Linked Reflections

Hello all! Like so many others, I had trouble posting here during the trip because everything was in Hebrew. I kept posting over at my blog, so I'm taking the time (a little belated) to share the links here. I still have a few more days to write about, now that I'm home.

Here is the homepage, where you can scroll back through to read in order: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/

Or, you can start here at Day Five (the other links are already on this blog) and just click forward day by day: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/day-five-questions-and-sources/

What an amazing trip we had! I am still trying to absorb all the experiences we shared.

Peace,

Jennifer M-K

Nina's Notes for Tuesday

Tuesday, February 7 This has been one of my favorite days of the trip! We made our way out of the city and into the Judean wilderness of Palestine. It is barren, rugged and quite a contrast to the countryside we have seen near Jerusalem. Our initial stop was at Qumran where the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Most scholars believe that the Qumran scrolls were left by a Jewish community called the Essenes who hid the scrolls in caves before their city was destroyed by the Romans. We continued our journey to 1,800 feet below sea level as we reached the Dead Sea. The water in the Dead Sea is 23% salt as compared to10% in most oceans. Several of us waded and others ventured out further to float in the Dead Sea. It was a beautiful day and this motley group of pastors enjoyed romping and laughing together in the water. The next stop on our journey was to the oldest city in the world - Jericho. We saw portions of a wall that is 5,000 years old! We visited a monastery that sits high on the face of the mountain in Jericho. We rode cable cars to one level of the mountain, and then had to climb our way up many flights of stairs to reach the monastery. It is literally built in the rock and is beautiful inside. We were able to see their chapel which is small but has many icons and paintings on the walls and ceilings. The monk that let us in spoke with me and asked where we were from. I told him we were from Kentucky and he asked if I knew where Louisville and Lexington were! He has family in Lexington and lived there for five years! It is definitely a small world! We ate lunch and did some shopping in Jericho before piling back on the bus after an exhausting day of swimming, climbing, and exploring the ruins of Jericho. God was and is in this place. How grateful I am that when I read the Scriptures now they will come alive for me as I envision these places I have visited.

Nina's Notes for Monday

Monday, February 6 A miracle has happened! One of my fellow pilgrims figured out how to change the words on the blog site from Hebrew to English. Now I won't be posting things that have no content because I can actually read the instructions in English! My life is now complete :-) We went to Bethlehem today and saw the birth place of Jesus which is located inside the Church of the Nativity. As with most places around here, several people groups claim this site as their own and share space within the church. Thus you will see a very ornate section belonging to the Greek Orthodox church and a very simple chapel belonging to another group. The church is built around the cave where Jesus was born and one can see the manger that Jesus was laid in as a newborn baby. The Catholics didn't get a place within the church so they added their own wing onto the building. On the door of the church is this message: We are hoping that if you enter here as a tourist, you will exit as a pilgrim. If you enter as a pilgrim, you would exit as a holier one. Indeed! Bethlehem is located in a part of the city that requires one to go through a check point where passports are examined and people questioned. There is a wall that separates the people of Bethlehem from the city of Jerusalem. This results in a great deal of tension and prejudice among the people of this land. It is a very complicated situation and we were able to talk with pastor and scholar, Rev. Mitri Raheb of Christmas Lutheran Church about this today. He wrote a book about Palestinian Christians that we read before our trip to Israel. It was an interesting conversation where he spoke about contextual theology and peace making. There was much food for thought as a result of our time together. Tomorrow we head to the Dead Sea, Jericho and Qumran.

Nina's Notes for Sunday

Nina's Notes - Sunday, February 5 Since this is Sunday, my heart has been longing for my faith community in both thoughts and prayers. It was 6:00 pm in Jerusalem when Highland was worshipping at the 11:00 hour and I thought of the music, the prayers, and sharing the Lord's Supper - and I missed being there. Our pilgrim group was gathered in our own time of devotion at 6:00 pm so we paused and prayed for our home churches. We are surrounded by people of so many faiths here in Jerusalem, but I have missed MY people of faith at Highland Baptist Church today. Our worship took place early this morning at the church of the Holy Sepulcher. This church houses the tomb of Jesus and Golgotha, as well as several sanctuaries or worship spaces. We got to experience portions of worship with the Ethiopians, Syrians, Greek Orthodox, Copts, Armenians, and Arabs. All worshipped in different areas of the church at various times this morning. We couldn't understand their language but we did experience their devotion and praise of God. In between the worship services our guest guide, Hana Bendcowsky, of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, taught us more about the church and the people who worship there. She is quite a scholar and we felt we had taken an entire seminary course by the time we finished at noon. For lunch we were invited to the Wujud Museum and were served a bountiful lunch by Palestinian Christian women. We were given a tour of the museum which is housed in a 650 year old building that had been refurbished in 2008/2009. We had the privilege of hearing a dynamic woman speak about the plight of the Palestinian Christians. It planted new seeds for many of us to ponder. There are so many images, smells, tastes, and sounds from the day that keep playing through my head - from the beautiful music of the Armenians, to the Coptic priest sharing some of the blessed bread with us, to the feel of the rock at Golgotha. Quite an amazing day and one that I will ponder for some time. Tomorrow we head to Bethlehem so stay tuned!

