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!

Sabbath Wrap-Up

Folks back home may think it is strange to be talking about the end of Sabbath, since many will read this even before your Sabbath begins.  Remember that we are observing Jewish Sabbath, which has now ended on Saturday evening. That means tomorrow's breakfast will include hot food.  Yay!

We truly had an awesome day.  The weather was a bit rainy and cool in the morning, but not nearly as bad as Friday.  Our first stop was in Bethlehem, where we visited the Church of the Nativity and St. Catherine's Church (same site).  At this location we experienced the birthplace of Jesus.  That is to say, we entered the cave (stable) where he was born.  Exactly what spot, who knows.  The main thing is that we understand the setting of his birth--and Mary's delivery.  They were truly humble beginnings for a truly humble man.  Thanks be to God for bending low to enter our world.

On the way back to the bus we passed the world famous Stars and Bucks coffee shop.  (No, I'm not kidding.)  After a trip to the Shepherd's Field we had lunch in Bethlehem and then departed for a short trip across the Judean wilderness on our way to Qumran.  We heard the account of the community of people who lived there, those who removed themselves from daily life in the traditional communities of Judaism in order to apply themselves wholly to purity and faithfulness to God.  What they left were incredibly accurate manuscripts of much of the Old Testament that are considered a valuable treasure to biblical archaeologists.  God used these people, whose names will forever be unknown to us, to preserve these scrolls in order to confirm the truth that we find in our bibles.

Leaving there we made our way to Jericho, where we saw the sycamore tree (you remember Zachaeus), and the ancient Tel Jericho.  Before leaving we stopped for fresh fruit and other treats at a local shop.  We were also blessed to see a young boy herding goats, and also a group of wild camels!  (Someone tell me what you call a group of camels.)  Everyone was impressed with the experience of going from Jerusalem to Jericho, to see the wilderness region between the two cities, and to witness the beautiful sites of the Dead Sea, and across into the country of Jordan, the mountains of Moab, and even south toward the region known as Edom (the visibility was really good today).

Tomorrow we will experience the descent into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which will include a pass through Gethsemane, Bethany, and other sites around Jerusalem.

Pictures are uploading to the web very (painfully) slowly, so most of my pictures right now will be shared from my phone during the day.  The better pictures will be coming home with us.  Ana, tell Gabe we are still looking for a train.  Granny says that a camel is as close as we've come so far :-)

Shalom

Nativity

Harry and Helen standing by the birthplace of Jesus. They now know what the stable and manger looked like.

The Olive Tree

Helen standing by a 1,000 year old olive tree that stands in our hotel.

Friday Wrap-Up

As far as the weather goes, there have been better days for experiencing things outdoors.  After walking (or were we swimming?) to the first site, one woman remarked, "All I can say is 'quack!'"  Wet as we were, there were special moments.  Four couples renewed their wedding vows in the church at Cana.  Elizabeth suggested that I go ahead and do mine, even though mom wasn't with me.  I thought there might be advantages to that, but refrained from participating since my best half wasn't with me.

In Nazareth we visited the Church of the Annunciation, commemorating the angel's coming to Mary and announcing the birth of Jesus.  The stained glass and architecture of this church were amazing.  Photos will not do it justice; it is a must see for visitors.  On the way out of town we went up to the Mount of Precipice, where we got one of the best views imaginable of northern Israel.  One could practically see from one side of the country to the other, which was impressive even for a country as small as Israel.

Our lunch was at Megiddo, the ancient mound of civilization that once stood strategically in King Solomon's kingdom and helped him exert control over the trade routes of the nations (see 1 Kings 9:15).  The valley next to the tel, the Valley of Jezreel, is representative of the final battle of the world mentioned in Revelation 16:16.

Our last stop of the day was the once-mighty seaport of King Herod called Caesarea.  Built under Herod the Great and named for the Roman emperor, the remains of the palace and manmade seaport are still visible, and the amphitheater is partially reconstructed.  The glory of the city must have been immense.  Consider this: while Herod built this for himself to draw trade into the region, God used this to enable the message of Christ to go forth from the world.  It was from this very seaport that Paul departed on some of his journeys to spread the gospel message.  God is so awesome!

Elizabeth got her first experience with a street vendor in Caesarea.  He was selling scarfs out of the trunk of his car (and postcards, etc.).  Just wait until we get into the old city of Jerusalem!

We arrived in Jerusalem just before the beginning of Sabbath, got settled into very comfortable hotel rooms, and received a delicious meal with out-of-this-world desserts.  (Rene, our room is facing the mosque!)  Tomorrow we start the day in Bethlehem, then make our way east to Jericho and Qumran.  It will be a great day.

Thanks for staying with us on the journey.

Jerusalem

The time has come. It is now time for our arrival in the Holy City (and no, WV United Methodists, I'm not talking about Buckhannon). Using the language of the Bible, we are "going up" to Jerusalem. And what better time to arrive than when the Sabbath is beginning?

The rain still comes, and the visibility is minimal. Even so there is a special feeling of excitement coming here. So much has happened here, and the city continues to be a center of interest for people of all nations. For a brief time we are allowed the privilege of standing on this holy ground. As you pray for us, ask the Lord to become known to us in a new way through the people and land of this place.

Shalom!

Cold and Wet

These are the best words to describe the weather today...and my feet at the moment. On a brighter note we have seen some interesting things already. The first stop was in Cana, then it was on to Nazareth where we saw the Church of Joseph and the Church of the Annunciation. The latter was unbelievably beautiful! We stopped at a high point outside if town from where we could see Mt. Tabor, Mt. Gilboa, the Valley of Jezreel, Mt. Carmel, the rift valley, and more surrounding land. Lunch was at Megiddo, where we learned of the excavation of the ancient tel.

