Stacie and I didn't have a TV in Israel during our two years there. For some that might be hard to fathom, for me it was really no problem at all.
Since we've been back we still haven't watched any TV. However, we had a coupon for $40 off the digital TV box thing we'll need by 2009 and the coupon was to expire in a couple days, so last night we thought we should go pick one up...somewhat reluctantly.
On the way there I saw a guy wearing a bright yellow t-shirt that read
Life is short.
Watch TV.
I'm not kidding.
That might be the biggest oxymoron I have ever heard. I really wanted to roll down my window and ask the guy what the heck he was doing outside wasting his life away.
But at the same time, deep inside me the haunting question - "Yeah but you're going to buy this stupid thing so you can watch TV, then you would be wasting your life away..."
We bought it anyway.
Grrrrrrrrrr.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
SHOCK!
We have been back from Jerusalem for about a month and a half. Much has happened, much has changed, and almost everything is different. Many people have asked us if we are experiencing any culture shock. The answer to the question is most definitely. Now six weeks later we are slowly starting to adjust, but there have been, and will continue to be a number of things that are quite different that we are sorting through. What’s different you ask? What is the same is more like it.
BIG
The land of Israel is only about the size of New Jersey. They have packed a lot into that small piece of land. Almost everything seemed quite small.
America is bigger. Bigger in land size, car size, house size, store size, road sign size, shoe size, everything size. Now instead of grocery shopping at Super Deal, a 6-aisle (and they were short aisles) grocery store in Jerusalem, we can choose from Family Fare, Meijer or Wal-Mart, which is great because now we can choose from 32 different types of plastic cups – including size, shape and color! (sarcasm) Why do we have to make so many decisions? I just need some plastic cups and I don’t care what color they are! Clear is fine. Always has been. Always will be. Moving on.
WEATHER
In Israel they are experiencing a drought this summer. It hasn’t rained since March, nor will it until October. This is normal, no rain all summer long. But this past winter they didn’t get much rain and by the time we left in mid-June the Sea of Galilee was already at a critically low level, and the long dry summer was just beginning. It’s the largest body of fresh water in the Middle East and the source of drinking water for the Israelis. A small island was beginning to form on the south side of the lake when we left.
We flew in to Chicago on June 14th and the morning of the 15th there was a huge thunderstorm, destroying the neighbors’ carport they used for a graduation party. Then it rained and stormed really hard about every other day for a month. When we were on a short road trip down to St. Louis we encountered another vicious thunderstorm (two within 10 minutes actually) and we were literally driving 20mph on the highway because it was raining so hard, cars were driving with their emergency flashers on, farmers’ fields were flooded and we saw lightning strike a field twice. Welcome to the U.S.
THINGS
Israel is not only deserts and caves and camels. Israel is not a third world country. In fact it is a quite well-developed country. (Example, I have already dropped more cell phone calls in two weeks than I did in two years there…including remote places in the Negev).
Moving back to MI I have heard many people talking about how terrible the economy is here. This economy has affected a lot of people and I am not trying to minimize this hardship for so many, but…my eyes see everyone living in a nice big house with a 2 or 3 stall garage, driving new SUV’s (or at least a newer car) and an extremely important thing seems to be lawn care. By the way it is also noticeably very green here. Green trees, green grass, green plants. It’s beautiful. But I overheard one neighboring telling another, “stop cutting your grass so short, you’re making mine look bad.” Not wrong, just different values, or priorities than where we had been living the past couple years. So I’m still trying to sort through how to view all this stuff, how to live simple and content lives, and not judge other people in the process. God help me.
CULTURE
Jerusalem was/is one of the most diverse places on the planet. There’s the local population of Arabs, Jews (from all over, including Russia, Spain, Ethiopia, America, etc.) plus 2 million tourists visit Israel each year. The bustling Holy City was always packed with pedestrians, car-honking taxis, and tour buses with tourists representing every possible nation, people group, culture and language. Stacie and I enjoyed approaching a group of tourists with their bright colored hats, or scarves, or stickers or whatever group “uniform” they had on, and trying to figure out where they were from – Germany, Switzerland, Nigeria, Russia, France, India, U.S.
