Pastor Dana’s blog

It is the last night in Israel.  We leave Jerusalem early tomorrow for the flight to Paris before heading to D.C.  I haven’t posted since Sunday because of a combination of a lack of internet at some hotels and long days on the others.

Monday  started with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, starting from the east side of the sea and ending in Capernaum, which was kind of the home base for Jesus during his ministry.  Being in the this place where so much of Jesus’ ministry took place is a powerful picture and helps one to really imagine Jesus being right there teaching you in person.

Tiberius, a city set on a hill can not be hidden.

We also got to see the 1^st century fishing boat that many of you may have heard about and is often referred to as the Jesus Boat.  We had the treat that day of witnessing an active dig at the site of Magdala, the home town of Mary Magdalene.  No pics allowed there due to the fac that it is a live dig and has not been published yet.

Monday also was the day we traveled in to Jordan and the rest of the day was spent on the bus traveling.

On Tuesday we visited Jarash, one of the Decapolis cities during Roman Rule and a city that gives us a good idea of the kind of cities Paul ministered in without traveling to Greece or Turkey.  We also saw the Madaba Map which is on the floor of a church in Madaba Jordan.  It is a map of the holy lands that also tells the story of God’s people and the journey out of Egypt but also the story of Jesus.

Part of the Madaba Map Mosaic

 Wednesday was Petra day.  I don’t think one can ever get over being amazed at the magnificence of what man has created at Petra, it is only surpassed by the beauty of God’s creation.  I walked up to the high place of sacrifice, not a Christian site, more like one of the places that the Israelites would have been commanded to destroy.

Cathy and I in front of the man made Treasury

God created this one. How Beautiful.

On Thursday we visited the most accepted sight for the baptism of Jesus on the Jordan side of the Jordan river.  We witnessed many getting baptized nearby in the main channel of the river on the Israeli side. 

Jordan River Baptism

After crossing the border back into Israel it was on to Jericho and Qumran.  Jericho is a rich oasis surrounded by barren ground.  The spring continues today to put out over a thousand gallons of water per minute and it is considered to be the oldest city on earth with inhabitants dating back to 8000 B.C.  Pop Quiz: why has no one ever found the fallen walls of the city of Jericho?

Qumran was our last stop of the day which is where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls.  We were blessed on Thursday Evening to have a private Lecture with Stephen Pfann, a member of the International Team of Editors for the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Friday finished our trip with a visit to the traditional sight of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of our Lord, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  We also visited the Garden Tomb, an alternate site that some believe to be the location of our Lords crucifixion, burial and resurrection and concluded our time with communion together.  It has been another fantastic trip to Israel and we need to continue to pray for this nation and for the people here.  I look forward to sharing so much more than I could ever share in a blog.

See ya soon.

Israel

Still going strong.  We had an off day on Thursday so Cathy and I did some sightseeing at different churches.  We walked up the Mount of Olives to the Church of the Ascension and stopped by the another couple of Basilicas.  Later we walked the wall around the west and south sides of the city and visited Christ Church, the only protestant church in the Old City of Jerusalem.

 Friday it was time to leave Jerusalem and head north.  The highlight of the day was Caesarea on the Mediterranean.    A port city used by Herod the Great, it is named in the Bible a number of times, including the imprisonment of Paul when He appeals to Caesar.  One of the fascinating things at Caesarea is the engineering of the water system.  An aqueduct brought water 5 miles from a mountain spring.  Much of it still stands today, even though it was built over two thousand years ago.

Aqueduct at Caesarea

Saturday was spent in Nazareth, the place of Gabriel’s visit to Mary along with being the boyhood home of Jesus after the excursion to Egypt.  One of the great things about Nazareth is the Living History Museum “Nazareth Village” that was built on sight of an actual First Century AD farm.  They have built a number of buildings to help people get a real feel for the Nazareth Jesus knew, including a home and a synagogue.  The museum includes pasture area for sheep, goats and even a shepherd, a watch tower, a grape press and olive press and terraced fields used to produce grapes, olives, pomegranates, figs and grain.

"Joseph" drilling a hole.

On Sunday we headed to Hazor, a city dating back to the Canaanite period.  We had a nice excursion through the Hula region and ended the day at the base of Mount Herman at the city of Dan and the springs of Dan and Caesarea Philippi.  These Springs are the two largest sources of headwater for the Jordan River.  One of the things that hits me at Caesarea Philippi, which is filled with cultic worship of many different gods including Pan, is that it is in this region where Jesus asks the disciples who the people say that He is.  When I think of Jesus knowing that this region is filled with worshipers of all kinds of different cultic gods, it makes sense to ask the disciples, “so who do people say that I am”, and then follow with the question, “who do you say that I am.”  Its like Jesus is asking, “do people just consider me another choice, no better, no worse than any of these other gods they worship, or do they, do you know who I really am?”

