May 28, 2011

Facade or Real!

You might want to take this for face value!  Soooooooo what's face value?  In America everything is evaluated by how much it cost (i.e. $$$$$) it seems.  Maybe that's why it's soooooooo hard for some to accept salvation (i.e. 'cause all you have to do is ask for it--no cost to us).  I don't know.  What do you think?  Remember you didn't pay anything for this "It's Saturday" so you get what you pay for!  Such is life.

As many of you know, folks who I cannot stand are fakers a.k.a. JoeHollywoods!  I like real folks.  Fakers drive me crazy.  You know who they are usually.  Some of you and me are maybe fakers at times tooooooooo!  I hope I'm not but...!  Some of you think I am a fortunate guy.  Others of you think I am unfortunate.  Who really knows?  Does it make any difference what you think?  Does it make any difference what anyone thinks?  Does it make any difference what I think?  Can I accept my fate or is it God's will or maybe some of each?  I don't know for sure.  I guess time will tell.  And who really cares if I can accept my life or not--Really who really cares!  I do, yes I do!!  I feel very good about my situation (i.e. whether you think it's good or bad--I feel comfortable in feeling uncomfortable).  I'm very comfortable with myself (i.e. most of the time).  Yes I am.  Sooooooo am I fortunate or unfortunate?  It really doesn't matter to me.  I'm not like any other...or am any other...I'm me!  Such is life.

When in Israel, our guide kept mentioning that the Romans copied most everything from the Greeks (i.e. didn't really create much new).  They were fakers in that they always had a front but had no substance (i.e. nothing in their hearts) within.  Unlike the Jews who had much in their hearts.  King Herod a.k.a. cuckoo Herod built much but it was always for his personal protection (i.e. always worried someone was going to kill him e.g. Masada) or for show--he even put sings above the gates to the city telling folks that he was great and he was humble about it.  He was a fake and had a lot of window dressing and plaster idols. 

In the cartoon Hagar the Horrible--Hagar says to his son Hamlet--When you grow up you'll realize that...money isn't everything!  It's ninety-eight percent of everything but it ain't EVERYTHING!  I visited with a young man in the New York JFK Airport.  He was telling me that life in New York City for him is just survival (i.e. sooooo expensive soooooo he has several jobs just to make a living).  We talked about his iPhone and he told me--there is much more technology out there but they need to leak it out slowly so they can sell and sell and sell--have to have something new continuously (i.e. money money money).  He might be right. 

SusieQ says--We got married for better or worse.  He couldn't do better, I couldn't do worse!  Such is life.

Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.~Henry Ford~ No fake here folks.  I called a friend the other day (i.e. I think he's 42).  Some folks say they are going to do something but never do it (i.e. I know folks like that).  He didn't tell me that he was going to do it but he did it.  He did his first triathlon.  He said he has lost 40 pounds down to 173.  I figured if an old fart like you can hike and bike and do all that stuff, I surely can tooooooo!  I told him that I just told someone--a hero is one who has self-discipline.  My Daddy, Chester, always told me, self-discipline is the best discipline.  I told him I'm soooooo proud of him.  He's my hero.  No fake here folks--nutten but the real thing!  Sooooo I visited with our ex-neighbor while she was filing her vehicle with gas the other day.  I see her exercising (i.e. jogging and pushing the stroller) past our house sometimes.  She lost a lot of weight and looks great.  Sooooooo I asked her how much she lost.  She lost 40 pounds (i.e. back to her per children weight).   Soooooooo how did you do it--exercise 30 to 40 minutes a day; I feel soooooo great.  You look great and I'm proud of you (i.e. she's my hero).  Yes she is. Some things a guy can control and there are some things a guy just can't control (i.e. difficult can of corn to haul).  AverageJoe says--In those situations we can only control our attitude.  The things we can't control we just need to pray about.  I had three friends this week said they were going to pray for a miracle.  Do you believe in miracles?  Do you believe in pray.  Is it real or just a facade?

Abraham Lincoln said--“You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.”  ~  The label certainly appears to fit in the minds of British police--Scotland Yard, the UK's police force, has given Obama the security codename 'Chalaque' for his visit this week to the United Kingdom, the UK Daily Mail reports. The term is reportedly a Punjabi word meaning someone who is too clever for his own good, according to the newspaper. It is also said to mean 'cheeky, crafty and cunning'," the paper notes.  Hey, I read it in the paper sooooooo it must be right!  Such is life.