Jimmy - 4th post

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, oh....the beautiful and glorious city! ***  IT IS MUCH...., TOO MUCH FOR ME TO DESCRIBE IN WORDS HOW I FEEL, WHAT I'VE SEEN, WHAT I'VE SMELLED AND WHAT I'VE HEARD. IT IS AMAZING.  *** I would ask that you forgive my above description, it's just that there are a flood of emotions in my heart after being in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and witnessing the multiple worship services going on simultaneously.  I touched the place of The Cross. I touched the palace of the Empty Tomb.  I've done what many millions of people have longed and long to do...thank you, Lord. Thank you, The Cousins Foundation. Thank you Trish, Jane and Claudia.  *** There is something transformative about this place.  Through my experiences so far, there something in me that desires to be better than what I am,  do more than what I've done and dream higher than what I've dreamt.   I hope God will do a mighty and holy work through me as a consequence of my experience here.  Can I be available to Him?  Will I be available to Him? *** Palestinian people (Muslims and Christians) are suffering horribly under the mighty oppressive hand of political Israel.  It is a travesty that goes unreported and ignored by U. S. media and policy.  Lord, have mercy.  Jimmy

Nina's Notes - February 3-4 I'm sorry for the posts that have had nothing in them. The words on the blog are in Hebrew so I have to try and remember which "word" was the magic one that ge ts this posted. Sorry for the false starts. Didn't write yesterday as it was quite busy and by the time dinner was over at 8:00 I was ready for bed! We did several things that day including going to Megiddo, Caesarea Maritima, and then we drove to Jerusalem, quickly unloaded our suitcases and got ready for a shabbat service at a local synagogue, came back after synagogue and had dinner. Talk about sensory overload! We started the day in Megiddo which is a hill called a "tell". Archaeologists excavate them and attempt to separate the layers and reconstruct the cities that lie covered below. The city of Megiddo emerged as the result of this sort of excavation. They told us there are 28 layers in this tell. I found the water system in this ancient city most fascinating. Outside the city is a spring. As the tell grew higher over the years it was harder to access it so they built a deep shaft inside the city walls and connected to the spring with a horizontal tunnel. This allowed them to be able to have water in the city even when they were under siege. There were stairs that wrapped around the vertical shaft so they could have access to the water. Those have been replaced with steps which we were able to descend - all 183 of them - to get to the bottom and walk through the tunnel to see the spring. Of course what comes down has to go up - but it was only 80 steps to the top outside the tunnel. Thank goodness! Next we went to Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean Sea. This is a huge city that has and continues to be excavated. We saw a theater built by Herod the Great that seated 4,000 spectators and an amphitheater which served as a race track. We were also able to see different parts of the exterior walls. Some were built in the Byzantine era,some by the Romans and some by the Crusaders. We ate sandwiches on the rocks of the Mediterranean Sea before heading to the bus again for our journey to Jerusalem. Once we got to our destination we had a short time before we headed to meet Debbie Friedman who is a founding member of the synagogue we attended. She met with us for about 45 minutes explaining about their synagogue and going through the service we were about to attend so we would understand what was happening. She was the one giving the sermon that evening. It was wonderful to worship with the Jews who live in this community. We learned that all Jews walk to their synagogue so they worship very close to where they live. After the service we headed back to the hotel for dinner and then to bed. A very long but wonderful day. Saturday - Another very busy day which began with us delivering the books that we brought with us to the Lutheran school. We met Ellie who is serving there and she had arranged with one of our leaders for each of us to bring a duffel bag full of books to the children at the school. Instead of bringing two suitcases for the trip we elected to bring one plus the duffel bag of books. We delivered 600 pounds of books to the school today! Ellie said the children were so excited to be able to receive that many books at one time. Next we saw the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Basilica of the Agony, and we saw the Stations of the Cross as we walked the Via Dolorosa. The 10th- the 14th Stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which houses Golgotha and the tomb. It was an emotional day and a day of surprises. The Via Dolorosa is a busy market street where vendors are constantly calling at you to look at their wares. It was crowded with tourists and other pilgrims. I would imagine it would have been as busy when Jesus carried the cross that day. It was such a play between being attracted and called to by the people and things of this world, and then wanting to focus on what truly happened on this narrow, yet busy street. I imagined it in a very different way than what it was, but realized the challenge is still the same. Separating the presence of the Holy from the distractions of daily living. I have a lot left to think and pray about from this day.

Well we travelled to Jerusalem yesterday and on the way made some great stops.  One stop was Megiddo, which is incredible.  It is a tel with 28 layers and the history is incredible.  Also, like the other water systems, the one in Megiddo is an engineering marvel.  After Megiddo we went to Caesarea.  This, too, was a remarkable stop.  The control over this port city changed hands over the centuries often.  We were able to see evidence of each era, from Herod, to Muslim rule, to crusades and more.  After Caesarea we made our way to Jerusalem.  Wow.  That's all I can say right now is Wow.  Ok, I'll say a little more.  We began our stay by getting into the Notre Dame hotel in the late afternoon but before Shabbat.  We got ready for worship at a synagogue.  It was a fascinating experience and one I enjoyed greatly despite not knowing one lick of the Hebrew they were reading and singing.  Dinner was next and then sleep after a long day.  This morning we got up early for a trip of a lifetime.  We began at the Mt. of Olives/ Gethsemane.  Oh my, how awe-inspiring.  We then went down to the Kidron Valley to the Via Dolorosa.  Again, just remarkable.  There simply is no describing it but I'll do my best when I get back for my good friends at Fourth Presbyterian.  Suffice it to say for now that I went to the place of Jesus' crucifixion (Golgotha) and to the site of his burial.  There were of course many many stops before that, but I think you know those stops.  Just think of the Passion narrative from Palm Sunday to Easter and you'll get the sense of what I was blessed to experience.  Afterward, a friend I met on this trip and I walked around Jerusalem.  We went to the wailing wall and I spent some time in prayer there.  .  Was very spiritual to pray with so many others at a location unlike any other I've been in.  Just wonderful.  Did some walking in Jerusalem outside the wall then came back to the hotel to type.  That about sums up the day as for what I did, but I'll have to share more on what it meant spiritually to me when I return.  I have a plan for a presentation on a Wednesday night.  Don't worry it won't be one long slide show.  anyway, that's it for today.  I'll try to write more later this week.   Blessings to you all from the Holy Land. Miss being with you all and look forward to seeing you when I return.  

