Pictures from the Jordan River and Nazareth

Here's a picture of Andrew's baptism.  He told me the fish liked his toes too.  I had Rev. Morris help me.  Imagine lifting a small horse out of the water three times.  Now you know why.

My turn.  

Street shops at Nazareth.  The pictures don't do the sounds and smells justice.  It was crazy chaotic.  Arabic music blasting, people bustling, and the most unusual items for sale.  We passed a butcher shop with two skinned sheep hanging in the alleyway.  Ever smelled a skinned sheep?  I didn't see it there and accidently bumped into one with my bare arm.  I had a strange hankering for lamb chops all day.

This is the synagog where Jesus announced his ministry (Luke 4:14).  If you look real close you can see him sitting on the steps.  

Unspeakable Joy!!

For most, baptism is something that sticks in their memory for a lifetime.  It is a source of joy.  As a minister, to be present when someone emerges from the water has got to be one of the coolest things ever.  During a baptism something happens that is very difficult to explain.  In a single moment - everything changes.  One enters the water purposeful, ready and willing to surrender everything to God.  And in a single moment, they rise with a radiance that rivals the brightest sunrise.  

Water is water.  There is nothing special about it.  Before today I would have told you that.  But then again, this is the Jordan River.  By all accounts, the water in the Jordan is not exactly the water I would choose to baptize someone.  I have a bottle of this water and believe me, you won't find me drinking any of it.  It will probably take a week for all the sediment to settle, and who knows how many critters are swimming around in there!  We stood in the river for probably 15 minutes and I was constantly fighting with the fish that thought my toes were food.  You try keeping your composure in such a solemn environment with live things wiggling and nibbling at your feet.  

Today we offered to baptize those who wanted to reaffirm their previous baptism.  No big deal, right?  Yeah, right.  When I baptized my son Andrew, I got an inkling of what this is all about.  He's a big guy (6' 2", 240ish), and I'm not.  But I dunked him three times reallll good.  When he came up out of the water, the tears in his eyes matched those in mine.  In a moment, everything changed.  Then it was my turn.  Rev. Morris (one of our group leaders from TX) baptized me, and when  I came up out of the water it seemed like everything was moving in slow motion.  I felt as if I were floating.  Effortless.  Dreamlike.  Andrew and I had experienced the same thing - unspeakable joy!

I so desperately want to comment on the experience with wit and sophistication; to describe it with a realism that is fit for the event.  But I cannot, because I had nothing to do with this moment.  Water is water, or is it?  There is nothing mystical about the Jordan River.  What was mystical was the work God did in our hearts as we publicly announced to the whole world, in a place revered by all of Israel for millenia, that we...that I, would serve God and God alone.  God was pleased and in a single moment gave us a gift beyond description.  

Unspeakable joy. 

John 

Even More Pictures from Galilee

Beth-shan is one of the most significant archaeology sites in Israel.  This city is probably the most fought over city in the world, having been conquered and rebuilt over 20 times.  Most of the site are Roman ruins that date back to 400 AD.  First, the theater (You must say the word 'theater' with a slight Old English lilt - otherwise this pun doesn't make any sense).

Andrew decided to help the archaeologists, they needed a few columns moved around.  I told him to not touch anything before we got there.  We got kicked out.

Yep.  Sheep.  What trip to Israel would be complete without a picture of these dumb animals.  They came rushing down the hillside just as we were pulling up to Beth-shan and nearly ran headon into the bus.  You could imagine who wins that one.  So, encountering a herd of sheep can be checked off our list of things to see on our trip.  Oh, and so can the shepherd.  Although he kind of ruined my perception of that profession.  Young man...wearing jeans...talking on a cell phone.  At least he had a stick in his hand.  

More Pictures from Galilee

These are the ruins of Capernaum, Jesus' hometown.

The Jesus Boat.  Archaeologically speaking, this is WAY COOL!!

The Church of Peter's Primacy.  Here is where Jesus told the guys to try the other side of the boat after fishing all night without a nibble.  The rock inside the church is said to be where Jesus fired up the grill for them when they got to shore.  Couldn't smell the charcoal though.

Pictures from Galilee

This is my son Andrew, in whom I am well pleased.

The Church of the Beatitudes where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount.  Very quiet and serene.  I'd say it is beautiful, Andrew says it is beatirific.

Here are a few pics of the mountains surrounding the Sea of Galilee.

