Category: Israel

Saturday Morning Reflections

On By dklinegIn IsraelLeave a comment

Last night after arriving in Jerusalem, after supper we walked from our hotel to the Western Wall of the ancient temple in the old City of Jerusalem. It was the beginning of Shabbat (Sabbath) for the Jews and we found ourselves in a sea of people who… ” were glad when they said let us go to the house of the Lord.” In many ways it was a big party worshipping at the wall.

My companions and I made our way through a football field size area – men only, women had their own section – where thousands young, old and in the middle were singing, dancing, praying and reading scripture. It was a cacophony of Hebrew worship. It was quite surreal. One of our group was talking to a guy who was from a town not far from Jerusalem. He invited us to go to the wall and pray…. and we did. It took some time to go the twenty yards through worshippers standing shoulder to shoulder singing, dancing and reading the Torah. But we made it. While touching the wall I prayed Psalm 145 and I prayed for my family.

Now I don’t believe that there was anything ‘magic’ about praying at the Western Wall. God hears and answers prayer anywhere, anytime. Our new Jewish friend reminded us that we could go to the wall and pray… or… we could pray right where we were standing. “It’s the same God,” he said. Indeed…

“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4

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Friday – Run the Race

On By dklinegIn IsraelLeave a comment

Hebrews 12:1. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

So much of what we are doing here is experiential. We experienced the wilderness and the waters of En Gedi. Today, sitting in the hippodrome of Herod on the shores of the Mediterranean in Caesarea, we were reminded of and experienced in a small way ‘running the race’ and the ‘cloud of witnesses’ cheering us on. The short video clip (Click on the link below) give s a small sample of what we did.

http://bit.ly/12g5ggk

Friday Morning Reflections

On By dklinegIn IsraelLeave a comment

It’s Friday morning here on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Today, we pack up and make our way to Jerusalem. I remember a preacher preaching a series some years ago during Lent. His recurring scriptural tag line was “Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem.” He was in his last days facing his certain death, resurrection and ascension. We are setting our minds and hearts on Jerusalem.

So far we’ve been studying, learning and experiencing the places and cultural context of many of the Old Testament and New Testament stories. My mental pictures of these stories are being changed. I’m more and more looking through the lens of middle eastern and Jewish culture and more and more leaving that North American lens in the camera bag.

So, it’s off to Jerusalem. We will, no doubt, study, learn and experience a lot of what we are already familiar. And like the first half of the journey here, the experience will be a deeper, richer and a long lasting one.

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UVRay Beads

On By dklinegIn IsraelLeave a comment

These beads that I’ve been wearing on my hat will detect ultraviolet light by changing from white to a rainbow of colors. I’ve discovered that Israel has an abundance of UV radiation! Really!

I have have a limited supply of these beads, free to anyone who asks and tells me that they’ve read this blog, while supplies last. I’m not taking them home!

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“Walk as Children of Light”