tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19758967928296016282024-02-08T04:56:05.545-08:00Fear and TremblingTherefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-9047124390805074332012-03-27T08:02:00.000-07:002012-03-27T08:02:28.207-07:00Ain't No Free Lunch<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://humanresourceslegislation.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/no-free-lunch1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://humanresourceslegislation.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/no-free-lunch1.png" width="186" /></a>When I took Econ 101 as an undergrad my professor made a statement that I still carry with me. It wasn’t the first time I had heard it, nor was it original to him. He was talking about the growth of Atlanta and how it was becoming unmanageable and he said some day we would pay a price for our urban sprawl because, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” One of the big fights, he predicted, would be over water from Lake Lanier. He said Alabama and Florida both would get tired of our free ride on the water of Lanier when it would negatively affect those two states further downstream. How prophetic he was. We are now in court with Alabama to figure out who really has rights to the water.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">There may be no free lunch, but there is free grace. Jesus rides into Jerusalem this Sunday giving everyone the opportunity to receive his grace. But they don’t. They want things to be on their own terms, not his. Like Peter’s confession they have the title right, but the wrong understanding the title. They want Jesus to be a political Messiah and overthrow those pagan Romans and re-establish the throne of David. They shout Hosanna! But to them it means God save us from these dirty rotten Romans!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We hear this same rhetoric during election years. Somehow we think we can legislate Jesus into our hearts and homes. Somehow we think that Jesus doesn’t love those that think differently than we do. I have yet to see the Ten Commandments in a courthouse produce one believer, have you? It is time that we started working on the right end of the problem by loving as Jesus loved not becoming embroiled in politically fueled moralism. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Political messiahs die and stay dead.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.blessedsacramentuki.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Leafy-Palm-Branches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.blessedsacramentuki.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Leafy-Palm-Branches.jpg" width="153" /></a>Jesus taught us to love those Roman pagans. He loved them and died for them too.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you wave that palm branch this Sunday what kind of Messiah are you waving it for? Are you waving it for the Messiah of free grace, the son of God who rose from the dead or are you waving it for the dead political messiah that says, “ain’t no free lunch.”?</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-20838778729491673692012-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:002012-03-21T08:44:46.069-07:00Can You Hear Me Now?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ilisten.com/listen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://www.ilisten.com/listen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huh? What?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-indent: 22.3pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Mark 9:2-8 </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <sup>2</sup> Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, <sup>3</sup> and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. <sup>4</sup> And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. <sup>5</sup> Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." <sup>6</sup> He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. <sup>7</sup> Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" <sup>8</sup></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 22.3pt;">Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Someone once said that the sincerest form of flattery is listening. I know from my days in the sales training and consulting business that introverted salespeople actually make the best salespeople. Why? Because they are the better listeners. Poor salespeople talk too much but, good salespeople listen. Women normally make better salespeople as well because women are better listeners then men.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, Peter, John, and James find themselves on a high mountain top with Jesus. Something terrifying happens. Suddenly Jesus clothes become glowing white, shining, and shimmering. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. Then as sudden as it began it ends with them being engulfed in the cloud of God’s glory as God says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Then its over. Only Jesus, Peter, John and James are left on the mountain top.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This supernatural event wasn’t for Jesus. It wasn’t for Moses and Elijah either. It was for Peter, James, John and us, the disciples. This takes place 6 days after Peter’s confession; the confession where Peter got the title right but the meaning wrong. Six days after Peter argued with Jesus about the meaning of His messiahship, God vindicates Jesus message and messiahship.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Greek word translated as listen in verse 7 means both listen and hear. You know we can hear without listening. </span>Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. Listening leads to learning.In The Gospel of Mark it seems that the disciples hear but they do not listen. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are we listening?</span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-18203334193696471762012-03-13T13:24:00.000-07:002012-03-13T13:24:13.126-07:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://biblesharingonline.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/jesus_face_shroud.jpg?w=258&h=315" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://biblesharingonline.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/jesus_face_shroud.jpg?w=258&h=315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who do people say that I am?