http://picasaweb.google.com/bokeum.ra/RomeItaly#

Those are my photos from when my dad, my brother, and I went to Europe two summers ago.
In one of my art history courses, we're learning about Ancient Rome right now and I marvel truly at the works that man can make.

Roman emperors deified themselves after death so they could be worshiped. They did all they could so they could be remembered: erecting triumphal arches that eloquently and graphically describe the military victories, memorialized through larger than life statues, etc. Almost 2,000 years later, we visit these grounds and all we can do is imagine what it was like.

I'm mainly talking about this because I have to research the Arch of Septimius Severus and give a 10-minute presentation on it. And I don't mind, but it really got me thinking about the things that man makes as opposed to the things that God created.

He who is everlasting and neverending will never crumble like the creations made by man's hands.

I was always annoyed by all the upgrades that happen every few months. I remember when the first AOL came out... and then AOL 3.5... and then 7.8 ... and then whatever else that came out. Every year we would have to upgrade. Same with Microsoft. I love the 2007 version, but I was just starting to get used to the 2003 version! Whatever is made by man will always need upgrading--partly because we want things to be faster, more convenient, and efficient, but moreso because we want to be perfect. But God who is perfect gives all things that are just right for us. We don't need upgrades. He is enough for us: His grace, love, mercy, justice, and faithfulness.

Don't get me wrong, I love studying for this class and learning all these things! Because I certainly didn't appreciate it as much when I went two years ago. And now I wish I took more photos and learned more about the city before walking through it. But I like to make connections to our Almighty God because ultimately we're living for Him, aren't we? And everything that we learn relates to Him in some way. In everything we do, we give Him praise, do we not?

I love it when my roommate tells me all these complex things about enzymes and our stomach and whatnot and ends with how intricate and amazingly detailed our God is and how He made man so fragile that we must depend on Him.

Praise Him!