To Israel...
May 2, 2005:
It has taken me this long to be able to sit down and write about the events that have lead up to to. We arrived in Tel-Aviv - whose name means “the healing of spring”, Israel or what is known in the Bible as the coastal city of Joppa.
This was the location where Jonah received his charge from God to go to Nineveh and preach to then the salvation from God’s wrath (Jonah 1:1 - 3). This city is also where Peter raise the believer, Tabitha - know also as Dorcas, back to life (Acts 9:36 - 42), where Simon the Tanner lived and housed Peter (Acts 9:43), where Peter had his vision of the sheet of “unclean” animals being lowered from heaven (Acts 10:9 - 20), and where he was summoned to the house of Cornelius the Gentile in Caeserea (10:22 - 23).
Before I continue with this day, let me reflect on the past two days.
Saturday: April, 30:
Elation... absolute elation. I couldn’t sit still all day! I was sent off with well-wishers and called a “missions hog” by Kate because this is my second missions venture with Mike MacNeil. And wo we were off.
We drove to Portland, Maine to stay overnight. The plan was to stay at the local Wesleyan church plant of whose pastor Mike was good friends with. However, the pastor was no where to be found. So what does Mike do? He tracks down the pastor’s house and breaks in so that we have a place to get out of the rain!
The plan from there shifted to this: we would stay there until he showed up or until we could get a hold of him. Well he never showed up, but he did call! We packed up the vehicles and left immediately for the church.
After of “breaking and entering stunt”, we drove to the church, practiced some music, and went to sleep.
Sunday: May 1, 2005:
5:30 came way too soon this morning. I am not a morning person, so this was a stretch for me. Come to find out, this would turn into a day of stretching for me.
We left as early as we did for this reason: we were going to attend a church service at the Brookland Tabernacle at noon. I was so blessed to see in that church so many culture barriers broken and bonds formed in the corporate worship of Jesus Christ. It felt like a small glimpse of heavenly worship - voices raised in adoration of the King of All.
However, before we even got there, we got stuck in thick, slow, and jammed traffic. This was a huge stretch for me because of the undeniable fact that I hate city driving! It stresses me out so much! Oh, and was it ever a day that was full of it. I love Mike because he took me way out of my comfort zone on this one... and I hate his for it in the same breath. But, you know, it’s not so bad when you throw out all forms of tact and logic out the window!
After the church service, we went to the Mission at Bowery Street. I read about this mission before and if I am correct in my recollection, Phoebe Palmer, a pillar of the foundation of modern day Wesleyanism, was a founding member of this mission. This place was a church and soup kitchen for the homeless. I’ve never been around the homeless like this before.
Never before have I done ministry to the homeless that are right in my back yard. At that moment, I saw my pride and arrogance. I am not an overtly proud person, but lurking in the shadows of this heart in progress is that ugly beast that whispers lies to me about my humility and how much praise I deserve. What stark lies... but for so long I have believed them.
We did music and dramas and prayed with the people. I prayed with an older hispanic man named Roberto who was obviously very drunk. The stench of cheap liquor oozed from his very being and in that state, he broke down and told me of his health problems. He told me of how badly he wanted to quit smoking and drinking. I was reminded of people that I know and love who have traveled this road or have at least skirted its side streets. It was heartbreaking.
After the service, we ate with some of the people who attended the church service. There was a little bit of a different plan for me on this one. Mike had asked the guys to pair up with a girl so that they were not alone. I really didn’t know Amy much before this trip, so I went with her... and we that ever a good thing!
She fainted in the line.
I had to catch her and bring her slowly to the ground. With all of the stress that she had been through in the past couple of days, stresses like graduation, travel, lack of sleep, lack of food, and not really being in the know about our trip, she crashed hard. We got her some water and I helped her to a table so that she could regain her barings. Though Missy and Chad road down this far with me, Chad switched over so that Amy could take the back seat of the van to lay down. Praise God that the episode wasn’t bigger and that He had placed someone there at that time so that she didn’t get hurt. She was fine once we got to Chinatown.
