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Mar 29
Please forgive me for not keeping the blog up to date especially since we have been on this trip. The internet is paid for by the minute and we have been exceptionally busy. The internet is slow also which has prevented sending photos and videos that we have attempted at a few windows of time. Lisa and I are docked in Haifa, Israel at the moment and about to head by ship to Ashdod, Israel tonight. I was invited to do a set of 7 lectures on The Life and Teachings of Paul. We flew into Rome and then sailed to Savona, Italy to pick up some more passengers and then off to Katolona, Greece where we shuttled to Olympia for sightseeing. We docked this morning in Haifa and have traveled through Galilee to Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, and the Mount of the Beatitudes. Off to Jerusalem tomorrow.
We are praying that God will bless this time and give me a greater insight into His word by walking where Christ walked and seeing where Paul did his ministry. It is amazing to consider the terrain and the journeys of those of the first century. Their commitment to their mission was unquestioned. The call to follow was extreme. What also is significant is that Jesus Christ will return to this exact location one day and place His feet on the Mount of Olives. What an amazing event to anticipate. There is no more significant place on this planet for a believer in Christ than this piece of land where God chose to touch down in human flesh and live His entire earthly life and has promised to return to this earth in exactly this same place.
In the past, I have taken time away from the pulpit and the local ministry to obey the Great Commandment to go and make disciples of all the nations. I still believe that this is right and has been right for me. It is amazing to me that someone like me who has been a pastor twenty years and been to some of the other places in the world has never been where I am today. In some ways, I feel a little embarrassed, a little ignorant. . .but on the other hand, I am asking for God to use this in His ministry through me to cause my preaching and study to go to another level or dimension because of “walking where Jesus walked.”
As I lecture, I am speaking from study and not first hand experience of being in these places. Hopefully, God will give me an opportunity or opportunities to return. A seed has been planted in my mind that this may become a part of the ministry of building up the saints. I hope so. It is amazing of the group on this trip. Many are solid followers of Christ to be for sure. But I have also been made aware of several people who are not yet followers of Christ, senior adults who came on this trip who have not yet personally received Christ as Savior and Lord. So in that measure, I do have an unique opportunity to continue on this journey to make disciples of all nations. We look forward to being back home soon. Until next time. . ..