And he built an altar...

I started again... meaning I am starting again from the book of Genesis, because by the time you actually reach the end of reading the bible, it is about time to go back to the beginning. How can the book that we are supposed to base our life on be too ingrained right? More than that, I am listening to an audio version, and actually finding it quite rewarding. I can almost imagine myself sitting down like a good little Jewish boy back in the time of Moses, and Moses recounting the stories that he had been told and telling them to the people. It brings a whole new realistic aspect to it, when you realize that these stories are being told like they would have in those days. (minus the voice-actors, and probably some of the interpretation choices). For those who are thinking, your listening to an audio-bible? That's so lazy, and less "holy" or whatever association seems to go along with audio-recordings of the bible. It actually is quite a bit more biblical accurate, as it is the form that many would have heard these stories and accounts given.

With that long introduction out of the way, I was listening to Genesis, and one thing that really caught my attention listening to the recording, was the choice of the people to "build and altar" or to give certain areas a name based on what happened there. For so long I have thought that it was a nice gesture, and that it was just an easy way to name things. Yet, the more I thought about it the more I realized how aware these 'Jews' were of the human condition. Abram is conscious of the need to remember, and how easy it is to forget. Maybe it is the fact that most people in those days lived over 130 years, and they needed constant reminders in order to remember I don't know. What I do know is that they have these reminders everywhere. Yet, these reminders are not just for their individual benefit. These have an everlasting benefit, in the fact that, whenever that places name comes up, or whenever that altar is passed, it is a reminder to that individual, but also an opportunity for them to share what God had done in that place. They can share the story of why that altar is there, or why this place is named as it is. It's an amazing part of the Jewish culture to set reminders all over the place for these things. Obviously they eventually build up and some are a little odd, but it is a question that I think our culture has lost. Why are things the way they are? Not just that, but why is the city I live in called Calgary? Didn't learn that in school, yes we learn history of our country and in a broader, more global, sense, however, we have lost something of the fascination with where we come from and why.

It made me start to think of what practical things I could do that are more permanent to remind me of such things. I think it needs to be more permanent then sticky notes all over my room, or reminders in my phone. These are not bad, but they are brief reminders, until we clean our rooms, or erase that reminder in our phones. They have no comparison to naming a specific place after such things. Then, I started to think about societal things that are like our altars to God, or have the potential to be, and immediately tattoos popped into my mind. Which, obviously I chuckled a little to myself, because a lot of Christians have a problem with the idea of getting tattoos and would not even think about it. Now they do have good reason, because they claim the verse of 1 Corinthians 6. However, when I think about this verse it does not really say anything about tattoos. Only maybe if you are thinking of getting something along the lines of Bubba in the shape of a heart or something. But, if you think about it, tattoos have the potential, especially in our society, of being quite the conversation starter. More than just Christians have them, and a lot of people find an interest in the reasoning behind getting a tattoo. One of the main questions about tattoos is "will you still want it when you are 90, and your skin is drooping", however, if that tattoo is your way of reminding yourself of the faithfulness, or love, or power of God in your life, and it has a story that tells of God's goodness, who cares what it looks like when you are 90. I don't think Abraham asked when he was building an altar what it would  look like in 90 years, if the stones would wear nicely, or if it would even look like it originally meant to. (I do realize that this is a different and probably unfair comparison) however I think it should be reconsidered. Now tattoos I'm sure aren't the only way of making altars to God, and creating reminders for ourselves that others can ask about and will open the door to share stories of what God is doing, or has done in our lives. However I think it has gotten a bad rap simply because of all the bad tattoos out there, and the way they are normally used.

The point is we need to remind ourselves in some way or another that there are things God has and is doing in our lives. There should be things that when I have kids and they see something and ask why I do something or what 'that' symbolizes (whatever that may be) I can tell them about the time God provided for me, and the goodness of the God I serve. It is about reminding ourselves about God's provision and action, and also about being an open doorway to share about the action of the God we serve.