The Secret of Augustus' Valley of the Kings

I know that I am revealing more than many living would like, yet still I have avoided cryptic notation wherever possible. What if I were to infer that in my place in the mausoleum you may find my father...

The intelligentsia let wise guys believe the body went to Egypt for a Valley of the Kings burial, but his remains were in Galilee all along. I made some moves just a few months in office and arranged for my dad to be brought to Rome. The custodians agreed that dad and I were to be the last two interned there, and only my burial would be public.

Josephus the Roman, Justus the Judaen; My Brother and I

Simply put, Romans think of myself as a patriot and my brother Justus as a rebel or a zealot, while the Jews think of Justus as a hero and myself as a traitor. I understand the sentiment, but I don't believe that either case is correct. Let's start with me.

While it is true that I negotiated with many village and regional leaders on behalf of the Romans, and even tried to mediate in Jerusalem, all of this was done with the goal of preserving the lives of the Chosen. Our integration into and acceptance in Roman society and governance was being threatened by a few over-enthusiastic yahoos who ran Jerusalem's most crowded neighborhoods. Though I don't doubt that they represented many of their local followers with all the intensity and passion they could muster, I believe they gave little thought to the damage they were doing to Judaic communities in Alexandria and Rome. I make no apologies for working with Titus; I made sure Galilee's defences were strong and bargained from a position of strength. My mother and I were able to arrange the peaceful surrender of many towns, sparing tens of thousands of lives and more livestock and acreage escaped the torch than otherwise would be the case. Now that I am Emperor and the sons of Jesus and John have control of the Senate (through Jews, Christians and fellow travelers alike) and significant influence in all of Rome's major families, one can argue that I helped the Chosen establish a permanent home in Europe.

It's true that the Way has been divided and moves forward along two paths, one that runs a straight and narrow route from the Garden to the Kingdom and is rooted on the southeastern shores of the Middle Earth Sea, and a New Way that meanders through the fields and over the mountains with arms wide open, welcoming and uniting believers from the four corners of the earth. In summary, it is my belief that history will show that I not only rebuilt Rome, but also brought dignity and respect to the Sons of Moses all over the world.

I remember being in Briton with my brother Justus when we were helping dedicate the shrine to mom and dad, and it makes me realize that people do not comprehend how close we were. Yes I disputed some of the facts in his books, but as a close blood soul I am not among those seeking to suppress his works. Even though I find his Judaic history perfunctory and incomplete, there are gems of heritage there that make me hope his words remain forever. Why should my voice be the only one documenting the drama preceding and unfolding in this century?

Justus deserves his high standing in Tiberias, Jerusalem and Armenia, and if you never experienced it you couldn't comprehend how much our family is loved in Briton and Gaul. As for his reputation in Roman society, the depth of this man is unknown to most of these imbibers. While I concerned myself mostly with physical health and safety of my family, relatives and neighbors in Israel and abroad, Justus focused on preserving the cultural and spiritual integrity and heritage of our faith, and his remains the more difficult struggle. His sons are fine spirits and exhibit exemplary humanity, and will rise up and lead the people to many great things.

Though we have had significant disagreements over his recording of the war, and minor disputes over Hasmonean and Levi lines, it should not be news that love my brother and his family and believe that they are both worthy Jews and exemplary Romans.

Peace 2 All.

Names of I Josephus; Emperor Marcus Nerva shares Light

Perhaps you are intrigued by the recently published list of names and titles Jesus my father is known by, and yet this is a small portion. If you add Armenia, Ethiopia, Macedonia and Briton, the list would double again. In the spirit engendered by the compilation and distribution of that list, here are some of the names I am now known by or have been known as:

Emperor Nerva Caesar Augustus

Marcus Cocceius Nerva

Titus Flavius Josephus

Yosef ben Matiyahu

Agrippa Aristobulus

Agrippa Josephes

Joseph of Arimathea

Barnabbas

Barnabus

Bran the Blessed

Marcus Licinius Crassus Scribonianus

Josephus Junius Silanus

Arrius Calpurnius Piso

The Names of My Father; Jesus Christ

If you have penetrated my books you will know that I have no qualms about playing the name game, but somehow in my fading years I want to reveal something and let herstory beautiful herstory let all the earthlings overstand what is and what was.