Spring Water at Dan, one of three main springs feeding the Jordan River

Well, tomorrow will see us on the Sea of Galilee riding a boat to Capernaum, a visit to the Jesus boat and then into Jordan for a couple of days.

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Cathy sitting outside Hulda Gate on steps that date back to time of Jesus.

The Temple Mount is certainly a unique experience although for me more of an academic one.  The scale of the place is incredible and helps to give insight into the scriptures that speak of Jesus speaking on the Temple Mount.

Monday Afternoon witnessed a young man traveling through the streets to the sound of beating drums and a trumpets blazing as they headed to the western wall for his Bar Mitzvah.  His father was so excited that He invited everyone in the square to celebrate with them by dancing and shouting.  More than one person commented that they wish Christian Baptisms were filled with this kind of excitement and joy.  I made sure to tell them that they are at Peoria Church of the Brethren.

Bar Mitzvah procession

The Journey with Jesus continued on Tuesday as we walked down from the Mount of Olives via the Dominus Flevit church.  Dominus Flevit means “The Lord Wept” and it is the traditional sight of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem before He enters the city on Palm Sunday.  We then went to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before His arrest.  The Garden is quiet and filled with Olive Trees that are thousands of years old.  It is easy to see why our Lord often retreated here, especially at this important time.

Wednesday finds us in Bethlehem at the site of the Church of the Nativity.  The church is very ornate since it is shared by the Greek Orthodox and Armenian Churches.  It is a very different sanctuary than our own with very ornate surroundings.  In addition to being the site of the birthplace of our Lord, it is also the oldest church standing today.  OK, now a little history from our series on the Genealogies of Jesus.  The star that marks the birth place of Jesus has fourteen points, signifying the 14 generations between Abraham and David, 14 from David and the Exile, and the 14 between the exile and Jesus.  Bonus points if you are the first to post which Gospel has this Geneology.

Star marking birth site of Jesus

Our last stop today was to an orphanage in Bethlehem started by two sisters (nuns).  It was a place filled with laughter and joy and the elderly sisters were contagious with their love for the people and for Christ.

Israel

Wow, its only been three days in Israel and we have already done so much.

Sunrise over Jerusalem

Friday morning started with time on the roof with God and a beautiful sunrise. 

The day was spent walking around the "City of David" in Jerusalem, yes there is a city of David in Jerusalem on the Eastern Hill south of the Temple Mount.  It is the Jerusalem from the time of King David.  We walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel that was dug to prevent the enemy from having access to the Gihon spring outside the city walls.  Extra Credit for the first person that can name the place in the bible that talks about this.  Extra Extra credit if you can name the pool that it flows into where Jesus healed a blind man.

Saturday found us in the hill country where David met Goliath in battle near the ancient city of Azekah

Elah Valley where David fought Goliath

Then on to Ber-Sheba to see the place Abraham had a well and made a covenant with Abimelech.  Extra credit for anyone who can give the reason for the name.  Hint – Wikipedia doesn’t give the answer but does hint where to find it.

Sunday we went to Masada, the stronghold of Herod the Great that was later defeated during the Jewish uprising against the Romans.  To prevent the Romans from capturing them, they committed suicide.  Cathy and I walked down the “Snake Path to get back.  Long rocky walk.  You can see it as the white path on the side of Masada.

Masada

Later we went to En-Gedi Nature Preserve also named “Wadi David”.  It is the place believed to hold the cave where David could have killed Saul but spared his life.  While barren in many places, overall not a terrible place ot hide out.  And finally finished the day with a dip in the Dead Sea with over 25% salt content so you float even if you don’t want to.

Back in Jerusalem and looking forward to the temple mount tomorrow.

Israel

Long day today.  Actually the day started Wednesday moring at about 6:30am.  Arrived in Jerusalem about 3:30 Thursday afternoon.  Everything went smoothly unlike two years ago, but I am rather tired so I am not going to write anything tonight other than say we made it to Jerusalem and did a little walking around the old city and are now ready to get some sleep.  Bright and early tomorrow for a walking tour of Jerusalem during time of David.  Here is where we are staying.

