Snow and Cold; Something to love

Snow and Cold; Something to love
Now that I’m back in Michigan and don’t have any cool travel log, I can use my blog to express things I wouldn’t normally get a chance say. So this is about a little pet peeve of mine about people of Michigan who whine about snow and below freezing temps. Hello, we live in the Winter Wonderland, snow is part of what happens here. Learn to embrace it, enjoy it and celebrate it. I thought I was the only one who secretly felt this way but there was an interesting article on MLive. Com http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2008/12/its_winter_it_snows_deal_with.html
Anyway, its time for me to have some hot chocolate and then I’m shoveling the driveway and maybe get into a snowball fight. Wait its raining outside.  That’s something for a future post.

We are not at the Dead Sea anymore!!!

Yesterday's snowfall is quite the extreme from the Dead Sea. Let's see 4 days ago I was swimming in the Sea and sweating on my hike in En Gedi. The snow fall is beautiful (keep saying that) and the good news is that it only gets better from here until summer. The winter soltace is here so more and more sunlight is on the way.:)

Tired and Home at last

Monday was a long day of travel. We started with our last breakfast at the hotel in Tel Aviv, customs and security at Ben Gurion airport and a long flight to Newark. I'm thankful to get some work done along the way (emails, planning of some messages, etc) and I watched Escape from Alcatraz (Clint Eastwood) and Get Smart. The Newark connection to Detroit was behind in schedule so we did not get in until 12:30 AM. But my faithful chauffeurs, Bob & Mary Jo were there to pick me up and get me home at about 3:30 AM. I doubt I was a very good conversationalist, but they graciously drove over to deliver me. Thanks! so much!!! My plan is to acclimate to Grand Rapids time zone, but I think the more difficult will be the weather. Sunday I was swimming in the Dead Sea and sweating by climbing up to the En Gedi pools. Today I will probably get to shovel snow. Where is my snowsuit??? This morning I had sausage and eggs for breakfast, I haven't had pork in quite a while - it just kind of hit me as to why. Shalom!

I'm putting up this video, maybe it will work from home. I had originally thought it would work as a greeting from Israel. OOps it didn't work again. Oh well.

Great to be home and see my fam, now back to church and get ready for a great Christmas. NB, we did not see many Christmas decoration or hear many Christmas carols but I'm sure I will get overload soon.

Dec 13 Dead Sea & En Gedi

Today was a day of Shabbat – the Israeli day of rest. Friday evenings at 6:30 are generally an evening to dress up in a little better clothes, have a nicer dinner complete with Shabbat wine and songs, then generally make merriment with friends and family. They are supposed to go to the synagogue on Sat AM, but we did not have the opportunity to viist one. One interesting thing is that we are on the 17th floor of our hotel and the Shabbat elevator goes up and down one floor at a time. We learned quickly to avoid that one.

Today a few of us went to En Gedi - the spot where David hid when he was on the run from Saul.. It is a spring ½ the distance from the Dead Sea floor up to the Judean hills. A rise of over 1800 ft. We drove to the park, hiked up to En Gedi spring and then we hiked up to the cave of Adullam.
There might be two places referred to as the cave of Adullam, because there is no way it could be the reference of 1 Sam 22. But it may have been the cave of 1 Sam 24.


We saw some rock hyrax, and some kind of little rock goats and I got pictures.

Our whole group was not with us so we did not have a devotion but it made me think of stronghold. Where we need places of refuge and hide outs from our oppressors. We also need Shabbat, times of refreshment and renewal – weekly. I hope I can continue to dedicate a time strictly to “other.”

Yesterday we went to Masada, interesting from an architectural point of view, not much happened there from a Christian perspective. The bravery of the holdouts there is astonishing and the work of Herod’s palace and the Roman siege is amazing. The Romans really, really wanted to root out the Jewish rebellion forces to expend all that energy.

Dec 10 Home Of John the Baptist & Bethlehem

Today we travelled to a section of Jerusalem believed to be the home of John the Baptist. Today there is a Cahtolic church built over the spot so its kind of hard to imagine what the setting really was like and the only "old" thing around there was a part of a mosaic about 10 feet below ground level marking the spot indicating that about 500 AD it was recognized as the site of his home. So cool idea but not the biggest deal of our trip. It is however in a cool part of the city of Jerusalem, fruit markets & a couple of coffe shops - they love their "hafooch" here, which is like cappuccino. Starbucks tried to move into Israel but moved out because they couldn't compete with the local shops.

We also went to Bethlehem. We had to go through a check point and transfer to a different bus because it is Palestinian controlled. We visited Christmas Lutheran church, a church doing a lot to help the plight of the local Palestians - lots of art and classes to enrich their lives. They served us a lunch which was very outstanding!!

After that we walked to the Manger Square where the entrance is to the oldest church in the world. That was a walk through Bethlehem, like a walk through Alladin's bazaar!! The church has an entrance that was walled in so that Arab soldiers would not ride in with their horses since they would not get off their horses. This kept the site from being desecrated. Sorry I haven't figured out the picture thing. Again with the Roman Catholic/Armenean/Orthodox churches joined at the site, it kind of loses some of its spiritual appeal but again, if they were not there, we probably wouldn't have the place.

We talked and prayed through the birth of Jesus and God's humility to be born. Will we honor him by making space in life to receive what God gives to us, will we seperate a space where heaven & earth touch. Our prayer is to lead a life of humility more of His presence and less presents

Dec 9 Tuesday

Sorry about not getting a post up yesterday, the day was jammed packed and I was toast when I got home at 11 PM and I crashed out. I got a great nights rest and needed it again for a busy day today. Let me bring you up to speed about the travels in The Land - that how Israelie's talk about Israel.