Now we live in Zeeland, MI. We don’t see a lot of people. We often say to each other – we see all the houses, but where are all the people? Sometimes we see some tall Dutch folks. Lots of blue eyes and blonde hair ‘round here. I am still looking for that first tour bus to pull down our street with a group of people from Madagascar or something.
RELIGION
Islam, Judaism, Christianity – all packed into the “Holy City” of Jerusalem. A place utterly dominated by the Muslims and the Jews. Only 2 percent of the population are Christians. We lived in a land that was completely littered with synagogues, and mosques. And reminded of it every day when the call to prayer would scream out of those little minarets five times a day, or on Shabbat when all the Jewish people would flock to the local synagogue in their Shabbat attire. There were, however also a number of old churches scattered about the land – but many of them were old church buildings built to commemorate or remember a certain Biblical story or event that took place in that particular area. Many of these churches are simply historical and are not used to serve and/or encourage a particular body of believers (although there are some of those churches too, don’t get me wrong). My observation? As a Christian, I always felt out of place. I mean, I was surrounded by amazing Christian friends at JUC, but overall I felt severely outnumbered by the others. However, this feeling of outnumberedness seemed to strengthen the bond and the love and the passion between the believers living in Jerusalem. The need for Jesus was an obvious, compelling, in-your-face every single day of the week feeling. These people need Jesus.
I have been in the United States now for 52 days. I have not yet seen a synagogue, or a mosque. Churches? Got plenty of them. Driving home from work one day I counted 15 church buildings on the same street covering about 5 miles. In Zeeland there is First Reformed and Second Reformed Church right across the street (Church Street) from each other, not to mention Third Reformed, First and Second CRC, First Baptist and many, many more. There are a plethora of church buildings here, and it seems as though most Zeelanders are church-going people. It is truly an amazing thing after living in the “desert” for a couple years.
HOWEVER, here is some of what I have seen, heard and/or experienced that really makes my blood boil…
One church talking bad about other churches.
Minor topics becoming the major topics.
The domination of one denomination over the all others.
The superiority of one set of theological ideas and interpretations over all the others…
and everyone else who doesn’t agree on these things we want nothing to do with!
So we throw them out and are sure to keep them away from our kids.
THIS has been the hardest thing for me to “adjust” to. But I won’t. I won’t adjust. I won’t participate. I won’t settle for meddling in nonsense. I will love my brothers. I will major on the majors. I will be a part of God’s desire and purpose in changing people’s lives. After living in Israel these past two years, the lens through which I view the world is clearer than ever. People in this world desperately need Jesus.
I wish we’d care less about things like the perfection of our lawn.
BIG
The land of Israel is only about the size of New Jersey. They have packed a lot into that small piece of land. Almost everything seemed quite small.
America is bigger. Bigger in land size, car size, house size, store size, road sign size, shoe size, everything size. Now instead of grocery shopping at Super Deal, a 6-aisle (and they were short aisles) grocery store in Jerusalem, we can choose from Family Fare, Meijer or Wal-Mart, which is great because now we can choose from 32 different types of plastic cups – including size, shape and color! (sarcasm) Why do we have to make so many decisions? I just need some plastic cups and I don’t care what color they are! Clear is fine. Always has been. Always will be. Moving on.
WEATHER
In Israel they are experiencing a drought this summer. It hasn’t rained since March, nor will it until October. This is normal, no rain all summer long. But this past winter they didn’t get much rain and by the time we left in mid-June the Sea of Galilee was already at a critically low level, and the long dry summer was just beginning. It’s the largest body of fresh water in the Middle East and the source of drinking water for the Israelis. A small island was beginning to form on the south side of the lake when we left.
We flew in to Chicago on June 14th and the morning of the 15th there was a huge thunderstorm, destroying the neighbors’ carport they used for a graduation party. Then it rained and stormed really hard about every other day for a month. When we were on a short road trip down to St. Louis we encountered another vicious thunderstorm (two within 10 minutes actually) and we were literally driving 20mph on the highway because it was raining so hard, cars were driving with their emergency flashers on, farmers’ fields were flooded and we saw lightning strike a field twice. Welcome to the U.S.
