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My Journal From Israel – Day 8

tom — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:37:02 +0000

Today was our last day in Israel. It has been such an amazing trip it’s hard to believe it’s almost over. Today our journey began a few miles outside the old city of Jerusalem at the very spot Jesus took His Disciples to stand watch while he went to pray, the Mount of Olives. This is the time His Disciples kept falling asleep while He was praying. The Mount of Olives is where all Jews want to be buried. They believe through Scripture that when the Messiah comes He will come to the Mount of Olives, so they want to be buried there so they will be called up with Him. To date there are over 50,000 Jews buried at this site. The cemetery takes up almost the entire side of the Mount of Olives facing the temple. It is an amazing site to see.

We then began walking the path Jesus walked the led Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. On our way we stopped at a location they believe is the very first Jewish/Christian burial site. All of the burials boxes here were very small and at first glance you would think them to be for children, but that’s not the case. Jews don’t bury their bodies in coffins; they put them directly in the earth so they can be returned to the earth from which they came. After the bodies have been buried for a year the family digs them up and places the bones in the burial box. So, the boxes here were smaller because it was only bones that were placed inside.

Once we reached the Garden of Gethsemane I began to remember that this was the very place Jesus prayed in agony, sweat drops of blood asking God to let this cup pass from Him, however, He was willing to carry this out if it was what God wanted of Him. I’ve been through some pretty difficult times in my life, dealt with a lot of pain through all my kidney problems, been grieved over tragic loss in my family, and horrible situations I’ve put myself in but never, never have I sweat drops of blood. It’s hard to fathom how difficult this must have been for Jesus. The oldest Olive trees in the world exist in the Garden of Gethsemane. Some of the trees are dated back 3000 years. Jesus was praying here among these trees. It was quite a thrill to be standing among them knowing that Jesus was here and that this was the place He came to be close to God. (giving thanks) The Garden was also where the soldiers came with Judas to arrest Jesus. It’s where Judas planted “the kiss of betrayal” on Jesus. It’s where Peter cut of the ear of the Roman soldier Malchus and Jesus stepped in and healed him. How humbling to stand here knowing what Christ did for me.

After we left the Garden we traveled into the city of Jerusalem. It was like traveling back in time. The streets were lined with shops selling anything and everything. Some stores had spices set out in bowls where you could come in, pick out the spices you want and purchase them. Other stores had meat just hanging in the doorways for your selection. Some stores sold very beautiful jewelry, hand made bags, scarves, etc. All the streets were extremely narrow and as we were walking along I saw it…The Via Dolorosa. We followed the path Jesus took as He carried the very cross on which He would die for my sins. (giving thanks) Today the road is lined with shops, back in the time of Jesus it would have been lined with houses. Very humbling to stand on the road and think that my sins caused this journey to take place. My sins led Jesus to carry His cross down this very road. It also made me grateful that He loved me enough to walk it for me. (giving thanks) We saw the location of the beating, we saw the spot He fell and received help from Simon in carrying His cross. I found myself only able to say “Thank you Jesus” over and over again.

We visited two sites that are possible locations of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. One is called The Church of the Holy Seplecure. It is completely covered by a church but they have a stone they believe held the cross of Jesus in place and a destroyed tomb they believe was the burial location of Jesus. To me the biggest problem was that this location didn’t really line up with scripture. Scripture says that Jesus was crucified on the place called “the skull” Golgotha outside of the city and placed in a tomb near where He died. We visited another location directly on “the place of the skull”, Golgotha. Everyone knows of this place, it’s always been called Golgotha and when you look at it, it looks like a skull. Golgotha is located just outside the city, directly in line with the route taken by Jesus and there is a tomb that fits the description in the scriptures as well. Scripture says it was a new tomb. The tomb near Golgotha was new at the time of Jesus; in fact the side of the tomb that was still unfinished in Jesus time is still unfinished today. It was never completed. Most family tombs like this were laid out where the room used to prepare the body for burial was directly in front of the burial room. So, they would prepare the body and then carry the body directly forward to bury them. However, in scripture when Mary and Martha went to the tomb to prepare the body, it says they saw the angel of the Lord on the right. This tomb was different then most tombs of its day. When you were standing in the room used to prepare the body you would have to turn and go to the right to place the bodies in the tomb. This is exactly how it would have been for them to bury Jesus. While standing there I could envision the women coming to the tomb, seeing the stone gone, coming inside, standing in the very spot I was standing, looking to the right and seeing the angel of the Lord. I cannot tell you with all certainty that this was the place; I wasn’t there when it happened. But, I can tell you that my heart connected with God here in this place in a way it did not at the other location. I choose to believe that THIS WAS THE PLACE! (giving thanks)

