I remember now that last year I began having trouble posting on the blog at the Dead Sea and it continued through Jordan.
We crossed the border without any problem then ran into a dust storm that changed our plans a bit. We are now in Petra and all is well. We were, however, reminded today that one of the Exodus plagues was the plague of darkness. Amazing how thick dust can be.
I will hope to catch up in a couple of days in Amman
Blessings
Mary

How is life measured?

Someone has said that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of moments that take our breath away.  We have had so many moments that are breathtaking.  It is hard to imagine that looking at the barren landscape of the Judean wilderness can take your breath away, but it is true.  There is a beauty to the wilderness, expecially when realizing that more than 80% of the biblical story takes place either in the wilderness or on the edge of it.  It is here that the still small voice of God was and is still heard.  Our time in the wilderness was made exponentially more meaningful by hearing Joe Greemore sing with magnificent clarity and beauty, the words inspired by Isaiah 40 in Handels Messiah.  The valleys and hills and crooked places of that text were brought to vivid life.

Blessings
Mary

Wilderness to Dead Sea

I have just worked for an hour on a post with pictures. As I pushed the button to publish my time ran out and I lost the post. I will catch up tomorrow.
It was a full and wonderful day: the Judean wilderness, Qumran, Masada, the Dead Sea. We will sleep well tonight
Blessings
Mary

The Ultimate Oriental Experience

My Internet time has run out so this is a brief post without pictures.

Today was a free day to wander and experience this city. It was time for me to immerse myself in the sights and smells of the "souk", one of my favorite places. It is a bazaar in the classic sense of the word. The tight warren of alleyways is bursting with raw energy, chaotic noise, scents of exotic spices and the locals. It is fun and I love it. It really is the ultimate Oriental experience.

Sorry I can't put pictures on this because I have them of shops selling everything from spices to squid. Actually the latter is not a pretty picture.

Because our day was free and Sunday, a variety of worship experiences were enjoyed, from time at the western wall in private prayer to a Baptist service, a Lutheran service or time in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After the chaos of our time there yesterday, I was grateful to find it quiet.

We head to the Dead Sea tomorrow.
Blessings and Shalom,
Mary

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

The Rabbi's say that God created the world with ten parts of beauty and nine of them are in Jerusalem.  It is impossible to capture this city in words so here are a few images of the day. The people and places capture that beauty.

Doesn't the man above look like he stepped right out of the pages of the Bible?

And then there is the beauty of the Church of Mary Magdalene.

The ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, with silvery gray leaves shimmer in the wind.  They are not from the time of Christ, but they are more than 1600 years old.

That is an impressive cabbage, is it not?

One last image.  The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that remembers the crucifixion of Jesus, almost defies description.  It is complex and bewildering.  Shared by several Christian communities, it feels and is very chaotic.  Yet,  that is what those last days of Jesus were, so perhaps that is the way we should experience the place.  Today was a solemn day, as it is the beginning of Lent for the Eastern Orthodox churches.  Pilgrims crowd the church as they have for generations.  Crosses etched into the ancient stones remind us of those who have gone before. We too are awed by all that we have seen and experienced.

Blessings,

Mary

Israel is Intense

Israel is intense.  Few other places offer as much to sustain the spirit, feed the intellect and stimulate the senses.  Israel is a land bridge between three continents and is therefore a fusion of peoples and landscapes from Asia, Africa, and Europe.  It can be an infuriating mix of conflict and harmony.  Always, however, there is an amazing allure and fascination to see more.  I love the Mark Twain quote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”  With such diversity in this land so many preconceived notions go away and hopefully some prejudice as well.

It is spring in this country.  Poppies burst forth in the fields and iris emerge, seemingly out of bedrock

There is perhaps no more familiar landmark than the Dome of the Rock on the Jerusalem skyline.  Holy Place to Jews because it is built over the Holy of Holies. It also remembers the Patriarch, Abraham and the rock thought to be the place of intended sacrifice of Isaac. Holy place to Christians because the Temple Mount is a prominent place where Jesus taught.  Holy Place to Muslims because the Dome is built over the rock thought to be the place of the ascension of Mohammed.

