Wrap-Up and Take Away's

Our last day began more slowly with our first stop being "The Garden Tomb".  It is an easy 10 minute walk from the hotel so it was a day with only walking involved.

The Garden Tomb is run by a British Society and as you may expect is a series of beautiful gardens around the site they feel is "The Place of the Skull" near where Jesus was crucified.

After the explanations by our guide Martin we gathered to share together in Communion.  A focal point from Scripture was the verse (Mark 16:8) which is the "shorter" and most likely true ending of Mark.  It seemed to fit well the sense of tension, unanswered questions and bewilderment that any group will experience when trying to put together the conditions faced by our Palestinian and Arab Christian friends and the fact of the Holocaust which helped propel the State of Israel into existence.

 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

The Resurrection had happened.  It was announced to them by the Angel.  The tomb was empty but their world was spinning.  So too, more than once, was ours.

Interestingly we were sent to "Area C" in the Garden Tomb complex.  It wasn't lost on some that our trip introduced us to Area A, Area B and Area C in the West Bank.  Area A is where the Palestinian Authority has Security and Civil control (less than 12% of the entire West Bank area).  Area B is where Israel controls Security and the PA controls Civil issues and Area C is where Israel controls both Civil and Security issues.

The Garden Tomb is a place for reflection and much silence.  Enjoy some of the things we saw:

One final word.  After reflecting on some of the group that had a 4am Delta affiliate flight and another part that had an 8am United Flight (we are 50 minutes from the airport and you MUST be there 3 hours in advance for security) The Canadian contingent plus Victoria from Chicago are pretty happy with the sweet Air Canada Flight 085 that leaves after 1pm!  Leisurely breakfast followed by loading up at 9am; it doesn't get much better when you are facing a 12 hour flight.

Peace/Salaam/Shalom

Sloshing through Facts, History and Water

Today marked the last full day of our study tour.  We began early this morning on the south steps that were excavated in the 1970's.  Many of the places we go are either commemorating events from the life of Christ or they are restored places.  These steps, carved in the bed-rock of Jerusalem are the same steps that Jesus would have walked on as he headed to the temple.

From there we worked our way around to the Western Wall (also called the Wailing Wall) and viewed the growing numbers heading into the day Shabbat begins.  It is also a spot where you can see the close proximity of the Jewish and Muslim faith.

We took a quick 20 minute stop at the ShoraShim Biblical Art Store.  Moshe, who emigrated from Toronto is one of the owners.  He is a theological teacher of Judaism and provided a great deal of insight into the Jewish perspective on the Scripture and also on living in the land (normally we try to stay for at least 40 minutes or so but you do what you have time for).   Check out their website:

http://www.shorashim.com/

From there it was off to Yad Vashem, the Holocost Museum.  Words really can't describe the artifacts and information contained in that place!

http://www.yadvashem.org/


While digesting the morning we enjoyed time at The Eucalyptus Tree Restaurant.  The Chef (another Moshe) uses the biblical foods and spices in his menu's and the result is incredible.

http://www.the-eucalyptus.com/welcome

Finally, we hurried to the City of David and walked through Hezekiah's Tunnel.  Since we were the last group to go we had time to enjoy the most unique 40 minute walk through a tunnel carved through the bedrock during the time of King Hezekiah to bring water into the city during time of war.

http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/virtual_tour/hezekiah’s-tunnel-city-david

Tomorrow we will celebrate Communion together at the "Garden Tomb".  We are observing the way folks wind up their business in advance of Shabbat, enjoy time in the hotel during Shabbat and then we will see the celebrations and "coming to life" of the Jewish section of Jerusalem tomorrow evening as Shabbat ends.

Friends!

We began our journey today by heading to the church that commemorates the account of the 10 Lepers, 9 who were from Israel and 1 from the despised land of Samaria.  We spent time reflecting on how it would feel to be a leper or one like a leper who was cut off from others.

We experiences a strong spiritual challenge by a group of Christian leaders to join them - to get our hands "dirty" by standing with the "forgotten brothers and sisters" of the Holy Land.  It is as if they have become Samaritans or Lepers to many in North America.

Yeah, food is a common occurrence here and the feast served up at the Ali Babba Restaurant (really, no kidding that's the name) was phenomenal!

Probably the highlight for most was the chance to meet some new friends, to see the smiles of children and to get soundly defeated in Soccer by a group of players that were shorter and less in number!

Shavuot and Pentecost in Jerusalem

We were originally scheduled to head to view a World Vision project today.  As it turns out it is Shavuot (50 days after Passover - Originally a time of giving the first-fruits of harvest but also to commemorate the giving of the Torah to God's people ... Also the day of Pentecost for Christians) and there were going to be some protests along the area we were to travel to so we did a change up and came to Jerusalem.

Below is the Western (often called Wailing Wall) around 8am today awaiting the huge crowds that came to celebrate Shavuot.

Our guide likes to say, "The most difficult place to negotiate is the middle east, and the most difficult in the middle east is Israel, and the most difficult in Israel is Jerusalem."  You walk three minutes up a ramp to get to the "Temple Mount" (site of the Dome of the Rock) and then from there you proceed less than ten minutes to the path Jesus took to the cross.

Lunch was at Jacob's Pizza near the Jaffa Gate.  If you are in the area our group would highly recommend it; make sure you give the Feta Vegetarian a try!  Part of the trip is aimed at supporting Christian business people like Jacob - he is a cousin to the President of Bethlehem Bible College...It really is a small world over here!