Dad was and is known to the Romans as:

Marcus Licinus Crassus Frugi II

Decimus Junius Silanus Torquatus

Gaius Calpurnius Piso (whom some feel was "crass")

Jesus Christus

Son of Mary

To the Greeks

Alexander II of Armenia

Aristobulus of Chalcis

Jah Zeus Chrystos

Son of Joseph

Messiah

Son of God

The LORD

Iesous (Jesus)

Chrystos (Anointed)

Theou (God's)

Uios (Son)

Soter (Saviour)

ICTUS or ICHTHYS, Fish of Christ

Hebrews / Armenians

Jeshua / Yehoshua

Aristobulus Herod

Aristobulus III

The Galilean

Mathias

Mattityahu

Messiach

Yeshuah ben Pandera

Son of David

Monbazus

Syrians / Arabs / Egyptians / Persians

Tigranes II of Armenia

Azizus* King of Emesa

Izates II of Edessa

Isa

These are the names** of my father.

My hope is that there will be room for I soul in the Mausoleum of Augustus, and that the teachings of Our family will be guidance to Church and to government. May the Sons of John and Jeshua reign in Harmony, and may the citizens and officials of the Empire thrive and spread Peace, generosity and goodwill whever we meet and greet our fellow man.

Peace 2 All

Author notes:

1. * (brother of Soemus; note Irish Seamus = James)

2. Many of the above names provided with much respect to Charles Pope, the world's leading researcher into historical identities of Biblical characters.

3.** If readers know of very early names of Jesus of Nazareth that are not in the list above, feel free to post them with their geographical and cultural origins in the comments section below.

Why I reformed the Jewish tax; Josephus explains

When Vespatian brought in the Jewish Tax I knew that it didn't smell right, that there was potential for this thing to be very dangerous. His brother Domitian proved my point, intensifying the persecution of Jews and also becoming paranoid about Christians.

By repealing this legislation and replacing it with laws more respectful, I have honoured Our foreparents and blazed a trail for much greater progress to come. I have educated the people, so now there is understanding of the Jewish Revolt and how the immigration has brought many wonders to Rome and the Empire.

When I first heard that Domitian was taxing senior citizens, women, children, the poor, I was sick to my stomach. My first nine or ten months as Emperor involved cleaning up the economic, political, military and social mess left by Domitian, may God bless his weary soul. By exempting the aged, the Christians (who had been perceived as "Judaized" by Domitian), and Jewish Christians the tax remained for those openly believing in and practicing Judaism. Even though it was purportedly for the Jupiter Temple in Rome and was designed to replace the historic Temple Tax, I was aware that many if not most Jews did not consider it voluntary or even spiritual in Nature. Still, I had to create legislation that would pass in the Senate.

As my earthly father once spoke, Give unto Jah that which belongs to Jah, and give to Caesar that which is Caesar's. To commemorate the reform of the Fiscus Judaicus, I have issued a coin with the following inscription:

FISCI IVDAICI CALVMNIA SVBLATA

(The calumny of the Jewish Tax is Removed)

Peace 2 All

Barnabus Josephus; A Testament to Our Father

I offer peace to my brother Justus and all who support the House of Aristobulus. People ask why I should be so blessed to be a son of Jeshua, and to those I can only say read my works and ponder life. I have written and published thirty manuscripts in four volumes and have helped with both scripture and legislation for decades. My mother was also a truly great human being, a persona so deep and profound that scared followers have recast her writings as those of a man.

