First Jesus-era house discovered in Nazareth

NAZARETH, Israel (AP) – Just in time for Christmas, archaeologists on Monday unveiled what may have been the home of one of Jesus’ childhood neighbors.

The humble dwelling is the first dating to the era of Jesus to be discovered in Nazareth, then a hamlet of around 50 impoverished Jewish families where Jesus spent his boyhood.

Archaeologists and present-day residents of Nazareth imagined Jesus as a youngster, playing with other children in the isolated village, not far from the spot where the Archangel Gabriel revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the boy.

You can read the full story here.  Merry Christmas!

Creation II?

Image via Wikipedia

Wednesday, September 9, 2008, will be a significant day and starting point for the study of physics, and man’s search for how the universe came to be. 

The Large Hadron Collider will be switched on in Geneva, Switzerland, with an eventual goal of smashing together beams of energy particles to simulate the "Big Bang", and thus explain the origins of the universe.  You can read about the project and its goals here. 

So, what do you think?  How, if at all, does this kind of research have relationship to the Genesis story of Creation?  Comments are encouraged – just use the comment form below.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Cern collider ready for power-up
• Hunting the Higgs
• Stephen Hawking Large Hadron Collider vital for humanity
• Is the end nigh?

Obama’s Christian Journey

[Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from an article summarizing Sen. Barak Obama's religious perspectives.  The full article is available by clicking the link at the end of the excerpt.  A similar post about Sen. John McCain's religious perspectives is forthcoming.]

Excerpt:  Barack Obama has spoken often and eloquently about the importance of religion in public life. But like many political leaders wary of offending potential backers, he has been less revealing about what he believes—about God, about prayer, about the connection between salvation and personal responsibility. In some respects, his reticence is understandable. Obama’s religious biography is unconventional and politically problematic. Born to a Christian-turned-secular mother and a Muslim-turned-atheist African father, Obama grew up living all across the world with plenty of spiritual influences, but without any particular religion. He is now a Christian, having been baptized in the early 1990s at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. But rumors about Obama’s religion persist.  The full article:  Obama’s Christian Journey.  Additionally, Newsweek has published an interview with Sen. Obama entitled "What Obama Prays For".

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Related articles by Zemanta

• Senator Obama’s Letter Resigning from Trinity: Trinity’s Response
• Newsweek Polls Correctly, Sees Huge Drop Compared to Flawed Poll

Support Our Troops

[Editor's note:  The following is from the Cochran family, with two children serving in the Indiana National Guard.  Ashley Cochran sent this note on behalf of her brother Adam, who is deployed in Iraq.]

The company in control of the Indiana National Guard 38th Military Police Unit’s current post (before they got there) “won over” the kids with little toys and candies, etc. The children’s parents and militant leaders specifically requested that no one with their patch was to be harmed in any way because they cared for the children!

We got a request from our soldiers over in Iraq and they are requesting some hard candy and little stuffed animals so they can pass them out on patrols when they are out in the towns.

McDonalds/Fast Food toys, and NO MELTABLE candy has been specifically requested.

If you are interested in donating, I will be sending all donations on June 7th and June 27th.

Please arrange a time and place with me to collect or give donations to my mom, Tammy Cochran.   I have several locations: one in Fishers, one downtown, and one in Danville at the addresses below:

102 Apple Tree Court
Fishers, IN 46038

155 E. Market Street, Ste. 860
Indianapolis, IN 46204

38th MP Co. Armory
1245 E. Main Street
Danville, IN 46122

Thank you in advance for Supporting our Troops!

SPC Ashley D. Cochran
Medic for 38th MP Company Rear Detachment

Tammy Cochran also sent the following information:

My daughter Ashley, a medic, and the 38th MP Rear Detachment have been called to active duty and now headed to Vincennes, IN.  ( originally they were headed to Columbus).

They were on alert all weekend.  With the rain coming and more flooding, their help is needed.  Ashley asked for bottled water, antibacterial lotions, and wipes, and may need basic First Aid supplies.
I helped her pack last night and she headed back to the Danville 38th MP Armory at 11:00 pm, and they took busses to the Holt Road Armory to overnight and deploy from there.

She called me at 1:00am with a couple more things that she needed.  At that point this morning, they were back on alert, and unsure when they were to head south.  (The group is now in Vincennes sandbagging to protect the power plant there).  I can’t imagine the smell of all that water and rotting things in this heat…

If you, your neighborhood, or church group would like to donate items, let me know.  I will try to take down items on Wednesday to the Holt Road Armory so they can get supplies down to the 38th MP unit.

Tammy

July 1, 2008

[Editor's note: These are pictures of Adam Cochran, currently serving our country in Iraq.]

From his mother, Tammy:

Adam says thanks to those of you who sent stuff for the platoon to hand out the Iraqi children.  It’s a small token for priceless peace and safety.  I will be sending another package this weekend if you have more things to send him.  Thanks for all your prayers!

Tammy

It’s come to this….