I laid my hands on the mountain of Golgotha and cried as I thanked God for dying for me. I stood in the tomb of Jesus, weeping, thanking Him that what I was standing in was an empty tomb! Jesus was not there, He is risen, just as He said! (giving thanks) Totally unbelievable, words fall woefully short at a moment like this. Even now I can barely write about it without crying. I’m certain that the woman seated next to me on the plane as I sit here and journal about this experience is wondering what in the world is wrong with the blubbering idiot sitting next to her. But, when Jesus gets a hold of you, you really don’t care much about what people around you think. What a totally amazing experience. One that will never be forgotten. (giving thanks)

We finished up our time shopping in the old city of Jerusalem. It was interesting to say the least bargaining with all the store owners as I worked to find just the right gifts to bring home to my family.

I have to tell you it has been an amazing trip. A trip that has been educational but more than that, it’s been sort of a pilgrimage. God has shown me in an up close and personal way how to connect with His word through understanding the locations and the people better. He has also connected in a new and fresh way with my heart. He has refreshed in me His Spirit and strengthened the fire that burns in my heart for Him. I hope that journaling this experience will be in some small way a window for you to see what I saw, and a way for you to understand that the sacrifice He made wasn’t just for me but it was for you too!

Shalom

My Journal From Israel – Day 7

tom — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 16:09:52 +0000

Today was filled with about 4 total hours of driving and what seemed like 40 miles of walking. We left Jerusalem this morning around 8 AM and headed to the lowest point below Sea Level in the world, the Dead Sea. On the way we saw many Bedouin Villages. Bedouin are basically Gypsies that have existed since before Jesus. They raise sheep and goat as well as hand make jewelry. They live in thrown together huts in the desert and move when their animals need food and water. They believe that they were created from the dust and the wind. Many of them still use camels as their mode of transportation. We stopped along the roadside and I took my first camel ride. Totally crazy! As it stood to it’s feet beginning with it’s back legs first it felt as though I was about to be launched into the air. I held on tight and before I knew it he was off the ground and moving forward. It was pretty much like riding a horse once it got going. It was a fun experience and the pictures certainly gave the kids a good laugh.

After parking my camel and escaping the 5000 flies I was surrounded by we loaded back up in the bus and made our way to Masada. Masada was a fortress of King Herod. There was at one time during King Herod’s reign a group of Jews that wanted to overthrow the Roman government, they were known as zealots. They had taken ownership of this fortress and were hiding out there. The Romans eventually came for them and instead of being captured and made slaves to the Romans they decided as a group to die and remain free. Together the men agreed to cast lots. Ten names were chosen to oversee the deaths of everyone in their camp. The husbands then went to their homes, killed their children and wives, these ten men killed the husband. They then burned everything and everyone except for the food in the storage area. They left the food behind to make a statement, “you didn’t kill us, you didn’t make us slaves, we made the choice today to die free.” After all of this the ten remaining turned their swords on each other and fell on their partner’s sword. Not really sure how I feel about this story, but the fortress was amazing.

Once done at Masada we headed toward the Dead Sea. As we approached the Dead Sea it was to our left. What an enormous body of water. It was much larger than I thought it would be. I learned that there are two reasons for it being called the Dead Sea. Reason #1 – Nothing can live in the Dead Sea because the salt content is so high. Reason #2 – The source of it’s water starts at the Sea of Galilee, feeds the Jordan River, which empties into the Dead Sea where it dead ends. We enjoyed lunch together as a group at the Spa by the Sea then I made my way down to the shore. It was necessary to wear shoes the entire time, even while in the water. The shoreline wasn’t covered with soft sand like we are used to seeing when at the beach. It was more a mixture of dried up mud (bottom of the sea) with layers of salt everywhere. Where the water met the shoreline the salt would just pile up and form together, it looked sort of like rock candy looks, or large clumps of rock salt. As I walked out into the water it was like walking on a white marble floor. Almost the entire bottom was a 3” thick floor of salt. At some places there would be openings. I stepped into one and sunk down to my knee. I had to pull my leg out then reach down with my hand and dig out my shoe that had been left behind. I’m sure the scene I was creating gave everyone on the shore a good laugh. I was about a hundred yards out into the Sea and decided to try floating. (You know they say it is impossible to sink in the Dead Sea. They were right! I picked my feet up off the bottom and immediately began floating on my back like a bobber on a fishing line. It was amazing. I was floating on the surface of the water without a raft. No way was I going to sink. I could had stayed there for hours and never even moved. It was a pretty neat experience. You could even make yourself sit as though you were in a chair and your body would stay that way and float. I spent 30 – 45 minutes just enjoying the water and my new ability to float, and then it was time to head out.