Everyone asks about the Messianic Secret, and why dad always told people not to spread the word of his good works and his healings. Think about it; my father was cast as Messiach before he was born, the royal family of Middle Earth awaiting the mystery and intrigue like the rising sun. So yes, it is a true story, it happened many times, but it didn't really matter, nobody could resist coming out to see dad. Crowds welcomed us wherever we went in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. New territories were added to Our Kingdom by Nero, and my mother and father were loved and respected by royalty and commoner alike. There was an element of genius in the double-headed coin my parents released, Of King Aristobulus / Queen Salome, and my mom claims the whole thing was my dad's idea.

Someday human beings will have access to almost everything that has been written, and they will overstand how much my dad, the one you call Jesus Christ, was a believer in the equality and dignity of women and children. My grandmother had five husbands in her life (my own mother was married three times), and even though these were all royal men, they did not always treat her with the love and respect she so sorely needed. She clung to my father, her Golden Son, and even though she battled him over philosophical and safety issues sometimes, there was not a soul that she loved so dearly nor felt so close to. Aristobulus and Salome were the premier couple of their time, and my parents felt that the involvement of women in religious, social and political matters made for a healthy and educated populace.

My dad said that someday "all things will be revealed" and even though I am telling it here as best as I can, some of these things have to await the end of times and the opening of the books and the contemplation and the Judgment. May you all live in Peace, spread goodwill among your Sistren and Brethren, and carry Goodness and Faith to the edges of the Empire and through all the lands of the world.

Blogosphere Definitions; Blogger, Blotter, Clogger, Clotter

I originally posted this a couple of years ago but as there are now about 70 spammy comments on there (many now deleted), I have decided to repost the meat of these definitions here...they just came to me one day a few years back.

Blogger - One who posts once or twice daily or more, this probably describes most of you ultra-hyper cybersouls who make up the bulk of the incestuous blogworld ... at least in the first few months of your blog.

Blotter - If you post once or twice per week, you are almost a blogger, but perhaps your reticence categorizes you as something of a blot on the landscape, to puritans anyway ... still, Blots can be useful and even kewl if the posts revitalize and move us forward ...

Clogger - For many of my blogs (mostly clean energy investing info) I am happy to be a Clog, and if you see me posting once or twice a month, be happy, I never intended to be much more than a Clog in the machine ...

Clotter - bloodclo ... , if U can only post once or twice per year, you are truly a Clot needing to be broken open ... oh alright, if you upload something meaty (proteiny???) or crucial, then you can be an integral clot in the biosphere, but U R still a Clot ... blood

The Original Joe College Punk and Politics Blog

House of Aristobulus; A Plea for Unity and Strength

Some may say that the enmity between myself and Father Simon from the days of the war will limit our ability to work together for the good of our communities in Galilee and Palestine and in Rome and throughout the Roman Empire. My Uncle James and brother Justus were able to provide many bridges between us, and many now believe that Father Simon Gamaliel is the rock upon which Our Church in Rome is built. Paul solidified the communities in Egypt, Greece and Persia, but Pater Simon was the glue between Jerusalem and Rome.

My father made Simon a fisher of men, and only Timothy, James, Paul and my mother rival him as a most crucial disciple. Pater Simon Gamaliel was a direct descendant of King David, and was a Nasi who went on to lead the post-Jerusalem Way community and published memoirs that have influenced many Gospel writings over the past fifteen years.

We Offer Peace to ALL THE WORLD

With tribute to the wisdom of Solomon and the knowledge of Ashoka, I declare that Rome, its citizens and its army offer peace and goodwill to all nations, and I would like it known that our roads and communities shall be open to all peace-loving people of all cultures, from all the shores of the Middle Earth Sea and beyond.

I am at an advanced stage in this life, and have been fortunate to have lived through one of the most tumultuous eras in recorded history. I lost many relatives in the Judaean war, and give thanks to Our Lord Above when I think of the times when my own life was spared...

On a personal note, though I overstand the need for Our Church to raise funds to help the poor and maintain places of worship, some of the rumours of pagan conversions for mercenary reasons are disconcerting, and it is crucial that the family of Believers be genuine and solid to the core. We can grow the community honestly, and may God give Us the strength to do so with integrity and justice in Our hearts.