Chinatown was huge. Never could I have imagined that so many cultures could create such a grand conglomerate of cultures and community! We shopped around there for a while, but considering my find in Portland (the rarity of size 14 rollerblades at a cheap price), I did not spend any money there.
Union Square was next and that was another unique experience. Patricia described it as like a large chat room without the computers. And that it was - a random meeting place for people. We pulled out the dramas and music here. This, too, seemed to be outside of my comfort zone. I felt my pride welling up to attack me again, but I prayed against it. God gave me the boldness to share with a group of young adults from Pakistan.
Before we left New York City, we went to see Time Square. It was quite a sight, but standing in the middle, all I could this was that this was a pinnacle monument to man. It says loudly: “Look what I have done! I am great... I am man.”
I would trade it all for a glimpse of God’s glory, which surpasses this electronic, concrete jungle. Though I wrote this later because of time, I had a chance to write more expressively on this experience:
Giants and Juggernauts:
In the midst of giants and juggernauts
I stood
Facing the hulking masses
I marveled at their adornment
Hypnotized by flashing lights
And posters which appeared to eclipse life itself
They screamed silent propaganda
“Look at me, for I am man!
I have breached the skies
And scarred the land with my image!”
In the midst of giants and juggernauts
I heard
The voice of the One
Whom I have marveled in simplicity
And adored for majesty
He reminded me that this concrete jungle
Was the pinnacle of man’s pride and creation
“Come and see,” He said
“For I can show you more.”
In the midst of giants and juggernauts
I saw
As a man with aided vision
He spoke and my eyes were opened
To this city that was all of man
And none of God
“If this is the height of man’s glory,”
I pondered “I would gladly trade it all.”
In the midst of giants and juggernauts,
Glitter and glory,
I walked away.
On to the airport we drove. With little trouble (other than minor traffic issues) we met Mom, Dad, Christianne, Gus, and Grandpa Gus for quick hellos, short good-byes, and vehicle exchanges. Then, it was on the the terminal.
After checking in, we met up with Pastor Rob, his wife Cindy, and Roland from Indiana. Ironically, that are right outside Fisher, Indiana where my internship is at. Then we met Arlie Francis - our contact and what I would later find out as an amazing guy with a great sense of humor. He wanted us to be thinking on the plane about our personal story of how God redeemed me, to read through the Gospel of John, and pray for the people we’d talk to.
Then we were off.
Have you ever notices how it is the big guy who ends up with the smallest, middle seat? Yeah, that was me. It was cool though because I sat next to two very interesting individuals with whom I would share about my life with - Eli and Natali.
I talked with Eli, a Jew by decent not practice, for close to an hour and a half or more about my faith and my story and he share with me his lack of faith and aspirations. I found out that he, too, was from Pennsylvania, but studying medicine in Israel. He wants to specialize in Pediatrics with a focus on Endocrinology.
Eli wanted to believe that there was a higher power out there, but had a tough time with it intellectually. He questioned how God was present in the Exodus, but seemed so distant in the Holocaust and 9/11. I reasoned with him about it and welcomed his questions. I pray that or conversation stirred in him a desire to know the Jesus that I spoke of.
Natali was from India. She was middle aged and interested to know what I, a young person and not Jewish, was doing in Israel. I explained about my previous work in India and found out that she was from Tamil Nadu - the state in which we ministered. I love how God works out those connections points.
Monday: May 2, 2005:
Israel... we made it! After 14,000ish miles of travel, we made it to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The land is so lush and gorgeous! Flowers, palm trees, you name it. Our first hotel was in Tel-Aviv, right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
We ate well tonight and saw a gorgeous sunset. I marvel ate God’s handy work. Arlie brought us into a side room where he explained the mission of this trip. It was pretty intense! The gospel is illegal to preach here... reminds me of the end of the end of Acts.
