A Day of Pampering

Yesterday Chelsea and I went to the West Coast Plaza for a day of pampering. IT started with a shampoo at Jamez - a Singaporean friend we have made that has a beauty salon at that mall. He is hilarious and had fun with us. We met the Palmer gals there and had a blast. To have a shampoo in Singapore is to experience something. You sit down in the salon chair and first, someone brings you a cup of tea right off the bat! Wow! Then she/he puts a little piece of plastic underneath your shirt collar and then puts on you a regular salon drape. Then the fun begins. Sitting there in the salon chair, she/he begins squirting water and shampoo right on your head. When there is enough liquid there, the most luxurous shampoo/massage you have ever experienced happens. It lasts at least thirty minutes - all sitting up in the chair. No shampoo in your eyes. Just a wonderful massage. When it is finally time to go to the sink - you lean back, and there in the sink is a wonderful head rest - not just sticking your neck in that hard sink indention! Wow. A shampoo, cut, and blow dry can last upwards to two hours! So don't be in a hurry. But who would want to?

After the shampoo, we all had appointments to have pedicures. We each sat in a huge massaging recliner. We were also served tea and two dark chocolates! Yum! Then the pedicure began - soaking, scrubbing, filing, soaking, rubbing, massaging all the way up to your knees, lotions, oils, then finally painting of the toes. Chelsea and Sarah also had glitter flowers painted on their big toes - so cute. The whole affair lasted about an hour and a half. Such a treat!

Our next stop was to have fruit facials. Now this was my first facial and I have to say it was about the nicest thing I have ever done for myself. I laid down in a soft lit room where quiet music was playing. A lady came in and wrapped my head in a towel and began a series of facial techiniques that were exceptional. All kinds of cleansing, some with actual pieces of fruit, and lots of time in between to just relax. That whole thing lasted well over an hour, too.

Then I had my eyebrows threaded again. This can be a painful process but it is over quickly and I don't seem to mind it too much.

When Chelsea came out of her facial room - she said that it was the most relaxing thing she had ever done. THEN when she had her eyebrows threaded - ouch - THAT was the most painful experience of her life! Sorry, Chelsea!

What a way to end the pampering.

The Funderburk clanned ended the day at the movies - Yes, Man.

What a great fun day with my sweet Chels!

A day at the beach

This morning we headed to Sentosa - which is the "resort" recreation island of Singapore. We took a tram there and arrived about 10:30. As usual, not much was open. (Even the malls don't get going here until around 11 or 11:30am. But we walked around and also had a cool drink as we sat near the beach. The beach at Sentosa actually looks out on the port area. Did you know that Singapore is the largest port in the world?

We went to a 4D movie that was about pirates and pretty cute. We also ate at Subway.

But then we went back to the beach, rented me a chair, and found our little "corner" of the beach. Chelsea and Ross "baked" in the sun. I wrote a long letter to Becky B. And Rick studied the map of Sentosa and other things.

We stayed all afternoon and just relaxed.

A friend of Ross's came over and the two of them decided to stroll on down to the other end of the beach. Chels, Rick and I took the tram back to Vivo City Mall - the largest mall in Singapore and my favorite. Chelsea had fresh pineapple (the best she ever tasted she said). She also tried Roti Prata (which is a type of bread with curry sauce or as she had hers - filled with bananas.

We took the bus home and Chelsea and I just talked and talked and talked. It was great.

What a wonderful day!

First Sunday in Singapore

We went to our church this morning. It is located in the same office building as our office so afterwards we took the kids down to see our new office. I think they were impressed. After Chelsea goes back we have loads of work for Ross to do at the office. We even have him a desk all for himself! Ha!

This afternoon Chelsea laid by the pool while Rick and Ross went to get our family passes to Sentosa Island. We are going there tomorrow so I will have loads more to tell then.

All in all, it was a quiet day (we needed a little rest) and we will start again tomorrow bright and early.

I LOVE having them here. I just miss Audra and Brian so much.

Saturday

Chelsea was feeling lots better today. She even went and laid out by the pool this morning. We got off about 11am headed for what Singapore is known for - FOOD. The kids wanted "normal" so we ate at McDonald's across the street. Then we headed to the Singapore Discovery Center where we saw a 3D movie entitled "Fly Me to the Moon". It was cute. Then we saw a little Christmas movie. The Discovery center had lots of info about Singapore and we enjoyed walking through and playing with all the high tech stuff.

Afterwards, we took the bus and MRT down to Clark Quay (pronounced "key"). We ate at the food court there (it was about 7pm) and then walked the outdoor mall there. It is neat because it is outside but somehow Singapore has figured out how to air condition it! There is also a bar/restaurant there called the "Clinic". The seats are made out of hospital beds and the tables are operating tables. Some of the chairs are wheelchairs! Funny.

By the time we took the bus and MRT back home it was almost 9pm. We are pooped and want to be able to rest well before heading to church tomorrow!

I have posted pictures on my facebook (can't figure out how to get them on here from there.) Check them out.

The Day after Christmas

Jet lag is still hounding Ross and Chelsea but they are trying their best to get it behind them.

Today we took them to the IMM mall - the place where Dr. Fish Spa is. That's right, they stuck their feet in the little pool and let the little fishes eat all the dead skin off the bottom of their feet. Sound gross! Well, it is very ticklish at first and they laughed and giggled something fierce. Then when they finally got used to it, I think they were really enjoying it. The lady even let them keep their feet in an extra ten minutes!

Still feeling the weight of jet lag, we didn't push them too hard today. They were hoping for a sunny day to swim but it never happened. Chelsea still isn't feeling too well. Maybe tomorrow she will feel better. She is already asleep - before 10pm! Ross is too!

Tomorrow is Saturday. We don't usually venture out much on Saturday because of the crowds but we will see what tomorrow holds. I don't think they will be satisfied to sit around long.

Christmas Day

What a great Christmas Day we have had. It is nearly midnight here and I know America is just getting to their Christmas Day. We miss Audra and Brian and Jackson very much but pray that they are having a memorable day at their house.

Today I spent alot of time in the kitchen getting ready for our joint meal with the Palmers across the street. Rick made dressing. I made sweet potato casserole with marshmellows, green beans, a pecan pie, and watergate salad. We ate with the Palmers at 4 and then came to our house for dessert. Our next door neighbors, the Armstrongs, joined us for dessert.

Chelsea went to sleep about 9pm tonight. She is down with a cold.

Rick and I are heading to bed. Tomorrow the kids are hoping the sun will be out so that they can enjoy the pool.

I am just glad they are here and am enjoying them so much.

Christas Eve in Singapore

Ross and Chelsea are hanging in there with the jet lag. Christmas Eve morning they slept until about 9am. Chelsea said she woke up about 3am and was up till almost 7am but she was feeling pretty good. Slow morning start. We had plans to take the morning off and relax by the pool but God decided to send a nice morning rain so we enjoyed the storm from our 18th floor BIG WINDOW.