Peace 2 All!

A Proposal for Peace Among the Family

From Uncle Claudius to my brother Timotheus to his son Trajanus, the line of Philip Jahn remains a powerful force in civil administration and I do hear all the talk about my worthiest successors. I have no problem with Trajan, as my brother Justus is busy helping with the rebuilding of Judea, to his credit, and my sons are still learning from travel, and not anywhere near ready for this level of leadership, though I hope and pray that there will be such a Day.

The pool of talent and Middle Earth (really from Briton in the west to Persia in the east, Germany in the north and Arabia / Ethiopia in the south) familial connections will best be served by unity and harmony among our two leading families. May the beneficence of my reign be emulated and extended through the decades ahead, and may Our Family stay righteous and strong and not be corrupted by the corrosive forces loitering near the courts. As of Saturday, September 12th, I declare that Trajanus is my equal in wisdom and vision, and from this day on he will be viewed as Co-Emperor and addressed in the same manner as myself, that is, as my adoptive son Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus; prepare the way for the Lord, the Light and a beacon to all humanity in the sight of Jah Above.

On Convincing Vespasian of His Kingship

At a time when Israel and Judea were in turmoil and Rome felt threatened from several angles, I was falsely imprisoned for being treasonous to the Empire. Though it was true that in my youth I led many a brigade in defense of Galilee, this was widely known and never held against me during the peace talks. To be accused of being a double agent was shocking to me, so I appealed directly to Vespasian's sense of self-worth and destiny.

I was brought before Vespasian, his son Titus (my 2nd cousin from my dad's side), and two friends of Titus. My only hope for survival meant looking beyond Nero's deepening travesty in Rome. I waxed as eloquently as I could:

Uncle Vespasian, you have the House of Aristobulus in your captivity but how long can Nero fiddle? You and your son here are each destined to lead the Empire, to restore Her Glory and bring peace and prosperity to many a nation. If the Descendants of Mariamme Unite, nobody can stop us. I have already prepared a route to Egypt for you, and from there you will arrive in Rome as a Champion.

A friend of Titus who was mental muscle (the other was brawn...) asked why I had not been able to predict the fall of Jotapata and my own imprisonment, and I quickly countered that I had indeed prophesied both of these events. Vespasian knew me from birth, and waved off the thug.

He leaned in close to my ear, and almost whispered: "What happens when I get to Egypt"

Dad's Early Days; Mom and Jahn (by Josephus)

My father is Jeshuah Mathias, the first and the thirteenth, and though he is celebrated far and wide, his life was not a bed of roses and little is written of the years between his Bar Mitzvah and his ascendancy.

In dad's early teens, my grandfather Herod Polli Joseph divorced my grandmother to marry Princess Berniece, and this came as a big surprise to my father. In his mid-teen years, Mariamne was living in Rome with James and Ruth (Tamara stayed on with Jesh in Galilee), and the separation from his mother and younger siblings was excruciatingly painful for my dad.

He responded with a certain amount of rebelliousness, and his followers were legion in the Temple and on the streets, everywhere truth be sought my father's name was on people's lips. He was said to be the greatest Aristobulus of all time, and by many in The Way, even the Mesiach...


Pilate was in his final Jeru years in those days, and my dad and his sisters and brothers were around to keep things clean. On at least three occasions they had many people ready to lay down on the streets. One time they actually carried through with it, when Pilate was complicit in a ridiculous Roman blasphemy, and all of Jerusalem's major roadways were blocked by twelve thousand peaceful protesters.

Even before he left for the University of Alexandria, hopes and expectations of some in Galilee and Jerusalem were hugely unreachable. People were believing Aristobulus would unite all Judaic faithful and overthrow the Roman occupiers, but even at a young age my father was promoting Inity among all humanikind, not just among Jews and Romans.

