So I am behind a little I suppose. Time to play a little catch-up. (Just in case you didn't get the connection, the title and playing catch-up together make up a rather cheesy, but nonetheless effective, pun of rather great proportions. 1. we don't really have much ketchup over here, 2. I'm behind 3. I have a story about a bottle I will tell later)
Anyway, so this little post is not going to be anything like the last one. For one thing I couldn't stand being convicted/challenged/whatever better word there is for that very often or I would collapse and maybe even die. Neither option works very well for a life of service to the Lord.
The rest of the Dead Sea adventure was awesome. We hiked over the ridge to the wadi David, where En Gedi is - you know, where David hung out and cut Saul's robe... Anyway, it was beautiful and we got to swim! Which was real good because when we came to En Gedi last March I didn't swim, not a day that I think about that trip went by without feeling some regret on that choice. So I rectified that situation and swam lots. It was great. And I did a real big cannonball in honor of all my friends from that trip. "Here's to you, one and all," I thought to myself as I splashed the rock walls.
Moving on, this week was pretty busy yet pretty laid back. We had less to do in general, but like always, life is always busy. Wednesday wasn't a mandatory trip, it was for the Modern History class, but anyone could go. I needed a day off real bad, so I hung out around here in the nice weather and got some things done. Oh taxes, how I wish you were done.
It's been a good week, but it's also the week where people are becoming 100% themselves, they're getting somewhat tired, we're more or less comfortable around each other and lots of people are hacking up their lungs, no thanks to the guy who has had a cough for a month and hasn't just taken a day to get better - so he got worse - and now lots of people have been infected, great. I have a sore throat, my nose is running like a track star and I hope I get better before we go to the Negev, but Bill and Abner both have touch of it too, so I don't feel as bad about it.
Today was cool, cool and weird. We went to a Conservative Jewish Synagogue (Conservative = Liberal in Judaism because conservative as we think of it is fulfilled over here by the orthodox jews. In essence, orthodox = USA conservative religious person; conservative = liberals in USA) So we got to listen to the reading of the Torah, the prayers and songs. Oh my goodness, the woman who led all the prayer/songs has an amazingly powerful voice, it dominated the whole "sanctuary" or whatever they call it there. It was really cool, she's the first joyful Jew I've seen I think. Then the rabbi gave a sermon - English, which was part of why we went, that and they are the only ones who would let us come :) - which was really good actually. He talked about giving and how it's outlined in the Torah (slash in our Bibles too) and people question why it's a mandate instead of something that we are just trusted to do of our own good will. The point was that we stink at being selfless on our own and we need the obligation. But much more than that we should give beyond the 10% tithe, we should give as much as we possibly can, not just what is comfortable. Give so that it is a sacrifice. That is a line I want to hang on to in my life. It was neat and sad, there were people who were so genuine, and yet so off. Oh that they would see the True Messiah...
Then we walked over to the Old City and had luch, hardly any shops were open, we thought it might be because we were there earlier than normal, but we found out from our friend Shabaan that the shopkeepers were on strike because the government wants to evacuate and bulldoze a palestinian area so that can develop the area (though we're not really sure what that means). Somewhere between 800 and 1,500 palestinians would be ousted, so finding an open shop was pretty rare, but we did find food.
Then we went to a man's house in the Jewish quarter, he was an advisor to the mayor of Jerusalem a while ago, the mayor who is now (or just was?) the prime minister of Israel. He talked about all sorts of things, it was really interesting to get his perspective on politics in the middle east and religion and all the other topics that make people mad in America. It was an neat experience, though my rear end hurt real bad afterwards, almost two hours on a tile floor, I'm still feeling it. It is sort of like watching basketball games in high school. So much time on a hard wooden bench. At least this time I got something out of it instead of sitting on the bench during all four games, even the game I was theoretically playing in :)
And here's something that is good. Yesh geshem, there is rain! (I felt like I was in Salem today, we had hard rain, mist rain, clouds on your face rain, etc.) It's wet and cold, but the Lord is gracious and is giving this land some badly needed H2O.
Here's a little product of my Hebrew learning for you (though not written in Hebrew because I can't do it with this blog, though in real life I could write it for you):
Yesh geshem baheretz shel Israel, hodu l'adonai ki who tov. "There is rain in the land of Israel, give thanks to the Lord because He is good!"
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Rocks, talks, flips, and floats
Yesterday we went down South.
The day before that it rained like crazy over here, the Old City was near empty, we enjoyed walking around without crowds. It's like Milton-Freewater compared to Disneyland when it rains.
Anyway, back to yesterday. - Confused yet? I'll just try to skip around days a little more if you want.- So we went down to the Dead Sea. It was not a scorching day, which I liked very much, but it was a little bit colder than one wishes if one is to swim in a large body of water.
The Dead Sea is amazing. It's very pretty from far away and very weird when you're in it. But at least I can float in it! Not like freshwater pools, those I sink in even when I hold my breath, something about density and low body-fat percentages I hear. In honor of my last visit to such places I orchestrated the 2nd annual amateur American synchronized swim-team practice. Here's to you Drs. Anderson and Trull!
Then we cleaned ourselves from the "refreshing" waters of the Sea and headed toward another famous place, En Gedi. We hiked in from the back side, stopping at a spring on the hill and then at some cool natural rock spires, where we IBEXers climbed around like a bunch of Ibex (or look at this website or this one.) As we looked out over the Dead Sea and the plains of Moab and Edom over in Jordan, Abner talked to us about Sodom and Gomorrah. The Dead Sea was pretty likely not dead before those days, now it stands as evidence of God's wrath and judgment. A big freshwater lake gets hit with the aftermath of God's fire and brimstone target practice and it stays fresh no more, for like 3 or 4,000 years no more... It was an unexpected and interesting thing to consider. What a great testament to the power, justice, and wrath of our mighty God. I think it would be good to not take Him quite so lightly folks, He is far more than we really think about. Far, far more.
We got to the aforementioned spring shortly thereafter, where we looked at a couple of Psalms. When one reads something like this "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps. 63:1) in such a place as that it means more. Let me share a little: So you stand there, at a spring that essentially is the only freshwater for miles and miles and miles and miles, you are looking down at a beautiful body of water - beautiful, but oh-so-deadly and worthless to you - there are rocks as far as you can see in most directions. Chances are its been a while since you had any fresh water of any kind, you're running from someone who wants you dead (for 17 years... how much that would stink) and yet when everything in your body cries out for one sip of fresh water you say something that shows just how much you have your priorities in order. David thirsted for God when literally he was thirsty out of his mind, I don't think I know very many people like that - and I am certainly not one who can claim that in the least. Let's try something new and make the Lord the thing that we long for most.
Let me tell you another little story that relates to that. It's about me, in case that isn't clear in the first 7 words or so. Being in Israel there is a lot I can miss. I miss such mundane things as clothes dryers that dry your clothes in one cycle (though I'm too stingy to use the one here anyway :), I miss having classes in more than just one classroom. I miss chapel three times a week. I miss eating real portions of meat. I miss playing soccer in grassy fields. I miss my family. I miss wearing more than 6 different shirts. I miss my friends that will too soon be graduating. I miss lemonade and root beer (not together, just in general) I miss little kids. I miss sliding down the handrail in front of Davidson. I miss honey bunches of oats on the occasional saturday morning. I miss sunday school. I miss one Person in particular. In short, there are many things that I miss. Not that I would trade this part of my life, oh no, not at all! I love being here.
But the point of the list, though maybe having the appearance of complaint (which again, it's not :), is to explain something. Those things are things that I long for, be they every day or just occasionally. Nevertheless, those are things that I think about, desire, look forward to, etc. And those things are probably, no, definitely, on my mind far too often. Most likely far more than the Lord is on my list of desires. Not only that, I would venture to say that even when He is I don't often give him priority. I don't think like David. I don't write like him or rely on the Lord like him. It would be nice to for sure, but I don't. It's a challenging thought. What is on the priority list in my life? You could ask me a few to-the-point questions and have a pretty good idea.
But I'll tell you what I'd like to have. I'd like to have a one-item list of desires. A one-item list that is so obvious in my life that you folks when presented with the "give one word to explain Elijah R Conlee" it would be the only thing that came to mind, not just the first, but the only. I'm far from this I can tell you, but I think that if one truly makes EVERY effort to live this way than by His grace and strength it is possible.
You want to know what that list would look like?
Here's how I picture it, more or less: When I'm an old man, or dead and gone, someone will reach for my old worn Bible. They will thumb through the pages that are filled with notes and underlining and highlighting and dates and a piece of paper will fall. It would be old and yellowed, the edges wrinkled and torn, like it had been held and considered a hundred times a hundred times. Because it had. It probably has a few words in black pen, my name maybe, but the word that stands at the center is just one: God. -- and not God like we so loosely say it, but "God" written down with reverence. "God" written with respect and honor and love. "God" written with Fear. Who knows, maybe it will have another name for the Lord, or maybe on the back it will be written in Hebrew or something. Regardless of what form it comes in, it's going to fall on the floor, whoever sees it will pick it up and read it (which won't take long :) and have no doubts about that being the way my life was lived. If they didn't know me then the one with them will get to explain how my life was just canvas, God used it for something far greater.
I had more I was going to say, but this tangent has got me thinking too much. I can't go on when such things are going on inside. It's a challenge, sure, but what greater challenge have we than to honor the LORD as such.
In class this morning someone said my name in Hebrew, causing Abner to question, and that sparked a short conversation about what it means. I can look at it in Hebrew and know what it means, which is cool (and a story for another time), but more importantly it is a reminder of how I should live.
Elijah: My God is Yahweh.
I think it is about time that I go and make that a true statement.
The day before that it rained like crazy over here, the Old City was near empty, we enjoyed walking around without crowds. It's like Milton-Freewater compared to Disneyland when it rains.
Anyway, back to yesterday. - Confused yet? I'll just try to skip around days a little more if you want.- So we went down to the Dead Sea. It was not a scorching day, which I liked very much, but it was a little bit colder than one wishes if one is to swim in a large body of water.
The Dead Sea is amazing. It's very pretty from far away and very weird when you're in it. But at least I can float in it! Not like freshwater pools, those I sink in even when I hold my breath, something about density and low body-fat percentages I hear. In honor of my last visit to such places I orchestrated the 2nd annual amateur American synchronized swim-team practice. Here's to you Drs. Anderson and Trull!
Then we cleaned ourselves from the "refreshing" waters of the Sea and headed toward another famous place, En Gedi. We hiked in from the back side, stopping at a spring on the hill and then at some cool natural rock spires, where we IBEXers climbed around like a bunch of Ibex (or look at this website or this one.) As we looked out over the Dead Sea and the plains of Moab and Edom over in Jordan, Abner talked to us about Sodom and Gomorrah. The Dead Sea was pretty likely not dead before those days, now it stands as evidence of God's wrath and judgment. A big freshwater lake gets hit with the aftermath of God's fire and brimstone target practice and it stays fresh no more, for like 3 or 4,000 years no more... It was an unexpected and interesting thing to consider. What a great testament to the power, justice, and wrath of our mighty God. I think it would be good to not take Him quite so lightly folks, He is far more than we really think about. Far, far more.
