The more and more I read about Jesus. . .the more I am completely captivated by Him. Seriously, there is no end to my amazement. . . I am in awe of how he thinks with such creativity, how he acts with such authority, and how he interacts with such compassion. He is staggeringly brilliant. His grace is deep, persistent, and disarming. Reading about the life Jesus led on earth simply takes my breath away.

Dubbs arrived safely in the USA last night at about 2am. He is having a blast with his wife and daughter on vacation! Thank you for all the prayers!!!

Read Dubbs’ Israel Trip Blog entries

Israel Day 15
Location: Jerusalem Passion Walk
Time: 6:40pm
Today we took the Passion Walk.
Something interesting about passion is that you cannot engage in it and remain the same. To walk the very path that Jesus took gives you a snapshot into the distress of the disciples at His Gethsemane prayer, the weariness of their sorrow, Jesus’ cry, “Abba, Father” while sweating beads of blood. How can you engage and remain the same?

We began by reading the 4 different acccounts of the Passion Walk through the eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Passover feast, the bread, the wine, the lamb reclining at the table surrounded by the few, the intimate. There was tension. A traitor in the midst. One who had walked, experienced, was still with them. Jesus took the cup, the sacred cup of purpose and drank. He took the still whole bread, soon to be broken and dipped.

From there we put feet to words and began the descent from The Mount of Olives through the bustling streets of Jerusalem and into the Preatorium. “Crucify Him, crucify Him” the walls were crying. Beaten, weary, hot, committed, Christ was nailed, bleeding, to the cross he was burdened to carry. This was not a cross on a hill far away. It was street level, raised to just a few inches taller than the one being crucified, outside the city walls, close to the action so as to warn those passing by, “this should never be you”.

The suffering Father, seeing His Son nailed, must have turned away in agony. This was the purpose but His only Son? Since there was no other way, the choice was simple. Not easy but essential.

And so the age old questions remain. What will you do with this Jesus? You have seen Him. You have tasted His Passion. You can imagine the setting. And so, what remains? Gratitude. Yes. And a commitment to be different. To carry the story within, to live the story without. Our destination may be Heaven but God’s Kingdom is being built on earth.

This was written by a fellow youth-worker on the trip.  I thought it conveyed todays event perfectly.

Tomorrow I fly out to Seattle to join my wife and daughter for a vacation.  What an incredible experience this has been!  Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!

Shalom,
Dubbs

Israel Trip 2011 Day 13
Location: Wailing Wall, Southern Steps of Temple Mount, Jerusalem Marketplace, Sadduccees, Hezzekiah’s Tunnel, Garden Tomb
Time: 9pm

Wailing Wall, was a remarkable sight.  I was able to go up to the wall and put on a Kippa (Yamaccha), and see the Jews praying a full body prayer.  Their bodies are moving all the time (this is not scriptural, just tradition).  Asetic and Orthodox Jews wear phylacteries, bound towards their foreheads and left arm (close to their heart).  Part of the Torah is inside the phylacteries.  While they are at the wall they are praying to God asking Him for the temple to be rebuilt, this signifies the return of their Messiah.

Next we traveled to the Southern Steps perhaps the same steps Jesus entered the Temple before being crucified.  Along the Southern steps are 48 Micvah baths to cleanse and purify before entering the temple.  The temple is set up for all people as evidenced by the Court of the Gentiles making up the majority of the space, personally this is a reminder of Jesus coming to save all nations and for the sins of the World!  The Southern Steps are also the place believed to be where Pentecost occurred.

We moved on to the marketplace amongst chaos and crowdedness, imagining how much more the streets would have been crowded as we walked the streets Jesus walked as he carried the cross.  This experience really helps to better understand what it was like to make that journey.

Seeing the entire Old City of Jerusalem has made so many of the stories come alive.  To be able to see the home of the Sadduccees (the group I believe to have killed Jesus, not the Pharasees), to be able to walk the streets, understand the stories, tradition and culture has really impacted my life.