Some Orthodox elements questioned his pedigree, while others celebrated it. Radicals challenged his passion, and conservatives thought him hot headed and self-righteous. His family was concerned about some of the blokes he was hanging with, and when people gathered to hear him teach, spies and Romans were never far away.

As his own arranged marriage to Princess Drusilla was never intended (by those in power, anyway) to be anything other than a preparation for later life, its rapid dissolution wouldn't have been so bothersome except for the fact that he was also despondent over my mom's first marriage, to the Baptist. The fateful hand of Rome and Jah would bring that to its course, but there was a time of agony and separation on both sides of the divide.

Take this social situation and internal pressure and dash in the highest of expectations for his own life, and you can see how my dad was truly purified by fire.

My Mother was a modern ShlomZion, by Josephus

Even before my parents were married, everyone knew that my mom deserved to be with dad and that he was the only Prince worthy of the Scarlet Princess. Though my father was grafted onto the line of Aristobulus through his adoption by Herod of Chalcis, my mother is a daughter of Herodias whose own father was indeed Aristobulus, son of Herod.

It is rightful that my grandmother will always be known as Sacred Mary, Mother of Our Lord, yet it is a true thing that my own mother's powerful greatness and abundance of writings are being separated into elements of Mary and the writings of Johan. Our parents were ahead of their time...

May Peace be with You All

Michael Jackson Tributes, Photos, Links

Michael Jackson tribute by Joe College


Slide show of Michael Jackson photographs on Huffingtonpost.com


Los Angeles Times confirmation of the death of Michael Jackson


wikipedia greatest selling music artists of all time; Beatles, Elvis, Bing Crosby & Michael Jackson


Full list of awards won by singer Michael Jackson incl. 13 Grammys


official website of king of pop michael jackson

A Roman Dream, A Personal Lament

For the Roman Empire I hope for a future of peace, prosperity and joyfulness in the lands. May the man most suitable to lead the people rise through his abilities to do so. May we follow the desires of our parents and not revert to greedy leadership that considers only the benefits for themselves and their relatives.

For my family and those of faith I hope that this rift between the Believers can be repaired and that the followers of Jeshua will stand side by side with the children of Moses and Allah to build a better world for all humanikind.

Regarding My Brother, Justus of Tiberias

Don't you be acting so innocent, it's not like we didn't leave you lots of clues. Why do you think we argued over the royal jewels in Tiberias, during a time of great peril, and who else would have the foresight and wisdom to challenge my view of things? The only quibble I have with my brother is that I rarely saw him in the decade before his book came out, and most of the places where he contradicts my work are really in the eye of the beholder. While it's true that mom and I went more fully over to the Roman side than he did, the fanatics who killed our father were also destroying Jerusalem and the nation. Besides, our mediation, and negotiation of several key peace treaties, saved tens of thousands of lives and much livestock, acreage and orchards. Where the Romans found greatest resistance, they laid land to waste...

In the beginning my brother and I were as close as could be, far closer to each other than to Tim. Justus looked up to me, and I always found him to be brilliant and funny, and a joy to be around. I remember the first time I took him to Briton, that summer was great fun and fishing was splendid. Between family trips and individual excursions with dad, mom, myself, brother Tim and uncles Paul and James, Justus had seen much of the Empire before turning fifteen.

The fact that he shared my father's burden of being the designated Messiach was not something to be taken lightly, and I knew in the grander scheme of things that as the Joseph, I would be his tutor. Some may now believe that the pupil can give the master a lesson, and from a Judaic perspective my brother has been a pure beacon, respected by the Way, the Essenes, the Mandeans, the Saabans and most loved indeed by the Armenians and the Greeks, who also loved our dad so dearly. I am honoured that Justus worked hard to maintain a permanent Hebrew scripture school in Tiberias, in the first house he bought there, and the second has become a meeting place for The Way.

