Caesarea Philippi, the Syrian Border, and Tel Dan

     The rain is coming down and it is cold (40's), and yet the day has not been a throwaway.

     The highlight was driving to the Syrian border on the Golan heights, and realizing we were only 25 MILES!!! from Damascus. While the news we see regarding Syria has not currently advanced to Syria, it still gives me pause to think of how close we are to the heart of that troubled country. We could also see a Lebanese village or two on some Golan Heights hillsides.

     I was disappointed that rain prevented us from exploring Tel Dan. This is the second time I had to settle for a view of Dan from the tour bus. 

     At Dan, there is a gateway that dates back to 1900 BC. It is entirely probable that Abraham (when he pursued the kidnappers of Lot) came through this very gate. Dan is also mentioned in Judges 18, when the descendants of Dan finally take the inheritance promised to them in the conquest of Canaan (spoken of in Joshua).

     Caesarea Philippi was very cool, even though I had visited this site before. It is home to natural springs that serve as one of the three sources of the Jordan River. It is also a place that Jesus and his disciples visited ("You are Peter, and on this rock ...").

     I am ready for Jerusalem. The last time I visited Israel, I only had a day or two to spend in the City. Looking forward to exploring Jerusalem and taking it all in.

     Missing the family, of course. I have had more than enough time to reflect upon life and calling. The conclusion: I am happy and blessed. I do not feel worthy of the blessings that God has given me (a wonderful family, a great congregation, great opportunities, the list goes on...)

     Thank you God, for choosing to bless me. Give me a grateful heart that continually returns thanks to you, my Lord and my Savior.

Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee, and pictures!

     We walked in the footsteps of Jesus today, no doubt.

     According to our tour guide, when Jesus entered the Village of Bethsaida, he would have crossed the same stones that we stepped on. The path, which is only 5 feet wide, was the main entrance to the fishing village of Bethsaida, where Simon, Andrew, and Philip lived. 

     Kind of cool that Jesus' footsteps can be narrowed to a matter of a few feet.

     We also visited the Mount of Beatitudes, sailed across the Sea of Galilee in a "Galilee Boat," ate Saint Peter fish, and explored Capernaum. One of the pastors on our trip had committed the entire Sermon on the Mount to memory and delivered a portion of it in an outside sanctuary atop the Mount of Beatitudes. Very different hearing it from someone who is not reading it out of the Bible and adds a touch of drama.
     We also witnessed the Sea of Galilee go from a tranquil surface to white-cap waves in the matter of three hours. As the storm front moved in, winds picked up something fierce.
     Tomorrow it is off to Tel Dan and the Golan Heights, before we venture south and make the climb to Jerusalem.

     Temperatures have been rather cool, probably in the 50s. There is still the threat of rain over the next two days.

     I finally found the USB device that allows me to upload photos off my digital camera's memory stick. Enjoy!

   We appreciate everyone's prayers.

The steps that Jesus walked, in Village
of Bethsaida.

Me on the Galilee Boat

Our crew from LA and TX in the theater at Caesarea.

Without a doubt, the hippodrome in Caesarea was my

favorite site so far. Think chariot races in the movie

Ben Hur.

Caesarea Coast

Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, and a Minor Setback

     I will start first with the minor setback. As I was unpacking last night and preparing my day pack, I discovered there was no memory stick in my digital camera.
     Oops.
     Fortunately, I was able to borrow one, and so I a haven't missed a snap with my camera. On the other hand, I can't download any pics yet for this blog until I can purchase a little gizmo to transfer pics from the memory stick to my laptop. This is a boring way to start the blog, but I thought I'd explain why I haven't uploaded any photos yet.
     Caesarea was incredible. We were a stone's throw from where Paul came before Governor Felix (Acts 23-24) before he was sent to Rome for trial (and ultimately martyrdom). It is also the place where the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Gentiles for likely the very first time (Acts 10). Peter, following his vision on the rooftop, was invited by the Roman centurion Cornelius to come and preach the Gospel in Caesarea. As Peter was still preaching the Gospel message to Gentiles here, "The Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."
    Mount Carmel was equally incredible, more for the view of the Valley of Jezreel than anything else. Mt. Carmel is the place where Elijah faced off against the 450 priests of Ba'al, as recorded in the closing chapters of I Kings. From atop the Carmelite monastery on Mount Carmel, you could see in every direction over the valley of Armegeddon.
     We concluded the day by walking through some 3rd century Jewish catacombs at Bet She'arim, and are now kicking back at a kibbutz in the Upper Galilee.
     We are somewhat out of luck at this kibbutz, because they will not take U.S. Dollars, but we will press on.
     That's it for the first day of touring. Tomorrow we start at the Mount of Beatitudes. There is apparently a 40 percent chance of rain, but I have my poncho, so bring it on...