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mark 8:27-38 </span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <sup>27</sup> Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" <sup>28</sup> And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elija</span></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">h; and still others, one of the prophets." <sup>29</sup> He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." </span></i><b><sup><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">30</span></sup></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. </span></b><i><sup><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">31</span></sup></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. <sup>32</sup> He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. <sup>33</sup> But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." <sup>34</sup> He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. <sup>35</sup> For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. <sup>36</sup> For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? <sup>37</sup> Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? <sup>38</sup> Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first thing I did as a Pastor was a wedding. Not a funeral, not lead a worship service but officiate a wedding. This wedding was for a young lady who had been a Sunday School student of mine while she was in high school. I performed the wedding at my home church where I had just been appointed an associate pastor. I was a member of this church for 20 years before I was appointed there. At the reception a group of men, me included, were standing in a circle discussing politics. One of the men let the “S” word fly. He realized I was standing there and apologized profusely for his verbal indiscretion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always found this mildly amusing. Why? Because the week before, when I was still a lay person, he would not have apologized. In fact he might have added to his colorful language. Now that I was Rev. Bruce instead of just Rob, he saw me in a different light. For this reason, many of my clergy friends often do not want strangers to know what they do for a living. People have a certain idea of what a preacher is supposed to be like and if we don’t measure up, well that can just become more fodder for Christian/Preacher bashing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the above text Peter confesses Jesus as Messiah, yet Jesus doesn’t want the disciples to tell anyone. Do you find that odd? If Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed one; wouldn’t God want everyone to know that? The answer to these questions is found in verses 31-32 “</span><i><sup><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">31</span></sup></i><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. <sup>32</sup> He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Peter (and likely all the disciples) has the right title but the wrong understanding. That is why Jesus doesn’t want the disciples to tell the world who he is—yet. The time will come when they really get it. The time will come when they understand that Messiah is not a human title for power and triumph but a name associated with suffering, rejection, and public execution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course this will make sense to the disciples after the resurrection. The problem is many of us still expect Jesus to be something that he isn’t. How do you understand that title: Messiah?<o:p></o:p></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-91913150541992863582012-03-07T08:29:00.000-08:002012-03-07T08:29:40.838-08:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/small/1106/jesus-jesus-walk-water-demotivational-posters-1309481233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.motifake.com/image/demotivational-poster/small/1106/jesus-jesus-walk-water-demotivational-posters-1309481233.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things are not Always what they seem.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mark 6:45-52 NRSV </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <sup>45</sup> Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. <sup>46</sup> After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. <sup>47</sup> When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. <sup>48</sup> When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, wal</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">king on the sea. </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He intended to pass them by</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">49</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">50</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">51</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">52</sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Mark writes in verse 48b that Jesus intended to pass them by. On the surface this phrase seems to indicate that Jesus, although aware of their predicament, has no intention of helping. But, things are not always what they seem. If we read this only as a miracle story of Jesus rescuing the disciples then we miss the richness of the phrase “he intended to pass them by. Often we argue about whether the miracle really happened or not, missing the point of what the story teaches us about Jesus and our relationship with Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Let’s take a closer look of Jesus’ intent to pass them by. If you recall in 1 Kings 11, Elijah stood at the cave entrance waiting for the Lord to “pass by.” The Lord did pass by, but not in the wind that was so strong it was splitting the mountains, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire. God passed by in the sheer silence that followed these things. He reveals his presence with Elijah in the sheer silence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Moses is on Mount Sinai in the presence of the lord. He asks the Lord, “how can I know I have found favor in your sight?” It seems for Moses that the only thing that will do is if the Lord will show Moses His glory. God says, “Exodus 33:19<b> </b> "I will make all my goodness pass before you . . ” God passes by Moses to reveal his presence with Moses and the Israelites.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Passing by, then, is not what it seems. In passing by God is making a revelation. God reveled himself to Elijah in the cave, God reveled himself to Moses on the mount, Jesus is revealing himself as God’s Son by “passing by” the disciples. The unfortunate thing is, they don’t get it. As Eugene Peterson puts it in The Message, “None of this had yet penetrated their hearts” (52b).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Things are not always what they seem. Passing by does not literally mean passing by someone or something without a thought. It is a revelatory experience. For Elijah God reveled himself in the ”sheer silence.” For Moses, God was revealed from God’s back as God passed by Moses. And Jesus revealed God’s presence in him and with the disciples as he “passed by”. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Has Jesus “passed by”? Did you miss it? Did it not penetrate your heart? Look today for all the ways Jesus passes by. It might come in the most unexpected way. Things aren’t always what they seem.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 22.5pt;"><br />
