Author Archives: andretowner

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right. You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click theContinue reading “Introduce Yourself (Example Post)”

I was almost unable to write this article. Several weeks ago I found myself in a terrifying encounter with a law enforcement officer in Mississippi. The day before the incident I had conducted funeral services for my father-in-law who was a retired Mississippi law enforcement officer. While the family slept the following morning I gatheredContinue reading “Winning or Reconciling?”

“For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am notContinue reading “All Things To All People?”

 Societal priorities are most clearly expressed during times of scarcity. Whether it’s war, famine, or national disaster, unexpected jolts to the system causes us to move past aspirational pretenses and rally around the things we truly value. A recent example of this is the hard choices that were made during our most recent series of snowContinue reading “Called To Act”

“How could this ever happen?” This or similar thoughts form when we come across old woodcuts or pictures depicting historical slavery. Sadly, the practice of slavery has yet to be relegated to the history books. According to the most recent Global Slavery Index, nearly 36 million enslaved people exist worldwide; resulting in $150 billion ofContinue reading “What Can We Do? The Problem of Modern Slavery”

Sunlight shinning down on Jesus’ empty tomb at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher After breakfast, we took a bus to the Church of the Nativity, which is built over the site traditionally held as Jesus’ birthplace. It was amazing to see people from all over the world that traveled so far to catch aContinue reading “Bethlehem and Jerusalem”

Pottery shards from the time of Abraham. After living on an Israeli kibbutz for two weeks, we traveled south to begin a two and a half day visit of holy sites in Bethlehem and Jerusalem and also meet with individuals working to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  Once in Jerusalem, we picked up an Israeli tourContinue reading “Final Day of Digging”

Taking a break in front of the Sea of Galilee We stopped digging early, twice in the past week, so the group could spend the afternoon traveling to significant biblical and/or archeological sites in northern Israel.  First we visited Nazareth, home to the largest Arab population in Israel.  Most of the city residents are ChristianContinue reading “Nazareth and Galilee”

Neolithic flint blade found in excavation trench. Over the past few days, we’ve become more acclimated to the local food, weather, and work routine.  Muscle soreness has decreased but joints, feeling neglected, are starting to voice their displeasure.  Despite the protests, most of us have been able to press on with slight pharmaceutical enhancements.  WeContinue reading “Finding Our Stride”

Digging an excavation trench on the outskirts of the dig site.   These trenches help probe the range of the living areas and  help determine where future digs will occur.  Mount Gilboa in the distant right. This is the area where Saul and Jonathan died according to 1 Samuel 31. 108 degrees today. Novelty of archeology starting toContinue reading “Hot, Tired, and Sore”