Soaking In His Presence and In Prayer

Today was our last day in Jerusalem and basically 'free day' to revisit any of the sites or to purchase gifts. So, the day began for us by revisiting the Garden Tomb. It really is a beautiful garden outside the old city gates closest to the Damascus Gate which is a concentrated Muslim community. It really is a haven in here and many groups spend the time reliving the events of the death, burial and resurrection here as well as taking communion. The flowers are so beautiful and it is such a haven of intimacy. It is truly a living testimony to Christ and it is run by volunteers who just love Jesus. It was here that I was able to purchase olive oil and be reminded that we are a church that believes in healing for the body in the atonment. As we walked the streets outside the Garden Tomb, I was compelled to pray for the people surrounding it and the hope that it continues to be a witness to the living Christ!

After walking through the gate to the old city we saw every type of purchase available from gummie bears to beautiful pashmina shawls and t-shirts for everyone. Of course everyone wants you to shop in their store. One man wooed us by making mint tea for us and he was a good salesman...just ask mom! Well from there we stopped near the center of the city at the Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family that had a cafe overlooking the city.

We went from there and went to our second favorite place and that was the Wailing Wall where we took time to pray once again for this country, for all the diverse groups here as well that they would see Jesus! It was just as powerful for me the second time to earnestly call out to God on their behalf and for my own family as well. Atthe same time that I am hear, I also hear the sirens and one of the five calls to prayer by the Muslims. There is so much happening all in such close quarters.

I was also able to watch a Bar Mitzvah take place here as a young boy was hoisted on a man's shoulders and paraded about right by the dividing wall between the men and the women. Flower petals were thrown on him and it was quite a sight to see.

We then went on quite a hike to the Hebrew University to go for a swim there as we had passes from our hotel only to find out it was under renovations so it just turned into a hike, but the good thing was we were able to see sights that we hadn't to this point and so it wasn't for nought.



I leave you with some of my reading from today in Psalm 89 and my reflections

The heavens are yours, and the earth is yours;
everything in the world is yours—you created it all.
¹² You created north and south.
Mount Tabor and Mount Hermon praise your name.

I have seen Mount Hermon and it is impressive

¹³ Powerful is your arm!
Strong is your hand!
Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.

I have seen the evidence of your strong hand in bringing down mighty strongholds and toppling kingdoms

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

I have seen amazing foundations left all around me here in Israel as a testimony to the fact You have been here, You are here and You will be here!

Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.
¹⁵ Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

I walked in the Garden today and have been reminded of your unfailing love for me.

¹⁶ They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.
They exult in your righteousness.

It has been truly a time of rejoicing in Your amazing presence and the history of Your hand here.

¹⁷ You are their glorious strength.
It pleases you to make us strong.
¹⁸ Yes, our protection comes from the Lord,
and he, the Holy One of Israel, has given us our king.

I pray that the people hear will know of the glorious strengh in the Risen Jesus as I stood at the wall today. It is my desire to be a living stone that walks in Your righteousness not one that is my own and be a person that lives by justice for others.

Well, I sit here at 4:45pm in the afternoon and soon we will be off for supper and then off to Tel Aviv where we are flying out from tonight. Thanks for praying and looking forward to sharing more with you in person on the other side of the Atlantic!

Shalom for the last time from Jerusalem,

Jack

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows!!

Today we made our descent out of the city of Jerusalem right down to the Judean desert and began our day at the Qumran Caves where we learned about the very strict Essene sect who studied here for two centuries beginning around 31 BCE. They left a magnificent legacy as we have come to appreciate the amazing Dead Sea Scrolls that have been tested with incredible accuracy to our current translation of the book of Isaiah. It would be the Bedouin shepherds, a nomadic group that we saw even today, who stumbled upon them as they threw rocks in a cave there in 1947. We learned a lot about the Essene culture, their strict attention to ritual baths for ceremonial cleansing, communal life and their incredible attention to becoming scribes of the Word. To stand there and stare at Q1 - the first cave in which scrolls were found in clay jars was pretty amazing. It is certainly a testament to the fact the Word of God stands forever and a testament to the authenticity of our faith.