My buddy Aaron and I rode bike to Kesley corner and back Saturday (i.e. 11 miles).  We rode past the sale barn.  They were having a horse sale.  Aaron had never been to a horse sale so we stopped.  We saw a lot of horses, expensive cowboy hats, expensive belt buckles, expensive trucks, and expensive horse trailers.  ItchieBitichie says--The stereotype of those folks is "it's all for show" and those cowboys and cowgirls checks ain't no good!  Can you really tell  the folks who are really rich?  Sooooooo what's rich?  Okay, lets limit that to $$$$$ rich for this part of the discussion.  Go down your street or road and try to determine who has a lot of $$$$$.  Do you think you can really tell?  Might you be fooled?  Does stuff make them rich, even $$$$$$ rich?  It's really easy to fool folks with stuff I think.  What do you think?  Maybe they are an ego maniac and stuff builds their ego.  I talked to a guide as I was entering our bus one morning by the Dead Sea.  He lived to the west maybe 8 miles.  Where he lives is just desert mountains that look barren (i.e. a few sheep and camels literally) he told me.  He said it's the best place to live in all the world.  Why I asked.  The desert is real, not fakey.  He said he has traveled much of the world and much of the world is fakey (i.e. glitzy and commerical).  The desert is not fakey but real .  He said he wouldn't live any other place.  I asked our guide about him.  He is from a nomadic tribe and lives in the desert.  Huh, interesting!

One day, if you believe in a judgement day, it will be the real thing.  Folks won't be able to be a faker, can't buy your way, can't talk your way, can't be a phony.  Soooooooo what has inspired you to be who you are?  What inspired you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?  What has made you not to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?  It's sooooooo hard to change.  The Muslims and Jews have disliked each other for years.  What will make the situation change.  I think, it will be something beyond human understanding.  Maybe the end of time (i.e. now that's beyond human understanding).  You folks and events affect my future.  Sometimes I'm just simply ignorant!  Sometimes my thinking is in a box within a box (i.e. pretty small and confined).

Can't fake your emotions (i.e. like when they make you cry).  Now that is the real stuff folks.  Your veneer sorta kinda breaks down doesn't it.  Such is life.

Soooooooo do you believe in miracles?  Do you believe in prayer or is it just a facade?  Texas Beer Joint Sues Church In Mt. Vernon, Texas. Drummond's Bar began construction on expansion of their building to increase their business. In response, the local Baptist Church started a campaign to block the bar from expanding with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up until the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the building and it burned to the ground! After the bar burned to the ground due to the lightning strike, the church folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about "the power of prayer ", until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church . . ."was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means." In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise. The judge read through the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's reply, and at the opening hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that now does not."

The world is real (i.e. brutally real).  I finished a book that I started in AZ and read another while riding in the plane on our trip.  The book I started in AZ is All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy.  It was in the AZ Republic as sorta kinda a classic of the SW.  I really enjoyed it.  Here are a few of the lines:  In the end we all come to be cured of our sentiments.  Those whom life does not cure death will.  The world is quite ruthless in selecting between the dream and the reality, even where we will not.  ~  What is constant in history is greed and foolishness and a love of blood and this is a thing that even God--who knows all that can be known--seems powerless to change.  ~  The world seems to care nothing for the old or the young or rich or poor or dark or pale or he or she.  Nothing for their struggles, nothing for their names.  Nothing for the living or the dead.  Actually this book is not that negative but it's about life of a young man who sets out on his own and finds out that the world is quite interesting.  The second book I read is A Choice Of Weapons by Gordon Parks.  My cousin's husband gave it to me to read.  My couz said I wouldn't like it.  She was wrong.  It's about Mr. Parks growing up as a black and how he suffered for it.  How the real world was very cruel to him because he was black.  A very good read about the reality of the world.  Such is life. 

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--The gem cannot be polished without friction.  Nor man perfected with out trials.

May 21, 2011

Carpe diem

Joesixpack says--erv, this week's version of "It's Saturday" is like you looking in the mirror, you don't look like much but it's you.  What I'm trying to say is -- erv might not be pretty to you but it's him!  Joesixpack, reality is reality soooooooo here we go!