I was a bit stretched by traveling through King Hezzekiah’s tunnel, a tunnel underground, about 5 feet tall, with about 2 and a half feet depth of water, and 2 feet wide I was crunched as I took the 1/3 mile journey underground.  Feeling a bit claustrophobic, a really sore back the end could not come soon enough.  But just one more great adventure in Israel.

Lastly, we entered the Garden Tomb.  The place believed to be Jesus Crucifixion and Burial Tomb.  Have you ever been in a spot where you realized God is so much bigger than you realized.  As I spent time to reflect and process I walked around the area, witnessing communion and singing in many different languages (Here are some I could recognize: English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, German).  I could not understand the lyrics but quickly picked up the tunes to the songs. I heard, He Lives, Christ Arose, and so many other great hymns of the faith in the spot where our Savior laid his life on the line for us.  What an incredible, Mighty God we serve.  I have been so blessed to get to go on this trip.  I pray that I would be able to take this experience home, continue to develop a greater passion for Scripture and serve Him where He leads me!

Tomorrow is the last day in Israel, we will be retracing the steps Jesus took for Holy week.  I am so excited and overwhelmed by what Jesus has done for me.

Shalom,
Dubbs

Day 12
Location: Megiddo, Caserea, Mount of olives, Old Jerusalem
Time: 9:45pm

I’m exhausted with a huge overflow of information, feelings, and emotions.  Think of studying 1/2 of the Bible in the course of a few weeks, going to those locations, reading through the text, learning the geography, the culture, and trying to cram as much as you can in as quickly as possible.  That is exactly what I am feeling.

In Megiddo, a place that worshiped Baal, had all of their firstborn killed on the alter for Baal, a place that had community sex rituals, just an awful place.  I felt overwhelmed by Elijah’s leadership and then Elisha.  Elijah performed 7 miracles during his lifetime.  Elisha asked for a double portion, in doing so performed 13 miracles (you might be think he was one miracle short, until you read about Elisha when a person comes in contact with his dead body and the 14th miracle takes place.  Every number that is in the Bible is significant having many reasons.  Metaphors, symbols, patterns, and pictures have became much clearer from this trip.

Our next experience was on the Mediterranean Sea at the City of Caserea, a place Herod had built up.  It is massive, with pools, areas for horses, a huge stadium the size of the Big House, and so many impressive things.  While I was walking the beach I collected pieces of marble from the City that had washed ashore as a reminder that I want to reclaim God’s truth to those I come into contact with.  I think of Paul who was imprisoned right there. Converting many to Christianity.  I think of Peter who baptized Cornelious at this location.  Which is huge.  Cornelious was the first Gentile to be baptized.  There are tons of “Gentiles” still needing Jesus today.  As we are commissioned in Acts 1:8 we need to serve Jesus throughout the World.  For me it was a good reminder of my calling to make an impact where I am at in South Haven.

From there the bus took us to the site of the Mount of Olives and Old Jerusalem (as it was in the 1st Century). The Mount of Olives was somewhat disappointing, the City of Jerusalemwas amazing and so exciting to finally experience.  Over the next two days (the last two of the trip) I will be journeying the same steps Jesus took during Holy Week.

It has been difficult to put everything into blogs, I am limited on time, and the stories usually are much too long for a blog post.  I hope to share with many of you my experiences and some amazing teachings I have learned.

Shalom,
Dubbs

Israel Trip Day 11
Location: Dan, Quarzin, Caperneaum, and Sermon on the Mount Place.
Time: 7:45pm

Today was another hot day, temps from 100-106 degrees.  Starting with Dan a city that worships Baal.  We went to the location where the people placed their sacrafices to Baal on the alter and considered who our idols are.  Who are we worshiping?