Our evening closed with a quick swim in the Mediterranean Sea... this was the same sea Paul sailed across and that Jonah sunk in. We also got to walk down town and see some shops and such.
Tuesday: May 3, 2005: Discipleship stage 1: “Come and See” - 3 months:
Our day started with some time in the Tel-Aviv market place. There were all types of fruits, nuts, and breads. There were other venders as well - t-shirts, jewelry, etc. I found my very own Jewish prayer cap here! We almost left Vrooman here... a common phrase for this trip is going to be “Where’s Vrooman?”
We drove up the highway, which was the Roman Via Marice - the road by the sea - to Caeserea. This is the same city founded by Herod the Great - where the Apostle Paul stood before King Agrippa and Festus to give his defense.
As we sat in the restored Roman theater, I realized that this was probably the same location Paul gave his defense in. Likely, they would have had Paul stand in front of a large crowd to make an example of him before the people so that no one would try to repeat the same.
Arlie shared with us from Acts. It was so crazy to think that this place, the cross roads of the Road by the Sea and the King’s Highway, was where Paul stood. This was more than a strategic location - it was a meeting place of God’s message with a center of paganism.
The next stop was Mount Carmel, the mountain where Elijah confronts the priests of Baal (2 Kings 18). From the top of Carmel we saw the Valley of Armageddon. It was so crazy to see this place of biblical prophecy.
Then we saw the city of Mageddo. This city was described as The Chariot City. This was evidence in the stone troughs... also known as a manger. We often think of wood and hay when we think of mangers. This was wrong.
Jesus’ first earthly bed was cold, cut stone. Israel was and still not very rich in wood, so it is more than likely that Jesus was not the son of a wood carpenter, but a stone worker. Oh, how our western mindset has warped our thinking.
At the end of that site, we walk through the Mageddo tunnel. This was like walking the tunnel of Hezekiah - under the south wall of the city for the sake of water. When a city was attacked, the people would still have a method of retrieving water.
We left there for the Necropolis - a city for the dead and a burial ground at Bet She-Arim. This site was followed by Mount Precipice in Galilee.
Though we’re seen it from several angles and from a distance, I saw Nazareth - the place where Jesus spent about 29 - 30 years of His life. As we drove through this town of the Galilee, I can’t help but wonder where Jesus ran and played and learned. I saw Canna of Galilee - where Jesus turned the water into wine.
We arrived in Tibereus for our overnight stay, May I remind you again that preaching the Gospel is illegal? I guess we don’t care much about that! I know that I didn’t. We went out to the promenade and did some music and dramas. This is the most overt that any of Arlie’s groups have ever been with sharing the gospel message. It drew a crowd and was me with slight opposition. There was a CD vender that had his music blaring, trying to drown us out. There was an older orthodox Jew who was trying to call the authorities one us. The MPs drove by a few times. Praise God for advancing the message!
Wednesday: May 4th, 2005: “Discipleship Stage 2: “Come and Follow” - 10 months:
Our day started out on the Sea of Galilee. These were the same waters that Jesus sailed across, talked on, walked on, and rebuked. Our response was worship. With guitars, drums, violin and voices, we praised our God and King.
After crossing, we saw a boat that was from the same era as Christ. I wonder if this was the same type of boat as Peter, James, and John would have fished off of.
Then we went up to the Mount of the Beatitudes. It is believed to be where Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount. However, there was a huge church built here... like most of the places here.
Jesus was a teacher or a rabbi. When a rabbi was commissioned, he was commissioned by his rabbi and a rabbi that his teacher respected. This recognition was supposed to confer a power or shmeekah or power on the rabbi. When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the two witnesses, Jesus’ primary rabbi, God the Father (Isaiah 50:4) and John the Baptist was the secondary witness.
When Jesus preached His sermon on the mount, he confirmed the oral traditions of Judaism. But He didn’t just take it for what its face value. There were 613 laws. These were built on top of each other and they were claimed to have been handed down from generation to generation from God to Moses. You see, He didn’t just regurgitate the tradition, but spelled out the reasons behind the laws. He didn’t come to abolish the law, but to complete it.
