack Blanchette. What a wonderful way to spend your B-day. Can't wait to hear your stories. Wishing you all a continued safe journey.
Gerri Nash
Oh Karl...thanks for this great entry. I got to talk to Brian and he said this teaching and hike was one of his favorite...he loved all he learned and heard! Great photos Karl!
Hurray a picture of our Pastor!!!
And how great to see him with Mark!!...Thank you. We so needed that... Thank you for bringing us along on your journey...I was thinking how it most have taken months, even years perhaps, for a a letter that Paul would have written to reach the church of Ephesus or Corinth yet we can be in touch with each other daily,not only with words but also pictures and your pictures are marvalous!!we love you and are praying for you...
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