The southern teaching steps of the temple, some of which are original to the time of Jesus, is a perfect place for a class to learn about what we are seeing and experiencing

What a delight while there to have a quartet sing, "I walked today where Jesus walked."

Lunch in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City was falafel for most of us.  It is a pita filled to the brim with falafel balls,( ground chick pea balls fried)with vegetables, pickles and sesame sauce.  It is a great lunch in a pocket. Doug Harris can attest to that.

Those are french fries on the top!!!

The afternoon saw us at the church of the Dormition that remembers Mary, Jesus mother.

On then to Peter in Gallicantu, which is the Church of the Rooster Crowing.  It remembers the denial of Peter and is a stunningly beautiful church inside. There is lots to remind each of us of our own denials and shortcomings.

Another full and spectacular day

Blessings,
Mary

Every Day is BetterThan The One Before

The comment at the dinner table tonight was, "This was a great day.  Every day is better than the one before."  As a trip coordinator, I love hearing such a comment.  It was a good day!  Bethlehem is nothing like the Christmas card image we hold in our head.  The Church of the Nativity is massive and cold.  It is filled with symbolism unfamiliar to the western Christian, yet being there is somehow meaningful and reaffirming.  The cave beneath the church that remembers Jesus' birth, feels more right, even if the huge structure over it does not.  The heavy decorations within the church are interesting reminders that over the centuries Christians have felt the need to decorate this place,  Jesus was, after all, homeless at birth.
Pilgrims continue to make their way there year after year giving witness to their faith.

A remaarkable present day witness and testimony to the power of faith in the one born in Bethlehem was given at our next stop, Bethlehem Bible Colege.  Our host, Dr Bashira Awad, shared his story of great loss of father and home in the l948 war. As a Palestinian, he and his mother and 6 siblings were left with nothing. He was filled with hatred for Israel.  He was blessed with a mother that taught forgiveness.  Dr Awad is the founder and Principal of  Bethlehem  Bible College  A school that trains students to be pastors, educators and guides to the holy sites.  The school started with a gift of $20.  No wonder Dr Awad speaks of a God that is Good. 

His story had a wonderful affirmation as we drove along a stretch of the ugly and immoral wall that divides the West Bank from Israel.  In the midst of all the graffiti on the wall is this declaration.  It is true.  The statment is both a hope and a dream of the Palestinians and we add our prayers to theirs that one day they will not live in an occupied territory.

Blessings,
Mary

Up To Jerusalem

This will be a brief and picture less post. It is Ash Wednesday and many of our Baptist group have experienced the imposition of ashes in the Catholic pilgrim center where we are staying in Jerusalem. It was wonderfully meaningful particularly because it was Father Kelly with whom we toured Magdala, who officiated.

The ancients thought of Jerusalem as the center of the world. It is the center of our itinerary and we happily anticipate 5 nights here. In biblical times, when pilgrims went "up to Jerusalem", they sang the 120th to 134th Psalms, which are known as the Psalms of ascent. We, too, read some of them as we approached the city.

Several of us walked tonight to the Western Wall. Praying at a place where millions have stood before us is a remarkable connection with past present and future, and indeed with the God who loves us all.

Tomorrow we head to Bethlehem.

Blessings
Mary

"It gets late early out here."

Yogi Berra, king of the malapropism and other mis-statements once said, "It gets late early out here."  I thought of that at dinner tonight as I looked around at our group.  Many in the group went to Hammat Gader this afternoon. It is a hot springs that still gushes hot spring water exactly as it did 2000 years ago. Large pools claiming to cure every ill entice one in for a relaxing/healing time.  The end result for those of us who spent more than an hour in very warm sulphur spring water was relaxation to the max and a sense that it was a whole lot later in the day than it really was.  Time to turn in could not come soon enough.

Oops, Joe Greemore is on his head again.

