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.

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.

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.

The aforementioned video and my Address

The IBEX singers in their second international performance:
For the first time in Hebrew, with English subtitles! -- ok, not really, but pretend.





Also, in case You want to know, here is my address:

Eli (or Elijah) Conlee - IBEX Box #5
Moshav Yad HaShmonah
D.N. Harei Yehudah
90895 ISRAEL

- Not that great numbers of people have - or ever will - ask for this, but I operate on hope, so this is the fruit of that :)