Home again

I've been home for 48 hours now, and I just have time and energy to finish this particular blog.  My feet hit the ground running when I arrived home, and that's okay.  Having the time away was refreshing, and I appreciate those who worked faithfully in my absence so that the ministry of Christ was accomplished.

The trip home was pretty exhausting.  In short there was two hours of getting through security at the airport in Israel, a one hour delay in departure after boarding the plane, the normal hassle of getting through passport control and customs upon reentering the U.S., followed by a cab ride from JFK to LaGuardia to catch a flight to Atlanta.  And just as one more little hitch, we were delayed in our flight back to Charleston because the flight attendant AND the first officer hurt themselves on equipment during preflight work.  All in all we arrived in Charleston only three hours later than originally scheduled.

Looking back on my second trip to the Holy Land, I consider the question that some might raise: why go?  To me that answer depends on what a person hopes to accomplish.  It is certainly a fun and fascinating trip, and I would guess it would make the list of places to see for world travelers.  Some may go in hopes of having holy encounters by visiting the ancient sites.  For me, though, it has to do with something other than entertainment or emotional experience.  Maybe the best way to put it is to say that it puts "flesh" on the stories that I read in the Bible.  A friend of mine put it like this: visiting the Holy Land now allows me to read the Bible in color.  

I love to have a better understanding and feel for the biblical stories.  I appreciate knowing what it looked like to walk from Jerusalem to Jericho.  I value the experience of feeling wind and waves on the Sea of Galilee.  I cherish putting myself in the place of Jesus, to vividly imagine what he must have seen when he looked out at the disciples on the boat and saw them struggling against the wind.  The land tells a story that cannot be told any other way.  The people and culture remind us of how enduring religious values can be.  The mountain precipices are places where God still takes us so we can see from God's viewpoint.  Books and pictures come up short.  There is no substitute for being there.

So many people say, "I would love to go!"  To those people I say, "go!"  There will always be 101 reasons not to go.  The land and the people invite you.  God will touch you and speak to you.  As for me, I will be going again, at least two more times in the coming years.  Perhaps you will join me on the next trip.  Until then, let me tell you the stories!

Shalom,

Pastor Dave

From 30,000 feet

Internet in the air is so cool! We finally for rerouted. They took us by ground to LaGuardia airport, where we got new flights to Atlanta and then to Charleston. We will be in there about 4:30. What a day! Right now we have been traveling almost 20 hours, not including the three hours last night at Ben Gurion airport. Oh well, the joys of travel. It is good to be back in the USA!

Back I'm the USA

Well, we are back on U.S. soil. Our plane was an hour late leaving Tel Aviv, so we missed our first connection. Right now we are waiting for new flight info. At least we can be pretty sure that, by the end of the day, we will be home!

Peace from New York

The Last Supper

> We just ate it! It was our last meal together as a group. Now it is just a short wait to get on the bus and head for the airport. Our flight is due in shortly before 6:00 in the morning, and we should be in Charleston early afternoon. Thanks for your prayers. We will be anxious to see our loved ones and friends, and to tell you all about the trip!
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> Shalom

Time in the City

My apologies for not posting Monday night.  I got busy on a project and did not take time for anything else.  I am happy to report that all the group made it in and out...and through...the old city of Jerusalem.  We spent the majority of our day there.  In doing so we walked the Via Dolorosa, got to see the ancient water system and an old Roman prison.  In the depths of the prison we read Psalm 88, which was very somber and moving.  We entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, saw King David's memorial tomb, and ended the day outside the city at the Garden Tomb.  I have a film of Helen coming out of the tomb.  She said that no one was in there!

Today the group went to the southern region of the Dead Sea.  There they visited Masada, a beautiful location that marks a powerful part of the history of the Jewish people.  They also got to go in the Dead Sea and stop at the oasis of En Gedhi.  Harry got in the water, though not all the way (he forgot to take his shirt off!).