From here we travelled further down along the Dead Sea to the site most visited by tour groups to Israel, Masada. It is an incredible sight to see this plateau 450feet above the Dead Sea that was home to a private refuge and winter palace for King Herod until his death in 4 BCE.

However it is most well known for Eleasar Ben-Yair who led a great revolt and captured it in 66 CE and along with 900 Jewish rebels held this last stronghold until they were finally defeated as a legion of 8000 troops built a seige wall and a ramp up the west wall to finally conquer this leader and his followers. They brought a tower and battering ram up the ramp to finally batter the wall. There are two different opinions as to how the rebels died, but it all ended in 74 CE.

So, we hopped on an impressive tram that led up to the top of this historical plateau and see the remains of buildings, the wall, Herod's palace, a sophisticated cistern to access water etc... This leader, Ben-Yair is an inspiration to the nation for his will and resolve to the very end.

After this high point in our trip, we went to the lowest point on our trip, the place considered to be the lowest point in the world, The Dead Sea. To put things in perspective, The Mediterranian Sea has 1.5% -2.5% salt content in it and the Red Sea has 3% salt content....The Dead Sea - 38% -are you kidding me!!

It was 30C as we hopped in the very warm and salty water. It is so difficult just to put your feet down as they just bob to the top and there you float without any effort...it was wild and so much fun and you just have to laugh and say to yourself, I feel like an almost beached whale!

From there you have to walk along the shore line about 300feet where you can dig out the rich dark mineral mud and viola, a neck to toe mud bath and you come out 10 years younger! woo-hoo.... As you know these minerals have become a major industry in the cosmetic market and a great export for this country!

Then to cap off the afternoon, we were able to capture pics of camels. We arrived back at the hotel and I had a chance to say hi to everyone at Southside before embarking on our last 'official' tour as our tour guide took us on a walk through the Hasidic 'very orthodox' Jewish neighbourhoods.

There we saw how these large families live in very small quarters and pretty much cut themselves off from the rest of the world by choosing to live without most modern things like TV, internet and all dressing in the same way like we see with the strict mennonite cultures in Ontario. The children right through to the adults dress in black and white or grey and white stripe outer clothing depending on which ancient rabbi they revere. They also have the most interesting hair cuts with very long side burns that grow like hair down the front of their face next to their beards. They try to follow all 600+ levitical laws in the Torah which include not letting a razor touch their beard. These communities are known to have the lowest crime rates around. However, when someone breaks a rule, there usually is no mercy and they are expelled from the community.

So, just a few blocks away, we move into the buffer zone and find an Ethopian Jewish church that points itself back to the Queen of Sheba and then from there we come to the Jaffa Road and enter into the modern Jewish community which looks like any downtown city that would be normal to us with lots of high end shops, a beautiful outdoor mall and great cafes where I grabbed an amaretto coffee and try to soak in my last night out on the streets of Jerusalem.

Tomorrow we spend our last day visiting our favorite sites before we head out to Tel Aviv for our flight that goes out at midnight so that means one more journal entry for me and it has been great to reflect every night on my experiences here.

I thought how appropriate that the passage I read this morning fitting of my time here and just understanding the powerful significance of this incredible city.

Psalm 87
¹ On the holy mountain
stands the city founded by the Lord.
² He loves the city of Jerusalem
more than any other city in Israel.
³ O city of God,
what glorious things are said of you!
Interlude

⁴ I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me—
also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia.
They have all become citizens of Jerusalem!
⁵ Regarding Jerusalem it will be said,
“Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there.”
And the Most High will personally bless this city.
⁶ When the Lord registers the nations, he will say,
“They have all become citizens of Jerusalem.”
Interlude

⁷ The people will play flutes and sing,
“The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!”

A Walk To Remember

Today was all about the walking tour as we set out to travel the old city of Jerusalem. We began at the site believed to be the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the Kidron Valley. Yes, there is a church built on the site but as in many places it is where you choose to focus. I looked beyond the church to the garden behind it and for me this was the first station to the cross. For it was here Jesus poured out his heart to the Father alone and there in His Spirit said, 'not my will, but thine, be done.'

