One way to get ready to greet Jesus is to become familiar with his birthplace, Palestine. Yesterday my husband and I visited The Museum of the Palestinian People in Washington, DC. It's quite new and has just a few exhibits about the land of Palestine. It's only open for limited hours, though the … [Read more...] about A Different Way to Get Ready to Welcome Jesus
After the Mosque Shooting in Christchurch, NZ
I posted this on FB and it was widely shared: As we ate supper last night, Doug and I talked about the mosque attack, and I wondered aloud if?All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS), our local mosque was having a service of some kind. We checked online, and a vigil had just begun. So I quickly … [Read more...] about After the Mosque Shooting in Christchurch, NZ
The Museum of the Bible
The Museum of the Bible opened in Washington, DC last November. The owner is Steve Green, who also owns Hobby Lobby. Green is a conservative Evangelical who is anti-gay and anti-choice. He appears to seek political influence and to court the press. Some of the recent press was negative because he … [Read more...] about The Museum of the Bible
Virtual Pilgrim: Underneath Jerusalem’s Western Wall
Are you looking for ways to "walk with Jesus" during this season of Lent? I invite you to check out the videos produced by Eran Frenkel in Jerusalem. His most recent video takes us through the Western Wall Tunnels. This is a place I wasn't able to see on my pilgrimage, and I so enjoyed "being there" … [Read more...] about Virtual Pilgrim: Underneath Jerusalem’s Western Wall
When Sanctuaries Aren’t Safe, Arson at Tabgha
Recently the pilgrim site at Tabgha, Israel was attacked by arsonists. Very little mention was made of this in US media. I wrote a?blogpost?for EerdWord, the Eerdmans blog. Thanks for reading. … [Read more...] about When Sanctuaries Aren’t Safe, Arson at Tabgha
Easter, Lent Pilgrimage, Home
I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ~Revelation 21:2 Scripture calls Jerusalem home, but it has always seemed far from my home. This pilgrimage has been too brief. The places we?ve visited don't really feel like … [Read more...] about Easter, Lent Pilgrimage, Home
#40 Lent Pilgrimage, Golgotha
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ~Galatians 6:14 We are in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built over the place where Jesus died. We have the opportunity to stoop over, crawl beneath … [Read more...] about #40 Lent Pilgrimage, Golgotha
#39 Lent Pilgrimage, Good Friday
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? ~Psalm 130:3 Headed toward the last of the stations of the cross, we pilgrims pass beneath a high window where some schoolgirls cluster. We can see them, wearing their school uniforms. The girls toss water balloons on us and yell: ?It?s … [Read more...] about #39 Lent Pilgrimage, Good Friday
#38 Lent Pilgrimage, The Upper Room
Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ?This is my body, which is given for you.? ~Luke 22:19 The Upper Room on the Via Dolorosa was built by the Crusaders in the 11th century, so it is not "authentic" to the Holy Week story. The … [Read more...] about #38 Lent Pilgrimage, The Upper Room
#37 Lent Pilgrimage, Drowned by Noise
?The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him.??~Mark 10:33?34 We pilgrims are walking the Via Dolorosa through the Old City … [Read more...] about #37 Lent Pilgrimage, Drowned by Noise
#36 Lent Pilgrimage, Stations of the Cross
Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him. ~Mark 10:32 We enter the Damascus Gate before dawn, in silence, to walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Suffering. Pilgrims take turns leading our group, carrying a 4-foot cross. The stations of the cross, a series of … [Read more...] about #36 Lent Pilgrimage, Stations of the Cross
#35 Lent Pilgrimage, Ancient Roots
?Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.? ~Luke 22:46 The roots of the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane are purportedly 2,000 years old. Olive trees are known to live a long time, and these particular trees have been lovingly tended since Jesus … [Read more...] about #35 Lent Pilgrimage, Ancient Roots