The Bible Comes Alive

Above you see four of the sights we were blessed to see in the Holy Land, sights which illustate how the lands we saw are sometimes called "the fifth Gospel." Let me close my little tour of our Holy Land pilgrimage with these four memories, which have helped to bring Scripture alive for us.

Scene #1 ... We we in a place, now called Ein Gedi, [in Scripture called "En Gedi"] which overlooked a water fall and a cave (see in the background of the photo). There were goats grazing on this hill where we were which overlooked an oasis and Jericho; and when the passage from 1st Sam. 24: 1-3 [link provided] was read to us, it came alive right before our eyes. Here was the description of David going into a cave, which scholars strongly believe was the cave top which you see just to the right of the water fall in the distance in this picture. So, when we looked into that green valley in the Negev desert, we were seeing 1st Samual 24 right before our eyes. How cool is that?

Scene #2 ... Another cave; but this time we go up farther north in Israel to Caesarea Phillip, ... to the headwaters of the Jordan river; and we read from Matthew 16: 18, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." And our guide, Saliba, and scholars believe that Jesus was looking right at the same cave you see in this photo as He taught His disciples, especially Peter, about His power to overcome Satan ... and that no earthly force or cult would prevail against Him or His Church. For right in that cave, at the time Jesus was teaching was a "Pan cult" practicing its religion in Caesarea Phillipi. Man, this all became so much more alive when you see where Jesus was actually doing his teaching.

Scene #3 ... This is the promised land which Moses would have looked over and seen in The Promised Land from which he would be barred by God from entering due to his past sin. But when you read Deuteronomy 34: 1-3, you will read about what you see in this photo, which is taken from the very spot mentioned from Mt. Nebo in that passage. Click on the link , read it, and see what Moses saw.

Scene #4 ... Finally, this scene is a real emotional one for me. When you read Matthew 27: 35, you read about the Roman Soldiers playing a lot casting game, vying for Jesus' garments, as they were getting ready to nail Him to the cross. Well, the stone you see in this photo is believed to be the very game the Roman soldiers had chisled into this stone where Jesus was crucified. It was very emotional for me to see that stone and realize that it was my sins which drove those soldiers to nail my Lord to the cross.

Yes, we were privileged to "read" the "fifth gospel" and see Scripture come alive for us. I pray that you, who might read this, have this opportunity in your life. What a blessing it has been for Elly and me (and 64 others) to be on this pilgrimage to walk where Jesus walked.

This will be my last pilgrim entry from my trip; and it has been gratifying to post it and relive these moments in my blog. ... <'BB><

Traveling the Holy Land Was Fun Too!

Being with our group was one of the spiritual times of a life; but our group bonded quickly; and these folks were not afraid to have fun as well as Spirit-led fellowship and fruitfulness. Here's a sample of some of the "funnest" moments above.

Scene #1 ... We were constantly confronted with street vendors, trying to sell any number of items, like jewelry, postcards, olive wood carvings, and in this case, a small shepherd's flute. We would constantly here them say, as they approached, "Five dollah - cheap!" And then one would barter a bit to get the price down to "One dollah!" or some lower figure. Here Steve Ashford cracks up when the vendor opens his wallet, to reveal hundreds of "dollahs" all divided into Euros, dollars, sheckels, etc. ... What a hoot!

Scene #2 ... Cheryl Gardner, on the way up to the famous Treasury site at Petra, encountered some men dressed in authentic 1st Century BC guards outfits; and Cheryl got up-close-and-personal with these dudes very fast, ... on her way to planting a kiss on one cheek of the "guard" on her right. ... You go, girl!

Scene #3 ... In the Israeli Museum of History, Chuck Nitsch, apparently a bit lonely, found a vulnerable maiden who was willing to take his advances. ... Watch it Chuck, ... Marla will get you for that!

Scene #4 ... And finally there was the moment of weakness after our lunch in "The Tent" Restaurant near Bethlehem in the Shepherd's Valley, where Nancy Armstrong just had to give this middle-eastern "Hookee" a snort. The Arabs call this water pipe a "hubble bubble;" and Nancy just had to give it a try. ... Way to go, Nance! (I missed the shot when she turned green after this scene.)

We did have the spiritual experience of a life time; but memories like these will also last in our minds and hearts as well. ... <'BB><

A Few More Holy Land Memories

Well, there are so many memories I could lay out for anyone who reads here to give you some idea of our memorable trip to the Holy Land, ... from which we just returned. But above are just a few special ones.

Photo #1 ... On a brisk Jerusalem morning, I mounted a camel with Elly for a short ride up on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus had walked down to the Temple from where we were on the Mount down through the Hebron Valley into the Temple @ Jerusalem for the first and last time he would enter those Temple gates. He would enter being hailed as a King; and within a few days He would be crucified, mockingly as the "King of the Jews," ... and He would rise again from His death eternally as the "King of kings and Lord of Lords!"