I was on my early morning walk on the golf course a day this week.  It was a beautiful morning.  The sun was coming up and glistening off the heavy dewed grass, the cardinals and wrens were talking to me, I smelt the fragrance of the blossoms of the various trees and there was no wind.  It was a great moment.  I told myself to really appreciate this moment as it will never happen again quite like this.  Then I started thinking about living my life moment by moment (i.e. not year to year or day to day but moment by moment).  I want to and will try I said. I say to our children--Enjoy every moment with your little girls (i.e. 3 and 1) as it won't be long and they will be driving!  GeorgeTheCrook says--If you are always living for tomorrow, it might never come.  Soooooooo folks appreciate each moment (i.e. maximise every moment).  WildWille says--You always seem to be in such a hurry and have sooooooo much on your plate; do you like being that way? You don't seem to enjoy each moment of your life; you are always working to have more!  Such is life. 

JoeBlow says--Carpe diem.  It is the Latin words that challenges us to maximize opportunities presented to us on any given moment.  It attracts unique individuals - true change-makers - to new realms of exploration and endeavor.  Today I am challenging myself to pursue new frontiers and fresh opportunities, recognizing that doing so will not be without its battles. But I'm encouraged! In the 8th century B.C., Israel's Creator God said to His people: "Carpe Diem. I brought you out of Egypt and conquered the Egyptian army, now I want to do an even greater thing. I have in mind a new 'exodus'"!  As we are told in the Bible's Old Testament, "Forget all the past - it is nothing compared to what I'm going to do! For I'm going to do a brand new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a road though the wilderness of the world" (Isaiah 43:18-19).  Sooooooo folks seize the moment a.k.a grab the opportunity.  It's a trumpet call!  Oh yes.  Does any of this make any sense to you? 

SusieQ says--Sometimes it hard to see what's what!  It's hard to figure out how a guys is going to get from point A to point B.  Sometimes it hard to figure out the reason for stuff at the moment.  When on our trip to Israel, our group of 25 had many different experiences and emotions.  We ate together usually on tables of 4 or 3 or 6.  We really got to know each other eating more than at any other time probably.  Folks shared their valleys and mountain tops.  It's maybe easier to share when you don't know the folks and know that you might not every see them again or at least at a distance.  Everybody has mountain tops and valleys.  Arlene and I included.  Like LuckyEddie says--It's not if it's when!  Such is life.

All of us at many times have looked from the mountain top moments and from the valley moments.  I personally like the look from the mountain top better.  BUT I have looked from both places many times.  When I'm looking from the valley I wonder "what's going on anyway"!  But I think much like David--His understanding I cannot fathom--God is God--And that's the way it is.  There is soooooo much that I don't understand. The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you--understand.

A friend called me this week.  We became friends through the insurance business years ago (i.e. met him the first time in FL on a golf outing with IGF).  ANYWAY he was telling me he had to deliver a large renewal policy with some bad news.  After the client got mad and reacted in the way my friend expected, the insured realized the reality and they came to a feasible solution to the problem.  My friend said--Some times difficulties develop deeper relationships.  Yabut my friend, I don't like those moments; I don't care what you say!

SongManRuss, isn't  there a song that goes like moment by moment (i.e. moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine)?  Talking about valleys and mountain tops make me think about the spiritual--Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (i.e. sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down). Do you remember it?  FriendJim and I share the statement--Happenstance, na I don't think so!  I was eating my oatmeal with strawberries on it and the scripture of my devotions was--Philippians 4:6 which reads.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  Then I read my emails and got my thought of the day--guess what, it was the same scripture with a story about a guy who was in a prisoner of war for 15 months and that is what he repeated many times every day.  I have no idea if you are in a valley today and many of you don't know where I am but this surely is a good verse to hang our hope on (i.e. my opinion). Huh, interesting. 

MissPerfect says--Sooooooooo erv, who makes you chairman of the board (i.e. an arrogant little shi*t) telling us all this stuff?  Chairman of the board actually came about in a strange way I was told on our trip.  We were looking at a ruin of a former building that was during the time of Christ.  It was built of cut rocks and very narrow in width.  The reason why sooooooo narrow is that it could not be wider than the header a.k.a. lintel cut rock that went over the walls.  Our guide told us that it was probably an eating area.  It probably had a board down the middle with benches that folks sat on on each side of the board.  The only place for a chair was at the end of the board.  Sooooooooo that is how the name developed--chair-man of the board!  That was the naming moment folks!  Such is life.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Take time to laugh, it is the singing that helps with life's load.

May 14, 2011

Realism with emotion!