We loaded back up on the bus and headed back to Jerusalem. It was really a fun day today. How amazing it is to be in the Holy Lands. This truly is God’s country! (giving thanks)

My Journal From Israel – Day 6

tom — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:30:30 +0000

Today started out about 8:15 AM with a visit to Mr. Zion. There are three places to visit while here, the first was the room of the last supper. Now of course it wasn’t the very same room because today a church stands on the location but; where we were standing was in a room directly above the area where the location was. Standing here gave us a moment to remember how the last hours of Jesus’ life really began. As I was standing in this room I began recalling John chapter 13 and the account of Jesus teaching His Disciples what it meant to be a servant. It’s the account of how Jesus got up from the table and washed their feet. I believe that God was using that moment to remind me that I should always be about serving. It’s a reminder I think we all need sometimes. I silently stood there and thanked God for His example and for the reminder to me. It was also a very somber moment for me. I began to really think how difficult it must have been for Jesus to look on the face of His Disciples and know that Judas was about to completely betray Him and that all would somehow turn their backs on Him throughout these last few hours. How must it feel to know that everyone will disappoint you when you need them most? It was also very humbling that knowing all of that Jesus still wanted to spend every moment possible with these men. These Disciples were really the luckiest guys on earth. They were truly loved and the great news is that we’re just as loved today! (giving thanks)

The tomb of King David

Next we visited the tomb of King David. Yes, THE King David, The ancestor of Jesus, the one anointed to be King by Samuel, the one who killed Goliath, an outstanding musician, the one who slept with Bathsheba, the one Samuel called “a man after God’s own heart.” I was reminded while here that God can use anybody, despite the mistakes we make God can use anybody that is willing to be used. David wasn’t perfect, but he WAS willing and God used him in mighty ways. I pray that God will use me in just a fraction of the way He used David. I am also very thankful that God will look past my faults and see in me the man He knows I can be. (giving thanks) After everyone else left the tomb area I stood there with my hand on the tomb thinking, “I want to be a man after God’s own heart.” I want to have a heart that desires nothing more that what God’s heart desires. I asked God to take away the earthly desires I struggle with and place in me a heart that see what God sees, that wants what God wants. How can you stand in a place like this and NOT be stirred in your spirit? (giving thanks)

We then visited the house of the High Priest Caiaphas. After Jesus had been arrested this is the location he was brought. We visit the abandoned cistern used as a jail. We saw how Jesus would have been lowered down into the cell through a hole. I was standing in the very spot Jesus spent His last night on earth. We then walked the path from the house of Caiaphas that Jesus was led down as he was taken to Pilate. These were some of the steps that forever changed the world. It was kind of a foreshadowing, because in just a few days we’ll finish the steps by following His route to cross. However, as I was standing there tears began to fill my eyes because I was reminded again that He walked this very path for ME. He loved me that much! (giving thanks) We took a break from tracing the footsteps of Jesus during this afternoon to take a look at what horrible things occurred during the holocaust. We visited the Holocaust memorial as well as the children’s holocaust memorial. Very sad afternoon! Over 6 million Jesus were killed and over 1.4 million of them were children. You could not help but have a broken heart for what happened. Sad…very, very sad. The Holocaust memorial was built in such a way that as you walked through the entire place it felt as if it was caving in on you. The architect wanted to give a sense of the oppression felt at that time, but at the end, as you were about to exit the memorial it opened up to a great expansive balcony over looking a new city meant to show that there is still hope in Israel. The children’s memorials was about 4 or 5 stories tall and as you walked through they read name after name of the children who died there and there is a candle lit for each soul. Very beautiful memory created for such a sad time.

We also visited the Israel Museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are located. The most interesting part to me was learning that they really do prove the Bible to be accurate. You can read from the original scroll of Isaiah, well that is if you speak Hebrew, but you know what I mean. It matches word for word the text found in our scripture today! It was cool to see the words of God in its original print.

