What was the impact of the Israel trip? Here are some reflections from the people who made the 12-day, 12,000-mile (round trip), 125,000-step journey.
Pat Ferraro: I have so many experiences from this trip, it’s just amazing. Being baptized in the Jordan River was a big deal. I had been baptized before, but this I saw as a milestone marker for me. It was a big deal because I see a transition in my life. God has been doing a work. I wanted to do that to put a stake in the ground to say this is a spot, and this is a point in time where I’m going to move on and be the guy God created me to be.
Mary Trager: It was being baptized in the Jordan River and just having the opportunity to renew my commitment to the Lord. He’s been so faithful to me, in taking care of me and His promises are true and real. I have felt that here this week. It’s been an awesome week.
Marcia Hayes: It gives me a whole new respect for Israel. It’s been a dream for me to come, to share this with my sister has been special. Every day has its moments. I felt the Lord speaking to me. I’ve been on many mission trips with groups. First of all this is a unique group. Everybody got along and laughed and it was all good. But I’ve never ever seen couples treasure each other as much as I did with this group. You don’t get that role modeled very often.
Barth Wolf: Looking out over the Sea of Galilee and knowing what Christ did in that area and how he taught and really developed his ministry, I couldn’t help but think, there is only one Christ, and God is everything and he is in everything.
Troy Murphy: I love the knowledge we get in Israel, but I’ve said it a hundred times, knowledge that doesn’t point you to the truth and cause you to change your life is empty religious rituals. If the information is not transferring from your head to your heart, it’s just a ritual. Rituals aren’t evil but they do nothing for your life, and it’s not what Jesus was about.
We have to cross to the other side of the Galilee. In your life if you don’t go to the other side -- you are living around a bunch of lights but you have to cross to the other side. And I think that’s the important thing about this trip. Not just so you got this great Israel experience, but how are you passing it on? How are you giving your life somehow, some way for this cause?
I get excited to watch everyone learn. Your cup has been filled. You’ve got to give that away. That is the life of Jesus. That’s what we want to model.
Size of your heart matters most
March 27
Experiencing the sights and sounds of Israel over the past 10 days has been phenomenal.
But what has made it even better is our traveling party of 34 hearty souls. As our tour guide, Ari, likes to say: We get to have our cake and eat it too.
There are people we’ve met for the first time, people we have known all our lives, and people with which we have made a deeper connection.
It has been great getting to absorb the awesome history of the Holy Land, but taking it in together is what makes it that much more special.
There have been daily scripture readings and reflections by different group members, prayers said over our traveling party, devotionals, shared meals, lots of laughs, serious discussions about life, and for good measure a sheepshead game brought to the Holy Land direct from Wisconsin.
Although the majority of group members attend Green Bay Community Church, there are folks from other churches, and even others states. (We love the people who claim Michigan and South Carolina as their home state just as much as those from Wisconsin!).
It feels like a family sharing the common bond of exploring this incredible country and its rich history.
Maybe everyone is on their best behavior and has been doing a good job of keeping it together for nearly two weeks. But I have seen genuine care and concern for one another. There hasn’t been grumbling or back-biting in the back of the bus (that I know of!) despite some early wake-up calls.
This has been a special group of people to get to know, or get to know better. I feel privileged to be part of this trip and share in the camaraderie and fellowship with 33 other “family" members.
And to top it off, our tour guide, Arie, is passionate, funny, a walking encyclopedia of all things Israel, brutally honest, and incredibly gracious and hospitable.
Arie is hard to miss because he dresses in all-white clothing, including a beanie cap. He and his wife, Judith, surprised the group by inviting us to their condo in Jerusalem for a social gathering earlier this week. They rolled out the red carpet in their all-white condo by offering us delicious snacks, dessert, coffee, wine and good conversation.
Can you imagine inviting 34 people to your condo? We packed the place and had a blast. As Arie said, it’s not the size of your home that matters as much as the size of your heart.
Thanks Arie and Judith for your kindness and opening up your home to our motley collection of travelers!
Israel notebook
We visited the Holocaust Museum in Israel today and it can be described in one word: sobering. The museum was exhaustively researched, with a wealth of photos, videos, artifacts and information about one of the most ghastly periods in human history.
