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.