We then headed to the last stop of the day and to me the best of the day. We went to Bethlehem and visited the birth place of Jesus. I had a moment to place my hand on the very place Jesus was born. You can honestly feel the presence of God there as you enter. The Savior of the world was right where I was standing!!! (giving thanks) I knelt down in the location of the stable. We stood together as a group and sang the Christmas Carol “Away in a Manger”. I can tell you I’ll always remember how I was feeling while standing there every time I hear that song. It felt as if Jesus was standing with us while we were worshipping Him. My heart was pounding and the tears from my eyes were running down my cheeks. I did not want to leave. Humbling, so very humbling. Thank you God for the gift of Jesus. (giving thanks)

Kneeling in the location of the Stable where Jesus was born

I seem to find myself daily saying thank you God for providing me with the opportunity to take this trip. It still just amazes me that I am here, and each day just gets better and better. Much more is planned for tomorrow so…good night.

My Journal From Israel – Day 5

tom — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:41:06 +0000

Day 5 – Israel Trip – Wednesday, March 17

After a great nights sleep in Tiberias I got up around 6:45 AM jumped in the shower then headed down to meet our group for breakfast.

My baptism in the Jordan.

We left our hotel around 8:30 AM and our first stop was going to be the Jordan River. Today is the day I will be baptized in the same river as Jesus was baptized. (giving thanks) I put on my swim suit and the robe they provided to me and met Joe Wright on the bank of the river. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, there were a few dove nesting in a tree on the bank of the river, the water wasn’t too cold, everything was just right. It was such a special feeling to have this opportunity to give my heart again to God at such a holy place. Just standing there taking in the surroundings, breathing the air, you could honestly feel the presence of God all around you. It was a wonderful experience and a way I could say again, “God, forgive me of my sins and I still 100% believe that you are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

The next stop for the day was the Roman city called Bet She’An located about 45 minutes from the Sea of Galilee. In 1 Samuel 31 the story is told of how Saul lost in battle to the Philistines. His sons were killed, then Saul after being wounded fell on his own sword. The Philistines found their bodies, cut off Saul’s head then hung his body on the city walls of Bet She’An. I brought a piece of the wall home to serve as a memory for me. It was an amazing city and it was very interesting to learn how the Romans laid out their cities and how advanced they were in just about everything. While in the city we went into the theater that still remains. Darin was standing center stage speaking in a normal conversational tone while I was at the top row of seats (the theater seats 4,500). I could hear every word he was saying perfectly. Even when he would whisper I could hear him clearly. The acoustics were amazing. For most of you that is probably no big deal but for a musician, it means a lot. The main roadways which stretched for probably one mile were lined with pillars and the pillars at the main entrance, which had fallen over were so large I couldn’t even stretch my arms half-way around them. After touring this entire city, about 4 miles worth of walking we left and headed across the west bank of the Jordan valley to find some lunch and towards our next destination.

Standing next to the pillars at the main entrance of Bet She'An

We stopped at a local restaurant and as we walked in were greeted by an Israeli soldier and his M-16. That was weird; it’s definitely not something you are used to seeing here in the states. For lunch I had a schnitzel in pita bread with hummus, tomatoes, pickles and lettuce. It was GREAT! I was never quite sure what the food was going to taste like, so it was always refreshing when it tasted so wonderful. I also tried for the first time some Falafels. Falafels are crushed chick-pea, seasoned, battered and fried. They sort of look like a meatball, but without any meat in it of course. You add them in your pita bread or you can eat them as they come. Any way you eat them they are delicious.

Schnitzel in a pita. Yummy!

After lunch we continued south and traveled through the check point on the west bank. Jordan and Israel have always had a very strained relationship and on our afternoon drive we basically drove across the entire Jordan/Israel border which is protected by not one, but two electric fences. I think they really want to keep people out.

The mountain ranges were beautiful; the desert areas were breath-taking. It was so neat to see Shepherds in action tending their flocks of sheep and goats as well as a few children riding donkeys and 4 or 5 camels. We were hoping to stop in the city of Jericho as well as visit the valley where David defeated Goliath while on this journey but due to some unrest in that area we were not able to see those locations. Turns out that the ruins from the walls of Jericho have pretty much all be removed anyway so; we had to be content just looking over the existing city of Jericho from a distance and recalling the account of what happened there.

