The BAALBEK discovery

 

Exodus 20:3-5

King James Version

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, 

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, 

or that is in the earth beneath, 

or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers 

upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me;

Thanks to my Architecture professor, and Sir Banister Fletcher's "A History of Architecture", this born again watchman learned about monoliths, megaliths, and ancient structures.

Interestingly, the HOLY SPIRIT alerted me to the ruins of Baalbek in Lebanon yesterday.

This, through a 26-minute video focusing on the monolithic foundations, walls, and temples.

Today, I also got to know about the gods being served at Baalbek:

"Baalbek was called Heliopolis during the Roman Empire, a latinisation of the Greek Hēlioúpolis (Ἡλιούπολις) used during the Hellenistic period,[30] meaning "Sun City"[31] in reference to the solar cult there."

"In Greek religion, Helios was both the sun in the sky and its personification as a god. The local Semitic god Baʿal Haddu was more often equated with Zeus or Jupiter or simply called the "Great God of Heliopolis",[34][b] but the name may refer to the Egyptians' association of Baʿal with their great god Ra."

"The importance of the solar cult is also attested in the name Biḳāʿ al-ʿAzīz borne by the plateau surrounding Baalbek, as it references an earlier solar deity named Aziz. In Greek and Roman antiquity, it was known as Heliopolis. Some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Lebanon are located here, including one of the largest temples of the Roman empire. The gods worshipped there (Jupiter, Venus, and Bacchus) were equivalents of the Canaanite deities Hadad, Atargatis."

"Nineteenth-century Biblical archaeologists proposed the association of Baalbek with the town of Baalgad in the Book of Joshua; the town of Baalath, one of Solomon's cities in the First Book of Kings;[47] Baal-hamon, where Solomon had a vineyard;[3] and the "Plain of Aven" in Book of Amos."

"During the Canaanite period, the local temples were primarily devoted to the Heliopolitan Triad: a male god (Baʿal), his consort (Astarte), and their son (Adon).[55] The site of the present Temple of Jupiter was probably the focus of earlier worship, as its altar was located at the hill's precise summit and the rest of the sanctuary raised to its level."

"By that time, the complex housed three temples on Tell Baalbek: one to Jupiter Heliopolitanus (Baʿal), one to Venus Heliopolitana (Ashtart), and a third to Bacchus. On a nearby hill, a fourth temple was dedicated to the third figure of the Heliopolitan Triad, Mercury (Adon or Seimios[77]). Ultimately, the site vied with Praeneste in Italy as the two largest sanctuaries in the Western world."

-- Wikipedia

Note the preponderance of the prefix "Baal".

All deserving GOD's wrath, for sure.

Well, the temple complex ruins were further destroyed during the 1759 earthquake.

It seems the Romans built upon the ancient monolithic foundations, which can intrigue anyone because of their size and weight.

But what struck me the most was this:

"Baalbek is considered to be part of Hezbollah's heartland[13] and is known to be their political stronghold."

-- Wikipedia

Is it any wonder the Hez have chosen the city of Baalbek for their stronghold?

Anyone who fights against Israel surely serves another god.

Which also reminds me of Turkey's president Erdogan having plans of reviving the Ottoman empire.

Nations against GOD's chosen nation are now grouping, positioning, and re-positioning.

Precisely why we started "FORTIFY your FORTRESS" blog in January of 2024.

We all need to protect our families, and nations.

These are very interesting times.

Truly a sign of the end times.

Man's pride, vanity, greed, and willfulness never ends.

But GOD's will always holds.

When will man ever learn?

When will he realize his ways are nothing, compared to GOD's ways?

But this much we know -- as prophesied.

Thanks to SPIRIT and Scripture:

Zechariah 14:21

King James Version

21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah 

shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: 

and all they that sacrifice shall come 

and take of them, and seethe therein: 

and in that day 

there shall be no more the Canaanite 

in the house of the Lord of hosts.

-- "The Canaanites"

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On SURVEILLANCE architecture

 

Psalm 127:1

King James Version

127 Except the Lord build the house, 

they labour in vain that build it: 

except the Lord keep the city, 

the watchman waketh but in vain.

This will be a short feature on surveillance architecture.

No, not on the design of cctv's and all that.

But more on the shape of buildings.

And what is housed in those structures.

A few come to mind:

Jeremy Bentham and Willey Reveley's "panopticon":

"Bentham commissioned drawings from an architect, Willey Reveley. Bentham reasoned that if the prisoners of the panopticon prison could be seen but never knew when they were watched, the prisoners would need to follow the rules. Bentham also thought that Reveley's prison design could be used for factories, asylums, hospitals, and schools."

