First Christian Church, Wauchula, FL

Every time I say that, or even just have that thought I am completely overwhelmed with emotions.  As a Christian, you read the stories throughout Gods word, you learn from them and you try and think what it might have been like if you were there.  As a Pastor you try to learn as much about the time period, the locations, the people of Bible times as possible, hoping that you can glean a better understanding of Gods word and pass on as what you’ve learned to those you’ve been called to lead.  Still, I hear people say so often how hard it is to really make the Bible come alive because it was so long ago and so far away.  Well all of that is about to change dramatically for me and I really still just can’t believe it.

In just a couple of days I’ll be walking the very streets that Jesus walked.  I’ll be floating on the same waters where Jesus calmed the sea.  I’ll be dipping my feet in the Mediterranean Sea.  Hopefully I won’t run into anyone that’s just been spit out of a great fish.   I’ll be standing on the mountainside where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.  I’ll be drawing water from the same well that Jesus’ mother Mary was drawing water from when an angel from Heaven shared with her the great news that she was going to be the mother of the Savior of the world.  I’ll have an opportunity to be re-baptized in the Jordan River, the very same river where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  I’ll be traveling through the ancient city of Jericho, seeing the ruins of the walls that came tumbling down when Joshua and the Israelites marched and blew their trumpets as well as standing in the same fields that Shepherd’s may have been standing in when the announcement of the birth of our Savior happened.  I’ll visit the upper room where Jesus met with His disciples and shared the Last Supper.  I’ll walk the same route Jesus walked as He carried His cross to Golgotha.  I’ll have the unbelievable opportunity to stand on the very site the sins of the world were forgiven; the place where Jesus took my sin and yours and placed it on His shoulders and died for us.  The last stop will be the tomb where I’ll have the chance to take communion with other Christians thanking God for overcoming death, for rolling the stone away and leaving the tomb empty!

Even sitting here writing about what I’m about to experience up close and personal is causing my spirit to stir and my heart to fill with joy.  My mind keeps asking the same question over and over again…”What will it be like?”  I can truly tell you that at this point I have no answer.  I am looking forward to connecting with God in a way like never before.  I am praying for Him to touch my heart in ways that make His word, His life, His sacrifice take on entirely new meanings to me.  I would like to ask you to please pray.  Pray for Julie, Megan and Molly.  Pray that God gives them peace while I’m gone.  Ask God to watch over them and protect them while I’m away.  Pray for safety as I travel, but more than that pray that God will take full advantage of my heart and shape me through this encounter with Him.  I can’t wait to get there, but I’m just as excited to get home and have the answer to my question.  I’ll be sure to let you know just what it was like once I get home.  Thanks for your prayers and we’ll talk soon.

His Humbled Servant,

Tom