My Classmates

I have been in Jerusalem almost 3 weeks. The class I am taking ends tomorrow with our final exam on Friday. Part of what has been so much fun and meaningful has been the 42 other people in the class. The group is represented by a variety of people at various stages of life. Most of the students are here taking the class for credit, while some of us, myself included, are just auditing the class.

Here are a few of my classmates:

This is Cam and Sandra. They are from Hong Kong. They are both from an Assembly of God church. Their pastor recommended that they take this course.


This is Nick. He lives in Natomas and is a graduate of UC Davis!!! He is currently working as a civil engineer. He is taking seminary classes at Western Seminary's campus in Sacramento.


This is Keane and Milena. The are from Greshem, just outside of Portland. They have two children, ages 12 and 10. He just finished seminary.



This is Sol. Sol graduated from Oregon and is currently attending Western Seminary. He has a twin brother and together they sing and talk to youth groups around the Pacific Northwest.


Here is Ron and Carolyn. They have been missionaries in Latin America. Ron taught missiology at George Fox University. They have three grown daughters.



Here is Elizabeth, Krissy and Mayon. Elizabeth is in her third year of grad school in clinical counseling. She is from Mobile, Alabama. Krissy is a graduate of Columbia International University and is looking for work as a teacher. Mayon is from Guyana and is in her second year of seminary also at Columbia International University.



John Mark is a father of two and helps lead a booming church in Portland called Solid Rock. Steve is an elder in that church.

This is Joshua. He is a pastor near Toyko and is finishing his seminary degree from Western Seminary in Portland. He is married and they have two girls.



Gary and Marie are both "retired" from government service. They currently live in Virginia, but will be moving to Kentucky next year so Marie can finish her seminary degree from Asbury Seminary. They have three grown children.

Here are a few pictures from today:


The Jordan River:

Who Do You Say I Am?

The Question

In Matthew 16:15 Jesus asks us THE QUESTION. The most important question you will ever answer. He asks, "What about you? Who do you say that I am?"

He asks this question at a place called Caesarea Philippi.

I was very excited to be there today! I have taught on this text many times and to be in the area and maybe the exact spot was very cool and insightful.

For example, when Jesus says, "and on this rock I will build my church," (V. 18) it is very interesting that the place where we were today has a huge face of solid rock.

When Jesus says "and the gates of death or Hades will not overcome it" (V. 18), it is interesting that this place today had a huge spring coming right out of the rock. It was believed in that day that the spring was the entrance to the "netherworld" or "the place of the dead" from which no one can return.

The water was seemingly coming right out of the rock. It was coming from a spring which flows at a rate of 29 gallons per second! That is a lot of water...from the side of the rock!!


We also went to the head of the Jordan river which is also a spring. Very cool figuratively and literately. Today was in the mid- 90's but the water was refreshingly cool!


Reporting live from Israel,

Jamie

Ahhhhhhh!

After the heat of the desert, a cold, refreshing, dip in a spring fed pool under a waterfall is sooooo good!

This picture was taken just west of the Dead Sea. It is a place where many believe David hide from Saul when Saul was trying to kill him. This would have been a great place to hide and to escape from the desert heat.

Other pictures from the day are from Masada and Qumran - where the dead sea scrolls were found in 1947:

From Singing to Sinning

When God’s people finally made it out of Egypt they responded with great praise and singing. This attitude of gratitude lasted for only three days….three days! After three days of walking in the wilderness, with minimal food and water, the Israelites began to complain and grumble against its leadership –“Why did you bring us out here to kill us?” “We want to go back to Egypt!”

When I would read these passages I would often, if not always, think, “What is wrong with these people? How can you see the power and provision of God firsthand in liberating you from Egypt, and then just three days later forget it all and complain?”

After walking in the wilderness today, I understand a bit better. I am sure I would have complained as well.

Here is what I wrote in my journal earlier in the day: “How easy it is to sing when God moves, when circumstances are favorable, when stomachs are full and thirst is quenched. But when fears mount, and stomachs growl, when throats are parched and feet burn – we so easily wander.

As the hymn writer wrote: “Prone to wander Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”

Here are some pictures from today:

Mt Gerizim

Today we went about 22 miles northeast of Jerusalem into the hill country. We went up Mt. Gerizim. As you look across Mt Gerizim you see another mountain(big hill), Mt. Ebal. In the valley below was Shechem and the well at Sychar.

These places are filled with history: read Deut. 27-28 and John 4 for example.

Here are some pictures from today: Mt Ebal


One of 742 living Samaritans - in line to be the next high priest(the one with the red hat!)
Ever present Israeli soldiers.

I leave for 3 days to the Negev, the dead sea and the desert wilderness. I will check back in on Sunday/Monday.

Grace and peace to you.

Pentecost Sunday

Yesterday a group of us went to a local Anglican Church for a Sunday morning worship service. The church is "new" - built in the 1600's! It was a marvelous experience. I wept through most of the service.

The church was packed, about 200 plus in attendance. When we sang, because of the interior being all stone, it sounded like there were 2000 of us in attendance! The sounds of our voices singing praises to God was glorious! The liturgy was meaningful. Communion, with people from all over the world kneeling beside me, was moving. The sermon was heartfelt.

Here we were in Jerusalem, in a packed church, with hands raised, voices strained, with people from all over the world singing these words:

we the redeemed shall be strong
in purpose and unity
declaring aloud
be praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
honor, and power, and strength!

be to our God forever and ever
be to our God forever and ever
be to our God forever and ever

All we could do at the end was break into a spontaneous applause!!

It was glorious.



(My hair is growing, by the way)