Jimmy - 3rd post

Well..., this is my last day on the Sea of Galilee. Tomorrow we are heading to the Holy City, Jerusalem!  I am getting back to my full strength just in time (I've been battling this cold since day one of this trip...been feeling pretty miserable on most of the excursions, but I told our tour director that I didn't travel 6,000 miles to be sidelined by a cold). **** Being on the sea has been incredibly peaceful and calm.  My room is literally 40 feet from the shoreline. **** This has been a fascinated time for me...a time of reflection, clearing of my mind, listening to God's voice as He calms my soul. **** Yesterday I went to Caesarea Philippi, now known as Banias (Or Panias in Greek, after the Greek god Pan).  We visited a magnificent waterfall that was breathtaking.  I'm posting video footage of my trip to this waterfall on my Facebook page (hint, hint, you should check it out under James Wilson, it will be there during the week Feb 13th).   Historians don't know why Jesus took the Disciples to this area.  Caesarea Philippi is not mentioned in any other place in the Gospels...it was a land filled with temples and idols to foreign gods.  Additionally, it is so far removed from the handful of cities that the Gospels reflect where Jesus did ministry.  My theory, however, is that Jesus goes to the heart of pagan territory and a land filled with falsehood to proclaim and affirm the authority of His Truth and the constancy of God's power in and through His church.  It is the ultimate in comparison and contrast. **** This trip is also helping me gain a better understanding of the humanity of Jesus.  In my earlier post I mentioned how Jesus might have been physically fit, due to the nature of this terrain and that poor people of this time would have walked from city to city.  Our tour guide gave insightful commentary on a theory of why Jesus left Nazareth to come to Capernaum as the basis of His Galileean ministry.   From a strategic standpoint, Nazareth was a small village of about 200 people.  If Jesus wanted to take His message of redemption to a wider stage, He needed a different marketplace.  Given the pivotal location of Capernaum, what better location could there have been?  It was a much larger multicultural community near a main thoroughfare of travelers. He called Peter, who, as evidence might suggest,  was someone that had the financial means and willing heart to further Jesus' movement.  Humanly speaking, Jesus was a clever strategist!  Hmm?  We, the Church, people of faith, businesses, individuals, social service agencies, local and national governments can learn a thing from the Master, the Ultimate Strategic Planner.   Jimmy

February 2, 2012

Our last day near the Sea of Galilee --tomorrow Jerusalem! I marvel at all we have seen and experienced and at the camaraderie being developed in our group. I'm traveling with wonderful pilgrims --people of deep faith and integrity. Today was our day to do as we chose. Some went to the city of Tiberias and 3 hardy and healthy souls biked around the entire Sea of Galilee. Others, myself included, took our tour bus to a restaurant about 2-3 km beyond Cahpernaum and had lunch at St. Peter's restaurant. I mean, really, where else would you eat in Cahpernaum?. We walked back to our hotel --somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 to 5 miles, stopping to see a Greek Orthodox Church on the way --it was small and every space was painted with stunning scenes from Biblical stories. From there we stopped again in the gates of Cahpernaum where you will see the ruins of a synagogue and a modern church built over the ruins of what is thought to be Peter's mother-in-law's home. Then on to the Primacy of Peter Church and a little further to Tabgha and then to our hotel. The sun, which has been sorely missed was out all day! None of us can believe that we have been gone a whole week. This has been an incredible journey so far. I was a reluctant traveler but I am absolutely thrilled to be here and humbled by this opportunity! Of course, keep the prayers coming because I do have to fly home!

Nina's Notes - February 3,2012 Today was deemed a free day for exploration and/or rest so six of us rode the bus into Tiberius which is not far from where we are staying. We had a grand time looking around and experiencing the sounds and sights of the city. We looked in a variety of stores, explored the abandoned mosque in town, and enjoyed eating falafels on the boardwalk. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the sunshine and each other's company. When we got back to Tabgha we went down to the Sea of Galilee and waded into the water. It was icy cold and there are lots of stones, but it was worth it - check out the pictures on Facebook. I sat there letting my feet dry and read from the Psalms. It was so peaceful and the presence of the Lord was in that place. I thought I would share with you some of the unusual things we experienced today, in bulleted form. We saw young men and women walking about in military uniforms carrying guns while shopping. All young men and women have to serve for three years in the army when they turn 18. Many were at the bus depot going home for the weekend which is Friday and Saturday We saw many Hisidic Jews in the city today. The men were wearing their kipa on their heads with their pe'ots (a long single ringlet). You cannot be a citizen of Israel unless you are a Jew. We saw lots of fruit for sale at the market such as pomegrantes, bananas, dates and dried fruits of all sorts. We also saw a fish market and stores with various kinds of nuts, and spices. We ate falafels on the boardwalk where there are numerous vendors all wanting you to try their food. The city bus we rode was like a tour bus and the round trip cost $22.40 in shekels which is about $7.50 in American money. Well, that is enough for now. We have our evening devotions soon and I have a few more things to throw in the suitcase. We leave very early in the morning for Jerusalem. I will hate to leave the peaceful area of the Galilee.