Israel was a great trip. Very educational and entertaining and spiritual (i.e. I’m sure it produced different experiences for different folks. We went to listen to a speaker who talked about Jewish anti-Semitics for an hour one night. A guy in the group said—when you have 6 folks gather together you have 7 opinions. Soooooooo remember folks, some of this might be my opinion or opinions of others. Soooooooooo I say, remember that.

Our guide would say--Believe what I tell you! Look at me, I tell you something. He also said—Think quick in your mind, I have much to tell you AND believe what I tell you AND I declare you will be confused in Jerusalem (i.e. I was) AND Open your eyes and look at me! He was a Jew and one of the top guides in Israel (i.e. they told us) but still not a Christian (i.e. he knew the New Testament very well but…). He sometimes maybe Hebrewized us I think. He had a great brain full of unbelievable amount of knowledge but his heart did not accept Jesus as his Savior. I asked him after we went to a sculpture of the Fountain of the Tears (i.e. Holocaust Jews reacting to the crucifixion)--what he thought of that—I don’t understand it and don’t want to learn. He has been programmed to be a Jew! That’s just the way it is folks. SusieQ says--BUT art bypasses our head but enters our hearts! Listen to me, I tell you something—Most folks listen to what they are. I have learned a lot on this trip (i.e. seeing Israel poster sized looking through binoculars)—much much much. GeorgeTheCrook says—I can’t learn it for you. You got to learn the truth and what is real. It’s a life process. And what is real and true to me might not be real and true to you. Such is life.

Bethlehem, where Jesus was born (i.e. Church of the Naivety) and the Christian section of the Old Jerusalem (i.e. the Holy Suplclur) was actually disappointing to me. They were sorta kinda shrines where folks were worshipping a place and not Jesus (i.e. it felt pagan to me—like idol worship). I’m glad I went to both for the experience but they were a turn off. Palestine and Bethlehem in 2005 was 85% Arab Christian; now it is 1.3% (i.e. now basically all Arab Muslim). Why you ask? The tourists left (i.e. terrorism) and the Arab Christians make their living off tourists. 80% of all income comes from tourism (i.e. manly the wood carvings, olives, and oil from the olive tree). Sooooooooo the maybe a site of Jesus birth is needed for tourism (i.e. #1 attraction--#2 attraction is the Shepherds’ fields). I asked a 80 year old Arab Christian how do you get along with the Arab Muslims—People come and people go—money comes and money goes—it is what it is! Palestine is just an occupied area—not a country, not a state, it’s just a problem. ). Joesixpack says—If you can’t back up your believe with weapons, it means nutten!

I was reminded at Gethsemane that —Olive trees can’t be killed. You cut it off and it grows again. Shoots constantly grow up. Roots can be dried out and then replanted and a tree will start (i.e. the trees in the picture are 1,700 years old in the Gethsemane and still sprout up shouts). That represents that the Messiah cannot be killed. I didn’t know this though—the difference between green olives and black olives is only the time you pick them. Black olives are just ripper. Da!!! Hey I also learned that when we sing Hosanna Hosanna on Palm Sunday we are saying in Hebrew—Save us Save us! Huh, interesting.

My opinion from 10,000 feet! Different folks think differently all right. The temple is built and some other folks destroy it. Some other folks build it again and some other folks destroy it again! Some folks build a wall around Jerusalem and some other folks destroy it (i.e. several times). WHY will it stop? There has always been folks who don't like each other.  The Jews and the Muslims just don’t like each other either. They even have to live together in the same country. I just can’t imagine that. And then the Jews have the non-practicing Jews, the practicing Jews, the progressive Jews, the Orthodox Jews, the Ultra Orthodox Jews (i.e. these guys don’t work, don’t pay taxes, receive welfare from Israel, don’t serve in the military but just worship all day) and the Messianic Jews. The Jews can’t even agree. It sounds like Christianity!!!! I asked several folks why the Islamic Religion is growing sooooooo fast (i.e. not a fairytale folks)—two main reasons I heard a lot—The Muslims have 8 to 10 kids and the religion has strict guidelines that folks seem to like. Yes, I found Israel confusing (i.e. a lot of moving parts that don’t seem to fit very well). Our guide said that Jerusalem has about 250 folks each year who come and think they are Jesus—he called it the Jerusalem syndrome! There seems to be a lot of folks and group of folks who make a lot of noise but they all can’t be right. Some folks must be wrong don’t ya think? MissPerfect says—Just ‘cause your parents have taught you something or your culture did, doesn’t mean that it’s right.