After that it was off to Quarzin 1st Century Biblical Village. Most families lived all together in the home.
Caperneaum was an amazing place considered to be Jesus hometown.  Many locations considered to be where Jesus has been the Catholic Church has claimed and in most places made in to tourist destinations.  Unfortunatley many are drasticly different from Biblical towns.  Caperneaum’s teaching was on being Talmid (disciples) being challenged to grow in community and having mentors that would help hold myself accountable and would force me to know the scriptures better. Interesting to note that Jesus was a Jew, studied under some of the best Rabbi from 12-30 years old.  Thirty years old signifies the time when many become rabbi’s. Jesus began his ministry at 30 years old.  I guess I am not too old at all at 29!

Finally, we arrived at the place of the Sermon on the Mount and read the entire sermon (my favorite).  While we think the sermon was delivered at one spot, scholars believe the sermon was a collection of messages that happened over a period of time and in different locations.

It has been a long 2 weeks with pages and pages of notes, hundreds of pictures and about 15 hours of video.  I am looking forward to heading to Jerusalem for our final few days before heading to Seattle to join Allie and Jocelyn for vacation!  Thank you for all your prayers!
Shalom,
Dubbs

Day 10

Location: Overnight: Tiberias, Touring: Gamla, Susita, Beth Shean, Boat ride on Sea of Galilee

Time: 6:20pm

Today we experienced Jesus in his culture, teaching began at the Gamla synagoge, it was inspiring to learn about each part of worship, the Mikeveh (ceremonial cleansing), Torah Closet (where the scrolls were kept), the Bema, (area where the reader would stand, ussually 30 minutes of the torah was read before a short 1-2 minute sermon (sorry Pastor Curry!)), and then a time of questions for the reader would take place.  A reader would be anyone from within the community the scripture was posted as well as the reader 1 full year ahead of time.  This meant the reader would experience accountability because they would be speaking about a scripture and common questions might be how well are you following the scripture and how are you applying this.  This helps us to understand why in Luke 4:14 it says “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.  He was teaching in their synagogues and everyone praised him (this was his turn to teach, to be the reader, chosen 1 year ahead of time) and get this the scripture he was given was this.  “Luke 4:18-21 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.  The eyes of everyone were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  He began by saying to them. “Today in this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing”.  Can you imagine being there for that?

We then headed to Susita to get a teaching on the healing of the demon possessed pagan on the eastern shore of the Sea of Gallilee.  I am convinced I need to have students and leaders (including myself) share their stories.  The demon possessed man shared his story and the next time Jesus came to Susita it was for the feeding of 4000 people.  Prior to that there were very few followers of Jesus as it had been taken over by the Hellinistic culture and was part of Alexander the Greats decapolis.  He not knowing anything about Jesus, not knowing any of the Torah, only having a story to tell spread the news and had 4000 people in attendance at the next gathering.  our stories are powerful!  God gives them to us to share.

Moving from there we went to another city in the decapolis, Beth She’an.  Beth She’an was incredible there was a huge arena, an enormous theater that sat at least 2000 people, market, artistic, and many other things.  This reminds me of the Western culture that has been taken over by Materialism and our desires to put other things (idols) before God.  We need to reclaim these areas for God.  As I walked through the arena I was challenged to do my best in coaching and officiating to make sure these do not run my life and reclaim these areas for the good for God.

Lastly, we moved to the Sea of Galilee for a boat ride.  We saw the location where Jesus preached the Beatitudes.  And to think I was around the same location when the storm came and Jesus calmed it and where Jesus walked on water (for the record I did try to walk on the Sea of Galilee and it did not work).

Temps topped around 110 degrees.  It has been a bit of a challenge to stay energized while hiking 10-12 miles a day in 100 degrees plus heat.  But it is definately worth it!  Thanks for all your prayers.  I am hoping to convince Pastor Curry and Stacey to let me preach about Synagogue worship sometime.  It was a huge eye opener for me and really seemed somewhat contrary to the church we know in America, including what we do in youth group.

