Patmos

 Patmos

The view of Harbor Street from the amphitheater is striking. The rich colonnade and the marble paved streets are lined with shops and vendors selling every imaginable product from all over the Roman empire. Their cries in three, daxanika (vegetables), froito (fruit), maskarisia (meat) announce their wares and their eagerness to make a deal with the passing masses. The street meets the deep emerald Aegean Sea and mingles together with the people. Twin masted ships rock, lashed to the sea wall, while sailors like ants unload. Ships groan with the release of their tonnage and bob lighter on the waves. A hundred more are anchored in the harbor waiting their turn.

This is Ephesus. It has been John's home for some time. It is here in tears he buried Mary the mother of Jesus. He never neglected his charge that Jesus gave him from the cross.

 "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

Now John walks the street to the harbor for maybe the last time. He walks with assistance. Age and persecutions have taken their tole. Word has trickled in over time of the horrible  deaths of his compatriots. Crucifixions, beheadings, and general martyrdom, for the cause of the cross, have become  common place. He does not doubt his own demise will be soon. The fall of Jerusalem in 70 ad to the Roman General Titus scattered the disciples far and wide, but it only served to advance the gospel not paralyze it. The words of Gamaliel reverberate over the chaos of the years.

 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the disciples be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

This same man, Gamaliel, was the tutor of Saul/Paul. Now a martyr in Rome for the Good News.

Churches sprang up across the empire from North Africa to Italia the story of Jesus and the Resurrection could not be stifled. John shuffles his feet along Harbor Street, an admixture of reluctance and age.  Caesar Domitian has ordered his exile. His white hair and aged stance had brought no mercy.

No one used to notice when John has walked these streets in the past. The path led past the magnificent Library and the "Houses of Love" advertised on the stone walkway. But today his Roman escorts make him a spectacle. Cat calls and jeers berate the one who has the nickname of the One Whom Jesus Loved. That love has been his sustenance these 60 years hence.

The oak gangplank bends under the weight of the men that bear the cargo, but fails to even  register the weight of the frail John. The guard who held his arm to steady him now thrusts him forward. John boards the ship and is wedged between crates and containers along with other prisoners. Their destination is a prison island for hard labor in the mines of Patmos. John can hardly contribute much to the cause. But Roman taskmasters have a way of finding work for every man. John's is a political exile. Refusal to acknowledge Caesar as god is intolerable, especially for the megalomaniac Domitian. The island is 50 miles from Ephesus if the winds are favorable, but today there is a southern prevailing wind. They will tack their way across the seas doubling the distance and the time.

John's mind wanders back across time, but even as he attempts to recall there is an inexorable tug to tomorrow. Not the day, but the future. The Spirit has been hinting to him of a time far off. He knows the Spirit's voice and is patient to await his apocalypse. 

Evening falls. The small vessel is no match for the Aegean. She rocks to and  fro. John is wise to the ship and faces his head into the waves. It is not long until the song of the mast lines in the wind and the gentle rolls bring sleep. He slumbers, but his sleep is restless and tormented. There is no meat on his old bones. The planks do not afford his hips much padding he awakes the next day aching.

By mid afternoon the next day the island breaks the horizon. By evening the deep harbor is made. First impressions can be deceiving. This ancient volcanic island appears at first glance to be a paradise, but is has a fresh water shortage with only a few springs. Most of the water needed to be gathered from rains in cisterns.

Throughout the island there are temples, none more prominent then that to Artemis. Ancient Greek mythology held that the Dragon Python, oracle of Delphi, had tried to kill Artemis and her brother Apollo. This same demoniac was the one that followed Paul around Philippi (Acts 16) 

It doesn't take long for John to fall into the routine of his exile. Granite is quarried from the mountains for Rome's insatiable desire to build. All day long the drills and chisels can be heard. There is an unmistakable cracking echo, like that of a whip, as stones give way to water wedges and hammer.  The pumice is carved from the face of cliffs. John is a cog in the Roman wheel of grandeur. But isolation and exile cannot silence the Spirit. 