We had lunch - cheeseburger soup - one of their favorites and then headed out for Christmas Eve on the town. Ross and Chelsea are enjoying experiencing the transportation system here (we don't have a car.) We took the bus to the MRT (Subway) station and then took the MRT to the city. We went to Orchard Road (the main avenue in Singapore). It is beautifully decorated and this year's theme is the "Sweet Family" - so there is candy hanging everywhere. It looks completely different during the day but we wanted them to see it both ways.

We tried to register for the free open top bus tour of the lights but it was full. Good thing, too, because later on it rained! So we walked the avenue enjoying the sites and doing some shopping. (Have I mentioned that shopping is everyone's main hobby here?)

One store here, Takishomya, is like the Sax Fifth Avenue of NY. Out in front they had several Christmas activities going on under a very beautiful tent. The Scandinavian Teak Wood furniture store had provided couches and chairs for people to sit around in and just relax and watch the activities. Chelsea won a prize (a very nice umbrella) for answering a question. Ha!

We ended up (of course) at the Hard Rock Cafe. The "boys" were so glad to meet Ross and Chelsea. They played their hearts out for them and it was so good. (Too bad the place was crowded all night) right up until the last set. BUT we were given some great party favors (hat, mask, pop toys, noisemakers) to bring in Christmas Day. At midnight everyone pulled out their favors and everyone wished all a "Merry Christmas". It was nice. Look for some kooky pictures of that coming up.

Well, it's Christmas morning here. It's after 10am and I'm the only one up. But I'll let them all sleep. Today we are just staying home (nothing is open) and eating with friends around 4pm.

Merry Christmas to all.

They made it!

Chelsea and Ross arrived at the Changi Airport in Singapore this morning at 1am (our time). They said it was a LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG trip but were glad to be here. This is the first time they have traveled without any checked in luggage. So nice. All they had was their back packs!

We took a taxi home and they LOVED our apartment complex and apartment (on the 18th floor). Chelsea got a little woozy looking out the window! We stayed up until about 3:30am. Slept well and until about 9am. Chelsea and I went down to the gym and worked out for about 30 minutes. My next door neighbor made us a special Spanish dish for lunch - Tortilla de Potata (yum!) We headed out the door around noon.

We went to Jurong East Mall and did some shopping as well as let Ross and Chelsea taste some local cuisine (Curried Chickern Korean BBQ) Ross is determined to try Pig Organ Soup before he leaves. (Yuck!)

We then went on to have coffee at the McCafe in the mall (always a treat) and did more shopping. We shopped until we dropped - back at the house about 7pm. We walked across the street to eat at McDonald's (they wanted something "normal"). Chelsea was asleep by 9:15 and Ross was not far behind.

What a great day. We are SO glad that Ross and CHelsea are here for Christmas! Wish Audra adn Brian were here but we will count on them coming another time when Baby Bailey is with them!

Will post pictures ASAP.

Christmas Tree is Up!

This is definitely the LATEST I have ever been in getting up our Christmas tree. But the boxes left on Tuesday morning and it took me all of Wednesday and Thursday morning to get the living room/dining room cleaned up. Thursday night Rick and I put up the tree. It is, of course, as beautiful as ever. Every ornament is a memory. When Rick and I first got married I started a book cataloging all the ornaments we had (where they came from, some memory attached to them). It is always fun to look back and SEE those memories. Audra told me that she is doing the same thing!

Because I am so late in getting my tree up, I think I will leave it up for the entire month of January - just to enjoy and appreciate it!

Chelsea and Ross will leave Nashville a week from Sunday. they are both excited about the upcoming visit. We can hardly wait on this end!

Arrival Date

I am so excited. Chelsea and Ross will arrive in Singapore on December 23 at 12:30 am. You will not want to miss all of the adventures we will have while they are here. we are tickled to share Singapore with them and know they will LOVE it.

Meanwhile, today - the final boxes that came from West Africa will be headed to our new office. This is the latest I have EVER been at getting the Christmas tree up. I've decided to leave it up through January just to get a chance to appreciate it!

Hold on - it's going to be an ACTIVE holiday season around here.

Coming Soon

Christmas in Singapore with Chelsea and Ross!

The thrill of going home

Sorry I have been so lazy about writing on the blog. I have just had so many projects in the works, I really haven't been able to make the time. Even this one will be short.

Rick and I will be heading back to the states the first of October for about six weeks. We are so excited about seeing our children and family and friends. It is hard to be caught between two worlds. We live here in Singapore and we love it. But it has not quite become "home" for me yet. I haven't hung any pictures. I still haven't made our apartment "home" yet. Still, when we go to the states, we will be living in a hotel - that's not home either. We don't really have a home there. We will be with our children or family some - but that still isn't home for us. It's a weird place to be.

But we will be together - and that will be home enough I guess.

Our family tradition is to begin playing Christmas music on October 1. I'll be on a plane. No Christmas music for me. That's weird and sad, too.

Funny what makes something home.

Dr. Fish Spa

Let me break here a moment and show you some pictures of my recent adventure to the "fish spa". It was in a mall and you just rolled up your pants leg and sat on the side and stuck your feet in. The little fishes swarmed your feet and began "feeding" on the dead skin. (Sounds gross, doesn't it?) The sensation was somewhere between extremely ticklish and a small electric shock (not painful at all). Very weird and very funny. If you come to Singapore, I will definitely take you there! I was in for about 45 minutes and yep - my feet were SMOOTH when I got out! How cool was that?

He reigns

Mercy Me sings it - He Reigns! Psalm 93 proclaims it - He Reigns! The interesting thing about this particular psalm is how the author begins "at the beginning" and recalls just how significant it is that He Reigns. The children of Israel are reminded of the many times that He has Reigned in their adventures to Him.

Have you ever thought about just sitting down and reminding yourself of (just the highlights even) how God has Reigned in your life? I decided to do that and you will have to just bear with me on it. These may be the most boring posts I've ever written and you will just skim them and go on to something more important. OR just maybe, it will remind you of some way that God has Reigned over your life.

To start my own psalm here goes:

Lord, we bless your wonderful name. You are more wonderful than any words could express and the object of our worship. You created everything and gave it purpose. You filled the heavens with so many starts, they are too numerous to count. You gave life to all living things including us and for that we are truly thankful.

You were reigning on your throne the day that Rick and I met. I had just graduated from Blue Mountain College and had come to the big city of Memphis to a new job teaching Chemistry, Physics, and General Science in a private school - Towering Oaks Baptist School. I attended Towering Oaks Baptist Church that first Sunday and was escorted into the "College and Career" Class. Rick was still attending Memphis State University. I didn't know it, but that day Rick "set his cap" for me and although it was a few years later that we actually started dating, YOU were on your throne.

Rick and I both had a strong calling to serve Him somewhere overseas. we both felt that we needed to be in a place where there not much "Light".