Millions of Jews were murdered, and as hard as it was to listen to and read about the brutality and depravity, it’s important to get exposed to these atrocities in the hope that we don’t let something like this happen again.
I come away asking one question: Why?
Why would humans treat other humans so horrendously? Why would being a Jew merit a death sentence? Why couldn’t something have been done to stop the madness?
One important takeaway from the museum: It wasn’t just the leaders of Nazi Germany that were to blame for the torture, persecution and killing of Jews. It was the majority of the populace that stood by and let it happen, perhaps out of fear or self-preservation.
Nevertheless, may we never stand idly by and allow injustice or prejudice to take place in our midst. May we have the courage to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences.
Every day is Christmas in Bethlehem
March 26
Every day is Christmas Day in Bethlehem. The economy here is largely dependent on tourism, with people and buses flocking to the city where Jesus was born.
We learned during our visit to Bethlehem that despite commonly held beliefs, Jesus was not born in a stable but rather a cave.
The gospels don’t mention a cave, but less than a century after Jesus’ birth reliable accounts suggest that is a logical conclusion. Many houses in the area are still built in front of caves, which would have been used for stabling and storage. That would align with the scripture reference (Luke 2) of Jesus being laid in a manger (feeding trough).
The Church of the Nativity is believed to be the site of Jesus’ birth, and we viewed a cave underneath the church that many scholars suggest is Jesus’ birthplace.
One sobering statistic we learned today: Less than 1% of the population of the Holy Land is considered Christian.
So as exciting as it was to view the shepherd’s fields where the angels appeared to announce the birth of Christ, and to see the location where the baby Jesus entered the world, it is also sad to think so many in this region turn away from saving faith.
Israel notebook
*One of the tourist attractions in Bethlehem is paying $1 to hold a sheep on your shoulders. It’s money well spent for this lesson alone: The sheep goes limp -- or submits -- while you hold it, a picture of how Jesus wants his followers to submit to the master.
*We visited the House of Caiaphas, the high priest who helped to pass a death sentence against Jesus despite his innocence. Ancient ruins display Caiaphas’ palace where Jesus was taken after his arrest and thrown in a dungeon.
This is the same location where Peter the apostle denies Jesus three times.
The Church of St. Peter was built on this site in Jerusalem, prompting someone to ask why a church belonged in a place where such terrible things took place.
The answer points to God’s redemption and grace. Jesus forgave Peter for his denials, and the disciple went on to display a mighty faith in the midst of persecution. Although there is no evidence to suggest Caiaphas turned to faith, his evil actions were used as part of God’s bigger plan to redeem mankind from its depravity.
*Imagine the Farmer’s Market in Green Bay on mega-steroids. That would describe the Jerusalem Market, a jaw-dropping collection of shops, food and drink vendors, and sellers of all kinds of items. The place was hopping on Tuesday night and regularly stays open until 4 a.m.
Following in Jesus' footsteps
March 25
It’s called the Via Dolorosa, which in Latin refers to the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion in the Old City of Jerusalem. We had the privilege of walking that path today.
It starts at St. Anne’s Church, where our group sang “How Great Thou Art” before departing on a nearly half-mile trek to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion at Golgotha and his burial tomb.
Along the way are a host of shops, vendors and any number of tourist traps. It’s a far cry from what the people in Jesus’ time experienced.
We arrived at our destination to the ringing of the church’s bells and an outdoor processional. The nearly 1,000-year-old church shows obvious signs of age, and the gaudy religious icons that adorn the structure can distract from the fact that this place is important because of what Jesus did here.
We cannot forget, despite all the present-day commercialization and religiosity, that Jesus died here and rose from the dead so that the separation between a holy God and sinful mankind could be bridged.
We cannot forget that Jesus made a way, as painful as it was, for God and mankind to enjoy a restored relationship.
We cannot forget that Jesus died to take the punishment for the sins of the world.
We cannot forget that God offers eternal life to all who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.
It was humbling to follow in the footsteps of Jesus today and to be reminded that we are unworthy by our own efforts, goodness or attempts to please God. It is only by putting our faith in Christ that we can be saved.
Israel notebook
Israel is a very modern country, but that’s not to say there aren’t some unusual characteristics about this place. Some examples:
*Drivers like to blow their horns - a lot - in Jerusalem. But it’s not necessarily considered rude like it often is in America. Most of the time horns are blown as a way to give other drivers on crowded streets fair warning.