We got to the aforementioned spring shortly thereafter, where we looked at a couple of Psalms. When one reads something like this "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Ps. 63:1) in such a place as that it means more. Let me share a little: So you stand there, at a spring that essentially is the only freshwater for miles and miles and miles and miles, you are looking down at a beautiful body of water - beautiful, but oh-so-deadly and worthless to you - there are rocks as far as you can see in most directions. Chances are its been a while since you had any fresh water of any kind, you're running from someone who wants you dead (for 17 years... how much that would stink) and yet when everything in your body cries out for one sip of fresh water you say something that shows just how much you have your priorities in order. David thirsted for God when literally he was thirsty out of his mind, I don't think I know very many people like that - and I am certainly not one who can claim that in the least. Let's try something new and make the Lord the thing that we long for most.
Let me tell you another little story that relates to that. It's about me, in case that isn't clear in the first 7 words or so. Being in Israel there is a lot I can miss. I miss such mundane things as clothes dryers that dry your clothes in one cycle (though I'm too stingy to use the one here anyway :), I miss having classes in more than just one classroom. I miss chapel three times a week. I miss eating real portions of meat. I miss playing soccer in grassy fields. I miss my family. I miss wearing more than 6 different shirts. I miss my friends that will too soon be graduating. I miss lemonade and root beer (not together, just in general) I miss little kids. I miss sliding down the handrail in front of Davidson. I miss honey bunches of oats on the occasional saturday morning. I miss sunday school. I miss one Person in particular. In short, there are many things that I miss. Not that I would trade this part of my life, oh no, not at all! I love being here.
But the point of the list, though maybe having the appearance of complaint (which again, it's not :), is to explain something. Those things are things that I long for, be they every day or just occasionally. Nevertheless, those are things that I think about, desire, look forward to, etc. And those things are probably, no, definitely, on my mind far too often. Most likely far more than the Lord is on my list of desires. Not only that, I would venture to say that even when He is I don't often give him priority. I don't think like David. I don't write like him or rely on the Lord like him. It would be nice to for sure, but I don't. It's a challenging thought. What is on the priority list in my life? You could ask me a few to-the-point questions and have a pretty good idea.
But I'll tell you what I'd like to have. I'd like to have a one-item list of desires. A one-item list that is so obvious in my life that you folks when presented with the "give one word to explain Elijah R Conlee" it would be the only thing that came to mind, not just the first, but the only. I'm far from this I can tell you, but I think that if one truly makes EVERY effort to live this way than by His grace and strength it is possible.
You want to know what that list would look like?
Here's how I picture it, more or less: When I'm an old man, or dead and gone, someone will reach for my old worn Bible. They will thumb through the pages that are filled with notes and underlining and highlighting and dates and a piece of paper will fall. It would be old and yellowed, the edges wrinkled and torn, like it had been held and considered a hundred times a hundred times. Because it had. It probably has a few words in black pen, my name maybe, but the word that stands at the center is just one: God. -- and not God like we so loosely say it, but "God" written down with reverence. "God" written with respect and honor and love. "God" written with Fear. Who knows, maybe it will have another name for the Lord, or maybe on the back it will be written in Hebrew or something. Regardless of what form it comes in, it's going to fall on the floor, whoever sees it will pick it up and read it (which won't take long :) and have no doubts about that being the way my life was lived. If they didn't know me then the one with them will get to explain how my life was just canvas, God used it for something far greater.
I had more I was going to say, but this tangent has got me thinking too much. I can't go on when such things are going on inside. It's a challenge, sure, but what greater challenge have we than to honor the LORD as such.
In class this morning someone said my name in Hebrew, causing Abner to question, and that sparked a short conversation about what it means. I can look at it in Hebrew and know what it means, which is cool (and a story for another time), but more importantly it is a reminder of how I should live.
Elijah: My God is Yahweh.
I think it is about time that I go and make that a true statement.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Itsy Bitsy Spider
... Then down came the rain and soaked the land of Israel, Sploosh!
So our En Gedi campout was cancelled. Something about rain and flash-floods I heard. But tomorrow we are going to En Gedi for a hike, Lord willing. Right before we hike we get to "swim" in the Dead Sea. That will be fun/cleanse all of my pores beyond repair. Dr. Anderson, I will do my best to organize some synchronized swimming :)
Today I got to sleep in again, hooray. After a week of busy and a day of sick it was much needed. And this afternoon we sorted the sissies from the diehards. Before it rained we took a poll of who was going to the Old City. Today when there was rain our numbers dropped by almost half. Go figure.
But I like the Old City in the rain. There are fewer people, more time to see things, and less of the tourist feel when I walk around with my counterparts because we look like we know what we're doing now. I like it. So today was a day of sitting, drinking cocoa, reading, walking, eating falafel and enjoying life as a whole.
Here's something absolutely unbelievable: I am one-third of the way done with this semester. Only a "few" weeks left and we go on two more big trips (like 5-7 days big) and then have a week for travel/study break. There's like no time left, oh how fast it goes.
And oh how much I should get done! I am, shall we say, "behind" on reading. I say "behind" because it's all due at the end of the semester, but there is a lot to do. So I should go do some of that now. Have a good weekend.
So our En Gedi campout was cancelled. Something about rain and flash-floods I heard. But tomorrow we are going to En Gedi for a hike, Lord willing. Right before we hike we get to "swim" in the Dead Sea. That will be fun/cleanse all of my pores beyond repair. Dr. Anderson, I will do my best to organize some synchronized swimming :)
Today I got to sleep in again, hooray. After a week of busy and a day of sick it was much needed. And this afternoon we sorted the sissies from the diehards. Before it rained we took a poll of who was going to the Old City. Today when there was rain our numbers dropped by almost half. Go figure.
But I like the Old City in the rain. There are fewer people, more time to see things, and less of the tourist feel when I walk around with my counterparts because we look like we know what we're doing now. I like it. So today was a day of sitting, drinking cocoa, reading, walking, eating falafel and enjoying life as a whole.
Here's something absolutely unbelievable: I am one-third of the way done with this semester. Only a "few" weeks left and we go on two more big trips (like 5-7 days big) and then have a week for travel/study break. There's like no time left, oh how fast it goes.
And oh how much I should get done! I am, shall we say, "behind" on reading. I say "behind" because it's all due at the end of the semester, but there is a lot to do. So I should go do some of that now. Have a good weekend.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
F-f-fortunately boys, I keep my feathers numbered for just such an occasion.
Well, no actually, I'm not a big stuttering rooster, nor am I a screeching little chicken hawk. But good news! I didn't need chicken soup either! I woke up this morning and only had a headache and a tired body. So instead of bowing before the porcelain throne, I went on our field trip.
Even though I was tired all day it was a ton of fun. I don't have the time to tell about it now, I have a little paper for Life of Christ to work on. But in short, we crawled through some amazing tunnels and caves that were carved back in the 2nd Century, they were real small, claustrophobes beware (I think I spelled that word wrong, whoops.)
We also climbed on some ruins and found some cool pieces of broken pottery, my roommate even found the base of a pot, I just found a handle. After the rain of yesterday and the feeling like demons were wrestling inside of me last night today's fun and sunny day was just plain great.
So I thank you all deeply for your prayers, though the sickness was not avoided it was quickly conquered. And mostly no one else has it over here anymore. hooray.
- "I say I-I say I, I say I would like to dedicate the title of today's post to my Dad. :)
Even though I was tired all day it was a ton of fun. I don't have the time to tell about it now, I have a little paper for Life of Christ to work on. But in short, we crawled through some amazing tunnels and caves that were carved back in the 2nd Century, they were real small, claustrophobes beware (I think I spelled that word wrong, whoops.)
We also climbed on some ruins and found some cool pieces of broken pottery, my roommate even found the base of a pot, I just found a handle. After the rain of yesterday and the feeling like demons were wrestling inside of me last night today's fun and sunny day was just plain great.
So I thank you all deeply for your prayers, though the sickness was not avoided it was quickly conquered. And mostly no one else has it over here anymore. hooray.
- "I say I-I say I, I say I would like to dedicate the title of today's post to my Dad. :)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ps - I think I'm gonna be sick.
One more thing:
So there's this "cool" thing going on over here right now: Some people are sick, like the kind where your insides stage a coup and overthrow onto your outsides. But that's the extreme case. Most are just suppressing small peasant rebellions. -- and when I said, "cool," I meant dumb and annoying.
It would be wonderful if you all would pray that we stay healthy, sickness + field trips + Israel = not a good combination.
Thanks everyone.
-- I think I'm starting the cycle, it's the weekend after Christmas all over again :(
So there's this "cool" thing going on over here right now: Some people are sick, like the kind where your insides stage a coup and overthrow onto your outsides. But that's the extreme case. Most are just suppressing small peasant rebellions. -- and when I said, "cool," I meant dumb and annoying.
It would be wonderful if you all would pray that we stay healthy, sickness + field trips + Israel = not a good combination.
Thanks everyone.
-- I think I'm starting the cycle, it's the weekend after Christmas all over again :(
The Long Awaited has Arrived!
Before I get into what you're all waiting for, I have a few other comments.
It's raining over here today. It's like it's February or something, I thought I left Salem behind.
This was a busy weekend to say the least. It's sort of like I'm at real school or something, I'm tired, I have homework, the food is hit and miss, mostly on the hit side, well, maybe a soft slap compared to an actual hit, but either way, we call it success.
Sunday we went on a long hike, it was really fun. To tell a story without much pizazz: There were 24 of us. I was designated one of the map guys. We all were walking along fine. We turned off of a road onto a trail. The guy leading made sure we all saw it. One guy kept walking the ridge road to see what there was. The aforementioned guy leading didn't mention that. We made it down to the spring, it was not too exciting, so we kept walking. We walked for about 10 minutes. We were in a little Arab town. The aforementioned leader says, "Hey wait, we don't have everyone. We're missing Joe." Great. So we figure out that he kept walking the ridge, the opposite way of us. Tyler - aforementioned guy leading - didn't tell us that. We left the spring assuming everyone was there, because everyone who had made it there was still around and with us. But not so.
So Mike and I ran back. Not walked, ran, because one never knows what fate befalls he who walks alone for 30-40 minutes. We ran about a mile (?) back to the spring and then beyond. The road split, up the hill or down the valley. So Mike and I split. I saw Joe about 200 yards up the hill, he was walking up the road to Mike. Good thing we found him so fast, I was tired and that was a long way to run. Then we all got to run back. Mike works out about 5 times more than I do. But he and Joe were both tired, breathing hard, and jogging slow. Thank you life of soccer. So we met the group, it was fun. We found some awesome tombs and cisterns, we split up, 12 and 12, one group going back, the other searching for a spring, that they did not find. It was a good day. I like using maps. We're good friends over here after all of that.
