This post is very late, and I do apologize for that. Many of you have asked me when I would post about my trip to Egypt. Here it is!
We arrived in Cairo late at night and got on the bus to head to our hotel which was a few miles outside the city. I was impressed by how beautiful Cairo was at night, not because of any magnificent buildings (though there were a few), but because of how alive Cairo was. We later found out that many of the people who live in Cairo will not wake up until the afternoon and then they stay up until about 4 A.M. This is because of the heat during the summer, and also Muslim holidays that don't allow you to eat or drink at certain times.
When we arrived at our hotel we felt like kings and queens. It was definitely the most beautiful hotel I have ever stayed in. Our room had tiled floors, a luxurious bathroom, and a balcony that had a great view. I was rooming with two other guys so one of us had to sleep on a roll away cot. I opted for the cot, because it was more comfortable than the beds. The beds were stiff and I prefer a very soft bed.
The next morning we got on the bus and began our tour of Egypt. We were on our way to see a statue of King Ramses II. Now, I have to mention that Cairo is covered by a haze until about midday. While on our way to our first site Carlos and I spotted the Pyramids through the haze. They looked like a black shadow that dominated everything and anything around. They were mesmerizing.
A few hours later we visited the first pyramid built by the Egyptians. The Step Pyramid. Its called the Step Pyramid because of its step-like shape. Part of visiting the step pyramid was getting to go inside. Going inside pyramids is not for the weak. You have to walk down a steep slope to the bottom and then go up another steep slope, all while being hunched over in a tunnel that is maybe 4 feet high. Once inside the burial chamber you can stand up straight.
Our next stop before going to see the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx was lunch. I fell in love with Middle Eastern food while in Israel, but that was nothing compared to Egyptian kabob! We got a mixed kabob which was lamb and chicken, accompanied by the best rice on Earth, pita bread, hummus, and salads (salads don't have lettuce there).
When we arrived at the Great Pyramid I was just in awe. I couldn't even fit the entire pyramid into the frame of my pictures. There are two other pyramids at this site that are not as big, but are still huge. We did not get to go inside the Great Pyramid, but we did get to go inside the 2nd largest. It was a very brutal journey inside compared to the Step Pyramid. The shaft going down was much deeper and going up was even higher. There was no air circulation, so you instantly would start to breathe heavy and break out into a sweat. The humidity inside must have been 100%. Someone decided they needed to urinate in there at the bottom, so you could smell that through the entire journey. Even though it was hot, stinky, and laborious, it was an experience I will never forget. I can count on two hands how many people I know that have been inside this pyramid.
That night we got on a train and headed to Luxor. This was an overnight sleeper train which was grungy as all get out. I liked the grungy part oddly enough, but the food was awful. I slept fine as long as the train was in motion. Whenever it stopped though, I would wake up.
We got off the train and onto another bus. Our tour of Luxor was fabulous. The Valley of the Kings was amazing, but the Valley of the Queens was even more amazing. The tombs there were beautifully decorated.
Now, here is something you have to understand about tourism in Egypt. There are vendors and hecklers everywhere and they bombard you. While at the Valley of the Queens I stopped in one of the shops to look at some stuff. I found something I liked and when we agreed to a price I went to my wallet to get the money out. As soon as I opened my wallet this guy ripped all of the money out of my wallet and started going through it. Taking what he wanted, which was far more than we agreed, he really pissed me off. Then he saw that I had Israeli money and started freaking out on me. I freaked out back on him, forced him to give me my money back or I'd break his nose (no joke, I'd have got away with it too). Threw what we agreed on at him and left. I headed straight to the bus, but guess what? The bus was gone. Here I am in the middle of the desert alone. So I start walking down the road, all these Egyptian kids started making fun of me, I was burning with anger from everything that happened in the shop and being left behind. I wasn't worried about being alone in a foreign country until I realized that my passport was on the bus and I had no idea what hotel we were staying in that night. Finally the bus came back and got me. Apparently the driver just took off before anyone had a chance to get a head count. Grr.
Probably the most spectacular site, other than the Pyramids and Sphinx, was seeing the Temple of Luxor lit up at night. It was beautiful. The Temples in Luxor were probably my favorite part of the whole trip.
We visited the Muhammed Ali Mosk in Cairo on our last day in Egypt. I didn't have a true understanding about what Muslims believed and practiced before going to the Middle East. The American mindset usually equates Muslims with terrorists, which is far from true. I'm pretty tired of hearing people here say, "those Muslims will kill you if they get a chance" or other things like that. People, if you say things like that you're an ignorant fool.