I know that the belief that there is are two people especially made for each other is shunned by most but I believe that YOU were Reigning when Rick and I found each other and fell in love. You gave us a sweet home at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains and an absolutely wonderful first year of marriage. That foundational year has made such a difference in our lives. It was during that first year that you melded our hearts together.

Lord, Your thoughts were so much greater than ours. You put us in a position to learn how to study Your Word during our first year of marriage through Kay Arthur's Precept method. This served to strengthen our relationship and the foundation of our marriage. You had all of this planned out - and we honored You as You Reigned!

Your plan included us moving to New Orleans. In our minds, we thought we were there to get twenty hours of seminary so that we could fulfill the requirements of the International Mission Board. But your plan was much more vast. We ended up staying at New Orleans for eleven years! During that time, we would both gain experience that would be utilized throughout the rest of our lives.

You Reign!

My mini-retreat

On the theme of "Quiet Time" the Lord has given me a unique opportunity this weekend. My husband has gone on a business trip for the weekend and I have decided to have "mini-retreat" with the Lord. Have you ever done that? Do you ever have a time where you can just get away with the Lord for an extended length of time? You know we take vacations all the time (well, some of us do!) They may be for a whole week or just a few days. They may be to the beach or with family in other states or countries. But getting away from the normal routine is good for what ails you. And getting away with the Lord for a weekend is just what the doctor ordered for me.

So yesterday after Rick left, I got all of my "quiet time" materials, plus some other stuff, and settled on the dining room table. I have been trying to wade through several books by Chip Ingram (Good to Great, God as He Longs for You to See Him) that have been incredible encouragements to my family so I stacked those up as well. I have also been working through A Heart Like His by Beth Moore so it is here, too. The spiral notebook that I keep my quiet time notes in as well as prayers and prayer requests is also here. I have some great music - Chris Tomlin, Nicole Nordeman, etc. Three DVDs that I highly recommend by Louie Giglio (Indescribable, How Great is Our God, and Hope) are also something I wanted to watch this weekend.

After I got all of my materials together, I sat down and began to just read through Psalm 88 which is where I am right now. I read out loud (which is always so good and so effective in keeping you focused and keeping Satan away). Within moments the Lord was speaking to me and I thought of the song I heard at my oldest daughter's church recently:
Beautiful are the words spoken to me
Beautiful is the One who is speaking
Come in close, come in close and speak
Come in close, come closer to me.
He is so real. He is so awesome. As I watched the three DVDs I mentioned, I was reminded of just how BIG our God is and what a privilege it is to be in a relationship with Him. He is the Creator of all things and yet He knows my name and desires to have a relationship with me. How stupid of me NOT to meet with Him in a concentrated way daily knowing that He is IN ME and WITH ME all through the day. Amazing.

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that the first 8 hours of my mini-retreat were awesome! He wants to speak to us so much but we just rarely ever give Him the chance.

I know many of you are getting ready for your kids to go back to school or back to college or whatever. Can you imagine how a mini-retreat would jump start your fall? Think about it.

Facing the Truth

Confession is good for the soul "they" say. I'm not sure how "good" it will be, but it is necessary. Since I have been sharing about all of my wonderful quiet times with the Lord - part of the journey hit a big valley this week. If you read my last entry you know that our "goods" from West Africa arrived last Saturday. As you read of my frustrations and emotional struggles, I'm sure you felt pretty sorry for me. You may have even prayed for me and for that I am truly thankful. What you didn't know was that I allowed all of that "stuff" to rob me time with the Lord every day last week! Because of that, I was leaning on my own strength and as you might guess - it ran out. Isn't that just the way it is? We just think we are SO strong and can manage anything. And the funny thing is - we can handle alot. But eventually, that strength runs out and we are left lacking - frustrated, emotional, and not very good company.

Every day last week, I felt so low and even depressed. Going through all of that stuff was so emotional for me. Even though I knew I didn't need 3/4 of it, or want it, or had space for it - each piece I picked up carried with it tons of memories and it was the MEMORIES that I was having a hard time letting go of. IF I had spent some time with the Lord on those days He would have reminded me then what HE reminded me of this morning when I finally set my mind to BE with Him for awhile. I STILL have all the memories - no one can take those away from me. But all of that stuff was just that - STUFF! Material things that had no eternal value. Downsizing was something that the Lord had been telling us to do for years but this week we were forced to do it. (No way you can fit 1600 square feet of stuff into 900 square feet!)

And now looking back on it - even after just these few days - I'm glad. This morning I spent some time with the Lord and apologized for keeping Him waiting every day last week. My goodness, imagine ME - keeping the King of Kings waiting every morning. I passed by Him every morning and just kept walking.

This morning as I talked with Him about how I let all of those "things" come between us, I was reminded that He doesn't like ANYTHING to come between us.

Is there something between you and the King of KIngs? Has He been waiting for you every day and watched you pass by - not stopping to spend time with Him when He so much wants to spend time with YOU?

I confess...I'm certainly not perfect. It is all part of the journey.

Three years of dust and mold!

Hello, friends. Sorry it is already July 10 and I am just now writing. Things here have, to say the least, been hectic! Our things from West Africa arrived last Saturday, and to be honest, we have been overwhelmed and nearly paralyzed! Our cute, clean, little 900 square foot apartment has been invaded with 150 cardboard boxes covered with mold, mildew, and full of memories! These things have been packed up in the hot and humid climate of Ivory Coast for over three years! They were things that filled a 1600 square foot, three bedroom house in Abidjan! So, as you might guess, there is NO ROOM to put most of the stuff.

Rick and I managed to go through all of the boxes in about four days. We piled up 3/4 of it to be thrown/given away. Some of the stuff was usuable - but no room for it. I had about 50 boxes of just KITCHEN stuff. Remember, our apartment here doesn't even have an oven! And if I stand in our kitchen, I can touch the cabinets on both sides of the room!

Anyway, we have several boxes of our kids' things that we will let them go through at Christmas. I feel like it is important for them to go through them and have the memories before they toss them. It has been quite an emotional week for me and for Rick. I don't need any of the stuff that I tossed and I don't even want it and there sure is no room for it. Still, I have grieved over getting rid of it because of all the memories attached!

Rick and I concluded that the Lord had been telling us for some time now to downsize and we just put that off. So when you walk into our apartment and the smell of three years of dust and mold hits you - that is the smell of disobedience!

Today we hired a man to come and take away all the boxes we had ready to get rid of. It is not so overwhelming now, although we still have lots of boxes that will eventually go to our new office (when we find one).

Pray for us as we try to find places for the stuff we decided to keep and that His grace will cover us as we "let go" of these things!