Traveling the same route Jesus would have traveled when coming into Jerusalem we finally arrived on the mountain just outside of the city so we could take in a bird’s-eye view. Modern Jerusalem is much larger today than in Jesus day but the entire “Old City” is still surrounded by a wall. From our vantage point we could pretty much see everything; we were looking from the east side. It was a great way to gain a perspective of where things were and routes that were used to go in and out of the city headed to different locations.

While on this drive to Jerusalem God provided Darin and I an opportunity to speak to our guide Dror about his Jewish faith and about his belief in Jesus. It was very enlightening to have such an open conversation, respecting one another’s faith while sharing and debating our beliefs. At the same time it was also very sad. Here Dror is, surrounded daily with so many of the very locations Jesus spent his days and Dror is so “informed” as to what happened through scripture yet he chooses to not believe Jesus. He only sees him as a man, he doesn’t believe the Jesus was the Son of God, he doesn’t believe that his death on the cross was for the forgiveness of the sins of the world, he doesn’t believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven; sad, so very, very sad. While talking with him my heart was just broken for him, because without accepting Jesus as Messiah he has no hope of Heaven. It was a stark reminder that it’s not enough to “know” Jesus (head knowledge) you’ve got to “know” Jesus (heart knowledge). Without having Him in your heart you don’t truly “know” Jesus.

“God, thank you for Jesus and for the sacrifice He made for me. Thank you that I “know” him in my heart. Open the eyes of our guide Dror and allow him to see the sacrifice your son made was for him as well. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to take this trip, it’s a place every believer should see and I am so grateful that I’ve been given this chance. I’ll never forget it. Amen.” (giving thanks)

It’s been a wonderful day, now it’s off to get some dinner then an early bedtime, we’ve got another full day tomorrow.

My Journal From Israel – Day 4

tom — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:00:07 +0000

Day 4 – Israel Trip – Tuesday, March 16

View of the Sea of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes

1:30 AM our time is 7:30 AM in Israel. After retrieving my luggage I arrived at the hotel totally exhausted and horribly car sick around 11 AM. I was never sure if the driver was avoiding potholes all over the road or running from the Israel Military. He constantly turned, sped up, slowed down; you just never knew what he might do next. Upon arrival we met our guide and he informed us that we had 15 minutes to freshen up before our day began. Funny thing was, once my feet hit the ground at our first location the exhaustion and car sickness went away and a whole new energy came over me. (giving thanks)

Our first stop was the small fishing village where Peter and Andrew lived. The same place where Jesus said to them while walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee…”come follow me, I will make you fishers of men”, Mark 1:16-18. The town is called Beit-Saida. It was very interesting to learn and see how small their homes were, how close everyone lived together. One home still had its old wine cellar. Homes are identified by the home-owners profession and they do that by examining what’s been found in the ruins left behind. It was interesting to see how much smaller the Sea of Galilee is today than what it was in Jesus’ day. The village we were walking in would have been much closer to the shore than it is today. Due to the lack of rain and the way Israel uses the water that flows from the Sea of Galilee, there is much less water today. In fact, they have what is called “the red line” and “the black line”. If the water falls to the level of “the red line” before the end of July then the government begins to ration the water supply so they will not run out before the next rain season comes. The view was amazing and to really begin to “see” for the first time where these events from scripture took place honestly, just takes your breath away.

We then continued today’s tour by going to the village of Capernaum. In Jesus’ day it was normal for people to travel between Beit-Saida and Capernaum with it being about 2 – 3 hour walk. Capernaum was a town Jesus moved to as He was beginning His ministry. The Disciple Peter’s mother-in-law lived there. It too is on the shoreline of Sea of Galilee. In Capernaum Jesus fed 4000, Mark 8, He also healed a man in the synagogue with a shriveled up hand. We saw a small section of the synagogue that existed while Jesus was living here. We stood surrounding the area and sang together “Amazing Grace.” (giving thanks)

We then drove by and saw the general location of Tabgha, where Jesus fed 5000 on our way to enjoy some fresh fish for lunch. The cost for our fish was $21.95 and when the fish came out to the table it was the ENTIRE fish, EVERYTHING!!! Aside from it watching me the entire time I was eating it, it tasted GREAT! (giving thanks) After lunch we drove to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is the hillside where Jesus delivered what we know as “The Sermon on the Mount”, Matthew 5:1-12. WOW!!! It was so moving. I went off in a garden area alone and read aloud the 8 blessings found in Jesus’ words then sat crying talking to God in prayer. This area had a great view of the Sea of Galilee because it was so high on the mountain side. It was most likely a few hours walk from Capernaum as well. It was so humbling to walk in total silence and to see people on their knees in prayer.

