March 27, 2007/Tuesday
6:13am (Jerusalem)
It is cold here today. I am not sure what the temperature is. I just know that it is cold.
Today we started off at the rabbinical tunnels. These are the tunnels that run beneath the Western Wall. We also visited the Western Wall. This is sometimes called the Wailing Wall. But, this is offensive to Jews. We saw stones from Solomon’s Temple and The Herodian Temple. We also visited the Dome of the Rock. This is the most recognizable thing in Jerusalem. It is what you usually see when the news is showing stuff from Jerusalem. It is the large gold dome on top of Mt Moriah. From there we went to Bethlehem, which is in the West Bank. You might realize that the West Bank is the Palestinian Territory. There is a 28-foot high concrete border that covers that entire territory. It might be the size of Madison County or larger. I am not sure. We went to the stable and the shepherd’s fields also. We ended the day at The Garden Tomb and Golgotha (Calvary). I am sure that I missed something. We cover a lot of ground in a day.
Earlier today, I was standing facing the Western Wall. It is a very sacred place for Jews. It is basically a large ancient wall of the city. The Jews go to pray there. The women go on one side and the men on the other. It is a place of reverence. But, three-year old boys don’t know that. Men must cover their heads when they approach to pray. The wall is about one hundred yards long and forty feet high. It is outside. The ground slopes down to the wall, so that there is a decline. I was standing looking at the wall from about 125 away. I spotted this boy who was about three-years old. He was riding a Playskool Scooter. It was green. It was one of those really small ones. His feet almost couldn’t get back to the front for him to push off again. But, he was managing. You need to know that the pavement was old, large, white, stones. This kid was in his own world. I didn’t see his parents anywhere around. On the left side facing down toward the wall was a wide ramp down to the wall. This was where he was heading. At the end of this ramp, was a large group of very religious and prayerful Jews. This kid finally reached to summit of this ramp. He turned his vehicle toward the wall, and off he went. The sound of a plastic-wheeled toy echoed off the wall. To say it was noticeable is an understatement. He drew the attention of the religious men and the attention of hundreds of visitors. It was priceless.
This is my fourth time In Israel. I really do like being here. I like Jerusalem. It is beautiful. But, my favorite places are Tiberias and the The Dead Sea area. I just like being out in the places that are more natural. I love being out where things aren’t so busy. I enjoy certain places of Jerusalem as a whole. But, it is very crowded and hectic.
Each time I come here I am equally as impressed and sickened at the display of Jewish heritage. I am impressed at how God has chosen to steep them in such tradition. I am sickened at how trapped they seem to be by it. It is so sad. Now, I am not saying that this is specific to these people and this culture of religion. I am not sure that lost people in our country don’t think the same things about the overwhelming majority of Christians.
If you have ever been involved in church to any degree at all, you probably have been exposed to messages about the Pharisees. I have been in church for thirty-five years. I have heard the word Pharisee used more times than I can possibly remember. Preachers say that those Pharisees were only serving out of tradition. We have said that they are just doing things because they think that they are supposed to.
I have a very difficult challenge for you. I want you to do something that is going to totally go against the grain. I want you to ask yourself and God, “Why do I go to church?” Don’t answer the question. Think about it for the rest of the week. Write it down on a piece of paper. It is a short question. Read it every morning and every night before you go to bed. If you are real brave, put it in your pocket and read it throughout the day. I am not questioning that you should attend church. I am simply asking you to define why you do. Some additional interrogatives, Why do I go both Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and Wednesday? Another big question, “Can I honestly tell someone with whom I attend church what I am really like at the core of who I am?
After you have thought about this some, I would love to hear from you about it. E-mail me or post a comment on my blog.
6:13am (Jerusalem)
It is cold here today. I am not sure what the temperature is. I just know that it is cold.
Today we started off at the rabbinical tunnels. These are the tunnels that run beneath the Western Wall. We also visited the Western Wall. This is sometimes called the Wailing Wall. But, this is offensive to Jews. We saw stones from Solomon’s Temple and The Herodian Temple. We also visited the Dome of the Rock. This is the most recognizable thing in Jerusalem. It is what you usually see when the news is showing stuff from Jerusalem. It is the large gold dome on top of Mt Moriah. From there we went to Bethlehem, which is in the West Bank. You might realize that the West Bank is the Palestinian Territory. There is a 28-foot high concrete border that covers that entire territory. It might be the size of Madison County or larger. I am not sure. We went to the stable and the shepherd’s fields also. We ended the day at The Garden Tomb and Golgotha (Calvary). I am sure that I missed something. We cover a lot of ground in a day.
Earlier today, I was standing facing the Western Wall. It is a very sacred place for Jews. It is basically a large ancient wall of the city. The Jews go to pray there. The women go on one side and the men on the other. It is a place of reverence. But, three-year old boys don’t know that. Men must cover their heads when they approach to pray. The wall is about one hundred yards long and forty feet high. It is outside. The ground slopes down to the wall, so that there is a decline. I was standing looking at the wall from about 125 away. I spotted this boy who was about three-years old. He was riding a Playskool Scooter. It was green. It was one of those really small ones. His feet almost couldn’t get back to the front for him to push off again. But, he was managing. You need to know that the pavement was old, large, white, stones. This kid was in his own world. I didn’t see his parents anywhere around. On the left side facing down toward the wall was a wide ramp down to the wall. This was where he was heading. At the end of this ramp, was a large group of very religious and prayerful Jews. This kid finally reached to summit of this ramp. He turned his vehicle toward the wall, and off he went. The sound of a plastic-wheeled toy echoed off the wall. To say it was noticeable is an understatement. He drew the attention of the religious men and the attention of hundreds of visitors. It was priceless.
This is my fourth time In Israel. I really do like being here. I like Jerusalem. It is beautiful. But, my favorite places are Tiberias and the The Dead Sea area. I just like being out in the places that are more natural. I love being out where things aren’t so busy. I enjoy certain places of Jerusalem as a whole. But, it is very crowded and hectic.
Each time I come here I am equally as impressed and sickened at the display of Jewish heritage. I am impressed at how God has chosen to steep them in such tradition. I am sickened at how trapped they seem to be by it. It is so sad. Now, I am not saying that this is specific to these people and this culture of religion. I am not sure that lost people in our country don’t think the same things about the overwhelming majority of Christians.
If you have ever been involved in church to any degree at all, you probably have been exposed to messages about the Pharisees. I have been in church for thirty-five years. I have heard the word Pharisee used more times than I can possibly remember. Preachers say that those Pharisees were only serving out of tradition. We have said that they are just doing things because they think that they are supposed to.
I have a very difficult challenge for you. I want you to do something that is going to totally go against the grain. I want you to ask yourself and God, “Why do I go to church?” Don’t answer the question. Think about it for the rest of the week. Write it down on a piece of paper. It is a short question. Read it every morning and every night before you go to bed. If you are real brave, put it in your pocket and read it throughout the day. I am not questioning that you should attend church. I am simply asking you to define why you do. Some additional interrogatives, Why do I go both Sunday Morning, Sunday Night, and Wednesday? Another big question, “Can I honestly tell someone with whom I attend church what I am really like at the core of who I am?
After you have thought about this some, I would love to hear from you about it. E-mail me or post a comment on my blog.
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