On the Lord's day morning there is a Holy interruption of the routine.

On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see...

The apocalypse is born; revelation!

(I believe this book continues to speak to our times. This conviction grows stronger as I contemplate the future of our nation. As we toured Israel it became clear to me there will be a day when "all nations" will come against Israel. Can that day be far off?)

Food Glorious Food

Food Glorious Food!

We have enjoyed some really good food while we have been on this amazing journey to 5 different countries.  Thought I would post some of the pictures of the wonderful sustenance we have received. 

Meals are an experience....not a fast, pick up and run type of meal that most of us Americans are used to.  The dinner time is late in the evening around 8:00 - 9:00 pm.  And it is a time to meet friends, talk, and enjoy for an hour or two.  Lunch is usually around 2:00pm, and is just before the "rest time" of the day.  Most businesses open at 8:00 - 9:00 am, and stay open until 2:00, close and rest for 2 hours, eat lunch, and reopen around 4:00pm.  We found this to be practiced especially in Greece. 

The pictures are compilation of all 5 countries.....the foods are pretty much the same.  It is the Mediterranean  diet that we hear so much about.  

BREAD is a staple…..every meal laden with baskets of wonderful bread.  Everywhere we have been we can smell the wonderful aromas of bread baking.  Vendors on the street sell their treats, and shops are filled with every kind you can imagine.  Bagels, Pita, Crusty Rolls, Fruit breads, and crossants are on every corner.

 Olives are plentiful, as you can imagine.  We have olives at EVERY meal including breakfast (except in Italy). Black, green, small, large, pitted and pit-less.  However, they are NOT stuffed with red pimento!  Olive groves are everywhere.   Olive oil is on every table, along with a dark vinegar.  The novelty of dipping crusty bread into olive oil is an everyday routine here. In ancient times olive oil was used as an oil in the lamps that burned in small clay pots in every house.  It is a life blood of the region.  Every home will have olive oil, flour (Joel 2:19), water, wine, olives, veggies, and fruits.

Olives and Olive Oil

 Vegetables are plentiful as well.  Since the growing season is year around, there are vegetables a plenty.  Eggplant, red, green, yellow, orange, hot, mild peppers, onions, mushrooms, green beans, lettuce, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and other things I have not been able to identify!

The fruits are wonderful here….we have tried so many different kinds that I don’t remember all that I have tasted.  But, for the first time I tasted a  pomegranate that was just picked off the tree in Collosae. It is a funny little fruit, but delicious, and a favorite in the region.  Orange, lime, and lemon groves dot the country everywhere.  Avocadoes, figs, apples, quinces, persimmons, dates, keylimes and of course GRAPES! Wine is also a staple.  We have seen hundreds of vinyards everywhere.  White wine, Red wines, and lots of other alcohol is offered at every meal.   

Interesting tidbit....... Santorini Island has miles of vineyards   They do not stake the vines up on posts and wires, they cut the vines back and lay them in a circle on the ground.  The winds are so strong from the Sea that it protects the vines and their precious fruit.  Also, they make their wines from raisins.  The grapes are picked, dried for 2 months, and then soaked.  The Santorini's claim their wine is the best in the world.  

 Water is a not something you open your tap and drink.  Italy, Greece, and Israel had water every where, but water in Jordan and Turkey was not safe to drink, or even brush your teeth with.  Water purification is not regulated so bottled water was the only way we could drink the precious stuff.  We are so fortunate in America to have clean, safe water, and plenty of it.

Nuts.....walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios

Nuts are like olives.  They are everywhere!  We  had nuts at every meal, even breakfast.  Bowls laden with Pistachios, almonds, sunflower seeds, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts the size of half dollars.

