Our hotel,

 

Have to have my feet in

 

Marriage

In light of the fact that my computer refuses to let me upload pictures lately and because looking at the eclipse in the middle of the night (what a magnificant sky!)has brought to my mind so much joy and I can't quite go back to sleep, my mind has turned to the high concept of the sacrament of marriage. My friend and our mission center pres says that every sacrament is an act of repentance. In other words, a turning from one way of life to another. In the case of marriage it is turning from focusing on living mostly for myself to deciding to live for the sake of someone else. For example, choosing to sacrifice my wants and desires each day, to considering what is best for my spouse too. Of course, there are many who choose not to make that covenant in a marriage ceremony and some do quite well. But I like the ceremony because, like other sacraments, it is an outward sign of an inward commitment. The ceremony itself is a time of community. It is a time, when those who come can enter, if they choose, into covenant, also. For the sake of the couple and the community, those who come (and those who don't but commit in spite of their inability to attend) can make a commitment also, to support and uphold the couple in their new covenant. It is true, I think, that a couple would find it very hard to remain together without the help of community. When the couple is struggling, the community can either say, "Oh, well, it's not that important anyway. Find someone else who is easier, cuter, whatever." or they can say, "You made a commitment. Stick to it. In fact, we will help you if we can. We think your relationship is important."(or some such words) Or, without words we can just make an inward commitment to support and uplift marriages. One lady we knew years ago continues to send a card to us every anniversary.
And the couple can commit to the good of the community as well. In the sacrament they can say, "We not only commit to our own union, but to the union that is for the good of you, as a community. Our covenant will strengthen the community and we want to do that." Very early in our marriage we heard a man speak of marriage. He said the purpose of marriage is to glorify God. Of course, that is the purpose of all of life so that made such sense to me. It took me out of myself and let me see that if I made more effort in my marriage God would be glorified through it and the community would be enriched. I have not always done that but it is a good goal.
When you've just been looking into a beautiful night sky, you can believe all things are possible.

 

 

 
 
 
 

Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee

Strict Jews avoided th4e city of Tiberias because it was built on a graveyard.
But after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70 many religious Jews settled there. It was where the Mishna, the oral Jewish tradition was completed about 200AD. It was where vowels were added to the Hebrew text. But to Terry and I it was where we first saw the Sea of Galilee. Our hotel room overlooked the Sea. To wake up in the morning to the sun rising over the place where so many of Jesus's life stories took place. It seemed to us, a place of peace. It was smaller than I had imagined. You could see the other side so easily so that many of the stories made sense. The picture where Terry is standing in front of a sculpture of the Sea shows the shape of it. There were young people fishing and kayaking near the edge. We walked there and I had to put my feet in it. Right next to the hotel were the remains of an old church.
As we looked across the Sea we were able to see our first glimpse of the Golan Heights where the Jordanians fought the Israelies. It is a crucial point in defending Israel. It seems like everywhere we went there was a mixture of peaceful stories with violent ones. I treasured that time on the Sea of Galilee. It seemed to me that the time there must have been a time of preparation, training of disciples, time alone with God, really, a peaceful time in many ways.

 
 
 

Arab/Israeli/Arab/Israeli/Arab/Israeli...

The guides pointed out to us the communities along the way. If they had minarets they were Arab communities. If not, they were Jewish. Every community was distinguishable in this way. Ami (may not be spelled right), who was our guide for most of the tours, was at least a 3rd generation Hebrew. He, of course, had his own prejudices. But, he was convincing. He pointed out that the Jewish communities were neat, taken care of, finished properly. He said, "The Arab people just have a different way of looking at things." He also showed us that the homes of the Arabs were often not finished. To be finished meant that there was glass in the window holes. The law in Israel is that if you have windows finished you pay taxes on the home. The way it works is this: If you get married, you build the first level of the home. When your children get married, each family adds to the top level. But they don't believe in borrowing/mortgages so they only build when they can afford it. Hence, the reason for much unfinished property. The guide pointed out that we might like to abide by those rules in the US referring to our recent banking crisis. Point well taken. He also shared that, in spite of what CNN reports (they call CNN "certainly no news") the Arabs and Jews live next to each other amiably.
I remember reading in Golda Mier's book that many Arabs left Israel and fled to Jordan. Some stayed. Our guides said that those who chose to stay are very happy they did because their circumstances in Israel are much better than those who fled to Jordan.
Even as we got into Jerusalem the same communities or neighborhoods stood out. Little villages of people belonging to one or the other, Arab or Jewish.