We stood at the Lion's Gate which was the beginning of our journey into the old city of Jerusalem. From here we went to look at the pool of Bethesda (Bethsaida) and were reminded of the miracle of healing to the blind man Jesus performed here.

In the Via Dolorosa, (the walk to the cross) the 1st station is the place where Jesus is condemned to death and there is a church situated there along with a church for the second station where it is believed the place where he received the cross piece on his shoulders. From here we continued to walk on the Via Dolorosa taking time to reflect at each station. At one point, we looked up to an archway very similar to one where Pilate would have appealed to the people for their wishes.

This street, turned into a marketplace, comes to a point where you arrive at the church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is a place where you really can't be prepared for what you see. Inside here is nothing like it that I have seen on the tour. With this being the place that the Catholics, Armenians and Greek Orthodox believe that Jesus was crucified, his body anointed and his burial site, it is the shrine of all shrines! First, there are many rituals performed by a series of priests who wave incense and sing at each point. There is a place to bow under an altar at the foot of the cross on the upper level and on the lower level at the place of anointing there is a smooth surface where people kiss and rub oil on and take what they hope is the presence of Jesus back to their countries.

In one way it shows how desirous they are of Christ, but for me it felt so desperate, so superstious, so empty to think that this is how I receive more of Jesus in my life. At the place of his resurrection, once again there is another shrine which the line was too long to walk in, but I could see in where people could ‘pay their honor’ so to speak. Many candles are lit here as a symbol of hope.

After this we stopped for lunch and ate chicken shwarmas at the Fountain Grill and then it was time for us to walk the road to Mount Zion. It is a walk filled with so much history as we learned about the history of the Muslim conquest here after the time of the Crusaders and how the Church of the Dome was built on the Temple Mount basically as a constant reminder of who is in charge here and whose religion is on the top as it obviously stands out with its gold dome above all others.

Upon arriving at the gate to Mount Zion, once again you look history in the eyes as you see the holes in the wall from the war in ’67 when the Israelis took control of this area. We saw a beautiful bronze statue dedicated to King David. We walked up the stairs here where it is believed that this is the site of the Upper Room.

We then walked from here to the most moving part of our tour, The Western (Wailing) Wall. We had to go through a security check point and then we had the opportunity to pray here. The men and women are separated on the wall and as you stand there at the wall, you come face to face with another tradition, the placing of prayers into the cracks of this wall which is the retaining wall of the 2^nd temple at the time of Jesus.

As I stood there I placed my hands on the rocks, looking at all the paper bits and brought to a place of prayer myself. The prayer that hit me the most was to bring their strong and ardent desire before God and their longing for Him to answer their prayers. The hope that I prayed into this wall was that those who seek the Lord with all their heart will find Him and that they would find that true rest and their eyes opened to our Messiah, Jesus. After I walked into an enclosed area in the wall where the boys and young men are being taught by their rabbis and where there is a library of many books. In one place, I noticed a large group of them all gathered around a scroll to read.

I thought of the verses that I read this morning as I observed,

Teach me your ways, O Lord,
that I may live according to your truth!
Grant me purity of heart,
so that I may honor you.
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
I will give glory to your name forever,

Psalm 86:11,12

The ultimate glory is discovering that we are Christ’s glory as Jesus prays for us in His high priestly prayer.

This evening Mom and I finished our day by walking to the Damascus Gate and saw the market in action.

Tomorrow we are off to float in the Dead Sea!

From Birth to Death and Resurrection... Bethlehem to the Garden Tomb

Today we began our day by visiting the Parliament buildings in Israel and reflecting on the Menorah as the emblem of Israel. The one here is fascinating with all the history etched into it from Moses hands being held up, to a rabbi teaching the torah, the holocaust and so much else.

We went from here to the Israeli Museum where we saw an incredible model of the city of Jerusalem in Jesus' day and the highlight was going into the Shrine of the book and seeing the authentic fragments of the Dead Sea scrolls from 100BCE, that were preserved by the Essenes sect of Zealots.