Coffee and Tea are sipped and drunk at every single meal, and at any time of the day which is not a lot different  from home, but this coffee is so strong that a caffeine buzz lasts for hours.  Everywhere except Italy served Turkish Coffee.  It is so strong, you can only drink it in small amounts, so it is served in a small demitasse cup. The water, coffee grounds, and sugar are placed in fancy little ladles, set in hot sand (kept hot in a special warmer) until the water boils, then poured into the small cup. 

All different kinds of Baklava

 I would be amiss if I didn't list the “sweets”category.   They LOVE their desserts!  Baklava, Gelato, Chocolate cakes, honey, syrups, jellies, jams, pastries, cakes and cookies.  I can honestly say  I have had enough Baklava to last me for a while, and I love Baklava!  It was served on our buffet at our Hotel frequently.

Octopus and Salmon

Lamb, hanging ready for purchase

Hog's Head and Ribs

Persimmons

Spices

Fruits, Vegetables, and Chestnuts

Every city has a City Market. This was true in every country we visited  It is a busy place with lots and lots of people buying their food for the evening meal. The largest market was in Istanbul.  There are grocery stores just like in the States, but at the Market you know the food is fresh.  Most likely caught, butchered, picked that morning.

 We saw lamb carcasses hanging from the butchering in the morning.  Heads still attached to prove to the “Kosher”  that it was indeed lamb.  Chicken, rabbit, veal, beef, sausages, and fish (every kind you can imagine). You will not find pork in Israel….only lamb, beef, and chicken. They adhere to the Kosher laws very closely. Every part of the animal is used.  Even hooves, heads, tongue, and the tripe...(intestines).

Cheese is also everywhere…….not processed, but the real thing.  Feta Cheese was the most popular, and some cheeses we had never heard of before.  Mostly goat cheese is what is plentiful, and they eat it in large quantities.

Fresh Pomegranites

Spices are a big part of their cooking.  Saffron, Cumin, Oregano,  Basil, Salt (Of course from the Dead Sea, since it is so close) and many, many more.  In Istanbul the Spice Bazaar was filled with so many people you could barely walk.   

Also, in Israel, Rosemary is grown in the city everywhere.  Large shrubs of the pungent bush grow along sidewalks and roadways.  It is trimmed and manicured just as we trim our boxwoods.  

Bon Appetite!  

Exiled

Our ship

Part of this tour was a trip to Patmos Island to see where John the apostle was exiled.  The only way to arrive on Patmos was by a small Cruise Ship.  It was our first experience with cruising on a ship in the ocean, and we so enjoyed it.  Being out on the Aegean Sea was exciting!  Interestingly, the water is dark, bluish green.  Not like our Atlantic or Pacific.  The day before, Keith and I swam in the Aegean from the beach close to our hotel, now we were setting sail on the big sea heading to Greece.   

We left from Kasadasi, (pronounced Kush-a-dasi) which is on the Turkish coast line.  We left port at 12:00pm and arrived at Patmos at 3:30pm.  I am still trying to get my land legs. 

 The ship pulled right up to the island dock and our group filed off to Patmos, a very small island that is in a crescent shape.  The monastery dedicated to John was high upon the cliff above the sea port.  Our group went to the monastery and the “cave” except Keith and me.  Our tour guide told us that the cave was the “traditional” site of where John lived for 18 mos. to 2 years, and was given the revelation from God.  He couldn’t guarantee this was the place John lived.  We saw far too many places in Israel that were “the traditional site”.  In 2000 years so many churches, etc. have claimed areas that were the “traditional” site of where Jesus walked, where he lived, where he healed.  Sorry, but there are only a few places that were actually close to where he would have been.  So, we opted to walk around on the Island, and take in the culture.

 

An islander and her cat

To say the island is beautiful is an understatement.  As I mentioned before, it is small. It has white pristine houses perched upon the cliffs that surround the port, and the main part of town.  Tourism is the main source of income.  Cruise ships bring many pilgrims traveling to this small island to see where John had lived.  Natives live on the island for the summer tourism, and go back to Athens, or wherever they live during the winter months. However, there are people that live there year round.  This is their home, and they are quite proud of it.