Tomorrow I will be in Dan, Qatzrin, and Capernaum!  Off to get some more cow tongue or whatever else they serve tonight.

Shalom,
Dubbs

Day 9 or 10 (they are all kind of meshing together at this point.
Location kumran, Dead Sea, Jericho, Arbel, Dead Sea

Time: 8pm

Today seemed like a bit of a rest up day!  We packed up from Arad and headed to Kumran, the place the dead sea scrolls were found which contained pieces of 39 of the books from the old testament (primarily Deuteronmy, Genesis, Leviticus, Exodus and Psalms.  Interesting to note, they were found on the same day Israel became a state May 14,1948 by a Bedouin shepherd that threw a rock in a cave and heard a “tink sound”. This sound turned out to be jars filled with scrolls.

After that we headed out to the Dead Sea I covered myself with mud.  The mud from the dead sea exfoliates your skin because of the salt content.  The Dead Sea contains 27% salt compared to the Ocean which contains 3%.  Swimming in the dead sea was a bit painful any opening or wound on your body stung because of the salt.  It was impossible to touch the ground, crazy how you cannot touch the bottom of the Sea in only 5 feet of water.

After that we headed to Jericho the place of Rahab and the spies, Marching around Jericho,  Zaccheous and the Sycamore tree, the story of the Luke 9 and 10 ( Who is my neighbor and The Good Samaritan).  Jericho is also the worlds oldest city.
Following that we scaled down Arbel an incredibly steep mountain.  Thankfully we were assisted by some man made hand holds.  Arbel is one of the locations that is considered a place Jesus went away to pray.

After that we headed to just outside of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (the place Jesus did most of his ministry). Went for a swim and ate an amazing meal.  We are staying on the Sea of Galilee in a Kibbutz. It has been an amazing experience with tons of information and a huge understaning of the story but at the same time can’t wait to see Allie and Jocie again.

Shalom,
Dubbs

Location: Bethlehem (Touring)

My wife told me to not make the blogs so long so I will do my best.  Another day of Cherrios (not American Cherrios) they disintegrate when milk is poured on them. It doesn’t help that is it hot warmed goat and sheep milk.  Did you know sheep could be milked?  I was informed anything can be milked (but lets not get into that).

Today was a tour day.  We travel to King Herod’s Palace and Tomb.  Caught some definite Ah Ha Moments.  King Herod is considered to be a genius (for building a man-made mountain larger than any other around (on top of it sat his palace completely covered in marble, and a modern swimming pool (2/3rds the size of a football field in the dessert (no rainfall, using a highly sophisticated cistern system).  King Herod is also considered paranoid, thought everyone was going to take over his power, including Jesus which is the reason he killed all of the children in Bethlehem 2 years old and under.  Lastly, King Herod is evil he killed tons of people including his own wife, and sons. King Herods Palace is beautiful, magnificent, overwhelming.  As I stood upon the top of it, I thought about King Herod the ruler of the world sitting at the top of a mountain the same time that Jesus was born in a lowly stable.  I traced the routes of Mary (12-14 years old at the time) and Joseph (believed to be in his low 20′s) as they traveled to Bethlehem.  The went down Dead Sea and then cut in 13 miles towards Bethlehem.  Their path most likely had them going by King Herod’s palace covered in Marble as they went to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a cave, with soot from the fire lining the walls of the cave and likely a few inches of sheep poop under them.

As I stood in Shepherd’s gate (a possible cave where Jesus was Born).  I could not believe the power within the story of Jesus Birth.  Who is my King?  King Herod (and all of the Earthly treasures) or Our Savior?  The power of this story has made it come alive!

This evening I actually preached at an Arabic Church!  So I guess I will be adding “International Speaker” to my Resume

Off to travel south to Arad to the dessert and then south to the Negev.  Thanks for all your prayer support.  This has truly been amazing!

Shalom,
Dubbs