We also had a very emotional visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial and the challenge that our tour guide shared with us was to realize how many stood as bystanders and let this take place. There are just under 15 000 olive trees that represent the lives of those who took an active part in rescuing or hiding the Jews during this time including Oscar Schindler whose efforts saved 1200 Jews. The memorial is an incredible journey with pictures, video testimony, clothing, journal entries and the timeline of events leading up to WWII and beyond. The most moving part for me was to see so many shoes from children's sizes to adult encassed in glass on the floor. At the end of the walk you get to a room with a vaulted ceiling featuring pictures of those who lives were lost along with all their names in binders across circular shelves. As you leave, you have the opportunity to write some thoughts and sign your name.

There is also a memorial as well to the 1.5 children who lost their lives as well and it is another very moving experience to go into this dark cave like room which is housed by 5 or 6 candles and a collage of mirrors that give reflection to 1.5 millions lights reflecting the souls of these children. As you walk through, you hear the names and ages of the children.

After lunch, we travelled to Bethlehem and went through a security check point. There is a huge wall that divides Jerusalem from here and it reminds of the wall that divided East communist bloc countries from the West that came down in '89. We have to change buses and go through a security check point as we are now under Palestinian control. We travel to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and it is like no other shrine church we have seen to date as the Greek Orthodox, the Catholics and the Arminians lay claim to this area and all have their separate dates for celebrating the birth of Christ. As you enter the Arminian church through a very small passageway you are brought into a place full of massive chandeliers and lights of all kinds...the only thing that is missing is the Christmas tree. So, you uncover the wooden doors to a sub floor from a church in the 3rd century. You look ahead to see a priest performing a service complete with incense and bells ringing. You then travel down a narrow stairway to a cave like setting where there is a star enshrined where they believe to be the birthplace of Jesus. I watch as I see people kissing the star and then across from it is the manger complete with some figurines. You realize quite quickly how this can all so easily become idol worship and yet at the same time I can see through all the 'enshrining' the very heart's desire to memoralize a very special place. I don't think we should be so hard on the Catholics for all these churches because in a real sense they have protected some very special places close to the heart of Christianity that thanks to a church sitting there have not been completely destroyed. However as amazing as it is to be here to recognize the birthplace of Christ, it isn't so much about the exact location as it is about worshipping Jesus who did in fact become the incarnation of God.

The highlight for the day for me for sure was our last visit to the Garden Tomb. They don't come out at this site with authority that this is the site where Christ died and nearby was placed in a tomb, but certainly present a compelling view. They show how there is a tomb here that could have very well been owned by Joseph of Arimathea. There is a large well for water as well as a winepress and baptismal area all from the 1st century along with a tomb from that time as well. What is really awesome is that this is a real place to worship Jesus without all the excess, just beautiful, natural, authentic and nature. We finished the day as Pastor Billy and I led a communion service by the Garden Tomb and it was awesome.

Tonight I finished my day by running the streets of Jerusalem.

Psalm 122

¹ I rejoiced with those who said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the LORD."

² Our feet are standing
in your gates, O Jerusalem.

³ Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.

⁴ That is where the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD,
to praise the name of the LORD
according to the statute given to Israel.

⁵ There the thrones for judgment stand,
the thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.

⁷ May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."

⁸ For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."

⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

A Baptism of Renewal

On Wednesday I was presented with the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River. Now, I have already been baptized, it was May 10th '77 and I was nine so I didn't give it much thought until Pastor Billy Richards shared on the significance of being baptized again could be for us and letting this be a significant act of worship and love for the Lord.

I spent time reflecting last night on what being baptized again at this time in my life could mean to me and I felt impressed with the thought that for me this could be a commitment to finish well. Being 41, I like to think that this is the halfway point of my life and not only do I want to finish well, but I really want to lay it all on the altar with no regrets going forward.

I also journalled that I wanted this to be my desire to be more Spirit-led. So, after going back and forth even early in the morning, I resolved to make the decision and let this act testify to it. I know crazy, but the really awesome thing was that as Pastor Billy prayed over me, he prayed for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon me and the ministry to which I've been called. Then after being baptized, Mary Jane from Rexdale Alliance also spoke into my life about the power of the Holy Spirit to be upon me as well.