This is a call to think through our beliefs. Do we sit by in neural neutral or do we think though what we are taught? The Berean believers did. Luke described them in the book of Acts as being “more noble in character” than the Thessolanican believers because they searched out the scriptures to see if what Paul had to say was true.
We visited Capernium next. This was one of the cities that Jesus curse, comparing it to Sodom. This was also the location where Simon Peter’s mother-in-law lived. I stood in a synagogue there; one that Jesus could have possibly preached in. It was build out a light colored, limestone brick - much different than the available rocks in the area. This could speak of the wealth of the area.
Our break for lunch was in Tibereus, a main street known as Galilee Street. I was able to eat lunch here and do a little shopping. I found a necklace for my sister here. I can’t wait until she sees it!
Bethsaida was next: it literally means the house of the fisherman. We saw foundations of the houses here. There was another city which Jesus cursed, along with Corizon, that were likened to Tyre and Sidon, often referred to as The Gates of Hell.
I was challenged here to see God as being tangible - not this distant, ethereal being that is vague and disconnected. We have a very Greek mindset in the west which causes us to focus on the abstract rather than what is directly in front of us. This is why we seldom describe God as a rock or and eagle or a fortress - imagery that is rich in the Biblical writings.
We went back to the promenade tonight, but in a different spirit. Tonight at sunset began a Jewish day of remembrance for the six millions lives that were lost in the Holocaust. Instead of the loud music and celebration of the previous night, this night was for our personal sharing and reflection. What did God reveal to me? My pride... again. I had to confess it. I had almost treated this trip like an honors badge that I won or earned. I didn’t deserve to be here. No - this trip reveal to me how much of nothing I am without Him. May I decrease and may Christ increase in me.
After we finished sharing, a group of orthodox Jewish boys gathered and asked for a song.... we played 3 or 4! To Israel we brought the hope of Messiah come in Jesus Christ on a somber night like this!
Our evening closed a little colder than expected. Despite the cold, we took the chance of a life time. Chris Massie, Mike MacNeil, Arlie, Amy, Missy, and I swam in the Sea of Galilee! We were going to try walking on it, but someone much more awesome than us already did that one! What a way to end our second full day in Israel!
Thursday: May 5, 2005: Discipleship stage 3: “Come and be with me” 20 - 23 months:
What a way to start out the day! We did not receive a wake up call and we were awakened by Skot for devotions... I was supposed to do them this morning! Arlie picked up the ball, but I had to make a choice: breakfast or devotions; physical food or spiritual food? I chose the latter.
David reminded us again about the holiday. His family was heavily effected by it. These six million that died were about a third of the Jewish population in the world. This population among the rest of humanity totals to about 1/4% of the world’s population. Because he was so effected by it, he refuses to believe in God. This seems to be a common theme among the Israeli people.
Our first stop was (after stopping at an Israeli hand made sandal store... unfortunately, they don’t carry shoes that come in Goliath!) to Dan. It was like walking through a jungle - lush land, cool running streams, lizards, and vines.
In the midst, we saw the city gates of Dan - this ancient gate of Dan was probably the same that Abraham chased the 5 Kings of the cities of the plains to when they had kidnapped Lot. Brandon interview Mike Chapman and I about the significance of this gate.
Then we saw the gates of Jereboam in the city of Dan. The kings of the north - in Israel - all 19 of them - were wicked men. They reinstituted the worship of the golden calf. Of the 19 kings of Israel and the 20 kings of Judah, 8 of the kings of Judea and none of the king of Israel were righteous.
We left Dan to drive through the Golan heights to Caeserea Phillipi - built by Herod Phillipus, son of Herod the Great. He called it that because he didn’t want to be confused with his father’s city by the sea. This was where Peter made his confession.
