All incoming students at JUC are required to take “Physical Settings of the Bible.” This is classified as a geography course, yet the content is much richer than simply studying the geography of the land of Israel. The course covers the features of the of the land of the Bible with an emphasis on how …
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The Land of Opportunity
Throughout history, God has called His people to be different; to live in a way contrary to what the world thinks is normal.
Celebrating God’s Word
Yesterday capped the end of the High Holy Days celebrations. As one of my professors said, “The Holidays were great, but it’s great that they were!” (it sounds better in Hebrew). After the 8-day festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), comes Simchat Torah–“The Joy of the Torah.” The Torah (first five books of the Old …
Jerusalem Holy Sites: The Aremenian Quarter
The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters: the Jewish Quarter, the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. Each of these quarters has a unique vibe and personality. On top of that, each of them has their own holy site.
I am trying to get around to each of them to shoot a short video.
Here is my first attempt. This is probably the least recognized of all four holy sites in Jerusalem: the Cathedral of St. James the Apostle.
Explorations in and around Jerusalem
The weekends provide plenty of opportunities to explore the area. These two photo galleries show a taste of the diversity to be found within an hour from Jerusalem. The Mahane Yehuda Market Just a few light rail stops from the Old City is the Mahane Yehuda Market. Commonly known as “The Shuk”, this market boasts …
Shana Tovah!
Today is the start of the High Holy Days in Israel.
The 70 Faces of Scripture
The first two weeks of classes are in the books! One of my professors observed that most of us were probably going through “Syllabus Shock” the first week. I like that term. It’s a pretty good description of what the first few days felt like. Now things seem to be settling down a bit and …
Images of Jerusalem
2 of the 3 Religions in Jerusalem
Damascus Gate
New Jerusalem
My Home for the Semester
East Jerusalem Market
East Jerusalem Spices
East Jerusalem Spices and Nuts
Street Signs
Entrance to the “Garden Tomb”
Cultural Potpourri in Muslim Quarter
Courtyard
St. Georges Church
Rooming with Bigfoot Jesus
Greetings from Jerusalem! A plan that started some 2 years ago is now a reality. Although, it still feels a bit surreal. My trip here was long, but uneventful. Granted, it was made it bit more comfortable with my business class upgrade from Charlotte to Paris (Executive Platinum on American Airlines has a few advantages). …
The Long Goodbye
The past few weeks have been filled with “Goodbye” get-togethers and send-offs. So many of our friends have wanted to get together with us to celebrate this new adventure and wish us well. The outpouring of love and kindness has been overwhelming—and very much appreciated. At the same time, it’s also been a little strange …
Stepping into the Jordan 