Category Archives: Uncategorized

I attemptd to send this to you all earlier this week… and it did not come through for some. Let’s try it again. If all else fails… I’ll email it once I’m home.
Early this morning we visited Bethlehem. We left behind our Israeli guide and driver and were met at the security fence by an Arab Christian driver and guide for the morning. Bethlehem is one of the regions under the control of the Palestinian Authority. There is an uneasy peace between the two sacred towns of Bethlehen and Jerusalem since the Intifada of 2000.

What to say about all of that? It’s just difficult. Since the fighting, the Christian population has decreased from 70 percent to 30 percent. Life is difficult for all people; Arab Christians and Muslims alike in Bethlehem. Living behind the security fence inhibits the exchange of goods and services… prevents folks from working… it reminds everyone that peace is distant.

There are no easy answers here. We [Americans] cannot imagine what it would be like to one day not be able to visit friends or family a mere 8 miles from our homes; or no longer be able to get to our job, or shop at our favorite stores. But if I remember my Intifadas… it was Bethlehem that fired the first missle into their neighbor Jerusalem’s backyard — and while those in Bethlehem started this particular skirmish… Israel finished it separating even families from one another.

So imagine if you can leaving Bethlehem and having two young soldiers with weapons walk through our bus before giving us the okay to re-enter Jerusalem, which we’d left only 3 hours earlier. Yes indeed, there are no easy answers.

The afternoon brought us to the Western Wall. Out of respect to the Jews who worship here, we covered our heads and approached the wall to pray – men on the left, women on the right separated by a curtain. Our guide Jacob had given us an english translation of the Jewish prayer of mourning called the Kaddish, which we prayed on each side of the curtain, for Glen Poston who was to be with us on this trip, but passed away unexpectedly. Mary (Glen’s mom) and Sam (Glen’s brother) placed a small lapel pin in the shape of the state of Ohio (Glen’s home) in the wall as a memorial. The pin had a bicycle on it, as Glen was a bicycle enthusiast. We celebrated Glen’s life and God’s goodness.

Earlier in the afternoon we sat on the steps going up to the temple that were in place when Jesus would have entered the temple mount. While some of the upper stairs have been reconstructed — we chose to have our prayer on those steps which very likely were walked on by Jesus. Sitting on the stairs we looked across the valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus’ favorite place to pray while in Jerusalem.

Indeed our day was very full. Full of new sights and sounds. Full of places that until today were only names. Full of questions of war and peace. Full of mourning and trust. We ended the day a good tired. That’s the tiredness that comes when your day has been well spent. More than once I heard someone say spontaneously “we are blessed.” Indeed we are. And to you who are reading this you’re included in that blessing. May we remember God’s faithfulness is good times and bad. JOY AND PEACE, THE CELTIC MONK

I’m wondering tonight what amazes you? As you go through your day, do you ever feel really wowed, or really grateful? This week I’ve been amazed by people; some who’ve been dead and gone for thousands of years, and some who are traveling companions for this pilgrimage.

This morning we visited Beth Sheam, the largest active excavation in Israel located about half way between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. A community of 40,000 from the 2nd century CE – the excavation includes the main street where the business of town occurred, a theatre, public baths, hippodrome, gymnasium and gold-smith shop.

What amazed me most was the creativity of both the builders of the city and the dedication of those who are piecing the city back together. The main street, called “Cardo” (the word from which we get ‘cardiologist’) was so named because it was the heart of the town. Many of the public buildings have intricate mosaic floors or walls not because it was necessary, only because it was uplifting. Those charged with the restoration are meticulously putting this city back together with pieces as small as ¼ inch x ¼ inch.

As has been true for much of our trip, we continue to be amazed by what we are privileged to be seeing. The most used phrases I hear are: “Can you believe this?” or “Isn’t it beautiful!” or “How amazing.” The picture above is of some of my awesome traveling companions. David, Mary and Harry (sorry Linda, you walked out of the picture!) I’m filled with gratitude to be appreciating Israel with them.

For thousands of years, the Creator of the Universe has been inspiring people to creative acts of necessity and beauty. It’s likely that you don’t need to travel 6,000 miles from home to see them. I want to encourage you to find something amazing right where you are today. [Or maybe create it.] But also remember the One who made all that has been made. My heart is full as this day comes to an end and I am truly amazed. I hope you will be too. BLESSINGS AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK

We’ve spent the past few days traveling The Galilee. I grew up thinking that Galilee was a city or town like Nazareth or Jerusalem. It wasn’t until my first trip to Israel that I learned that The Galilee was a region in northern Israel. The people here further differentiate between The Upper Galilee (north of Magdala/ Capernaum) and The Lower Galilee, the area we are staying in and around Tiberius, Nazareth, Mount Tabor [Transfiguration]

We visited the town of Nazareth where Mary the mother of Jesus was first approached by the angel Gabriel to learn she would be the mother of One to be called Emmanuel. It’s likely that Jesus spent the first 20 years of this life there. While in Magdala (Mary Magdalene’s hometown) we saw the boat that was excavated in 1986 and has been dated as a fishing boat of the 1st century. We sailed in a replica boat to the middle of the Sea where we heard scripture read, prayed the Lord ’s Prayer together and were led in singing “Amazing Grace” by Barbara Rumberger.