Nina's Notes - Wednesday, February 2, 201 Today was a busy day filled with new sights and LOTS of rain. Despite the rain we maintained good attitudes as we explored the Zippori National Park near Nazareth. The remains of a magnificent city were discovered here and some of the things we saw were the remains of city streets, houses, a theater, bathhouses, a synagogue. These date mainly from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The mosaics on the floors of the synagogue and some of the houses are amazing. In the synagogue there is a floor that contains 1.5 million tiles of 23 colors! In between the raindrops we were able to make our way to the Church of the Annunciation. The interior and the exterior of the church are breathtaking. Inside there are murals from countries all around the world depicting Mary and they are truly magnificent! (It may seem I am using hyperbole here, but it is truly hard to describe without it). The lower floor of the church contains another smaller chapel where they were finishing mass when we arrived. Behind the altar is the opening to the cave where they believe Mary lived and received the announcement from the angel that she was going to have a child. The cave had a facade on it orginally, but the living quarters were inside the cave. Who knew? Last night several of us walked back to the Church of the Loaves and Fishes which is close to where we are staying. We wanted to attend evening vespers in the church. It was a quiet, candlelit service of which we understood nothing as it was all in German. It didn't matter to us though as we were able to worship and sense the spirit in our midst even though we couldn't understand the words being spoken and sung. There were six of us who went and we were joined by one other person worshipping and two priests inside this small chapel. I was aware these priests are faithful day in and day out, for this is their work of Love -whether there is one or twenty people that participate. May I be found as faithful in the work that I do. Since traveling in this area, it is a new experience now when I read the gospels. I understand the places and situations of the time better and I have enjoyed reading back through Matthew this week. It has really made the scriptures come alive. When we visit these sites we read the text in the gospels that talks about where we are. That has been extremely meaningful to me as well as our prayer and devotion times we have twice a day. My head is bubbling with new insights and new questions, but most of all deep gratitude for this experience. Peace be with each of you, Nina

Nina's Notes - Tuesday, January 31 Time doesn't seem to matter these days as we travel and explore. The office and my regular routine seem to have faded into the distance as I walk, and reflect, and share community in this space. When I realize this has happened I have to tell myself that it is ok as I am here as a pilgrim. I am wandering in a different time, a different country, and seeking to find God in new ways in the midst of it all. As I am exploring this new landscape I could be skeptical and question every site we visit - how do they REALLY know that this is where Jesus broke and shared the loaves and fishes, how do they REALLY know this is where they lowered the paralytic through the roof so that Jesus could heal him? Granted, there is room for speculation on some of this, but I have made peace that even if it is not the exact spot where an event occurred, it is certainly in the area and lessons can be gleaned from being there. It is also interesting to see what scenery surrounding the parables and stories of Jesus come close to matching the images I have carried in my mind's eye for all these years. Some are pretty close and others seem pretty off target. In terms of landscape, it continues to amaze me how rocky the hillsides are. I try to imagine what it would have been like for a family to arrive in a new village and have to build a house from rocks as there are few trees. It also amazes me to see the massive and intricate synagogues they built from stone. I can't imagine the technology of erecting the massive columns at the city gates or in the synagogues, but as one of my colleagues reminded me, the pyramids were built 3,500 years prior to that! We also saw a water system that was built during the reign of Ahab. The system was constructed to ensure there was water for the city during times of siege. It is incredible to consider the engineering and ingenuity that went into the construction of this water system. I am realizing more fully the role that foreign gods played in this area as well. We went to what used to be Caesarea Philippi today. In this city stood 6 temples or courtyards - one next to the other! There was the Temple of Augustus, Zeus, Pan, and others. We stood in the courtyard and read Matthew16:13-20, where Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" That whole passage made so much more sense standing there in the shadow of what used to be the temples of the gods. Tonight in our discussion group we wrestled with our own version of the question, "Who do you say that I am? " and had some good time for reflection and discussion. The answer to that question continues to change and deepen as I grow older and as my faith matures. Walking in this place is helping me to once again wrestle with that question in new and life giving ways. I will leave you with that question to ponder as well, and will look forward to discussing the answers with you. Peace!

I don't think I blogged yesterday, so I'll make up for it today.  Yesterday was a good day.  We took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  It was really good to be on a boat and to look back on land and see all the places we have been from that vantage point.  From way out it seems like each spot is really far removed from the next spot, but as we got closer to shore the reality of the distance between each site became clear.  They really are not far from each other.  After the boat ride we went to a museum to see a 1st century boat excavated in the late 1980's.  It was again amazing to be in the presence of something so old.  And the story of how it was found and recovered is amazing.
Today we went to the Golan Heights.  We saw a waterfall that was beautiful (Banias).  Afterward we went to Caesarea Philippi.  Wow.  What a place.  And what a perfect backdrop for the story of Jesus asking the disciples "who do you say I am".  There in the midst of many gods, Jesus asks his disciples who they say he is.  After being there we got to make an unexpected stop at Tel Hazor.  Tel Hazor is a site that dates back to 10th century BCE.  Tel Hazor is a Caananite city.  The Israelites came to inhabit the city and had quite a rich history there until they were eventually conquered.  But to be there and to recognize the huge amount of time that has passed since then is just hard to express in words.  To be standing where we know for sure people were standing and living and working 3000 years ago is mind-blowing.  After Tel Hazor we went to lunch and enjoyed falafels again.  What a treat!  I love the food here.  It is all so fresh and good for you (for the most part).
Now a quick word about the spiritual dimension of this trip.  I wrote a little bit on facebook, but since some of you from Fourth Presbyterian don't have facebook, I want to share with you how I've been effected spiritually (or at least the surprise I didn't expect to find).  As we prepared for this trip I knew that I would be experiencing some really cool things, but in my mind i guess I was thinking of it one way and now that I'm here I'm experiencing it in a different way (and that 's good).  So much of where my mind goes when I'm reading scripture is to a place that is Tom's thoughts on where Jesus was and where he was doing ministry.  That place, I'm discovering, is often overly concerned with Jesus' divinity.  I don't even mean to do it.  It just that when you read scripture all your life and people have told you it is "sacred and holy" and you have treated it as "sacred and holy" my mind leads me to a person who is "sacred and holy".  Now, I think Jesus was holy, don't get me wrong, but that is not what is so striking about being here.  What is striking, as others in my group have also commented, is Jesus' humanity.  Jesus was real person; a wise person; a clever strategist; a man with plans and ways to make those plans become reality.  I guess I've always consider Jesus to have simply followed a plan God set out, but he clearly had plans and strategies that he followed that now (to me here) seem so human.  And sharply human.  I mean, he didn't just roam aimlessly around and hope that his message took hold somehow.  He made sure by his methods that the message did get out.  because of all that, I'm struck spiritually while we're here by Jesus' humanity and his humanity seems so holy and sacred to me.  That being the case, our own humanity must surely be holy and sacred too.  Many of us spend a lifetime trying to be like Jesus, and I think that's admirable, but I think Jesus spent a lifetime being fully Jesus and that we should spend a lifetime being fully who we are.  Jesus was obedient to God's plan for his life, and that is, in my mind, how we should spend our lives, living the life God gave us to live.  To experience Jesus in our humanity is a good thing.  No need to talk it to death when we can live it for life.
To my friends back at Fourth Presbyterian reading this, blessings to you.  I hope all is well with you and that you are finding Jesus in your life - the one God gave you to live fully.
Till next time, Tom.