This was sin city. There was a temple to Pan - the shepherd god of the Greeks. He was half man and half goat. This temple was a place of bestiality and sexual immorality - all for the sake of the hope of a fertile land. It was overlooking this that Jesus asked the disciples who they thought He was.
Here is found the Grotto of Pan... also referred to as The Gates of Hell. This is where the church would be build - in defiance of the Gates of Hell. I stood in front of the gaping cavern in defiance of the very gates and I prayed to God asking for the fortitude to forever stand to defy the principalities of this dark world.
After breaking for lunch (I passed on the felafel today) we saw the the ruins of Chorazon, the third city which Jesus cursed. Unlike the synagogue at Capernium, this one was built out of the local, darker rock - not the Roman limestone of Capernium’s synagogue.
One of the last stops was in Mt. Arbel. This was the location where a number of fishermen from Migdel (Magdeline) were chased into caves and eventually threw themselves off of the edge of the cliffs. This is the highest location in the Galilee.
Arlie seems to think that this could have been where Jesus preached His sermon on the Mount. The cliff would have worked like a theater - amplifying the voice of the orator.
Tonight was ministry again and it was unique and awesome. We met a group of Christians that sang with us! They were only teens - how awesome! What is interesting is that we were counted worthy to taste persecution.
It started out with a younger guy yelling at us that he would give us each $20 if someone would walk on the water. Mike tried to go out to defuse the situation and almost did... however, an older, stiffly orthodox man stepped in and started yelling venomous and hateful things at us. He started on Patricia and the other girls by yelling “Jews don’t listen to women sing!” They sang louder. “We just lost six million Jews in the Holocaust and you are trying to take more!” He has been taught that a Jew who converts to Christianity is no longer a Jew! It is absurd because Christianity’s roots are in Judaism!
They were shouts of venom and hate that communicated fear and hurt. I pictured this same man in priestly robes taunting and hurling accusations at Jesus. Our response was not reaction. We played for a little longer and then left. Mike tried to talk peace with him, but he would have nothing to do with it. As we left, I saw the man’s son... I saw indoctrination in his eyes... not choice. He will grow up never knowing why he hated the followers of Yeshua (Jesus) so much... but he will.
As we sat and talked later, different people shared their hearts and thoughts. Mine was simply this:
Praise God that we were counted worthy for persecution!
Friday: May 6, 2005: Discipleship stage 4: “Come and Abide in Me”:
Today we left Tibereus for southern Israel. Our first stop was the Jordan river. Roland got baptized here. There was a little controversy over it because he’s been baptized before. Arlie wouldn’t do it, but Pastor Rob did. I stepped in the river, just to be able to say that I walked in it. After that we drove by the border of Jordan and the mountains of Isacaar.
Next was Bet She’an, the city where Saul and Jonathan we killed and hung on the walls to be mocked by the Philistines. The city of Scytopolis was built at the foot of the hill of Bet She’an. I didn’t know that we were going to be visiting Rome while we were in Israel! Columns, Corinthian caps, bath houses, etc. And at the pinnacle, Missy played her violin in the Roman theater. I am proud of her. She lacks confidence, but God has gifted her.
While people were still wandering around the ruins, Arlie, Cindy, Skot, Wilson, and I went to the grocery store to shop for lunch supplies for everyone. It was the craziest shopping experience ever! Small store - too many people.
Next was Bet Alfa. There was a synagogue built here with a mosaic depicting the zodiac in between two biblical scenes. They were trying to keep in step with the Hellenistic society of the day. It reminded me of how our modern churches follow liberal trends to keep in step with the world around them while losing the core message.
We stopped next for a picnic in the national park at Gan Hashelesha. It was like paradise! We swam in a clear spring complete with waterfalls. It was incredible and a time of rest for the entire group. I personally liked sitting under the waterfall.
After that, we drove parallel with the West Bank on our way to the Dead Sea. Along that road were the mountains of Moab in Jordan.
What a difference and a desolate place! Southern Israel is much less lush than the northern regions. This is the same desert that the children of Israel wandered in for 40 years. There was a recreation of the tabernacle out in the desert. It was a little cheesy, but super cool to see.