-- Wikipedia

America's "NSA":

"The main NSA headquarters and operations building is what James Bamford, author of Body of Secrets, describes as "a modern boxy structure" that appears similar to "any stylish office building."[161] The building is covered with one-way dark glass, which is lined with copper shielding in order to prevent espionage by trapping in signals and sounds."

-- Wikipedia

UK's "The Doughnut":

"The Doughnut is the nickname given (due to its resemblance to a doughnut) to the headquarters of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ),[1][3] a British cryptography and intelligence agency. It is located on a 71 hectares (176 acres) site in Benhall, in the suburbs of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in South West England."

-- Wikipedia

America's "33 Thomas Street":

"33 Thomas Street (formerly the AT&T Long Lines Building) is a 550-foot-tall (170 m) windowless skyscraper in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States... Designed in the Brutalist architectural style, it is a telephone exchange or wire center building which contained three major 4ESS switches used for interexchange (long distance) telephony, as well as a number of other switches used for competitive local exchange carrier services. "

-- Wikipedia

Curiously-shaped buildings, right?

Surely, it's for both function, and form.

As student of architecture, we were asked to think on those two.

Not enough times.

Form, versus function.

Which matters more in our digital surveillance societies?

Why the surveillance at all?

Who are we spying on?

What privacy have we got left?

What about you?

What is your occupation?

What is your pre-occupation?

May it be of the LORD, instead of the world.

Ephesians 5:11-12

King James Version

11 And have no fellowship 

with the unfruitful works of darkness, 

but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things 

which are done of them in secret.

Colossians 3:1-2

King James Version

3 If ye then be risen with Christ, 

seek those things which are above, 

where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, 

not on things on the earth.

1 John 2:15-16

King James Version

15 Love not the world, 

neither the things that are in the world. 

If any man love the world, 

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, 

the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, 

but is of the world.

1 John 2:17

King James Version

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: 

but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

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BUILDING blogs of FAITH

 

The LORD JESUS said:

John 7:38

King James Version

38 He that believeth on me, 

as the scripture hath said, 

out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

I am not meant to build physical structures.

I am meant to build blogs honoring GOD.

That's what GOD made me for.

I was made to take up Architecture.

My heart was in words.

GOD had the final say.

His WORD.

I searched everywhere.

Looking for absolute truth.

Not realizing, GOD was in my heart.

All that lengthy, arduous time.

Took me a long time to come around.

But GOD's got patience.

He's got eternity.

I don't.

Grieve not,

that it took you a long time to know GOD.

Grieve,

when you don't seek Him at all.

What were you made to do on this earth?

Keep seeking.

Keep searching.

Keep praying.

Wait, watch, listen.

You will have your answers.

GOD hears the faithful.

Just when you think GOD isn't there.

Oh, He's very much there!

Waiting for your call.

From a humbled heart.

From a grieving heart.

From a lost heart.

From a defeated heart.

Even from an angry heart.

GOD has no use for pride.

Leave it outside your door.

Better yet, throw it into the ocean,

and have the sharks gobble it up.

Like eats like.

We started knowing nothing.

Through JESUS,

we learn everything.

Why remain hard-hearted?

Your heart of flesh

needs the HEART of GOD.

All we know on this earth

is as nothing

compared to what JESUS knows.

Who do you listen to?

What is the company you keep?

Are they good for you?

Are you good for them?

Or are you all bent on destruction?

JESUS loves children

because they are pure, teachable,

joyful, open-hearted, fun, trusting.

Adults are a different story.

The word "adulterated"

isn't by chance.

It has the word "adult" in it.

The secret of GOD?

In every word.

There is a real battle going on.

GOD's pure WORD,

versus the enemy's corrupted words.

It isn't hard to tell them apart.

One makes us live.

One makes us die.

When you think you know much.

You probably don't know much at all.

A born again doesn't expect worldly freedom.

This fallen world won't offer you that.

Only through GOD's SPIRIT 

do we have true liberty.

The world as we know it,

doesn't know GOD.

The world to come?

It's all GOD.

This world can't offer you,

anything of lasting value.

Only GOD can.

When GOD makes you born again,

the learning sticks.

You will be forever changed.

When the world makes you born again,

you will still be subject

to man's fallenness.

The day you acknowledge your sins,

is the day GOD will show up.

The day you acknowledge your ignorance,

is the day GOD will teach you.

The day you thank the LORD each day,

is the day GOD blesses you even more.

Authenticity.

That's what my soul searched for.

For the longest time.

Now, I'm no longer lost.

I live, and breathe GOD.

The enemy of CHRIST

is a pretender.

He pretends to have a throne.

Or, at least, aspires to have one.

Only GOD has a throne.

Slow learner, that one.

When you are truly GOD's own,

your work will change.

You will change.

You will take that 180-degree turn.

And never look back.