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Tel Aviv

TelAviv encompasses the old city of Joppa. Acts 10:5,6 tells of Peter dwelling in Joppa with Simon, the tanner. TelAviv is the largest all Jewish community in the world. It's history includes the Canaanites as far back as 1800bc; the Philistines who held it until Solomon's time; Soloman made it a port city that served as a gateway to Jerusalem bringing the timbers for the temple through there. And on and on...
We left the city quickly and drove to our hotel in Tiberias. The following pictures are on that route. A fairly dry, ugly route. We noticed that many times our guides spoke of the beauty of Israel. There were some pretty spots but we figure they have put so much effort into making it green and growing that to them it seems so lovely. Surely they have not been to Montana.

 
 
 
 

Arriving in the Holy Land

I wanted to take pictures over and over but it was rude to be so "in the face" of people. I never saw so many different people. The Orthodox Jews were the most interesting with all their different hats and locks and costumes. We were told to be prepared for an unusual flight. That people would be up and about all the time on the plane and that when we got close to Israel it would get quiet, an almost holy silence, and then we would hear cheering when we landed. It wasn't quite like that. People were up a lot, just to stretch but it wasn't party like. Excitement was definitely in the air and our seat mate, a lady from Indiana talked alot. She was a widow who had come with a group from Indiana where Lester Sumerall had his ministry. I'm ahead of myself. Anyway, when we landed in TelAViv people did clap. Looking out the window, seeing the coast of the Mediterranian was a thrill for me. Of course, it is just a modern city now but it is the coast where Paul traveled with other wonderful history. We landed into another adventure in our lives. And, boy, was I thankful to be getting off that plane! Hello Jet Lag!

 
 
 
 

Travel Companions

"It doesn't matter where you go in life, it's who you have beside you." I would have never made it to Israel if it hadn't been for Gayle. He and Kathryn invited me to go along with them last spring. Terry told them I would go before he asked me because he knows it's been a lifelong dream of mine to go. NO! He was not interested in going with me. OK, I said I'd go. But then I thought about guns, Iranian bombs, etc and decided I really wanted to leave this earth with Terry if that should happen. (purely selfish I know) Terry said he wasn't afraid of getting any diseases, he was afraid of lead poisoning. But one night I talked him into going with me. It was a great decision and one he does not regret the twisted arm. Once he decided to go, his love for history took over and he got more excited than me.
Being with Gayle and Kathryn was an added treat. Though we see each other a lot we really don't talk much or do much together, something I really miss. Terry said they were the only people he would trust to send me off to Israel with. That says a lot right there. Trust. That word describes our relationship with them. People of integrity, sincere faith, goodness and love. Terry and Gayle worked together for almost 25 years before they signed a contract with each other. Not necessary if you have trust. When we formed an LLC the law made us change that. We probably have very different views on many things but I totally trust that they are trying with all of their hearts to follow the Christ. For me, that's what matters most.
Their lives have impacted ours probably more than anyone else besides our own parents and kids. They have been my mentors for years and I admire them greatly. Our time with them was peaceful, restful, fun and deeply meaningful...Thanks, Gayle, for once again affecting the course of my life.

Israel

When I leave a great camp or reunion, for months I think back on parts of it that were so meaningful for me. I am experiencing that type of wonder now, following our trip to Israel. So I'm going to write about it- not because I want to share it with others though I know others will read but because I want to re-remember each event and bathe in the beauty of the experience. I want to write for myself and then I hope to put it in a book.
Speaking of books...before I went to Israel, for the past few years I've been reading books about the middle east and the Israel/Arab conflict. Books like Kite Runner, Blood Brothers, Time to Betray, Exodus, My Life, The Late Great State of Israel, the Haj, Zion Chronicles, ... well, others too but can't think right now. Most are heavily pro Jewish authors simply because I happened on them. I don't regret that though I would like to read some positive stuff about Arabs. Just haven't found too many. I like historical fiction but some non-fiction, like, My Life by Golda Meir (used to be prime minister of Israel)were so interesting that I couldn't put it down. Anyway, I'm so thankful to have read, esp. that one since it made so many things in Israel so interesting, understanding the "behind the scenes" better. So...here goes...