One of the senior citizens with us asked our tour guide "Well didn't you all support the attack on 9/11?" That was a very ignorant question I thought, and I really appreciated her calmness in answering him. The Muslim community was outraged about the attack and it being connected with Islmaic Jihad. The majority of the Muslim community is not extremists, just like the majority of the Christian community doesn't go about bombing abortion centers. I learned a lot about Islam while in the Middle East. Jew, Christian, Muslim, Buddist, etc. Everyone thinks they are right. God is a just Judge, ultimately it will be up to Him. I'm not falling into syncritism, I believe what Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) I do however have a new outlook on the Middle East, Islam, Judiaism, and Christianity.
These experiences have also helped me reaffirm something I have been saying for a while. "Stop thinking and acting like an American and start thinking and acting like a Christian."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Do this in remembrance of me...
Today was a day I will never forget. We walked through the Old City, which was crowded alleys more or less. We visited some significant Holy places that I will never ever forget. Though it hurt to walk all day on a sprained ankle, it was worth it.
Though the authenticity of these locations are debated among scholars, it is not the place that is significant, rather it is the event that we must remember. The Holy Sepulcher is the location where the cross was. There is an altar there you can kneel at and put your hand in the hole where the cross rested. Thousands of years have past, but to touch the spot where Christ's blood dripped to the ground was humbling as I remembered the suffering He went through for me.
Thankfully the cross could not hold Him. Death could not hold Him. Our last stop of the day after a wonderful lunch and shopping opportunity, was at the Garden Tomb. Guess what? It was empty! They don't know if this was the actual tomb Jesus would have been put in, although it is from the period and would be the type that the Bible describes.
After we visited the tomb we had a communion service nearby. I reflected on my spiritual journey while here. I prayed for my friends and family who don't know Christ or have wandered astray. The thing I've prayed about the most this week is that God would make me into the leader He has called me to.
I'm coming home a changed man. I have a new outlook on religion, politics, depravity, and myself. God has really worked in my life to bring me closer to Him and love Him wholly.
Luke 22:17-20
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
Though the authenticity of these locations are debated among scholars, it is not the place that is significant, rather it is the event that we must remember. The Holy Sepulcher is the location where the cross was. There is an altar there you can kneel at and put your hand in the hole where the cross rested. Thousands of years have past, but to touch the spot where Christ's blood dripped to the ground was humbling as I remembered the suffering He went through for me.
Thankfully the cross could not hold Him. Death could not hold Him. Our last stop of the day after a wonderful lunch and shopping opportunity, was at the Garden Tomb. Guess what? It was empty! They don't know if this was the actual tomb Jesus would have been put in, although it is from the period and would be the type that the Bible describes.
After we visited the tomb we had a communion service nearby. I reflected on my spiritual journey while here. I prayed for my friends and family who don't know Christ or have wandered astray. The thing I've prayed about the most this week is that God would make me into the leader He has called me to.
I'm coming home a changed man. I have a new outlook on religion, politics, depravity, and myself. God has really worked in my life to bring me closer to Him and love Him wholly.
Luke 22:17-20
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Monday, January 12, 2009
In God We Trust
I'm going to give you the run down briefly on today's activities and then get into some of the thoughts that have been formulating in my mind since my visit to Bethlehem. Today we spent the day in the area of the Dead Sea. As you leave Jerusalem and move toward the Dead Sea the land quickly moves from fertile dessert to barren dessert. The Dead Sea is a spectacular sight to behold. It is the lowest place on Earth, some 1,000 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is surrounded by mountains. Depending on the time of day the mountains are only visible on one side of the Dead Sea due to being so extremely below sea level.
We visited Masada where Herod built a beautiful palace. Later when Rome had burned Jerusalem, the Jewish rebels held out at Masada. They ended up committing suicide rather than falling into slavery at the hands of the Romans. Now in ruins, Masada is nothing but some old rocks on a mountain. Getting up there was scary... I thought I was going to die. I hate heights.
We then visited Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was very interesting to see the caves and such. Lastly we went to the Dead Sea where some got in and floated. I on the other hand sat by the beach and wrote in my note book.
Tonight after diner we visited the Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene. Its very small. Remember, Christians aren't appreciated here due to a lil part of history called the Crusades. Here we learned about a reconciliation mission. The reconciliation between Messianic Jews and Palestinian Arab Christians is definitely needed. There is so much hate between the Jews and Palestinians.