Day 5 January 31, 2012

My iPad has converted to Hebrew --not the keyboard but all the commands. It makes writing this blog interesting because even though it is writing in English it is writing from right to left. Today we travelled to the Golan Heights and went to Baniass which used to be called Caesarea Philippi --now its familiar right? We went to the site where it is reasoned that Jesus asked Peter "Who do you say that I am?" While most of these sites are not known to positively be the place where certain Biblical events took place research over the years gives plausible reasons for choosing the sites. Caesarea Philippi was a place where archaeologists have found the ruins of at least 20 temples dedicated to other gods. It makes sense that Jesus would ask Peter this all important question in this location -- in the face of competing gods. This is also the place where many springs come together and the Jordan River is formed. Many of us grabbed empty water bottles and collected our Jordan River water. I went back to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. It's a quick walk from our hotel and it's a wonderful little chapel. I lit candles and prayed for friends and family. We gather at 5:45 for sort of debriefing and then 15 minutes of prayer and worship. Today our leaders asked us to consider how we answer the question "Who do you say that I am?" I hear the familiar answer "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior" echo in my head and I find that to be still true --and so much more. So much more.

Trisha's Thoughts

I am very excited and happy to be leading this good group of pastors. Like Jennifer, I have another blog, so I am cross-posting with pictures. My journeys began on Jan 5 and will continue to Feb 21. Here is my blog, with a first post on Capernaum: www.bibleinonehand.org.

Here is one picture from that blog, a group photo. One person was missing, but we will do this again a couple more times. 

Nina's Notes - Monday, January 30 Today has been cold and rainy but it held off until we finished our expeditions this morning. We started the morning by going to Bethsaida which is located of the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The name Bethsaida means "House of the Fisherman" and Peter, Andrew and Phillip were believed to have been from this town. Recent excavation in the city has unearthed portions of a massive wall that surrounded the city, and we were able to see a portion of the gate and the road leading to the entrance of the city. You can also see a portion of the structure that was a residence and also the winemaker's house. These structures were from the 1st century After we left Bethsaida we headed to the Sea of Galilee where we took a boat ride across the sea. It was a little windy and choppy on the sea, but none of us got sea sick. We were able to discern how close the cities where Jesus ministered and spread the good news are to one another. Next we visited a museum that holds a boat dating back to the time of the disciples that was discovered. The boat is made of 11 different kinds of wood. In the picture you see the steel frame holding up the remains of the wooden boat. We stopped for lunch at a roadside place and ate falafels that were yummy! Then the rain started as we were headed back for rest and reflection.

Linking up

I'm still posting every day over on my regular blog. It's been too hard to cross-post over here, since all the blogger directions show up in Hebrew! You can find my reflections (and pictures) here:

Day Two, Part I: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-tabgha/

Day Two, Part II: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-primacy-of-peter-and-capernaum/

Day Three: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/day-three-mountaintops-and-valley-cold/

Day Four: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/day-four-exploration-and-adventure/

I'm enjoying reading all these reflections from my colleagues--this is an amazing experience!

Day 3 January 30, 2012

Monday morning--a very unique Monday morning as we gathered for devotions at 7:30 and then had breakfast. On the bus by 8:30 which is the "standard" schedule for now. We headed to the boat dock near the Israeli National Museum. However we had a little extra time so we stopped at Bethsaida which is a fairl new archaeological dig being handled in the summers by many US college students. Everything here is made out of rocks. Now many of the rocks have holes in them because they were affected by volcanoes centuries ago. At Bethsaida they have uncovered an area that is clearly the gates of the city. It was quite remarkable. Our guide also reminded us that the digger had only gone back to the firs centur time of Jesus. Underneath would be relics of Old Testament times. Bethsaida is the place to which Absalom went when he was banished by King David. The boat ride was a bit choppy. The skies have been disappointingly gray --only a bit of sun late in the afternoon yesterday. However,our tour guide, Clodia says they need the rain desperately so everyone is being a good sport about it. This afternoon is a steady rain so we stayed in and napped and read.thats part of the delight of this trip --we have lots of down time. Although our leaders tell us some demanding days are coming up. After the boat ride we went into the museum to see the remnants of a first century fishing boat found by amateur archaeologists in 1996. On the boat we got to see many of the sites we have visited along the coast so it gave us a great perspective. We also read the stories from Matthew and Mark about storms on the sea while riding on the boat and we sang a few of the simple Hebrew songs we have learned as a grop. It continues to be difficult to get my mind around this experience. It feels too big to hold all at once. The sense of blessing is gift to my spirit. That much I know.