The last one was taken from our boat ride on the lake.  This is what the shore looked like to Jesus and his disciples.  The picture is of the site of the feeding of the 5000.  Now that is cool!  More pics to come!

John 

Just a Moment of Peace

 Ok, let's try to make some sense of the past two days.  We left Columbus, Ohio at 5 PM, stopped awhile in Atlanta, and arrived in Tel Aviv at 5:25 PM the next day.  Between the time zone difference and more than 14 hours in a plane, I'm having a little difficulty figuring out what day this is.  For those who have flown overnight you'll understand when I say that sleep was elusive.  But all that is overshadowed by the fact that we are in Israel.  It is a very modern, cosmopolitan country, not unlike the USA, but still very different.

My moment today came when in the confusion of passing through Israeli customs, trying to locate our luggage, and making sure all our people were present and accounted for, I met a nice lady from our tour company.  She was scurrying around trying to get us all together so we could board the bus, which in that environment is a little like herding cats.  Her confidence and directness were only matched by her ability to give directions with the full assumption that everyone else would follow them.  She excels at herding cats.  I shook her hand and simply offered, "Shaloam," the typical Jewish greeting.  Immediately, her demeanor and pace softened, and with a half smile, she warmly returned the shaloam to me.  And that was the moment.  Peace.  In the midst of all the confusion, hustle, and scurrying about there was genuine peace.

We bused from Tel Aviv to our hotel in Tiberias, right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Along the way we passed Nazareth at night.  Thousands of lights dotting the hillside where Jesus grew up.  And it was peaceful.  Not long after, we curled around the base of Mount Tabor, the place of Jesus' transfiguration.  Even in the dark we could see the outline of the mountain and imagine the cloud of glory that enveloped Jesus and his disciples (see Matthew 17).  And it was peaceful.  And now I sit in my hotel room overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  The long journey is over and I am ready to rest my weary bones.  And it is peaceful.

Looking out over the water, I can't help but think that this is where the boat started rocking.  The storm unleashed its fury and the disciples panicked (I would too!).  Jesus slept.  He had shaloam - they didn't.  And in their panic they woke the Shaloam, and true to his nature, he spoke the word, "Shaloam".  And all was at peace.

In my moment at the airport - shaloam broke through the confusion.  In the disciples moment in the boat - shaloam broke through the storm.  Are you overwhelmed, scurrying about in a panic over things you cannot control.  Then this moment is for you.

Shaloam.

John

(P.S. - Sorry for not having pictures.  It's not like the inside of an airplane is the most exciting thing in the world to see.  However, I do promise some pictures tomorrow.)

Silliness is Vastly Underrated

Today God gave me a moment to learn more about what it means to learn how to harmoniously live together in community.  My wife, Leah, goes to work early each morning.  So, it is my responsibility to rouse the kids and get them awake enough to make it to the front door so I can push them out of the house for school (literally).  The older kids do okay with this.  They're teenagers who for the most part care about how they are dressed and that their teeth are brushed.  They all head off to high school at the same time and the morning routine with this group is fairly consistent.  

And then there's Jill...

She's 8 and gets on the bus 30 minutes after the other kids.  Oh, and sometimes she can be a little difficult to get out of bed.  Don't let the picture fool you.  She can really be a crabby DRAMA QUEEN when she's not happy.  Our routine for getting her awake and out of bed is never the same.  I've discovered there are two basic ways this can be accomplished:  crabby or happy (sappy, I know).  So, if I want to start the day off on a good note I have to get creative with my approach.  I have found that if I can get her laughing, then it will be a good day.  If I can't, well.....

So, today I sang.  Not just any singing.  I sang every part of my conversation with her this morning in Broadway show tune style.  It didn't rhyme, and it certainly didn't sound good.  But it did get her laughing.  And as she laughed (and eventually sang back at me) I laughed.  And then I realized the significance of the moment.  When we laugh together we draw closer together.  Laughter has a way of bringing us together in community, enabling us to truly enjoy being in each other's presence.  When we are angry or mean-spirited just the opposite happens - we push people away from us, and we lose that sense of community.

Jesus prayed, "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."  John 17:22-23, NIV

Why is it then that we often grow weary of silliness, pushing it out of our lives and labeling it childish and irresponsible?  Sometimes it takes some bad Broadway style singing to help us live in community.  The next time you laugh with someone, I hope you can sense God's pleasure as you become closer together.  Even if it seems to be just a little bit silly.

John