Next, we watched Schindler's List on Sunday night, it was... good. Such a hard movie to watch, but a good one. I, of course, had my hand over my eyes or my knees in the way of the screen for many parts and we skipped a couple of scenes, but I like keeping those types of things far from my memory -S.O.P. for Eli. Then yesterday we went to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum over here. Yad Vashem literally means "a hand and a name" (yad = hand; va or ve = and; shem = name - funny story about that, I'll tell in a second). But essentially it means some kind of memorial. Yad is commonly used metaphorically for memorials, like where we live, Yad Hashmonah. Anyway, that was a good experience. Not really hard per se, but having been to two Holocaust Museums before and having watched Schindler's list the night before my emotional reserve was gone anyway so it was just different. It's always hard to think about that kind of killing and persecution, but it is so far removed from what we understand that it can seem super-impersonal, unfortunately... I still don't know how I feel after that experience. Not callous by any means, just unsure of what it is I gained from that experience.
Anyway, for the main event.
Today's Fantastic Food Focus:
FILAFELS*: Food In the Land And Food Eli LikeS
Episode #1: Falafels: food for the famished.
(How about all of that alliteration? Thanks Dr. Hills and Dr. Tennant :) - also, Falafels is spelled with the "a" after the first "f" instead of the "i," but for the sake of the acronym, you get the idea.
#1 - A Filafel is delicious.
#2 - What you need: a pita, ground-up chick peas, a deep-fryer, other stuff.
#3 - So the ground up chick peas (garbonzo beans, also the main ingredient in Humus) are made into a ball (like golf ball size) and then deep-fried. The Pita is best when it's warm.
The you can put humus on it, it's best that way.
#4 - Other stuff: You can put all kinds of things, some of it can only be seen in Israel, like pink cauliflower, but that's another story.
But here's what's good: Lettuce and/or coleslaw of sorts. Bell peppers, shredded carrots and cucumbers, salsa-like stuff (tomato, onion, spice, etc.) and then this inexplicable and delicious spicy sauce that varies by vendor.
Overall I would call a falafel a "party in your mouth," for when one gets a bite that contains all the delicious ingredients, one can hardly keep their mouth closed for the joy and explosion that goes on within. Now not all are fans of this food, to them I say, "such a shame, you miss so much in life." All that to say, here's a link to give you more info if you care: falafel
Thus we have concluded our broadcast hour. It's a long one, I'm sorry. It will likely be Thursday before you hear from me again, I am trying to use my time in a more productive way. Like I need to spend more time reading the Word and talking to God than I do with you guys, no offense.
Thanks for the prayers.
It's raining over here today. It's like it's February or something, I thought I left Salem behind.
This was a busy weekend to say the least. It's sort of like I'm at real school or something, I'm tired, I have homework, the food is hit and miss, mostly on the hit side, well, maybe a soft slap compared to an actual hit, but either way, we call it success.
Sunday we went on a long hike, it was really fun. To tell a story without much pizazz: There were 24 of us. I was designated one of the map guys. We all were walking along fine. We turned off of a road onto a trail. The guy leading made sure we all saw it. One guy kept walking the ridge road to see what there was. The aforementioned guy leading didn't mention that. We made it down to the spring, it was not too exciting, so we kept walking. We walked for about 10 minutes. We were in a little Arab town. The aforementioned leader says, "Hey wait, we don't have everyone. We're missing Joe." Great. So we figure out that he kept walking the ridge, the opposite way of us. Tyler - aforementioned guy leading - didn't tell us that. We left the spring assuming everyone was there, because everyone who had made it there was still around and with us. But not so.
So Mike and I ran back. Not walked, ran, because one never knows what fate befalls he who walks alone for 30-40 minutes. We ran about a mile (?) back to the spring and then beyond. The road split, up the hill or down the valley. So Mike and I split. I saw Joe about 200 yards up the hill, he was walking up the road to Mike. Good thing we found him so fast, I was tired and that was a long way to run. Then we all got to run back. Mike works out about 5 times more than I do. But he and Joe were both tired, breathing hard, and jogging slow. Thank you life of soccer. So we met the group, it was fun. We found some awesome tombs and cisterns, we split up, 12 and 12, one group going back, the other searching for a spring, that they did not find. It was a good day. I like using maps. We're good friends over here after all of that.
Next, we watched Schindler's List on Sunday night, it was... good. Such a hard movie to watch, but a good one. I, of course, had my hand over my eyes or my knees in the way of the screen for many parts and we skipped a couple of scenes, but I like keeping those types of things far from my memory -S.O.P. for Eli. Then yesterday we went to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum over here. Yad Vashem literally means "a hand and a name" (yad = hand; va or ve = and; shem = name - funny story about that, I'll tell in a second). But essentially it means some kind of memorial. Yad is commonly used metaphorically for memorials, like where we live, Yad Hashmonah. Anyway, that was a good experience. Not really hard per se, but having been to two Holocaust Museums before and having watched Schindler's list the night before my emotional reserve was gone anyway so it was just different. It's always hard to think about that kind of killing and persecution, but it is so far removed from what we understand that it can seem super-impersonal, unfortunately... I still don't know how I feel after that experience. Not callous by any means, just unsure of what it is I gained from that experience.
Anyway, for the main event.
Today's Fantastic Food Focus:
FILAFELS*: Food In the Land And Food Eli LikeS
Episode #1: Falafels: food for the famished.
(How about all of that alliteration? Thanks Dr. Hills and Dr. Tennant :) - also, Falafels is spelled with the "a" after the first "f" instead of the "i," but for the sake of the acronym, you get the idea.
#1 - A Filafel is delicious.
#2 - What you need: a pita, ground-up chick peas, a deep-fryer, other stuff.
#3 - So the ground up chick peas (garbonzo beans, also the main ingredient in Humus) are made into a ball (like golf ball size) and then deep-fried. The Pita is best when it's warm.
The you can put humus on it, it's best that way.
#4 - Other stuff: You can put all kinds of things, some of it can only be seen in Israel, like pink cauliflower, but that's another story.
But here's what's good: Lettuce and/or coleslaw of sorts. Bell peppers, shredded carrots and cucumbers, salsa-like stuff (tomato, onion, spice, etc.) and then this inexplicable and delicious spicy sauce that varies by vendor.
Overall I would call a falafel a "party in your mouth," for when one gets a bite that contains all the delicious ingredients, one can hardly keep their mouth closed for the joy and explosion that goes on within. Now not all are fans of this food, to them I say, "such a shame, you miss so much in life." All that to say, here's a link to give you more info if you care: falafel
Thus we have concluded our broadcast hour. It's a long one, I'm sorry. It will likely be Thursday before you hear from me again, I am trying to use my time in a more productive way. Like I need to spend more time reading the Word and talking to God than I do with you guys, no offense.
Thanks for the prayers.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Did anyone see where this last week went?
Well as ya'll know this was quite a full week for me. Due to rain, our travel day was bumped from Wednesday to Thursday, making a paper and a quiz all happen around the same time. But I survived, keeping my streak of missing one question for stupid reasons. How could I forget it was the Sorek and the Cesalon valleys? Sheesh.
But yesterday was fun. We spent about 75% of the day in the West Bank. Before that portion of our excursion we went to the Mount of Olives, roughly where Bethphage would have been, which is just north of Bethany, which is where Jesus' friend Laz and his sisters were from. Then we went to the other side, where the Ketef Hinnom juts out below the western hill of the Old City. (Translation: we went to the west side of town where a shoulder of the ridges pokes out toward the bottom of the valley south of Temple Mount) There were lots of Iron Age (Joshua's time) tombs carved into the rock and it was in one of those tombs that the oldest piece of Scripture was found. On an thin silver amulet words from Numbers 6:24 provide us with words of the Bible from about 600 B.C. cool stuff. Just think how long the Bible has been passed down!
To the West Bank.
Stop #1: Bethlehem, now an Arab village (duh, it's the west bank), is not exactly what one would imagine to be where God was born unto man. But nonetheless, it's the place. The countryside is pretty amazing, tough life for those shepherds and farmkids. Bill likes to stop in random farmer's fields to show us what the terrain was for so-and-so in the Bible and give us an example of such-and-such a weed and things like that. So after lunch in nativity square and a filafel and a 1.125 liter bottle of coke for 10 shekels (about $2.50), we continued our harrowing adventure.
Stop #2 The Herodian. Two words: google it. Or wikipedia it if that is your preference. Either way there is a lot to say about it that I don't want to type. But it is impressive and it was a SWEET view of everywhere. You can see up to Jerusalem and out to the Dead Sea and everything in between and all around. Plus there were pillars that we could climb on. So we did. Lots of times. :)
Stop #3 Farmer's field near Tekoa. Random field again, but pretty and a good view of where Amos lived and the valley of Berachah (2 Chronicles 20 has some stuff about this area, read it, it's good. Especially verse 13, I like that one.)
Stop #4 Valley of Refaim (or Rephaim, or however you want to spell it.)
-- Pause for two days while Eli is really busy --
It's where David toasted the Philistines a couple of times. It's also a place where three springs all pop out of the ground ("like daisies!"), a unique thing for this dry land. It's a beautiful area, sometime when I blog and have fast internet at the same time I will upload some pictures of all that I talk about.
Stops 5, 6, 7... The previous stop was our last, technically. But after going to checkpoint #1, we were turned back and sent to another one. Then at that one we were close to the road home (like less than a kilometer) and they turned us back again. Finally, we returned to the checkpoint that we went through that morning and an armed gal walked down the aisle looking at everyone. They're good at profiling, fortunately none of us looked too sketchy. But she did drop something on me and get her gun caught one seat behind me, so I'm guessing that even if we were a threat, if it was more than one of us she would have been on the receiving end of any hostilities. But she did look mean at us, I'll give her that.
So we went home. The end.
Then two days passed and here I sit, finishing a blog that seems so long ago. I am guessing that some of you faithful readers thought, "What? Eli did not blog today? Did pigs sprout wings? Did the Sahara freeze over? Did the Border Patrol get him after all? Or maybe he was shanghai'd into the IDF? (a dream of mine you know...) No to all of those, contrary to popular perception, blogging is not my number one priority, I think that this new habit of not doing it every day is good for me. Good for my study habits I would venture to say, though we all know that it's never really an issue for me.
That being said, life here is good, I am tired today, but in a good way. We went for a hike, I got to be leader by default because topo maps are like a foreign language to these people. Oh wait... they are in a foreign language... But seriously, there are few among us who understand the series of lines and colored lines and little clay pot symbols that combine to form the beauty that is a topo map. A product of my raising, what can I say. So after 10 or 12 miles (we're not really sure) I am going to relax, learn some vocab so that I can actually use verbs instead of barely scraping through, "Shalom, my name is Eli, I am a student from America, I live ..." etc. So hopefully I will be on my way to fluent after today. Doubtful, but hey, optimism springs eternal when the sun is shining and you just had some chocolate.
But yesterday was fun. We spent about 75% of the day in the West Bank. Before that portion of our excursion we went to the Mount of Olives, roughly where Bethphage would have been, which is just north of Bethany, which is where Jesus' friend Laz and his sisters were from. Then we went to the other side, where the Ketef Hinnom juts out below the western hill of the Old City. (Translation: we went to the west side of town where a shoulder of the ridges pokes out toward the bottom of the valley south of Temple Mount) There were lots of Iron Age (Joshua's time) tombs carved into the rock and it was in one of those tombs that the oldest piece of Scripture was found. On an thin silver amulet words from Numbers 6:24 provide us with words of the Bible from about 600 B.C. cool stuff. Just think how long the Bible has been passed down!