Needless to say it was an emotional morning as my mom was also there to witness the event.

So, what do you do after you've been baptized in the Jordan River? You go for a swim of course and so Pastor Billy, his two sons, Brennan and Benjamin followed me as we swam across the narrow river! Our tour guide mentioned that was a first for him to see pastors swimming after a baptism.


From the Jordan River, we were off to Nazareth where we visiting the church of Annunciation where it is believed that Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel as well as the church of Joseph over the general area where he may have lived as well. Both Catholic churches are full of stained glass, icons and of course worship of Mary. Underneath the churches are remains of excavation that belonged to that time period as well.

From there we spent time on a Christian site which modelled what life in Nazareth would have looked like during the time of Jesus. It helped to really enable us to understand the Agrarian culture and how Jesus' parables would make the text come even more alive here. Milton has the Walk To Bethlehem and we did the Walk to Nazareth here. We also ate a traditional 1st century meal with flat bread cooked on a fire, lentil soup, olives, hummus and apples with some kind of dip for dessert...then we went to the souvenir shop and bought ice cream! lol

After that we travelled to Beit Shean and looked at the impressive remains of Greek culture and also reflected on this being the Philistine city that took King Saul's head and hung it on their wall only to have it recaptured by the Israelites and returned for a proper burial.

Ok, so our day is not done and we still had to travel through the desert like terrain from here to Jerusalem. We saw the city of Jericho on the way as well as the nomadic Bedouin people.

Before leaving Beit Shean, I took time to read from Psalm 84 in the NLT which was the passage that I had read in my devotions this morning. It was incredibly appropriate!!

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
⁶ When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
⁷ They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

⁸ O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Interlude

⁹ O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.

¹⁰ A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
¹¹ For the L ord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
¹² O L ord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.

After passing through security we entered the city of Jerusalem and began by going to the Mount of Olives and we looked out on to the city at sunset. Ran, our tour guide, led us in a special Hebrew blessing welcoming us to Jerusalem with a Jewish practice similar to communion with the breaking of bread and wine. He read from Psalm 122 and we prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and spent time in worship here.

By this point it was almost 7pm and time to go to our hotel, but we ended up being held up for an hour as an accident took place on this very narrow passageway by the University of Jerusalem.

We were thrilled to arrive here at 8pm to a great buffet!!

wild olive trees!

Today we began our day by visiting Mount Beatitude where it is believed that Jesus taught in Matthew 5. There is a Catholic church built on this site and it is a place where they continue to hold services as well. We then headed to the Church of the Five Loaves and Two Fish where they have memorialized the feeding of the 5000 by Jesus. We spent time reflecting on an olive tree which will be a great illustration when I teach on Romans 11. We are the wild olive tree that God has grafted into his own good tree. It is also a reminder how God longs for the Jews to return to where they belong.

For if God was willing to take you who were, by nature, branches from a wild olive tree and graft you into his own good tree - a very unusual thing to do- he will be far more eager to graft the Jes back into the tree where they belong. Romans 11:24

Even before this reminder I find myself praying often as I see the Jewish people all around me that their eyes would be open to the wonderful realization that Jesus is the Messiah

From here we visited the ancient ruins of the village of Capernaum and it was quite incredible to see the foundation from these very small homes as well as an octagonal shaped one that is to believe the home where Peter grew up. In the home they discovered graffiti type writing with both the name of Jesus and Peter found there.

After Capernaum we hopped on a boat for a trip on the Sea of Galilee which by far was the highlight of the day. It was an amazing ride and they were ready for us rising the Canadian flag on the boat and playing our anthem for us. In the middle of the lake we stopped for a time of prayer and meditation as Pastor Billy read from Matthew 14. There was a man as well who showed us what it might be like for fisherman to fish and demonstrated the process. He almost caught one but it got away.

We followed that ride by going to a museum where they have the remains of a first century fishing boat. It was dredged up in 1987 after a very dry season when it was discovered in the muck of the sea. It was quite amazing to see. www.jesusboat.com ...no it isn't confirmed that Jesus was in this boat...but it certainly was the type that he would have stood in to speak to the crowds.