As Americans, and you won't like this at all, but we are ignorant to what the people here (Jew and Palestinian) go through. There is hurt on all sides. Little do we Americans know that we're a huge part of the problem. We need to find a way to help bring reconciliation. It won't be easy, but it is our responsibility as Christians to be peace makers.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
We visited Masada where Herod built a beautiful palace. Later when Rome had burned Jerusalem, the Jewish rebels held out at Masada. They ended up committing suicide rather than falling into slavery at the hands of the Romans. Now in ruins, Masada is nothing but some old rocks on a mountain. Getting up there was scary... I thought I was going to die. I hate heights.
We then visited Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It was very interesting to see the caves and such. Lastly we went to the Dead Sea where some got in and floated. I on the other hand sat by the beach and wrote in my note book.
Tonight after diner we visited the Jerusalem Church of the Nazarene. Its very small. Remember, Christians aren't appreciated here due to a lil part of history called the Crusades. Here we learned about a reconciliation mission. The reconciliation between Messianic Jews and Palestinian Arab Christians is definitely needed. There is so much hate between the Jews and Palestinians.
As Americans, and you won't like this at all, but we are ignorant to what the people here (Jew and Palestinian) go through. There is hurt on all sides. Little do we Americans know that we're a huge part of the problem. We need to find a way to help bring reconciliation. It won't be easy, but it is our responsibility as Christians to be peace makers.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Blue Bull?? Gimme some RED BULL!
I haven't had a single Red Bull since I left D.C. Its be terrible! I'm going through some serious withdrawal, including headaches, and depression. Tonight, Catie found Red Bull at the hotel bar and bought it for me!! Yay!
Today was a significant day. There was so much that I don't really know where to start. We explored the City of David today. Most significantly of that exploration was visiting the Wailing Wall. When you arrive at the Wall you go through security, since it is a religious hot spot. Keep in mind this is the closest that the Jews can get to the original location of the Holy of Holies. Its all they have left of Solomon's temple.
Men and women have different sections to pray at the wall. The men's side is what you see typically in pictures and documentaries. As you approach your head must be covered. If you have a hat of your own that is great, if not they have one you can borrow. We went up to the Wall and took some pictures, but something happened there to us guys (well, at least to me). I felt drawn by God to the Wall to pray. I laid my hands on it and prayed for God to refine me with His fire. I prayed He would mold me into the leader He called me to be. I prayed He would break me. My prayer is being answered. I'm changing inside and I don't know how. I'm not sure how this will pan out when I get home, I'm leaving it completely in God's hands.
We then had the opportunity to go visit the Dead Sea Scrolls. This was an amazing opportunity! No pictures allowed, since the 2,100 year old scrolls are sensitive to light. The Isaiah scroll, which is the most significant of them, was not on display. Instead they had a replica of it, which was amazingly detailed. Other artifacts there from the Esscene community were very interesting. There was even a Bible that was dated back to 1300 AD.
For lunch we went to the German side of town. There I had my first international McDonalds experience. I ordered a Double Cheeseburger meal, figured you can't screw that up. Well, double cheeseburgers at McDonalds in Israel are larger than a double Whopper at an American Burger King. They were HUGE. Still though, McDonalds is crap no matter where you eat it. Blah. Totally threw off my balanced eating experience. I'll stick to Mediteranian and Middle Eastern food for the remainder of the trip.
Our last stop of the day was definitely one that left us all in silent reflection for a little while, and it would probably be fair to say none of us left this location without shedding a few tears while there. We visited Israel's National Holocaust Memorial. Books like "Night" by Wiesel, documentaries on the History Channel, and even the graphic depiction of the camps in films like "Band of Brothers" do not even begin to describe the atrocity that the Jews suffered under the Third Riech.
As I walked through the Memorial in silence I saw Jew and Gentile crying for those who suffered. The end was the most emotional for me. It was the childrens memorial. 1,500,000 children died in the holocaust. One and a half million. How did they make tribute to these children? They made them the light of the universe. They made them stars.
We walked through the memorial for the children and I cannot describe it in any other way than it was as if you were standing in the middle of the galaxy looking at the millions of stars. Everything was black except these stars, which had the illusion of being three deminsional points of light. It was breath taking and really put into perspective exactly how many children died.
As we were walking out, this lone sculpture was on the wall outside. Though its meaning was different than my interpretation, it still held the same value. To me, it was a sculpture of God embracing His children in deep pain that they were suffering. He was drawing them near to Him, because of His love.
~Skinny~
Today was a significant day. There was so much that I don't really know where to start. We explored the City of David today. Most significantly of that exploration was visiting the Wailing Wall. When you arrive at the Wall you go through security, since it is a religious hot spot. Keep in mind this is the closest that the Jews can get to the original location of the Holy of Holies. Its all they have left of Solomon's temple.