To the West Bank.
Stop #1: Bethlehem, now an Arab village (duh, it's the west bank), is not exactly what one would imagine to be where God was born unto man. But nonetheless, it's the place. The countryside is pretty amazing, tough life for those shepherds and farmkids. Bill likes to stop in random farmer's fields to show us what the terrain was for so-and-so in the Bible and give us an example of such-and-such a weed and things like that. So after lunch in nativity square and a filafel and a 1.125 liter bottle of coke for 10 shekels (about $2.50), we continued our harrowing adventure.
Stop #2 The Herodian. Two words: google it. Or wikipedia it if that is your preference. Either way there is a lot to say about it that I don't want to type. But it is impressive and it was a SWEET view of everywhere. You can see up to Jerusalem and out to the Dead Sea and everything in between and all around. Plus there were pillars that we could climb on. So we did. Lots of times. :)
Stop #3 Farmer's field near Tekoa. Random field again, but pretty and a good view of where Amos lived and the valley of Berachah (2 Chronicles 20 has some stuff about this area, read it, it's good. Especially verse 13, I like that one.)
Stop #4 Valley of Refaim (or Rephaim, or however you want to spell it.)
-- Pause for two days while Eli is really busy --
It's where David toasted the Philistines a couple of times. It's also a place where three springs all pop out of the ground ("like daisies!"), a unique thing for this dry land. It's a beautiful area, sometime when I blog and have fast internet at the same time I will upload some pictures of all that I talk about.
Stops 5, 6, 7... The previous stop was our last, technically. But after going to checkpoint #1, we were turned back and sent to another one. Then at that one we were close to the road home (like less than a kilometer) and they turned us back again. Finally, we returned to the checkpoint that we went through that morning and an armed gal walked down the aisle looking at everyone. They're good at profiling, fortunately none of us looked too sketchy. But she did drop something on me and get her gun caught one seat behind me, so I'm guessing that even if we were a threat, if it was more than one of us she would have been on the receiving end of any hostilities. But she did look mean at us, I'll give her that.
So we went home. The end.
Then two days passed and here I sit, finishing a blog that seems so long ago. I am guessing that some of you faithful readers thought, "What? Eli did not blog today? Did pigs sprout wings? Did the Sahara freeze over? Did the Border Patrol get him after all? Or maybe he was shanghai'd into the IDF? (a dream of mine you know...) No to all of those, contrary to popular perception, blogging is not my number one priority, I think that this new habit of not doing it every day is good for me. Good for my study habits I would venture to say, though we all know that it's never really an issue for me.
That being said, life here is good, I am tired today, but in a good way. We went for a hike, I got to be leader by default because topo maps are like a foreign language to these people. Oh wait... they are in a foreign language... But seriously, there are few among us who understand the series of lines and colored lines and little clay pot symbols that combine to form the beauty that is a topo map. A product of my raising, what can I say. So after 10 or 12 miles (we're not really sure) I am going to relax, learn some vocab so that I can actually use verbs instead of barely scraping through, "Shalom, my name is Eli, I am a student from America, I live ..." etc. So hopefully I will be on my way to fluent after today. Doubtful, but hey, optimism springs eternal when the sun is shining and you just had some chocolate.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Broken Skies and Tired Hearts
It was a dark and stormy night...
Wrote Snoopy from the top of his red dog house. Or was it his WWI Sopwith Camel? Was that the sound of the Red Baron bearing down on him yet again? Would he be shot down behind enemy lines yet again? Alas, it was not to be. But there are some parallels, in the words of another classic character (but one experienced through a different medium), please, "let me 'splain."
Part I: Broken skies, crackling fires, and wet flip-flops.
It was a cool and cloudy afternoon. They said it would rain. (That's why we have our field trip tomorrow instead of today.) The skies said it would too. There I was, cramming my brain with more vocabulary in Hebrew class on Tuesday afternoon when there was a huge CRACK! followed by one of those "BOOM's" that keeps rolling around and around, sort of like when you're at a bowling alley and 7 people hit the pins at just about the same time. Talk about thunderclaps, that was thunder-applause.
Bill said that when there's thunder in Israel it means there will be rain. He didn't lie. Within 2 minutes it was pouring. Cats and Dogs-type pouring. But we were inside, so we just got to listen to the thunder and see an occasional flash. It was sort of like when jets were flying over and bombs were being dropped in Gaza, only much louder and much wetter :) In the hours that followed, it rained, and rained, and rained some more. Just before sleep it was raining some (like Salem fogging instead of real raining) and then it there was a flash and a crack-boom and it turned into Splash Mountain. It shook the windows and lit up the sky for over an hour, but it was late, so I put in earplugs and went to sleep to the gentle thud of thunder. Amazing weather from and amazing God. And He knows that Israel needs the rain. Pray that after tomorrow the rain hits again, it's SO important for this country to survive.
-If you're curious why part of this subtitle is wet flip flips let me give you one line that will help it all make sense: I live with a bunch of Californians. Enough said.
Part II: Sunset skies, red eyes, and tired hearts.
It all began with a shift. Not the little key on your computer that makes letters bigger than the rest. Not even that stick in your car, for those of you who actually go that route. I mean a shift in mindset. Actually, a shift in heartmind-set is maybe more accurate. I don't need to remind you of just yesterday and Bible study and all that. But I will explain the meaning of this subtitled section.
Number one: When I started this post before dinner the sun was beginning to set after a day of clouds. It was a beautiful pink and orange-pink that bathed my room in that glow that is all the better when you have just woken up from a nap (that's where the red eyes part comes in, even though it was just a half hour nap). I like sunsets a lot. I like naps a lot. A dynamic duo if I do say so myself.
Number two: tired hearts. That's what I have. Well, not tired hearts, but rather a tired heart. Since I only have one, contrary to what some might say - check the x-rays. I was sitting in class this morning, having everything I have ever really understood about reading the Bible challenged and being convicted and aching that I have wasted so much time in my life with dumb things. But I said that all too quickly, let me slow down.
One at a time... I had both of my Abner classes today, History of Ancient Israel and Life of Christ, which I absolutely love. They aren't hard by school standards. But they are killer by spiritual growth standards. I am constantly challenged to think harder than I do, to see what on my own I would never be able to see. When you see connections in Scripture that you could never find but once they are pointed out you think to yourself, "Self, duh, it's clear." But then you think back two hours later and remember the conclusion of it all but not the reasoning and you wonder how in the world your brain gets any of it, let alone how it will survive during 80 more days.
It's convicting in that it shows how little about the Scripture I know. The Old Testament is huge in our faith. The life of Christ is more than we really ever learn or teach it to be. There are amazing connections and inherent things that play huge roles in God's plan when you "look at it from a History of Ancient Israel perspective." (Abner's favorite line in that class). And certainly, "there are no mistakes in the life of Christ." (Abner's favorite line in that class :) Here's the clincher for me right now. I am realizing how much time I have wasted in my short life. (There is this good book by John Piper that comes to mind, read it if you can get your hands on it.)
I'm not at the end of my life where I look back and say in great pain, "I've wasted it! I've wasted it!" But I am at the 11th day of February in my 21st year of existence and I can look back over the last 10 years, even the last 7 (high school and later), and even worse, the last 2 and half spent in Bible college and I can see so many things that I have not done. So much of the Scripture that I do not know. So much of God that I just don't get because I haven't put in the time. I'm sick of it. Early today I felt so far behind that I don't know where to start. The jury is still out on that feeling. But I can say that a small cloud on the horizon is getting to be larger than a man's hand and soon I am going to have to hitch up my britches and outrun the chariot of an angry king. To dissect the metaphor inspired by my namesake: The cloud on the horizon is about rain some hope on me and I know the Spirit is good to help those who seek after the Lord and His Word. I just need to start moving my legs real fast and stay away from distractions and temptations. I'm hoping to avoid the depressed Elijah episode, but I would be ok with God speaking to me in a gentle whisper or still small voice or whatever your translation preference is.
That is sort of what a tired heart looks like in Israel right now.
Let us not worry about Eli, the red eyes line is not a subtle reference to crying about a rough day, nor is the above explanation a pity party. I told you from the start that you would hear about my life. What I learn, what I experience, what I struggle and wrestle with (oh! Mom! remind me to tell you about what I learned about Jacob wrestling with God!), what is on my mind and what is on my heart. Well you've gotten it in full force for the last couple of days. I do it for me, sure, but I do it so that maybe by tasting a bit of my life you can add some salt to your life. In the words of a little man named Paul, it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always (still working on that courage part:) Christ will be honored in my body (and mind!) whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. May that be me. Let's pray that I get better at studying the Word -- for His glory.
Wrote Snoopy from the top of his red dog house. Or was it his WWI Sopwith Camel? Was that the sound of the Red Baron bearing down on him yet again? Would he be shot down behind enemy lines yet again? Alas, it was not to be. But there are some parallels, in the words of another classic character (but one experienced through a different medium), please, "let me 'splain."
Part I: Broken skies, crackling fires, and wet flip-flops.
It was a cool and cloudy afternoon. They said it would rain. (That's why we have our field trip tomorrow instead of today.) The skies said it would too. There I was, cramming my brain with more vocabulary in Hebrew class on Tuesday afternoon when there was a huge CRACK! followed by one of those "BOOM's" that keeps rolling around and around, sort of like when you're at a bowling alley and 7 people hit the pins at just about the same time. Talk about thunderclaps, that was thunder-applause.
Bill said that when there's thunder in Israel it means there will be rain. He didn't lie. Within 2 minutes it was pouring. Cats and Dogs-type pouring. But we were inside, so we just got to listen to the thunder and see an occasional flash. It was sort of like when jets were flying over and bombs were being dropped in Gaza, only much louder and much wetter :) In the hours that followed, it rained, and rained, and rained some more. Just before sleep it was raining some (like Salem fogging instead of real raining) and then it there was a flash and a crack-boom and it turned into Splash Mountain. It shook the windows and lit up the sky for over an hour, but it was late, so I put in earplugs and went to sleep to the gentle thud of thunder. Amazing weather from and amazing God. And He knows that Israel needs the rain. Pray that after tomorrow the rain hits again, it's SO important for this country to survive.
-If you're curious why part of this subtitle is wet flip flips let me give you one line that will help it all make sense: I live with a bunch of Californians. Enough said.
Part II: Sunset skies, red eyes, and tired hearts.
It all began with a shift. Not the little key on your computer that makes letters bigger than the rest. Not even that stick in your car, for those of you who actually go that route. I mean a shift in mindset. Actually, a shift in heartmind-set is maybe more accurate. I don't need to remind you of just yesterday and Bible study and all that. But I will explain the meaning of this subtitled section.
Number one: When I started this post before dinner the sun was beginning to set after a day of clouds. It was a beautiful pink and orange-pink that bathed my room in that glow that is all the better when you have just woken up from a nap (that's where the red eyes part comes in, even though it was just a half hour nap). I like sunsets a lot. I like naps a lot. A dynamic duo if I do say so myself.