Back in the Saddle

Hey, folks! Sorry I have been so silent lately. Jet lag was really a killer this time. I'm still getting up early but trying to use that time wisely. Since I last wrote I have had some incredible quiet times with the Lord. In spite of that, I have still chosen on occasion NOT to meet with him. Why do I do that? Why do I let other things get in the way of meeting with him. When I know he wants to have a relationship with me and at times reveals himself so sweetly to me - why do I still wake up some mornings and choose NOT to meet with him? This morning I spent some time pondering that question with him. It was the day to read Psalm 78. Go there and read it and you will be amazed. The children of Israel were just like me! God had delivered them in some miraculous ways. He had parted the sea for them to escape. He had fed them manna from heaven when there was nothing else to eat. He had revealed himself in ways like a pillar of fire! Wow! And yet, they still - from time to time - chose NOT to meet with him.

Praise God his mercies are new every morning! Today is a new day. And I have chosen to start it with him.

Thank you, Lord, for having patience with me as you had with the chidlren of Israel!

Quiet Time Resources

What an incredible few weeks I have had as I have been becoming "radically intimate" with my Lord. It is truly an adventure to be in relationship with Him. I have been experimenting with all kinds of resources in my quiet time with Him. You know you can NEVER run out of possibilities of devotion to God.

I am nearly finished with the book "Six Secrets to a Power Quiet Time" by Catherine Martin. It has been so helpful in revitalizing my quiet time. I do hope you will check on that resource.

I have also been using some other resources. My Bible, of course, is what I open first every morning. (Did I mention that I am NOT a "morning person" but the last few weeks the Lord has helped me get up and get going with Him?) I have started off reading one psalm every morning. While I am reading through it, I watch for a verse or phrase that really stands out to me. When I am finished reading the psalm, I write the verse or phrase that stuck out to me in my spiral notebook (It is a notebook that I just use for my quiet time.) I focus on that verse or phrase for a few minutes and then I began to write a prayer to the Lord concerning the insight He has given me concerning that verse or phrase. For instance, this morning I read Psalm 65. The first verse stuck out to me almost immediately. "There will be silence before You and praise in Zion, O God." I began to think about Him being the King of Kings and Creator of all things and the awe and respect He deserves. And as I began reading through that psalm again, I began to list all that I learned about Him from it. I listed it in this way:

You:
* hear prayers
* are who all men come to
* forgive transgressions
* answer us in righteousness
* are the trust of all the ends of the earth
* established the mountains
* still the roaring seas
* make the dawn and sunset shout for joy
* visit the earth
* greatly enrich the earth
* prepare the grain and the earth
* water the earth
* settle its ridges
* soften it with showers
* bless its growth
* crown the year with your bounty

Your paths drip with fatness
The pastures drip
The hills gird themselves with rejoicing
The meadows are clothed with flock
The valleys are covered with grain

THEY SHOUT FOR JOY.

Then I began to think about how God is all that and how He does all of that and yet He still wants a personal relationship with little bitty me. He is so awesome. He is so great. What a God.

I also began to think about the last section that seems to be pointing to preparation for harvest. I committed myself, my husband, and my children again to Him. He is preparing all of our fields for harvest. We all want to bring Him a harvest of glory.

Hey, that was just from reading ONE PSALM!

I also use a reading through the Bible program - the one I use is a Max Lucado version. I love how he brings Old and New Testament together as well as a Psalm and Proverb together with a recurring theme.

Some other devotionals that I have used that will really bless your heart:
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (deep but so good)
31 Day of Praise by Ruth Myers
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Sometimes I listen to a CD of praise music. I have copied the words down on my computer so I can sing along. When I get back to Singapore and we get our shipment from West Africa, I am looking forward to having our Clavinova (electric piano) and hymnbook. I can play and sing sometimes in my quiet time. If you don't sing, just sit and listen. It can really bring you into His presence.

If I have time each day I delve into some kind of bible study. Right now I am doing Beth Moore's study called "A Heart Like His". I don't get to this part every day but I certainly do it as much as I can.

I can't wait to get back to Singapore and find me a basket to put all of my Quiet Time materials in so they will be handy.

Remember the PRAYER outline in doing your quiet time:
* Prepare your heart (reading a psalm, listening to a worship song, etc.)
* Read and study God's Word
* Adore God in prayer (that's what I did this morning as I was writing down all He was and does)
* Yield yourself to Him (take time to just sit and listen and reflect - He wants to speak to you but maybe you are not letting Him get a word in edgewise!)
* Enjoy His presence (it is sweet)
* Rest in His love

More to come....

Radical Intimacy

Intimacy with God becomes "radical" when we become intentional with Him. Intentionality requires a plan. It is not just haphazard. It is not just grabbing a moment when you are "free" to be with Him. It is not just using a "read through the Bible in a year" plan. It is not just opening your Bible and reading a random passage and hoping that He will speak to you. You must have a plan.

When you get ready to go on vacation you don't just get in your car and hit the road. Weeks ahead you start planning. You get out a map and decide where you want to go. You get on the internet and search for the all the "tourist attractions" and decide what all you want to do when you get there. You get out the calendar and pick out the perfect time to go. You start thinking through your wardrobe and picking out what you are going to wear and what you want to pick up before you go. Days ahead you might even start preparing some goodies to take along on the trip. A couple of days before your trip you start packing your suitcase. By now, if you are going a long way, you have already called ahead and made hotel reservations along the way. There's alot to do to plan a vacation.

If we can spend all of that time and energy on planning our vacation, is it too difficult to understand that to "journey" with God we need a plan, too? If you want to have a meaningful quiet time with Him, it is going to take some planning on your part. This is what I am discovering in my own personal time with Him and it is what I want to share with you in these coming days.

Where do we begin? We can certainly follow Jesus' example. He often took breaks to fellowship with His Father. (Luke 5:15-16) He intentionally set aside a time. He set a goal to make it work. Finding the right place for our quiet time is different for each of us. I have enjoyed these last few weeks sitting in a small office in this "borrowed home" in front of a window that faces the back yard. I have raised the blinds and had a window view of God's world. Trees, blue sky, green grass, birds, squirrels, and even a couple rabbits have met with the Creator each day. You may have a place at your house where you can get off by yourself and meet with Him. This morning I was confronted with the idea that with all the traveling I am doing these days, finding that "perfect spot" won't be easy, but I am determined to do it.

That's the WHERE now what about the WHEN? The Bible does seem to emphasize the importance of the morning. (Mark 1:35) I know what you are thinking. "Oh, my. Getting up early is too difficult for me. " Hey, no one has had more struggle with that than I have. I am NOT a morning person and if you know me, you know that is true. However, I have to tell you that starting the day WITH Him, leans the whole day TOWARDS Him and makes me much more conscious of His presence and gives me much more wisdom in my decision making throughout the day. It really is amazing.

Now, I also know some of you have small children. It may mean getting up a little earlier so you can have some undistracted time. However, I remember reading a story about Dwight L. Moody's mom. She had LOTS of small ones (including little Dwight). But every morning - with kids running all around her, she would sit in a chair and pull her apron up over her head. All the kids knew that she was "spending time with the Lord" and left her alone! OR let's say you are up having your quiet time and oh, boy, here come your kids. Tell them what you are doing and begin teaching them to have their own quiet time with the Lord. How sweet would that be?

