Author Archive: Brian Johnson

The Permanence of Pyramids

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The first thing people think of with Egypt are the iconic pyramids. After Memphis, we visited the location of the first “pyramid”, the step pyramid of Djoser. This structure was the architectural transition point from the old mastaba (bench) style of tombs to the pyramids. The complex around it is among the oldest surviving structures in the world. Columns were carved to look like trees bound together. The goal was to make a lasting world. Wood rots, but stone remains. (and those stones have remained nearly 5,000 years) This kicked off the pyramid fad of the Old Kingdom, a period […]

Arriving in the Capital

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What do you think of when you hear the name “Cairo”? The most populous city in Egypt, it has a population of nearly 20 million (technically Cairo is 10 million, lying on the east side of the Nile with Giza, also 10 million, on the west, but they form a single metropolis). It is a bustling, dirty city. We landed at Cairo International Airport on a Thursday evening. After making our way through customs, we had a shuttle prearranged to carry us across town to our hotel in Giza. The 19 mile drive through rush hour traffic took about 1.5 […]

The Return to Egypt

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The Lord will send you back in ships to Egypt on a journey I said you should never make again. There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you. Deuteronomy 28:68 I’ve been slowly reading through Deuteronomy this year in Hebrew. I took more Hebrew classes this year and have spent most mornings translating a couple verses. On November 20, I opened up to 28:68, reading the opening words as “The Lord will cause you to return to Egypt…” Why am I mentioning this? Because that day I […]

The Bible Closer to Home

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It’s been awhile, but rest assured this blog isn’t dead! I just have had other priorities. I have more travels coming up which I will write about in due time. A couple months ago I visited the Horn Museum of Archaeology at Andrews University. This is not a world class museum by any means, but it’s full of some nice artifacts and replicas from the Middle East. Besides, it’s much closer to home. The central room is dedicated to different eras from the Bible. They have a Bedouin tent set up (brings back fond memories of a year ago in […]

This Nativity Scene Under Construction

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They will rebuild the ancient ruins  and restore the places long devastated;they will renew the ruined cities  that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:4 With Christmas upon us, I’ve been thinking back to my most recent visit to Bethlehem this past February. The Church of the Nativity marks the traditional location of Jesus’ birth. It’s one of the oldest church buildings, having survived where others were destroyed during invasions. Nevertheless, time continues to take its toll on the structure. The church is undergoing a multiyear restoration, set to be completed by December 2019. I can imagine those who visit […]

Wake-up Call

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The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’” ~ Leviticus 23:23-25 Shanah Tova! Happy New Year (on the Jewish calendar)! The year 5779 has begun at sundown on Sept 9. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost four months since I departed from Israel (although my heart remains there). I picked my life back up, went back to work, and resumed my usual […]