Elizabeth and I took a day apart from the group to spend together in the old city.  We started early this morning, entering the city through the Damascus Gate.  We walked around for a while as the local merchants began to open their shops.  After stopping for a cup of Arabic coffee (me, not Elizabeth), we went out through the Jaffa Gate and "walked the ramparts" of the city from there to the Dung Gate.  Walking the ramparts is walking along the top of the city wall, which in early times was their major line of defense.  It provided us some nice views of the surrounding city.

From there we came back into the city in the Jewish Quarter and stopped at a local shop for a late breakfast of pizza and Coke.  We then went back through the city to the Armenian Quarter.  Again at the Jaffa gate we encountered a young woman who appeared to be alone and looking for a place to stay.  We asked if we could help her.  She indicated that her arranged lodging had not come through, and that she was looking for a hostel in the Jewish Quarter.  We offered to help carry her luggage and go with her to find the hostel.  (The suitcase was heavy, but at least it was on wheels, which helped every places except where there are steps.)  It took quite a while to actually find someone who knew where the hostel was located, but God was good and crossed our path with a women who personally knew the woman who runs the hostel.  Eventually we found it and felt better that our new friend would have loding for the night.

Back on the exploration track, we went into a few shops and found some items to purchase (don't worry dear, nothing big).  We then found a place that made great falafels, and got them for a very reasonable price.  After lunch I just had to follow up with dessert of a cream filled pastry.  With tummies full we wandered around a little more, then headed back out through the Damascus Gate.  By this time everything was in full bustle, and I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth's eyes as she took in the atmosphere of the crowded streets and gates of old Jerusalem.

Wednesday is our last day.  We will see the birthplace of John the Baptist and take in the Holocaust Museum.  After that we will have some free time before heading to the airport around 8:00 local time.  Thanks to all of you who have been reading along.  I do appreciate it.  Thanks also to those who have been faithfully taking care of business back home.  The trip has been wonderful.  I know that Elizabeth, Harry and Helen have had a good experience.  We will be glad to be home and be with friends and family again.

Shalom,
Dave

Palm Sunday Journey

The theme for our day was Palm Sunday, the journey of Jesus into Jerusalem.  We started on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives to see some seldom-visited tombs in the ground, the way it actually would have looked with the stone in front of it.  God added an extra blessing of clear, sunny skies.  We could actually see the Dead Sea standing on the Mount of Olives, as well as the Moab Mountains (in Jordan). 

We made our way down the steep decline that Jesus traveled as he did on Palm Sunday.  Along the way we stopped for singing, praying and worship at the Church of Dominus Flevit and at the bottom in the Garden of Gethsemane.  It was a very holy time.  Harry, Helen, Elizabeth and I took time to pray for Helene in the garden.

After lunch we visited the museum that maintains the 1/50 scale of old Jerusalem.  It was an amazing site and great learning tool, as we got to see an excellent perspective on how Jerusalem looked in the days of Jesus.  It really occured to me later as we were inside the city walls just how much the city has changed.  That would stand to reason, though, for a city that has been in existence for several thousand years.

Toward the end of the day we visited the Western Wall.  Again, a holy moment to lift prayers from a very special site, where God's faithful have been praying continuously for many years. 

I tried to call Cross Roads this morning at about 8:10, thinking I might catch someone standing in the hallway.  Everyone must have been in the sanctuary already.  Part of my mind was there all through the worship times.  I do hope that all went well, and am confident that it did with so much capable leadership in place. 

Tomorrow we will be almost exclusively in the old city of Jerusalem, and consequently on our feet most of the time.  Harry and Helen have been pushing hard to make it through, still being wise to rest when they needed a break.  I want them to have a good experience tomorrow, as we will visit some special places, including (as a surprise from our tour guide) a walk on the temple mount and to the Holy of Holies.  That is a rare treat.  Pray for us, as we continue to pray for you with thanksgiving.

Shalom!

Overlooking Jerusalem

Harry and Helen on the Mount of Olives, with Jerusalem in the background. This day is starting beautifully!