Middle of the voyage...sailing the political and spiritual waters of Israel - Baptism and Bethlehem

The students of the Boise Vineyard Christian Home School Co-op are mid-way through their Israel trip. 

Susan and I are enjoying their presence more than I can express in mere words. Their sincere and intense interest in their faith, in the politics of Israel, in the history of the Old and New Testament and in their fully realizing that we're REALLY all the same,has been so uplifting to Susan and me.

We've been discussing the political nature of Israel - even as it pertains to touring the country. 

For example, in order for us to travel from Jerusalem to Bethlehem we cannot use an Israeli bus driver. We can't use an Israeli bus. So that means we've got to use an Arab connection...and that ALSO means that we cannot go to a certain study area in Israel, with that new driver...because he's Arab! Aghh. Frustrating...but it IS the way it IS.

 Yesterday, as a lay Pastor at the Vineyard, I had the honor of baptizing three of the students in the Jordan River. Pastor Sam Calk, of Texas, joined me. 

The discussion among and between the students, in preparation for a possible re-baptism, was VERY interesting. They struggled.

These are Seniors in High School who know their math, know their science, know their English and THEY KNOW THEIR THEOLOGY. They entered into some deep discussion about the act of baptism and the outward expression of an inward spiritual occurrence. They wanted this possible act in Israel to represent their views of God and of the new birth, so many years now mature in their lives.

Plainly put: they know their stuff. For us to watch them wrestle with the deeper meanings of life and God when so many of their peers simply seem to ignore this line of thinking in favor of fulfilling their personal and seemingly selfish passions, is amazing to me.

I've been scouting the countryside for potential places that could, in the future, be beautiful places to video/film. The countryside of Israel is stunning in its subtropical climate...but it's much, much more beautiful in the cultural fabric of its everyday life....Jews, Druze, Arabs, Christians of every stripe, secular Israelis and international visitors, like these four students. These kids fit in.

At one point today, at the pool of Bethesda, we read from the New Testament about a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years and was asked by Jesus if he wanted to be healed. We prayed for Hannah Freeman, whose brain tumor changed her life 4 years ago.Hannah understood the words of Jesus, more than I will EVER be able to understand them. She wants to be healed AND she is grateful that the fact of a brain tumor brought her to her knees to re-seek her Creator...and find Him. She is healed, already, and she is waiting for her body to catch-up to her fresh and clean spirit.

I could hear Koreans, who were just around the corner from us, reading the same words in their language...and a little distance off, I could hear people from Spain reading it too. I saw Orthodox Jews walking by and I saw some Arab businessmen selling items just outside...a rich tapestry...one worthy of God's signature.

Colin has been placing daily events on his FaceBook...and they can be read by clicking onto mine, as well.

May the things these students are learning be learned by you and me. May the things with which they struggle be honestly struggled with by us, as well.

And may the joy in their faces be the joy in our hearts...

Den

 

Comments

[Jim Dalos Jr]

thanks for the encourage word & tell Hanna I will be Praying for Her as I have CP