Jimmy - 2nd post

What an incredible experience this is..., thank you, Jesus!  Wow. Peaceful.  Restful. Connectedness. Awesome. Holy.  These are some of the words that me and my colleagues are using when we regroup to summarize our day.  Perhaps, the most insightful perspective (to me) that expresses the wonder of being here is what a minister said who co-pastors a church with his wife in Frankfort, Ky.  You know how we're regularly asking God to come into our experiences, our home, etc., he described this as God inviting us to His home!  People have been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for thousands of years, before and after Jesus' ministry.  You might remember when Jesus' parents 'lost' Jesus when they were traveling back home to Nazareth after their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Our tour guides, leaders and the Cousins Foundation have wonderfully prepared us for this journey.  Included in our guide materials are anecdotal evidence and written experiences of those who have travelled many, many years before.  Over the centuries, this land has been fought over and controlled by different countries and pilgrims needed to take precautions when traveling.   In the 14th century, when the land was ruled by the Ottomans, a German Dominican who conducted tours negotiated rules & responsibilities to be followed by the captain and the pilgrims.   I've listed a few. Captain: * The captain shall be bound to provide the pilgrims with a sufficiency of good bread and biscuit, good wine and sweet water, freshly put onboard with meat, eggs, and other eatables of the same sort.  * The captain shall properly provide a galley with experienced mariners, and shall have on board a sufficient armament for defense of the galley from attacks of pirates and enemies.  Pilgrims:  * Let the pilgrim beware of chipping off fragments of the holy Sepulchre, and from the buildings at other places and spoiling the hewn stone.  * Should any woman beckon to a pilgrim or invite him by signs to enter a house, let him in no account do so, because the woman does this treacherously at the instigation of some man, in order that the Christian when he enters may be robbed, and perhaps slain.  Those who are not careful in these matters incur great danger.  * Let no Christian have money dealings with a Saracen except is such sort that he knows he cannot be cheated; for they strive to cheat us.   I am humbled when I think of the conveniences I'm experiencing on this pilgrimage.  Make no mistake, my sponsors are paying top dollar for this enriching experience and I am grateful.  Over the centuries people have risked life and limb to make this pilgrimage.   Some have died on the way.  I feel an obligation to honor my pilgrimage on behalf of those who never made it here and for those who want to come, but never will.  Our visits have taken us to many historic and holy sites.  I especially liked Capernaum ( Kefar Nahum..the village of Nahum...no one knows who this Nahum was).   This is where Jesus came when he left Nazareth and called  many of the Disciples, Peter, Matthew, James and John.  My favorites shrine is the place regarded as Peter's home.   I've told & heard the story of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law many times.  It was fascinating to see the actual remains of that home.  The terrain is very, very rocky and mountainous.  I believe Jesus had to have been physically fit to walk up and down these hills all the time.  Well, be blessed.  I am.   Jimmy

Day two was as meaningful and spiritual as day one and we had a lot of fun too.  The day began with a trip to worship at the location of a site honoring Jesus' sermon on the mount.  We had a communion service that was very moving.  We had the sermon on the mount read by a number of folks in the group.  That was very powerful.  We then had a chance to look around before heading to Chorazim.  I thought the ruins in Chorazim were remarkable.  There were two or three house ruins that were in tact enough to get a real sense of how the folks in the 1st century lived.  After Chorazim we went to Arbel and had an incredibly scenic view of the Galilee.  You can see so much from Arbel and it gave a real good overview of the area.  Lunch in Tiberius was next and the food was as good as the company.  Our group is really great and I'm blessed to be able to be a pilgrim with all of them.  When we finished lunch we returned to Pilgerhaus and some of us decided to take a swim in the Sea of Galilee.  It was a tepid 54 degrees (brrrrr). Loads of fun being in the water and acting like kids.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow when we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
I'll stop writing now as I'd like to try to post a picture.  This may take some time to figure out, so I'll end.
Blessing to you!

Nina's Notes

This is the second attempt at this today - I am still learning!!! Today has been an incredible journey as our first stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes. I expected us to be just sitting on the hillside but it was very different. The area has beautiful grounds and gardens and we met under a canopy of trees in an outdoor chapel. We gathered and read the entire Sermon on the Mount followed by communion. It was a moving experience as we worshipped together. It was easy to imagine Jesus being there speaking those words with the Sea of Galilee in the background. There is also a church on the grounds that is beautiful and I spent time there praying for my family and my church family. Next we loaded the bus and headed to Chorazin where we saw the ruins of that village. We read the scripture in Matthew 11:20-30 about this village and their rejection of Jesus while standing in the ruins of the synagogue. It was powerful! We had time to then wander through what had been the homes of that village. See some of those pictures on Facebook. The last stop of the day was the Mount of Arbel. We climbeed to the top and saw a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and all the villages surrounding it. The area is very hilly and rocky and the face of the mountain has several caves. Since I am a gardener I always look at the foliage in new areas I visit. Since Israel is approaching spring there are many things that are coming into bloom. The almond trees are starting to get leaves, we have seen oranges, lemons, and plenty of olive trees although they are not blooming. Also many banana trees and mango trees. You see all sorts of flowers in bloom such as bright red poppies dotting the countryside. It is a blessing to be here at this time of year when all is green and preparing to bloom rather than in the summer when it is very hot and dusty. It rains from November to March and then is dry the remainder of the year. There are many irrigation systems that help keep the flowers alive in the summer. For lunch today we went to an Iraqi Jewish restaurant. We had a pita of sorts with chicken or beef that was very tasty! We also had an adventure getting the bus turned around - although all turned out well. I feel very blessed to be here and to see such incredible sights. If I were to have to go home today, I would have many experiences to treasure. Yet, it is only day three and much more to look forward to seeing. I am so thankful for this opportunity - it is a gift that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Peace to you all, Nina