There was a time when people claimed that my father Aristobulus and my mother salome would never attain power, but he became the true King of the Jews, as Agrippa was always a Roman puppet, and he and my mom were honoured for their peacemaking in many, many lands, Justus and I are fortunate to carry forth these traditions, and re govern Rome and Armenia with pureness of heart and gldness of soul.

Early Days in Galilee; Josephus recalls his childhood

There was always a lot of fanfare around my older brother Herod Timothy because of his adoption by Agrippa the Younger, but my brother and I had our share of opportunity and blessings.

My first given name was Agrippa Josephus Aristobulus (often called Yuya by my folks); my little brother Jeshua Justus Aristobulus was the third son born to Ari and Salome, at least by the official story. The inner core let people believe that the first son was from Philip Jahn...few knew the full story.

It was customary for royal women of this era to have their first child out of wedlock or with an arranged husband, as this was one way to ensure a multiplicity of regal, in this case Herodian / Maccabean, bloodlines. Regardless, I was there; Herod Timothy was raised as if he were Ari’s own son, and he was my true brother unto his untimely death.

My dad had been adopted at a relatively young age, and he was a toddler when his mother married Prince Joseph Polli (later King Herod of Chalcis), so he knew how important family would be to Tim’s life and career. When my brother Timothy was appointed Crown Prince at nine years old by being officially adopted by Prince Agrippa, he still lived wth Us and was generally treated no differently than Justus and myself.

To all observers and to themselves, Ari and Salome had three sons, and together with our sisters we were a tight family for over two decades. My aunt Berenice often took Tim to Jerusalem, and sometimes myself or Justus got to go, with her or with mom and dad.

If you have read otherwise just disregard the nonsense for Tim was my brother and one of the most devout disciples of the Way, and carried on his father's teachings in a most respectable and straightforward manner. As much as anyone, Timothy’s allegiance was always to our dad Aristobulus, and later, to brothers James and Paul and the community that followed Jeshua's creed of healing, sharing, peace, freedom and equality.

Growing Up with Jeshua and Salome; My Parents from Heaven

I know it is the fashion to be modest in one's writing, and I have attempted to do so with all my historical tomes, but at this late stage of my time on earth I will attempt to be as honest as is possible. My father Jeshua Mathias and my mom Salome Mariam were as well regarded as any royal couple in all of Middle Earth, and even in Gaul and Briton Our family is revered, beyond even what is known in Rome and Athens.

My dad learned Greek and Egyptian medicine and studied Eastern mysticism, and He knew the healing remedies from many lands, from Ethiopia to Egypt to Kushan and India, from Gaul and Germany to Spain and Rome, from the Brook of Kanah to the banks of the Ganjah River. He was more than a teacher; he was like a spirit doctor, a truly magical rejuvenator of life, and his incredible restorative powers work unto this day, as I try with the power of all my ancestors to muster up some of his massive generosity of spirit as I write out the scroll you are reading in your hands.

When my parents married they each thanked Our foreparents and Jah Above, and my father stated they both felt blessed beyond belief, and that "God is ever gracious", and that he and my mom "know and feel that they are meant to represent unity for millennia; Our love is just that strong." It was said and written that people were crying with joy, and the hills and the valleys lit up with much fanfare and celebration.

When I went through some difficult days as a young man, I remembered my father in Galilee and Chalcis. At the time my dad Ari had been feeling a lot of anger, at being away from his mom (my Grandma Mariamne who went to Rome after the divorce), and at the way people were treating one another. He was often displeased with his own father’s (my Grampa Herod of Challcis) unresponsiveness, a perceived reluctance to intervene in situations where the younger, bolder Ari Jesh thought my granddad could make a difference. His schooling and early business dealings in Alexandria and Athens had mellowed and matured him, and it was during those years that he had his last major problems with authority; this was long past his sometimes exaggerated battles with Pilate as a teen. Most of the accusers from his youth would later bow down before him, and he held no grudge or grievance against those who knew not the errors of their ways.