Gloria Hotel Jerusalem

Israel

On Sunday night I met with a bunch of triathletes from the area at a local eatery.  I had been planning on going to their monthly social since March.  It would be a great opportunity to meet other triathletes, ask questions, find support, etc.  March came and went without going to the social.  In April I was excited to be able to go since it was the day after my first (and to date only) triathlon.  I could go as one of them, a triathlete.  But Sunday evening rolled around and I didn’t go.  May came and went with the same determination to go and the same holding back.  So the other night I was convinced I needed to be there.  I had been looking forward to this for months, I wanted to meet these folks, but about 4:00 in the afternoon I started hesitating again.  Now most of you would not characterize me as a shy person, or one who is bashful, but that is exactly what was happening.  I was afraid.  What was I afraid of?  Acceptance.  I would be in the midst of athletes with great accomplishments, people who had trained for years, who run dozens of miles a week, bike hundreds and swim for hours and hours.  What would they think of me?  I’m not really one of them.  I was afraid?  But I mustered up the courage (actually I asked God for it so I can’t take the credit) and went, and I found a welcoming group of people that wanted to know how I got interested in the very thing they love to do.  I wasn’t judged, I was accepted.

I wonder how many people feel the way I did when they want to start coming to a church.  I ask you to think about that one a bit.  Do people feel they won’t measure up to God, or do they just feel they won’t measure up to us?  Do they worry about being judged?  Do they worry about being accepted for who they are and where they are at?

This group of triathletes known as the Peoria Triathlon Club were warm and friendly and very welcoming to me.  Did I still feel a bit out of my element, sure, but not because of the people there, they did everything possible to make me feel at home among them, offering helpful pointers on an upcoming race in Canton and inviting me to bring Cathy to the next social. 

Thank you to the Peoria Trithlon Club for making me feel welcome.

Triathlon

I just got back from a wonderful week with 20 youth at Camp Emmanuel youth camp.  Some say that we have lost our way and the youth of the world are leading us into destruction. 

Don’t believe them. 

God is working in these young people in amazing ways and we need to open our eyes and see it.

These great young men and women eagerly spent time worshiping, studying scripture, playing and eating, all without excluding anyone.  These youth are from a variety of backgrounds, but they came together.  They spent a week without texting or facebook or malls or television and didn’t complain once.  We might all learn from them.  They came to camp to spend a week with God and with each other and they embraced the opportunity and grew.  They grew in their walk with God, in their relationships with one another, and in their own maturity.

I am blessed to have spent this week with them.

So the next time you think the youth of this world have lost their way, maybe we need to take another look and see if it is we who have lost something; the ability to see with new eyes a world that is changing so fast that it is hard to keep up.  Each of these youth at camp this week is working out their faith and growing in Christ in spite of a world that is trying to lead them away from God.  So I am celebrating what God is doing in these young men and women as He grows them into all that He has created them to be.

To God be the Glory

Youth

I am a triathlete.  I am a TRIATHLETE!!! 

Boy, does it feel good to finally be able to say that.  It’s official.  And it ranks right up there, but not above, “I am a Husband”, “I am a Father”, and the ultimate, “I am a Christian”.  After 4 months of training I can finally say it.  I am a Triathlete.

Now mind you, I am not a good triathlete, but I finished my first race and that means I can finally call myself a triathlete.  I never felt right calling myself that while I was training.  I had never completed a race, I had never completed the distance of all three events on the same day; I was just a guy who was swimming, biking and running every week.  To truly call yourself a triathlete, or an athlete for that matter you need to compete.  Surely you need to train to compete, but if we never enter the arena, never enter the contest, then what are we training for.  I bought the right cloths to race in, I bought the right gear for my bike, I bought the goggles and the Lycra swim suit, (something no one should have to see on a middle aged man).  But again none of these things made me a triathlete.  It was the combination of all these things culminating in that event called a triathlon.

The Apostle Paul talks a lot about training ourselves as Christians.  But is he saying that it is in the training that we show we are Christians, NO.  He is saying that in the training we discipline our bodies so that we may then run the race to win.  The Christian life is not in the training, it is in the race.  We train to run the race.  Just like someone can buy all the stuff, the cloths, the bikes, the Lycra swim suits; we can buy and pursue the things that will make us look and feel like Christians.  We can carry our bibles, we can go to bible studies, we can sing songs and pray prayers, but if we don’t put the things we learn into practice and compete in the race, we are not really doing what Paul talked about.

The ascetic who beats his body thinking it will please God, is forgetting that Paul tells us not to train to please God, but to train so we can compete, to train so that when we preach the Gospel, which is what will please God, so we will not be disqualified.  What Paul is telling us is that we need to put the things we train at into practice.  What good does it do to study how we can trust God to provide for us, if we don’t run the race and actually trust God to do the things He promises?  What good does it do to study, to train in the way of peace if we don’t run the race when the opportunity comes for us to turn the other cheek?  What good does it do to study and know how to be humble servants like our Savior if we never actually run the race and serve?  We can learn about love and understand it, but it is in the living it out, in running the race and actually showing it in the way we love that God uses it in amazing ways.  We can study and learn about grace, but it is in the living it out, in running the race and exhibiting  grace that reveals who we are as Christians.