Another stop was the top of Mount Tabor – getting there is a miracle in itself with its switchbacks zigzagging us up the mountain. I don’t know about your recollection of the story in the Gospel, but I’m fairly sure that when Peter, James and John wanted to construct “booths” in the place they saw Jesus transfigured and where Elijah and Moses appeared next to him, Jesus said “no.” Yet today there is a rather large church on that place with… yes, you guessed it, three separate places to worship Moses, Elijah and Jesus.

After Mount Tabor, I stood in the headwaters of the Jordan River and after a short common liturgy, renewed the baptismal covenant of most of our travelers. Once again we claimed faith in Jesus Christ, once again we renounced Satan and the powers of evil in the world. It was a lovely expression of faith in a lovely setting on a lovely morning in northern Israel.

Tonight at sundown Shabbat begins, the Jewish Sabbath. What I see in this country as an observance of their Sabbath gives me pause. In anticipation of the Sabbath, stores have all closed. Families have gathered for leisure activities together (the kids aren’t at the mall, while the parents are somewhere else). I’m not so naïve as not to understand that some of these practices are cultural and not religious…but it challenges me to reconsider my practice of Sabbath as a day set apart.

While much of what we are seeing buoy’s our faith, some challenges what we learned in Sunday School. I know God has something specific to teach each of us as we continue to walk this faithful path. Being here convinces me that God has specific hopes and dreams for each one of us; that our faith is not one size fits most. What specific thing is God teaching you in this season of your life? Keep seeking. God is still calling. PEACE AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK

You know it’s one thing to be 50+ living in a country that boasts being 200+ years old. But it’s quite another when you are 50+ and looking at the remains of a great harbor, summer palace and aqueduct all 2,000 years old. In fact, it makes you feel younger!

Today we visited Herod the Greats’ summer palace in Caesarea on the shore of the Mediterranean. There we saw the ruins of an outdoor stone theater… think of a semi-circle of limestone seats 14 rows high and a stage with the sea as its backdrop. The remains of numerous pillars, capitals, sarcophagus, and a hippodrome… think Ben Hur. Down the road a bit we touched and took pictures of what’s left of the aqueduct which carried fresh water to this elaborate seaside resort. Amazing.

We also visited Mount Carmel, where Elijah and his God outwitted the prophets of Baal. See I Kings 18-19. We travelled the Jezreel Valley, stopped at a Druze establishment for a falafel pita with fresh veggie garnish for lunch. At Tel Megiddo we saw the remains of the stables of King Solomon where he housed 400 horses and we walked down 186 steps to see how King Ahab got water to this very strategic Tel from a spring outside the city. It only took 80 steps to climb out at the site of the ancient spring.

We’ve been blessed with beautiful weather, food that will put our home cooking to shame and the good company of one another. What comes to mind is the Scripture that says: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in peace.” In a place that has know war since the times of the patriarchs, we’ve been blessed with a peaceful time together.

Bob Nichols said to me this morning, “I’ve read these stories for 70 years and now I’m trying to get my mind around seeing them.” I think many of us echo that. Yes, we are blessed. PEACE AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK

Friends and Family,

While the middle of the afternoon there, its 10 p.m. in Tiberius. We landed on time from our 12 hour flight from Atlanta Georgia. Friends Stuart and Anita and Israeli tour guide Jacob were here to welcome us.

We drove in our motor coach 2 hours from Tel Aviv to Tiberius where they had held dinner for us. As I promised, the food in Israel is exquisite. We arrived at the hotel thinking we were more tired than hungry. After our first course… we were more hungry than tired. No one skipped the dessert buffet.

Our hotel is on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We can see the lights of the Golan Heights across the lake. In the morning, God willing, we will watch the sun come up over the water.

There are not words to describe the feelings. Driving from Tel Aviv, we past the exit sign to Nazareth, Mount Carmel, Meggido (the place of the battle recorded in Revelations). The quiet question inside is “can this be?” “Are we really here?”

We are really here. Its great to be here or be back… Anita was here with another church group 26 years ago! And I continue to pray for stirrings of the Spirit to be in us. Thanks for caring about these pilgrims. God bless you this week in our absence. PEACE AND JOY, THE CELTIC MONK

Today begins a journey that just a few years ago, I beleived to be “once in a lifetime.” In 2006 I traveled to Israel with a group from Columbia Seminary. Four faculty members and 28 pastors made up that group. That trip was life changing, ministry changing, like taking spiritual vitamins. This afternoon I am privileged to begin that same pilgrimage again this time as tour leader with 8 folks from Moorings Presbyterian Church, two friends from Park Ridge,IL, Sam #1 from Ohio, two soon to be friends from Texas and Sam #2 my husband.

