O Jerusalem!

So here's the deal, you potential Israel pilgrims. When you are here time is fleeting. Touring eating touring shopping eating and resting.

  Jerusalem is same only more so. So this is an early Sunday morning and quieter for us. We are going back to the Church of Holy Sepulcher for morning Orthodox services of various kinds. That is all I can say. It's too foreign even for me. 

  Here are some photos to enjoy. 

 20th. 

Close as we got to Dome of the Rock. Troubles. Police troubles. 

Modern Garden of Gethsemane

1/50 relief map of 1st c Jerusalem. 

Sat night near Dasmascus gate. 

New Vision New Hope

This is Daoud. We say David. Daoud gave us a talk on and tour of Neve Shalom Wahat Al Salaam. It is an intentional community of Arab Israelis and Jewish Israelis who decide to live in one village on equal terms, peacefully. This is a big big deal. Never been done.  

  It has gone on for 24 years. It is gaining attention & support, slowly. They educate their children & other nearby in 2 languages, Hebrew & Arabic, and observe three religions, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. This is a big deal. It could be a model community. I think we should pray for them. 

On a personal note, I am doing fine. This is so my wife will know. Phone is not working. Now email is locked up. Life in Israel/Palestine is not without its hardships. 

   We have four days to go, all in Jerusalem. The holy city. Thursday we go to Haram Al Sharif, the Temple Mount. And Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jesus was laid in the tomb. Should be quite a day. All doing fine. 

Shalom & Salaam! - Steve P

Dead Sea Day

  We are in lovely downtown Arad tonight. We've spent a bit of a southern Israel wilderness day. Walked around deserted Qumran by the Dead Sea. Where the Dead Sea Scrolls were created & hidden away. They changed the Bible the most in the  20th century. 

Site of Cave 4 where significant Scrolls found. 

   Then we were on to Herod's fortress palace at Masada. Quite a dig. Ha. Important for several reasons. You can google it. Lot more rocks with a great view. Take the cable car ride up. 

View from the fortress. Quite a view. Of rocks. Very hard to overtake. 

   Then down to the Dead Sea for a dip. Lowest largest lake on planet. Lots of Russian tourists & hotels. I did not swim. Many did. Some for 5". It was cold. 50. I know you got it much worse. 

Two pictures tell it. First, a few get in. 

Now notice beach wear for those who didn't. 

Many other stories. We bond with each other, with natives & guests, and with God of course. Till next time. Shalom & Salaam!   - Steve P

Super Bowl Sunday in Bethlehem

Let me guess, I bet you were reminded at least a dozen times of a somewhat significant football game today in U. S. 

Not here in Bethlehem. No one knew. It wasn't even on TV. German broadcast of the Winter Olympics. I think they are winning. Not sure. Also no UK or U of L scores, except on iPads. 

No here it was cool 50s & started to drizzle a bit. It was Sunday in  Bethlehem. End of a 3 day weekend. So we were given a break, much needed. This is the geezer tour after all, with a few exceptions. Student pilgrims are all home now. 

So we went to church, some twice. We went first to the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church. That's right Christmas.  This is where it all began according to St. Luke. 

   I will not speak for others, but for me the service was a spiritual breakthrough for the week. What ancient ruins, caves, seas, or boats could not do for me, the chancel choir of Christmas Church did, got me in touch with The Lord of the Universe and myself. Alleluia. Praise God. 

Here's the magnificent Old German organ, repaired in U.S. a few years ago despite almost overwhelming Israeli bureaucratic odds. With their organist playing Bach like, well Bach. 

The Rev. Mitri Rehab gave a very fine sermon on Genesis 8, they say. It was in Arabic, the language of the congregation.  Bet you never heard Christian worship in Arabic. Me either. Quite beautiful. Ask to hear my recording. Communion was awesome, I say not lightly. 

   Then, after coffee fellowship & lunch, we were on to the famous Church of the  Nativity, where Jesus Christ was born, or so they say. It likely wasn't a stable poor, but a cave. A church was built over said cave in 323 CE. Five denominations share ownership today. Very complicated. Makes our Session upkeep decisions seem a snap. Still it is reverent, if crowded. I leaned over, way over, and transferred a kiss to the multi pointed gold star over Jesus' delivery room. That does not sound very religious does it? It was okay. I felt more holy kneeling again with an Arabic neighbor at the next grotto     

  It is hard to explain or take in West Bank Bethlehem. We are in a sort of ghetto for Arab Palestinians. We are very welcomed. We have a 4 star hotel and excellent Mediterranean cuisine. The neighbors not so much. Some less. We are a short walk from the border fence. We can leave easily, the Palestinians, not very easy, if at all. Still everyone here is super nice. Why not?  Oh, and there is shopping. Here's one more shot you've not seen. It's an Arabic Christian artwork created by the Christmas Church's only tenor and resident fine artist, Mr. Adel Nasser. Arabic art uses no pictures just Arabic calligraphy. It says, "Glory to God in the Highest", I think. 

  

Game over. Jesus wins. More hope tomorrow. - Steve P

A blessed day in Galilee

I think most of us had another great day in the Galilee & Golan. Warm here. Spring like. Flowers blooming. Bananas & mangoes. Here's some pictures: 

Church on Mt of Beatitudes where Jesus may have preached his Sermon on the Mount. Matt 5-7. 

Replica of Torah reading table in 1st C synagogue in Migdol, Mary of Magdalas home town. Shows reference to Jerusalem Temple. 

1st C fishing boat dug up next door on Galilee shore. Jesus' boat?  Who knows. Be real careful where you dig here. 

Sat  - Jericho to Bethlehem. 

On the shores of the Galilee

The sites and remembered images from yesterday are like the beautiful varied mosaics we saw yesterday- some incomplete pictures but incredible color and pattern.   We visited Capernum and saw the Church of the Annunciation  then the Church of Joseph,  we saw restored caves that were the common homes during the time of Jesus, and Mary's house.  We've contemplated the importance of land, and the importance of the exactness of places where biblical events are said to have taken place.  Yesterday we talked about the aspects of Jesus' life that resonate with us now.  I have always loved the story of the resurrected Christ cooking fish for breakfast on the Shore of the Galilee and inviting the men to join him.  They didn't recognize him at first.  I think of how Jesus comes to us in the ordinary everyday ness of  our lives and invites us to join him there.
Blessings, Kaye

First Photographs of Jerusalem

During the last week, the first group of travelers took hundreds of photos of Jerusalem. I have no doubt that the second group will do the same next week as they arrive in Jerusalem. It's a place full of photo-worthy sites.

So, take a look at the city's appearance in 1844, when the first photographs were taken.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-first-photographs-ever-taken-jerusalem-180949473/