Back From Israel
I have asked those who traveled to Israel to leave comments here. I am sure you will want to read them as they are added. You have seen some of the photos. There are more plus some wonderful audio files and DVD’s.
Skip
I have asked those who traveled to Israel to leave comments here. I am sure you will want to read them as they are added. You have seen some of the photos. There are more plus some wonderful audio files and DVD’s.
Skip
(Quoting from my first Facebook entry…)
Dear Ones,
My son asked me “if I had seen Jesus , yet?” during one of my Israel phone calls…well, I realized new sightings…and what an adventure it was. Can’t wait to tell you all about it!!
I’m home…trying to catch up and my mind is full of life experiences and spiritual awakenings…:)) Baptism in the River Jordan, floating in the Dead Sea, cable car ride to Masada, boating on the Sea of Galilee, honoring the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, planting a pistachio tree in my John’s memory in the forest, hiking over desert sands and rocks, riding a camel, shopping in Jewish shops and Arab shops, praying for peace in Jerusalem, wailing at the West Wall, seeing the faces of God’s creation in the formal Hasidic prayers and the feral cats in the cobbled streets, appreciating water for its personal and political values, opening up my mind to new ideas and the sensitivities of others, learning about Torah-observant believers…
“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1
I share everyday with my family, friends, students, and fellow believers…there is a sincere desire to experience what I have seen and felt.
“In all ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs3:6
I echo Kish’s words, so filled with awe and wonderment. Where to start? How do we describe the love, the might, the sovereignty, the goodness and the brilliant creativity of our Lord? Swept away to this small country in the midst of hostility and oppression, our minds and our hearts were opened to all that He is … together. WE – Kish, Keith, John, Roderick, Whitney, Amy, Bob & Lindy, Skip, Cyndee, Patrick, Matt, the other Matt, the other John, Bob, David and James – truly experienced Israel, the land and its people. Bob and Skip brilliantly and passionately brought each place and experience to life – biblically, historically, politically, spiritually and emotionally. WOW.
We listened, we laughed, we cried, we laughed,we prayed, we laughed, we ate, we laughed, we ‘Gold Star’d’, we laughed, we shopped, we laughed, we learned, we asked, seeked and knocked, we opened up, we connected, we hugged, we ‘bobbed’, we ‘hummus’d’, we wept for this country and the people … and we HOPE with CONFIDENCE for its eternal redemption.
We left home with one perspective and came home with another, albeit with a piece of our hearts still in Israel. We are hungrier for the Lord and His authentic love and truth. We are forever different. While it will take a lifetime for the signficance of it all to be revealed, it is all about the journey. No turning back.
I am so grateful for my new friends and for what we shared. Praise the Lord for ‘613 opportunities’ to LOVE HIM and LOVE EACH OTHER, one life at a time.
A bientot. Shalom. Lisa
I have never taken a more perfect trip. The moment I stepped on the plane in NYC until we landed back again in 11 days, I was in a place like no other. The people, the land, the Bible coming to life before my eyes, the mystery, the revelations and the peace among the tension was thunderous. I have typed every word that was taught and I line the words up with the pictures to share with all those who ask “how was your trip?” because words from my mouth cannot do justice to this journey. I will never be the same.
Amy
Highlight of Israel trip for Cyndee Sullivan
The most memorable moment in Israel was the experience of worshiping God at the Western Wall in the heart of Jerusalem. I had been looking forward to it since I received the itinerary months ago and discovered that our group would be at that location on my birthday. When we arrived in TelAviv on 10/15/09 and then went on to Tiberias and Jerusalem, the schedule kept changing. I hoped that it wouldn’t deviate from the plan to visit the Wailing Wall the next Wednesday, and I wasn’t disappointed.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I knew that I wanted to feel God’s presence in a significant way. We were all encouraged to write our prayers on tiny slips of paper to tuck into the cracks of the Wall. These scraps of paper are collected every so often and buried. Instead of being discouraged by this fact, I was comforted, knowing that God doesn’t dispose of any of our prayers. I wrote a scripture verse for every member of my family and after touching the wall in reverence, I backed away in respect, as is the custom.
When I was still in the area, but not in close proximity to the Wall, I plugged my iPod earbuds in and turned it on at full volume. I raised my hands in praise to God to the tune of “Our Father in Heaven” from the “Holy God” CD by Brian Doerksen. It was like a “take-me-away Calgon moment” of feeling enthralled by the love of God in the midst of a foreign, sometimes hostile world. No matter what was happening around me, I felt the peaceful joy-filled love of the Father. He alone is faithful and true. Knowing that was the best birthday gift ever!
Words fail me! I cannot do justice to the overwhelmingly impact, significance, awe, laughter and joy that this trip delivered.
We walked where Yeshua walked and taught, healed and prayed. We witnessed with our own eyes the beauty of this very small country, understand the tremendous significance of water, and appreciate the tight proximity of so many biblical accounts that occurred through the millennia. Israel is a land of stark contrasts; from deserts and lush valleys, to tranquil peace and dramatic tensions.
The scriptures came alive in a whole new way, as Bob taught and unpacked the text for us exactly where the events took place. It created an indelible impression upon our hearts and minds.
We were blessed to be able to connect with the nation of Israel and with the Jews; God’s chosen people. You cannot compare the awe, majesty and reverence of personally experiencing the most significant sites in the life of Yeshua and the heroes of our faith to anyplace else on earth.
