Perplexed
March 15, 2020 Update —— “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair …” 2 Corinthians 4:8 I think the word “perplexed” is a pretty accurate way of summing up our feelings this week. You know, perplexed … mildly puzzled. Things are changing so fast throughout the world it’s really hard to keep our feet on solid ground. Ah, but then there’s the last part of that statement … “but not in despair”. Yes! Perplexed, but not in despair! That too is an accurate portrayal of our feelings at this time. ANOTHER FULL WEEK Setting aside for the moment...
Except Fear Itself
March 7, 2020 Update — What should I title this blog post? How about “Finding Our Way”? Maybe “Galilee of the Nations”? That’s pretty good but let’s try this … “Except Fear Itself”. Interesting Times It has been an “interesting” week both here in Israel and around the world. This brings to mind that old Chinese curse … “may you live in interesting times, come to the attention of those in authority and have the gods give everything you desire”. No, it hasn’t been a terrible, horrible, awful week but it has been “interesting”. I suppose everything here is “interesting” compared to the “same old, same...
Why Are We Here?
February 29, 2020 Update: As we approached our time here in Israel many friends spoke to us encouragingly, some gave us Bible verses they believed related to what we were going to do. As I was leaving the last Westside Family Fellowship Elders meeting before our flight, Bob Alspaugh took me aside and told me he believed we were going forth as ambassadors. Yes, ambassadors. Representatives of the leadership of one nation to the leadership of another. Since we arrived here we’ve heard “ambassadors” many times in a variety of contexts. Of course, as Christians, we do represent a nation or people in the midst of...
What We’ve Learned
February 23, 2020 Update ———————– We’ve been on our own here in Tiberias for one week. Only the occasional local to help us when we couldn’t understand something. Finding that local isn’t always easy since English isn’t as common here as it is in other parts of Israel. What have we learned in Tiberias? Sidewalks are for parking on. Double-parking is a necessity. Parking wherever you can fit is normal. We saw a small car approach a parking spot that was too small so he turned his car sideways and backed in because he fit that way. Traffic lights flash yellow to warn that a red...
