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

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!

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!

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!

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

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…]

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

So, I started the day with a really fabulous run along the Sea of Galilee at sunrise: I saw people camping, fishing, and even a couple of Jewish men praying. It reminded me how much I value running when I travel–it allows me to see things I wouldn’t normally see [like a bevy of quail…… Continue reading Day Three–The Sea and the Mountains