One can read everything they need to know about being a triathlete in books or on the internet.  But having the knowledge does not make one a triathlete.  And training does not make one a triathlete if they never compete.  Crossing the finish line makes one a triathlete.  Being a Christian is no different.

RUN THE RACE.  WIN THE PRIZE

And YES, I am a Christian and I am a triathlete.  In fact I am a CHRISTIAN TRIATHLETE!!!

Triathlon

After a couple of weeks of walking during my Lenten devotional time, I thought it might be good to start running. I need the exercise, and I need the solitude that a lot of people that run seem to find out on the road or trail. So how does one start. Well, I talked to a pastor friend that is training for a half marathon this summer and asked how he got started, and he told me that he found a training plan on a website for runners. So off to Google I go, and low an behold there it is, how to get from the couch to three miles running in 8 weeks.

Now I have a plan, and its time to take some action. After all one does not become a runner by studying about running, by learning everything one can about shoes and technique, but by running. So off to Running Central in Peoria for some advice on and procurement of proper footwear. What did I find? Some of the nicest people ready and willing to help this novice get started with the proper shoes and loads of encouragement. I must admit I had been a little afraid of entering an actual running store for fear that I would be looked upon with condescension as a rank amateur, but my fears were thankfully not realized. Reminds me of how fearful people are of entering churches, fearing the judgment of those who might be known as the “pros” of Christianity. Can we be just as kind and encouraging to those who are seeking a new life running with Christ as these folks were to me as a new runner of the trails? Something to think about.

Anyway, on to the real point of this story.

When I started running my legs would be burning near the end of the one minute intervals of running. Yes, I am really out of shape. I found myself looking at my watch, yearning for the minute to be up so I could once again walk for the next four minutes. I would get so consumed with the discomfort that it was all I could think about and the seconds seemed to go by so slow. Then during my second walk/run a couple of days later, I thought about how I was concentrating on the discomfort instead of the goal and started looking ahead on the path instead of looking down at the ground right in front of me. It was amazing what happened. Now the discomfort didn’t go away, but my mind was on the goal and the burning muscles didn’t consume me. Eureka!! AHHA!! Running lesson, YES! Life Lesson, YOU BET! When we focus on our own discomfort it is really hard to see a way to our goals. When we focus on our own discomforts we find it hard to see where God is taking us. We are pain averse creatures and we will do almost anything to avoid it. But when we focus on the goals, the struggles that get in the way don’t seem so large. It’s not that we don’t notice them, we just put them on proper perspective, as something that needs to be overcome to reach the prize. We see the prize and we press forward. It’s the same when we fix our eyes on Jesus, not on ourselves or our own comfort, and we strive for the prize of winning souls to Christ.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart… Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
(Heb12:1-3, 12-13)

Triathlon

Well, here goes facebook again. This week they changed everything around and I can’t find what I’m looking for.

Actually I am pretty new to facebook and didn’t have to go through the pain of living through the last change, not that long ago. What was interesting about this change was a conversation that I had with a young person of college age that was frustrated about this change. I guess what caught me off guard was that we usually think of old people (relative term depending on how old one is that is saying old people), any way we usually think of old people as the ones who are resistant to change. After all it is the young who always seem to be asking for things to change. So to see this young person frustrated by the change in their beloved facebook interface was a bit of a surprise.

It was a learning experience for both me and for them. Especially when I suggested that this might be the same way that older people (again subjective term) feel when worship style in the church is changed. I guess it shows that we are all resistant when the things we care about are changed, but we need to remember that change is a part of life, and look at what the changes we encounter are really about. Has the change just been about the interface, or has it changed the substance? Is the introduction of new music in worship changing what we believe about Jesus? Is the introduction of video into worship changing what we believe about Jesus? Is the introduction of a new interface for facebook changing the substance of what we use it for, to connect with our friends? Whether the music is traditional or contemporary, or even emergent, we can still connect with God who hasn’t changed. No matter whether we use visuals on screens or in stained glass, the story remains the same that God sent His Son Jesus to show us His love and forgive us from our sin. Nothing we use to present that story has the power to change the truth about God.

In a couple of weeks the fuss over facebook will die down and people will be used to the new format. We will once again be able to find our stuff and make it give us the information we crave. And maybe, just maybe, we will be able to take these life events into context and examine where we are in the midst of them and discover something about ourselves. Yes sometimes life is frustrating and we find comfort in the stability, but it is also in the stability that we can so easily find stagnation and complacency.

Anyway, just some random thoughts on living this Christian life.

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