Thank you so much Skip! It was beyond awesome and amazing. It really was a life changing trip and I’m so thankful that I was able to share it with you and my new friends from this community.
Hi to all At God’s Table,
For me, this was my second trip to the Holy Lands; I also echo the previous thoughts. From the moment we lifted off at NY-JFK I knew we were in God’s care. We traveled to familiar places to me and several I had not seen before. From the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea north to Caesarea, Jezreel Valley, Nazareth, Mt. Hermon/Banias/Caesarea Philippi then down to the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes and a boat ride on the Sea (plus the St. Peter fish lunch!). Our journey to Jerusalem was very awe inspiring. Though many of the “holy” sites are heavily venerated (adorned with religious symbols and decorations) Rabbi Bob and Skip’s teachings helped me to see beyond the initial (church/human) meaning to the bigger picture of God’s plans. We had outstanding teachings everywhere we went. Like others’ comments (above) a very special moment for me was praying at the Western (Wailing) Wall. After “seeing” God and God seeing me on the Temple Mount, praying at the wall was an unexplainable experience as I felt “the wall move!” Also, being nearly deaf in one ear, I heard God whisper in my deaf ear! WOW! Our journeys continued through the desert area of Ein Gedi, Masada and the Dead Sea. The human need and necessity for water to exist is also a political topic. Let me close by saying that I agree, you do leave a part of yourself in the Holy Lands, I both found what I had left and now left something new (for the next trip!) Safety and security “speaking” I felt safe all the time while in all areas of Israel. Come to Israel, if you are able, for you will discover that calling God is a “local” call!
Blessings, (Pastor) Matt Miller, Grundy Center (IA) UMC
Did somebody say Goldstar? “There’s nothing like coming back from a long day and enjoying a Godlstar with friends”. This was very funny at the time but also prophetic. What we experienced was more than topography, archaeology, and history, it was relationship. We experienced the Sovereignty of God together. Moshe’s comment to all of was that God brought each one of us there, i would add together. It was a joy to spend eleven or twelve days with all of you. To experience what God is calling each of us to. To struggle together with the question, “what do we do now”? May the Lord continue to open our hearts as we take what has been placed before us and “row” diligently not knowing where this all leads but trusting in Him alone.
Be a blessing,
Matt
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Here is some of my thoughts…
I’m thankful for all of us to God for getting there and get back safe.
For my first time traveling this was really an awsome experience.
To really learn of God and His promise land is not just knowledge but an experience.
We sure did get to experience Church every day as a community of like minded believers seeking more of God and His marvelous truth together in Israel.
My BIG THANKS to God for hand picking us all to be together for this journey…you guys are all precious.
Two things I can’t see doing again the same way with what I now know are reading my Bible and worshipping God without move towards the updated truth entrusted with me to act on.
If at all possible of a future spiritual journey to come our way as a group. I would love to go the journey with you all.
Yes Lisa…I still know it is not wasted. Thanks a bunch.
Hopefully someday catchya all later… if not here in heaven,
John Schnabl 🙂
Thank you Skip for arranging this trip and enduring hardship. Thank you Bob for your passionate teaching. Thank you Lindy for your carful attention to details. Thank you Skip, Bob, and Lindy for investing into my life; into our lives.
This was my second trip to Israel and by far the better of the two. I revisited several places I had seen before. The more notable ones being the peaceful Sea of Galilee, the incredible Bet-Shean, and the fascinating Caesarea. However, I was not disappointed with my first-time visits to Caesarea Philippi and Tel-Dan (near the Syrian and Lebanon borders).
In Jerusalem I met Moshe and listened to this Jewish man refer to God as “his beloved” and speak of a time when the Creator would unite all his people. He urged me to not agree with him, but to understand him. His love overwhelmed me.
At Yad Vashem I stood inside the children’s memorial while over one million reflected candles burned in remembrance of the lives snuffed out before their prime. In the darkness I wept for the faces of my children and my grand-children.
Outside the ancient city wall I dirtied my hands with the grey dust left behind from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Frankie, an archeologist, instructed me on the process of a “wet salvage”. I found Byzantine glass and porcelain from the 3rd century. I could have spent a week working in this place. I do not know what was more amazing. The hunt for lost artifacts or working beside Frankie. I will never forget her.
Not far from the archeological salvage is a forrest being re-populated with trees. Millions of them are being replanted every year. These trees are regenerating the soil and rejuvenating the climate. Today standing somewhere near a rock wall and overlooking a valley is a pistachio seedling in honor of Patricia Ann Abraham. In 1957 Patricia nearly died from an intentionally botched medical procedure at the hands of a nazi sympathizing surgeon. She lived, but was told she would never give birth to children. Patricia became pregnant in 1959 and in August doctors warned her to either abort the pregnancy or she would die. She refused the abortion and on the 18th day of the month I was my mother’s first born. I planted this tree in honor of my mother and my father’s courage.
I came home, but a part of me did not…
What an amazing adventure. I agree with Amy, the depth of my experiences there are ineffable. Be that as it may, perhaps tomorrow I will write about it on my HubPage. I have been letting it all sink in for ten days now. The teaching was great. I want to thank Skip, Lisa and Bob in particular. I will say more later.