Crete

July 27 - Earlier this week we flew to Crete.  We spent the first day at the Heracleon Museum, and the second touring the ruins at Knossos.  This was the center of the ancient Minoan civilization, which was at its apex between the time of Abraham and Moses.  Some of the early Cretans settled the south coast of Israel, and we know them today as Philistines (See Amos 9:7, also Genesis 21:34, 26:1).  The Philistine palace that Goliath took down must have had much same architecture that we saw at Knossos.

We then spent three glorious days feeding on the a bread of Life!  Jesus said the mark of his disciples was the love they manifested one to another, and this we experienced in spades.  The instant kinship we felt with our Greek brother and sisters is the greatest of miracles.  Our spirit reached out to their spirit and recognized that we have the same Father.  It was like the United Nations, with those of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, yet we were One in Christ.

Paul, at the beginning of his letter to Titus, quotes a famous Greek philosopher who seems to promulgate a common stereotype about Cretans.  But it helps to read Titus 1:10-14 as a single unit.  Paul was battling the false apostles, those who were telling Gentiles they had to keep Torah, and apparently one of them was from Crete.  He was employing any means at his disposal as they were "subverting entire families and churches."

Tomorrow we fly to Athens, pick up our extra luggage stored at the airport, and fly to Samos to see our home for the next 12 months.