*Stray cats are a common site throughout Israel. From the ancient ruins to the modern-day shops, cats seem to show up everywhere.
*Hotels don’t offer wash cloths unless you ask, and restaurant place settings don’t typically include spoons. Hotel glass shower doors span only half the length of a bathtub, which seems odd since water can spray just about anywhere. And why hotels don’t have bathroom fans is perplexing.
*Camel rides are not uncommon at rural gas stations.
*Vendors in the Old City of Jerusalem can be very persistent. If you give them eye contact, they take that to mean you have started negotiating for their wares. Bartering is a common practice, so you should come prepared for a give-and-take on the price of items.
Jesus points to prayer in garden
March 24
We visited the Garden of Gethsemane today, the place where Jesus prayed on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Luke 22: 39-46).
The olive trees in the garden date back at least 2,000 years. I couldn’t help but picture Jesus sitting next to one of these very trees and praying before his crucifixion.
Jesus came to this garden with his disciples after the Last Supper. What he modeled and what he said in the garden apply to all of his followers today, with a heavy emphasis on prayer:
-Jesus was described in various translations as grieved, distressed and anguished in the garden. Those are the same emotions everyone faces at one time or another. It’s instructive what Jesus did in those times: He went to the Father in prayer. That’s something all of us should remember the next time we experience distress.
-Part of Jesus’ prayer to the Father was: “not my will, but yours be done.” Again, those are words for all Christ followers to live by when they want to do things their own way.
-While in the garden Jesus twice instructed his disciples to “pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” All Christians face temptation, and Jesus is saying the best way to deal with that is to pray.
-Finally, after Jesus’ disciples fell asleep in the garden, he exhorted them by saying: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray.”
There was an urgency to the situation that the disciples did not grasp. How often do Christians fail to grasp the urgency of being part of Jesus’ purpose and plan for their life? Instead of sleeping — or not taking spiritual matters seriously enough — we should be praying.
Israel notebook
*Jerusalem is a crowded city with a population of nearly 1 million. People and traffic are everywhere. But it’s also a city with a rich history of spiritual significance.
As we took communion this morning from a high perch overlooking the city, you couldn’t help but stand in awe over all the things that happened here. From Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city, to the Last Supper, to his arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection, it was all a bit overwhelming.
But to actually see the places where these significant Biblical events took place made it seem even more impactful. It’s like switching from analog TV to HD quality. Events and stories from the Bible come sharply into focus.
*We toured a group of seven houses that were excavated and preserved almost exactly the way they looked in Jesus’ time. The houses were located in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem and featured cleansing baths and showers, cisterns, elaborate floor designs and steps to upper rooms. One of the houses was four stories and 7,000 square feet.
*We visiting The Western Wall or “Wailing Wall”, which is located in the Old City of Jerusalem. Thousands of people journey to the wall to recite prayers, either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks of the wall.
*Quote of the day from a Jewish vendor: “We love Americans. The more you buy the more we love you."
Is the Dead Sea dying?
March 23
It’s a question worth pondering while spending the last two days on the shores of one of the most unusual bodies of water in the world.
The Dead Sea, which is mentioned no fewer than eight times in the Bible, has the lowest elevation on the surface of the earth (1,400 feet below sea level) and is 10 times saltier than the oceans, meaning no plant or animal life can flourish.
In the last 40 years the Dead Sea, which is land locked between Israel and Jordan, has been receding at an alarming rate. Both Israel and Jordan have diverted flowage away from the Dead Sea’s primary water source — the Jordan River.
The result? Tourist resorts in Israel that once overlooked the water are now surrounded by dry land, and dangerous sink holes have become a problem on land once covered with water.
The Dead Sea still attracts tourists from around the world. Its extreme saltiness allows swimmers to float effortlessly, and some believe its “brine" is an elixir for the skin.
During the time of Herod the Great, the Dead Sea was one of the world's first health resorts. Its unique mix of chemicals helps produce potash, fertilizers and cosmetics and remains a big money-maker for Israel.
Israel notebook
*We visited the ancient fortress Masada, located near the southern end of the Dead Sea in Israel.
King Herod built an extravagant complex on top of a mountain to guard against his enemies. It included elaborate bathhouses, a castle, cisterns and a forboding wall.
