Hierapolis, Colossae, and Laodicea

Hello! Here at the Richmond Thermal Spa, Marty has given us an exercise in truly experiencing luxuries that many would consider a stretch out of their Christian comfort zone. Fantastic meals, bath houses, pools, and service that models the true Kingdom of God. I'm continually in awe of the kindness we've received everywhere we go.

Our first venture today brought us to the white mountain city of Hierapolis, which is not covered in bikini clad women and speedo bearing men at eight o'clock in the morning, so Marty was a little disappointed his lesson didn't spark a discussion on body image and the shaming we often see in our culture. Instead, we pressed on to learn more of the early church, coming to the Roman gate at which Philip and his family were tortured for their faith. Monumental discussions surrounding the comfort we've embraced in our lives culminated in a brief period of quiet reflection acknowledging Philip's sacrifice for the faith we often take for granted.

On our way back down the mountain the people showed up to walk and bathe in the mineral water of Hierapolis, and that is when culture hit us, in a country where so many are devout and conservative, nothing stands out quite like tourists in swimsuits.

Our next stop brought us to a small dirt mountain Marty pointed at and called a "Tel," and if we listened to him and didn't read the signs, we wouldn't have known we were standing on the ironically small remains of the biblical town of Colossae, to which Colossians was written as well as the tongue-in-cheek plea to Philemon for the life Onesimus.

Last, but not least for the day, we stepped off the bus at Laodicea and got to roam around the ancient ruins in which both Ray Vander Laan and Marty have danced over for the sake of a cross engraved alongside a menorah. This amazing symbol is a perfect representation of the walk the family of Christians and Jews alike can belong to, and is the gospel of inclusion at its finest. We covered the cultural references in both the letters to Philadelphia and Laodicea that are in John's Revelation to the churches and ended the day a bit early for those who had an appointment to keep back at the hotel. I, personally, was thankful to be able to relax and write this post.

God bless you all! And let us bless others, as well.

Written by Luke