Others in the group enjoyed walks around the sea, or time to nap and catch up.

It was another amazing day.  We began at the Primacy of Peter Church.  A beautiful little church on the sea that remembers the resurrection story in John 21 when Jesus stands on the shore and guides the disciples to a better place to fish.  As they have breakfast of fish and bread together, Jesus and Peter have that remarkable conversation in which Peter was essentially promoted from being a fisherman to being a shepherd. Hearing Peter's affirmation of love and trust, Jesus tells him to "Feed and tend my sheep". This statue is a striking reminder of that reversal and promotion for Peter.  Shepherds were low on the employment ladder and it was a dangerous job. Peter came through and literally held the early church together at a crucial time in its development.

We saw no sheep today, but there was a family of hyrax, rock badgers out catching the rays of sun on the rocks.

The Church of the Beatitudes offered us a stunning view of the sea and then we moved on to the Church of the Multiplication, remembering the Feeding of the 5000.  The best way to remember that miracle, I believe, is to think of how in Jesus' hands the mere becomes more. Five loaves and two fish fed the crowd and there were leftovers. Grace and love can do that.

A fascinating end to the learning portion of the day was a visit with Father Kelly, who I met last year.  He gave us a tour of the archaeological dig at Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene.  The dig is not yet open to the public.  The visit gave insight into the tedious, but remarkable process of uncovering history.  I have participated in a dig and it is very real detective work.   Father Kelly with the lilt of an Irish brogue, was the perfect host. The coin he is holding was just discovered.

And this was a short day! Now it is late for real.
Blessings,
Mary
   

Our Days Are Identical Suitcases

Our days are identical suitcases -all the same size but some people can pack more into them than others.  We have suitcases and days that are bulging.  The learnings are many and fascinating.  The insights meaningful and immense. As has been true of every group I have coordinated for Jim Fleming to teach, all are amazed and grateful for his knowledge and wisdom and ability to bring information and insights together. 

Today we experienced the wonder of early spring wildflowers,
and the beauty of newly fallen snow.  Both within just a few short miles of each other.

We looked across the border to both Lebanon and Syria and I need to add, felt no sense of dis-ease or concern, while at the same time realizing that there is the ever present sense of tension for those who live here.

Our classrooms were hillsides and next to the Jordan River.  Brenda and Ashley collected Jordan River water to bring home.

Our focus and destination today was Caesarea Philippi.  To the north of the Sea of Galilee, it was a place of withdrawal for Jesus and the 12.  It was also the time of final preparation to head to the conflict in Jerusalem.  Once Jesus heard one of his disciples (Peter) declare that Jesus was the Messiah, he set his face toward Jerusalem.  The time in Galilee was a time when there was growing conflict and tension.  Sadly, this is a land of tension.  The saddest and most profound expression of that was the children's playground that we passed that had as it's play equipment for climbing, three very real tanks painted in primary colors; red, blue and yellow.  Jesus blessed peacemakers long ago and does still today.

The three seminarians in the group bless us with their energy and enthusiasm.  Joe Greemore on his head, Ashley Whitaker, and Brenda Goodman made it into the Sea of Galilee for a sunset swim.  Yep, the water from the sea comes from where the snow was melting.  :)

Shalom,
Mary

Gaining A Wise Heart

After a day of practically non-stop rain, the sun came out in time for a spectacular sunset over the Sea of Galilee. It is a beautiful setting and surely the best place in all of Israel to feel the presence and ministry of Jesus.  We spent the day recounting Jesus' movement around the sea.  From Bethsaida and Chorazin, cities that Jesus warned, to Capernaum where he taught, to a boat ride remembering his calming of the storm, we listened and learned. Much of the time that was standing under an umbrella.  It is tricky taking notes in wind and rain. This is a hardy group.:)

I have been pondering some words in the 90th Psalm today.  The Psalmist writes," Teach us to count our days that  we may gain a wise heart.  I  have used many words to define the heart, but generally not wise.  Jesus' heart was indeed wise.  It had doors that were wide open.  It was a heart full of compassion, understanding, joy, love, grace. It led him to be interruptible.  He was available and so very present to those around him.   I don't think he counted days in an arithmetic way, but rather always noted the goodness and guidance of God. 