The view after a cable-car ride up the mountain is stunning, and it’s remarkable how much of the ancient ruins have been restored by archeologists.
*In 1 Samuel 24 we read about David hiding from King Saul in the caves at Ein Gedi. We visited this desert oasis near the Dead Sea’s western shore and saw waterfalls, pools of water and wildlife. Ein Gedi served as a key water source during biblical times.
Getting baptized in the Jordan River
March 22
There is no other way to say it: Today was an incredibly special day in Israel.
A total of 16 people in our tour group of 34 chose to get baptized in the Jordan River, the same body of water where Jesus was baptized (Matthews 3: 13-17).
A total of 16 people answered yes to this question: Do you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
A total of 16 people made a public declaration of their faith in Christ.
On a personal note, it was particularly moving because I had the privilege of baptizing my wife, Cindy, and sister, Mary.
Mary has been a believer for many years and in the last decade has endured the death of her husband, Marc.
Through this difficult trial I have watched her faith grow stronger.
In the midst of pain, heartache and uncertainty, Mary has allowed God to come alongside her and give her strength, guidance protection and provision.
While tragedy can sometimes push people away from God, I have seen Mary draw closer to Him.
Her baptism today was a declaration that through good and bad times, God not only blesses us with the gift of salvation through Jesus, but he promises to be with us every step of the way.
Cindy made a commitment to Christ when she was in grade school.
Her baptism today was an acknowledgement of her 50-year Christian journey, with all the ups and downs that path follows.
Cindy has learned that in the hard times she has grown stronger and her faith has become deeper and more meaningful.
I was humbled and honored to be asked by Mary and Cindy to baptize them.
A hearty congratulations goes out to everyone in our group today who publicly declared Jesus to be Lord of their life!
Israel notebook
*We traveled out of the more lush northern part of Israel into the southern, desert region. Our tour bus traveled along the border of the country of Jordan to the east.
The Jordan River separates the two countries in the south, but Israel has added an extra level of security with a barbed wire fence just west of the river. Israel has planted mines in the small patch of land between the Jordan River and the fence. It’s not so much to keep Jordanians out, since the two countries are currently at peace. It’s more to guard against terrorists.
*We toured ancient ruins in Beit Shean, best known as the site where King Saul and his sons were hanged from the city walls after their deaths (1Samuel 31: 6-13).
The ancient city featured an amphitheater, where human butchery took place -- one example was Christians being fed to the lions.
There was a separate 7,000-seat theater for “lighter entertainment” such as athletic competition, pantomimes and acrobatic acts.
The ancient city also featured huge columns, a public boulevard, a row of shops and whore houses. The city was severely damaged by an earthquake in 749 AD and never fully recovered.
*We visited Qumran (near Jericho), famous for the caves that served as the hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The scrolls, which were discovered by a sheep-herder in 1947, were wrapped in linen for 2,000 years inside clay jars. They are the oldest existing copies of the Old Testament.
Jesus: Who do you say I am?
March 21
Jesus asked this profound question of his disciples (Matthew 16): “Who do you say that I am?”
It’s a question that everyone must answer, and that came into focus as we traveled to Caesarea Philippi on Thursday, March 21. The city is located near the foot of Mount Hermon in northeastern Israel.
This area of Israel was dominated by immoral activities and pagan worship during Jesus’ time on earth. Shrines and temples were dedicated to false gods in this location, some of which are still visible today.
What’s significant is that despite the decadence of the city, Jesus chose to take his disciples there and encouraged them to build a church that would overcome the worst evils. Instead of avoiding “Sin City,” Jesus stepped into the mess.
"This is one of my favorite spots in Israel because Jesus chooses to enter into a dark place,” Pastor Troy Murphy said in a devotional on Thursday in Caesarea Philippi.
"What is the living water source in your life? Is it good behavior, religious tradition, good ideas? Those things are not living water.”
Jesus was more than a good teacher with good morals. He is the source of living water that brings eternal life to those who put their trust in him. And at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus told his disciples not to insulate themselves from the world around them.
“The God of the universe calls us to cross into some of the darkest places,” Troy said. “For our family and friends living in darkness, we are the light, not because of what we’ve done but because of what Jesus has done.”