From there we went to our last stop of the day… the Sea of Galilee. This body of water was and still is today very important to Israel. So many things happened right in this area. Jesus walked on its water. Peter tried, but taking his eyes of Jesus failed. Jesus when awakened spoke to the wind and rain and calmed the Sea. Jesus spoke to His disciples from the shore and told them to cast their nets to the other side of the boat and they pulled in a huge catch of fish. We boarded a boat made as a replica of a fishing boat recovered from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee that was from the time of Jesus. I was mostly speechless while sailing on the same water Jesus walked on. To think that I had a moment to float near the same shoreline Jesus walked along when restoring Peter, what words can really describe such a moment? (giving thanks)

We shared the scripture together of when Jesus calmed the storm, Mark 4:35-40. We sang together and prayed telling Him how much we love Him. The view was breath taking. To be honest; I didn’t want to leave. I was reminded there that if Jesus can speak and control the wind and waves then He can help me through anything I ever face in my life. I was also reminded that just like Jesus called His first disciples He has also called me to “come and follow Him.” This moment, this day has refreshed my spirit, renewed my calling, strengthened my heart and given me a new chance to fall more in love with my Jesus.

In this…I give thanks!

St. Peter's Fish caught fresh from the Sea of Galilee

My Journal From Israel – Days 2 & 3

tom — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:00:09 +0000

Okay, we’re going to pick up where we left off. I’ve gone ahead and included day 2 & 3 of the trip in this blog since they are both fairly short. Enjoy!

Day 2 – Israel Trip – Sunday, March 14

Well Sunday began with a bagel and some apple juice, and then we headed off to attend church in Clermont, FL at the 5^th fastest growing church in the nation, Real Life Church. It was really a great service all around. I was able to take from it a song to introduce to our church, “Hosanna”, by Paul Baloche (giving thanks) and the Pastor was finishing up a series on the 7 churches in Revelation. It was pretty cool to me that throughout his message he spent a lot of time discussing “locations” in Israel and how it related. Ironic? I don’t think so! (giving thanks)

We followed up church with a seafood lunch at the local Red Lobster, wasted some time at the local Wal-Mart, enjoyed some ice cream then went to see the movie “Avatar” in 3D. After the movie we chose Chinese for dinner and then it was time to get to bed. We set a wake up call for 1:30 AM to get to the airport for our 4 AM flight. What the what?!

Still giving thanks!

Day 3 – Israel Trip – Monday, March 15

Ring, ring, ring…This is your 1:30 AM wake up call.” Darin and I both jump up after getting a sum total of 4 hours sleep and meet the guys downstairs at 2:15 AM. The day starts off with a bang. We arrive at the airport at 3 AM only to find out that the ticket counter doesn’t even open until 4 AM. Our flight really didn’t leave until 5:30 AM. Oh well, at least we were the first in line for a ticket. (giving thanks)

On our first flight from Orlando to Atlanta, just after they were finished handing out drinks and snacks the plane hit a huge air pocket and drop what felt like 1000 feet very rapidly. When that happened the stewardess spilled coffee AND diet coke all over my shirt and shorts. Oh well, at least the cold drink spilled last erasing the burning sensation I was feeling from the coffee which spilled on me first. (giving thanks)

We arrive safely and head directly to our next flight, which was going to Newark. It thrills me to say I remained completely dry throughout the entire flight. (giving thanks) Once in Newark we had to go to the ticket counter to check-in for our flight to Israel. So, after finally finishing up the game of 20 questions with immigration, having successfully convinced them that I didn’t know anyone in Israel, that no one else had packed my bags for me, that it was not a business trip, that I left the fanny pouch for my rented international cell phone at home because frankly I just don’t look good in a fanny pouch and after having finally agreeing to set Megan, my oldest daughter up in an arranged marriage with the immigration officers son I was approved to go to Israel…oh, except for the fact that I didn’t have an approved ticket to board the plane. (giving thanks)

After they finally figured out it was a computer error they issued me a new ticket and I boarded the plane ready for my 10 ½ hour flight into to Tel-Aviv. (giving thanks) The flight itself was great until, Benny gave Joe a sleeping pill to help him sleep on the flight, that’s when all the fun began. While attempting to get some sleep on the flight so I wouldn’t be a zombie once we arrived most of my time was spent helping Joe not fall out of his seat. The pill made him totally wacky. When he would stand up attempting to stay awake, while standing in the aisle he would fall over his seat and right on top of me. He would go and get a soda from the stewardess to help keep him awake and each time he would sit down with it he would fall asleep holding it and spill it right on me. Out of six drinks he had, I managed to catch 3 and have 3 spilled down my leg. At one point after eating dinner he fell asleep and dropped his head right into his dinner plate, knocked off his glasses, then stepped on them and broke them. After a little while this all just became comical and oh how I wish I was smart enough to snap a few photos of Joe with my iPhone for evidence later. Once he reads this I’m sure he’ll deny everything. So, on the 10 ½ hour flight I got the sum total of 1 hour of sleep. (giving thanks)

However, the good news is this…We arrived in Tel-Aviv at 7:30 AM and it was time to start walking the footsteps of Jesus!!!

Still giving thanks!

My Journal From Israel – Day 1

tom — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:57:36 +0000

It took a little longer than expected but as promised I wrote in my journal daily while on the trip to Israel. So…Today begins day 1 from my journal. I continue to post one day from the journal over the next few weeks. I hope you enjoy the reading and aren’t too scared by the look into my mind. (haha) My journal notes can never replace really being there but, until you can make the trip for yourself, it’s better than nothing. Happy reading!

Day 1 – Israel Trip – Saturday, March 13

“In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

This is the first lesson I’ve learned on my trip. I arrived at Orlando International Airport with so much anticipation, so much excitement ready to sink my feet into the sands of the Mediterranean Sea. However, God had other plans. He wanted me to learn to give thanks in ALL things.

Due to some really strong winds in New York our flight was cancelled and we were unable to get a new flight until Monday at 4 AM. We booked a hotel over the phone 2 miles away from the airport only to arrive, go into the lobby and find out it was overbooked and they had no rooms available. We checked at least ½ dozen more hotels to hear the same thing…”no vacancy.” I was beginning to wonder if I was feeling the same aggravation Mary and Joseph were feeling as they were looking for a place the night Jesus was born. After learning that they was not one hotel within 30 minutes of the airport that had rooms available we decided to stop the search, grab a bite to eat and relax for a little bit.

We enjoyed a great steak dinner at Charlie’s Steakhouse and shared some really wonderful conversation. Following dinner we hit the road and drove, and drove, and drove until finally upon arriving in Haines City we found the glorious “Inn Nova” where we would settle in for the night. The hotel is exactly one hour away from the airport, but hey, at least we’ve got someplace to sleep.

So it’s just after 12:30 AM and as we are all filing off of the elevator to settle into our rooms the message I needed to hear, the lesson I needed to learn came from the 67 year old “jolly” retired Pastor in our group of 4, and here is what he said. “In all things give thanks young men, in all things give thanks. Let’s get up and go to church in the morning. Sound good?”

“Sounds good brother Joe, sounds good!”

I’m Gonna Walk Where Jesus Walked!

tom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:14:08 +0000

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

Where He Leads Me I Will Follow!

tom — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:11:15 +0000

Wow! All I can say is WOW! God is totally amazing. In my humble pursuit to begin meeting and befriending those in our homeless community as God has called me to I have learned a few things that I’d like to pass along.

They are real people.

It’s totally amazing. So many times we pass right by a homeless person and try to pretend they aren’t really there. I’ve been guilty of seeing a homeless person and making sure to avoid eye contact at all cost. I figured if I didn’t see them see me then everything was fine, I wouldn’t have to stop. This kept them from becoming “real” to me. Stepping out of my box and actually going up to one man helped me learn this next very interesting point.

They know when we are avoiding them.

While sitting down at a table having breakfast with one homeless man I’ve met it was very interesting to see from his perspective how many people avoided him. At least 5 times while were eating together people who know me, who speak to me every single time they see me, only managed to make a small gesture my way simply because of who I was sitting with. I saw the look of his face as he saw each one of these people do their best to avoid having to talk to me because I was sitting there talking to him. WOW…did that ever open my eyes.

Funny thing is I saw myself in those people walking by. I realized that for years I have done the exact same thing. I realized that I didn’t have any problem greeting the server in the drive through window at McDonald’s with a big “hello”, “have a great day”, or “God bless you” but very seldom, if ever, would I greet someone in our homeless community in that way. I had to apologize to God that day for not feeling as though the homeless “deserved” my time and attention.