Photo #2 ... We'll never forget coming out of the long trek to Mt. Hor in Petra to see this incredible monument to human engineering - "the Treasury" site, where the Nabatean arabs had chisled monuments to their gods in Roman and Greek style into this mountain. And to think that this doesn't even compare with the sites we'll see one day in heaven.

Photo #3 ... And dthe last one I'll bring up - for now - is the remembrance of standing on the very stones on which the Roman soldiers nailed our Lord to the tomb, realizing that is was my sin which did the nailing ... and my sin for which our Savior died (along with yours) to save us forever from our selves.

These are just a few strong memories from the travels which had us walking where Jesus had walked. ... Bill

Sorry about non-posting from Holy Land

I had truly hoped to post daily blogs from our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. But intermittant and inconsistent internet access (long story) made this impossible. And posting hundreds of "interesting" fotos [at least to us] here of this incredible experience is not a reasonable thing to do. But above I've posted a few fotos which may be interesting to any who might read this.

#1 ... Renewing our wedding vows in a church in Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, at a wedding, turning water into wine. This was the first time we had ever taken wedding vows as Christians; and for it to occur on Valentine's Day in Cana, made this a very special occasion.

#2 ... Our boat ride across the Sea of Galilee ... from Tiberius to Capernaum ... a most worshipful experience with God's word being shared, the American flag raised over the ship, and much praise singing by our entire group. A boat ride we'll never forget.

#3 ... Being baptized in recommitment of faith by my a dear Kenyan Missionary friend, Pastor Paul, in the Jordan River.

#4 ... Yours truly, floating in the Dead Sea ... a rather incredible experience to float in the dense mineral waters ... in only 4 - 6 inches of water and have my feet and head out of the water. Truly hard to fathom unless you've done it!

Perhaps I'll post a few more experiences in separate blogs in the next days; but this was truly a life building spiritual experience for all on our trip. ... <'BB><

Holy Land Trip: Travels to Israel

Well, all of the pilgrims from Central Church (and a few extras) made it from Memphis to Tel Aviv yesterday (2/09/09). The group in the picture traveled through Atlanta. Another made their way via Newark, NJ. It was a long trip; and other than one passenger in the Atlanta-Israel group who had some airsickness (which passed), we all made it safely and soundly to Tel Aviv, weary but well.

Above you see the group loading the plane in Atlanta with one Jewish man in the foreground, probably wondering who all these excited Americans are. I'm sure someone in this group witnessed in some way to this man ... there was a lot of witnessing going on on those flights to Tel Aviv. ;>)

I'll be reporting in here as often as I can during the next few days of our travels with a few fotos of our adventure. Stay tuned ... Wondering Willie and Elly

2009 - Day 39.Feb.9 - Final Promise

2009 – Day 39.Feb.9

Passage of the Day: Genesis 45: 8 – 9 … 27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he [Joseph] said, “I will do as you have said.” 31 Then he [Jacob] said, “Swear to me.” And he [Joseph] swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.

My Journal for Today: As Swindoll points out in his devotional for today, deathbed promises are not that uncommon; but in this text for today we read of a rather bizarre custom that apparently was a serious way to take oaths in those days in the middle east.

Jacob asked his son to promise him that he’d make sure old “Israel” was buried in Canaan, the Promised Land, … not in Egypt, where the family had migrated to stay alive and be with Joseph. And he asked Joseph to make this vow by placing his hand under his dad’s buttocks. Sounds somewhat weird; doesn’t it? But we have similar funny ways of taking vows here. We ask the person taking the vow, “To swear on a stack of Bibles;” or maybe we say, “Cross your heart and hope to die.” This posture of “hand under my thigh” in those days would have been like the President putting his hand on the Bible and taking the oath of office. It was serious business; and Joseph pledged that he would insure that his daddy was buried back in his homeland.

Interestingly enough, this very day I leave, along with about 65 other pilgrims from our church, to see the very Holy Land to which old Jacob wanted to return to be buried. And I feel like God is saying to me that I’m blessed to go and see this “Promised Land,” to which Israel must return one day, especially when our Lord, Jesus, the very Messiah for which Jacob and Joseph longed, walked the earth, died, and was resurrected as the Redeemer of His people, … first the Jews and then for those, like me, who’ve been grafted into the Family of God.

I feel so blessed to be headed today to see that land to which Jacob longed to return.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, may our walking where Jesus walked help me to know You more deeply and serve you more powerfully. But I know that such a pilgrimage must begin in my heart and commence in Your presence. Amen