THINGS
Israel is not only deserts and caves and camels. Israel is not a third world country. In fact it is a quite well-developed country. (Example, I have already dropped more cell phone calls in two weeks than I did in two years there…including remote places in the Negev).
Moving back to MI I have heard many people talking about how terrible the economy is here. This economy has affected a lot of people and I am not trying to minimize this hardship for so many, but…my eyes see everyone living in a nice big house with a 2 or 3 stall garage, driving new SUV’s (or at least a newer car) and an extremely important thing seems to be lawn care. By the way it is also noticeably very green here. Green trees, green grass, green plants. It’s beautiful. But I overheard one neighboring telling another, “stop cutting your grass so short, you’re making mine look bad.” Not wrong, just different values, or priorities than where we had been living the past couple years. So I’m still trying to sort through how to view all this stuff, how to live simple and content lives, and not judge other people in the process. God help me.
CULTURE
Jerusalem was/is one of the most diverse places on the planet. There’s the local population of Arabs, Jews (from all over, including Russia, Spain, Ethiopia, America, etc.) plus 2 million tourists visit Israel each year. The bustling Holy City was always packed with pedestrians, car-honking taxis, and tour buses with tourists representing every possible nation, people group, culture and language. Stacie and I enjoyed approaching a group of tourists with their bright colored hats, or scarves, or stickers or whatever group “uniform” they had on, and trying to figure out where they were from – Germany, Switzerland, Nigeria, Russia, France, India, U.S.
Now we live in Zeeland, MI. We don’t see a lot of people. We often say to each other – we see all the houses, but where are all the people? Sometimes we see some tall Dutch folks. Lots of blue eyes and blonde hair ‘round here. I am still looking for that first tour bus to pull down our street with a group of people from Madagascar or something.
RELIGION
Islam, Judaism, Christianity – all packed into the “Holy City” of Jerusalem. A place utterly dominated by the Muslims and the Jews. Only 2 percent of the population are Christians. We lived in a land that was completely littered with synagogues, and mosques. And reminded of it every day when the call to prayer would scream out of those little minarets five times a day, or on Shabbat when all the Jewish people would flock to the local synagogue in their Shabbat attire. There were, however also a number of old churches scattered about the land – but many of them were old church buildings built to commemorate or remember a certain Biblical story or event that took place in that particular area. Many of these churches are simply historical and are not used to serve and/or encourage a particular body of believers (although there are some of those churches too, don’t get me wrong). My observation? As a Christian, I always felt out of place. I mean, I was surrounded by amazing Christian friends at JUC, but overall I felt severely outnumbered by the others. However, this feeling of outnumberedness seemed to strengthen the bond and the love and the passion between the believers living in Jerusalem. The need for Jesus was an obvious, compelling, in-your-face every single day of the week feeling. These people need Jesus.
I have been in the United States now for 52 days. I have not yet seen a synagogue, or a mosque. Churches? Got plenty of them. Driving home from work one day I counted 15 church buildings on the same street covering about 5 miles. In Zeeland there is First Reformed and Second Reformed Church right across the street (Church Street) from each other, not to mention Third Reformed, First and Second CRC, First Baptist and many, many more. There are a plethora of church buildings here, and it seems as though most Zeelanders are church-going people. It is truly an amazing thing after living in the “desert” for a couple years.
HOWEVER, here is some of what I have seen, heard and/or experienced that really makes my blood boil…
One church talking bad about other churches.
Minor topics becoming the major topics.
The domination of one denomination over the all others.
The superiority of one set of theological ideas and interpretations over all the others…
and everyone else who doesn’t agree on these things we want nothing to do with!
So we throw them out and are sure to keep them away from our kids.
THIS has been the hardest thing for me to “adjust” to. But I won’t. I won’t adjust. I won’t participate. I won’t settle for meddling in nonsense. I will love my brothers. I will major on the majors. I will be a part of God’s desire and purpose in changing people’s lives. After living in Israel these past two years, the lens through which I view the world is clearer than ever. People in this world desperately need Jesus.