It is Sunday evening and we have had a very full day.  i apologize for not writing more but all of my instructions   are in Hebrew .  Today we began  our travels with worship on the Mountof Beatitudes. We conducted our own Service with Jennifer as our Worship Leader. Most of us read aloud The Sermon on the Mount  and gave Holy Communion to one another. No one knows the exact spot on this mountain but all {Jews Christians and Muslims }agree that it was this this one.  The experience was so moving.  Just thinking of the number of times I have preached from this Serom and now to to hear the words being spoken from the very place where Jesus spoke them! Next we Karazim [Hebrew] spelling - a place that was cursed by Jesus  y

Day 3 January 29, 2012

Another amazing day. We started at the Mount of the Beatitudes where we gathered under some trees on granite benches listened to the Sermon on the Mount and then celebrated communion. Today was the Feast of the Beatitudes so they were setting up for a special mass at 11am. We left as the crowds were gathering. Great cuppacino served at the little concession stand there. Cost was 12 shekels which is around 3.50. Gas is about 8.00 a gallon. We also saw the ruins of Chorizin, the town which Jesis cursed in Matthew 11:21. We begin and end each day with some type of worship and I have this wonderful feeling of being bathed in my faith tradition. I'm not sure I feel closer to God but I know I feel farther from the cares of the world so perhaps that is being closer to God. Speaking of being bathed --5 members of our group took a brief dip in the Sea of Galilee. The water temp is about 54 degrees and the air temp is 61 degrees and overcast!!

My first full day in Israel, like others who have posted I'm sure, has been remarkable to say the least.  We began the day by going to Tabgha, (which means Seven Springs) and is the traditional site of the multiplication of the loaves and fish.  Amazing to be there and awe-inspiring.  Just the thought of being so near where Jesus walked and taught and did ministry is overwhelming and truly spiritual. In our time for worship this evening we were asked to speak one word that might describe what we experienced (at least in part) and after thinking for a while I came up with "connected."  I feel connected to the stories (as they were read at the locations we visited) and connected to the land and the ministry of Jesus and to the mission of Jesus in a way I've not experienced ever before.  Just the thought that as the scriptures were read from the Bible that we were in the location where the story took place made me feel so much more a part of it.
After seeing the location of the loaves and fish story we went to the Primacy of Peter.  Here, one of the members of our group read from scripture the story in which Jesus tells Peter 3 times to "feed my sheep."  Again, truly awe-inspiring.   We then went down to the Sea of Galilee and again, the emotion of being near (and in a little) such a biblically prominent body of water was a moving experience.  I knew when I left (mentally) that it would be moving, but I didn't know how much.
We left that location and moved on to Capernaum.  Wow!  I mean Wow!  I was blown away here.  At Capernaum we all were intrigued by the information we received and again deeply effected by the location itself.  While there we learned that Peter lived in Capernaum (we knew that part) and that Peter and Capernaum were strategic choices for Jesus.  All around were small towns of little influence and the one most likely to be of help to Jesus' ministry was Capernaum.  And Peter, whom I have always thought was probably pretty poor, was a person of both means and influence.  A pretty wise choice for a companion to Jesus in ministry.  Capernaum, too, was a town passed by many travelers.  So when "word of Jesus spread" it did so because so many people travelled by Capernaum and would then carry the . stories to the locations they were traveling to.  I found that fascinatin
 In Capernaum we were able to see the house of Peter, the 1st century ruins and the Synagogue built after Jesus but on top of the synagogue he would have taught in.  Amazing.
I'll end by saying that there is little I can say that can capture the power of this incredible place.  We've hardly been here and already I have seen and experienced more than I thought I would.  I mean, I knew it would be good, but I didn't know what good meant.  This has been truly moving and I look forward to sharing more.  Now if I can just get this to post.  My blog page is in Hebrew and I'm not sure what button to push.
Peace to all of you at Fourth Presbyterian and thank you for your continued prayers.
P.S. I've posted pictures on facebook so if you are a friend of mine on facebook you'll see photos.  I may try to send some via churchwide email, but I don't want to send so many that it bogs down your computer trying to receive them.

Thoughts about Tabgha

Again, I posted over on my blog, but I'm linking here to share with the group (and all you folks at home following our trip!)

http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-tabgha/

Jennifer M-K

Nina's Notes

This is the second attempt at this today - I am still learning!!! Today has been an incredible journey as our first stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes. I expected us to be just sitting on the hillside but it was very different. The area has beautiful grounds and gardens and we met under a canopy of trees in an outdoor chapel. We gathered and read the entire Sermon on the Mount followed by communion. It was a moving experience as we worshipped together. It was easy to imagine Jesus being there speaking those words with the Sea of Galilee in the background. There is also a church on the grounds that is beautiful and I spent time there praying for my family and my church family. Next we loaded the bus and headed to Chorazin where we saw the ruins of that village. We read the scripture in Matthew 11:20-30 about this village and their rejection of Jesus while standing in the ruins of the synagogue. It was powerful! We had time to then wander through what had been the homes of that village. See some of those pictures on Facebook. The last stop of the day was the Mount of Arbel. We climbeed to the top and saw a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and all the villages surrounding it. The area is very hilly and rocky and the face of the mountain has several caves. Since I am a gardener I always look at the foliage in new areas I visit. Since Israel is approaching spring there are many things that are coming into bloom. The almond trees are starting to get leaves, we have seen oranges, lemons, and plenty of olive trees although they are not blooming. Also many banana trees and mango trees. You see all sorts of flowers in bloom such as bright red poppies dotting the countryside. It is a blessing to be here at this time of year when all is green and preparing to bloom rather than in the summer when it is very hot and dusty. It rains from November to March and then is dry the remainder of the year. There are many irrigation systems that help keep the flowers alive in the summer. For lunch today we went to an Iraqi Jewish restaurant. We had a pita of sorts with chicken or beef that was very tasty! We also had an adventure getting the bus turned around - although all turned out well. I feel very blessed to be here and to see such incredible sights. If I were to have to go home today, I would have many experiences to treasure. Yet, it is only day three and much more to look forward to seeing. I am so thankful for this opportunity - it is a gift that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Peace to you all, Nina