Number two: tired hearts. That's what I have. Well, not tired hearts, but rather a tired heart. Since I only have one, contrary to what some might say - check the x-rays. I was sitting in class this morning, having everything I have ever really understood about reading the Bible challenged and being convicted and aching that I have wasted so much time in my life with dumb things. But I said that all too quickly, let me slow down.
One at a time... I had both of my Abner classes today, History of Ancient Israel and Life of Christ, which I absolutely love. They aren't hard by school standards. But they are killer by spiritual growth standards. I am constantly challenged to think harder than I do, to see what on my own I would never be able to see. When you see connections in Scripture that you could never find but once they are pointed out you think to yourself, "Self, duh, it's clear." But then you think back two hours later and remember the conclusion of it all but not the reasoning and you wonder how in the world your brain gets any of it, let alone how it will survive during 80 more days.
It's convicting in that it shows how little about the Scripture I know. The Old Testament is huge in our faith. The life of Christ is more than we really ever learn or teach it to be. There are amazing connections and inherent things that play huge roles in God's plan when you "look at it from a History of Ancient Israel perspective." (Abner's favorite line in that class). And certainly, "there are no mistakes in the life of Christ." (Abner's favorite line in that class :) Here's the clincher for me right now. I am realizing how much time I have wasted in my short life. (There is this good book by John Piper that comes to mind, read it if you can get your hands on it.)
I'm not at the end of my life where I look back and say in great pain, "I've wasted it! I've wasted it!" But I am at the 11th day of February in my 21st year of existence and I can look back over the last 10 years, even the last 7 (high school and later), and even worse, the last 2 and half spent in Bible college and I can see so many things that I have not done. So much of the Scripture that I do not know. So much of God that I just don't get because I haven't put in the time. I'm sick of it. Early today I felt so far behind that I don't know where to start. The jury is still out on that feeling. But I can say that a small cloud on the horizon is getting to be larger than a man's hand and soon I am going to have to hitch up my britches and outrun the chariot of an angry king. To dissect the metaphor inspired by my namesake: The cloud on the horizon is about rain some hope on me and I know the Spirit is good to help those who seek after the Lord and His Word. I just need to start moving my legs real fast and stay away from distractions and temptations. I'm hoping to avoid the depressed Elijah episode, but I would be ok with God speaking to me in a gentle whisper or still small voice or whatever your translation preference is.
That is sort of what a tired heart looks like in Israel right now.
Let us not worry about Eli, the red eyes line is not a subtle reference to crying about a rough day, nor is the above explanation a pity party. I told you from the start that you would hear about my life. What I learn, what I experience, what I struggle and wrestle with (oh! Mom! remind me to tell you about what I learned about Jacob wrestling with God!), what is on my mind and what is on my heart. Well you've gotten it in full force for the last couple of days. I do it for me, sure, but I do it so that maybe by tasting a bit of my life you can add some salt to your life. In the words of a little man named Paul, it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always (still working on that courage part:) Christ will be honored in my body (and mind!) whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. May that be me. Let's pray that I get better at studying the Word -- for His glory.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Whoa, that's a tough question.
Tuesday morning = Bible Study around here.
The men of IBEX are studying prayer. Abner is one of those guys who sees things about 17 levels deeper than we do. It is challenging, it is even frustrating, but it is so good.
We talked about prayer today, duh, but more specifically, we talked about Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 of his book and the prayer of the Martyrs in Revelation 6.
What's the connection? Beats me, ask Abner. That's how we felt when he told us to read those two passages the day before.
But we read them. First we read Daniel and then we discussed it. I have never seen 20 guys not answer a question with the full right answer for 10 minutes... Abner asked us about what Daniel was praying and then used a real-life kind of example and asked us what we should pray for the person. We had all the "right" answers. The things you should pray for, but we were missing something deeper. Much deeper.
What do you pray for a pastor, who in the middle of a sermon says that he can't keep preaching? He just needs to stop. What do you pray? Well we had the answers. That God would show him things he needs to see in his life or his church. Pray that God would be glorified (a KEY part of prayer, but how? is still the question) We had all the classic church answers. But not the central one. The key being much less eloquently stated by Eli goes somewhat like this: One of the things we do too much is focus on too narrow of a scope, an individual, a ministry, or we are super general. We should be praying that God's glory comes through that individual, but more so we should pray that God's plan is advanced in all that is going on. In short, to quote my friend Jordan who I just asked to sum it up, "praying more for with whole in mind not just the individual." The whole = God's overall plan and glory. There was much more to it, but that's the jist of it and that's all I can even remotely wrap my mind around.
Wowee. I stink at prayer.
You ever get those times where your heart and mind are in knots all day trying to figure out what you just heard and figure out how you fit into the part about bringing about God's glory? That's today. But it is good. But I could use some prayer. This is an amazing time. I don't want to forget anything.
Then we talked about Revelation, but that's another story. I'll tell it tomorrow I think. I need to read some and go to bed and it's already 11:15 over here. Not to mention I am trying to figure out how to really pray in a way that is powerful and honoring to our God.
Miss you all.
The men of IBEX are studying prayer. Abner is one of those guys who sees things about 17 levels deeper than we do. It is challenging, it is even frustrating, but it is so good.
We talked about prayer today, duh, but more specifically, we talked about Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 of his book and the prayer of the Martyrs in Revelation 6.
What's the connection? Beats me, ask Abner. That's how we felt when he told us to read those two passages the day before.
But we read them. First we read Daniel and then we discussed it. I have never seen 20 guys not answer a question with the full right answer for 10 minutes... Abner asked us about what Daniel was praying and then used a real-life kind of example and asked us what we should pray for the person. We had all the "right" answers. The things you should pray for, but we were missing something deeper. Much deeper.
What do you pray for a pastor, who in the middle of a sermon says that he can't keep preaching? He just needs to stop. What do you pray? Well we had the answers. That God would show him things he needs to see in his life or his church. Pray that God would be glorified (a KEY part of prayer, but how? is still the question) We had all the classic church answers. But not the central one. The key being much less eloquently stated by Eli goes somewhat like this: One of the things we do too much is focus on too narrow of a scope, an individual, a ministry, or we are super general. We should be praying that God's glory comes through that individual, but more so we should pray that God's plan is advanced in all that is going on. In short, to quote my friend Jordan who I just asked to sum it up, "praying more for with whole in mind not just the individual." The whole = God's overall plan and glory. There was much more to it, but that's the jist of it and that's all I can even remotely wrap my mind around.
Wowee. I stink at prayer.
You ever get those times where your heart and mind are in knots all day trying to figure out what you just heard and figure out how you fit into the part about bringing about God's glory? That's today. But it is good. But I could use some prayer. This is an amazing time. I don't want to forget anything.
Then we talked about Revelation, but that's another story. I'll tell it tomorrow I think. I need to read some and go to bed and it's already 11:15 over here. Not to mention I am trying to figure out how to really pray in a way that is powerful and honoring to our God.
Miss you all.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Challah!
Bread. And lots of it. That's what I ate today.
Today is the celebration of firstfruits around here, so we could go to the Schlegels and make Challah bread (basically pronounced "holla," sort of like thugs or Californian athletes say it, if you're into that kind of thing) During my bread-building shift there were about 13 of us there, not counting the Schlegel kids running through and Stephanie (aka Mrs. Schlegel, but we don't say that). We made it from scratch, I can get the recipe so I am definitely doing that before I come home. My partner for this adventure in cooking was Lily, but I was a quasi-member of the boys team that Brandon and Jordan formed. They made some cinnamon rolls that were Delicious! A note about those two, if you're wondering to yourself, "Self, I wonder if Eli has made any good friends yet?" Well, besides the fact that Eli is more or less friends with everyone here because that's the kind of place he's in and sort of who he is, those two would qualify as two of my good friends here.
Anyway, back to baking. So we made our loaf (or whatever you call bread in its formative stages, is it just called a lump of dough? That seems sort of lame) whole wheat. Which for you cooking experts just means that we used half wheat flour and half white. So we mixed it, let it hang out for a few minutes, mixed in more goodies, and then got to knead it. Being crafty, Lily volunteered to wash the bowl so I "had the privilege" of kneading it. But it was cool. And it was worth it, but I'm getting ahead of myself. So we kneaded it a lot and then let it rise for a half hour, so I went and played some soccer and volleyball, mostly volleyball since they quit playing soccer three minutes after I showed up :(
Following the rising of the dough, we returned to form our masterpieces. Typical Challah bread is that braided bread wonder, the likes of which can be seen in Fiddler on the Roof. (Hey, did anyone notice that accidental play on words, "bread wonder" instead of wonder bread, whew! must have inherited that humor ability) Rather than go simply that route, we added to the creation by braiding two "strands" and them molded them together in a cross, it turned out really good. We had leftover dough so we made a whale and stick-figure Jonah being eaten, it looked cool and got a few laughs. A success all around.
But let me tell you about my crowning moment. For old time's sake I will tell it in story format.
Scene: Schlegels kitched/dining area at the table of kitchen slaves, I mean kitchen volunteers.
(Rolling dough into long sticks and small-talking)
All of the sudden:
Lily: Eli! I can't get this one to roll, show me how to do it!
Eli: (about to answer, then realizing something) ... Whoa! mark this moment, she asks the boy at the table how to do something related to cooking!
(laughter)
And then I showed her how to do it, trading pieces of dough to prove that the extra-floury problem with her lump could be overcome.
Hooray, I am a semi-successful baker :)
Then we ate all of the breads and cinnamon rolls. And there was much rejoicing.
I could eat bread all day, except that right now I am stuffed, unable to sit up straight in my chair.
So that was today.
A quick note about yesterday since I ran out of time to blog.
We went on a hike. I went swimming in a spring. In February. It was awesome.
Hiking through the Judean wilderness, where Jeremiah probably walked to bury the linen cloth (look it up :) is a pretty cool experience. Mostly it is amazing because you see the stark contrast between the brown and dry and the spring. Everything is desolate, and it's only February, but when you look down in the wadi and see a strip of green is a beautiful sight. And more so because you know that it's one wadi in 20 that has a spring, and wadis are not found to be close friends. What I mean is that springs are few and far between, so it's really pretty and really shows how much faith it takes to live out there.
So that was the hike, I'll try to post a picture, but no guarantees, the internet here is not always nice about pictures. And I have gone on too long...
Today is the celebration of firstfruits around here, so we could go to the Schlegels and make Challah bread (basically pronounced "holla," sort of like thugs or Californian athletes say it, if you're into that kind of thing) During my bread-building shift there were about 13 of us there, not counting the Schlegel kids running through and Stephanie (aka Mrs. Schlegel, but we don't say that). We made it from scratch, I can get the recipe so I am definitely doing that before I come home. My partner for this adventure in cooking was Lily, but I was a quasi-member of the boys team that Brandon and Jordan formed. They made some cinnamon rolls that were Delicious! A note about those two, if you're wondering to yourself, "Self, I wonder if Eli has made any good friends yet?" Well, besides the fact that Eli is more or less friends with everyone here because that's the kind of place he's in and sort of who he is, those two would qualify as two of my good friends here.