Finally, we made it to the Kibbutz Almog - a kibbutz community in the desert. It will be nice to be away from cities for a while. I have been spending a lot more time admiring God’s created beauty in nature. This is something that I haven’t done much.
Oh yeah, it has been awesome. Chapman, Vrooman, MacNeil and I wandered out into the Judean wilderness, hiking the high mud caverns of this place. It was incredible to view. However, to be stuck there would kind of suck. Chapman and Vrooman kept pushing to go further... we did until we found a sign that read “The not go any further: firing zone.” I had to laugh at Vrooman’s reasoning to go beyond the sign. We turned back.
Saturday: May 7, 2005:
Shabbat Shalom! It is Sabbath in Israel, but we travel on to Masada - a city fort built on top of a massive mountain. When this hill was taken by the Romans, Herod the Great used plaster to seal the brick and created and effect from a distance that the walls look like gold with the sun reflecting off of them. I took 2 rocks from here to remind me that we are living stones (2nd Peter) for our God. We hiked down the massive hill after - what a walk!
Next was Ein Gedi - the place where David hid in the caves from King Saul. No wonder he hid there! High cliffs, waterfalls, cool springs, and animal life. You could see the contrast of the flowing springs of life and the Dead Sea. If you were lost in the desert, you would be elated to see the Dead Sea, thinking that it was an awesome source of water, but you would have died within 30 minutes because of the saltiness. It took work to climb the rocks and hills to get to the life giving springs. So it is with discipleship. We walk through the valleys of spiritual death. We look for the easy ways to satisfy our spiritual thirst, but like the Dead Sea - we wind up in spiritual death (The Dead Sea is so salty because it has no outlet - like Christians who do little with heir faith).
Next was Qumran - the place where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. There was a sect of Jews that believed that they were the Sons of Light and separated themselves away from the rest of the world so that they would not get tainted by the Sons of Darkness. They believed that the Righteous One would destroy the Sons of Darkness. There was a little video that we watched about them, a reenactment. Some people believed that John the Baptist was a member of this sect and in the drama when one asked his elder both the elder and David shouted “It’s not the same man!” - a joke which would continue throughout the rest of the trip!
After that, we swam - or I should say floated - in the Dead Sea. It was he weirdest thing ever to be able to float in those waters. I found a salt rock in here that I want to give to Dad. The number of people that flocked here was crazy. They came for the mud of the sea. Apparently it is an incredible exfolient. How could I help making fun of them by doing it myself. It was... odd being smeared in clay and mud.
We’re on our way to Jerusalem right now. I wonder what it will be like to do ministry there. With the opposition that we had in Tiberius, I wonder, being that close to the holy city, how many more orthodox Jews will be there. I pray for effectiveness, but safety; for boldness, but disgression. I wonder what our approach will be.
Our approach tonight was this: we went down to Ben Yehuda street - Jerusalem’s Union Square - and just talked to people. I paired off with Trisha and Massie.
We ended up talking to a guy named Mickey from California - the same guy from Tiberius that Chris Horseman encountered. He was a young Christian that said that he had visions - that is what brought him to this place. We encouraged him to return to the scriptures to back up his visions or find out their validity. What we did tonight was discipleship - something our church lacks. I pray that his visions are genuine, otherwise I fear for his deception.
After we got back, I tried to call home, but couldn’t get a toll free number to there. However, I met Vic and Karen, the workers at the shop within our hotel - both Christians! It was awesome to share with them what we were doing in Israel and what we’ve seen. In this country that wants little to do with Jesus, it must be difficult to be a believer. Praise God for their witness.
Sunday, May 8th, 2005:
Up to the Mount of Olives and Gethsemene we went. This is going to be a day of random note taking because of its intensity. I will take sporadic notes and type accordingly. Gethsemene means “The Garden of the Olive Press.” The olive tree is an eternal tree - they bear fruit as long as they live. David compared them to old Jews: you just can’t kill them! The olive tree was a symbol of the Messiah. The Mount of Olives was supposed to be the mountain that would split in two when Messiah arrived in Jerusalem.