</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-4005663654443886642012-02-29T08:31:00.000-08:002012-02-29T08:31:13.886-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOx0i-Gpsis/T05SYz0yEfI/AAAAAAAAAJg/bw-6qpkVfQI/s1600/1st-SUNDAY-of-LENT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOx0i-Gpsis/T05SYz0yEfI/AAAAAAAAAJg/bw-6qpkVfQI/s320/1st-SUNDAY-of-LENT.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Mark 1:35-39 NRSV </i></b><i> <sup>35</sup> In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. <sup>36</sup> And Simon and his companions hunted for him. <sup>37</sup> When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." <sup>38</sup> He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." <sup>39</sup> And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"> My wife’s family used to say that stubbornness was in their DNA and I have no doubt that’s true. I witnessed this stubbornness at family reunions when money needed to be exchanged. One person would try to pay another back for something. The “payee” would not take the money under any circumstance. This resulted in cat and mouse game of the “payer” hiding the money in the “payee’s” purse, car, etc. The “payee” would find it and then hide it in the “payer’s” purse, car, etc. Both were stubborn to get their way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In this week’s text we meet a stubborn Simon (Peter). Jesus has gone off to pray. Simon is determined that Jesus is going to return to his house and heal the people that continue to come for healing since the night before. Jesus had healed Peter’s mother in law and the news traveled quickly and all night they came. Jesus had to get away. I can’t imagine how tired he must have been.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> In the NRSV it says that Simon “hunted” him down. This Greek verb “is very strong, usually used with a hostile intent” (Mary Ann Tolbert). Simon hunts him down as if Jesus had forgotten what he was supposed to do. He was going to get Jesus back on task on make him do what he was supposed to do. Jesus says (my words) “You don’t get it. I came to proclaim the Good News not be a wonder worker. We must go and proclaim my message everywhere.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> This won’t be the first time that Peter tries to make Jesus into his idea of a Messiah instead of letting Jesus be the Messiah he was sent to be. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> Are you stubborn? Are you trying to make Jesus into what you want him to be not the Messiah he is meant to be?</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-75525690297381316802012-02-20T06:34:00.000-08:002012-02-20T06:34:58.727-08:00What is Lent?<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSMufe7rXF0/T0JVYesuJxI/AAAAAAAAAIY/N3oTq6d6EHE/s1600/Ashes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QSMufe7rXF0/T0JVYesuJxI/AAAAAAAAAIY/N3oTq6d6EHE/s320/Ashes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We will celebrate it here at McEver Road by the imposition of ashes. Imposition means I will mark each person’s forehead with ashes in the sign of the cross. As I do this I will repeat the words, “You are dust and to the dust you shall return. Repent and believe the gospel.”</div><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Lent is an important time in the church year. It is the time of year we reflect on our own mortality as we travel to the cross. Just as we cannot have Easter morning without Good Friday, we cannot be prepared for Easter without our time in the wilderness.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Where does the concept of Lent come from?</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">At Jesus’ baptism the sky split open, the Spirit of God, which looked like a dove, descended and landed on Jesus, and a voice from Heaven said, “This is my Son, My Beloved, with whom I am pleased.” Afterward, as told in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus hiked into the wilderness. Maybe he needed some time with God to sort through the major changes happening in his life. Maybe he was searching for direction and answers. Maybe he needed to get away from family, friends and the familiar routine in order to see God, and himself, more clearly. For whatever reason, Jesus retreated into the wilderness for forty days to fast and pray. Lent is 40 days for us to fast, pray, and reflect as we make our way to the cross and resurrection.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>What does Lent have to do with me?</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the drama of work, school, relationships and family. Our lives are filled with distractions that take us away from living a life with Christ. We try to fill the emptiness inside us with mindless TV, meaningless chatter, stimulants, alcohol or other things. We run from silence because we’re afraid of being alone with God. So, like Jesus, we need to take some serious time to pray and figure out where God is in our lives, and where God is calling us to serve. We need to re-focus our lives to be more in line with God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>How do Christians celebrate Lent?</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Normally we give up something. However, this year instead of giving up something (which often becomes self-serving), I ask you to add something. I am asking you to devote some time each day to a quiet time with God. Do not be afraid of being alone with God. It is in the time spent alone with God that we become closer to God and understand more about ourselves. This is a time that can truly life changing. Pick up a copy of the Upper Room or other devotional guide that your church may offer and use it for a time of daily reflection.