Anyway, back to baking. So we made our loaf (or whatever you call bread in its formative stages, is it just called a lump of dough? That seems sort of lame) whole wheat. Which for you cooking experts just means that we used half wheat flour and half white. So we mixed it, let it hang out for a few minutes, mixed in more goodies, and then got to knead it. Being crafty, Lily volunteered to wash the bowl so I "had the privilege" of kneading it. But it was cool. And it was worth it, but I'm getting ahead of myself. So we kneaded it a lot and then let it rise for a half hour, so I went and played some soccer and volleyball, mostly volleyball since they quit playing soccer three minutes after I showed up :(
Following the rising of the dough, we returned to form our masterpieces. Typical Challah bread is that braided bread wonder, the likes of which can be seen in Fiddler on the Roof. (Hey, did anyone notice that accidental play on words, "bread wonder" instead of wonder bread, whew! must have inherited that humor ability) Rather than go simply that route, we added to the creation by braiding two "strands" and them molded them together in a cross, it turned out really good. We had leftover dough so we made a whale and stick-figure Jonah being eaten, it looked cool and got a few laughs. A success all around.
But let me tell you about my crowning moment. For old time's sake I will tell it in story format.
Scene: Schlegels kitched/dining area at the table of kitchen slaves, I mean kitchen volunteers.
(Rolling dough into long sticks and small-talking)
All of the sudden:
Lily: Eli! I can't get this one to roll, show me how to do it!
Eli: (about to answer, then realizing something) ... Whoa! mark this moment, she asks the boy at the table how to do something related to cooking!
(laughter)
And then I showed her how to do it, trading pieces of dough to prove that the extra-floury problem with her lump could be overcome.
Hooray, I am a semi-successful baker :)
Then we ate all of the breads and cinnamon rolls. And there was much rejoicing.
I could eat bread all day, except that right now I am stuffed, unable to sit up straight in my chair.
So that was today.
A quick note about yesterday since I ran out of time to blog.
We went on a hike. I went swimming in a spring. In February. It was awesome.
Hiking through the Judean wilderness, where Jeremiah probably walked to bury the linen cloth (look it up :) is a pretty cool experience. Mostly it is amazing because you see the stark contrast between the brown and dry and the spring. Everything is desolate, and it's only February, but when you look down in the wadi and see a strip of green is a beautiful sight. And more so because you know that it's one wadi in 20 that has a spring, and wadis are not found to be close friends. What I mean is that springs are few and far between, so it's really pretty and really shows how much faith it takes to live out there.
So that was the hike, I'll try to post a picture, but no guarantees, the internet here is not always nice about pictures. And I have gone on too long...
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Shewarmah
Aka delicious. A Shewarmah (pronounces Shwarmah - kind of say it quickly, it sounds better). It's like a filafel, which I will tell you about in a yet-to-come issue. I had one today. It was my dinner. It was amazing, except for one of the added "goodies" that goes on it, let's just say that pickled/fried/pickled eggplant isn't my favorite.
But today was good. Assembly today here at home (two days in a row at a church service, since when did I move to the south and join the SBC?). Bill preached today on Romans 12:1-2. It's a passage we hear a lot, but even a passage like that makes more sense here. Not because of any massive inherent intelligence or enlightenment that comes from the land, but because God is using me being here to really open my heart, to help me really listen and really care, to shake me and say, "Hey, This is My Word, you've always had it, quit wasting these moments." To which I reply, "(ashamed expression, coupled with regret, with a dose of 'why did I waste so much of the last 20-ish years?' feeling) Ok God, I'm listening, I will try now." So you all can help me with that. Don't let me send long emails. Don't let me blog too long. Don't let me waste a moment of my day with checking email for the third time. Make me care about God's Word.
We went into the Old City this afternoon, I bought an Unofficial Israeli soccer team sweatshirt for roughly $7.57 today, I did homework, I ate Shewarmah, and we watched Fiddler on the Roof tonight. But who really cares? I'm done with this blogging. I'm going to brush my teeth and read some of the Bible.
But today was good. Assembly today here at home (two days in a row at a church service, since when did I move to the south and join the SBC?). Bill preached today on Romans 12:1-2. It's a passage we hear a lot, but even a passage like that makes more sense here. Not because of any massive inherent intelligence or enlightenment that comes from the land, but because God is using me being here to really open my heart, to help me really listen and really care, to shake me and say, "Hey, This is My Word, you've always had it, quit wasting these moments." To which I reply, "(ashamed expression, coupled with regret, with a dose of 'why did I waste so much of the last 20-ish years?' feeling) Ok God, I'm listening, I will try now." So you all can help me with that. Don't let me send long emails. Don't let me blog too long. Don't let me waste a moment of my day with checking email for the third time. Make me care about God's Word.
We went into the Old City this afternoon, I bought an Unofficial Israeli soccer team sweatshirt for roughly $7.57 today, I did homework, I ate Shewarmah, and we watched Fiddler on the Roof tonight. But who really cares? I'm done with this blogging. I'm going to brush my teeth and read some of the Bible.
Friday, February 6, 2009
McDonald's: It really is better here.
Today we had a quiz. I studied "for real" for about 20 minutes, 15 of that was at breakfast this morning. I got 37 out of 38. The one I missed was one of those where you cross out the right answer because you second-guessed yourself. Lame.
Everyone (mostly) around here was really worried about this quiz. It was harder than the last one, sure, but only in comparison. We've studied the stuff in class, went on a trip on Wednesday that brought it to life and people still studied for hours (I just shook my head at them). It was good. So far my quiz average is an A, but more than that, I remember it like it matters. Because it does :)
Today was good, the six hours of class went pretty fast actually. Hebrew was decent. We have a bazillion new words to learn by Tuesday -- plus all the conjugations that go with the verbs. Fortunately there are not many tenses in Hebrew and no present to-be verbs (is/are/am/etc...) I am going to get this, I just know it. To put it in food terms: Reading it = cake. Comprehending = half-eaten last week's cake. Speaking = cake from Christmas.
Tonight we went into Jerusalem to attend the Jerusalem Assembly (Believers! :) It was really good. Let me tell You about the coolest thing since the guitar: Singing Hebrew worship songs. Praise God for moments like that. The first song we sang was just beautiful and two of the worship leaders had voices that blended so well. We sang one song and then stopped and had praise/prayer and then Communion. Cool stuff to share it with people from literally every continent but Antarctica (duh). Then we got to sing more.
Come Thou Fount must be a popular song over here, we've sung it at two different churches. But let me tell you, there is little else that moves you like hearing Come Thou Fount in three languages (some Germans next to us I think) and "You are My All in All" in two languages. I cried. And I'm not afraid to admit it.
The message was on Leviticus 3, talking about peace offerings (the word Korban was used no less than 50 times tonight between songs and sermon :) The connection was based on how important/necessary it was to be pure in the eyes of the LORD before offering a sacrifice. Here's the crunch: We should be the same when we take communion. Here's a powerful thought that the pastor, Meno Kalishur (pray for that great man and other pastors, you think that's a tough job in the States...) shared: (paraphrased) "If the Communion plate is empty it means that the congregation should be full of people walking clean in the forgiveness of the LORD. ... [my thought: stop for a minute and consider the implications. Is that true in my church? umm...] ... If your heart isn't prepared, if there is sin in your life, then maybe you should wait." -- Fortunately a Friend reminded me of these verses just a few days ago and Meno brought them up: 1 John 1:7,9. What a merciful God we have.
And then we went to McDonalds. Cool huh? It was actually good! Who would have thunk it? (that phrase is for you Dad :) The regular burger I had was the size of my hand. Like bottom of palm to tip of fingers and circular. So not that puny little thing you get in America. And I had ice cream. And it was delicious.
And now I am done. And I used "and" to start about 15 sentences so I will stop. Except one more. And now I am going to go play games in a bomb shelter again. See ya.
Everyone (mostly) around here was really worried about this quiz. It was harder than the last one, sure, but only in comparison. We've studied the stuff in class, went on a trip on Wednesday that brought it to life and people still studied for hours (I just shook my head at them). It was good. So far my quiz average is an A, but more than that, I remember it like it matters. Because it does :)
Today was good, the six hours of class went pretty fast actually. Hebrew was decent. We have a bazillion new words to learn by Tuesday -- plus all the conjugations that go with the verbs. Fortunately there are not many tenses in Hebrew and no present to-be verbs (is/are/am/etc...) I am going to get this, I just know it. To put it in food terms: Reading it = cake. Comprehending = half-eaten last week's cake. Speaking = cake from Christmas.
Tonight we went into Jerusalem to attend the Jerusalem Assembly (Believers! :) It was really good. Let me tell You about the coolest thing since the guitar: Singing Hebrew worship songs. Praise God for moments like that. The first song we sang was just beautiful and two of the worship leaders had voices that blended so well. We sang one song and then stopped and had praise/prayer and then Communion. Cool stuff to share it with people from literally every continent but Antarctica (duh). Then we got to sing more.
Come Thou Fount must be a popular song over here, we've sung it at two different churches. But let me tell you, there is little else that moves you like hearing Come Thou Fount in three languages (some Germans next to us I think) and "You are My All in All" in two languages. I cried. And I'm not afraid to admit it.
The message was on Leviticus 3, talking about peace offerings (the word Korban was used no less than 50 times tonight between songs and sermon :) The connection was based on how important/necessary it was to be pure in the eyes of the LORD before offering a sacrifice. Here's the crunch: We should be the same when we take communion. Here's a powerful thought that the pastor, Meno Kalishur (pray for that great man and other pastors, you think that's a tough job in the States...) shared: (paraphrased) "If the Communion plate is empty it means that the congregation should be full of people walking clean in the forgiveness of the LORD. ... [my thought: stop for a minute and consider the implications. Is that true in my church? umm...] ... If your heart isn't prepared, if there is sin in your life, then maybe you should wait." -- Fortunately a Friend reminded me of these verses just a few days ago and Meno brought them up: 1 John 1:7,9. What a merciful God we have.
And then we went to McDonalds. Cool huh? It was actually good! Who would have thunk it? (that phrase is for you Dad :) The regular burger I had was the size of my hand. Like bottom of palm to tip of fingers and circular. So not that puny little thing you get in America. And I had ice cream. And it was delicious.
And now I am done. And I used "and" to start about 15 sentences so I will stop. Except one more. And now I am going to go play games in a bomb shelter again. See ya.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
PS- a Hebrew Breakthrough!
Quick note:
I'm working on Hebrew homework right now. Part of it is to change from the block print to cursive. So Bill gave us the first chapter of John in the block print and we have to "translate" (convert) the block print to the cursive.
Friends, tears were in my eyes (oh wait, here they come again). You wonder why? I'll tell You. I can translate! I noticed some of the same words, though not knowing what they mean, so I whipped out my new New Testament (Thanks Mom :) and read it in English, then I looked at the Hebrew words and figured out what they meant. Directly translated I read this: In beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God (Elohim) and Elohim was the Word. (John 1:1)... I read more, but it takes too long to type it out like that and its confusing. But boy am I encouraged right now.
For some reason it is much more powerful when you have to fight through it and figure it out. I like this. I like this a lot.
I'm working on Hebrew homework right now. Part of it is to change from the block print to cursive. So Bill gave us the first chapter of John in the block print and we have to "translate" (convert) the block print to the cursive.