Patmos is one of the Greek islands, and under statutory protection as a historic monument. Even though it is south of Turkey, and even farther south of Greece, it definitely is Greek territory.  Blue and white flags dot houses and businesses all over the town.

Keith and I walked to the upper part of the island, where most of the homes were, and sat down on a curb so we could see the port to the front, and the Aegean Sea on the back side of the island.

It was here that I, through what God wanted me to understand, realized what John endured. 

My thoughts were….”Wow, not a bad place to be exiled to!”  However, John was a very old man, at the age of 90 when he was sent here. Most of the other disciples had already died horrible deaths for the cause of sharing the gospel. Fortunately, nothing would stop them.  What they had seen and experienced with Jesus and His resurrection was much too powerful. John probably wondered just what his fate would be.

However, sitting in this beautiful setting, would not have been what John had seen.  No pretty white houses, no cruise ships, no restaurants, no markets, no pretty little shops,  not very many people, and definitely not pretty blue and white Greek flags.

John was most likely on house arrest in a cave on the island somewhere.  He would have been required to work in the mines. Roman soldiers would have been patrolling and watching over the exile.  A Roman Caesar named Domitian sent him there to be forgotten.  He was old, and working in the mines would have been torturous to his body.  Also, the island is filled with steep peaks of volcanic rock.  Not easy for an old man to maneuver.

Can you imagine what it would be like to have lived with the Son of God on a daily basis for 3 years, hear him speak and teach the word in a freeing way, perform miracles,    die a horrible death, come back to life and not be able to share this good news with anyone? To be exiled to a lonely island to die? Not being able to tell the people that Jesus died to set them free? 

Little did Domitian know that God was much more powerful than he could ever be, and this wouldn’t stop a disciple of Jesus. John would write 4 books of the Bible, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd John, and Revelation. (Historians tell us that he did have a friend that lived with him and wrote for him.) God himself would reveal the coming days, and then the end of time as we know it.  He showed him a new heaven and a new earth.

Then! John saw his beloved friend Jesus! The messages to the 7 churches were revealed.  He rebuked their compromises, their immorality, superficial conduct, lukewarm faith, and to two churches he gave encouragement. (We went to each one of the ruins of those churches in Turkey).  Not only was it a message to the ancient days, but a clear message to our present day church as well. I am not sure that John could comprehend what was happening. Two thousand years later we would be reading the message he was writing.

John was only on Patmos for 18 months to 2 years, but what a time with his Lord he had!

Keith took this picture at sunset

There are different opinions on what happened to John.  Some say he was brought back to civilization and killed by being “boiled”.  But, no where do we have evidence of that happening. We do know that he was brought back from the small island that was to be his punishment for “stirring” up the people. A Basillica in a town called Selcuk, which is near Ephesus, is built over his final resting place.

I will never read Revelation in the same way again…..

The Olive Tree

I am going to tell you right up front, I will shatter one illusion for you in this entry. So like taking a band-aid off of a wound we will do this early and quickly. The olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane are not from the time of Christ. No matter what you may have heard this simply is not true. In the siege of Jerusalem during 70AD all trees surrounding the walls were cut down to be used in the siege ramps and weapons. 

There are some very old trees you will see pictured just not 2000 years old.

There are some valuable lessons still to be learned from the Olive trees though.

The olive tree is gnarled and twisted. And there are what appears to be big voids in the structure of the tree but it is actually telling the tale of the relationship between the Christians and the Jews.

Look closely at the tree in the picture. You will notice the heart of the trunk is dying. You would expect that in a few years this tree would die off and topple over. And it would if it were not for the Nazir. The nazir are little shoots that come up off the roots of the tree and grow alongside the main trunk. They twine themselves around the main trunk.

