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