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Make sure to join us in the main sanctuary at 7:00PM this Wednesday the 22nd for our Ash Wednesday Service. We are located at 3606 McEver Road in Oakwood. 770.532.3160. The service is come as you are. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=211240699744714869332.0004b96609a8d17d767a5&msa=0&ll=34.263211,-83.887653&spn=0.014879,0.01929&iwloc=0004b96609ad63b3d4ab2" target="_blank">McEver Road UMC</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4841001&ct=3334445" target="_blank">Learn more about Lent by clicking here.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-16437648676619167552011-02-25T07:38:00.000-08:002011-02-25T07:38:36.868-08:00Bones, Breath, and Resurrection<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>"Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.</b></span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> "</span></b></div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Ezekiel 37:5<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Somewhere over Austria<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We’re zipping along at 538 mph groundspeed, about 4.5 hours into our flight back to the ATL. We have about 9 or so hours left to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty tired, but can’t sleep a lick this time around. So, this is a good time to type up a blog entry and I’ll post it from the car on the way home.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We visited the Temple Mount and the Garden Tomb today before we left for Tel Aviv and our flight home. Words can’t express how big the Temple Mount is. I can see how it was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world. The Garden Tomb is the second site where Jesus is thought to have been crucified, entombed, and then resurrected. The other is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. You can make good cases about both locations. However, the issue is not where Jesus was resurrected, but that he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was </i>raised from the dead. He was not resuscitated; rather he was resurrected into everlasting life, defeating death and decay.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, what impressed me most was a visit to the National Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In English it means Hall of Names. If it is possible to depict the horror and the evil of the holocaust this museum does it. The building is grey concrete on the inside, no windows. It is shaped like a wishbone turned inside out. It is peaked at the top, but curves inward instead of outward. The design gives you a feeling of somberness and wonder. You zigzag through exhibits of personal belongings of holocaust victims, old film foot age of Nazi Germany, and personal testimonies of holocaust survivors. There is a mock up of a concentration camp bunkhouse and even an old cattle car which was used to transfer the prisoners by rail. They were herded into these cars like cattle being sent to the slaughter house. The last exhibit is called “The Room of Names.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a circular room, probably 3000 square feet. On the walls of the room are black bookshelves that go from floor to ceiling, looks like 20 feet or so. On the shelves are hundreds, possibly thousands, of black binders in which each holocaust victim is recorded along with their personal information. They are not to be forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can anyone say there was no holocaust? How ignorant is a person that makes that kind of statement!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">God did breath into those bones and make them live. It is a resurrection story, the resurrection of the Jewish people from the ashes of the death factories to new life in Israel. If you have never been to Israel, you need to come. When you see how God has resurrected Israel, it won’t be hard at all to believe that Jesus Christ was</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">raised from the dead by the same God.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI6qlDzRSq0/TWfL5NbsCXI/AAAAAAAAAEg/xObRoIS6FyA/s1600/Picture+1062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZI6qlDzRSq0/TWfL5NbsCXI/AAAAAAAAAEg/xObRoIS6FyA/s320/Picture+1062.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This gives you some idea of the size of the Temple Mount</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1ReB0v0J4U/TWfL7oZaXEI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JQ5sDMtROCE/s1600/Picture+1074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1ReB0v0J4U/TWfL7oZaXEI/AAAAAAAAAEk/JQ5sDMtROCE/s320/Picture+1074.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon's Calvary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irBLnSX3rhY/TWfL95r-NMI/AAAAAAAAAEo/_9xJiFozG-c/s1600/Picture+1077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irBLnSX3rhY/TWfL95r-NMI/AAAAAAAAAEo/_9xJiFozG-c/s320/Picture+1077.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Garden Tomb</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuOHHMzbDlU/TWfMAP0V9VI/AAAAAAAAAEs/2wwDVIOz-go/s1600/Picture+1059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KuOHHMzbDlU/TWfMAP0V9VI/AAAAAAAAAEs/2wwDVIOz-go/s320/Picture+1059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dome of the Rock<br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Sorry no pictures of Yad Vashem, they do not allow them to be taken. However, you can google Yad Vashem and see some.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">I think I will continue this blog upon returning. I’ll follow the same format of theological reflection on everyday life.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thanks for sharing this adventure with me. It has changed my life and my ministry. My prayer is that it may have had a transformative effect on your life as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time, He is risen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-51164731873072723192011-02-23T10:53:00.000-08:002011-02-23T10:53:11.165-08:00The Anti-Babel<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Revelation 21:1-2 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>2</sup> And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Revelation 22:1-2 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>2</sup> through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I am writing this in my hotel room with the window open enjoying the myriad of sounds from this fantastic city called Jerusalem. I am listening to the street noise, people talking in different languages, and the Mullahs calling Muslims to the evening prayers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a cacophony you will hear nowhere else. This is my last night in the city, tomorrow we fly home and should arrive around 6:00AM. We will visit a few more place before we head to Tel Aviv and our 11 hour flight back to Atlanta.