The church on the Mount of BeatitudesThe cave where Elijah is said to have heard God in the silenceThe rock on which Jesus is said to have breakfasted with his disciples after the resurrection, at the Sea of GalileeAt the Church of the Annunciation – the image from ThailandMuskrats in the Jordan RiverThe cute National…… Continue reading My Top Ten Pictures of Israel thus Far
Author: happylutheran
I am the president at Wartburg Theological Seminary, my beloved alma mater. I am an inveterate optimist, runner, vegetarian, and harp player. I love Mary Oliver and Gerard Manley Hopkins, and like them, I'm continually delighted by all the surprising and wonderful ways God shows up in the world.
Pictures from Day 10
The Bell Caves at Bet GuvrinThe NegevThe Long-fingered BatThe Holiest of Holies at Arad
Animals–Common & Unique
I cannot tell a lie: when I am finally back home and telling tales from this trip, trying to recount from memory all that I did and saw, I guarantee that I will forget this day entirely! Why? Because it was a day of rocks; and, as should be patently clear to even the casual…… Continue reading Animals–Common & Unique
Pictures from Jerusalem
The Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of OlivesJew praying at the Western WallOn the Via DolorosaThe altar over the place where Jesus was buriedThe Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu,commemorating where Peter denied JesusThe Church of the Holy SepulchreThe Dome of the RockThe rock inside the Church of All Nations, where Jesus is…… Continue reading Pictures from Jerusalem
Day Eight–REALLY Holy Places!
So, today I finally get a chance to do a little comparative theology! Most of you know that my sabbatical work is geared toward practical research and writing in comparative theology, which is a most fascinating, wonderful discipline that begins from one’s own committed faith position, goes out from one’s spiritual home & dwells for…… Continue reading Day Eight–REALLY Holy Places!
Day Seven–Jerusalem!
It has been totally amazing to be here in Jerusalem today–I’m so glad we are finally here! I think I’m glad we did the trip in the order we did, though: I feel like we had some time in more isolated spots to get used to being in Israel just generally; and now we are…… Continue reading Day Seven–Jerusalem!
A Special Treat on Day Six
Just finished my blog post for the day, and turned on the tv as a reward. What did I find? The Steelers/Broncos game! Nothing better than watching the game when I know the sweet, sweet outcome that awaits! I am grateful for the nice touch of home!
Day Six–Holy Places, Sinless Muskrats
What a day it has been today: long, rich, interesting, and invigorating–lots of walking outside in beautiful weather. We checked out of our hotel this morning and headed to Kursi [I should have mentioned earlier that all of these sites are national parks]. Again, according to Christian tradition, Kursi is the site of the “miracle…… Continue reading Day Six–Holy Places, Sinless Muskrats
Day Five–Mosaics & Tebow [not necessarily in that order…]
Forgive me, dear brothers and sisters, for I have sinned. Today, here, surrounded by my rich Jewish-Christian heritage, indeed enmeshed in this very “holy land” [as we are incessantly reminded], I must confess that the very best part of my whole day happened first thing this morning, when I got the news that my Bronocos…… Continue reading Day Five–Mosaics & Tebow [not necessarily in that order…]
Day Four–As Authentic as it Gets
So, today was another full day [aren’t they all?!], and on the Jesus-authenticity meter, we were at about a 9 or so today–as good as it gets, I think. [I’m still working out if and how that matters….] We spent the whole day right around Capernaum. Incidentally, one of the sources Christians today use to…… Continue reading Day Four–As Authentic as it Gets
Happy Lutheran 