Israel notebook
*We traveled to the Golan Heights, an area in northeastern Israel that stands between Syria and Lebanon. Tensions are not nearly as tenuous between these countries today as they used to be, although barbed wire fences and minefields reveal a clear lack of trust.
*Most but not all public bathrooms in Israel are free. During a stop at the Church of the Beatitudes, located near the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, it cost two shekels to use the bathroom.
*One of the more popular lunch items in Israel is a pita bread falafel sandwich. Filafel is a deep fried ball made from ground chickpeas.
Sea of Galilee produces awe, tears
March 20
Imagine sailing across the Sea of Galilee on a wooden fishing boat similar to the ones used 2,000 years ago.
We did that today (Wednesday, March 20) on an absolutely gorgeous, sun-splashed 70-degree day in Israel.
It was a surreal experience. This is the same lake where Jesus walked on water and calmed a huge storm, and where he did a majority of his ministry on earth.
There was definitely a feeling that we were treading on holy ground, or more accurately, holy water.
Was it any wonder that tears flowed among some of the 34 travelers making this trip from Green Bay?
The boat ride also included prayer, a celebratory dance as well as quiet reflection when the spiritual significance of this geographical region sank in.
Some other reflections on the Sea of Galilee:
*This body of fresh water is more like a lake than a sea, spanning only 13 miles by 8 miles at its widest points. That makes it smaller than Lake Winnebago. But no body of water can lay claim to so many significant events in its general vicinity.
It was around these typically serene waters that Jesus began his public ministry, recruited his first disciples along its shores, taught to huge crowds and cured the sick.
*At 689 feet below sea level, this is one of the lowest lying bodies of water on earth. It serves as Israel’s chief water reservoir, with a maximum depth of 141 feet.
*There is very little development on its shores, something that would be unheard of in the United States, where large waterfront mansions and resorts would spring up. The reason is the Israili government owns the land around the lake and has largely preserved it.
6,000-mile trek to Israel worth it
March 19
It took 23 hours to travel 6,000 miles from Green Bay to Israel.
It took just a moment to make the long journey worthwhile.
For a group of 34 travelers, most of whom started the trek at Green Bay Community Church on Sunday morning (March 17), the hope was that this would be a trip of a lifetime. If the first day in the Holy Land was any indication, that hope will become a reality.
The scenery in Israel is stunning, from the coastal vantage points along the Mediterranean Sea to the breathtaking mountaintop views that feature rocky hills and lush, green valleys.
But the breathtaking historical significance of Israel makes it even better. On our first official touring day, any number of moments could resonate for a long time. Consider:
*The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth was built on the location where Mary, the mother of Jesus, received word from an angel that she would give birth to the Son of God. The framework of the house where Mary lived at the time of the angel’s appearance is preserved in the lower level of the church, a scene that was awe-inspiring.
Jesus grew up and lived until the age of 30 in Nazareth, a town of just 200 people at the time but now boasting a population of 76,000.
Commercialism has taken over some aspects of the city, which can be jarring for the uninitiated. Traffic jams are not uncommon, a McDonald’s restaurant is just down the street from Mary’s former home, and in nearby Cana, where Jesus performed his first public miracle by turning water into wine, there are souvenir shops and stores featuring Cana Wedding Wine.
*Mount Carmel is where the prophet Elijah stood up to evil King Ahab and asked God to show himself by sending down fire. It was Elijah vs. 850 prophets of the false god Baal, and Elijah’s trust in the one true God resulted in a resounding victory. It also prompted Elijah to engage in an epic display of trash talking (1 Kings 18) that would make any professional athlete proud.
Standing atop Mount Carmel, which is considered sacred ground, we learned at least two key lessons from the telling of this Biblical story:
1-Elijah implored the people to get off the fence and make a choice (1 Kings 18:21): “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” The implication is that if you trust in the one true God, don’t let idols (false gods) get in the way of your relationship with Him.
2-After his big victory Elijah quickly became fearful for his life and ran away, a reminder that trust in God can give way to human weakness very quickly.
*The oldest amphitheater in Israel was built in 12 BC and is located on the Mediterranean Sea in Caesarea, a place that gained a reputation for its pagan rituals and immoral behavior. But in the midst of the darkness there came a profound moment in church history in Caesarea: God used Peter to preach to the gentiles there, expanding the reach of the gospel to all people, not just the Jews.
