Today was so fun and amazing! Erin and I headed out super early, grabbed some Greek coffee (we love it!) and met with a group of pastors from the States and Costas (a greek tour guide). Costas has the most incredible life story and I just watched him in awe as he spoke. Long story short, he was chosen in his village to become THEE high Greek priest and while studying the Bible on his own to take on the task he learned that the ways of the Greek Orthodox church didn't coincide with what he read in the Bible. So, he chose to believe the Bible. When his father learned of this he bought a pistol and was on a mission to kill him. So, Costas left his town in his teens and came to Athens. A man just happend to walk up to him and said, "are you a Bible believer and in need of a place to stay?" So, immediately he was housed and taken care of. He became a tour guide for the Acropolis and Mars hill and to this very day (which there are thousands of tour guides) he is the ONLY tour guide that includes the biblical history of this area, which is so rich in regards to Paul and his travels!! In the middle somewhere he left giving tours and went to Albania (a country where you are not allowed to talk about God...a very atheistic proclaimed country) and worked with orphans, many of which he watched die. While there he met his wife who worked in that very orphanage (Albanian woman) and they both moved back to Athens where he became a tour guide and they had a family of their own. The knowledge this guy has is astounding and it was wonderful listening to him give such outrageous history! I'll recap what I learned and post pictures.
The group from the states was fun and warm and receiving of erin and i. One pastor and his wife from Hawaii were there. In fact, Erin when she attended UCSB went to this HUGE Friday night bible study which was the very one he started. Turns out they knew a bunch of people in common and it was a joy to sit and talk with them during our break in the tour. We laughed and were encouraged and bonded in Christ as we discussed the happenings in our country and world...very real biblical predictions are coming true in our own lifetimes! An exciting time to be alive. An exciting time to meet other believers around the world. An exciting time to know what the Bible says and watch things come to fruition. An exciting time to not have my own children.
Anyway, this very pastor from Hawaii has started churches and seminaries all over the world and wants to hire Costas for double of what he makes to move to Fiji and become a professor at a Seminary which would allow him to see his family much more of the time. Currently, he misses his family and has to travel alot in order to bring enough income in for them. I was excited to know this and can't wait to find out what happens!
When I get home I will post more photos of the Acropolis and Mars Hill. But the Greek history is fascinating! During the 4th century we learned all about Athena. I guess Zeuss had a headache, someone hit him on the head and out of his head popped Athena which means, "the goddess of wisdom" and they built her a house (the Acropolis) where they worshiped her for 1,000 years. The Greeks were the first around the world to value the human spirit and instead of having slaves build "THE HOUSE OF VIRGINS" where the statue of Athena lived, they paid the workers for their labor. Then, the pagans came to believe that God can be in human form, also known as "anthropomorphism" and the Jews didn't agree, as they never could except this concept which is why they rejected Christ as deity. So, the pagans in Athens were receptive and Christianity grew like wildfire. They tore down the statues and made the Acropolis into a place of worship...of One God. Then the Ottoman empire came and took over and made it into a mosque for 1000 years. Then the British came and took over and made it all into a museum.
backing up a second. 500 years after the Acropolis was built Paul (the Paul who wrote Acts, Romans, and Corinthians, and Thessalonians, and Galatians, Ephesians...most of those books if not all) had a huge heart for the Greek people. He came to Athens 500 years after the Acropolis was built. So, there on Mars (we stood on the very rock) he preached about God and it said many mocked but many also believed. This was the very place where all those amazingly famous philosophers would go and think, and it was also a place they brought criminals and would judge them there. Anyway, I post pictures another time...just absolutely amazing!
I have more to say about the architecture (wow, that doesn't looked like i spelled it right) but I will wait until i can show the pictures...i just hope i don't forget.
So, all thish made me think about how I have been given a gift of faith. It's not hard for me to believe in God and that I need God in my life. It's not hard for me to believe the Bible and I've seen many who either just downright reject it, or those who want to believe but just can't. This tangible building, ground, history truly solidified my faith drastically! It awakened a new part of me that made it even more real! The gift of faith coupled with hard core historical fact makes me want to live each day with even more passion for my God! The God I know and love and want to serve is truly a God who cares for every single individual. He created every single person. He cares about every single person. He LOVES unconditionally every single person. I am so thankful that I choose to believe and want to nourish my faith more and more each day until I finish STRONG. The marathon is very analagous to my walk with Christ!
Ok, were off to the gym then to another one of Stratos' basketball games. After the tour I missed out on lunch with Stratos and Erin because my body demanded a 3 1/2 hour nap!!! Ahhh, nice!!!
Love you guys!
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