Men and women have different sections to pray at the wall. The men's side is what you see typically in pictures and documentaries. As you approach your head must be covered. If you have a hat of your own that is great, if not they have one you can borrow. We went up to the Wall and took some pictures, but something happened there to us guys (well, at least to me). I felt drawn by God to the Wall to pray. I laid my hands on it and prayed for God to refine me with His fire. I prayed He would mold me into the leader He called me to be. I prayed He would break me. My prayer is being answered. I'm changing inside and I don't know how. I'm not sure how this will pan out when I get home, I'm leaving it completely in God's hands.
We then had the opportunity to go visit the Dead Sea Scrolls. This was an amazing opportunity! No pictures allowed, since the 2,100 year old scrolls are sensitive to light. The Isaiah scroll, which is the most significant of them, was not on display. Instead they had a replica of it, which was amazingly detailed. Other artifacts there from the Esscene community were very interesting. There was even a Bible that was dated back to 1300 AD.
For lunch we went to the German side of town. There I had my first international McDonalds experience. I ordered a Double Cheeseburger meal, figured you can't screw that up. Well, double cheeseburgers at McDonalds in Israel are larger than a double Whopper at an American Burger King. They were HUGE. Still though, McDonalds is crap no matter where you eat it. Blah. Totally threw off my balanced eating experience. I'll stick to Mediteranian and Middle Eastern food for the remainder of the trip.
Our last stop of the day was definitely one that left us all in silent reflection for a little while, and it would probably be fair to say none of us left this location without shedding a few tears while there. We visited Israel's National Holocaust Memorial. Books like "Night" by Wiesel, documentaries on the History Channel, and even the graphic depiction of the camps in films like "Band of Brothers" do not even begin to describe the atrocity that the Jews suffered under the Third Riech.
As I walked through the Memorial in silence I saw Jew and Gentile crying for those who suffered. The end was the most emotional for me. It was the childrens memorial. 1,500,000 children died in the holocaust. One and a half million. How did they make tribute to these children? They made them the light of the universe. They made them stars.
We walked through the memorial for the children and I cannot describe it in any other way than it was as if you were standing in the middle of the galaxy looking at the millions of stars. Everything was black except these stars, which had the illusion of being three deminsional points of light. It was breath taking and really put into perspective exactly how many children died.
As we were walking out, this lone sculpture was on the wall outside. Though its meaning was different than my interpretation, it still held the same value. To me, it was a sculpture of God embracing His children in deep pain that they were suffering. He was drawing them near to Him, because of His love.
~Skinny~
Saturday, January 10, 2009
When blood can't buy freedom...
We're now in Jerusalem. We have been since last night. Yesterday was a long day and I was unable to post here. Before arriving in Jerusalem we stopped by the Mediterranean sea, saw where Paul was put on trial, where Pontius Pilot would have sat in the theater, etc. No doubt the sea was the most amazing part about it. The view was absolutely breath taking.
On our way to Jerusalem our tour guide, Peach, gave us the 411 on the city and that we were now leaving the more Western part of the country for the Middle Eastern part of the country. He said to not go anywhere alone, don't trust many people, especially those who want to take you away from the group. He also said it was no longer safe for us to go out alone at night to roam the city like we had in Tiberius.
It was the Sabbath when we arrived and the festivities were going strong! People were singing and dancing everywhere. The food here is so amazing, I've loved every moment of it. The only thing I have not tried so far was beef tongue. No thanks. So far my favorite food is the meat loaf with grape leaves.
Today (Saturday) was completely different than anything we had experienced thus far. We went to Mt. Olive and did the Palm Sunday walk. Street vendors were asking us to buy their postcards and posters, none of which I purchased. We then ventured down into Gethsemane to the Church of All Nations. This was the spot where Jesus prayed in the garden before being arrested. The church was beautiful and humbling as we saw the arrest of our Lord depicted through pictures and the reading of Scripture.
I knelt at the altar in the Church of All Nations and had a very humbling experience. Though I've accepted my calling to be a pastor, I've not always taken it seriously. I've been persecuted by friends and family for making the choice to follow God and that has weighed heavily on me. I dedicated myself fully to God. Even Jesus did not want to fulfill His purpose of dying, yet He did so willingly.
