Thursday Thirteen: Verse Four

13 Biblical Baby Names I like........

1. Adam-----the name of one of my son's best friends. He's currently serving in the Army and thankfully he's in Germany.

2. Seth------Adam's brother. He's currently in the infantry in Iraq.

3. Elijah-----Interesting prophet and I knew a great kid by that name at one time.

4. Anna----a beautiful girl's name

5. Mordecai----I've never known one, but what an interesting name.

6. Luke----A favorite name from the Bible and assorted Westerns....and don't forget Star Wars!
7. Ruth----A wonderful story from the Bible and my aunt's name.

8. Rachel----A beautiful name....I liked it so much I gave it to my daughter.

9. Matthew----A wonderful story of God's love even after denial. I liked this name so much I gave it to my son.

10. Japeth----I've never known one, but it's a cool name.

11. Terah-----A nice twist to Tara.

12. Faith-----Come on, it's a Bible blog. I have to have "Faith", don't I?

13. Priscilla----I always wanted to change my name to this when I was younger. Then my nickname could be 'Cilla.

Wordless Wednesday: Verse 7

Look for an explanation in comments.

Calling for Georgia Carnival Posts

If you are a Georgia blogger please remember that the next carnival will be up this Friday here at this site.

You can send your submission to elisheva@writeme.com or to elementaryhistoryteacher at gamind@mail.com

All submissions are due on Thursday.

A Sane Voice Regarding the James Cameron "Show"

In my look to see what new things are being added to the James Cameron “show” I located a Methodist preacher who majored in history. Gee, someone who speaks my language.

See Bob Kaylor’s his post here titled, “The Jesus Controversy Du Jour”. He links to a Newsweek article I have yet to see and he states:

One of the more interesting movements of the postmodern age has been what I like to call the "phenomonological approach" to history--meaning that people today are less concerned about evidence and facts and more interested in what will be most controversial, what will deconstruct old assumptions and, maybe most importantly, what will sell books and accompanying movie scripts. As a bit of modernist myself, I have a real hard time with this. Modernity was about empiricism, what can be discerned from evidence, testimony, etc. While popular history has moved away from this, the fact is that facts are facts. Though they are subject to interpretation, they are not subject to fabrication at worst or, at best, the stringing together of loose and unrelated pieces of historical hearsay.

Brother, can I hear an amen?

Here's an article filed today by the BBC.

James Cameron Makes Titantic Claim: Jesus DNA Exists

Okay, this is just too good to pass up. The Middle East blog over at Time posts Jesus: Tales From the Crypt. The opening lines state

Brace yourself. James Cameron, the man who brought you 'The Titanic' is back with another blockbuster.

This time, the ship he's sinking is Christianity.

In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene.

No, it's not a re-make of "The Da Vinci Codes'. It's supposed to be true.

The Druge Report where I first saw this links to this page that details the upcoming television show and details that Cameron will be holding a news conference to explain further.

Look for this matter to reach viral proportions as post after post should infiltrate the Internet over the next few days. We already have this, this, and these.

My first reaction…….remember the ossuary people claimed contained the remains of James?

My second reaction…I remember another time when Hollywood opened another tomb of sorts. Does Geraldo Rivera and Al Capone’s vault ring a bell?

I’m sure I’ll be updating this post later.

Famous Cathedrals: Chartes

Many historians think the spot where Chartes Cathedral is located today has been used for hundreds if not thousands of years as a place of worship. However, the folks today worship quite differently than the ancient Druids historians think worshiped on the spot. They, along with other ancients, were drawn by what they felt was energy that emanated from the spot where the cathedral is today.

In 876 A.D. the church received a scrap of fabric that many thought had come from the garment Mary had on during the birth of Jesus. This piece of fabric is known as the Sancta Camisa. At one point there was a fire, but the Sancta Camisa was not destroyed. Many saw this as a sign that the church should expand and a huge building campaign was undertaken.

The additions were completed in 1223 A.D. and gave us the wonderful building we see today.

One of the interesting things about Chartes is the famous labyrinth dating back to the year 1200 A.D. The word labyrinth brings to mind images of mazes cut through boxwood hedges or even through corn mazes (we love those here in the South), however, the labyrinth at Chartes is a pavement maze. The original center piece has been removed but other areas have restored. Walking the maze takes one closer and closer to God.