I wish we’d care less about things like the perfection of our lawn.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Some Acknowledgments
Well it has been quite a journey. One we can hardly believe. We are so thankful and feel quite blessed that the Most High God chose us to live, study, explore and love on the people in Jerusalem. Two years passed by very quickly, yet it is hard for us to even remember what life was like before we got on the first plane June 14, 2006. We have learned lots and we have many stories and experiences and memories we will be excited to share with the people God puts in our path. There were many times over the past couple years when we would begin to worry about something – school, or money, or housing, or… - but then God would show up and demonstrate His continued faithfulness, love and care for us.
We took this calling to study in Israel seriously and tried to give it everything we had. Prior to moving to Israel we sold and gave away most of our stuff, emptied out our bank accounts and even tapped in to some of our retirement to keep us going year two. We left great jobs, communities, friends, and family we love. But this is NOT something we did, nor could have been done, without great support from SO many people. Many, many thanks to you all who prayed often for us - for our school-work, for our marriage, for our finances, for our safety, for our future (keep praying about that one ☺). Many thanks also to those of you who gave of your finances, sent us mail, shared encouraging heart-felt words, etc. Again, we did not, nor could have done this without you. There are so many people of which we could not count or list – but regardless, here’s a few people (in no particular order, and far from complete) we want to say thank you to:
The Swan Family (Mom, Dad and Chris)
The Post Family (Mom, Dad, Corey and Sara)
The Zwyghuizen Family (Chad, Kim, Dallas, Justin, Mikayla and Sawyer)
Paul and Diane Wright
Cyndi Parker
Mike and Sue Shirkey
Jason and Lisa Schrader
Mark and Amanda Brown
Brian and Katie Hamm
James and Laura Granger
Marc and Shelby Andreas
Con and Judy VanderWerf
Jack and Cindy Ippel
Larry and Linda Doornbos
Tom and Carolyn Kragt
Bill and Sandy Cooper
Ray VanderLaan and That The World May Know Ministries
Amy, Marty, Tom and Dot at GTI Travel
Kent Dobson
Boaz Shalgi
Allen Levi
Heidi Walberg
Dave and Jan Stravers
Randy and Gretchen VanHeukelum
Wayne and Debbie Wolfe
Joel and Lisa Meyers
Kenny and Leanne Grimes
Ryan and Amy Blackburn
Mike and Amy Krick
Acey and Sarae Martin
Enoch and Joan Olson
Michael and Denise Perry
Brian and Barb DeMann
Corky and Debbie Erickson
Dan and Jodi Johnson
David and Kelley Shirkey
Scott and Cindy Pontier
Larry and Jana Plaisier
Joey and Katie Allen
John and Melanie DeKruyter
Marlin and Sally Vis
All our great friends from JUC
Brian and Amy Moore
Mark and Michelle Trescott
Michael and Breanne Fuelling
Thor Sawin
Hayley Wilton
Rod and Irene Wilton
Tom and Cathy Tomasik
Lauren Tomasik
The Read Family (Steve, Rita, Stephen and Shannon)
Travis and Mariah West
…
But most of all, thanks be to God – the Creator, the Caller, the Sustainer, the Lover, the Rock, the One who was, who is and who is to come. We give it all back to Him.