The Journey Begins

     Worship services at Grace-Plano are concluding as I write this. It is nighttime here in Israel. Somehow I will find a way to eat dinner (shouldn't be a problem) and then try to go to sleep.
     From the lobby of the resort in Netanya I can hear the sounds of waves from the Mediterranean Sea. Hope to get pictures tomorrow morning.
     No problems on our flights here. However, Anne and Amy (my two traveling buds from Grace-Plano) somehow scored first class seats from DFW to Newark. As I was feasting on a bag of pretzels and some ginger ale, they had gourmet dining and snacking. I told them to take a break when you get it.
     I was fortunate to have emergency row seating from Newark to Tel Aviv, so I could stretch out my big legs. Very worth the $60 upgrade.
     Tomorrow we make our way to Caesarea. Can't wait to explore the sites, cross-reference with Scripture, and imagine what it would have been like.
     For now, it is off to dinner and then to bed. A person can only be on airplanes and buses for so long...

Never Thought I Would "Do" Ash Wednesday Again

“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield.”

Psalm 5:11-12

Not only do I wear ashes once a year.
I also, from time-to-time, sport a clerical
collar. Both symbols give me a warm,
but strange connection to the Church
of my youth.

     When I left the Roman Catholic Church as a sophomore in college, I thought my "Ash Wednesday Days" were behind me. The liturgical practice seemed to me, at the time, the exclusive property of Roman Catholics; if I was no longer a practicing Catholic, I had no business eating fish on Fridays or having a clergy person rub palm ashes on my forehead on the first Wednesday in Lent.

     Then I went to seminary, where a professor taught me that any practices in the Church (the western Church, at least) prior to the Reformation are the property of Protestants and Roman Catholics alike. There is about 1,500 years worth of heritage that we share in common. So therefore, Ash Wednesday, which was practiced long before there was an eastern or western Church, or Roman Catholics and Protestants, is "fair game" for liturgical practice.

     Now, I realize this is a totally childish way of looking at things, with the focus on what is "mine" and what is "yours," but for some reason it resonates with me. 

     It helps me to bridge the faith I knew as a child to the faith that I practice today. 

     It allows me to participate in practices shared by friends and family who are still practicing Roman Catholics. 

     And it shows me that Christ's Church is truly catholic, or universal, and that we share a common, ancient heritage.

     It is all ours. 

     Or better yet, it all belongs to Christ.

Like a Pig Staring at a Pearl Necklace

I am on Week 2, Day 5 of the Twitter challenge at church. Following on the previous blog, now that I am technologically re-integrated, I am trying to use things like Twitter and Facebook more for their usefulness for the Kingdom.

This is not to say I am some pious soul who has no need of entertaining, mindless dialogue between friends. I enjoy exchanging quips about the simple joys of life, and the funny thoughts and events that we encounter from day-to-day. However, Facebook (for one) can be used more intentionally for things like keeping the Body connected throughout the week, and reaching out to others in our networks who may/may not be Christian. It can also bridge the generations. (I certainly use it to check-in on what's new in my kids' lives, and in the lives of our church youth.) 

Twitter, however, has me stumped. It seems like a truncated version of Facebook, and I do not yet understand why so many folks are going nuts for it. Is it only because it is the newest and shiniest social networking toy out there? Or does it offer something Facebook does not yet offer?

Don't get me wrong. I like to check Tweets from people like "Weird Al" and Conan O'Brien, or check on what my favorite athletes are saying and thinking. But can it be used for other, more intentional purposes related to the Church?

As one of our church members says, when I am on Twitter, "I feel like a pig staring at a pearl necklace."

Re-integrating to the Tech World

I recently broke an 8-month "technology fast" from things like Facebook and blogging. I even deactivated Internet and e-mail access on my iPhone for a spell.

The fast started last summer after one of my son's baseball games. He said, "Dad, why are you always checking your phone when you come to watch my games?" It's not as if he wouldn't be doing the same thing if I was on the field and he was in the stands. He and his brothers do, after all, use Facebook, Xbox, texting, et. al., much more than I do. But as the guy in his life that he calls "Dad" I thought enough is enough. If I can't sit at attention for my own son's ball game without being tied to a hand-held device, then perhaps I have a problem (which I did).

At any rate, it is time to reintegrate, and you could say I am worse off than before I started the fast. I have since graduated to Linked In and Twitter. So now, in my complicated life, I must regularly check voice mails, texts, Facebook posts, e-mails, and Tweets. I am registered on Linked In but don't know how to navigate yet (not really interested in learning, either.)

The conclusion I have come to is that I will take the "good" that Internet networking has to offer, and discard the rest. I will try to avoid posting every funny (but ultimately useless) comment that pops into my head, and be more selective in what I share. I will try to glorify God more in my comments, recognizing that it is possible to have a "bad" Christian witness through the things we Tweet and post.

Don't know if is going to work out any better this time around, but I am giving it a shot.

God help me.