MOUNT TABOR -- EVERY COUNTRY HAS ONE

Good morning.  I have two thoughts today, and if I don't stop thinking I may just get another one.  We wouldn't want that to happen, I'm sure.
You are looking at Mount Tabor in the Galilee Region of Israel. It is that quite symmetrical protuberance in about the center of the picture.  Today is an important day on the Catholic calendar because this is the day that we celebrate the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.  [8/6] This is important to us because it is Jesus' Moses moment.  It is like the day when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave Moses His name.  We celebrate a happening of similar magnitude today, when in the presence of Moses and Elijah God tells the disciples and the world that Jesus is His Son.  There is also something else that strikes me about this particular site.  It is that it has always been reported in the bible as a most strategic outpost.  It is clear to see by the position of it, that it has control over three directions, all three leading into the richest part of the country, the Jezreel Valley.  My favorite of the stories is the one that is written in Judges, chapter 4.  I will let you enjoy it in the words of the Bible itself.  One of the main characters is a guy named Barak.  See what you think of this dude.  The story is short, so it won't take much of your time.
One of the spectacular things of the nearly perfect shape of the Mountain is that it affords the clearest and most favorable lighting aspects of the valley.  The other thing is that it is not a volcano.  So many symmetrical mountains are celebrated for their shape and also for the "life" that they possess by being "fired up."  In the spirit of being fair to you all, I'll name the best of the best here.  Mayon, Republic of the Philippines; Fuji, Japan; Shishaldin, Alaska, USA; Mount Arenal, Costa Rica; Mount Cotopaxi, Ecuador, one of the highest at 19,000+ feet;  Mount Taranaki, New Zealand; Mount Osorno, Chile.  How's that for a ring of fire?  Mount Tabor does not have that kind of "presence" but it has served in history and perhaps even to this day as God's Crow's Nest. And look at that symmetry!  Now look at what you see from it's peak.

That's only one direction.  So folks, those of you who open the Bible now and then can see why God chose Israel for His people...All due respect to our Japanese friends :-)!

                       

RAMADAN

RAMADAN has begun.  30 days of fasting.  30 nights of happiness. It is a moment of high religious and spiritual meaning.  It is also a time when it is a miracle that there aren't more grouchy people around.  We once had an Islamic tour bus driver during two weeks of Ramadan.  He didn't take a sip of water, he didn't eat and yet he remained as calm, cool and collected as anyone could be.  He did tell us that he would rise early and have a good meal before the canon shot.  Oh, yeah the canon.  The day does not start with the clock in your house.  it starts with the time the canon is fired.  From that moment, the total fast begins and must be observed until the canon is fired again in the evening.  I am talking about the way it is done in the Middle East.  I don't know what happens in the West and of course, I don't know how it is done here in North America.  I haven't heard any canons, so I guess the time of observance is on the clock and the conscience of the people themselves.
I am not an expert on Ramadan, so that is all I will say about it for now.  The last day of Ramadan is August 29, 2011.  I pray that Allah and YHWH shake hands and help to bring some peace into the world thanks to the prayers of those true believers in the God who created us all and Who guides us all to our heavenly reward.