This rain is a blessing,

I woke up early this morning, and after stepping outside I turned back to grab my rain coat. Rain coat on I headed to meet the bus for the short term group to make sure everything was in going well for them. Thankfully this all happened during a break in the rain, so they weren't wet getting on the bus. I felt bad for them, they were north of the city, and from what I recall, some of those sites don't have much cover if it decides to rain. Couldn't it wait to a better time?

Back on campus and the rain continues, on and off, sometimes heavier, sometimes just misting. Everyone inside, trying to stay dry. The seasons are definitely changing.

I have always viewed rain as a necessary blessing. It was a critical part of life, it is a need - for water, and God gives it in its due season. This could not be truer here. Last winter was particularly dry, and if there is another dry year, things won't be good for agriculture. The land depends on the winter rain, the rain in its season.

At lunch it came up that because of how far east we are - we don't tend to get the heavy downpours, rather we get sprinkles and rain, then a little later some more sprinkles. This too is a blessing. The land is rocky. If water comes too fast it can't soak into the ground - even in land where it isn't rocky. A rainy day is better to water the plants than all of it as once.

And then there are the unexpected blessings.

Today is Friday. Tensions have been high in Jerusalem this last week and a half. Lives have been lost, and violence has broken out mostly in the East parts of the city. There are extra police - and they were getting ready for Friday - the day of traditional prayers. One of the news sites I looked at mentioned that the Palestine's were being encouraged to have a 'Day of Rage' against the events that have happened over these past weeks. In particular the temple mount being completely closed yesterday.

Mid-morning, while working in the office and seeing the rain, during a heavier rainfall, it occurred to me. If anything is going to discourage a 'Day of Rage' or riots and protest. A persistent, cold, wet rain will do better than anything else. (In addition it makes the rocks very slippery - I'm guessing it is harder to run too)

Maybe God knows our true need better than we do. A day of violence and protest won't do any good, probably only end up getting more people hurt and killed.  Maybe God know and is able to enact the simplest, yet most effective way of dampening the rage, all while nurturing the land. This rain wasn't a surprise, we knew it was going to be a wet weekend, but maybe God's greatest blessings can be found in the ordinary things.

How simple is it to overlook the blessings in life? To simply stand by and see it as an ordinary thing, good in itself, but when God uses it, it can be so much more.

the past week or two

During a tour of the Holy Sepulcher the Armenians were having their service, beautiful singing. 

Every morning I see these crows outside - thankfully they don't make that much noise.

 I guess they are getting ready too.

 Saw some young ones hanging around too 

Had a short field study this week too. Looking out towards Gezer. 

 Map Work :)

 Looking over the Aijalon Valley

'and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace'

I was reading this passage over, and in the light of recent news reports and conversation about peace, it stands out.

Peace. It seems that our world is anything but peaceful. It doesn't take long to find stories of how peace is shattered. Tensions are high, the attack in Ottawa, the light-rail attack in Jerusalem, the continuing devastating attacks in Syria, the uncertainty of ISIS, the spread of Ebola, and numerous other events, long-term and sudden crises that can shake up close to home or far away.

Stand your ground. It is a phrase that is used earlier in this passage. Soldier are ready before the battle even begins. They are familiar with their equipment, of which their shoes are an important part. They may have walked many miles in those shoes before they see anything. Just as in your favourite running shoes, you know when they start to loosen up in places, how to adjust or tighten the laces to make it feel 'fitted' again.

It seems that we often wait until a time of turmoil to think about and seek 'peace', but if we have a gospel of peace, should we not familiar it before? Should we not know where we stand and what this gospel require of us? Have our shoes become loose in ways that we don't know how to fix?

The other day I had a conversation with a group of fellow students about peace and what it looks like. As foreigners we don't have the ability to fight the local fight for peace. It isn't our fight, we are merely bystanders, who can encourage, but we can't solve it alone. And while this isn't our fight, we can't take a role of apathy either, our role is different.

In the conversation it came out that Christ didn't concern himself with the nationalistic vision of Israel - to get rid of the Romans, but rather many of his teachings are concerned with the relationship closer to you, making peace with a brother, loving a neighbor, respecting authority, or welcoming children.

When considering this - the turmoil that happens - it is within a large picture, it concerns people on a nationalistic level.  Yet it seems to impact us on a individual, all the while, think about yesterday, my relationship with people I came in contact with didn't change at all because of it. I was no more or no less at 'peace' with anyone I talked to, yet my mind was more consumed with thought and concerns of 'peace'.

What if this gospel of peace is more concerned with the relationships of the people around us than the lack of conflicts on a national level. What if we were more concerned about the persons who we came in contact with, that the big scary 'thing' 'out there'.