Personally I found the Jews and Arabs not overly friendly (i.e. are professionally friendly when they wanted your money). The younger Jewish folks were friendlier than the older folks. I think the Jews really think they are the chosen folks and act that way. They come across bossy, arrogant, opinionated, stubborn, demanding and full of pride about themselves (i.e. my opinion from 10,000 feet--others might not agree with me). The most touching event that happened to me came from the humblest of people and places. Every night someone would put chocolate in our room when we stayed in Jerusalem. The person would put it on my Bible (i.e. not on the bed, not on the dresser, not on the desk but on my Bible). The person who cleaned our room was an older guy (i.e. maybe 70 or so and bald who didn’t speak much English). As we were leaving after several days, I met him outside our room and asked him if he was the chocolate man—He said—ya, I am. I told him that I noticed that he put the chocolate on my Bible every night and that touched me. He shook his head in saying thank you. Are you a Christian—Ya I am—I am too. He shook his head in agreement and just smiled and said—thank you! Folks, now that is realism with emotion.

Where ever you go the Jews want to sell you something. There are gift shops and soviener shops everywhere. Everyone want to make a buck off the tourist. They are good at it and a lot of tourists spend a lot of money with them. There is a shop at every place you go. One of the Jewish salesman selling jewelry to us said this—I accept dollars, shekels, credit cards and even food stamps! Another entrepreneur salesman said to us—I take you to a lot of greeeeeat showppeein’—goooood prices! Not being critical here—I know that the Roman Catholics were the front runner in churches before Luther, Calvin and other boys got involved (i.e. do you know that protestant means protest), but every place where an event of Jesus maybe occurred, a Catholic church was built (i.e. they have and still do spend a ton of money--The Romans ran the world at one time). They all have a lot of trinket shops! The Catholics get all the breaks! LuckieEddie says—Location location location! Such is life.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says—Only the heart knows how to find what is precious.

If you have any interesting in learning more about our trip, check the travel company’s web site which has pictures and a blog global.expeditions http://web.me.com/global.expeditions

May 7, 2011

Walked where Jesus walked

103 years ago Tel Aviv (i.e. which means old new) was nutten but a sand dune compared to Jerusalem, which was there before Christ. I can’t hardly imagine that. LuckieEddie says—Tel Aviv is the new dog but with the same ol’ problem! But I think it’s a-changin’ folks (i.e. maybe). Israel is 65% desert and 10% mountains leaving only 15% for agriculture. Guess what their biggest problem is—you are right—water. Did you know that tourists don’t pay the 15% sales tax but locals do (i.e. they want tourists to come to their country)? If you talk to Jews, it’s a lot better to say you are a follower of Jesus and not a Christian as Christians have a bad connotation from the Crusades. I was reminded that the fish was the earliest mark of the Christianity, not the cross (i.e. it was a secret symbol as Christianity was underground). Also in Hebrew, Jesus was maybe not referred to as a carpenter but more likely a mason as building was 95% masonry work and 5% wood. Our guide told us that we will only remember about 1% of what he says but all of what he says and what we see will affect our life forever (i.e. I think he’s right)! Joesixpack says--Travel is seeing, experiencing, feeling and understanding.

Our guide says—I ask you a question. Just give me the wrong answer, it’s okay. He also says—I’m going to ask you a question and I’m going to answer it! A gal in our group keeps asking questions (i.e. me toooooooo). She kept quizzing him and he couldn’t seem to answer her question and said—After that, I can’t help you! I want to tell you something—look at me! SusieQ says—We are newbees, we believe anything and everything! Here are some answers to some of my questions--In Israel there are about 5.8 million Jews and 1.6 million Arabs (i.e. of a total population of 7.3 million). The size of Israel is about the same size as New Jersey. Israel is Socialistic. There is only one golf course in Israel--it's at Caesarea.  All male Jews must serve 3 years in the military after high school graduation and the females must serve 2 years. The Arab citizens of Israel don’t have to serve (i.e. but can if they want too). Now that doesn’t seem fair now does it (i.e. I guess the thinking is that Arabs won’t shoot other Arabs)! Nazareth is about 75% Arab Muslims. Nazareth when Jesus was little was maybe a fourth of a mile by fourth of a mile if that (i.e. nutten good comes out of Nazareth—that’s what they said). There is a Catholic Church called the annunciation church when the Angel came to Mary and announced what was going to happen. In the church, there is the house of Mary they say. Outside of the church was this sign (i.e. you might have to click on it to enlarge sooooo you can read). I was taking the picture when three gentleman asked me what I thought of that—I said, I was a follower of Jesus and don’t much care for it. One of the guys said, he was a follower of Moses (i.e. Jew) and he thought it was disrespectful. I asked him if he was a practicing Jew—sorta kinda he said, I don’t go to the Synogue but pray direct to God. He asked me where I was from and even what town in Iowa—he was from Tel Aviv and was in the movie business and did a move in Pleasantville, IA. Huh, interesting.