We took this calling to study in Israel seriously and tried to give it everything we had. Prior to moving to Israel we sold and gave away most of our stuff, emptied out our bank accounts and even tapped in to some of our retirement to keep us going year two. We left great jobs, communities, friends, and family we love. But this is NOT something we did, nor could have been done, without great support from SO many people. Many, many thanks to you all who prayed often for us - for our school-work, for our marriage, for our finances, for our safety, for our future (keep praying about that one ☺). Many thanks also to those of you who gave of your finances, sent us mail, shared encouraging heart-felt words, etc. Again, we did not, nor could have done this without you. There are so many people of which we could not count or list – but regardless, here’s a few people (in no particular order, and far from complete) we want to say thank you to:
The Swan Family (Mom, Dad and Chris)
The Post Family (Mom, Dad, Corey and Sara)
The Zwyghuizen Family (Chad, Kim, Dallas, Justin, Mikayla and Sawyer)
Paul and Diane Wright
Cyndi Parker
Mike and Sue Shirkey
Jason and Lisa Schrader
Mark and Amanda Brown
Brian and Katie Hamm
James and Laura Granger
Marc and Shelby Andreas
Con and Judy VanderWerf
Jack and Cindy Ippel
Larry and Linda Doornbos
Tom and Carolyn Kragt
Bill and Sandy Cooper
Ray VanderLaan and That The World May Know Ministries
Amy, Marty, Tom and Dot at GTI Travel
Kent Dobson
Boaz Shalgi
Allen Levi
Heidi Walberg
Dave and Jan Stravers
Randy and Gretchen VanHeukelum
Wayne and Debbie Wolfe
Joel and Lisa Meyers
Kenny and Leanne Grimes
Ryan and Amy Blackburn
Mike and Amy Krick
Acey and Sarae Martin
Enoch and Joan Olson
Michael and Denise Perry
Brian and Barb DeMann
Corky and Debbie Erickson
Dan and Jodi Johnson
David and Kelley Shirkey
Scott and Cindy Pontier
Larry and Jana Plaisier
Joey and Katie Allen
John and Melanie DeKruyter
Marlin and Sally Vis
All our great friends from JUC
Brian and Amy Moore
Mark and Michelle Trescott
Michael and Breanne Fuelling
Thor Sawin
Hayley Wilton
Rod and Irene Wilton
Tom and Cathy Tomasik
Lauren Tomasik
The Read Family (Steve, Rita, Stephen and Shannon)
Travis and Mariah West
…
But most of all, thanks be to God – the Creator, the Caller, the Sustainer, the Lover, the Rock, the One who was, who is and who is to come. We give it all back to Him.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
-Jude 24-25
and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
-Jude 24-25
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Shalom
It was still pitch dark at the sound of an alarm. Dark because it is was only about 3am, and the alarm wasn’t ours, but belonged to the Bet Sefer (school) across the street. About 25-35 minutes later a series of a few other alarms went off as well, these alarms were ours. Time to get up. Big day today. The alarm across the street was still going off, piercing the quietness of 4am when our taxi driver, Ismael, arrived at our house. Four heavy suitcases were packed and loaded into and onto the car and we exchanged hugs with our friend Mark who stumbled out of bed early to say “Lahitraote” (good-bye) to us one last time.
From Jerusalem we rode west towards the coast. Our friend Ismael seemed to do most of the talking…all in English this time. It was much too early to for us to give much effort into speaking Hebrew or Arabic. Besides, Ismael enjoys using and improving his English as well. As we began the descend down the hill country out of Jerusalem, we passed a sign with huge Hebrew block letters. I remember this sign from when I first came in to Jerusalem, it’s along the main route and we have passed it many - many times over the course of two years. During my first few months in Israel I always wondered what those crazy white block letters (or symbols) were communicating. This time, more than any other, I spent a few extra minutes thinking about those words as we drove past.
“Yetset le-Shalom.” Go in Peace.
Ismael was still talking with us, but now I was a bit lost in my own thoughts. This is it. Our day has come…for us to go in peace. I can’t believe it’s time to go. I can’t believe we ever came. What’s happening?
After waiting in a slow line for an extra inspection of one of our suitcases (the one filled only with heavy textbooks) we dragged our bags up to the ticket counter. Stacie kindly asked the lady behind the counter, Yael, for a pair of good seats for her and her “really tall husband.” After a quick glance at me, and a verbal “Wow,” Yael picked up the phone to see how she could help these long legs for the long ride. God bless her.
As is our custom, Stacie took the window and I the aisle, but it didn’t really matter this time as our legs were well stretched out in front of us near an “exit”. Thanks be to God. ☺ The two gentlemen behind us were strangers to each other playing the “lets get to know each other” with some small talk. One guy was from the Bahamas, the other from Brazil. I didn’t eavesdrop on them to know anything more than that, but I am sure they had some interesting and enjoyable conversations during the duration of our trip.