Feet fitted with the readiness.  Knowing where I stand before I try to fight. I know 'gospel' means good news, and I know that Christ is the Prince of Peace. The good news of peace. Peace on all levels. Paul reminds us that our sins have been paid for and we can be at peace with God. If we use that peace to define peace, just as we use the model of God's love to define real love.  (we love because he first loved us)

If we are at peace with God, we truly have little to worry about. We know the bigger picture. God will win the victory. Our Father knows what we need, and will provide it. Therefore if we are certain of this peace, it should show up throughout our lives. and just like ebola starts with one case and spreads, maybe peace should be the same way, starting with each person who fearlessly declares the mystery of the gospel to spread peace within their circles of contact.

I am not saying these things to belittle the events that are happening. We are commanded to 'pray on all occasion, with all kinds of prayers and request,'  but we also have access to the greatest peace and maybe in the times of turmoil, the greater the contrast, and the greater message.

Rhythms and Complacency

I love rhythms.
I think most people like some sort of rhythm, even if it is a rhythm of spontaneity.

I have a normal time of waking up,  I have a normal breakfast time, place to eat and people I eat with. I tend to go for the same foods, the same beverages, and when I find something enjoy, I need a good reason  to try something else. I have a system of keeping my life organized so that I know what to expect and can plan for tomorrow, next week or next year.

Life in Israel has shown me a little about the feasts that God told his people to celebrate. Two seasons of celebration. On in the spring starting with Passover, and one in the fall starting with Rosh HaShanah, Now we are back to 'normal' days. They actually have a word or a phrase referring to the 'times after the holidays'.  The time when life starts to fall back into the normal rhythms of a work week (however than be defined here), schools start classes again, and life begins to fall into an expected rhythm.

I have heard the example of life being a combination of 'mountain-top' and 'valley-low' experiences, yet the way I experience it, it isn't always climbing or running down, there is a lot of flat land to cover too. And maybe the life on the flat-ground; the places where there is nothing really spectacular, and nothing really tragic, where our true character and endurance can be strengthened. The times when it is easy enough to do it on my own, not 'spectacular' enough that all would automatically recognize it as a miracle of God, and not lonely or hard enough to signal my heart that I need to turn to God or I'll never make it through.

Life likes the flat grounds. Even in real life, road, trails and natural routes like to follow the flat ground - it is easier to walk a mile of flat ground around the mountain than to go half a mile straight over it. In life - we get through the valley and aim for the places we know what to expect. We breath a sigh when vacation ends and life returns to normal. We settle in when school starts back up, as difficult as the change is, or tiring a Monday morning, we appreciate the 'getting back to normal'.

So rhythms - on the flat ground, the rhythms that give shape to our days weeks and years. They show a lot about what is important and how who we are. What are our priorities and what do we value? Some of the rhythms of my day and week I wish that I had better control of, getting homework done so I can sleep on time, making sure I can spend time in the word of God, being intentional about spending time with people.

There is a temptation to let my life fill up with rhythms that are so predictable that I don't keep time open for the unexpected and the time to really grow in faith and understanding.  Yes, on flat ground we could cover twenty miles in a day, but you'll learn a lot more about yourself, the people around you, and the path you are on, if you only go ten.

The Bible study I go to starts out usually by asking what has gone on in the past  two weeks, what have we learned, or what has God been showing us. Thinking about those questions has made me realize that the flat ground is an interesting time where there is potential for great benefit, but also potential for none at all.

One aspect of the rhythms in my life is a rhythm of 'distractions' - things that fill my time with really little to no benefit on long-term goals or present situations. The tv shows that I enjoy, a game I play on the computer, the logic puzzles, or pleasure reading are not 'bad', but if I were to let them take up all my time, they would be considered as such.  On a mountain-top or a valley-low, these could very easily be dropped out, but it is on the flat ground where they fill up my time. On the 'flat ground' I can let complacency take lead because it isn't hard work, I can let myself slip into a rhythm that doesn't allow time for important things.

On the other hand, 'flat ground' could be a time of benefit. It can be a time where, if I am intentional, I can learn a rhythm that supports what is important to me, and values what I want to value. Maybe it is the little things, like getting up a half hour earlier and spending a little time in God's word, or maybe it is not checking facebook another time before I start my homework. Or sticking to going to be on time instead of watching that one episode.

God gives us seasons and places to which he has called us. Each has it's own rhythms and pace. But God is bigger than the situation we are in, and as children of God it is to our benefit that we can see a the bigger perspective. Maybe the best rhythm for me is to go ten miles a day well, than 20 miles fast, anyways God never said that the winner was the one who went the furthest, just to run this race well.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrew 12:1-2

Fall holidays, the first half

At this time of year we get to celebrate the Fall Holy days.  We are about half way through them. Sukkot is still coming up, but here's some pictures from the first part... and some extras.

Everything ready for Rosh HaShannah (Jewish New Year) dinner!

Yom Kippur - While it is a day of fasting, we still had Shabbat dinner, but because the local stores weren't making Challah for Shabbat, we made our own.

Campfire one evening to hang out at,

Yom Kippur. 

Everything closes down for the day, all the road as empty. The usual noises of traffic are absent. The only cars out are police or ambulance. 

And so you can walk in the middle of a major road... just because you can.

and there are lots of bikes out today!