El Camino de SantiagoEl Camino de Santiago

The Way of St. JamesThe Way of St. James

The Way PeopleThe Way People

People of the Way (Acts 9:2)People of the Way (Acts 9:2)

““However I admit that I follow However I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a sect. the Way, which they call a sect. I worship the God of our I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.”written in the prophets.”

Acts 24:14Acts 24:14

The Greek word for WAY is The Greek word for WAY is related to our english words related to our english words exodus and odometer exodus and odometer

Arthur Boers ~The Way is Made by WalkingArthur Boers ~The Way is Made by Walking

Pilgrimage is more about the Pilgrimage is more about the journey than the destinationjourney than the destination

””Did you learn to love?”Did you learn to love?”

And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us

Ephesians 5: 2Ephesians 5: 2

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of have fellowship with one another, and the blood of

Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.1 John 1:71 John 1:7

These all died in faith, not having received the These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that them from afar, and having confessed that they were they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

foreigners and temporary residents on the foreigners and temporary residents on the earthearth

strangers and exiles on the earthstrangers and exiles on the earth

Obviously people who say such things are Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their looking forward to a country they can call their own.  If they had longed for the country they own.  If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.  But came from, they could have gone back.  But they were looking for a better place, a they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.prepared a city for them.

Hebrews 11:13-16Hebrews 11:13-16

Jacob replied, "I have traveled Jacob replied, "I have traveled this earth for 130 hard years. this earth for 130 hard years. But my life has been short But my life has been short compared to the lives of my compared to the lives of my ancestors."ancestors."

Genesis 47:9Genesis 47:9

We're pilgrims on the journeyWe're pilgrims on the journeyof the narrow road and those of the narrow road and those who've gone before us line the who've gone before us line the way. Cheering on the faithful, way. Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary. Their encouraging the weary. Their lives a stirring testament to lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace.God's sustaining grace.

Steve Green Find Us FaithfulSteve Green Find Us Faithful

The english word "pilgrim" The english word "pilgrim" originated from the Latin word originated from the Latin word peregrinus which meant peregrinus which meant someone who has traveled a someone who has traveled a long distance from his place of long distance from his place of birth. birth.

Several of the Psalms, notably Several of the Psalms, notably 120 to 134, are called the 120 to 134, are called the “Psalms of Ascent,” songs sung “Psalms of Ascent,” songs sung by the faithful as they made by the faithful as they made their pilgrimage upward to their pilgrimage upward to Jerusalem. You remember Jesus Jerusalem. You remember Jesus as a boy traveled with his family as a boy traveled with his family to Jerusalem for the High Holy to Jerusalem for the High Holy Days.Days.

But we are citizens of heaven, But we are citizens of heaven, (our citizenship is in heaven) (our citizenship is in heaven) where the Lord Jesus Christ where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our waiting for him to return as our Savior.Savior.

Philippians 3:20Philippians 3:20

But we are citizens of heaven, But we are citizens of heaven, (our citizenship is in heaven) (our citizenship is in heaven) where the Lord Jesus Christ where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our waiting for him to return as our Savior.Savior.

For our conversation is in For our conversation is in heaven heaven (KJV)(KJV)

Philippians 3:20Philippians 3:20

But we are citizens of heaven, But we are citizens of heaven, (our citizenship is in heaven) (our citizenship is in heaven) where the Lord Jesus Christ where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our waiting for him to return as our Savior.Savior.

For our conversation is in For our conversation is in heaven heaven (KJV)(KJV)

But there’s far more to life for But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high us. We’re citizens of high heaven! heaven! (The Message) (The Message)

Philippians 3:20Philippians 3:20

““Your kingdom come, your will Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”heaven.”

““Thy reign come: Thy will come Thy reign come: Thy will come to pass, as in heaven also on the to pass, as in heaven also on the earth.”earth.”

Matthew 6:10Matthew 6:10

Catherine of Siena born in Catherine of Siena born in Rome, Italy March 09, 1347 Rome, Italy March 09, 1347

““All the way to heaven is heaven, All the way to heaven is heaven, because Jesus said, "I am the way.” because Jesus said, "I am the way.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off to the life of faith, let us strip off every every weightweight that slows us down, that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set endurance the race God has set before us. before us.

Hebrews 12:1,2Hebrews 12:1,2

Encumbrance (Weight) (3591) Encumbrance (Weight) (3591) (ogkos) literally refers to a bulk (ogkos) literally refers to a bulk or a mass. It is used or a mass. It is used metaphorically in this verse (the metaphorically in this verse (the only use in Scripture) to refer to only use in Scripture) to refer to that which serves to hinder or that which serves to hinder or prevent someone from doing prevent someone from doing something - a hindrance,  an something - a hindrance,  an impediment. impediment.

In 1845, the ill-fated Franklin In 1845, the ill-fated Franklin Expedition sailed from England Expedition sailed from England to find a passage across the to find a passage across the Arctic Ocean.Arctic Ocean.

An encumbrance is whatever An encumbrance is whatever deadens your soul, and holds deadens your soul, and holds you back when you should be you back when you should be pressing forward pressing forward

Therefore, since we are surrounded Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, every weight that slows us down, especially especially the sin that so easily the sin that so easily trips us up.trips us up. And let us run with And let us run with endurance the race God has set endurance the race God has set before us. before us.