We had a whale of a good time at Joppa! Jonah didn’t think sooooo—but the big fish got him! Look behind the Arlene and see the wall to the city. About half of the wall was A.D. and the top part sometime after that. Isn’t that old. All the cities are built on a hill with a city gate next to the lowest part of the city (i.e. guess where all the cities got attached first). At the city gates is where the activity of the city really occurred. The king would sit there with his wisest group and discuss and the people would come and ask questions. The culture was pagan with many gods and sacrifices of life etc. (i.e. crazy crazy folks--not pretty folks). And the ruins are still there. There are many digs. Saturday question—If some day they dig up your notebook or a jug with your writings in it (i.e. like the Dead Sea Scrolls), what will they read about you?

Tourism is the #1 moneymaker for Israel, 2nd is agriculture and third is diamond cutting with 61% of the diamonds going to the U.S. Wherever we go there is a gift shop connected to it – it’s about the $ folks. They build a church or something as an approximate spot of some event to draw the tourist. Many times they can’t say exactly that a certain even happened at a certain spot but very close.

Moses was given the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. Joshua led them into the land. God did not tell them who their neighbors were going to be! Ouchy ouchy! Israel, as our guide says—Is a sittin’ duck! Lebanon to the north, Syria to the East and Egypt to the south with the Mediterranean to the East. They have no real defense so an offense becomes their defense (i.e. maybe you remember that Israel bombed the Egypt and Syrian air strips a 7:45 am (i.e. by great surprise)—the war was basically over). I really enjoyed the history of the 6-Day war (i.e. lasted 16 hours). We went to the area where the ground war was fought. They won it with strategic planning and a huge motive to win as they have no place to retreat (i.e. get pushed in the ocean). They also claim they won ‘cause God was with the Jews (i.e. some folks think that’s just a righteous jingle). Sooooooo what does the Bible say?

We stayed three nights below see level! Now I never did that before—maybe we did in Holland (i.e. I’m not sure). The Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below sea level and the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below sea level (i.e. the deepest point in the world where you will weigh the most and have the most oxygen). The Sea of Galilee has 33 miles of shoreline and the average depth is 85 feet. It produces one third of the water for Israel. LuckieEddie says--It’s just like any other lake; it has 5 good fishing spots (i.e. the same spots as the time when Peter and James fished it I bet). The Dead Sea a.k.a. as the Salty Sea (i.e. the place where the phrase “ the salt of the earth” came from. It’s soooooooo salty that we floated on the top (i.e. that just amazes me). The Dead Sea area was much prettier than I expected it (i.e. I really beautiful and inspirational sitting on our little balcony watching the sunrise over Jordon). A lot of history here as well--we saw a cave that maybe was where David caught up with Saul but decided not to kill him and the ruins of where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written and found and Masada. To get to the Dead Sea we drove through the West Bank (i.e. no rockets), Samara and Judie. Israel is soooooooo interesting (i.e. soooooo many conflicts in the country and around the country. Much has happened here and much will happen here in the future (i.e. my opinion). I think the Bible says that tooooooo. What do you think?

We did an aliea to the The City on the Hill a.k.a. Jerusalem. Oh Jerusalem, the place that has special meaning to the Christians (i.e. also many other religions of the world). Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead. It’s a very special place. Hitler thought he had the final solution in the Holocaust (i.e. very tender event for the Jews with a total of about 6 million people killed) but the true Final Solution is Jesus dieing on the cross to give anyone and everyone who believes in Him every lasting life. The Final Solution is beyond total comprehension for me. Smelling the air of Jerusalem makes me smile! The empty tomb says it all—He is risen, He is risen! It is finished and Jesus is Lord. When I walk where Jesus walked, I get goosebumps.  Such if life.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv