Reliving Past Craziness

I was reading this morning in 1 Kings 12 and noted how the people back then loved regurgitating old heresies or twisted ideas, just like we do today. People still try to grab onto things like the Gospel of Thomas, or attempt to compare Jesus to mythological or historical religious figures and suggest that the writers of the Bible based Christianity on myths.

We're 1500-1900 years removed from most of those original attempts now, and still pull out polluted history. I noted that Jeroboam was about 530 years removed from events when the following happened. I don't even have any commentary. Just thought this was interesting.

So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!"

He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom. But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi. And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made. So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.

- 1 Kings 12:28-33 (NLT)

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Ancient Hebrew Text Discovered

In the news...

As CNN.com reports, a 3,000-year-old Hebrew text has been found in earthenware jars at the excavation of a site 20 miles or so southwest of Jerusalem. "The site of Khirbet Qeiyafa is located near the place where the Bible describes the battle between David and Goliath -- the Elah Valley, which shares its name with the fortress." It dates to the time of King David and is about 1,000 years older than the Dead Sea Scrolls.

From the article: "Archaeologists have yet to decipher the text, but initial interpretation indicates it formed part of a letter and contains the roots of the words 'judge,' 'slave,' and 'king,' according to the university. That may indicate it was a legal text, which archaeologists say would provide insights into Hebrew law, society, and beliefs."

Great! Now we'll finally get some insight into Hebrew law, society, and beliefs! :)

Discoveries like this give me chills. So cool! (I didn't mean that to be a play on words -- just came out that way.)

Looking forward to following this as the writing is deciphered.

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The Lusk Letter

Continuing for one more day in the vein of off-the-beaten-path posts, I wanted to share some of my family history. Actually, it may not be my family history, but it was interesting -- and very chilling (and features my last name). I'm trying to play History Channel. (Just for the sake of including a disclaimer, the word "hell" is used herein to reference a particular place; it's not used as a slang or curse word.)

The other day my brother sent me a link to a Wikipedia entry on the "Lusk letter," apparently more commonly known as the "From Hell letter." Below are a few excerpts from the article (footnotes removed). I will warn you that you may find the latter parts a little disturbing.

The "From Hell" letter (or the "Lusk letter") is the name given to a letter mailed in 1888 by a man who claimed to be the killer known as Jack the Ripper.

Though many letters claiming to be from the killer were mailed in the time of the Ripper murders, the "From Hell" letter is widely considered by many Ripper researchers as one of the few possibly authentic writings received from the serial killer.

Postmarked on 15 October 1888, the letter was received by George Lusk, then head of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee, the following day.

[Here's where it starts getting to the grotesque part. If you're squeamish, stop reading.]

The reason this letter stands out more than any other is that it was delivered with a small box containing half of what doctors later determined was a human kidney, preserved in ethanol. One of Catherine Eddowes' kidneys had been removed by the killer. Medical opinion at the time was that the organ could have been acquired by medical students and sent with the letter as part of a hoax.

The text of the letter reads:

From hell.
Mr Lusk,
Sor

I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer

signed
Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk

Now you may want to click on a link to the left and go visit a blog with something encouraging and uplifting. Maybe someday I'll share the story a friend of mine sent me about how his wife's great-great(-great?)-grandfather was gunned down in a church service. But not today.

Any interesting stories in your family history?

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