Later in the day we ventured to Bethlehem which is in Palestine. I don't know what to say right now. Pray for peace. Pray for the Christians being persecuted in Bethlehem. I was photographing some graffiti near the boarder and that caused a ruckus. The guard threw a fit and instead of allowing our bus to just flow threw the gate we all had to unload and go threw the check point, pass ports in hand. Our tour guide, George (Peach cannot go into Palestine because he is a Jew), said it was not my fault, but his associate that was with us said it was and that the guards there are very touchy.
Locals asked where we were from and there was a negative response that we were American. Not towards us, but towards Bush. They said, "Americans they will let freely go, but not us. We are prisoners in our own country."
The girls came back on the bus in tears and I felt extremely bad for making the 42 of us go through this experience. Bethlehem was humbling.
On our way to Jerusalem our tour guide, Peach, gave us the 411 on the city and that we were now leaving the more Western part of the country for the Middle Eastern part of the country. He said to not go anywhere alone, don't trust many people, especially those who want to take you away from the group. He also said it was no longer safe for us to go out alone at night to roam the city like we had in Tiberius.
It was the Sabbath when we arrived and the festivities were going strong! People were singing and dancing everywhere. The food here is so amazing, I've loved every moment of it. The only thing I have not tried so far was beef tongue. No thanks. So far my favorite food is the meat loaf with grape leaves.
Today (Saturday) was completely different than anything we had experienced thus far. We went to Mt. Olive and did the Palm Sunday walk. Street vendors were asking us to buy their postcards and posters, none of which I purchased. We then ventured down into Gethsemane to the Church of All Nations. This was the spot where Jesus prayed in the garden before being arrested. The church was beautiful and humbling as we saw the arrest of our Lord depicted through pictures and the reading of Scripture.
I knelt at the altar in the Church of All Nations and had a very humbling experience. Though I've accepted my calling to be a pastor, I've not always taken it seriously. I've been persecuted by friends and family for making the choice to follow God and that has weighed heavily on me. I dedicated myself fully to God. Even Jesus did not want to fulfill His purpose of dying, yet He did so willingly.
Later in the day we ventured to Bethlehem which is in Palestine. I don't know what to say right now. Pray for peace. Pray for the Christians being persecuted in Bethlehem. I was photographing some graffiti near the boarder and that caused a ruckus. The guard threw a fit and instead of allowing our bus to just flow threw the gate we all had to unload and go threw the check point, pass ports in hand. Our tour guide, George (Peach cannot go into Palestine because he is a Jew), said it was not my fault, but his associate that was with us said it was and that the guards there are very touchy.
Locals asked where we were from and there was a negative response that we were American. Not towards us, but towards Bush. They said, "Americans they will let freely go, but not us. We are prisoners in our own country."
The girls came back on the bus in tears and I felt extremely bad for making the 42 of us go through this experience. Bethlehem was humbling.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Wood or Stone?
An interesting topic came up during out tour of Nazareth Village today. Many people assume that Joseph and Jesus were carpenters by trade, however there is a possibility that they may have been stone workers. By the way the word is translated from Greek to English, we cannot be for certain which would have been their trade. The area surely would need skilled workers for both wood and stone, not so much in Nazareth, but two miles away in Sepphoris. While on that same tour something very interesting happened, see the video blog I'll be posting later for that tid bit. Currently YouTube has been uploading the video for about an hour.
Though we saw many fascinating archeological sites today, there was one part of the day that stuck out from the rest. On top of Mt. Precipice there was a group of Christians who had made the pilgrimage from Nigeria to the Holy Land. Today I met two of my brothers I have never known before. One was named Jacob, and I could not understand the others name. They were so kind, giving me blessings, telling me they loved me, calling me brother. It was the most sincere act of love I have ever experienced from another Christian.
There was something particularly special about their group. They were not there for the informational tours, to see the artifacts, to buy the outrageously expensive things in the shops. They were there to WORSHIP our Lord Jesus Christ in the dirt He stood. It was amazingly humbling. It has totally changed my perspective on the purpose of this trip.
Thats it for now.
-Skinny-
Though we saw many fascinating archeological sites today, there was one part of the day that stuck out from the rest. On top of Mt. Precipice there was a group of Christians who had made the pilgrimage from Nigeria to the Holy Land. Today I met two of my brothers I have never known before. One was named Jacob, and I could not understand the others name. They were so kind, giving me blessings, telling me they loved me, calling me brother. It was the most sincere act of love I have ever experienced from another Christian.
There was something particularly special about their group. They were not there for the informational tours, to see the artifacts, to buy the outrageously expensive things in the shops. They were there to WORSHIP our Lord Jesus Christ in the dirt He stood. It was amazingly humbling. It has totally changed my perspective on the purpose of this trip.
Thats it for now.
-Skinny-
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