Wordless Wednesday: Verse 6

Explanation in the comments.

Why Must It Always Be Georgia?

I don’t mind my state getting recognized in the news. I really don’t. I do mind the reasons Georgia has been recognized of late.

Evolution.

I’m tired of hearing about it. I was tired when Cathy Cox, Georgia’s State Superintendant of Education, proposed removing the word evolution from state science curriculum documents. Cathy Cox should have known better, and quickly changed her mind when she was confronted with all sorts of press. Even Jimmy Carter, a Christian, weighed in at the time by saying, “The exisiting and long-standing use of the word ‘evolution’ in our state’s textbooks has not adversely affected Georgians’ belief in the omnipotence of God as creator of the universe. There can be no incompatibility between Christian faith and proven facts concerning geology, biology, and astronomy.”

I rarely agree of late with “Jimmy”, but I do in this instance. I was raised in a Christian home and went to Georgia public schools. I took all the sciences in school and learning about evolution did not suddenly turn me into antheist. In fact, it actually did the opposite. Suddenly I had some evidence of how God might have done some of the wonderful things that have occurred through time.

My daughter attends a Christian school….a school that teaches creationism and evolution because they want students to know about up-to-date science knowledge. They want their students to be able to pass college entrance exams. They want students to weigh out all the evidence so that they can defend what they believe. Our students need to be equipped as they go out to face a science community in college that does discuss evolution

I was tired when a group of Cobb County parents decided ALL Cobb County students needed a sticker in their textbooks reminding them that evolution was a theory.

I still can’t believe a judge found in the parent’s favor and stickers were actually placed in science textbooks. They have since been removed, but what a waste of time for Cobb County teachers to place and then remove the stickers. I had no problem growing up hearing about evolution and evaluating it along with my religion. Why? My parents were involved. They talked to me. They were not overly involved in a lawsuit making our state the laughing stock of the nation. Yes, the Georgia Evolution Dispute Embarasses Some.

Now we have a new reason to be embarassed.

I am now sick and tired as a state legislator and former Georgia teacher, a teacher mind you, is arguing “he did it, no he did it” over a memo about a Jewish conspiracy concerning evolution. Said memo has been circulating various state houses across our nation in an attempt to “educate” lawmakers.

State Representative Ben Bridges and former science teacher Marshall Hall are embroiled in a memo crisis that not only discusses evolution but it also states that evolution is some type of Jewish conspiracy. The memo states, “Indisputable evidence---long hidden but now available to everyone---demonstates conclusively that so-called ‘secular evolution science’ is the Big Bang, 15-billion-year, alternate ‘creation scenario’ of the Pharisee religion. This scenario is derived concept-for-concept from Rabbinic writings in the mystic ‘holy book’ Kabbala dating back at least two millennia,” says the memo, which has Bridges name on it.

Most amazingly the memo goes on to states the earth does not revolve around the Sun. I’m sorry….wasn’t this question proven quiet some time ago? Copernicus? Galileo? Do these names ring a bell?

This Townhall.com article explains the situation quite well.

The actual text of the memo can be found at The Panda's Thumb in an article titled Gimme That Old Pharisee Religion

I really don’t want to promote Mr. Hall’s website here and drive his hit count up. There are plenty of places to find the link, but I did locate an article that gives a good overview of what can be found there at the Phillybits titled Evolution Shmevolution.

Plenty of Georgians are blogging about the whole mess. Blog For Democracy links to some, the Georgia Carnival links to some recent posts, and we have a report of a reponse from Rep. Ben Bridges courtesy of Decaturguy at Peach Pundit when he asks, Is Ben 'Fixed Earth' Bridges Also Convinced the Earth Is Flat?

Upcoming Georgia Carnival To Be Hosted Here

I am honored to announce I will be hosting the fifth edition of the Georgia Carnival. Send your submissions to elisheva@writeme.com or use this handy submission form. Submissions are due by 6:00 p.m. Thursday, March 1st.

The carnival will be posted Friday, March 2nd.

This is my first time to host a carnival and I'm very excited about it.

The current Georgia Carnival can be found here.