Friends, tears were in my eyes (oh wait, here they come again). You wonder why? I'll tell You. I can translate! I noticed some of the same words, though not knowing what they mean, so I whipped out my new New Testament (Thanks Mom :) and read it in English, then I looked at the Hebrew words and figured out what they meant. Directly translated I read this: In beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God (Elohim) and Elohim was the Word. (John 1:1)... I read more, but it takes too long to type it out like that and its confusing. But boy am I encouraged right now.
For some reason it is much more powerful when you have to fight through it and figure it out. I like this. I like this a lot.
Three cheers for full bellies.
Today being a day of classes and homework, let me elaborate on two, nay three, important happenings of the day.
To do it chronologically would be slightly confusing, so I will go a different route.
In Life of Christ my brain was shattered by a wave of genius, which spewed freely from Abner's mouth. Don't ask me to explain, just believe it. ... Just kidding. Today we talked about the birth of Christ as related in Matthew. I didn't know an hour and a half could be spent on two verses like that. He went into detail on the predictions in Isaiah 7, 8, and 9. We all have heard different perspectives of some kind (i.e. dual fulfillment, obvious evidence/prediction of virgin birth, etc. If the passage doesn't ring a bell, grab an hour, read it, and think about it... no really, think about it.) Regardless of what we've heard, Abner's explanation was both astounding and so amazing and detail-oriented that I couldn't even begin to tell it, my heart and mind are reeling. I loved it. The one lecture that I definitely should have recorded and I was so preoccupied listening that I forgot. I love this class, I love what it makes me do, I love how it makes me think and how it makes me realize that I have so much to learn. The more I learn the less I know.
Second important thing of the day, sort of a two-parter actually. I got up early and talked to Jordi, I got a letter from Jordi. In the same day. Chronologically speaking. The day started great, turned amazing, came to wonderful, passed go, gave me 200 dollars, and the I landed on boardwalk.
What is this boardwalk of which I speak? O ho ho, let me tell you! Once a week in February Bill and his family (the Schlegels) have 10 of us over for dinner. Daniel and I went tonight (along with Brian, Mike, Lily, Jessica Wick, Stephanie, Bekah, Heather, and Breanna. I say their names just to help you out. Group photos/other photo updates of what we do can be found at ibexsemester.com - which I somehow forgot to mention earlier, whoops. Thanks for the reminder J). Anyway, it was real food. It was a lot of food. It was delicious food. We had lasagna, homemade rolls (like your homemade bread mom, so good!) salad and corn. It was sort of like american food, only better, because we haven't had such "scrumptious vittles" in a little while. For the first time in 3-ish weeks, I am really, really full. Plus we had brownies from heaven. All in all, I wish that would happen more often.
So there you have it. The top three of the day. If I get a chance I will write up that promised food network special F.I.L.A.F.E.L.S. this weekend, we'll see.
Have a good one.
And read Psalm 1, Bill had Mike read it after dinner, always a good reminder.
To do it chronologically would be slightly confusing, so I will go a different route.
In Life of Christ my brain was shattered by a wave of genius, which spewed freely from Abner's mouth. Don't ask me to explain, just believe it. ... Just kidding. Today we talked about the birth of Christ as related in Matthew. I didn't know an hour and a half could be spent on two verses like that. He went into detail on the predictions in Isaiah 7, 8, and 9. We all have heard different perspectives of some kind (i.e. dual fulfillment, obvious evidence/prediction of virgin birth, etc. If the passage doesn't ring a bell, grab an hour, read it, and think about it... no really, think about it.) Regardless of what we've heard, Abner's explanation was both astounding and so amazing and detail-oriented that I couldn't even begin to tell it, my heart and mind are reeling. I loved it. The one lecture that I definitely should have recorded and I was so preoccupied listening that I forgot. I love this class, I love what it makes me do, I love how it makes me think and how it makes me realize that I have so much to learn. The more I learn the less I know.
Second important thing of the day, sort of a two-parter actually. I got up early and talked to Jordi, I got a letter from Jordi. In the same day. Chronologically speaking. The day started great, turned amazing, came to wonderful, passed go, gave me 200 dollars, and the I landed on boardwalk.
What is this boardwalk of which I speak? O ho ho, let me tell you! Once a week in February Bill and his family (the Schlegels) have 10 of us over for dinner. Daniel and I went tonight (along with Brian, Mike, Lily, Jessica Wick, Stephanie, Bekah, Heather, and Breanna. I say their names just to help you out. Group photos/other photo updates of what we do can be found at ibexsemester.com - which I somehow forgot to mention earlier, whoops. Thanks for the reminder J). Anyway, it was real food. It was a lot of food. It was delicious food. We had lasagna, homemade rolls (like your homemade bread mom, so good!) salad and corn. It was sort of like american food, only better, because we haven't had such "scrumptious vittles" in a little while. For the first time in 3-ish weeks, I am really, really full. Plus we had brownies from heaven. All in all, I wish that would happen more often.
So there you have it. The top three of the day. If I get a chance I will write up that promised food network special F.I.L.A.F.E.L.S. this weekend, we'll see.
Have a good one.
And read Psalm 1, Bill had Mike read it after dinner, always a good reminder.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
On the road to Jericho...
In the words of Christian music superstar, Keith Green, "I left Jerusalem last week for Jericho." Except that it was today, not last week, and I suppose technically I didn't leave from Jerusalem first, though we did go through it on the way...
Anyway, today was field trip day (like every Wednesday will be). We went to so many places! It was crazy. But in reality we were never more than 20 miles from "home." We drove to the west to the Valley of Aijalon (where the sun stood still/God lobbed hailstones at the Amorites). Then we made our way west, stopping along the way on a ridge that looked out toward the coast. People, Israel is amazing country. So pretty and SO diverse. The Hill Country, where we were standing, overlooks the Shephelah (pronounced "Shvelah" - it basically means low foothills) and the coastal plain. The coast is about 25 miles from us, maybe a little more, but you would never be able to tell when you stand outside here.
During the day we went to Geba, Ramah, Gibeah (which is where the "ruins" of the Jordanian palace that was never finished because of the 6 Day War in '67) Michmash, Gibeon, etc. They are all in the Central Benjamin Plateau, which is north of Jerusalem and a key crossroads area even today, but especially in Bible times. For some reference, Samuel lived in Ramah, King Saul had his palace at Gibeah, Jonathan toasted some Philistines at Michmash, the main "highway" in the Hill Country that ran north-south went through this area as did the main access highways from the east (Jericho) and west (Gezer, Aijalon, etc). So this is big-time territory.
But the coolest thing I noticed was that when we stood at the top of a ridge near Geba is that we could see clear to Tel-Aviv at the coast on one side and the high plateaus of Jordan on the other. I could stand on a mountain and look across the whole country! Standing at about 3000 feet above sea level I could look at the Mediterranean (barely visible in the haze) and down at the Jordan Rift Valley/ Dead Sea (-1000 ft sea level). Pretty awe-inspiring. So much happened in so little an area, our God is pretty phenomenal.
Our day ended at Jericho, which is not that big around, the flannel-graphs are deceiving people. We say the leftovers of the wall of the time of Joshua - for a quite interesting, but detailed, explanation of the walls and how they fell and all of that ask me when I get home, I'll be glad to share my new knowledge :) It was pretty cool to see a wall that is part of one of the oldest cities in the world. And since it's in Palestinian-controlled territory their archaeological security is pretty lax so we could look around for potsherds (broken pieces of ancient pottery). My friend Brandon found a sweet jug-handle and I found a semi-large piece that has the painting decoration on it (decoration is a relative term, apparently the Canaanites thought two parallel lines was pretty artsy, but hey, no one else found something so cool)
It was a good, good day. Lots of walking, lots of sunshine, some delicious coconut ice cream at an Israeli mall, amazing realism brought to even the more mundane parts of Scripture... what more could a small-town college student ask for?
Anyway, today was field trip day (like every Wednesday will be). We went to so many places! It was crazy. But in reality we were never more than 20 miles from "home." We drove to the west to the Valley of Aijalon (where the sun stood still/God lobbed hailstones at the Amorites). Then we made our way west, stopping along the way on a ridge that looked out toward the coast. People, Israel is amazing country. So pretty and SO diverse. The Hill Country, where we were standing, overlooks the Shephelah (pronounced "Shvelah" - it basically means low foothills) and the coastal plain. The coast is about 25 miles from us, maybe a little more, but you would never be able to tell when you stand outside here.
During the day we went to Geba, Ramah, Gibeah (which is where the "ruins" of the Jordanian palace that was never finished because of the 6 Day War in '67) Michmash, Gibeon, etc. They are all in the Central Benjamin Plateau, which is north of Jerusalem and a key crossroads area even today, but especially in Bible times. For some reference, Samuel lived in Ramah, King Saul had his palace at Gibeah, Jonathan toasted some Philistines at Michmash, the main "highway" in the Hill Country that ran north-south went through this area as did the main access highways from the east (Jericho) and west (Gezer, Aijalon, etc). So this is big-time territory.
But the coolest thing I noticed was that when we stood at the top of a ridge near Geba is that we could see clear to Tel-Aviv at the coast on one side and the high plateaus of Jordan on the other. I could stand on a mountain and look across the whole country! Standing at about 3000 feet above sea level I could look at the Mediterranean (barely visible in the haze) and down at the Jordan Rift Valley/ Dead Sea (-1000 ft sea level). Pretty awe-inspiring. So much happened in so little an area, our God is pretty phenomenal.
Our day ended at Jericho, which is not that big around, the flannel-graphs are deceiving people. We say the leftovers of the wall of the time of Joshua - for a quite interesting, but detailed, explanation of the walls and how they fell and all of that ask me when I get home, I'll be glad to share my new knowledge :) It was pretty cool to see a wall that is part of one of the oldest cities in the world. And since it's in Palestinian-controlled territory their archaeological security is pretty lax so we could look around for potsherds (broken pieces of ancient pottery). My friend Brandon found a sweet jug-handle and I found a semi-large piece that has the painting decoration on it (decoration is a relative term, apparently the Canaanites thought two parallel lines was pretty artsy, but hey, no one else found something so cool)
It was a good, good day. Lots of walking, lots of sunshine, some delicious coconut ice cream at an Israeli mall, amazing realism brought to even the more mundane parts of Scripture... what more could a small-town college student ask for?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
I gotta be honest...
You are about to read one of those posts that lays out how I feel in the middle of something trying. So please don't hold it against me and remember it's not always like this here in Israel.
In the way of being honest, I am discouraged. I cannot think of anything in recent Eli history that so quickly demoralizes me as Modern Hebrew. I am sitting in the library listening to the quasi-lecture* from last class - Bill has recorded mini-sessions that go through the stuff in the book that we cover and practice in class. Up to this point I have felt like we have gone too fast a few times. It is discouraging when he's flying through a section that isn't quite clicking in your brain. In fact, it's downright demoralizing.
[Quick sidenote: But it is pretty amazing that in like 4 class sessions I can read Hebrew letters and pronounce the words I see (somewhat) and I do have a small running vocabulary. The issue here is thinking the language, which is much, much more than just reading it.]