Elizabeth has now eaten falafel--and liked it! She's doing so well with new foods. Mom will be proud.

We are on our way to Caesarea, and the sun is coming out. Thanks God for small, warm, bright blessings.

Thursday Wrap-up

I feel like this has been a 36-hour day.  We started early and packed plenty of learning into our time before returning to the hotel at 5:00.  Dinner provided plenty of tasty helpings of meats and fish, salads, vegetables, and desserts.  Now I just need to prowl the hotel in search of a strong cup of coffee to end the day.

We began our tour with a brief stop in the Valley of the Wind.  The mountain and rock formations are majestic.  They illustrate the geological upheaval that has happened long in the past, upheaval that created the Syrian-African rift in the earth.  From there we stopped at kibbutz where an ancient fishing boat from the time of Jesus is on display.

A stop at the Mount of Beatitudes got our attention on Jesus’ ministry and teaching.  We stood on the mountainside overlooking the northern part of the Galilean Sea, thinking about the power of what Jesus taught his followers.  From there we drove by Korazin and Bethsaida, with stops at the Church of Fishes and Loaves, the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, and Capernaum, where we saw remains of an ancient synagogue and what likely was the home of Simon Peter.

Along the eastern side of the sea we stopped at Kursi, where we recalled Jesus’ ministry to the gentiles.  Then it was on to Kibbutz Ein Gev.  Harry and Helen enjoyed St. Peter’s fish (though just the fillets!), and Elizabeth and I enjoyed pizzas.  Dessert consisted of fantastic strawberry frozen yogurt and a boat ride on the sea.

Our last stop was at the baptismal site on the Jordan River.  Several of our group decided to reaffirm their baptism by sprinkling, by pouring…and by immersion.  Brrrr!  Elizabeth and I enjoyed the dry banks of the river.  Harry was a brave and faithful soul, and received an affirmation with water poured on his head.

Tomorrow is another early day.  We leave the hotel at 7:30 to visit Cana, Nazareth, Megiddo and Caesarea.  By dinner time we will be in Jerusalem and checking in to the Olive Tree Hotel.  We appreciate your prayers.  Shalom!

Baptismal Text

We went to the Jordan River baptismal site today. As with many locations here, the associated Bible text is displayed in the various languages of the world. We really enjoyed this translation of Marks's account, and I hope you will also. Maybe I can get a copy to use in worship back home!

Harry reaffirmed his baptism by the river today. Time will tell whether or not it helped. (Just kidding, Harry.) the day dried out and we saw some sunshine. Right now we are spiritually well-fed, and still a bit full from our lunch at the kibbutz in Ein Gev. Incidentally, my group now knows what St. Peter's fish looks like on a plate.

I should be able to post some pics tonight. If anyone is reading, please leave a post (Ana, I know you're there--thanks.). We want to know how all of our family and friends are doing back home. Love you all!

Meow

Of course Elizabeth can't pass a cat without petting it!

Got Milk?

Smiles

Every day is good with strong coffee and hot chocolate.

Rest is Here

The day seems to be near an end.  The bus trip to the hotel was longer than expected: three hours.  Rain, darkness and heavy traffic all contributed.  We arrived at the hotel just in time for our 6:30 evening meal.  Through all of the “minor confusions” that took place, we had a good meal to revive our tummies and our spirits.

Elizabeth gives her regards to all her faithful blog followers,

Safe Arrival

We arrived safely in Tel Aviv. Gusty winds and thunderstorms were a part of the welcome party. The tour host says it is their first winter storm, and the rain is a much-needed blessing. To say that we are tired would be an understatement, but no complaints. We are safe and already learning about the land, climate, economy and connecting places to biblical events as we make our way to Tiberias. Tomorrow holds an early start for us as we plan to visit sites around, and on, the Sea of Galilee. More later!

On the 747

She's ready for a long night of flight. In about 10 hours we will arrive in Tel Aviv, then make our way to Tiberius.

Happy Travelers!

A Foggy Morning...

...seems to have caused the airline industry to get a slow start today.  Flights delayed coming into Charleston equal flights delayed leaving Charleston...and connecting to other flights to other destinations. The question of the day: will our group make their duly appointed departure from JFK tonight?  Stay tuned to learn the fate of our brave world travelers!

The morning has started well.  Elizabeth FINALLY got access to her online classes at M.U.  We enjoyed a biscuit and coffee before going through security, and now wait patiently for our airplane to arrive.  Helen is on top of things, as she's done her homework on each of the locations we will visit.  We even discussed possible souvenirs on the ride this morning.  So much awaits us, and I really appreciate the opportunity to go, especially with my daughter and people from the congregation I serve.  Thanks in advance for following our trip.  Pray for our safe travel, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Peace and joy in Christ!

Anticipating the second time

In only a few short days I will leave on a journey to visit the Holy Land...again. There is excitement in the anticipation, yet a bit different than the first time. On the first trip I traveled with my bishop and a large group of clergy colleagues and their spouses. This time I am the tour host leading a couple from my congregation. The first time I traveled with my beautiful wife; this time she stays at home. The last time we traveled without our children. My oldest daughter joins me for this trip. (Other children will get their turn in years to come.)

My first visit to Israel came with no preconceived notions of what the experience would be like, other than the expectation that it would be overwhelming. That certainly was fulfilled.

The New Shekel

Shekels.  I brought back a few that were given to me on my last trip to Israel.  They were nothing more than an interesting souvenir at the time.  My wife and I did not do any monetary exchange before entering Israel, and it proved not to be a hindrance at all.  Now as I prepare for a return to Israel, I find myself desiring to take a substantial amount of native currency.  Since it is not a requirement, one might wonder why this is so.

There may be a couple of things motivating me to do this.