If you ever wonder about the concept of forgiveness take another look at the life of Peter.  This sculpture puts his denial of Christ into great clarity.  Of equal clarity is the reinstatement we read about when Jesus gives him the charge to "feed my sheep" by the shores of Galilee after the resurrection.

And finally, coming from a place where road construction is constant during the non-winter months it is  almost inconceivable to think of a section of road that is 2000 years old.  I'm pretty sure the pot-hole kingdom of Winnipeg wouldn't have road remnants from the present 200 years from now!

If you really like this please send one dollar - not really but it appears that is the price for about half the items you can buy along the street!

The Journey Continues

Have you ever been to a place where you say "now when did that happen..." only to realize it was earlier the same day?  That's happening a bit right now.  The information overload sets in and things begin to blur.  At the same time, God-moments and surprises continue to happen.

For a series of blog articles from members of our tour that are from the same church please check out the following:

http://lakeridgecommunity.com/stories-from-the-journey/

Ok, at the risk of seeming trivial there are a number of pictures from lunch and dinner.  Food actually plays an important part in the text of Scripture.  It is where community is often formed.  Whether a simple Falafel lunch at a roadside stand or a formal dinner in a hotel it is conversation around the table and appreciating the gifts of God that we do well to remember.

The Galilee area is beautiful.  One of the striking places is Banias, a lush area of small waterfalls and lush vegetation.  It is in the area of Caesarea Philippi.

Right at the top of the stairs you take to get to this serene setting is the following reminder of the conflict that has been part of this region for so long:

"Who do you say I am?" was the challenging question Jesus asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi (See Matthew 16).  Many of us were struck with the long distance Jesus led his disciples on from the Galilee area to this pagan temple area just to drive the question home.  Imagine the cut-outs full of idols, imagine folks hawking items for the temple and imagine screams of those who were part of the human sacrifice and temple prostitution that took place at the time of Jesus.

And now on a lighter note.  The primary temple here was to the god "Pan" - a flute playing half goat/half man dude.  This was also the place where Jesus said to Peter "on this rock I will build my church".... so any chance this is the inspiration for Peter Pan???

(Special thanks to Pastor Dan Olson for humouring me with this depiction)

Going Deeper

The consensus was that today was a very good day indeed.  Some themes came around a second time, the group consisting of folks from two regions (ECC Canada and ECC MidWest Conference) are on first name basis for the most part and a couple of events became spiritual highlights.

We began our day at the Jordan River Baptism facility.  We use "facility" because it is most likely that Jesus' baptism was farther south in the Judean area.  At the same time God can show up even when our geography is challenged.

Hearing one of the group tell her story and affirm the baptism she received as a child brought more than a few wet eyes and warmed hearts.

We then travelled to Nazareth and began our time there at the Orthodox Church of Annunciation with a reading again of the appearance of the Angel to Mary.

From the church we walked through the market - for no extra charge we got to see a truck driver squeeze between parked cars and a rock wall with no more than 2 or 3 inches clearance - a phenomenal  exhibition of driving!  Ok, after clapping for the driver we got to the coffee and spice store...

On the way to the bus a spontaneous time of ballooning breaks out on a sidewalk in Nazareth!

Once on the bus we went to Nazareth Village (www.nazarethvillage.com) for a fantastic middle-eastern meal (our server happened to be a student from Trinity Western University in British Columbia but sadly she didn't know "Bob in Toronto") followed by a tour of grounds that include actual first century archaeological finds and accurate recreations of first century life.

The icing on a great day was a visit to Galilee Bible College.  Following the Study Tour Cardio Workout (climbing multiple sets of stairs) we arrived at the Chapel and met some staff and students from Galilee Bible College (www.gbcollege.org).  Dr. Yohanna Katanacho, Director of the school explained his vision to serve Arab Speaking Christian Leaders through both bachelors level courses and a Masters level course in Leadership.  The significant difference is that the curriculum is directly based on the situation pastors in the middle east face.  For instance, over the past 100 years there has been a war every ten years or so...as such a pastor must be trained to be a peacemaker.  Great snacks (this guy had a wonderful chocolate filled croissant) and individual conversations with new friends ensued.  Oh, the balloon guy got to make a few more swords and other fun items for Dr. Katanacho's three boys.

There is a growing sense that the opportunity for partnership with Christian friends, both those who are Palestinians living as citizens of Israel and those living in the Palestinian Authority cannot be ignored.  Not only do we have things to offer but we have much we can learn from these brothers and sisters.

Sunday Supplemental - Chestermere Group Discovers Buoyancy !!!

Pictorial Update for Sunday

Worship by the Sea of Galilee with Dr. Yohanna Katanacho giving the message "Falling Asleep During the Meeting" (lots of laughs as he didn't know that on our second night we had a lecture in Bethlehem where about 1/2 the crowd dozed off!)

Unique Worship - Unique Benediction.  Balloon Art (making a Heart for Mother's Day) and words from 1 Corinthians 13 reminding us that the "greatest of these is love..."

Off to the Sea of Galilee boat ride where our guide reminds us that for the Christian this can be thought of as the Sea of the Lord as he cares for us in our struggles.

Reflecting at the place commemorating where Jesus cooked his disciples breakfast and reinstated Peter by asking him to "feed my sheep" - notice the large heart shaped stones signifying the love of Jesus to his disciples.

Pastor Sam Williams reflects from his own life before reading from the Beatitudes at the Mount of Beatitudes.

Beautiful spaces inside and outside to reflect at the Mount of Beatitudes.

Tomorrow.... off to Nazareth!