So just a few minutes ago (actually, right before I paused to type this complaint :) I was working through that last section and not at all following what was going on. It's too fast, it's difficult, it literally makes your brain hurt from thinking in different ways and using different parts, I'm whining, etc... It made me want to give up. For a second I was running scenarios in my brain (which is not at all new, those who know me well know that I do it to a fault sometimes). I was thinking (at an extreme moment) how I would be able to drop the class and pick up another or just plain drop it altogether. Then I remembered I kind of want to learn it plus I really hate quitting anything. We don't quit things in my family (except, of course, when God's leading trumps family practice i.e. summer/fall 07 soccer/RA experience). So I'll stick with Hebrew.
What I mean to say this. Life is not all pita bread and roses around here. Contrary to popular belief, I do have schoolwork - who knew? :) And it is tough sometimes. Like now.
Now that I am done complaining, I wish to say this: Life here is amazing. Life here is challenging academically. But more than that, life here is amazingly challenging to my heart (not to belittle the mental challenge of course). I don't think I can fully relate how overwhelming a regular day can be. We learn so much, think so much, grow so much, and even question all that we know as we see more of who our God is. Right now I have a love/dislike relationship with all of that.
All in all, Modern Hebrew is a tipping point for me -- I think it will be all semester. It has the potential (note: only the potential, not anything more) to discourage me or make me fall into the temptation of being really grumpy (or is it cranky? I forget which is worse, remind me again Jordi?) It's what I do with it (and all of my classes) that will really make this semester the greatest, most challenging, most worthwhile, most life-changing semester of my life.
Right now it's just going to take a little change in the heart attitude via prayer and a little hard work.
I guess I can handle that.
*In case you are unfamiliar with the usage of "quasi-..." here is definition: "supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, ostensibly, on the face of it, on the surface, to all intents and purposes, purportedly; pseudo-, to some extent, half, relatively, comparatively, (up) to a point; almost, nearly, just about."
In the way of being honest, I am discouraged. I cannot think of anything in recent Eli history that so quickly demoralizes me as Modern Hebrew. I am sitting in the library listening to the quasi-lecture* from last class - Bill has recorded mini-sessions that go through the stuff in the book that we cover and practice in class. Up to this point I have felt like we have gone too fast a few times. It is discouraging when he's flying through a section that isn't quite clicking in your brain. In fact, it's downright demoralizing.
[Quick sidenote: But it is pretty amazing that in like 4 class sessions I can read Hebrew letters and pronounce the words I see (somewhat) and I do have a small running vocabulary. The issue here is thinking the language, which is much, much more than just reading it.]
So just a few minutes ago (actually, right before I paused to type this complaint :) I was working through that last section and not at all following what was going on. It's too fast, it's difficult, it literally makes your brain hurt from thinking in different ways and using different parts, I'm whining, etc... It made me want to give up. For a second I was running scenarios in my brain (which is not at all new, those who know me well know that I do it to a fault sometimes). I was thinking (at an extreme moment) how I would be able to drop the class and pick up another or just plain drop it altogether. Then I remembered I kind of want to learn it plus I really hate quitting anything. We don't quit things in my family (except, of course, when God's leading trumps family practice i.e. summer/fall 07 soccer/RA experience). So I'll stick with Hebrew.
What I mean to say this. Life is not all pita bread and roses around here. Contrary to popular belief, I do have schoolwork - who knew? :) And it is tough sometimes. Like now.
Now that I am done complaining, I wish to say this: Life here is amazing. Life here is challenging academically. But more than that, life here is amazingly challenging to my heart (not to belittle the mental challenge of course). I don't think I can fully relate how overwhelming a regular day can be. We learn so much, think so much, grow so much, and even question all that we know as we see more of who our God is. Right now I have a love/dislike relationship with all of that.
All in all, Modern Hebrew is a tipping point for me -- I think it will be all semester. It has the potential (note: only the potential, not anything more) to discourage me or make me fall into the temptation of being really grumpy (or is it cranky? I forget which is worse, remind me again Jordi?) It's what I do with it (and all of my classes) that will really make this semester the greatest, most challenging, most worthwhile, most life-changing semester of my life.
Right now it's just going to take a little change in the heart attitude via prayer and a little hard work.
I guess I can handle that.
*In case you are unfamiliar with the usage of "quasi-..." here is definition: "supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, ostensibly, on the face of it, on the surface, to all intents and purposes, purportedly; pseudo-, to some extent, half, relatively, comparatively, (up) to a point; almost, nearly, just about."
Monday, February 2, 2009
I'm like a real football fan or something!
Alas, I have broken my 2 week running record of updates. But you will get over it, it's not like most of you check this on Superbowl Sunday anyway.
Speaking of Sunday, I went on a hike. It was so nice to be outside doing something, even if it did do a little raining throughout the day. We walked west and northwest down the ridge that we sit on. The route we took was actually a route way back in the day, the Kiriat Jearim Ridge Route (we learned about it today). 8 guys went, which meant that there were several instances of ridiculous behavior and many more instances of climbing on stuff. At a high point on the ridge there were ruins of an old Roman fortress and further down the road (it's a road/trail that Israel's Nature Society has developed) there were a bunch of Roman mile markers, big pillar-like things that we climbed on. Certainly a beautiful day in the Holy Land.
After doing homework, eating, doing homework, etc. I went to bed. But only for about an hour and half. You know why? No? Well let me 'splain to you.
Unlike the decent hour at which you all viewed the Cardinals vs. Steelers Super Bowl extravaganza, with all of your chips and dip and non-kosher pizza, over here it was another story. You see, over here we live most of the day before you even get up (even you Cathy, who gets up about the same time most Farrar boys go to bed :). So that means that the Super Bowl started at 1 am. Yes, 1 am. But don't you worry, I was up at midnight, one of our friends here was sick/homesick/her family has the biggest Super Bowl shindig known to east-central California, so we had a little party for her and then watched the game.
Now I am not crazy. Maybe close, but not all the way. So I went to bed around 2, meaning I watched the first quarter, but the weirdos who watched the whole thing stayed up until about 5:30! a.m.! What a waste of sleep. Fortunately we had class at 10:30 instead of 8, but still, I choose sleep.
So there you go, I got up in the middle of the night to watch football. Who would have thought it? But there was pizza (cheese, with this Amazing salt-spice stuff, yum).
As for today... I felt good, even on 7 1/2 hours of broken sleep. Classes were, as usual, wonderful. I can't even explain how easy it is to stay focused during a 2 hour class session. I love it. Pray that it sticks.
Here's a good part of the day: after class (about 3:30) I was going to do homework or play soccer and then do homework before dinner. Instead I took a nap. The plan was for an hour. It was two :)
I feel great, plus I have discovered the unique and wonderful feeling of a sauna. Four or five of the guys and I went, I think this will become a routine behavior. Naps, food, sauna, not doing homework, ahh... what a life.
Sidenote times 2:
First thing, some of you asked about food. Stay tuned for my upcoming issue entitled "Filafels: Food In the Land And Food Eli LikeS"
Second, You probably knew before I did that Israel has resumed firing/rocketing/etc. on Gaza. I could hear planes yesterday, but didn't know what they were. I can hear planes right now and throughout the day we heard planes and a few far off "Boom!'s" But never fear, we are far away, feeling good, and fine. Hamas is good at breaking cease-fires, Israel is good at military things, and the profs here are good at taking care of us. If you want a good idea of how safe we are, check this out: Wednesday is our field study day. This time we are going to areas of Benjamin (this is the tribal allotment stuff you always skim in the book of Joshua). The ancient territory of Benjamin includes Jerusalem, Gibeah, Ramah, Geba, Mizpah, Jericho, Gezer, etc. Anyway, today much of that territory is in a little area we fondly refer to as "the West Bank." And to qualm all of your fears, we're going there. So don't worry about us. We're fine over here.
If I see any shrapnel I'll box it up and send it home as a souvenir.
Speaking of Sunday, I went on a hike. It was so nice to be outside doing something, even if it did do a little raining throughout the day. We walked west and northwest down the ridge that we sit on. The route we took was actually a route way back in the day, the Kiriat Jearim Ridge Route (we learned about it today). 8 guys went, which meant that there were several instances of ridiculous behavior and many more instances of climbing on stuff. At a high point on the ridge there were ruins of an old Roman fortress and further down the road (it's a road/trail that Israel's Nature Society has developed) there were a bunch of Roman mile markers, big pillar-like things that we climbed on. Certainly a beautiful day in the Holy Land.
After doing homework, eating, doing homework, etc. I went to bed. But only for about an hour and half. You know why? No? Well let me 'splain to you.
Unlike the decent hour at which you all viewed the Cardinals vs. Steelers Super Bowl extravaganza, with all of your chips and dip and non-kosher pizza, over here it was another story. You see, over here we live most of the day before you even get up (even you Cathy, who gets up about the same time most Farrar boys go to bed :). So that means that the Super Bowl started at 1 am. Yes, 1 am. But don't you worry, I was up at midnight, one of our friends here was sick/homesick/her family has the biggest Super Bowl shindig known to east-central California, so we had a little party for her and then watched the game.
Now I am not crazy. Maybe close, but not all the way. So I went to bed around 2, meaning I watched the first quarter, but the weirdos who watched the whole thing stayed up until about 5:30! a.m.! What a waste of sleep. Fortunately we had class at 10:30 instead of 8, but still, I choose sleep.
So there you go, I got up in the middle of the night to watch football. Who would have thought it? But there was pizza (cheese, with this Amazing salt-spice stuff, yum).
As for today... I felt good, even on 7 1/2 hours of broken sleep. Classes were, as usual, wonderful. I can't even explain how easy it is to stay focused during a 2 hour class session. I love it. Pray that it sticks.
Here's a good part of the day: after class (about 3:30) I was going to do homework or play soccer and then do homework before dinner. Instead I took a nap. The plan was for an hour. It was two :)
I feel great, plus I have discovered the unique and wonderful feeling of a sauna. Four or five of the guys and I went, I think this will become a routine behavior. Naps, food, sauna, not doing homework, ahh... what a life.
Sidenote times 2:
First thing, some of you asked about food. Stay tuned for my upcoming issue entitled "Filafels: Food In the Land And Food Eli LikeS"
Second, You probably knew before I did that Israel has resumed firing/rocketing/etc. on Gaza. I could hear planes yesterday, but didn't know what they were. I can hear planes right now and throughout the day we heard planes and a few far off "Boom!'s" But never fear, we are far away, feeling good, and fine. Hamas is good at breaking cease-fires, Israel is good at military things, and the profs here are good at taking care of us. If you want a good idea of how safe we are, check this out: Wednesday is our field study day. This time we are going to areas of Benjamin (this is the tribal allotment stuff you always skim in the book of Joshua). The ancient territory of Benjamin includes Jerusalem, Gibeah, Ramah, Geba, Mizpah, Jericho, Gezer, etc. Anyway, today much of that territory is in a little area we fondly refer to as "the West Bank." And to qualm all of your fears, we're going there. So don't worry about us. We're fine over here.
If I see any shrapnel I'll box it up and send it home as a souvenir.
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