INFOGRAPHIC: Ein Gedi
So this is Christmas
There is no other holiday on the Christian calendar that creates such a season of joy more than the Christmas season. A celebration of the birthday of Jesus.
Early signs of the festive occasion are seen when “nations from all over the world seek out a tree from the forest and cut it down with an axe and decorate it with silver and gold.” (Jeremiah 10)
Hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars are spent seeking out the perfect gifts to be able to celebrate this day called Christmas.
But is the day we know as Christmas really the day of Jesus’ birth? Do we know?
It must be acknowledged that the writers of the Gospels did not provide us with an exact date of the event. However, are there biblical clues that give us insight and understanding when this would have occurred.
We will look at 5 key areas that help us pinpoint the time of Jesus’ birth. Continue reading So this is Christmas
Samuel – “Can You Hear Me Now?”
Ezekiel 12:2 says, “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”
Living in todays world has created a lifestyle where the worlds information is at your fingertips. It has been found that the average American consumes 12 hours of information per day – OUTSIDE of work.
“Between the dawn of civilization through 2003 about 5 exabytes of information was created. Now, that much information is created every 2 days.” (Eric Schmidt – Former Google CEO)
We are connected now more than we have ever been, with communication happening every moment of the day. However, people today are more blind and unable to hear real truth.
Have you ever stopped and asked the question;
“Why do people not SEE the truth?” Or with truth so readily available, “Why do people not HEAR truth.”
In the English language we have two words – To Hear, and To Obey. In english these two concepts are separate words. To hear means to hear words. To obey means to do action.
In Hebrew, there is only one word for both concepts of hearing and doing, “Shema.”
Shema is the foundation to an obedient and faithful life in Christ. Continue reading Samuel – “Can You Hear Me Now?”
Life Lessons from the Trail
Life Lessons from the Trail
I just returned from spending a few days in the Negev desert where the children of Israel spent 38 of their 40 years.
Here are a few life lessons that occurred to me on the trail. Continue reading Life Lessons from the Trail
Power of Pentecost – God’s Presence
Prayer of Pentecost – Counting the Omer
Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
Had the unique experience to attend the Passover Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall on Monday. Tens of thousands of people attend this event every year. (Last year 80,000)
Definitely helped understand what the passover crowds would have been around Temple Mount in Christ’s day. Continue reading Priestly Blessing at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
No longer a question
I was privileged to spend a few hours in the place called Golgotha today, Good Friday, and observe the people as they came to this place where Jesus was crucified.
As I sat in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and observed, I began to write this poem.
No Longer a Question
Every nation, so many faces
Weary, crying eyes, fearful questions
Sin and Comfort
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord‘s hand double for all her sins.
When the children of Israel sinned, they were often smitten in the very thing that they sinned, but they were also comforted with the very thing that caused them to sin.
(Excerpt from Theological Dictionary of Rabbinic Judaism, Vol 3, 31. Jacob Neusner – Slight modifications and edits.)