Now some of you know that I enjoy the art of Bonsai. This ancient horticultural art form takes a tree and stunts its growth from the careful trimming of roots and branches. In this art form sometimes we also weave the shoots of the tree creating a beautiful trunk as they grow. The fact is, as the woven shoots grow they merge together into one tree trunk. The same is true for the olive tree shoots but there is more.

The Nazir actually become the support system for the decaying center of the tree. The old core of the tree may die out but the new shoots will give it new life.

Now look at that word nazir very carefully. It is the root of a very familiar name…Nazareth. Who was it that came from Nazareth? The shoot of Jesse through the line of David – Jesus!

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. Is 11:1-3

Jesus was sent by God not to destroy the Nation of Israel, not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The tree (Judiasm) was rotting. The nation was not even aware, but Jesus pointed how in so many ways how they had lost their way.
Jesus was the shoot that came to save the tree not to cut it off as they feared. The one from Nazareth was the nazir of the Jew.

But there is something more. In Israel today they have a name for Christians. They say it as if it is derogatory, but I believe it is prophetic. It finds its root in the Olive tree. When a tree is young nazir appear at the root of the young olive tree and they need to be cut off. They are referred to as “suckers”. When the Jew refers to a Christian they call him/her a nazir meaning they are suckers and need to be cut off. I believe the “nazir” is playing its prophetic role. How far from the truth

The “olive tree” of the Jew has rotted. Our tour guide indicated 70-80% of Israel is Jew in name and nationality only not religion. Even those who walk around with prayer shawls and phylacteries are so lost. There are equivalent to a modern day Sadducee or Pharisee. You remember Jesus called them white washed tombs. (They whitewashed the tombs in the days of Jesus to make certain people would not unwittingly come in contact with the dead and thus make themselves unclean.) I believe we, the “Nazir” are called in this church age to spring up around the tree of Israel and support it. We are called to the point of making Israel envious of our relationship with God.

I take pride in my ministry in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. Romans 11:14

We are called to this role until the time of where the Jews are restored not just to their homeland but to faith.

What was intended to be an insult is the word of the Lord.

Communion

From Keith,

To the Congregation.

Mark 6:31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

Communion in the Garden

We were on our final journey around Jerusalem. It included a visit to the Via Delarosa and the traditional sites of the the crucifixion and tomb. No one knows for sure where Jesus was buried and I think it is best this way. Given all the elaborate shrines, churches, altars, and pay per view areas in Jerusalem we don’t need to know. At the church of the sepulcher three churches have built competing sites and there is but one key to open the area and the Muslims hold it because of the dispute and distrust between the churches. If we did  know  there would just be a new shrine and they would charge pilgrims to get in. There is A Catholic, Greek Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox church built over just about every site. Keaton calls it “Pope-ing” the site. If I were to choose a place it might be some place far from the crowds. A place called the Garden Tomb.

We went there. It is not the traditional site. The Garden Tomb has not been pope-ed. It may be too far from the center of Jerusalem. Or maybe it just has never gotten the credentialing as the real place of Jesus’ burial. Never the less it is a quiet place, reverential, and it carries some credibility. If you recall Golgotha is referred to as the skull. The rock that is the hill of the Garden Tomb fits the bill. The rock looks like a skull and the tomb bears several of the marks of authenticity.

Our group decides to celebrate communion here. It is quiet, reflective and beautiful.

Our group numbers 48 people. We had purchased olive wood cups for the communion. We sing and celebrate and it is most wonderful. Each one of us serves the next as we come to the Lord’s table in this garden. One of the younger members sings, “When I survey the Wondrous Cross” and then continues with “Oh the Wonderful Cross.” The song echoes off the rocks. As it had been on the boat, we lose ourselves in the setting and the symbols.

But something wonderful happened.  There were others in the garden and some came over to our area and sat and began to worship with us in their own tongue and prayers. When we stood to come to communion they stood to come and share communion with us. I looked at them and the elements that remained and counted the people. I was saddened to think the elements would run out  before  these folks from Tanzania, Finland, and Germany could share in communion.