From there we visited the ancient ruins of Phillipi and then we travelled up to the Golan Heights where we had a breath taking view of the snow covered Mount Hermon. We also listened to our tour director share in detail the fascinating 6 day war and the battles that took place in this very part of the land as recently at 2006 and in 1973 where we walked through the bunkers on top of a very high point there.....


more pictures tomorrow as we will be off to the Jordan River, Nazareth and into Jerusalem.

Shalom,

Jack

No Doubt!

Unfortunately I'm on a public computer and I can't upload pictures, so I've decided to share my stories without being able to show them...Jesus told us that blessed are those who can't see and still believe. So, this is a snapshot of my 'no doubt' stories!


No Doubt... our lives testify to whose we are!

Today we visited Caesarea, the place where Peter led Cornelius, the first known Gentile to the Lord. They experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit here and a water baptism soon followed in this very place.

and there could be no doubt about it for they heard them speak in tongues and praising God. Acts 10:46

It would be this very Roman culture that would make sport of the death of Christians in the ampitheatre from the maulings to the crucifixions in between their great theatre - they used them like commercial breaks. It was said for this culture at that time that if blood was spilt it was a good time. So, when Christianity reigned in this place, these events were put to death and the people here became known as the Byzantine believers.

NO Doubt the Bible is truth!

It was also here that through excavation that the inscription of Pontius Pilate was found dedicating this port city to Caesar Augustus making it no doubt that the outside sources confirm the account of the New Testament. Caesarea had an amazing port for trade and sophisticated store houses that were used to worship the god of war as well as the home of a hippodome where chariot races took place as well as gladiator fights. We also saw the remains of the bath houses here from that era.

No Doubt the Jewish people have suffered excruciating defeats and death at the hands of godless nations!

At 10am today we stood in silence as sirens sounded marking this day the National Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. It was on the eve of this special occasion that this nation would have to endure the stupidity and godless remarks of the Iranian president calling this country racist. We must vow to never let history repeat herself again as it did for 6 million Jews. Interesting that Iran is modern day Babylon...

There is No Doubt when God shows up!

We travelled through the city of Haifa and then went on to Mount Carmel. From here we stood at the site where it is believed that Elijah had his incredible showdown with the prophets of Baal. I also was able to converse with Hasidic Jews here complete with their beannie hats as a constant reminder of God, black and white attire along with their prayer tassels hanging from their pockets.

From here we stopped to eat a great falafel complete with chick peas and all the fresh vegetables and the we were off to our next site visit

There is No Doubt who will win in the end!

We visited the site of Megiddo where 21 layers of civilizations have been excavated all built on each other. We stood at the entrance of the city gate from Solomon's era and imagined what it must have been like to be here for the city gate was the CNN of its time. All the news stories broke right here and the wisdom of the elders was given. We then walked underground through a long water aqueduct that was created during the reign of Ahab to bring water from the springs into this fortified city especially during times of war and there were many. Megiddo was a major crossroads from Egypt right to Mesopotamia

It is in this very place that John prophecies that the final battle of Armageddon will take place.

There is No Doubt that I can't walk on water, but I know who can!

We arrived at the Tulip Inn by the Sea Of Galilee after 5pm after being on the road since 7:45am for a much needed break and time to really soak in all of what took place today. It was funny when I left because Rylan asked me if I was going to try to walk on water. Well, I did, but it didn't work...walked through the water and had a really great swim....I don't know, but it is pretty surreal being here :)

Well I end tonight's blog by sharing the importance of letting our lives to testify to the awesome reality of our faith so there is no doubt about it...We are His and He is ours!

Good night from the Sea of Galilee!

Blessings, Jack

If These Walls Could Speak!

Our first stop on our tour was to the ancient city of Jaffa (Joppa) which is the old part of the city here in Tel Aviv with building and streets going back 5000 years. We saw the ruins of what was the old city gate and the home of Simon the Tanner in Acts 9, 10 - very cool. It is also here that Jonah went to go on the ship to Tarshish. There are Egyptian hieroglypics here as this was a very key passageway between Egypt and Syria. Tel Aviv is right on the eastern side of the Mediterranian Sea.