As I sat there that morning, getting to know my new friend I learned the next important fact I want to share with you.

They’ve got a story.

Believe it or not, they’ve got a story. They are sons, they were husbands, they have children, they grew up in an orphanage, they have siblings, they played soccer and ran track at their high schools, they had jobs. Every homeless person I’ve meet so far all have a story, and their stories for one reason or another have led them to a life of homelessness.

It’s just like you and me when you think about it. We’ve got a story. The experiences of our past, combined with our families and the choices we’ve made have led us to exactly where we are today.

It’s the same for them. As I’ve met them and begun to learn their stories my first inclination has been to “fix” them. I’m a “fixer”; I don’t like things to be left broken. Maybe some of you are the same way.

So…in an effort to get them “fixed” I’ve tried to reach out and offer solutions. “I can take to you the attorney you need to meet with to get your disability checks figured out.” “I can take you to the clinic so you can pick up your meds.” “I can help find a place for you to stay dry because there’s a really bad rain coming.”

With every offer I’ve made they tend to shrink back into themselves and are not yet ready for me to “fix” them. At first this began to discourage me and then it hit me…the next thing I want to share with you.

It’s not our job to “fix” them.

They don’t want to be fixed. They just want a friend. They’re interested in someone showing up and “knowing” them. I am confident that when they are ready they will ask for the help they need but, it will be in their time and when they know that I’m not there to “fix” them I am there because I’m their friend. So…as I am making new friends, I am learning their needs and behind the scenes figuring out ways to help meet their needs so that when they ask for help I’ll be ready.

As my friendships are growing another thing I’m noticing is…

They are watching.

They are watching to see if I’m “for real”. You know what I mean when I say that. They want to know what it is I want; what’s in it for me; why am I doing this. They are looking to see if I truly am going to be a friend or if just like the last guy that showed up, I’ll give them a hot meal and that’s the last time they’re going to see me. I mean, isn’t that how you’d be? If someone comes around each holiday and drops off a nice hot meal in your lap and says, “Jesus loves you”, then you don’t see them again ‘til next Christmas, how likely are you going to be to trust them or put much stock in what they say?

I want to be the kind of person they can trust. Someone who they know they can depend on. I might not like how they act sometimes or the things they say to my face, but regardless, I’m gonna be there.

It’s interesting to me that God doesn’t always like the things I do or the things I say but, He is always there. God doesn’t always like how I act when I’m in front of Him (which by the way is all the time) but He is always there. Although, I choose to try and handle life on my own sometimes, or I determine that I can handle a certain situation better than God can handle it He is always there for me when I wise up and turn back to Him. God is someone I can trust at all times. I believe that we should be that way too. We should be someone that people can trust at all times.

When I say I am going to do something I better mean it and I better do it. My new friends are watching me and I am determined that instead of seeing me they are going to see Jesus.

Look; in no way do I want to pretend to have all of the answers or to suggest that I have it all together. Nothing could be further from the truth. All I’m saying is that God opened my eyes to an area of reality that I needed to step into. The good news for me is that I did. I was nervous, uncertain, unqualified and uninterested but I stepped in anyway. Now all I can say is WOW! God is totally amazing.

I want to challenge you to listen to what God is telling you to do. Listen to where God is leading you. When you hear Him speaking, listen. When you see Him opening doors, step into them. You will not be sorry!

Make this bold statement with me today…WHERE HE LEADS ME I WILL FOLLOW!!!

Psalm 101

tom — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:34:38 +0000

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of your love and justice;

to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—

when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house

with blameless heart.

3 I will set before my eyes

no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;

they will not cling to me.

4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;

I will have nothing to do with evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,

him will I put to silence;

whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,

him will I not endure.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,

that they may dwell with me;

he whose walk is blameless

will minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit

will dwell in my house;

no one who speaks falsely

will stand in my presence.

8 Every morning I will put to silence

all the wicked in the land;

I will cut off every evildoer

from the city of the LORD.

I was going to write a blog this morning and share with you from my heart. Then, I read the word of God and thought…why not share that with you this morning. So…maybe God had a message for you in the words above, maybe not. However, I hope you at least realize that you just had a moment to encounter God and allow Him to speak through the words of David to…YOU. I hope you took advantage of it.