Stories in Israel

I have visited Israel three times. The first two visits were with a tour group (please join us for a great experience!), and my most recent trip to Israel was with just my two daughters. Every visit was unique and a great experience. I could share many stories from each visit, but in order not to bore you, I am only sharing a few in today’s blog.

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First: A trip to Israel is a multi-day event. We will spend ten to fourteen days with several other people, several we have never met before. We will eat with them, tour with them, and talk to them. The result will hopefully be new friends. On my first trip to Israel, I traveled with my family and two couples I knew from my church. I met many other new friends. In the four years since the trip ended, several friends have visited us as they passed through the area in which we live. I have also communicated via Facebook and other means with new friends.

Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Second: For many the trip starts as a tour, a simple excursion. They may think that this journey will be just like any other, but it will not. During the trip sometime and somewhere, travelers will realize, “It was here!”

First view of Jerusalem from the East

I remember two distinct times when I realized a biblical event had occurred exactly where I was standing . On the sixth day of the first trip, we ascended in altitude four thousand feet from the Jordan River along several miles to the district of Jerusalem. We rounded a curve in the road and the site of the Temple came into view before us. It was then I realized, “It was here!” This is the place! This is Mount Moriah where God saved the life of Isaac, the place where Solomon built the first Temple, and the site of the second Temple where Jesus worshipped and taught! The reality sunk in as we approached closer to the Temple. This trip to Israel helped me to understand the Bible in a deeper and different way. A love for God’s word and acts which was surface before grew much deeper.

Western Wall in Jerusalem

On the second trip I had a similar realization atop Mount Nebo. A round stone marked the spot where Moses might have stood, but the realization went beyond the innuendo “might have” to the conclusion, “It was here!” I stood at the site and saw the same land envisioned through God by Moses 3,500 years before. The story is true and beyond words. I can be assured that the events of the Bible are true.

Top of Mount Nebo where Moses stood

I do not know where, I do not know how, but I do know in all probability that when you travel to Israel it will happen when least expected, and you will realize, “It was here!” Please join me on this trip.

Pool in Ein Gedi where King David stood by waterfalls

Third: On day five of my upcoming trip to Israel my daughter and I will return to Ein Gedi. On our first two tours the brochure said we would “hike in the valley, enjoy the waterfalls and soaking our feet in the cool waters.” On the first trip we soaked our feet and observed the swimmers in the clear pool where King David swam. On the second trip we wore swimsuits and stood under the waterfall where we were supposedly only going to “dip our feet.” We will do the same on our upcoming trip. I hope you will also bring your swimsuit along to Ein Gedi!

Western Wall of Jerusalem at Night

Fourth: Trips with John Delancey are unique because we do not only tour during the day, as is normal and the expected for organized tours. But during our past trips, and on this future trip, we will also take night walks. We will take an early walk to the Western Wall (Kotel) and we will visit overlooks to gain a panoramic view of Jerusalem.

Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem

When a night walk on our first trip repeated a place where we had been the day before, my daughters and I walked on Ha-Nevi’im Street (Street of the Prophets) to the downtown pedestrian mall, Ben Yehudah. We saw traditional neighborhoods alive with life in the middle of the night as well as modern Jerusalem. We stopped in modern shops to bargain with merchants and purchase souvenirs at a very reasonable price, we ate ice cream, and we saw young dancers spontaneously dancing and celebrating life (l’chaim!).

Dancers on Ben Yehudah Mall in Jerusalem

The night walk was fun, full of life, and we became one with the people who live in Jerusalem.

Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem

Fifth: During our non-tour trip this past summer, we took a detourto the village of Yavneh, the site where the great council of the Jewish Sanhedrin met after Jerusalem fell. It is said that the canon of the Jewish scripture was formed here. A nineteenth prayer was added to the traditional Amidah (the Standing Prayer, also known as the Shmoneh Esreh, or Eighteen Benedictions - this is one of the main prayers recited daily) and the Rabbis debated and set forth an idea to solve the dilemma of the destroyed altar and missing High Priesthood.

Yavneh, Israel

The historic site was nothing but a mound of dirt called a Tel. It had not been excavated and trails which went to the top were filled with briars, but we did see the place and knew what it once was.

Finding lunch at Yavneh, Israel

I asked my daughters if they wanted to eat in town and we decided to find a place in town. Only one man, a customer, spoke English. He spent his time with us amazed that tourists would come there. He was honored. Chelsea was able to practice her Hebrew and ordered dinner - and we were rewarded with an excellent meal. We ordered Kabobs, and they turned out to be the best shawarma in all of Israel.

More stories will be made in May 2018. Please sign up for this trip. The details can be found at this link.

Advent Traditions

   The Advent traditions of my family began almost thirty years ago in a young adult Sunday School class at University Baptist Church in Wichita, KS.  Our study for December included four lessons: Zechariah, Joseph, Shepherds and Magi.  In preparation for these lessons I picked up a book from our church library, the title of which I have long forgotten.  The book said the Christmas season is a great time to teach on spiritual things because people were more attune because it was the time of Jesus' birth.
   Members of the class I was teaching had young children, three of them born the same month as my oldest daughter, Chelsea.  The lessons I prepared that year included not only the scripture but also ideas for teaching our children the Bible stories on a preschool level.  I made a notebook for each member of the class (color coded by week).  The ideas presented in the notebook I continued to use and improve each year.
   As my daughters aged from preschool to young child to older elementary and then on into middle school I continued to develop the idea of Advent scripture and stories.  I added activities according to their age.  I picked up the idea of sharing finger plays from the Hutchinson, KS library.  Those were included in a new Advent schedule.
   I began to develop other activities in the schedule as my daughters reached five years of age and beyond.  These included a weekly family time with dinner, songs, a skit and the story.  One of the favorite stories was the trip of Joseph and Mary to find a room in Bethlehem.  One of the girls was Joseph, the other Mary.  I was the donkey (many people told me that was a good role for me) and Denise was the innkeeper.
   When the children entered elementary school in Apex, NC, I added more activities.  We prepared Christmas cards on the week the angels told the Shepherds of Jesus' birth.  We drew wrapping paper in the week we told of the gifts brought by the Magi.  We made care packages for our neighbors to minister to them.  We also saw a sheep farm (or sheep at the zoo), and Christmas programs.  Christmas grew to be a season we loved.
   When my daughters entered Middle School, I stopped reading the story as much, because I wanted them to be more self disciplined.  I put a story with their lunch each day, along with thought questions, activities we would do when they came home, and also with a game: word search, crossword, maze, or similar, which they could solve as they ate lunch.  We still have a notebook of these pages.
   The devotions came full circle as Sarah helped me write Advent Journeys, a Christmas devotional.  We had fun, and talked about some of the activities of the past.  I put out a pamphlet for others to enjoy for many years.  I will be putting the same ideas on our website in the very near future (this week I hope) so others can enjoy celebrating Advent with their families.
   To celebrate a fun Advent will bring families closer to the true meaning of the Christmas season.  I have found these activities to be the perfect antidote for consumerism so prevalent at this time of year.  Keep an eye out for the list ... and if you have other ideas, please share them.