LDS General Conference – 177th

In the latter part of this second session, I just couldn’t resist in writing notes and saying hi. I won’t blog these sessions live today or tomorrow, lest I lapse into any knee-jerk responses.  Yet I admit, I have never heard of pickles in connection with new birth theology.

Jesus Christ versus Joseph Smith DVD

Rolling back into the states, I am sitting in the Days Inn in Salt Lake City, just about ready to catch the Express van transportation back to Idaho Falls. Today’s Salt Lake newspaper carries a front page article on the DVD,  Jesus Christ versus Joseph Smith.

Ephesus

I thoroughly enjoyed being on the grounds of ancient Ephesus. 

Naos

We rolled on to the streets at 8:45 am, and as we travelled to our next archaeological sites, we listened to lectures on Greek & Turkish relationships (working through the highly controversial topics about the Armenian tragedy, the Kurds, and tension in Cyprus.) In our excursions, we saw the following places:

The Seven Ecumenical Councils

I’m rebuked.  With excellent historical detail, our Turkish tour guide lectured on all seven councils.  All of them took place in Turkey. And this lecture was only a spin-off over a question of why St. Nicholas was persecuted. A couple of the guys in our group, professors from Knox Seminary and Asbury College, added more vibrant color to […]

Mediterranean Coast

Last night, we stayed at the seaside Antayla Oteli.  Lovely accomodations.  Palm-lined Antayla is the #1 tourist city situated on the ‘Turquoise Coast’ of the Mediterranean.  And I can see why.  I tried to imagine the ancient harbor of Attalio here.

Tauras Mountains, Aspendos, Perge

I’m happy today that we didn’t get picked up by the Trafik jandarma.  We are making progress in our pilgrimage. Today, we rode through the Tauras Mountains.  Rugged.  Rocky.  Crags.  Small alpine meadows.  I had no idea the terrain that Paul walked through.  I could spend weeks hiking along the ridges of these mountains.

ÜNAL DEMİRER

Ünal is an archaelogist and director of Yalvaç Museum. Five years ago, he wrote the book, Pisidian Antioch:  St. Paul, Sanctuary of Men, Yalvaç Museum. The book is expensive.  Men were forking out 45 Turkish Lira for the volume at the archaeological dig.  After spending some time tonight at a four-tiered Turkish mall, I found […]

Pisidian Antioch

The call to morning prayers woke us early this morning . . . around 5 am.  The muezzin’s Sabah in loudspeakers broadcast filled our room.  It ıs quite a jolting reminder that I am not in Idaho.

Hello squatty potties!

Todd was gleefully hoping that I would get a full appreciation for the squatty potties; however I eluded his expectation by finding a Western toilet.  (Ha,ha)  He also forgot that I always come prepared with my own toilet paper having been raised a good outdoors woman.  I think that I am closer to recovering from […]