Wednesday, July 14, 2010

First Fruits in the Holy Land




It has been an exhausting travel time thus far. We should have been landing in Tel Aviv about three hours ago, but the delay in Charlotte prevented that. The delay was caused by bad weather in North Carolina and exacerbated by a few grumpy passengers. One was escorted off of the plane in Charlotte before we even took off and another was arrested upon arrival in New York. Add to these a number of commuters that shouted to be let off of the plane as we taxied to our gate and we were having a regular ole hootin good time. With how much I’ve been on planes in the last few weeks, I was somewhat annoyed by the fact that we would be missing some daylight in Israel, but knew that I wasn’t in control nor would I ever be so I might as well roll with the punches.


We entered the chapel in the New York airport for a quick word from Scott and prayer. We then moseyed over to the synagogue and were greeted by an enthusiastic rabbi. He gave us a very quick synopsis on the present reality of the Kingdom of G-d and the meaning behind the use of the word Holy three times so often in our text and exaltation of the Lord, as in Isaiah 6. “Kodosh! Kodosh! Kodosh!” is said to mean, Holy on earth, and holy in the heavens, and holy forever and ever. The man was articulate and passionate. Bless G-d for such a gift!


The company of folks on this trip are amazing and we will be returning with a lot of exciting new and deepened old relationships. Through the delay in Charlotte I can only imagine what the other passengers thought of us. We were able to preserve our joy and we let it ring pretty loudly at times. I hope that it resonated from us and into some of our fellow passengers. Smiles are abundant in this group as are random outbursts of song and prayer. Absolutely beautiful.


At the initial security checkpoint, I was the last one of our group through. I ended up surrounded by a number of the El Al workers for one reason or another and heard Scott from a few yards away say that I should share with them. I replied that I was trying to understand the Hebrew they were speaking and that every other word wasn’t quite enough. This brought some smiles to the faces of the rather young Israeli security team. They asked about my studies and the meaning of my necklace. I wear a pendant that has the Mogen David (Star of David) set around the cross. Perfect! I told them that I follow Jesus as my Rabbi and that I love to study the world in which he walked. I told them that as such, I greatly appreciated the life that our messiah led as a Jew in the first century world of Israel. I love the aspect of my faith that is found in these Jewish roots. I am just a wild branch grafted in, and try my hardest not to become arrogant at this favor from the Lord. The team around me smiled more, and I couldn’t tell if they genuinely appreciated my words or if they were just thinking, “What a naïve little Christ follower!” Either way they were kind and I pray that G-d blesses them. We finally made our way onto the plane to Tel Aviv. The plane lifted off at midnight New York time, much later than our originally planned 7:00 pm departure. Oh well. G-d will bless this trip and will pour out on each of us and each of you who have followed us in heart and spirit. He really has already begun.


DAY 1


We unloaded in Tel Aviv quickly and met with our Israeli guide and Scott’s fellow Ray Vaander Laan talmid, Tim Becksvoort. We got on the tour bus and headed to Gezer. We are asked the questions, “Who are you? Why are you here?” We will soon find out. There are dead stones in Gezer. Standing, yet the story they tell has been long forgotten. For us to be living stones as Peter tells us that we are, we need to tell the story: the story that G-d has told for centuries and the story that he is telling today through each of our individual lives and especially through our relational and communal lives.

Bless G-d for this beginning. He is good and his love endures forever.


DAY 2


Today started pretty early. Ben and I woke up pretty early and were able to take our time getting ready for the day. After breakfast we went down to do our morning devotional. We discussed ho G-d sometimes asks us to push an immovable rock. He doesn’t ask us to move it, but just to push. In this way something mundane and regular may be strengthening us for whatever purpose G-d has for us, and even when we may tire of the mundane task at hand.


We traveled first to Zorah, the birthplace of Samson. The hike was not too rough to start with. We discussed the mistakes that Samson made, the mistakes the tribe of Dan made in moving from this land of Shephelah. The comparison of the response of the perpetrators of these two sins has some real implications. Samson makes the hall of the faithful in Hebrews 11 despite his reckless and selfish life because of one small turn at the end. Dan, however, appears to be lost as they are left out of the sealed tribes in the book of Revelation.


From there, we made our way to Azekah. Azekah over looks the valley of Elah, the location of the famous fight between David and Goliath. We learned that David’s use of a sling was an everyday mundane activity for a sheperd boy, and how that activity became immensely valuable in the face of the 6 cubit tall Philistine. We made our way down into the valley and were each able to find 5 smooth white stones in the very wadi in which David found his. Ask me about all of the implications of the numbers used in this passage!!


The day closed at Lachish. We saw yet another result of what happens when a mighty man mocks the almighty G-d and what happens when a small man opens his heart to G-d’s will.


The day ended with a drive south into the desert. Upon entering the Negev, I could not help but to let some tears fall. The desert is where G-d defined his chosen people. Today G-d uses deserts in each of our lives to define and grow us. I have recently been in my own desert, and was overcome with joy at the transformation resulting from the experience, but also somewhat afraid of transformation is yet to come. We wander out tomorrow.


The final bit of the evening was blessed by a dip in the Dead Sea. Let me just tell you that it was absolutely amazing.


Bless G-d for quirky creations, quirky people, and the quirky situations that we find ourselves in. He has blessed us more than any of us will ever know.

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