There's no set time as to how long our time with the Lord should be. For me, it is different every day. Some days I have more time to spend than others. I just make the most of the time I have.

Okay, you've got the WHERE and the WHEN, now let's think about the HOW?

Catherine Martin in her book "Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time" suggests an easy way to remember how to spend time alone with Him. We will dive deep into each of these in days to come but here is the whole plan in a nutshell:

Prepare your heart
Read and study God's Word
Adore God in prayer
Yield yourself to God
Enjoy His Presence
Rest in His love

These are "disciplines" that will help us in our devotional time with Him. This is just the guide, but we each must personalize the plan as the Lord leads us in our adventure with Him. This is a flexible plan and can be used whether you have just a few minutes or an hour or more!

One of my favorite new Bible verses says, "The eyes of the Lord look throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are committed to Him." II Chronicles 16:9

God is looking for someone whose heart is committed to Him. He wants to STRONGLY SUPPORT that person. Will you be that person He is looking for? Can I be that person? I'm praying that you will have a heart totally committed to Him. He WILL give you all the support you need to meet with Him every day! And to be honest, these last few days, I've noticed that I wake up before I even NEED to get up. I guess my spirit just can't wait to be with Him. He' s waiting for you. Will you meet with Him?

The Heart

The quiet time we spend with the Lord every day is the heart of our relationship with Him. That time is initiated by Him, led by Him, and enriched by Him. He has given us everything we need for intimacy with Him: His Word, prayer, the Holy Spirit, the companionship of Jesus, and the fellowship of good friends! Our quiet time with Him is the most important part of our day. Yet there are very few who have cultivated a consistent quiet time with the Lord on a regular basis. There just seems to be so many things that get in the way. Can you imagine how different our days would be if we spent time with Him before each of those days got started? We would be changed ourselves. No doubt about that.

Why don't we do it then? Is it really something HE wants us to do? Look these up and see.

Psalm 46:10
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Matthew 11:29
John 7:17
Revelation 3:20

What will this intimacy with Him lead to? Knowing Him. What's so important about that?

Exodus 33:13 (It is something HE delights in - us getting to know Him!)

Catherine Martin say:

* He invites us to a pilgrimage of the heart (Psalm 84:5) to find our home in Him while jouneying in a foreign land until we reach our final destination - heaven.
* He invites us to personal, spiritual revival (John 7:37-38) to constant renewal, and to a restoration of God's purpose and plan for our lives.
* He invites us to share His heart (Psalm 46:10), to move in perfect step with Him as He leads us through life, and to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him.
* He invites us to influence the world (Luke 24:32) with a heart burning with a contagious love that spreads to those around us
* He invites us to an eternal perspective (2 Corinthians 4:18) seeing life from His point of view, looking beyond the temporal to the eternal.
* He invites us to radical discipleship (Matthew 4:19) paying the price in time and energy to sit at His feet and learn from Him.

I guess that pretty much leaves the ball in my court. So I think what all this is saying is that God wants to have an intimate relationship with me. He has given me everything I need to have it. He has told me what good will come of it. I JUST HAVE TO CHOOSE TO DO IT. I have to make that choice EVERY DAY. Yes, things will get in the way. I WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE TO NOT LET OTHER THINGS GET IN THE WAY. Yes, there will be deadlines to meet. I WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE TO PRIORITIZE MY TIME WITH HIM. Yes, I will be traveling. I MAY HAVE TO GET UP EARLIER. IT IS ALL A MATTER OF CHOICE!

Are you with me?

Renovation in Progress

I'm going to be brutally honest and vulnerable here. It may even shock some of you. I have needed a "Quiet Time" renovation for some time now. It's not that I haven't been spending time with Him or reading my Bible. It's just that I want MORE. I want a radical intimacy with Him that I know will take a strategic plan to happen. And while I have been here in Nashville, shopping around at Opry Mills, I may have stumbled on just the thing. It's a book by Catherine Martin called "Six Secrets to a Powerful Quiet Time". I have discovered some incredible truths there and I want to share some of my discoveries.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 says "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth: for I delight in these things."

There is NOTHING more important for you and I as Christ followers than to KNOW Him intimately. I don't know about you but I am "desperate for Him" as Michael W. Smith says. I want to dive deep in His love and in the knowledge of Him. And I want that for you, too. What greater adventure could there be? So hang on - and share in these truths with me from time to time.

If you haven't been having a quiet time with the Lord each day, you can start right now. How will you ever grow in your relationship with Him, if you are not spending time with Him? I love my husband and I LOVE to spend time with him. And because of all the time we have spent together I KNOW him, I know I can TRUST him, I know he has my best interests at heart...and he is just my husband! How much more God knows me already - He MADE me. He can see my heart. He can see my motives. He sees the ugly part of me that no one else sees and loves me anyway.

Hey, I have been a believer for almost 30 years and I still struggle with getting a consistent quiet time with Him. You are not alone. We are not perfect. But I am praying that we are hungry enough for Him - desperate enough for Him - to know Him...that we will journey together so that we might KNOW and UNDERSTAND (as much as our finite little minds can) that HE is the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justcie, and righteousness on earth. We will do this because He DELIGHTS in these things.

Ask God right now to prepare your heart for the journey- the pilgrimage of your heart to HIS!

Hang on! He is doing a mighty work in you right now!

On to other things...

Well, that about does it for our trip to Israel. As one of my daughters says - I've about beat that dead horse long enough! But I just wanted to share with you the pics and my thoughts about the whole trip PLUS some historical and biblical references. I would encourage you if you ever get the chance to go to Israel - DO IT! I'll tell you why. Yesterday morning I was reading in my daily Bible reading and got to the part in Matthew where Jesus fed the 5000! Wow. I could picture it. I had seen it. I had been there. And it all took on a whole new meaning - a new reality that I have never known before. It was an incredible feeling.

Now, I am writing this from Nashville (just to catch you up with where I am). Someone suggested that I put the application "Where I am Now" on my facebook page. Incredibly, there was such an application and I DID put it on. We have traveled so much already during 2008 and it isn't even June. But what a wonderful adventure with the Lord.

I can't imagine this adventure (at my age) without Him. He is my Rock. From Him comes all of my strength. This is the day that He has made and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!

Thanks for coming along the journey with me.

Walking Where Jesus Walked

My most memorable day was the day we walked where Jesus actually walked. Few structures combine the ancient with the new as successfully as the Church of St. Peter. It was built in 1931 to commemorate Peter's denial of Christ. Beneath the church are a number of carved out chambers. The House of Caiaphas was on this very site and these chambers are where Jesus was imprisoned and tortured. You can even see the pillar where Jesus was probably tied and beaten! But it is the steps up to Caiaphas' house where I felt JESUS WAS HERE! These steps are the very ones that He would have walked up to enter the gates. Peter stood in this area and denied Christ three times.