Before long we were moving slowly, then quickly and ascending in elevation. Stacie’s eyes were fixed on the tiny little window, but I don’t think it was the clear glass she was focusing on. I was leaning far forward in my seat in order to see it too. As I peered through the window, there it was…the land of Israel. These ten minutes or so seemed to pass by ever so quickly, yet frozen in time. On our very first geography field study with Dr. Wright he told us it is always good to get high in order to get a great perspective of the land. The skies were crystal clear as we could see in the distance the hills of the Shephelah, the flat, green coastal plain, a small strip of white sand along the coastline and then the vast sea of very salty water, the Mediterranean. Our eyes didn’t move as we studied the view one last time. Stacie bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes and then slowly picked up speed as they rolled down her cheeks. I squeezed her hand. She squeezed mine back as her watery eyes briefly made eye contact with mine. I don’t think we even said anything. We didn’t need to. Again we both turned to gaze out the window for as long as we could. It’s time for us to go “home”…whatever and wherever that is…for now.
“Yetset le-Shalom.”
From Jerusalem we rode west towards the coast. Our friend Ismael seemed to do most of the talking…all in English this time. It was much too early to for us to give much effort into speaking Hebrew or Arabic. Besides, Ismael enjoys using and improving his English as well. As we began the descend down the hill country out of Jerusalem, we passed a sign with huge Hebrew block letters. I remember this sign from when I first came in to Jerusalem, it’s along the main route and we have passed it many - many times over the course of two years. During my first few months in Israel I always wondered what those crazy white block letters (or symbols) were communicating. This time, more than any other, I spent a few extra minutes thinking about those words as we drove past.
“Yetset le-Shalom.” Go in Peace.
Ismael was still talking with us, but now I was a bit lost in my own thoughts. This is it. Our day has come…for us to go in peace. I can’t believe it’s time to go. I can’t believe we ever came. What’s happening?
After waiting in a slow line for an extra inspection of one of our suitcases (the one filled only with heavy textbooks) we dragged our bags up to the ticket counter. Stacie kindly asked the lady behind the counter, Yael, for a pair of good seats for her and her “really tall husband.” After a quick glance at me, and a verbal “Wow,” Yael picked up the phone to see how she could help these long legs for the long ride. God bless her.
As is our custom, Stacie took the window and I the aisle, but it didn’t really matter this time as our legs were well stretched out in front of us near an “exit”. Thanks be to God. ☺ The two gentlemen behind us were strangers to each other playing the “lets get to know each other” with some small talk. One guy was from the Bahamas, the other from Brazil. I didn’t eavesdrop on them to know anything more than that, but I am sure they had some interesting and enjoyable conversations during the duration of our trip.
Before long we were moving slowly, then quickly and ascending in elevation. Stacie’s eyes were fixed on the tiny little window, but I don’t think it was the clear glass she was focusing on. I was leaning far forward in my seat in order to see it too. As I peered through the window, there it was…the land of Israel. These ten minutes or so seemed to pass by ever so quickly, yet frozen in time. On our very first geography field study with Dr. Wright he told us it is always good to get high in order to get a great perspective of the land. The skies were crystal clear as we could see in the distance the hills of the Shephelah, the flat, green coastal plain, a small strip of white sand along the coastline and then the vast sea of very salty water, the Mediterranean. Our eyes didn’t move as we studied the view one last time. Stacie bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes and then slowly picked up speed as they rolled down her cheeks. I squeezed her hand. She squeezed mine back as her watery eyes briefly made eye contact with mine. I don’t think we even said anything. We didn’t need to. Again we both turned to gaze out the window for as long as we could. It’s time for us to go “home”…whatever and wherever that is…for now.
“Yetset le-Shalom.”
Friday, June 6, 2008
Pictures!!!
Many new pictures have been posted - click here to see the following picture albums
- Hiking Nazareth to Capernaum
- 3 Days of Adventure
- Spring Fun '08
- The Last Field Study
- Golan Getaway
Dinner Guests
Long before actually moving to Israel, we came up with a fun list of "Top Twenty Reasons to Move to Israel." Many of the items on this list included places to see, things to do, experience, etc. - and I think we have now checked all of them off the nearly forgotten list - except for one thing - of which will not be discussed here. Aren't you so curious???
Anyway, one of the things we were excited about as we dreamt of one day living in Jerusalem was living in the "Shephelah" or crossroads of 3 monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Living in Jerusalem sure is a unique experience in that way, and we are blessed to have become friends with a few locals from different cultures and religions. Since the completion of our studies (now about a month ago already!) we knew the remainder of our time would pass us by quickly, so we again came up with a "Things To Do Before We Leave" list. This list includes places to visit, trails to hike, items to purchase - and most importantly - people we really want to spend time with. Within the past week we were richly blessed to spend time with the following dinner guests...