Now what happened next I am not claiming to be a miracle, I am just claiming in the beauty of it. We never ran out. In fact we had one lonely cup left as the last person tipped their cup and returned to their seat. This was the cup for the one leading communion. There was enough for all. Not one cup short. All were served! The two men from Tanzania disappeared. Not literally, we just didn’t see them after that moment when they got the elements. The women from Finland stood at the back of the group crying, praising God and marveling at having communion in this setting, in this way. We gave them their olive wood cups from which we had drunk. They thanked me and cried all the more.

Miracle? I don’t know. I am hesitant to use that word. What I know is that everything that took place there was completely filled with the nature and character of Christ and for that I believe I witnessed the miraculous.

He is Lord of the empty tomb!

The Last Crusade

The Last Crusade…..

Did you watch the 3^rd movie in the Indiana Jones Trilogy called ‘The Last Crusade’?  If you did, you will remember the last part and the climax of the movie that was filmed in an amazing place called Petra.

           When I found out that one of our stops in Jordan would be in Petra, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like.  How in the world would we get back to this archealogical treasure that was tucked in between a mountain, carved thousands of years ago. 

Petra is another famous ruins that is in the country of Jordan.  It was a city that was built by the Nabataeans, ancient Arabs who originally came from the Arabian Peninsula. For a history lesson…the Nabataeans are not listed among the tribes of the Arab genealogies, their origins are obscure.  They are first mentioned in historic documents around 312 BC. 

They had lived a considerable time in north-western Arabia, and then settled in Petra because of a natural cut in the mountains that saved days of travel through a harsh desert, and mountainous region.  It was a strategic area that lay on the ancient trade routes linking China and India to the Mediterranean coastal cities.  The Nabataeans; masters of the region’s trade routes, levying tolls, protecting caravans laden with Arabian frankincense and myrrh, Indian spices and silks.  And where have we heard about frankincense, and myrrh? You guessed it, the Kings that traveled from the East to visit the Christ child.  They would have likely traveled this ancient road that took them through Petra.

Of course, like everywhere else in this region, Roman influence was seen as well.  Ancient colonnaded streets are still seen, tombs of royalty, pagan temples, a high place of sacrifice, a treasury, and the As-Siq, which is the famous main entrance to Petra.  A 1200 meter long, deep and narrow gorge that is carved by water into beautiful reddish colored rocks. A strong cool wind flows down the shaded path way.  Not at all what the desert feels like otherwise.  It is an absolutely amazing sight.

We walked through it in 5 hours, and most people take at least 2—3 days to visit it.

Keith and I loved every minute of it.  It was hot, dry, and not for the faint of heart to walk 1 ½ miles in to the Treasury façade, another 1 ½ miles inside, and then back out. That doesn’t count the miles we walked around the ruins, and up a 100 step ancient stairway with no rails.   We don’t know how many miles we walked that day in the hot sun and dry conditions, but it was so worth it. 

This special place was where I decided to take a bucket list experience. 

I rode a Camel! 

A live, smelly, growling, chewing his cud, Camel.  I am glad that Keith didn’t have the video camera running while that camel was getting up from his sitting position with me sitting on his hump saddle.  While he was getting up I had to throw my body back and then balance forward while he manuevered his front legs up, all this after he had unfolded his back legs. This has to be done while I am hanging on both in the front and the back.  It was quite a sight to see, and I am sure it wasn’t a pretty picture when I was trying to balance myself on top of this large creature, but it was a blast, and I am so glad  I did it.

While walking up the path way that led out of Petra….I could almost hear the Indiana Jones theme song…

I hope you can go to Petra someday……

How Can I Keep from Singing Your Praise

From Keith,
To the Congregation.

Mark 6:31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

Ecclesiastes 3:4
There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance!