Among the Greeks my father is considered a magoi, a mejooseean, what the Persians term a moghan, and the Brits call a magician, but a dearly beloved magoi he is to them. Some in Athens even refer to him as Jah Zeus Chrystos, the Great God Anointed, even Alexander returned; Horus of Egypt, Hercules of Greece!

My mother wrote much of her work under the name of Johann, the title givem to Phillip II, her first husband and the natural father of my older brother Timothy Herod. She is considered a paragon of the faithful, Mariam of the Tower, the Scarlet thread by which my life has been a spiritual well of fortune, and her and my dad had many inspiring years together.


I believe I have chosen my parents well...

Essential Mantra of The Way, A 1st Century Prayer from The Children of Light

The Perfection of the Way was influenced deeply by the rigorous yet peaceful Essenes, whose full members recited this oath after 3 years as an Initiate:

I shall love God and be just to my fellow man
I will not harm another, either of my own mind
Or at the command of another’s orders
I shall forever hate the unjust and will battle for the just
I will share my faith with all men, regardless of rank or origin
I shall accept responsibility proudly, never abusing the benefits of privilege
I will dress humbly, always loving truth, and exposing liars

If I May Leave A Legacy; My Life and Rome's Progress

The past century has been a tumultous time for Romans, yet if we do not understand how we got in such a mess, we will have little opportunity to build upon the progress of recent years. I envision a succession of quality Emperors who rise to their position not by virtue of the birth of their father, though some of Us have been blessed in this regard, but rather by the wisdom of their leadership and ability to handle governance.

I, your Emperor Nerva Josephes, have lived a long and fruitful life, and I have learned from the masters of this past century and our foreparents before Us; may I share some wisdom with you? I wrote out the history of my people for posterity, for a clear and positive view on the Chosen from the days of Egypt and Ethiopia, unto Babylon and Persia, Israel and Palestine, Greece and Rome. My versions were challenged publicly two decades later by my brother, who had more orthodox leanings than myself and had a clear axe to grind. I love Jeshua Justus Junior as much as anyone, but my brother can be emotional and anybody who feels it knows it.

Though my mother was among the earliest and strongest of the faithful, her teachings are already being obscured and women are not fully being credited for their contributions to the emerging Christian canon. In the coming pages I will take you back to Our upbringing in Galilee, schooling in Rome, Athens and Alexandria, and best of all, Our family trips to Briton! Further along, I will shed some light upon the origins of some of my father's teachings, re-describe some of the events I wrote about in Antiquities in a more personal way, and discuss the fall of Jerusalem and how Our family saved many thousands of lives with peace treaties, even though we were unable to save JeruSalem Herself.

I will write about the madness of growing up in Nero's era (I still love the fool but it's sad that he was corrupted by power before being able to grow into the man he could have become...), being favoured by Vespatian (the good uncle...) and then persecuted by Domitian (the difficult uncle). It may not be polite in Roman social circles to discuss our failures openly but we know everyone does it privately, so let's air it out and make Rome and the Empire into a truly just society, worthy of our noblest efforts and a joy for all her citizens. you may feel this is utopian, but even four hundred years ago Ashoka proved in India and Kushan that a powerful country could have a non-aggressive stance and enjoy prosperity through productivity and trade. The medicinal gardens and watering stations along public roadways did much to endear Ashoka to his own people and to international travellers.

Finally, this business of halakah, The Way, The Life. Many are embracing the newer version of The Way that has merged with many other people's and faiths (Mandeans, Theraputae, Essenes) to become what are now called Christians. Even among the hardcore orthodox brethren, many are accepting the victory of The Way over the Temple worship and other formalities of Palestinian Judaism, as the emerging Rabbinical traditions have grown out of Pharisaic perception while obliterating both Pharisee and Sadducee residue; the Chosen of the Torah are also reborn, and the emerging Talmud is explicit proof of that. I always felt good about helping bury those scrolls, as things had grown bitter and even as a teenager I knew it was time to find God and good in the world we live in.