Boaz, his wife Magie and their two sons
Ismael, his wife Ronia and their four beautiful children.
They all piled in Ismael's taxi & drove from their house on the Mt. of Olives.
Cyndi, Dawn and Andrea (now living in Bethlehem) and Stacie -
enjoying tacos on our roof.
Thanks friends for wonderful, memorable nights. Stacie and I sincerely cherish our friendships with you all. You will be missed. May God continue to bless each of you on your journey! And -
"Bizrat HaShem" (Hebrew),
"Inshallah" (Arabic),
"God-willing" (English) -
we will see each other again!
Anyway, one of the things we were excited about as we dreamt of one day living in Jerusalem was living in the "Shephelah" or crossroads of 3 monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Living in Jerusalem sure is a unique experience in that way, and we are blessed to have become friends with a few locals from different cultures and religions. Since the completion of our studies (now about a month ago already!) we knew the remainder of our time would pass us by quickly, so we again came up with a "Things To Do Before We Leave" list. This list includes places to visit, trails to hike, items to purchase - and most importantly - people we really want to spend time with. Within the past week we were richly blessed to spend time with the following dinner guests...
Boaz, his wife Magie and their two sons
Ismael, his wife Ronia and their four beautiful children.They all piled in Ismael's taxi & drove from their house on the Mt. of Olives.
Cyndi, Dawn and Andrea (now living in Bethlehem) and Stacie -enjoying tacos on our roof.
Thanks friends for wonderful, memorable nights. Stacie and I sincerely cherish our friendships with you all. You will be missed. May God continue to bless each of you on your journey! And -
"Bizrat HaShem" (Hebrew),
"Inshallah" (Arabic),
"God-willing" (English) -
we will see each other again!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Jesus Trail
Two of John's disciples came to Jesus and said:
"Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" (Or maybe, "where do you live?") Jesus said to them, "Come and you will see" (John 1:39).We decided to take Jesus up on His offer. On Wednesday evening, May 21st, our friends Tim and Kristi Knipp along with Stacie and I took a bus from Jerusalem, north to Nazareth and spent the night there in a hostel. The purpose of our trip? Backpacking the "Jesus Trail" for a few days. The Biblical Text says Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum - but if you read that one verse (Matt 4:13), don't you sometimes just wonder what would that journey may have been like? How long did it take? What did He see or who did He encounter along the way?
We purchased a very detailed map of the region (available in Hebrew only), the route we mapped out was to hike from Nazareth, north to Zippori (aka Sepphoris - the capital of the Galilee during the early years of Jesus, before it moved Tiberias...but not mentioned in the Gospels), on to Cana (John 2, and 4), then west through the Bet Netofa Valley, through the Arbel Pass approaching the Sea of Galilee and finally following the northwestern shoreline to the city of Capernaum. A total distance of about 35-40 miles.
"Whoever claims to live in Jesus must walk as Jesus walked" (1John 2:6)
This, I might add, always has been, and always will be more important than walking where Jesus walked, but being blessed with the opportunity to do both...we set out.
This, I might add, always has been, and always will be more important than walking where Jesus walked, but being blessed with the opportunity to do both...we set out.
Stacie and I walking to Cana -the tel is the small brown hill directly in front of us
After hiking for about 10 hours the first day, we arrived at the base of the tel and set up camp for the night there in an already harvested wheat field. Tim read the two stories of Jesus in Cana - first at the wedding banquet where He performed His first miracle turning water into wine (John 2), then just a couple chapters later Jesus again visits Cana, a city of miracles.
"Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.” The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus *said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off."
(John 4:46-50)
(John 4:46-50)
The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him.
Tim, Kristi and Stacie at our campsite the second night -a couple miles west of the Arbel Pass
Hiking through the Arbel Pass -the most likely ancient route to the Sea of Galilee
Mount Arbel behind us
"Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
“THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
“THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”
(Matthew 4:12-16)
“THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
“THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”
(Matthew 4:12-16)
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