So at the foot of the Athenian Acropolis, they had this water fountain and still I don't have any clue about it. Was it used to provide water to those arriving in the city, was it for the people to refresh before going to worship their gods? As we walked up hill to the great ruins Annette and I were amazed how these structures have survive wars and time. These temples were erected in 450 B.C. Today they tell the story of an ancient civilization that change the life of millions of people during history as much as it influences your life and mine.

 To us visiting these ruins was like taking a virtual tour of some Bible passages. Seeing and feeling that the word of God is much alive than we can understand. We walked in Paul's shoes sort to speak, not carrying his burden but standing in place where he might have been made us focus on his dedication and his condition as man. From the Acropolis one can see and visualize the distances that Paul might have walked. In the Bible we read he went from one place to the other, but I do not believe that we think all the distances that he actually walked. In those times there were no hiking shoes or any comfort, the selection was wear shoes or not to wear.

The Apostels perished, the civilizations pass away and their customs and their

greatness is also gone. Greece is one of the poorest countries in Europe, their Empire is in ruins. All that is left from their goddess Athena Nike is a sport wear  brand. The government of Greece is trying really hard to restore the ruins, much money is spent in research and hundreds of architects work to put all the pieces together to revive the Hellenic civilization. they have spent close to a century and still they have not improve much.

God's word is precious and is still alive today, not in ruins but clear and vivid; the promises are active and prayers are heard and answered for those who believe. Our God is real. Looking at the ruins I remembered Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away". - Jesus lives!

The marketplace - Ancient Agora, Greece

Ancient Agoras, up in the hill is the Parthenon

During our visit in Athens we were amazed by the city and we tried to imagine what it was like in the days of Paul. So we looked up scripture and we explored ancient Greece!One of our trips was the Acropolis but Paul did not go directly to the high priest of the days, he went to the marketplace or what is known as Thessaloniki, the Ancient Agora.On the hill of this picture you can see the Athenian Acropolis. The building on top is the Parthenon, the temple was build to honor of their goddess Athena and was a multitasking goddess today we call that kind of woman a working woman. Athena was the goddess of war, civilization, wisdom, strength, strategy, crafts, justice and skill in Greek mythology. A huge statue was build on the hill so that the people could see her from anywhere in the city.

the ancient marketplace Agora

Scripture

Acts 17:16-18

replica of the Ancient Agora

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

idol

History

The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural center, and the seat of justice. The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.). Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area. After a series of repairs and remodeling, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C. Extensive building activity occurred after the serious damage made by the Persians in 480/79 B.C., by the Romans in 89 B.C. and by the Herulae in A.D. 267 while, after the Slavic invasion in A.D. 580, It was gradually abandoned. From the Byzantine period until after 1834, when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek state, the Agora was again developed as a residential area.

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Run the Good Race

 

Thanks to a very kind Greek reporter/photographer Nickolas Stivris who took our picture.

We have many stories to tell you, and more videos to up load for now this picture will have to speak for us. We ran the Good Race in Athens during the 28th Classic Marathon of 2010. We are most grateful to all of our small group members, Francisco, Andre, Christine, Jaime and Jennie. For our pastors, David & Milly Lema, Pastor Alex & Erin Diaz, to our families and Friends, Yin, my dear professors who hold me in prayers Prof. Mira, Prof. Wright and Prof. Medina, co-workers and all we met along this journey to Athens. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT.

The day of the race

On our way to the race 

The runners were everywhere around the city and from all over the world. At the airport, while I waited for Annette, I saw many of the runners come in from Brazil, Uruguay, Panama, Canada, Germany, London, Boston and more. People were wearing special t-shirts and family members where there too to support. They had Greek music playing and there was excitement everywhere in the area. Annette and I interviewed a few people before the race and that was super awesome. Check them out.

The 5k and the 10k race was at 9:30, the Marathon was to start at 9:00 a.m. at the city of Marathon. So around 8:55 a.m. Annette and I parted ways, she had to go to the 5k corral and I had to head up for the 10K corral. There we both met other people from different countries and we have many stories to talk about them for days to come! At 9:00 a.m. they announced that the marathon runners just started to leave the start line and there where balloons going up in the air, the people were so excited and roaring and clapping. It was amazing how a race can provoke people to unite in such way, they were cheering as if they were right there in Marathon at the start line, it was overwhelming. Then it was our turn to start the our race! Confetti was thrown in the air and more balloons were going in the sky here we go, good running Annette! Francisco, I wish you were here to see us run, thank you for your support and prayers, you are a true friend.

On Saturday after we both were enrolled in the proper race we walked to the Panathenaic Stadium. The stadium was built in 4^th century BC for the mystical ceremonies held for the Panathenaic Festival in honour of Athena, patron-goddess of the city of Athens. 

