Updates on the Trip

It has been a while since I have had access to the internet. We arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday after having worship on the Mt. of Beautitudes. We stayed in a convent attended to by seven nuns. No TV, but that is cool. I need some down time to reflect and write. I have been feeling so inspired and have written about seven sermons so far. I pray that these be uplifting to my congregation as I am eager to get to my pulpit and preach. I have not gone 2 weeks without preaching in three years, so I am going through preaching withdrawal. I almost forgot to mention that on our last night in Tiberias, I was sitting at a local pub, drinking a diet coke and writing in my journal, when three youths walked in with AKA-47's across there shoulder. At the sametime, 2pac's "Me against the World" song was blaring through the speakers. These youths were not much younger than me. Made me realize that Freedom is a luxury only a few get to experience. Jerusalem (Old City) was cool. Walked down Hosanna Road, Church commemorating where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and stopped by the Garden of Gethsemane. This was probably my favorite spot. I was so overcome with emotion here. When we went into the church and the Garden it rained, but it stopped as soon as we came out. Deep. Got to follow the 14 stations of the Cross and walk down the Via Delorosa. We finally made it to the place where they believed that jesus was crucified. The place was crowded on this day. I am not one for crowds, so I was irritated. I got to see so many places, the empty tomb, calvary's rock, stone of the annointment. It was something to be there. I have so many pictures, however, I must admit a bad taste was left in my mouth. I just feel like there was so much exploitation of Jesus by the different sects of Christianity here. They were fighting over places and rocks. The Greek Orthodox claiming this spot, the Catholics claiming this step, the Armaneans claiming this wall and so forth. I see why Jesus wept and said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We made a few more stops the rest of the week. We got pulled over at a stop. There is so much political turmoil here, it is unbelievable. Seem like everybody got a gun. It is something to read about it and see it on TV, but it is another thing to see it live and in person. I believe that all Christians ought to be able to help the cause over here. There are many Christians who are getting persecuted in the Holy Land. I am going to try and figure out my own plan of action. I have so much more to say, but my time is quickly evaporating. I have some errands to run and I found a great bookstore. This is our free day as we leave around midnight 2nite. I will fill in some more of the blanks later. Until then, Shalom. PG