So here we were walking the gangplank to a boat called the Hippos. My experience with hippos has not been good. So you can understand why there is a bit of trepidation in me. For those of you unfamiliar with my hippo tale, let's just leave it at I had an angry run in with a hippopotamus in South Africa over a misunderstanding about marking his territory. Back to the this adventure though.

We are heading out on the Sea Of Galilee. Fishing boats dot the waters. We are crossing from a kibbutz (cooperative agricultural community - recall Karl Marx was Jewish) to Capernaum. It was just supposed to be a three hour tour... wait, sorry, different story.

Were do I begin? We are hardly off shore when the music begins and the Spirit descends. I have never experienced anything like it. The joy and elation that came over the people was a site to behold. Our voices echoed off the mountains and the heavens as we sang at the top of our lungs...

My Jesus, my savior, 

Lord, there is none like you.

All of my days, I want to praise, 

The wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter, 

Tower of refuge and strength.

Let every breath, all that I am, 

Never cease to worship you.

Shout to the lord, all the earth let us sing.

Power and majesty, praise to the king.

Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar, 

At the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands, 

Forever I'll love you, 

Forever I'll stand.

Nothing compares to the promise I have

In you.

 

And then we began to dance. I don't mean baptist style with one foot nailed to the floor. (sorry Scott) I mean like David before the Lord! We sang hava nagila (let us rejoice) a traditional Jewish folk song. 

The boats captain lost himself in the moment and the joy. He becalmed the boat, left the helm, and joined the dance.

All sense of time was lost. Our tour guide, Michael, (You kind of have to clear your throat on the "ch" sound to get it right.) who was normally pressing us on time just smiled and laughed with joy. There was not hurrying this moment.

Then the silence came. Perfect silence. We stood at the rails and looked over the sea. Peace, be still. 

The one who stilled the waters, stilled our hearts. I did not want our time to end. But end it did. We stepped across the threshold of a synagogue  in which Jesus had taught. We were standing in the place he stood and you could almost hear him whisper in the winds. But that is another story for another time. 

Quiet your heart and hear him speak.

Keith, Do you Love me?

Start the video and listen as you read

From Keith,
To the Congregation.

Mark 6:31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

At 5:30 am it is dawn, but the sun is not yet visible. At almost seven hundred feet below seal level and with hills that surround the Sea of Galilee, it will take the sun another hour or so to make an appearance. The only inlet into this valley is the Jordan river. Its delta marsh used to extend over three hundred feet across in Jesus' day. Today the river is robbed of most of its waters by towns, cities and irrigation systems before it reaches the Galilee. And to call this a sea is a bit optimistic. It is not as big as Geist Reservoir. You can see across to all sides. It is called by several other names depending on what city you are near; the Sea of Tiberias, Kinneret, and the Lake of Gennesaret.

It is not by accident I am up so early standing at the edge of the water. I am starting a small fire about fifty feet from the water. Small waves crest and roll to the shore. There are only small fishing boats on the lake. Not a sound rustles. I gather kindling reeds along the shore and set the flame to them. As I add small sticks, they crackle. I place a cedar half board on some rocks at the edge of the fire. Then I lay four strips of fish along the top of the board. Smoke curls around the board and licks the fish. The grape juice is poured and the bread is ready.

This is one of my favorite moments in communion. The table set and the people start to come. One older woman sits down next to her husband and begins to read the scriptures to him. I am not certain he can read. They are simple in their dress and posture, but they have dreamed a lifetime of coming to the Holy Land. A stroke that causes her to throw her leg and waddle a bit when she walks was not going to stop her.

As others gather there is a holy silence that sits with us. Then one begins to read

After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.

Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

They answered, “No.”

He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”

They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.

Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”

Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

The question hung in the air. Do you Love Me?

The images and words are still pounding in my heart.

Feed my sheep! 

To my community of Ovid Community Church I need you to know. That moment called, convicted, and committed me.