I am taken back to the story of the amazing healing of Tabitha where Peter walked these very streets
There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha. She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died Acts 9:36,37...but it would be Peter who would tell her to get up!

The thought that Pastor Billy Richards shared was this..'if these walls could speak,' what would be the stories that they would tell us. Well, there would be stories of regret and restoration, the story of Jonah, the amazing healing we just read and of course the revelation that Peter received at the home of Simon The Tanner where he would realize the good news is for all people!

It is amazing to realize how fortunate we are to become grafted into the vine and to be part of His family. I come to a city with such incredible hertiage and roots and know that only by the grace of God, I can cherish and revel in all of its beauty because it is good news for all of us!

We are 7 hours ahead of Ontario time and we arrived here at 7:40am local time. The flight on El Al was great and this is a very special time to be here right after Passover and just before the 60th anniversary celebration of the nation! It is also time for one of the highest levels of security here.


Tomorrow there will be a memorial day for the martyrs and heroes of the Holocaust so there will be moving presentations.

Easter Sunrise at Rattlesnake Point

RESURRECTION LIFE

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1,2

Paul begins to unfold the incredible potential of our faith. We have been given such an amazing
privilege to be in His holy presence and to feel His amazing grace. It is only because of our justification that we can look forward with confidence to what God has in store for us. We are also overwhelmed with the power that comes with faith in.

v3 Resurrection life doesn't come without an incredible price and that was paid by Jesus. It was His suffering on the cross that produced perseverance to the place where He said, 'It is finished'. It was His character to show incredible forgiveness even when we didn't seek or want it because He loved us so much.

v4 It is incredible to think how God willingly has poured his love into us by the Holy Spirit and here is His the first mention of the HS in the book of Romans. Once again we are reminded that we are on a receiving line, not an achieving system. Everything that we have, the justification to stand, the grace to walk in, the love of God through the Holy Spirit all is a gift. We are never disappointed when He fills us up.

I was at Fresh Wind on Friday night watching my niece lead worship and it was so powerful to be in a place with over 1200 passionate youth on fire for God. The song that this passage reminds me of is the song we sang that night, "Amazing love how can it be that you my King would die for me" We truly live and move in such an amazing love!

Everything that Jesus did for you He did out of love. The Bible says that God made you to love you. The only reason you're alive is because you were made to be loved by God.

God didn't just show talk about love, He showed it! The Bible says, "God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8 NLT). It says while we were still sinners. Before we even knew God or knew we needed Him, Jesus died for us.

I love how Rick Warren gets this point across ---

There's a myth that says I've got to clean up my act before I can come to God. "I've got to get it all together. There are a few things I've got to get right in my life first, and then I'll come to God." No! You come to God with your problems—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why do we do this? It's like when we brush our teeth before we go to the dentist to have a teeth cleaning; or when we wash the dishes before we put them in the dishwasher; or when we pick up the house before the maid gets there! Why do we do this? God says, "No, no! You don't have to clean up your act. Just bring it all to Me. Bring Me all your problems. I have the answer. I have all the answers." You don't wait. Jesus says, "Come as you are."

It was so beautiful to see the reflection of the sun on the worshippers who came with me for the Sunrise service at Rattlesnake. It was a beautiful reminder of how God desires that we continue to reflect His ever increasing glory as 2 Corinthians 3:18. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

That is the beauty of our resurrection life in Christ!


Resurrection Life means Jesus is alive and we are alive in Him!

As we move to Romans 6, it is our identification in the death, burial and our resurrection with Christ. The only way that we can truly be alive in Christ if a death takes place first. It is why I love baptism services so much on Easter Sunday. It is an outward picture of an inward reality. Romans 6:5 states that "If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection!"