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We visited the Mount of Olives, Wailing Wall, archeological digs around the southern and western walls of the temple, went to where John the Baptist was born and the Biblical Museum. What a day. The whole 8 days has been overwhelming with emotional highs and way too much information to remember. We all have had an “excellent adventure.” But, many of us are ready to go home. A number have caught colds or some kind of word. The bus is filled with coughs and hacks. My sinus infection has returned! Drat!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There will be no post tomorrow because we will be traveling. So I want to give you a final observation of my experience here. Bear with me, stick around till the end because the beginning may seem random. But, I hope when you reach the conclusion it will be worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The Tower of Babel, if you remember the story from Genesis 11 is after the flood when only one language existed. God confused the languages out of fear that humankind would become. It is at that time that people spread out and other cultures were formed. Life on this planet existed this way for thousands of year until the “anti-Babel.” That is, the day God brought us back together through Jesus Christ. You remember what that is don’t you? Pentecost. That was the day, here in Jerusalem, when Peter preached and everyone understood in their own language. What God scattered at Babel he brought together in Jerusalem through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Acts 2:7-8 </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“<sup>7</sup> Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? <sup>8</sup> And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What I have experienced in Jerusalem is the in breaking of the Kingdom of God. If you look above at the texts from Revelation you will see that John, the writer of Revelation saw the arrival of God’s Kingdom as a New Jerusalem. Christ’s resurrection was the first of that Kingdom; the resurrection of the dead. Paul calls his resurrection the “first fruits.” (</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1 Corinthians 15:20 </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>20</sup> But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.) The kingdom is here but not yet. Yet, through my experiences here in Jerusalem, I can better envision its coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I can see it through my anti-Babel experience. That which was scattered has been brought together again. Yesterday at St Ann’s church by the pool of Bethesda pilgrims of all different cultures and languages were singing the great hymns of the faith, in different languages yet we “heard” them in our own language. French, English, German, Eastern European languages, Scandinavian languages, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Hebrew, Arabic, and some I had no idea, they are all here in this city. We all know we need healing and we have come here, because it is here in Jerusalem the anti Babel. It was here on the day of Pentecost and it still is here. Jesus Christ is the “anti-Babel.” When will we learn that he is not just in Jerusalem?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I anxiously await God’s Kingdom. Come quickly Lord Jesus, heal the nations.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YN4jhekMdv0/TWVV7FfVOsI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/7alf1llz_G0/s1600/Picture+880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YN4jhekMdv0/TWVV7FfVOsI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/7alf1llz_G0/s320/Picture+880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerusalem seen from the Mount of Olives</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBGSE8utSQg/TWVWC6C2AgI/AAAAAAAAAEU/PhOaCN8JhmM/s1600/Picture+907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBGSE8utSQg/TWVWC6C2AgI/AAAAAAAAAEU/PhOaCN8JhmM/s320/Picture+907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2000 year old Olive Tree in the Garden of Gethsemane</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dJvvnoHUZs/TWVWIxFCsPI/AAAAAAAAAEY/u_-cYgHorOU/s1600/Picture+969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dJvvnoHUZs/TWVWIxFCsPI/AAAAAAAAAEY/u_-cYgHorOU/s320/Picture+969.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Western Wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpG_ESEtfK0/TWVWP6av-AI/AAAAAAAAAEc/lHaq0JZD81s/s1600/Picture+1035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpG_ESEtfK0/TWVWP6av-AI/AAAAAAAAAEc/lHaq0JZD81s/s320/Picture+1035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthplace of John the Baptist</td></tr>
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</span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-80310773465387548672011-02-22T10:44:00.000-08:002011-02-22T10:44:13.049-08:00The Pit<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Today was another exhausting day but in a different way. We walked the Via Dolorosa. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepluchre, Antonia Fortress, Pool of Bethesda, , House of Caiaphas, The Upper Room, King David’s Tomb, Lazarus’ Tomb and the Church where Mary and Martha’s house was located. (The last two are in Bethany).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It was not as physically tiring as yesterday, but it was an emotionally draining day. Bishop Watson conducted a service of healing at Bethesda, the sight where Jesus healed the paralytic. Many of us were in tears. As I was anointed I asked to stand in for Mimi Jo, Dee Greenwell, and Bernie Williams. Many of us were in tears at the end of the service. To be anointed in the exact same spot where Jesus performed a miracle of healing was overwhelming.