Anita and Stuart[Park Ridge] are already on the ground in Tel Aviv and have reported beautiful weather and the celebration of the Israeli Memorial Day — including having a ringside seat to a practice ‘fly-over’ of the Israel equivalent of the Blue Angels. We’ll meet up with them at the airport in Tel Aviv when we arrive, be joined by our Israeli tour guide and driver and be off to Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, our home for the first four days of our trip.

As I am able to get online in Israel I’ll be posting updates of our pilgrimage. If you have a comment you’d like to pass along to a friend or family member here… I’ll be sure to get it to them.

Mostly, I hope to share with you not only what we saw on a particular day, but what it meant to us. We’ll be seeing things that most of us have heard about our entire lives…. Jerusalem, Capernaum, Nazareth,Moriah. However, standing on the Mount of Olives, seeing the Jordan River, looking down into the Kidron Valley or standing on the hillside of the little town of Bethlehem is different than reading about those places. I am hoping and praying that the experience of these pilgrims is like mine was, and they’ll realize a cosmic shift in their very souls as the Holy Spirit adds meaning as they experience the places we’ve traveled so far to see.

That’s the difference really between sight-seeing or vacation, and a trip such as this. On pilgrimage we expect to be changed in the very core of our being for having gone down this path. Pray for us, won’t you, that this will be true for each traveler. JOY AND BLESSINGS, THE CELTIC MONK P.S. The photo is of Tel Aviv from my trip in 2006.

We’ve passed another observance of the week filled with mystery, called Holy. Anticipation began on Passion Sunday as we read of the triumphal entry, and the waving of palms, all the while knowing what was to come. I tend to live this season with an almost palpable awareness of the light and the darkness… the goodness and evil at hand.

As I went to the texts and let them seep into me, I always walked away changed. Everything I heard, read, or saw during those holy days was run through the filter of the cosmic happenings. I was aware that the whole creation was indeed still groaning. Christ’s pain and betrayal was real in the Amber Alert posted from Georgia… in the body of the little girl found at the trash dump in Florida… in the less than promising unemployment forecast. These were the realities of walking with the Son of Man this 2010 Holy Week towards a certain death; and yet.

Like the disciples, we continue to walk with Him. We go ahead when He asks to prepare a meal of remembrance and celebration of the Passover. We stay by His side, listening to every word, understanding only that what we hear is Truth. And somewhere in His conversation with us, we realize that even now He is telling us that there is hope despite what we see, hear or feel. Hope beyond the situation and circumstances — that we must continue to trust.

I was taught that the mandate of Maundy Thursday referred to Christ’s new command to His followers to love. But this year I found several other mandates wound in these texts. I saw a mandate to humility as Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and humbled Himself before them. I saw a mandate to know the time, or better yet to be aware of God’s timing, as Jesus was aware that ‘the hour had come.’ I grasped the mandate to know and be aware of ourselves, in the same way Jesus was aware of how these things set in motion were the very will of His Father. Not pleasant, but God’s perfect will.

Like a dream I had a few months back that continues to teach me — the texts of Holy Week 2010 from the Gospel of John are still speaking to me for my good. They are still revealing, teaching me, encouraging me, causing me to wonder. And I in turn want to encourage you to sip and savor God’s word to you. My sense is there is no end to what might unfold. Blessings and Joy, THE CELTIC MONK

We’ve passed another observance of the week filled with mystery, called Holy.  Anticipation began on Passion Sunday as we read of the triumphal entry, and the waving of palms, all the while knowing what was to come.  I tend to live this season with an almost palpable awareness of the light and the darkness… the goodness and evil at hand.

As I went to the texts and let them seep into me, I always walked away changed.  Everything I heard, read, or saw during those holy days was run through the filter of the cosmic happenings.   I was aware that the whole creation was indeed still groaning.  Christ’s pain and betrayal was real  in the Amber Alert posted from Georgia… in the body of the little girl found at the trash dump in Florida… in the less than promising unemployment forecast.  These were the realities of walking with the Son of Man this 2010 Holy Week towards a certain death; and yet.

Like the disciples, we continue to walk with Him.  We go ahead when He asks to  prepare a meal of remembrance and celebration of the Passover.  We stay by His side, listening to every word, understanding only that what we hear is Truth. And somewhere in His conversation with us, we realize that even now He is telling us that there is hope despite what we see, hear or feel.  Hope beyond the situation and circumstances — that we must continue to trust.

I was taught that the mandate of Maundy Thursday referred to Christ’s new command to His followers to love.  But this year I found several other mandates woud in these texts.  I saw a mandate to humility as Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and humbled Himself before them.   I saw a mandate to know the time, or better yet to be aware of God’s timing, as Jesus was aware that ‘the hour had come.’  I grasped the mandate to know and be aware of ourselves, in the same way Jesus was aware of how these things set in motion were the very will of His Father.  Not pleasant, but God’s perfect will.

Like a dream I had a few months back that continues to teach me — the texts of Holy Week 2010 from the Gospel of John are still speaking to me for my good.  They are still revealing, teaching me, encouraging me causing me to wonder.  And I in turn want to encourage you to sip and savor God’s word to you.  My sense is there is no end to what might unfold.  Blessings and Joy, THE CELTIC MONK