By never looking back,

we mean that you won't want your old ways.

Who wants to put on old clothes,

when JESUS gave you new ones to wear?

You are a new person in CHRIST, remember?

Working for JESUS

is the most sublime work.

Every day is full of surprises.

Tons to do.

But there's nothing like it.

Who would have thought 

I'd be writing this way?

Who would have thought

I'd be teaching this way?

Only GOD did.

Come down from your towers.

Come down from your lofty abodes.

Those won't last.

Only JESUS does.

Do you care to be popular?

Or would you rather

your heart is right with GOD?

Do you care to be rich?

Or would you rather

see the mansion JESUS saved for you?

What citizenship do we speak of?

Believers are citizens of heaven, 

not of this earth.

Does it matter you are not liked?

Does it matter you are not loved?

Does it matter you are not accepted?

The world doesn't care

for those who love JESUS.

Accept that.

Aspire?

Or expire?

The choice is easy.

Every blog,

every post,

came from JESUS.

They were my

building blogs of faith!

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GOOD for BRAIN health

 Isaiah 64:8

King James Version

8 But now, 

O Lord, 

thou art our father; 

we are the clay, 

and thou our potter; 

and we all are the work of thy hand.

Has it really been that long?

That I've been inspired by a structure?

Thanks to a feature I saw on cable today.

Frank Gehry's structure was stunning.

A fantastic, convoluted structure.

And I learned that building was called Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

So very fitting it would also be located at quirky Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wikipedia reports:

"The center is approximately 65,000 sq ft (6,000 m2) and includes 13 examination rooms, offices for health care practitioners and researchers, a "Museum of the Mind", and a community auditorium. The center also serves as the headquarters for Keep Memory Alive, the Las Vegas Alzheimer's Association and the Las Vegas Parkinson's Disease Association."

Had this building appeared when I was studying Architecture, perhaps, I may have become a full-fledged architect.

Perhaps.

But GOD had other plans.

He made sure there was nothing especially interesting at school.

I've always loved studying, but there was hardly time to digest stuff.

Sure, we studied Sir Banister Fletcher's "A History of Architecture".

But history of architecture is a study in itself, and cannot be surface study.

At least, for me.

I liked to absorb what I study.

Gehry's brain health structure is a 12-year-old beauty, and it came too late for me.

Still, I can appreciate its quirky, wavy lines, use of materials, and spotless facilities.

Methinks it's good for my brain health.

I had been fed a diet of pyramids, Greek temples, European churches, American buildings, a host of other popular architects.

But I did hear of Frank Gehry then.

Just didn't realize his works were revolutionary.

Seeing the documentary, and videos on the link below, woke my dormant brain cells, regarding design.

We all need a good dose of inspiration.

As born again, GOD lifted my thinking to another level.

Of really serving man, and not ego.

Thus, the PRAISE village I was creating in my mind.

And now, Gehry gave me more ideas.

Curiously, Frank Gehry had a particular affinity for fish design.

Such that, it was incorporated in his buildings in various countries.

I also learned he had Russian-Polish Jewish roots.

And I think to myself, it would be great if he believed in JESUS, who asked His disciples:

Matthew 4:19

King James Version

19 And he saith unto them, 

Follow me, 

and I will make you fishers of men.

I am happy that SPIRIT alerted me to Gehry's work today.

May all our work honor JESUS.

And may it always be useful to man.

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 

which God hath before ordained 

that we should walk in them.

SPIRIT gives believers lots of inspiration.

He gives us life!

I thank Him for today.

And every day.

2 Corinthians 3:6

King James Version

6 Who also hath made us 

able ministers of the new testament; 

not of the letter, 

but of the spirit: 

for the letter killeth, 

but the spirit giveth life.

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Robert Harding photos

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CIELED houses

 

The WORD of the LORD, 

through Haggai, His prophet:

Haggai 1:4

King James Version

4 Is it time for you, 

O ye, 

to dwell in your cieled houses, 

and this house lie waste?

What are "cieled" houses?

I had an idea, but I wanted to be sure.

So, I turn to the Bible.

True enough, my suspicions had foundation.

SPIRIT led me to the various Scripture versions:

Haggai 1:4

21st Century King James Version

4 “Is it time for you, 

O ye, to dwell in your ceilinged houses, and this house lie waste?”

Haggai 1:4

Amplified Bible

4 “Is it time for you yourselves to live in your [expensive] paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?”

Haggai 1:4

Christian Standard Bible

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house[a] lies in ruins?”

Haggai 1:4-5

Contemporary English Version

2-5 that the Lord All-Powerful had said to them and to the people:

You say this isn't the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses,[a] while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what's happening.