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now what I am about to tell you, you probably have never heard before. You might think that walking the Via Dolorosa would be an emotional event. It wasn’t. Jerusalem is a very busy city with a lot going on and there was no way I could be contemplative. However, the visit to the church over the house of Caiaphas was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>numbing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the side of the church is a beautiful mosaic of Christ bound , but in a way I have never seen. His hands are bound, but there is a harness around his body that is attached to a rope stretched straight up above his head. It gives the image that he is dangling or hung from the rope over his head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bear with me. I will get to an explanation in a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqbdvEEHU9c/TWQCTRoFMPI/AAAAAAAAAD8/IIsQy08xlT8/s1600/Picture+814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqbdvEEHU9c/TWQCTRoFMPI/AAAAAAAAAD8/IIsQy08xlT8/s320/Picture+814.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pit from halfway up the stairs. The turned off the lights for us. Got really Dark</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, how you ever wondered what happened to Christ over Thursday Night? Here’s how Matthew tells that part of the story. “</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>2</sup> They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.” Where was Jesus that night? Well he was kept in the “Pit.” You see Caiaphas being the high Priest dealt with all petty criminals. So they needed a holding place for them. The holding place was a dungeon with a hole in the roof just big enough for a man to be lowered through. A roof that appeared to be about 15 feet high! There was one small observation window to observe the prisoners. But, the only way in our out was through the hole 15 feet up. The mosaic on the side of the building was Jesus being lowered into the pit; Lowered into a totally dark pit, alone. Suddenly for me, Jesus passion took on a new dimension of horror. How could what was done to Jesus become any worse? It did for me today and brought me to tears. As we left we hummed “What Wondrous Love.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal;"></span></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-HzA8eXfYk/TWQCrkw6QXI/AAAAAAAAAEI/cgDJb0m3kd8/s1600/Picture+743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6-HzA8eXfYk/TWQCrkw6QXI/AAAAAAAAAEI/cgDJb0m3kd8/s320/Picture+743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Outside of the building that is around Jesus' Tomb. It is contained in a much larger church complex.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDmhtrUlzpQ/TWQCy8gh9tI/AAAAAAAAAEM/1bOkSBvvDC4/s1600/Picture+812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BDmhtrUlzpQ/TWQCy8gh9tI/AAAAAAAAAEM/1bOkSBvvDC4/s320/Picture+812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hole in the roof of the pit. If you look closely you can see crosses carved inside of it. They are Byzantine Crosses carved during the Byzantine period circa 400AD</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!<br />
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!<br />
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss<br />
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,<br />
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CTyk4ya1zk/TWQCbyN2lbI/AAAAAAAAAEA/f7vMXb-S7Vc/s1600/Picture+727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CTyk4ya1zk/TWQCbyN2lbI/AAAAAAAAAEA/f7vMXb-S7Vc/s320/Picture+727.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The slab on which Jesus' body was anointed for burial.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Yes, what wondrous love it is!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-12433702337934226542011-02-22T10:18:00.000-08:002011-02-22T10:18:15.139-08:00Human Styrofoam<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Monday, yesterday, we visited tow of the spots I have always dreamed of going to, Qumran and Masada. Qumran is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and Masada is where the Jews escaped the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70AD. It took the Romans 3 years to be cable to scale the massive mountain and when they got there 973 women, children, men committed suicide. Today all Israeli Army recruits are brought to the site. We went to the summit in a cable car but several of us decided to walk down. Quite a walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After visiting Masada and Qumran we drove to Jericho for lunch. Jericho is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Here we had our Old Testament reading by the spring where this occurred:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2 Kings 2:18-25 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>18</sup> When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, "Did I not say to you, Do not go?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>19</sup> Now the people of the city said to Elisha, "The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>20</sup> He said, "Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>21</sup> Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, "Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>22</sup> So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>23</sup> He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, "Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>24</sup> When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>25</sup> From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuE8R8eL6YY/TWP8uj3QI9I/AAAAAAAAAD0/WDf5Coh5WKg/s1600/Picture+519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuE8R8eL6YY/TWP8uj3QI9I/AAAAAAAAAD0/WDf5Coh5WKg/s320/Picture+519.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Qumran</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EExE3EudKT4/TWP817eJwlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/V9B1o3hwBfo/s1600/Picture+615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EExE3EudKT4/TWP817eJwlI/AAAAAAAAAD4/V9B1o3hwBfo/s320/Picture+615.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coming down Masada</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3AZ7hkeyxs/TWP8nBcTqwI/AAAAAAAAADw/hwp03UWbvhY/s1600/Picture+631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3AZ7hkeyxs/TWP8nBcTqwI/AAAAAAAAADw/hwp03UWbvhY/s320/Picture+631.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not floating yet, but we will be.