I sat on the stone steps and contemplated all that my Lord has done for me! My my....

The Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Kinneret and Lake Tiberius) is Israel's largest freshwater lake. It is 33 miles in circumference, 13 miles long, and 8 miles wide. At 209 meteres below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake.

The Sea of Galille is situated deep in the Jordan Great Rift Valley. It is fed partly by underground spirngs although the main source is teh Jordan River, which flows through it from north to south. Due to it low-lying postiion in the rift valley, surrounded by hills, the sea is prone to sudden violent storms; hence the New Testament story about Jesus calming the storm. Indeed, the main feature of the lake seems to be its ever-changing character. It is still noted for its rich fish stocks.

We had lunch by the Sea of Galillee - yes, FISH! And it was good.

But the most exciting thing was that we just happened to connect with a boat that believers ran and were able to go out on the Sea of Galillee and have a worship service. My goodness!

The Garden Tomb

One of my most memorable times in Jerusalem was the time I spent in the "Garden Tomb". The Garden Tomb is believed by many to be the garden and tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site of the resurrection of Jesus. The Garden is owned and administered by The Garden Tomb Association, a Charitable Trust based in the United Kingdom.

In Jerusalem for a visit in 1884, General Charles Gordon spied a prominent rocky crag which looked to him like it could be the "place of the skull" mentioned in the Bible as where Jesus was crucified.

Around the corner Gordon identified an ancient tomb and putting the two together he located the hill of crucifixion and the nearby burial place.

The slope has eroded badly in the last hundred years, but I could still see the eye sockets and the nose bridge.

While officially the Garden Tomb Association only maintains this as a possible site for Christ's burial, some tour guides of the site are convinced of the authenticity. They note the large cistern nearby, which proves the area must have been a garden in Jesus' day. They maintain that there are marks of Christian veneration at the tomb which also prove its sanctity throughout the ages.



This is the place believed by many to be the resting place of Jesus. Some archaeologists question the authenticity of this tomb because typological features suggest that it is a tomb originally hewn in the time of the Old Testament and not a "new tomb" as specifically stated in Scripture.

The Wailing Wall

Today I want to talk a little bit more about the Wailing Wall. On Friday evening in the Old City of Jerusalem voices can be heard singing out as other voices join in devotions. The Sabbath, a holy day for the Jewish faith is beginning. The Jewish people gather before their most sacred shrine, "The Wailing Wall". This wall is the western wall of an ancient courtyard and for that reason it is also referred to as "The Western Wall." The Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 AD after the Jewish people revolted against Roman rule.

The wall is the only remaining structure of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem. Inside the courtyard King Solomon's glorious temple once stood. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times until only part of the western wall remained. The wall is just outside of the Temple Mount and is considered to be Judaism's holiest site.

Some of the ruins of the original temple can still be seen today. People built their houses all around the temple. On the top of the temple mount the priest would stand and blow their Shofar to call the people to prayer. Then, the Jews were exiled from their homes and it was years before they could return to Jerusalem to stay, but the temple was never rebuilt.

The reason people pray at the wall is because it is believed to be the closest point to the Holy of Holies, the holiest room of the old temple. A Muslim mosque now occupies this site. This old tradition of praying at the wall began around 200-300 AD when Rabbis claimed that God's presence still tarried at the location of the Holy of Holies. Sad to say, the wall has been an object of bickering between Muslims and Jews for centuries. When Jews began moving back into the territory in the 1800s the tenseness increased between the two religions.

Jews come to the wall from all over the world. No one knows when it became a Jewish tradition of offering prayers there, but it is believed that this portion of the Temple was not destroyed because the Shekhinah (divine presence) continues to reside there. Thus, praying there is like praying directly to God through the wall. In addition to spoken prayers, it is also common for prayers to be written on slips are paper which are slipped into the cracks. The men wear either a hat or shawl to show respect. At the wall you can hear some of them wailing or crying for the loss of their great temple. This is why the wall became known as "the Wailing Wall." There are three things they are mourning for:
* the destruction of the city and the temple
* the loss of the 10 commandment tablets and the ark of the covenant
* as they wait for the arrival of the Messiah

Many events take place at the wall such as religious gatherings and celebrations. Today the area is under Jewish control since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War when Jerusalem captured Jordan.

Before you can enter the courtyard you have to go through a security check. There is a fence separating the men from the women. Sometimes they will do quick body frisks and even open your bags. While you are there, you are expected to act in a manner of reverence. (After all it is considered a place of worship!) One should dress properly (no spaghetti straps or even short sleeves!) While I was walking toward the wall I saw a lady to the side with shawls that you could borrow - she would even put on on you if she thought you were not dressed properly!

For Muslims, it is not only part of the huge platform which forms the foundation of the Dome of the Rock, but it is also believed to be the gate through which Muhammad was carried by a mythical creature known as the Buraq when he arrived at Jerusalem for his ascent to heaven. But more on the Dome of the Rock later....

The Via Dolorosa

The Via Dolorosa or "Way of Suffering" is a street in the old city of Jerusalem. Traditionally, it is held to be the route followed by Jesus from the Praetorium (the Roman Judgment Hall) to Calvary, which was the scene of the Crucifixion. Over the centuries, millions of pilgrims have come here to walk the way that Jesus took to his death. Each Friday at 3pm priests lead a procession for pilgrims along Via Dolorosa (starting in the Monastery of the Flagellation at the tower of Antonia, not far from the Lion's Gate). Large wooden crosses are carried by some of those in the procession and prayers are said at each of the 14 Stations. It begins in the Muslim Quarter and winds its way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Christian Quarter.

You can enter the Sanctuaries of the Flagellation and the Condemnation, where Jesus was scourged and judged. In the sanctuaries are some of the original paving stones of the Lithostrotos. As you leave the sanctuary to follow the Via Dolorosa, each Station of the Cross is marked by a small sign or a number engraved in the stone over a door. Paving stones have been set in a semicircular pattern to mark those stations directly on the street. Other stations are behind closed doors.

Here is a list of the "Stations".
1. Jesus is condemned to death.
2. Jesus receives the cross (at the foot of Antonia).
3. Jesus falls for the first time.
4. Jesus meets his mother.
5. Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross.
6. Veronica wipes Jesus' face.
7. Jesus falls the second time (at the bazaar crossroads.)
8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus falls the third time.

The five remaining stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

10 Jesus is stripped of his garments.
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.
12. Jesus dies on the cross.
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid in the arms of Mary.
14. Jesus is laid in the chamber of the sepulcher and from there is resurrected.

Out of the fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, only eight have scriptural foundation: Stations 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 being unattested in any of the gospels; and Station 13 being a misrepresentation of the gospel account (it represents Jesus' body being taken down off the cross and laid in the arms of Mary, while all four gospels state the Joseph of Arimathea alone took Jesus down from the cross and buried him.)

How I guess I related all this was the movie "The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson that came out a few years ago. Gibson is a Catholic and the movie especially moves through the Stations of the Cross. So now, go back and watch that movie and see if you can discover the "stations".

