I have learned that the Greeks don't stop for anything. Even in ancient times the Athenians would group up once ever nine days in order to discuss the business and problems of the city in order to fix them. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, or even freezing rain. Today it was raining. All day. Yet we still traveled all the way up to the Acropolis where it is SO windy and got pictures and got our ear talked off by our guide up in the freezing cold. Even the pidgins joined us in the cold and watched as we gloomily trailed around the mountain taking hurried pictures in some attempt to stay active while our toes and fingers froze. It amazed me that we weren't the only ones out in the cold taking pictures and sight-seeing. Just goes to show how lazy us Americans really are.
I mean, Paul is attributed as the greatest missionary of all time, pretty much. At Mars Hill we are given such a good example of how to relate to those outside of the Church. We aren't to treat them as idiotic neanderthals, but we aren't supposed to beg them either. It is our job to proclaim truth in all its glory but in a relational and connected way; the gospel is a power meant to bring all peoples together meaning it is a gospel that can be related to all people groups. Jesus is the King of me, and he's the King of you. We are vastly different people and we understand Him in a somewhat different way and so it must be explained in a different way. I just thought it was really applicable and awesome. Especially to be in the very place that Paul stood talking to these great philosophers.
I loved it. By far my absolute favorite. My second favorites (yes, plural) were the Hephaestus and Athenian temples with the huge columns. The interesting part about these temples are that the columns aren't perfectly straight; they have a slight curve in them so that the light will filter inside the temple instead of bouncing around awkwardly and making the temple super dark. It is amazing to me how these ancient builders (seeing as most of these monuments come from long before the time of Christ) knew how to build their architecture not only to last but in a way that benefited the people (building it so that light filtered into the temple instead of outside). Absolutely astounding. I am completely blown away by the great mind that God has given us and that he has made us a people that will succeed and grow; we are not a stagnate race. Ah, I love how thoughtful God is!
Another fun story from today, and this will be the last one I promise, was another temple in the Acropolis dedicated to Athena (to the right). It's name means "wingless victory," and it was built originally with winged statues. These wings were supposed to symbolize victory However these statues' (or maybe the engraved parts of the temple? I'm not really sure what had wings) wings were cut off! They did this in order that "victory would not fly away." Silly Athenians. But it was a pretty fun story (:
Anyway.
The Acropolis and the outlying ruins were astounding. Just to think how beautiful the place must have been in ancient times, all white and glorious in its prime. Some of the monuments looked so weird, seeing as they've been reconstructing most of them; the reconstructed ones have pieces of white marble interlaced with the faded brown. To be honest it was like ancient Legos in some strange fashion. However, my favorite part was definitely Mars Hill. Oh how exciting it was to be in the place that is described in Acts 17. It truly got me thinking on Missions work, however.
I mean, Paul is attributed as the greatest missionary of all time, pretty much. At Mars Hill we are given such a good example of how to relate to those outside of the Church. We aren't to treat them as idiotic neanderthals, but we aren't supposed to beg them either. It is our job to proclaim truth in all its glory but in a relational and connected way; the gospel is a power meant to bring all peoples together meaning it is a gospel that can be related to all people groups. Jesus is the King of me, and he's the King of you. We are vastly different people and we understand Him in a somewhat different way and so it must be explained in a different way. I just thought it was really applicable and awesome. Especially to be in the very place that Paul stood talking to these great philosophers. 
I loved it. By far my absolute favorite. My second favorites (yes, plural) were the Hephaestus and Athenian temples with the huge columns. The interesting part about these temples are that the columns aren't perfectly straight; they have a slight curve in them so that the light will filter inside the temple instead of bouncing around awkwardly and making the temple super dark. It is amazing to me how these ancient builders (seeing as most of these monuments come from long before the time of Christ) knew how to build their architecture not only to last but in a way that benefited the people (building it so that light filtered into the temple instead of outside). Absolutely astounding. I am completely blown away by the great mind that God has given us and that he has made us a people that will succeed and grow; we are not a stagnate race. Ah, I love how thoughtful God is! 
Another fun story from today, and this will be the last one I promise, was another temple in the Acropolis dedicated to Athena (to the right). It's name means "wingless victory," and it was built originally with winged statues. These wings were supposed to symbolize victory However these statues' (or maybe the engraved parts of the temple? I'm not really sure what had wings) wings were cut off! They did this in order that "victory would not fly away." Silly Athenians. But it was a pretty fun story (:
I love all this mythology.
Well, it is nearly midnight, and we leave for Corinth at 8:30 in the morning. So, I'd better be off so that, you know, I can sleep and not be super exhausted for Corinth and Delphi tomorrow.
Love y'all.
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