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Dead Sea was quite interesting. We spent about an hour there 30 minutes of it floating. You just walk out into the water and sit and you pop up on your back. You can’t sink. No matter how hard you try. In fact it is even hard to stand up. The body is muddy is some place, in fact I sunk up to my knees at one point. And it is very rocky in others. It is something like 70% salt and it is the lowest point in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-43708676884999518222011-02-20T11:44:00.000-08:002011-02-20T11:44:32.777-08:00Jerusalem, Rain,and I (Apologies to Joe Walsh & The James Gang)<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What a change in scenery as we traveled down Highway 90 to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Galilee is lush and green and fertile. As we drove south towards Jerusalem we encountered the desert, brown, rocky and parched. Much different than the American southwest desert where there is some vegetation. Here nothing but brown sand, rocks and the occasional Bedouin driving his goats or sheep to the very sparse patches of grass. We even saw a Bedouin drive his herd through downtown Bethel very near the church of the Nativity.<o:p></o:p></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWoRcGntOxE/TWFtwfdmyoI/AAAAAAAAADo/YHFW0g2U6LU/s1600/Picture+191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YWoRcGntOxE/TWFtwfdmyoI/AAAAAAAAADo/YHFW0g2U6LU/s320/Picture+191.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ff you like brown this is your place on earth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The church of the nativity is the oldest Christian church in the world constructed in the mid 4th century by The Emperor Constantine’s Mother. This church was built before the Council of Nicaea, before what we believe as Christians was put in writing in the Nicene Creed! I touched the spot where Jesus was born; I touched the manger that is now encased in marble. This cave was huge! You could easily see how it could be used as a stable. Then we went to the Shepherd’s fields. I always thought the shepherds were some distance away, but it is probably only 2 miles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Church of the nativity was touching. But the highlight of the day came after our dinner at the hotel. At 6:45PM 4 of us walked to the Wailing Wall. We went in a pouring rain as the Muslims were being called to evening prayer. We passed through the metal detectors; saw a group of female Israeli Army women who were the guards for the night. They looked to be between 18 and 21 and were armed with M16s. It was a strange mixture of femininity and violence. We approached the wall in the pouring rain and had it all to ourselves! Well almost. It was just 4 United Methodist preachers and one Jew praying at the wall. My friend Andy and I had the same experience when touching the wall. It was like a small electrical charge ran through us. I did not want to let go. I prayed for those that are so sick at Tate. Mimi Jo, Dee, and Bernie. Andy and I decided we would go back every night.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmT1Q9PNfNo/TWFuGy3yC_I/AAAAAAAAADs/u8wQcmcEcnQ/s1600/Picture+493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CmT1Q9PNfNo/TWFuGy3yC_I/AAAAAAAAADs/u8wQcmcEcnQ/s200/Picture+493.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Birthplace of Jesus</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then we walked around the Temple Mount and saw one of the few undisputed places of Jesus’ Ministry. The Teaching Steps, the steps from which Jesus taught in the Temple. I witnessed the old convent on one side of the Temple Mount and the new on the other side. I witnessed both, in one sacred night, in the pouring rain, in Jerusalem. Tonight Jeremiah 31:33 become more than words, it came alive, truly the Living Word of God: </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">There is no doubt the Spirit of God is in this place.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Sorry, no pictures of the wailing wall. It was raining too hard to use the camera</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-28369099084907834452011-02-19T10:17:00.000-08:002011-02-19T10:17:09.545-08:00Thy Kingdom Come<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbmWbu0VjuU/TWAHBOqMfVI/AAAAAAAAADg/rmiTGg6HURk/s1600/Picture+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbmWbu0VjuU/TWAHBOqMfVI/AAAAAAAAADg/rmiTGg6HURk/s200/Picture+139.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading at The Mount of the Beatitudes Church</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What a day today! We traveled the entire shore line of the Sea of Galilee. We rode a boat on the Sea of Galilee, visited the Mount of the Beatitudes where I read Matthew 5:1-12 to the group, saw the cave on that same Mount where Jesus would get away by himself and pray, saw the spot where Jesus fed the 5000, and the place where the risen Jesus appeared for the third time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to Capernaum and saw the remains of a great synagogue, saw Peter’s mother in law’s house. This is the same house where she was healed by Jesus. Finally, our baptisms were reaffirmed in the Jordan River. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are all dog tired both from what we have seen and what we have felt. It is all so overwhelming, Even at that, it has been a peaceful day in the presence of the Holy Spirit. But, it has also been a day to see the violent reality of the world in which we live. We traveled to the border with Jordan to see where the Decapolis was located. We saw the pillboxes and the mine fields and the barb wire. How must it be to live in a country where you are surrounded by those that want to destroy you? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-HUKqpLqDs/TWAIQWok02I/AAAAAAAAADk/OOi9hxMF0TI/s1600/Picture+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q-HUKqpLqDs/TWAIQWok02I/AAAAAAAAADk/OOi9hxMF0TI/s200/Picture+019.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea of Galilee</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the other hand, I did see the opposite of the barb wire, the mine fields, and the fear that goes with them. Through God’s grace I caught a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. I saw the nations gathered, I heard the different languages, and I saw the clerical dress of all the different traditions of Christianity. All of us together in the same time, in the same place, and for the same reason: Jesus Christ. It is possible for humanity to live together in peace, but it is only through Jesus Christ. I am now more convinced of that then ever. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read this on the Mount of Beatitudes:</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”(Matt 5:9) Lord God I saw your children today making peace. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be your child, a peacemaker. I want to see an end to the barb wire and the mine fields and the fear. I want to see thy Kingdom come!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-40482938933870981162011-02-18T10:25:00.000-08:002011-02-18T10:25:17.740-08:00Miracle Out Of Nowhere<div class="MsoNormal">I am writing this post on the bus as we return to Tiberius from Cana. Today we visited Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth and Cana. We saw so much that it is almost overwhelming. We walked were Jesus walked, we visited the house where Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. We saw Mary’s house, Mary’s well and the churches built over them. I also learned that the manger Jesus was laid was hewed out of stone. It was not wooden. But the most interesting sight was the church built over the synagogue where Jesus preached his first sermon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sermon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recorded by Luke in chapter 4 that announced Jesus ministry, You would think that this synagogue would have been something ornate and special. But no, It was more like a small country church. There were only 200 people living in Nazareth in Jesus day. That’s it. Nazareth was nothing but a little redneck town of no consequence. Today it’s a city of 150,000.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Luke tells the story this way, <b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Luke 4:14-21 </span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>4</sup> Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>15</sup> He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>16</sup> He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>17</sup> The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>18</sup> "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>19</sup> to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>20</sup> Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>21</sup> and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Of course after this they tried to throw him off a cliff. I saw the cliff too.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHHbXJoosOU/TV65J2sdA7I/AAAAAAAAADc/z1UXEOW-AsE/s1600/DSCN0358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NHHbXJoosOU/TV65J2sdA7I/AAAAAAAAADc/z1UXEOW-AsE/s320/DSCN0358.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: HE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Jesus announced his ministry from a small synagogue, in a small backwater town. A ministry that would change the world. Today I stood on the same floor Jesus did when he read from the scroll of Isaiah. As Bishop Watson said all Christians participate in this miracle that has changed the world. A miracle literally out of nowhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me that makes it all the more believable. The only way Christianity could have spread out of this little backwater town is if God was in it from the beginning. But, hey, don’t miracles always come out of nowhere?</span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-25177535425372920932011-02-17T12:21:00.000-08:002011-02-17T12:21:12.908-08:00650 Feet Below Sea Level<div class="MsoNormal">Blogging tonight at 650 feet below sea level just below the Golan Heights! We had a mechanical delay last night but still made it to Tel Aviv <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on time and arrive3d at our hotel on the Sea of Galilee at 10:00PM. Tomorrow we start bright and early at 6:00AM and will be touring the area around the Sea of Galilee tomorrow. What would surprise you is how well the Israeli Arabs and Israeli Jews co exist. I will make a longer post tomorrow. Today was mostly travel. Going to bed. I have had 4 hours of sleep out of the last 36.</div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1975896792829601628.post-16390460106531045842011-02-16T04:48:00.000-08:002011-02-16T04:48:50.135-08:00The Great AdventureI feel like the kids in the Disney commercial. You know the ones. They are so excited they can't sleep because the next morning they leave for Disney. Well, I had no trouble getting in my eight hours last night. Sherry will tell you that all I have to do is look at a pillow and I am sound asleep. But don't think that since I slept, I am not excited. I am excited, very excited, but I am even more thankful.<br />
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I am thankful that the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church provides this opportunity. I am thankful for the people of Tate UMC who paid for my travel. I am even more thankful for the prayers and the well wishes of the people of Tate, my facebook friends, and others. This outpouring of love you have shown is both touching and a bit overwhelming.<br />
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It occurs to me, that maybe what I am most thankful for is the miracle of the Internet. Why? Because it allows the opportunity to take you along on this adventure. It reminds me of an old Steven Curtis Chapman song:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>"Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Come on get ready for the ride of your life<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Gonna leave long faced religion in a cloud of dust behind<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>And discover all the new horizons just waiting to be explored<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>This is what we were created for<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>We'll travel over, over mountains so high<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>We'll go through valleys below<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Still through it all we'll find that<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>This is the greatest journey that the human heart will ever see<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>The love of God will take us far beyond our wildest dreams<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><i>Yeah... oh saddle up your horses... come on get ready to ride"</i><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 27.35pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">You ready to ride?</span></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14886296340735119124noreply@blogger.com2