A Captured Moment? Yesterday, I returned from two weeks of hitchhiking in time zones five and six hours ahead of my normal. I sat and relaxed with “J” for a while, but eventually succumbed to sleepiness at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 a.m. Munich time). Of course, I was wide awake by 2 a.m.! After devotions, shortly […]

Not Eagles Home! Godzilla don’t want you to be confused. This not city with an NFL team! Philadelphia a city in Asia Minor founded in 189 BC. It developed to be center of Greek language and thought. It, in essence, a missionary city for Greek culture. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia […]

Better Bring Body Bags! Once capital of ancient Lydia (several centuries before Jesus), it was crushed by Cyrus the Great in 547 BC, rebuilt, and destroyed again in 499 BC. In 344 BC, Sardis conquered by Alexander the Great, and eventually fell into hands of Rome in 129 BC. It would be destroyed again by […]

(Supplemental) Godzilla interrupt Seven Church bLOGs to report that good friend of SearchingFor42.net family no longer with us. On Monday afternoon, Monster Behind the Door (a.k.a. MBD) ended his tenure as one of HitchHiker’s inspirers, instigators, antagonizers, walking buddies, “mail” terrorists, and all around great companion. Farewell old friend! You will be missed!

Ever-present Idolatry and Immorality! Like Smyrna and Pergamum, Thyatira join party. Known for commerce and trade guilds, this Lydia’s (of Philippi fame) hometown and seem to be bustling with capitalism, which also means influences from all types of cultures. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of […]

Idolatry and Immorality Everpresence! Like Smyrna, emperor worship permeate culture at Pergamum. Two decades before birth of Christ, temple erected to honor “deity” of Tiberius Caesar. It is thought by scholars that Pergamum may have been center of Caesar worship in Asia Minor. With cultish idolatry of Caesars and paganism comes rampant immorality as well. […]

Suffering Servants! When Godzilla, think of one of HitchHiker’s favorite saint, Polycarp, who was bishop of Smyrna. He was a disciple of Apostle John, who was martyred in AD 155. When commanded to worship Caesar as deity and denounce Jesus, he said, “Eighty and six years I served him, and he has done me no […]