The Pool of Bethesda

The Pool of Bethesda was located on the eastern side of the city near the Fortress of Antonia. The name Bethesda means "house of mercy." The water source was a nearby spring. The Pool had five porches and according to the Bible there was a tradition that an angel moved the waters at certain times and healed the sick. It was here that Jesus healed the man who was lame for 38 years. Being at this site was really the first time I felt like I actually was where Jesus had been - at least in the general vicinity. We know he healed the paralytic man and we know that it was at this pool He did that!

We got a little Crusader history at this site. The Crusades were a series of military conflicts of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal threats. Crusades were fought against Muslims, pagan Slavs, Russian and Greek Orthodox Christians, Mongols, Cathars, Hussites, and political enemies of the popes. Crusaders took vows and were granted an indulgence for past sins. The Crusades originally had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule and were originally launched in response to a call for help against the expansion of Muslim Turks.

The Crusaders defeated Jerusalem in 1099. However, the feudal lords that "ruled" Jerusalem after the Crusaders defeated it, started dividing the unity. Not far away, Saladin the Great, a very powerful Muslim military leader heard of the "disunity" and found the weakness a good time to conquer Jerusalem. He captured 40,000 Crusaders in the process but did not kill them. He gave them three choices:
* take what they would and leave
* stay and pay tribute to him
* embrace Islam

Very interesting!

The Dead Sea

Twelve miles from Jerusalem is the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is a salt lke between Israel and Jordan. It is 1378 feet below sea level and its shores are the lowest point on the surface of the Earth on dry land. The Dead Sea is 1083 feet deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world! It is also the world's second saltiest body of water, after Lake Asal in Kjibouti, with 30% salinity! It is almost 9 times saltier than the ocean. It is 42 miles long and 11 miles wide at its widest point. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley and its main tributary is the Jordan River!

The Dead Sea has attracted visitors for years. Biblically, it was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers!

Well, I have to tell you that it was HOT at the Dead Sea and I did NOT go in. But Rick did, and yes, he floated!

We did buy some bath salts derived from the Dead Sea and I can hardly wait to use them!

Lori

P.S. Sorry you have not heard from me in a few days. I have been on the road!

Bethlehem

The trip to Bethlehem was very interesting. Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank, approximately 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It has a population of 30,000. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Govern ate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism. The town in inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities int he world. Not only is it believed to be the place where Jesus was born, it is believed to be the birthplace of David and the place where he was crowned as king of Israel.

The city was sacked by the Samaritans in 529 AD, conquered by the Arab Aliphate in 637, captured and fortified by the Crusaders in 1099, and its walls were destroyed and rebuilt during the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans lost the city to the British during WWI and it was to be included in an international zone under the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. Jordan occupied the city in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and it was occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War Israel has retained control over the entrances and exits to Bethlehem, though day to day administration has been under the Palestinian National Authority since 1995. Needless to say, it has exchanged hands MANY times.

Modern Bethlehem has a Muslim majority but is also home to one of the largest Palestinian Christian communities. It's the home of the Church of the Nativity.

The particular day we tried to enter Bethlehem, we couldn't get in the main entrances. Because we had a Palestinian driver and tour guide, however, they knew a "back door" for us to enter.

The Church of the Nativity in the heart of Bethlehem marks one of Christianity's most sacred sites. Situated on Manger Square, the church is built over a grotto where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. The church's large fortress-like exterior stands as a testament to its turbulent history. For centuries, it was one of the most fought over holy places. It was seized and defended by a succession of armies - including Muslim and Crusaders forces.It is controlled jointly by three Christian denominations - the Armenian Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church. (However, a Muslim traditionally holds the key to the church and is responsible for doing so each day. The key is passed down within that Muslim family.) The Grotto of the Nativity contains the manger that is believed to be the place where the baby Jesus was laid after he was born. The grotto is encased in white marble. The site of the birth is marked by a 14-point star on a marble stone.

When we arrived at the site, there was THE LONGEST line you could imagine, so we stood there for over an hour working our way towards the "holy site".

The entrance to the church is a low doorway that has its own legends. One story is that the door was installed by the Muslims during their rule to remind Christians that they were guests in the country and must bow to their hosts. An alternative explanation is that the height of the door was designed to prevent unbelievers from entering the church on horseback. Yet another version holds that it was to protect the Christians from their hostile neighbors.

The church is divided into five naves by four rows of Corinthian pillars with pictures of the apostles on them. The names are written in Greek and Latin and many visitors have carved their own signatures over the centuries. The floor of the nave has a hole that allows you to see what remains of the Byzantine mosaics that covered the original church floor.

The Altar of the Nativity sits below a silver and gold chandelier. Stairways on either side of the main altar lead to a grotto. A fourteen-point silver star embedded in white marble indicates the birthplace of Christ. Fifteen lamps burn around the spot. Nearby is the Chapel of the Manger, where Mary placed the baby Jesus.

Four Quarters

The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters, according to religious groups. Although, not equal in size, the four quarters form a rectangular framework.

The Christian Quarter

Located on the northwest side of the Old City, the Christian Quarter includes the major sites relating to Jesus Christ. Many churches, monasteries and shines line the famous Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built over where it’s believed Jesus died and was buried.

Besides the holy sites, hundreds of stores line the narrow streets where you can buy everything from souvenirs to pharmaceutical items. Things were a little pricey but you could bargain some.

The Armenian Quarter

The Armenian Quarter is the center of national, religious, and culture life of Jerusalem's Armenian Orthodox residents. The Armenians make lovely pottery.

The Muslim Quarter

The Muslim Quarter is the home to about 22,000 people. Although it's the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) begins here where pilgrims pray and walk in the footsteps of Jesus as he carried His cross to Golgotha (which is in the Christian Quarter.)

The Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount are also located here. On the east border is the Golden Gate (also known as the Eastern Gate) where Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

The Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter is on the southeast side of the city. We visited the Wailing Wall (Western Wall) there where faithful Jews come to pray. Men and women go to separate sides where they insert prayer requests in the wall's cracks.

Four more gates

The Lion's Gate (also known as the Sheep Gate):

is located in the east wall. It marks the beginning of the last walk of Jesus from prison to execution, the Via Dolorosa. Near the gate's crest are four figures of lions, two on the left and two on the right. Legend has it that Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent placed the figures there because he believed that if he did not construct a wall around Jerusalem he would be killed by lions.

Israeli paratroops came through this gate during the Six-Day War of 1967 and unfurled the Israeli flag above the Temple Mount.

Herod's gate was built between 1538-40 by Suleiman. Also called the Flower Gate, it is called Herod's gate because early pilgrims thought that it was the gate to the former palace of Herod Antipas. They were wrong but the name stuck. At noon on July 15, 1099, the Crusaders breached the wall at this gate to take the city of Jerusalem and proclaim the Latin kingdom.