1st pilgrimage

Hi to everyone

We are staying on the Sea  of Galilee  at Pilerhaus Retreat Ceenter. Very beautiful place.  The rooms are actually American sizes but we  should enjoy because  they will be much smaller when we getto Jerusalem.  Today we visited several churches, all owned by the Catholic Church  The first was the church of multiplication and loves and fishes inh
Tomorrow I will attempt to load a few pictures

January 28,2012

This is my attempt to blog from Pilgerhaus in Tabgha. Tabgha means seven springs so this is literally the place of seven springs. Today we visited the church of loaves and fishes which is thought to be the place where Jesus fed the 5000. From there we went on to see the church that is built on the site where Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples after the resurrection. Then on to cahpernaum and they do spell it with an "h". There we saw the ruins of a synagogue and the ruins of Peter's home where Jesus often stayed and where he healed Peter's mother-in-law. At each site one of us read a scripture that was relevant to the site. I read the feeding of the 5000 outside the church in Tabgha. My room overlooks the Sea of Galilee. This whole experience is so amazing. Tomorrow we will worship at the Mount of the Beatitudes. I'm going to try to post a picture of my lunch but this is all new to me!! Ok! Sorry but I can't get the picture thing yet!!

Day One

My name is Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, and I am writing about this journey over at my regular blog, http://forthesomeday.wordpress.com. Because our internet connection here is a bit slow, I'm not able to repost directly here very easily. So, I invite you to click here for my reflections on the journey from Louisville to the Galilee: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/pilgrimage-day-one/

Jimmy's First Day

I still pinch myself at this incredible trip of a lifetime!  I am blessed far beyond my deserving (in this trip, as in everything else in my life).   Since this is my first blog, I'm excited about what I'll say first. Ha! My plane flight was very good. From Louisville to Newark and then from Newark to Tel Aviv.  The Tel Aviv ride was expectedly long, but unexpectedly uncomfortable.  The plane was incredibly huge...biggest plane I've ever flown in.    Because it's designed for this type of trans-Atlantic travel, I assumed they made sure every seat was spacious for long journey's such as this.  It was a 777 Boeing jet with three sets of three seats in each row in the area for the  "common people".  I was crammed in a middle seat, in a set of three on the right side of the plane.  For the 10 & 1/2 hour flight I got some sleep...about an hour of uncomfortable sleep on three occasions.  My intention is not to gripe at all, but to let you know and to remind myself of what I'll be looking forward to on my "12" hour flight back home (that flight will be longer because we'll be flying against the wind).   I did enjoy the comfort of having nearly 200 movies and television shows available to me on a screen on the back of a chair in front of me.  In addition, there were video games and music I could enjoy.  Of course, the regular first class and business first class flew in luxurious seats that could stretch out in what looked like a cradles.  Who wants to bet I'm finding myself in an upgraded seat on my way back? The Israeli airport is very beautiful.  Aside from the airport instructions and commercial advertisement written in Hebrew, it looked like any major American airport.  Our bus tour guide later told us that this airport is the only international airport in Israel.  This is due to the region in Palestine being very mountainous, but Tel Aviv is the flattest land available in Israel.   Also, security has a lot to do with it to...one way in, one way out.  After landing, securing luggage and converting some currency, I moved through the customs security gate and boarded our tour bus along with my group.  We took our 3-hour bus ride through Palestine to the Pilgerhaus Tabgha hotel and drove by many sites that we'll cme back to later during our tour.  In future blogs I'll write more about my site visits.  When we got to the hotel it was dark. I spent most of Friday in the air and on a bus.  Upon arriving, the first impression that got my attention was the smell of the sea.   My hotel is literally beside the  Sea of Galilee and I can look out my patio door and view it. Jesus spent a lot of time around this sea.  It's a very modern hotel and the people are very kind and attentive.  There is a 7-hour time difference between my home and Israel. It will take me a couple of days to adjust. I'm starting this blog report at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning and it's 8:00 p.m. Friday where my daughter, April and her team are  playing a basketball game in a prestigious tournament, the Louisville Invitational Tournament.   Some people know that I have some significant food allergies and I need to be especially careful here.  I forgot my Benadryl at home so I'll have to employ an additional level of scrutiny on my food selections.  Dinner looked and tasted delicious.  With my meal, I ordered a bottle of Sprite ($12 shekels...less than $4 U.S. dollars).  As I took my first swig of the soda, I thought it tasted weird.  Although it had a good 'fizz', it might have been old and settled.  A member of my group told me that it was a kosher Sprite.  He explained that it will taste kind of like syrup because it's made with real sugar and other ingredients unlike the artificial stuff we consume in the U.S.  Ok, really?! Well, off to bed soon.  I've checked in with family and they know I'm good. I look forward to encountering the sense of holiness in this historic and storied land.  It's very exciting.  Coming to the hotel earlier today, as we passed by Mt. Meggido (or Armageddon...I'll explain later).  I remember reading that this is where OT Israel's King Josiah was killed in battle many centuries ago.  Over time, I suspect EVERY inch of this land has seen the death of someone, by one way or another.  It is, indeed, hallowed ground.  I pray that the God of tender Mercy and unquenchable Grace will bless me to be revived.  Jimmy

Getting Ready

I bought really comfortable new shoes today and a "converter" for the electric. I also got a perm yesterday so I have very curly hair, but I won't have to pack a blow dryer!!

Together in Henryville, Louisville, and the Galilee

Our group of twenty-two first met at a three-day retreat in Henryville, Indiana, last October, where we learned one another's names, and worshipped, learned, discussed, ate, prayed, and played together. We met again in Louisville in December and January, and on January 26 we will depart via Newark to meet in Tel Aviv. From there we will drive to Pilgerhaus on the Sea of Galilee for our first week.