Hebrews 12:1,2Hebrews 12:1,2

This describes the sin that This describes the sin that stands well, or is favourably stands well, or is favourably situated, ever surrounding the situated, ever surrounding the person and soliciting his or her person and soliciting his or her acquiescence.acquiescence.

This describes the sin that This describes the sin that stands well, or is favourably stands well, or is favourably situated, ever surrounding the situated, ever surrounding the person and soliciting his or her person and soliciting his or her acquiescence. Sin forms a acquiescence. Sin forms a crippling hindrance to good crippling hindrance to good running. The sin wraps itself running. The sin wraps itself around us so that we trip and around us so that we trip and stumblestumble

Therefore, since we are surrounded Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us us up. And let us run with run with enduranceendurance the race God has set the race God has set before us. before us.

Hebrews 12:1,2Hebrews 12:1,2

EnduranceEndurance (5281) (hupomone (5281) (hupomone [word study] from hupó = under [word study] from hupó = under + méno = abide) means literally + méno = abide) means literally "to abide under" and has to do "to abide under" and has to do primarily with difficult primarily with difficult circumstancescircumstances

This hill, though high, I covet to This hill, though high, I covet to ascend; ascend; The difficulty will not me offend. The difficulty will not me offend. For I perceive the way to life lies For I perceive the way to life lies here. here. Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither Come, pluck up, heart; let's neither faint nor fear. faint nor fear. Better, though difficult, the right Better, though difficult, the right way to go, way to go, Than wrong, though easy, where Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.” the end is woe.”

― ― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

EnduranceEndurance (5281) (hupomone (5281) (hupomone [word study] from hupó = under [word study] from hupó = under + méno = abide) means literally + méno = abide) means literally "to abide under" and has to do "to abide under" and has to do primarily with difficult primarily with difficult circumstancescircumstances

LongsufferingLongsuffering (3115) (3115) (makrothumia) has to do more (makrothumia) has to do more with difficult people. with difficult people.

EnduranceEndurance (5281) (hupomone) (5281) (hupomone) does not describe a grim does not describe a grim resignation or a passive "grin  resignation or a passive "grin  bear" attitude but a triumphant bear" attitude but a triumphant facing of difficult circumstances facing of difficult circumstances knowing that even out of evil knowing that even out of evil God guarantees good.God guarantees good.

Therefore, since we are Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with trips us up. And let us run with endurance endurance the racethe race God has God has set before us. set before us.

Hebrews 12:1,2Hebrews 12:1,2

The Race: Agon (Classical The Race: Agon (Classical Greek Greek ἀγώνἀγών))

In general, the term refers to a In general, the term refers to a struggle or contest.struggle or contest.

The Race: Agon (Classical The Race: Agon (Classical Greek Greek ἀγώνἀγών))

In general, the term refers to a In general, the term refers to a struggle or contest. struggle or contest.

Agon (the race) gives us our Agon (the race) gives us our English word "agony".English word "agony".

Therefore, since we are surrounded Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set endurance the race God has set before us. before us. We do this by keeping We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesusour eyes on Jesus, the champion , the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s place of honour beside God’s throne.throne.

Hebrews 12:1,2Hebrews 12:1,2

Fixing our eyes (872) (aphorao Fixing our eyes (872) (aphorao from apo = away from from apo = away from something near + horao = look, something near + horao = look, see, behold) means to look see, behold) means to look away from other things and away from other things and steadfastly or intently toward a steadfastly or intently toward a distant object, at that which fills distant object, at that which fills the heart. the heart.

Fixing our eyes (872) (aphorao Fixing our eyes (872) (aphorao from apo = away from from apo = away from something near + horao = look, something near + horao = look, see, behold) means to look see, behold) means to look away from other things and away from other things and steadfastly or intently toward a steadfastly or intently toward a distant object, at that which fills distant object, at that which fills the heart. the heart.

The idea is to  direct one’s The idea is to  direct one’s attention without distraction.attention without distraction.

One Dutch word for pilgrimage One Dutch word for pilgrimage is bedevaart, which connotes a is bedevaart, which connotes a prayerful journey. prayerful journey.

Arthur Boers ~The Way is Made by WalkingArthur Boers ~The Way is Made by Walking

Clement of Alexandria a Church Clement of Alexandria a Church Father born the middle of the Father born the middle of the 2nd century said2nd century said

'Prayer is keeping company 'Prayer is keeping company with God'with God'

But was you not afraid, good sir, But was you not afraid, good sir, when you see him come with his when you see him come with his club?"club?""It is my duty," said he, "to "It is my duty," said he, "to distrust mine own ability, that I distrust mine own ability, that I may have reliance on him that is may have reliance on him that is stronger than all".” stronger than all".”

― ― John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressJohn Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress

The present tense describes a The present tense describes a habitual attitude (which is habitual attitude (which is necessary to run with necessary to run with endurance)endurance)

The present tense (Fixing our The present tense (Fixing our eyes) describes a habitual eyes) describes a habitual attitude (which is necessary to attitude (which is necessary to run with endurance)run with endurance)

2 Kings 19:14 Hezekiah received 2 Kings 19:14 Hezekiah received a lettera letter

Packing for SpainPacking for Spain

A challenge to live more simply.A challenge to live more simply.

Packing for SpainPacking for Spain

A challenge to live more simply.A challenge to live more simply.

Imagine if we had to carry Imagine if we had to carry everything we owned on our everything we owned on our

backs?backs?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola described the ideal Jesuit as “living with one foot raised” always ready to respond to emerging opportunities