Then the Roman Hadrian had also constructed a Stadium where gladiatorial contests and shows were put for the Athenian public. In time this one disappeared as well and an exact replica was completely restored in 1896 ir order to host the first Modern Olympiad. In 2004 again it was used to host the Olympic Games, the archery event as well ad for the culmination of the Marathon run. It is impressive. Hopefully I can download the video before my internet time is over.

Annette changing Hellenic history

I met Annette two years ago, she has been always very eager of learning more about God and about his promises and commandments. The last two years I have seen her grow spiritually, she has blossomed like the most precious flower for Christ. She understood the meaning of baptism and took the plunge, she understood the meaning of servanthood and she took leadership roll in the children’s ministry at our church, she has understood the reason of discipleship and she attends a small group where she serves and supports her leader and she has a great personality that values friendship. Her friendship and love for her friend has driven her to come all the way to Athens to be here for me. After I have struggled with the running of my first marathon, I realized that it is not my race but hers. She has been running the Good Race for two years now and this is her first finish line, she is a disciple ready to be a leader and have her own disciples. What a better place than Athens to show her the world that Paul had to face and still present the Gospel with courage and commitment. So I rejoice for us being here in the midst of this celebration. She got so carried away from the energy among the runners that she too wanted to run, something that you don’t get her easily to do. But she arranged her own 5k Bib, which were impossible to get at this point in time. There was some person that enrolled for the 5k and last minute could buy the marathon Bib(number) from somebody else and gave his number to Annette. I am so proud of my friend and I cherish her friendship, I am truly blessed. Thank you Lord for Annette!

picking up my marathon package, bitter sweet moment

 On Friday afternoon we traveled Athens by Metro, from Larissa station to Syntagma and walked towards the Zapion Exhibition & Congress Hall where the Marathon Expo was taking place. When we got there it was so overwhelming to see all the runners, all the excitement of such event. It was particular difficult for me because I was not going to run the Marathon. I felt like I failed, I felt shame and I felt defeated. I was training well and I was eating and resting properly and I could not believe that I hurt my ankle and I was not able to complete the training. This reminds me of Galatians 5:7-10
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

I have been meditating on the word of God and trying to really give it a thought of what it means to run the good race. All during the visit here in Greece I met with several runners and most of them are also had an injury and they were going to run the marathon anyway. Many of them told me that I should do the same and run even when I have not completed the training. At one point I got excited and I asked myself why not, I was convinced that not running would mean being a looser or a chicken for not trying. So I was excited because I thought I would run it and I would still get my marathon medal. 

Knocking at Church of Panaghia Kapnikarea

Last Thursday I had to submit an assignment for my class, Introduction to Ministry, I needed to submit a book review. It was about “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome”  by Kent and Barbara Hughes. The book is all about the call for ministry and how people measure success and define if a ministry is successful or a failure. The authors then summarize that God did not called us to be successful but to be among other things faithful, 1 Cor 4:1-2 "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful". So I thought of what I read and what I was trying to do and it felt that I was not doing the right thing. It felt that I wanted my ego to be fixed and feel proud about still trying something that seemed both silly and foolish to do. Running a Marathon without the proper training. 

I had to believe that I will get the chance to run my first Marathon with all the excitement and sense of victory that come with it. Funny enough this is like waiting for the groom and abstaining from having sex before marriage. Don’t laugh that is how this is. I felt like if I was going to be around the marathon and run just the last four miles just to have the medal, I would be cheating and I would have no value for the medal. I felt if I did not run it would be like going to my wedding without getting married and finally if I ran/walked the marathon it would feel like having a sexual relation and going to get married afterwards, why? Well, how can you taste the marathon and have a great expectation of the second time around if the first marathon was not exciting and had not the component of fulfillment and accomplishment?So Saturday I went back to the expo and asked them if I could downgrade the Marathon to a 10 K and the answer was positive. I had peace and I was excited once again, I don’t have to prove anything to anyone and my ego was sentence back into his cage hopefully for a long time!

Thursday night, 3 days away from the Athens Classic Marathon 2010

The jet lag kicked in but we got hungry and we needed to find a place to eat. Everyone told us to have dinner at Plaka and we went into the city to explore it and reach the Greek Taverna for food. Like in every city, people do not know how to give directions, their directions are given with meters and measuring the distance in minutes. “ You walk direct for 3 minutes about 200 meters and then turn left”. 

We found a desolated square with nice restaurants and I wondered where are all the other runners or the people? We had a nice dinner and we got to see our first ancient ruin, on the left is the Library of Hadrian. Athens is beautiful by night and all the monuments are lighted up very well, it brings a magical touch to the city. On the right is the Parliament building at Syntagma Square.