Blessings,
Mary

Letting Our Souls Catch Up

We have arrived at the Sea of Galilee, a much calmer body of water than the Mediterranean Sea, pictured above.  After a day of record breaking wind gusts, we are glad to have a quiet retreat.  Our bungalows, near the water's edge, enable a night of rest and renewal.  We were told this morning as we left the Mediterranean coastal city of Netanya, that there had not been such severe winds there for 35 years.  No wonder the sea was thought of as a place of chaos by the ancient Hebrews. It felt chaotic, yet such power enhanced our understanding of so many of the Psalmists words that speak of the power of God in nature.

Inspite of the elements, it was a remarkable day of learning, reflection and insight.  The Church of The Annunciation, in Nazareth, where we remember the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would bear the child who would become the Christ, is a stunning architectural masterpiece honoring Mary.

It looks much like a lighthouse, a fitting reminder that her son would bring light into a dark world.

On to Scythopolis, a Greco-Roman city just a half hour south of the Sea of Galilee. So pagan was the city that one wonders if perhaps when Jesus told the story of the lost son in Luke 15, he was referring to this city when he spoke of the younger son going to the "far country".

It is good now to be in our bungalows by the Sea. The story is told of a time when Albert Schweitzer was a part of a caravan in Africa.  Suddenly the caravan stopped.  Schweitzer sent word ahead to ask the reason.  Word came to him that the caravan bearers stopped so that their souls could catch up with their bodies.  Galilee has a way of doing that.

Blessings,
Mary

Strength to the Spirit

Greetings and Shalom,

A hasty post to let our loved ones and friends know that we are here in Israel and doing well.  The flights were smooth, on time and no bags were lost.  We are off to a good start.  The rainy weather will not discourage us.  I am currently listening to the waves of the Mediterranean Sea right outside my room in our hotel in Netanya.  It is stormy and  windy and the noisy gusts are a reminder that for the ancients this sea was considered the Great Sea.

It has been said that travel not only stirs the blood, it also gives strength to the Spirit.  This is that kind of trip to be sure.  Even after a long day of travel, our senses are heightened and our awareness sharpened.  We are in a land of remarkable history that has shaped all of our lives. We are being taught and led by the most remarkable teacher, Jim Fleming.  No seminary class taught me as much as he has. In so many ways he has shaped both my ministry and my preaching.

Travel indeed is more than the seeing of sights, it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent in the ideas of living.  We will see many sights as we begin tomorrow, but what we see and feel will affect us more deeply

It is the sabbath here.  Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday.  The greeting for today is
"Shabbat  Shalom!"  It is a wish for peace and wholeness on the sabbath.  We wish you that this day as well.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Mary

The Journey of 1000 Miles Begins With a Single Step

Twenty-three tripsters will take that first step out the door and be off to the airport tomorrow morning as we begin a journey of many more than a thousand miles.  The group is gathering from coast to coast and the group will be complete in Tel Aviv as Jim Fleming our guide joins us as well as Doug Harris and Carol McVetty who are coming by way of Frankfurt.

I love the saying by Henry Miller that "One's destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things."  We do have a destination: The Holy Land.  However, I also know that everyone of us will have new ways of looking at and reading both the Bible and the newspaper when we return. 

I know that travel to the Middle East is often filled with concern for those at home.  To the extent that I can I want to assure those at home that we have and will make every effort to always stay safe.  This will be my 12th trip to Israel and Jordan and I have actually never felt at risk while there.  I have both talked this week and read reports from foreign policy experts as well as those in the tourist industry and all agree that travel there now is safe.  The posturing by both Israel and Iran is troubling, but there is little concern about it in these next two weeks. We will be fine!  Do check in on this blog and I will keep you posted.

Keep us in your prayers.

Blessings,
Mary