The olives were scarred and put in sacks. These sacks were piled in the olive press. Each weight used on the olives was for different purposes. The precious commodity of the olive was their oil. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemene, was being pressed down on by the weight of the sins of the world. He was scarred by whips and felt the pressure so heavy that He sweat like great drops of blood. Sin was the olive press, it presses down to produce the product. From olives came the oil. From Messiah came the blood - the final sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world forever.
We went to the Upper Room today. This is the room where Jesus met with the disciples and where it is believed that the disciples met on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was the Jewish celebration of the day that the law came down from God. When Moses came down from the mountain, he discovered that the people were steeped in idolatry. (Exodus 32:25) 3000 people were killed for their sin. On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), 3000 were added to the number of believers. At the Resurrection, the law shifted from the law of Moses to the Law of Messiah.
I saw the Wailing Wall today, the Western Wall that was built outside of the temple. What I saw were prayers upon petitions on top of prayers. Young and old gathered at this place that the Shekina glory of God - the very Holy Spirit of God, resides.
Beyond that wall is said to be the hope of Israel - the new temple, not yet built. As people prayed, cried out to God, I realized hat what I possess in my heart is the hope of not only Israel, but the whole world: Jesus, the Christ, Messiah, Emmanuel, the King of Peace, the Lion of Judah, our World without End, the Great Unchangeable I AM.
After seeing the wall, we went to the Stairs of the Rabbi. The teachers of the day would have taught his disciples on these stairs. Gameliel would have taught Paul and his other disciples on these stairs. Paul would have taught his disciples on these stairs. Jesus taught on these stairs.
In Matthew 23:27 - 28, Jesus confronted the attitudes of the Pharisees of the day. He compared them to white washed tombs. The Pharisees made the Jewish religion near impossible to live. This legalism does not produce fruit, but covers up the malignant sin that dwells in the depths. From the Stairs of the Rabbi, you could see a hill of tombs. They were painted white as snow. They were painted that way so that the Levites and the priests could avoid them.
We did ministry tonight in Ben Yehuda street tonight. We split up tonight and Missy, Tricia, and I went to the middle of the street on a set of stairs and did a bunch of music. We met a lot of people! It was incredible.
(Look in the back of the notebook for more notes)
Monday: May 9th, 2005:
Another day in Jerusalem... we were supposed to go up the market today, I’m pretty stoked about that! We’ll see what happens once we get there... if we do.
There was a riot that went on during our travels. Police, MPs, the whole 9 yards. We’re talking full tactical gear. I’m not sure what the demonstration was all about, though there was talk to that it was over a group of orthodox Jews were making a scene to get up the Temple mountain. What I do know is that I just saw a riot truck, troops preparing themselves with kevlar vests, night sticks, helmets, and even equestrian police. Praise God for His protection. We were the next bus to go through that area. Had we gone through, there is no telling what could have happened. Pray for the peace of Israel... a city whose name means the city of peace... needs more peace than any other place. I found a tattered flag along the street later as a reminder to pray.
We went to the museum of Jerusalem. It was today that I saw with my own eyes the Dead Sea scrolls! They had the whole book of Isaiah on display. I hear that it is 95% accurate - that other 5% was small, insignificant words. It was awesome!
On the east side of Jerusalem, the city runs right into the Desert of Judea to overlook there road to Jericho - the same road Jesus in His parable of the Good Samaritan. In this type of story, a priest, a Levite, and a Pharisee were usually used as examples. However, the Pharisee was the one who asked Jesus who his neighbor was, so Jesus used a Samaritan, a people group despised by the Jews. The Priest and Levite crossed the road the road because they did not want to make themselves ceremonially unclean by dealing with a man with open wounds. But the Samaritan bound and healed the man’s wounds, just like Jesus did for us. The Pharisees hated Jesus for it!
