On Jerusalem

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
Psalm 125:2

Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemGiantScreen on Vimeo.

There is much to say about Jerusalem, and I suppose I will write more later. But I came across this video, and it got my mind turning again.

First, the Old Testament makes much more sense after experiencing the physical geography. The Psalm above was posted on a vista looking south across the Kidron Valley and away from the Temple Mount. As a literature nerd, I have always been mesmerized with themes and word pictures, and Scripture employs both quite well. Memorable speakers and presenters engage the audience with tangible reminders, and the Hebrew authors were no different.

Secondly, I took another moment during the movie to ignore the British-accented narrator and the majestic swelling of the orchestra and looked at the landscape. While there is varied climate and terrain, much of Palestine is barren. It seems (to me) to be a difficult place to make a life. Even miles of unbroken sand dunes stretching into the distance have a particular sort of allure. But dust, intermixed with rocky crags, random valleys, fairly severe changes in altitude, and a Dead Sea do not present an idyllic scene.

This got me thinking: why would God show His face here? Is this the sort of place that is meant to evoke His Kingdom and His Majesty? What is the benefit of proclaiming, "If you seek Me, you must meet Me here"?

And, of course, the ready reply. Why does He choose to show Himself through us? What sort of beauty do we possess? He makes His dwelling in this place to bring the Supernatural to the ordinary. Thank goodness He has a habit of using imperfection.

Lastly, I felt a certain manner of discomfort -- even disconnection -- in Jerusalem. There was plenty of zealousness to go around, and religious relics abound. But very little of it felt familiar...in the seat of Christianity and in the epicenter of Judaism.


It seems to me at times that we as a culture (Western civilization, American Christianity, Protestantism) mythologize religion as a foundation and affirmation for our way of life. It turns out that Al-Aqsa is different than the Western Wall is different than the Holy Sepulchre (and the resident Armenians, Coptics, Franciscans, etc) is different than the Vatican is different than Saddleback Church.

Perhaps this is still my Western perspective at work, but one question that I repeatedly asked myself was: How must I see and approach God differently -- more rightly? Both God (and man) have erected so many guideposts in this place. I cannot change nor discard my upbringing, but it would be arrogant and stubborn of me to ignore the traditions that are tangential with my own. The room in which I was taught Sunday School is much different than the physical world in Palestine.

So, what is the meaning of this Psalm?

The literal protection of a particular people group is absurd given ancient and recent history. It must refer to a broader definition of protection. How does God measure time? Not by the lifespan of my hands, or even the measure of hands on a watch... but by the mountains that surround and hold His City.

Creators create

Under all the to-do lists of home responsibilities and business projects, it's important to keep that in mind.

At my core, I am an artist.

Artists create art, and creation is different than consumption. "Consumerism" is an acceptable demographic in today's culture, but that's a more passive mindset.

Most days my to-do list gets more line items than I can complete, but an empty page (or "inbox zero") isn't the ultimate goal. What have I created? Have I ordered even one small corner of clutter, whether for business or for personal development?

The real goal is not always the output -- it is the process. Other people can judge output...sometimes I listen to their calls for output and make that my focus.

Here are some more eloquent thoughts on creators from Don Miller.

On Strength

This is a couple months old and gleaned from my own journals and a couple individual email conversations. I wanted to see how biblical characters discuss strength; how it impacts their world and their relationships. My own story is in progress, but in Scripture there are completed arcs, sometimes with commentary and consequences included.


I didn't post chapter/verse references, and some of my descriptors are paraphrased to grab the "essence" of a chunk of adjacent passages.

Jacob rallies his strength

Jacob's strength is displayed in his children

God is strength = song = salvation = joy = shield = refuge**

God's strength guides us

In our own strength, we will act in vain and become exhausted & unproductive -- barren

God's strength empowers groups of people

Strength brings deliverance

We are to use our strength to love God

Sometimes we mistakenly trust in our own strength

Obedience comes before strength is given

God has compassion on us when we're without strength

God doesnt like it when we rely/boast in our own strength

As is the man, so is his strength

Find strength in God by seeking His face

We sometimes run out of strength

Strength is victory

God sometimes breaks our strength

Sometimes the wicked display overwhelming strength

One consequence of strength is peace

Our strength can't save us from troubling times

We can ask God to present His strength

God's strength can overcome my losing heart

We are blessed if we give our strength to God - or rely on God's strength

Increasing strength is the goal of the wise & knowledgeable

The wise & noble woman is clothed with strength

Small strength falters in troublesome times

Don't spend strength on women

It isn't a good idea to rely solely on material resources

Strength is found in quietness & trust

Ask God for strength every morning

God increases strength & power to weary & weak

Hope in God renews strength

Strength is something we put on like clothing

Don't depend on other people for your strength

We're called to love God with our strength

** I find this particularly intriguing as a literature student/nerd. Many years ago, a wise man gave me a riddle: "What is the strength of your salvation?"

After I spent a few moments positing half-formed hypotheses, he combined a couple simple verses and the ol' transitive property.

"We know that salvation comes from the Lord. But we also know 'the joy of the Lord is our strength.' So joy is at least one source of strength for your salvation."

I'm not sure if that logic holds up in seminary, but the lesson has stuck with me. Sometimes strength isn't about "being strong." Unrelated character qualities, like joy, play a part too.