Yesterday Dec 8, We started at the Mount of Olives. First of all the whole feel of Jerusalem compared to Tiberius up on the Sea of Galilee is totally different. Jerusalem is an international hustle bustle city with lots going on, then throw in the Muslim, Christian, Orthodox Jew, secular Jew dynamic and you have the mixing for an interesting brew.
Mt. of Olives - its a spectacular view of the temple mount and you can imagine Jesus looking over Jerusalem, both the temple area and the old City of David and weeping. We then went down to Gethsamane, a very steep descent. There is a church located at Gethsamane and they have preserved a grove of olive trees dated to be over 2000 years old. Amazing! Gethsame means Olive press, and just as olives are squeezed, Jesus was crushed in the crucible of God's justice. This is obviously the point of the Gospel writers telling that Jesus sweated out drops of blood.

We proceeded to walk down to the southern wall of the temple mount, saw the Hulda Gates through which people entered the whole area. Its amazing the purpose of the steps, which are totally inconsistent and irregular and very numerous. They were made this way to make people take their time and think about their entrance into the temple. We walked futher to the Western Wall - known as the Wailing Wall, aka "the Wall." Its here that you see the pictures of people rocking and praying. Its the only part of the temple mount that was not destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. We sepent time there and then part of our team went back to the hotel and a group of us drove over to Tel Aviv to pray with disabled patients at a hospital. Some people from King of Kings organized this for us. There is interesting stories to tell here but I dont have time tonight. Finally home.


Dec 9 Tuesday -
One part of the team went to a Messianic school, my group went to walk on the ramparts of the city walls, which were reconstructed by Suliman the Magnificent, Turkish rule in 600 AD. We reflected on the importance of being a watchman and gatekeeper. The gate keeper not only kept out enemies but also watched that the gates would be open for the King and all good things. Cetainly when Scripture tells us to "keep watch" the reference to watchmen and gatekeepers were the illustration they had in mind. We read Isaiah 62 that we would welcome the King of Kings and His gifts.

We hooked up everyone and drove to Yad Vasham, the Israel Holocast Museum. We heard from a delightful 83 year old Dutch woman. She came to be the leader of the Dutch resistance movement. Just a fascinating story. We went through the museum following the hour long talk. This is always so disturbing to me. I see how government legitimized the isolation and ultimate destruction of groups of people. It was amazing how "science" encouraged and promoted methodologies of experimentation on people they deemed less than human. And, of course, the Christian ( and yes Lutheran) church was relatively silent. I cannot help but to think of abortion and its supporting arguments, I pray I will be a communicating voice of God's grace for all.

We drove back to King of Kings Assembly, went up to the 14 floor to their prayer floor and service. A pastoral team to Hebrew speakers told us of their ministry and we went to the prayer service.

Tomorrow Visit the home of John the Baptist in Ein Kerem . Drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity from approximately 1015. Visit Christmas Lutheran Church and DIYAR Consortium at 1130. Afterwards, shop at Olive Wood store. Afterward visit the pastor of First Baptist Church Bethlehem at 3:30 pm. 5 pm Worship Service.

I cut a little video that I hope to sent to St. Matthew for Sunday or maybe Wed. I love you all and miss you. I will see you next week.

Dec 7, Sunday

Just more amazement from an amazing land.
First stop was Bet She'an - After we traveled south from the Sea of Galilee we came to this awesome spot = very extensive remains of the Biblical city Beth Shean changed in the Roman era to Scythopolis. There is excellent example of the Roman era, how Rome put its stamp on its conquered areas to show its glory. Anyway check out what you can on the web about this place. Its very fascinating. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 749 AD and rediscovered this century.



Biblically its significant as the place where Saul and his son's were displayed on the city wall after their defeat in battle. Read David's lament in 2 Sam 1. "How the Mighty have fallen" If there is every a town that shouts false security - this is it!!

We proceeded to the water supply of Beth Shaan, called Gan Hosh Losha. A hot spring that produces water throughout the year at a nice warm temperature. We made an unscheduled stop to go swimming. This place in folk lore is the "entrance to the garden of Eden. It is a popular hang picnic are, but was not busy today at all.

We drove further down the Jordan River Valley - where it is irrigated it is very fertile, dates bananas, citrus, lots of vegatables, palms. It reminds me of Bakersfield, CA. In the summer it is very hot recording temps over 120.

As we traveled south past the Gilboa mountains we entered a desert area, the northern edges of the Judean desert. This was the land of Abraham. What church planter would ever pick this place to start a church???????? Only God!!! It is very desolate We arrived at a place called the Land of Genesis, another reenactment of the Biblical era. "Eliezer, Abraham's servant, greeted us and prepared us for a camel ride to Father Abraham's tent. There we were treated to very hospitable lunch.

Abraham was taken for a journey into the desert. We too are called to desert times. The children of Israel were in the desert 40 years. DT 8: 1-5, Moses tells the Israelites to be careful in their prosperity, God took them into the desert to humble them and test them, causing them to be hungry. Giving them Manna to learn that every provision is a gift from God. We were challenged to contemplate our own humilty and hunger for God and what H e desires.

We arrived into Jerusalem, checked into our hotel and worshipped with King of Kings Assembly. I did not get back in time to call St. Matthew :( But I pray that all went well and God blessed the word proclaimed today. We got back in time to hear that some things remain consistent - the Lions lost.

Tomorrow Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethesmane, Caiphas House, Southern Steps, Western Wall, Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne's Church. Evening visit to Tel HaShomer Rehab hospital. Meet the Bristols at the gas station at 5:45 pm (@ 25 people will have dinner at Rehab center and the rest at the hotel)

Its frustrating right now that I cannot add my pictures, maybe someone can tell me why I get this message when I try to post