Where Jesus Went and Why It is Important to Believers and Non-believers alike

Nazareth

Nathanal of Cana (Gospel of John) 

“Can Anything Good Come Out of Nazareth”

1^st century – population +/- 400

Unpaved roads and no public buildings in town – no public inscriptions either (which belies the fact that most of the inhabitants were probably illiterate).  Houses were built of stones with thatched reed roofs.  The thatch was held together as were the building stones of a combination of mud, clay and animal dung. 

Given the nature of the site as a modern entity in Christendom – the original archaeological remains, such as there are, are comprised of underground cisterns for water, storage bins, grinding stones, fermenting vats for wine , stone vessels and measuring cups – locally made.  No imported items have been found which imply that there were none imported – an ancient sign of some measure of wealth.  This was the quintessential “nowheresville”.  

Don't think rustic, think the crudest or poorest spot where people congregated in poverty:  Nazareth – Jesus’’ hometown.

Parts of the problem: Talking ourselves to death

We are talking ourselves to death and dying very slowly in the process.

There is a story here:  using the tools that created the problem . . . to try to fix the problem . .  humm

Buying a realpolitic approach to organizational building
Seminaries as institutions that are driving the destruction of the faith . . .

Knowledge as anathema to faith

No hope -  only the reality of knowledge, factual

Personalization of all things designed to idolize the self - modern, for sure.

A lack of spiritual instruction and inclusion in the common church experience.

A money solution to all problems - building & grounds, isolation, alienation, the poor, the dispossessed.

A preoccupation with sin as defined as a select group of individuals, professions, mindsets and beliefs.

No wonderment about the amount of suffering and its value to daily life.

Not understanding the role of salvation

No role for death and destruction, just to be something to be avoided.

Jesus had some thoughts about a dead body that doesn't know its dead, while the rest of the world kicks dirt on it. Each kick isn't enough to cover the corpse, but over time it will be buried.

Let the funeral begin - or has it already started?