Haggai 1:4

Darby Translation

4 Is it time for you that ye should dwell in your wainscoted houses, while this house lieth waste?

Haggai 1:4

Easy-to-Read Version

4 “You people think the right time has come for you to live in nice houses. You live in houses with beautiful wooden paneling on the walls, but the Lord’s house is still in ruins.

Haggai 1:4

Expanded Bible

4 “Is it right for you to be living in ·fancy [L paneled] houses while ·the Temple [L this house] is still in ruins?”

Haggai 1:4

Good News Translation

4 “My people, why should you be living in well-built houses while my Temple lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:4

International Children’s Bible

4 “The Temple is still in ruins. Is it right for you to be living in fancy houses?”

Haggai 1:4

Living Bible

3-4 His reply to them is this: “Is it then the right time for you to live in luxurious homes, when the Temple lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:4

The Message

3-4 Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?”

Haggai 1:4

New English Translation

4 “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses[a] while my temple is in ruins?[b]

Haggai 1:4

New International Reader's Version

4 “My temple is still destroyed. But you are living in your houses that have beautiful wooden walls.”

Haggai 1:4

New Life Version

4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your houses with walls covered with wood, while this house lies waste?”

Haggai 1:4

New Living Translation

4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?

Chaggai 1:4

Orthodox Jewish Bible

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your paneled batim, and this Beis [HaMikdash] lie in ruins?

Haggai 1:4

The Voice

Eternal One: 4 Do you think the time is right for you to live in secure and lavishly covered homes when My house still lies in a heap of rubble?

Haggai 1:4

Wycliffe Bible

4 Whether it is time to you, that ye dwell in houses coupled with timber, and this house be desert(ed), either forsaken? (Is it right for you to live in houses built with timber, while this House, my Temple, is deserted, or abandoned/while this House of mine lieth in ruins?)

Haggai 1:4

Young's Literal Translation

4 Is it time for you -- you! To dwell in your covered houses, And this house to lie waste?

In SUMMARY, here's what a "ceiled" house means:

ceilinged houses

[expensive] paneled houses

paneled houses

expensive houses

wainscoted houses

nice houses

houses with beautiful wooden paneling on the walls

fancy [L paneled] houses

well-built houses

fancy houses

luxurious homes

fine new homes

richly paneled houses

houses that have beautiful wooden walls

houses with walls covered with wood

luxurious houses

paneled batim

secure and lavishly covered homes

houses coupled with timber

houses built with timber

covered houses

All the Bible versions above point to a "cieled" house, as a lavish, ostentatious house.

No wonder ostentatious design never held appeal for me.

As an architecture student in college, I had absolutely no desire to fulfill the whims of future clients.

I was always impatient with such foolishness.

My interest always lay in low-cost housing, where all could be housed, in the most comfortable manner, no matter how simple the structure or basic the facilities.

It's been 43 years, and I had not deviated from such principles.

If anything, being born again nearly 35 months now, has further expanded my thinking.

Especially now that I serve the LORD.

In my heart, SPIRIT and I created a PRAISE village instead.

Where, the focus is on GOD, and GOD alone.

Which the LORD rightfully deserves.

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The MOST SECURE foundation

 

JESUS on FOUNDATIONS:

Matthew 7:24-25

King James Version

24 Therefore whosoever heareth 

these sayings of mine, 

and doeth them, 

I will liken him unto a wise man, 

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, 

and the floods came, 

and the winds blew, 

and beat upon that house; 

and it fell not: 

for it was founded upon a rock.

Oh, to lean against the ROCK, that is CHRIST!

Who is the strongest, surest foundation of all.

For upon Him, everything was built.

John 1:3

King James Version

3 All things were made by him; 

and without him was not any thing made 

that was made.

GOD is the ONLY TRUE BUILDER.

Hebrews 3:4

King James Version

4 For every house is builded by some man; 

but he that built all things is God.

He laid the sure foundation in CHRIST JESUS.

Isaiah 28:16

King James Version

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, 

Behold, 

I lay in Zion for a foundation 

a stone, 

a tried stone, 

a precious corner stone, 

a sure foundation: 

he that believeth shall not make haste.

JESUS being the chief corner stone.

Ephesians 2:20

King James Version

20 And are built upon the foundation 

of the apostles and prophets, 

Jesus Christ himself 

being the chief corner stone;

In Whom everything PERFECTLY fits together.

Ephesians 2:21

King James Version

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together 

groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

For GOD built that temple, for His HOLY SPIRIT.

Ephesians 2:22

King James Version

22 In whom ye also are builded together 

for an habitation of God 

through the Spirit.

What surer foundation can there be?

In this life, or in the next?

Lean against JESUS.

Lean against His WORD.

Find GRACE and TRUTH, in JESUS CHRIST alone.

John 1:17

King James Version

17 For the law was given by Moses, 

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

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