Here Are the Pastors On Pilgrimage

Here we are outside of the Church of the Multiplication. It commemorates the Feeding of the 5000. Good looking group, eh?

Israel Trip Part 7

Today is our last full day in Israel. We went first to the Western Wall or Wailing Wall, the retaining wall of the Temple mount. I delivered the prayer requests that had been given to me by members and friends of the church where I pastor. It was a very moving time for me. I spent the first few minutes just praying at the wall, lifting up prayers to God. Then I went into the tunnel next to the wall. Inside were many Jewish rabbis and students and other devout praying and reading prayers. There was a rabbi teaching students. There was a circle of young Jewish men outside signing their praise to God very loudly. We all wore our heads covered. The women in the group had to go to the women's side of the wall.
We had to pass through metal detectors. We saw a group of about forty young police, looking about young twenties, carrying rifles and having on bullet proof vests and helmets. Last night and today was a Jewish holiday of Pentecost of I think they call it Shavaout. We had tried to eat at the King David Hotel last night but it was full to overflowing of people celebrating the holiday.
After spending about one hour at the Wailing Wall. We then went up to the Mount where the Al-Aqsa Mosbue and the Dome of the Rock are located. We could not go into the Dome, but it was good to walk around the Temple area.
We left there to go to Gordon's Calvary or the Garden Tomb. This place looks like what Calvary and the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea would have looked like at the time of Jesus. Although scholars do not believe it to be the actual burial place of Jesus, it was a helpful visual aid to our faith. Our group celebrated the Lord's Supper at the Garden Tomb. The sign at the door of the tomb reads, "He is not here, He is risen". That my friends is Good News.
This might be my last post. We will be leaving Israel on tomorrow. We go to Bethlehem for a final feast. We will then return to Tel Aviv to board our flight home. These two weeks have been life changing to say the least. I have made new friends. I have felt the pain of the Yad Veshim, holocaust memorial. I have felt the pain of oppression and prejudice that comes when people do mean things in the name of God. This land of promise is a land of pain. Christians fighting over who runs the holy sites in Jerusalem is not a great witness to Christ. Jews fighting Palestinian, Christian against Muslim, this is all wrong. We have been called to the ministry of reconciliation. So I leave a holy land, full of sorrow in my heart because of the pain people of faith have caused each other.
I look forward to going home. I have been away long enough. I will carry these memories with me forever.

Israel Trip Part 6

Today we spent time in Bethlehem. Our travels took us to the Shepherd's Field, site of the angels telling the shepherds that Jesus has been born in a manger. We also saw the Church or Balsilica of the Nativity. The Star is the presumed site of Jesus birth. It is a place a great reverence. I saw a young woman on her knees in devotion to the Virgin Mary. She said her rosary and crawled on her knees through the church of the Nativity. What devotion!
I am amazed at how the holy sites have been guarded by religious orders, like the Carmelites and Franciscans. We owe them a great debt. Even though the Franciscans could not say Mass for 400 years they remained faithful to keep the holy sites that we now enjoy.
I am also amazed the eternity invaded time. That in the fulness of time, Jesus came, born of a woman, Mary. It is a wonderful thought. Many of us have made several trips to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a very large basilica that holds the traditional sites of Mt. Calvary and the tomb of Jesus. The largests lines are to see the place where He laid. But guess what? He is not there! He has risen like he said. Go into the world and preach this good news. Hallelujah!

Israel Trip Part 5

Today we spent time touring Jerusalem. WE saw the place dedicated to the Our Father prayer. It is run by Carmelite Nuns. Then we walked down to the Church of Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. We walked into the old city, going to the Basilica of St. Anne, the pool of Bethsada, we walked the Via Dolorosa and ended at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This has been quite a day. I think of all of the stations of the Cross. As we follow in the footsteps of Christ, do we think about all of the things he went through for us? I am so grateful for this trip. More later.

Israel Trip Part 4

We travel on Wednesday from Gallilee to Jerusalem. On the way, we stopped at Megiddo. Megiddo is the town that overlooks the Valley of Jezreel. It was a Canaanite city, then occupied by others until King Ahab. The book of Revelation says the last battle will be fought in the valley of Megiddo or Jezreel. WE walked down through the water springs. This is were the city got its water. In case of seige it kept a water supply. It makes one wonder about how much carnage must happen in a valley as big as this if the blood of men will reach the bridles of horses. Let us pray that we can make peace and not war!

Israel Trip Part 3

Today we saw the Jesus boat. It is a 1st century fishing boat. It is the kind that would have been used at the time of Jesus. It is remarkable how it was found. It was sticking out of the water in the Sea of Gallilee during low water. It was painstakingly excavated using unique methods. It is said the boat would seat 13 people. We also took a cruise on the Sea of Gallilee. We stopped and read from passages were Jesus saw his disciples struggling against the wind on the water. Jesus walks toward them and scares them. They thought he was a ghost. We have a communion service on the boat, that was very moving. We have had a full day of pilgrimage, study and reflection. My body is weary, but Jesus is revealing more of himself to me. I am blessed with wonderful pastors and teachers on this trip. Tomorrow we go to Ceaserea Phillipi. Blessings to you.
If anyone wants a wonderful place to stay on pilgrimage, I highly recommend the Pilgerhaus on the Sea of Gallilee, great food, great place.