However we must realize with Jesus, it is all or nothing when it comes to being His follower. He is not happy with just part of us, He wants all of us! As it has been said, 'too many Christians live between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, believing in the cross, but not the power and glory of the resurrection.' We will focus on our new resurrection life in Christ and the process that takes us there. Living in the reality of His resurrection life means freedom from the slavery of sin, death to self serving sin and offering our life, all of it, to Him. It is the point of no return!

Death to Self v1-4

The word know in v1,6,9 refers to the confidence we have in Christ's substitution and justification on our behalf. It is a legal term and He is our defense!

• He doesn’t remove our desires, He transforms them
• God doesn’t remove the pain, He transforms it
• What is your passion? Is it to be a police officer, an astute businessman or woman... what do you want to be because God is saying that is great, I need someone on that police force, I need someone in that very workplace with the love of Christ. It isn't just pastors and missionaries that God needs. He needs us now more than ever to transform workplaces, the arts, the media, the government, the military!

For me, hockey was my life. Now, He didn't remove the desire, He transformed it because He uses hockey for me to share His life. Playing hockey has led to many great conversations and friendships that often spill over into the spiritual.

Freedom From Slavery v5-11, 17-23

The word count in verse 11 – is to calculate, to estimate, appraise

Luke 14:25-27

Giving Yourself Completely To God v12-16
Offer – yield v13,16, 19 to place at his disposal

Romans 12:1

Going past the point of no return is probably best understood to me as jumping off the Belwood Bridge! It is a 'Ninaber right of passage' of sorts. The point of no return is somewhere just below the railing where you stand on. I have watched many people stand on the edge and just think about it, maybe even lift a foot. They might even say, OK, I'm doing it, but there still standing there... you aren't committed until you actually let go and make the jump!



He wants all of you and just like the story of the five loaves and two fishes, we may not think that we are up to it, but He will do the miraculous with it. That being said, He didn't just ask for 3 loaves and one fish. He wants all of it! If He is going to work and do the amazing, we have to be all in!


So what do we receive when we go all in? We see again in Romans 6 that He grants us favour v14,15, freedom v16-20 and fruit in our lives! v21-23


The Takeaway

The doorway to life transformation is when go past the point of no return and give myself completely to God.

Questions For Discussion
1. Why did Jesus use such drastic measures to get his point across?
2. What is the most significant part of water baptism to you?
3. What testimony really spoke to you today and why?
4. Have you made the jump to full and complete surrender? What keeps you standing on the edge?
5. If you are in the place of full surrender, how is God transforming your desires?

Good Friday...when holiness and love collide!

When we come face to face with a holy God, we will always become more aware of the sin in our lives as you can see in Isaiah 6. We will have a heightened sensitivity to it and know that we are not right.

In the light of God’s holiness, our sin is unbearably dark and shameful. But here’s the amazing thing: even though we have messed up, God has provided a way back to Him. For us, God sent His son while we were still sinners, while we were still powerless to do anything, before we were good enough or smart enough or worthy, Christ died for us. It is through that sacrificial death that we are able to draw near to God.

Read Romans 3:9-19

In Leviticus 16, we read about the day of atonement and we need to understand that God cannot break His own law or violate His own nature. The God of love forgives the sinner, but the God of holiness must punish sin and uphold His righteous law.

Read Romans 3:21-28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNgbBYdDZA8&feature=related

Jesus in His death completely fulfilled the demands and requirements of the law.

Think about Jesus’ death. His death means that your sins can be forgiven and the roughness of your life made smooth. We can now come boldly before the throne of grace, it is not a throne of judgment. You will not be turned away

If you have never asked Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, take the time to do it now!

Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.


What is our response?
Isaiah 6:6-8
When we come face to face with God’s holiness, we first recognize our need for His cleansing touch. Then we are invited to share that message of His touch with others. God is standing in that place, offering you His forgiveness, but He doesn’t want it to stop there. He is asking us this very day, will you join me in the adventure of inviting others into His family?
We have a chance to respond by saying, Here I am, send me.

Who do you know that needs to hear about God’s amazing holiness and love? Ask God who that is and write a letter to that person right now encouraging them. Then take that letter and give it to them personally or email them, facebook them. You name it and it may just be a simple invitation to a conversation where you begin to share your story about His story of forgiveness in you.