Jesus came to heal the sick, to bind the broken, and bring the hope of salvation to earth. We have been charged to be His emissaries to the world to do the same.
We went shopping in the market place right inside of the Jaffa gate. It was tons of fun! I walked around with Amy, Chad, Missy, and Nicole. They bargained pretty well. It was pretty hard though. They wanted to make sales. I found a cheap saber that I for 75 shekels - roughly $20 - not too bad.
Now for a rapid change of pace - we are enroute to the holocaust memorial museum. I’m not sure how I’m going do it in there. I hate injustice...
It was sobering. There was a lot to take in. I really don’t have any words to describe it than this - the holocaust is a testament to the darkness of mankind and how twisted and maligned we truly.
What a powerful night of ministry! My role was simple - I was the music maker - I was the entertained. I played and sang for the passer bys and the curious. I got a lot of compliments, but I know that it is only by God that I can do what I did here.
I pray that the hearts of the people burned within them with the same intensity that the men on the road to Emmaus felt.
Tuesday: May 10, 2005:
Today is our final day in Israel. We are attempting to go up the temple mountain again. I guess we’ll see what happens.
We did make it. We were in the temple courts - now converted to the Muslim shrine - the Dome of the Rock. It was an impressive looking structure that was supposed to mark the place where Mohammad was met by Moses, Elijah, and the angel Gabriel and taken into his vision of the seven heavens where he receive the Quran from God. This was built over the site of the temple.
Next was a monastery built inside the Antonia fortress - where Jesus stood in front of Pilate. The building bore the inscription “Ecce Homo” or “Behold the man!” This structure - the fortress was build on the corner of the temple wall to keep an eye on the Jews without having to upset them by accending the temple mountain.
After that was the pool of Bethesda - where Jesus healed the lame man. This location had adopted Greek mythology about a snake god of healing. The Jews believed that the Angel of the Lord (rather than the snake) stirred the waters and gave healing.
The church is like this today. We have adopted certain traditions that have no biblical foundation. We need to be more like the Berean believers, who searched the scriptures to find out if what Paul had to say was true.
The nex stop was at the Biblical Resource Garden where I met Gary, 24, from South Africa and Lisa, 21, from New Zealand. Gary led the tour and taught us a bunch of awesome details about biblical things.
Then was the finale... the garden tomb. He wasn’t there! I wasn’t surprised, but encouraged by the plaque on the door inside. It read “He is not here,. He is Risen!” We shared communion - our last act of ministry together. Arlie shared an example of the motza bread: it was pierced, broken, and scarred just like Jesus! Mike blessed the bread and Vrooman blessed the cup... one of the last ministries that I will have the privilege to share in with them.
We did not return to the hotel for dinner tonight. Instead, we drove into the desert to dine in the hospitality of Abraham in his tent. It was kind of cheesy, but it was really neat. I loved it. The best part about it though was that we got to ride camels back to the main building. I am now licensed to drive a camel! What a jovial end to an experience beyond description.
What do you say at the end of 10 days that have totally changed the way that I look at the Bible. What words do you utter when the reality sets in of final experiences with best friends and ministry partners? These brothers and sisters with whom I shared ministry experiences, laughter, and tears.
Praise God.
That is what to say. God has carried them to the completion of one stage of their life to the next chapter. My role is uncertain, but this truth is clear: the pages of the next chapter are empty and the Author is at work and His stories end with bug reunions. I can’t wait to see where God will bring:
Arlie,
Ibraham,
Brandon,
Rob and Cindy,
Roland,
Mike MacNeil
Mike Chapman,
Josh Vrooman,
Josh Harris,
Chris Wilson,
Chris Horsemen,
Chris Massie,
Robin Plane,
Chad Cummings,
Skot Sacrey,
Patricia Korvis,
Amy Smith,
Nicole Kimmerly,
Missy Gilbert,
and
Damien M. Gula
From Israel... Godspeed.