Jaffa Gate (also known as David's Gate) is so named because it is the portal for Jaffa Road, the precursor to the modern highway to the ancient port of Jaffa and the Mediterranean coastal plain. Inside the gate is a small square between the Christian and Armenian quarters. Running along the high city walls, south of the Jaffa Gate is the Citadel of Jerusalem (also called the Tower of David). The current tower was built by Suleiman the Magnificent (this guy really was a busy guy!) Legend has it that every conquerer of Jerusalem will enter through the Jaffa GAte. So when German Kaiser Wilhelm II visited Jerusalem in 1898, the Suleiman authorities breached the city wall right next to the gate so that he could enter and think he was going through the Jaffa Gate. In 1917, a British general, Edmund Allenby, entered the Old City through the Jaffa Gate, giving a speech at the Tower of David. He entered on foot in a show of respect for the city and a desire to avoid comparison with the Kaiser's entry in 1898. The British demolished other buildings adjoining the city wall in 1944 in an attempt to preserve Jerusalem's historic vistas.

During Israel's War of Independence, Israeli forces fought hard to connect the Jewish Quarter of the Old City with Israeli-held western Jerusalem by controlling the Jaffa Gate. With a Jordanian victory in 1948, Israeli forces were not able to gain control of the gate until the Six Day War in 1967.

This is the Dung Gate. It is on the south eastern side of the Old City. The gate leads straight to the Western Wall. The Gate is named for the debris from each consecutive destruction of Jerusalem that was dumped out into the valley below. The walls of Jerusalem's Old City stretch for approximately 2.8 miles and rise to a height of 16-49 feet, with a thickness of 10 feet. Altogether, the Old City walls contain 43 surveillance towers and 11 gates, seven of which are presently open.

The Garden of Gethsemane

Gethsemane was the garden where, according to the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples retreated to pray after the Last Supper, the night before he was crucified. According to Luke 22:43-44, Jesus' anguish in Gethsemane was so deep that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Gethsemane was also where Christ was betrayed by the disciple Judas Iscariot. (And in case you didn't know - Orthodox tradition holds that Gethsemane is the place where the apostles buried the Virgin Mary.

The garden of Gethsemane is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, now within the city of Jerusalem in the Kidron valley. Located by the garden is the Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of the Agony. It is believed that this church was built directly over the spot where Jesus' knelt to pray and sweat drops of blood.

It's a peaceful garden among a grove of ancient olive trees. looking back at the eastern wall of the Old City. Behind an iron fence, eight old olive trees attract one's attention as he enters the garden. There has been much discussion about their age. There can be no doubt that these olive trees, with their hollow, gnarled trunks date back considerably. Whether or not they were the "silent witnesses" of our Lord in prayer - only He knows!

One significant thing I learned about the olive tree - even if you cut the trunk down, if you leave the roots, it will grow again! Roots are important!

The Mount of Olives and the Golden Gate

The Mount of Olives is a mountain ridge to the east of Jerusalem. It is named for the olive groves on its slopes. At the foot of the mountain lies the Garden of Gethsemane. In the book of Zechariah, the Mount of Olives is cited as the place where the dead will be resurrected in the days of the Messiah. For this reason, Jews have always wanted to be buried there, and from biblical times until today, the mountain has been used as a Jewish cemetery. There are an estimated 150,000 graves on the Mount, including the tomb of Zechariah. Many important rabbis are buried there as well as Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin.

There were many interesting things about this particular site. Scattered throughout the MANY gravestones were the most beautiful red poppies! On top of the graves were rocks. These are placed there instead of flowers because they are cheaper and more abundant.

One can clearly see the Golden Gate of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. The Golden Gate (also called the Gate of Mercy) is the oldest of the current gates in Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, the Shekhinah glory of God used to appear through this gate, and will appear again when the Messiah comes. The gate is located in the middle of the eastern side of the Temple Mount. The portal in this position was believed to have been used for ritual purposes in biblical times.

In Jewish tradition, this is the gate through which the Messiah will enter Jerusalem. Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I sealed off the Golden gate in 1541 to prevent the Messiah's entrance (like that would stop Him!). The Muslims also built a cemetery in front of the gate, in the belief that Jesus would not walk through a Muslim cemetery! Ha! The Golden Gate is one of the few sealed gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls, along with the Huldah Gate.

One can see the Dome of the Rock from the Mount of Olives, but more on that later!

The Damascus Gate

Because we couldn't eat at the hotel, we all gathered together and began walking towards the Old City...just a few blocks from our hotel. The wall that encloses the present-day Old City of Jerusalem was built in the sixteenth century by the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. Originally it had seven gates; an eighth, named the New Gate, was added in the late nineteenth century in the walls' northwest sector. We entered the Old City through the Damascus Gate. Called the Shechem Gate by the Jews, it is the largest and most splendid gate. Located on the wall's northern side is adjacent to ruins attesting that this has been teh site of the city's main entrance since ancient times. The gate's defenses include slits for firing at attackers, thick doors, and an opening from which boiling oil could be spilled on assailants below.

We meandered our way through the narrow streets until we found a restaurant. Yummy! Schwarmas, hummus, as well as several other things that I couldn't identify but sure tasted good.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a place of new ministry called the Jerusalem House. It will eventually be a place where people can come and pray. Several volunteer groups have been coming and helping the folks there renovate the building and landscape the grounds. It is a beautiful piece of property once owned by Horatio Spafford (penned the words of the hymn - It is Well With My Soul). While taking a tour of the building I met a volunteer group there from Olive Branch, Mississippi. Would you believe that the pastor of their church was Rev. Wayne Marshall - a friend of mine from college? Small world!

The cleansing ritual

Coming to Jerusalem during Holy Week (Passover) was quite an experience in itself. We stayed at the Grand Court Hotel and arrived with all of our luggage and met our team there. However, our hotel rooms were not quite ready.

I don't know if you realize it or not but the most significant observance related to Passover involves the removal of chametz (leaven) from the homes (and the hotels!) This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing pride from the soul.

Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. Traditional Jews also avoid rice,corn, peanuts, and beans as if they were chametz. All of these items have been used to make bread, thus use of them was prohibited to avoid any confusion. All chametz including utensils used to cook chametz must either be disposed of or sold to a non-Jew.

The process of cleaning the home (or hotel) of all chametz in preparation for Passover is an enormous task. To do it right, you must spend several days scrubbing everything down, going over the edges of your stove and fridge with a toothpick and a Q-tip, covering all surfaces that come in contact with foil or plastic wrap. After the cleaning is completed, the morning beore the seder, a formal search of the house (or hotel) for chametz is undertaken and any remaining chametz is burned.

Our hotel was in that process. Everything in the kitchen and in the dining room was wrapped in plastic wrap. No food was being served that day because of the preparation. Undoubtedly, this hotel does a lot of Jewish business and had to be made "kosher" for the Passover meal.

WOW! Talk about living UNDER THE LAW!

Stay tuned...