This Is Where the Stories Come From

The title is two fold.  Really, this place, Israel is where the stories come from.  The story of a faith and belief in something so irrational and so impossible that it just seems to good to be true.  But when I said this is where the stories come from, I also mean that these kinds of situations is where great God moments emerge from.  Being unable to go with my group to Israel this past Saturday gave me a chance to step back for a couple days.  I had been rushing around visiting friends and family back home and packing everything up for school for next semester and getting down to Nyack just made me feel very chaotic and not focused on the whole purpose of the trip and why I felt the desire to go in the first place.

For two days, I got back in position, settled myself and prayed that God would show up which is what I should have been earnestly asking for from the start.  I think now with all that has transpired since Saturday evening I can say that God has met me on this trip.  That I am now in the right spirit to be traveling in Israel as the Holy Spirit reveals more of God's identity to me.

As I write this next part I have since boarded the aircraft and am flying over Nova Scotia.  I am excited.  I have finally settled down knowing that I am on my way to my destination.  Let me quickly sum up exactly what happened...

On Saturday evening as I was checking in I was informed that my passport was damaged and I would not be able to fly.  I was completely shocked and not sure what to do.  I was given some good advice by Dr. Notley and Dr. Walborn as well as Wink Thompson who arranged our travel and accommodations, about figuring things out to join up with the rest of the group in Israel.  I was praying hard.  Like really really hard.  It was a wake up call to how I just wasn't really in the right spirit to be traveling and I was being shaken up.  Anyway, I got the information I needed to go to get a new passport on Monday morning.  Sunday I had to have my passport photos completed however, and wasn't sure how to take care of this.  Jimmy gave me a good idea to check on someone to do them and it worked out great!  (Thanks Jimmy and Bill!)

Second miracle was getting someone to be willing to drive me to the passport agency an hour and a half away in Connecticut early on a Monday morning.  Enter Jon Chowansky (Thanks buddy.)  My really good friend Jon that I met at Seton Hall University (Before I transferred), said he would take me up to Connecticut and then to JFK afterwards.  (What a pal).

Second problem solved, now just to get the passport.  I arrived without a good copy of my birth certificate (I had a scan), and was not sure how things would go.  I got my forms together and got a number to get in line to get a passport.  I began praying and asking God that He would get me my passport.  Then I stopped and thought, why should I ask for so little of God?  Here I am a college student who never has money; why wouldn't I pray that my fairly new passport would be considered defective and that a way would be provided that I wouldn't have to pay!  I prayed for just that:  A free passport.  And...God delivered massively!!  A fresh passport completely updated and replaced and I didn't have to pay $135 for a new one!  Miracles upon miracles!

I was so blessed to be able to have this experience honestly.  I feel like I will have a much deeper appreciation for this trip considering I almost wasn't able to go on it.  I'm still not sure what the whole point of this little detour was.  But in some ways it is a lot like Paul.  He didn't always go where he wanted to when he wanted to.  But things always worked for the glory of the Father.  See, it's stuff like this.  Time's like these.  That's where stories come from.

Next blog from Israel,

-AM

And then life hits like a train...

So problem.  I am not in Israel right now.  I am not flying to Israel right now.  I am sitting in the food court at JFK International Airport waiting for someone to come pick me up from the airport.  Apparently my passport has damage to it that makes it unacceptable for travel.  My fault.  I didn’t think there would be damage since I’ve used it twice in the past.  However, for those of you that were absolutely dying to follow this blog have no fear.  I will be joining the rest of the group as my flight has been changed to Monday evening and I will be in Israel on Tuesday.  (Thank you ticket counter attendant for being so kind to me!)

Am I disappointed?  Absolutely.  I would be lying if I said I was ok with it.  But just like anything that happens in life, I’m sure this will produce character (if handled correctly) and a healthy paranoia that my passport is always in tip top condition!  And so, instead of lessons learned in Israel I will be learning lesson about dealing with disappointment and being patient for things that are worthwhile.  (Not to mention that I have invested $3,000 into this trip!!)  Instead of just giving up and not going on the trip, I will continue to see what God can do in this disappointing time and still keep the anticipation of going on this trip.  I think now more than ever, I will be thankful for the experience.  Perhaps even more thankful that I ever would have been and I will never take it for granted.

I was just thinking of the song by Brenton Brown, Everlasting God.  The verse to that song is so simple but so powerful in its message:  “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.”  So I’m not sure what to do with that except wait upon the Lord and see what He wants me to do.

Please continue to keep myself and the rest of the group in your prayers that all goes according to God’s big plan!

-AM

And here we go!

Writing this quick note from a friends house where I stayed last night in Nyack.  I will be meeting up with everyone in about two hours over at the college and we will be headed to JFK to catch our 6:00 pm flight.  We received an email from our professor this morning who is already over in Israel taking care of some business.  He said all is quiet and our anxieties should be put to rest.  

I am very excited about what this trip will bring.  I was talking with a friend last night who is also a worship leader and we were discussing songs coming out of our experience over there that have a deep connection to the Promised Land.  Especially with Jerusalem and all that is said in the Psalms about Jerusalem and its prominence and importance in a spiritual sense.  As we tour and as we meet people of this region I fully anticipate God to begin doing something miraculous.  I really don't know what it is, but whether it is some songs are written, or its just a fresh perspective I'm resting assured that God has great plans for our travels in the middle-east and He will show Himself brilliantly!

Next blog from Israel!

Stay Classy,

-AM

Safe Travels in Israel?

Because of the increased activity in Israel over this past weekend I thought I would write and give everyone a heads up on my situation for travels in that region.  I received and email from my professor in charge of the trip yesterday informing us more about the current conflict occurring right now.

Just for anyone that may be concerned we have all been assured that we are completely safe to be traveling in Israel right now.  Here is what Professor Notley said in regards to this recent incident:  

The main question for us as travelers to Israel is, "Is it dangerous to travel to Israel at this time?"  With complete honesty we have to answer "No, it is not too dangerous to travel to Israel at this time."

He also commented that:

With firsthand knowledge of the land, scores of contacts to keep us well informed, an understanding of the political conflicts, and with a history of teaching, traveling and living in the midst of the present Israeli-Palestinian conflict we are confident that our January 2009 program to Israel will be a success and a blessing to all.

I do ask that in light of this that you still be praying that God would have his hand on our group over there and that we would be kept safe in the midst of troubles and that it would indeed but a successful and blessed time for everyone participating.

Stay classy,

-AM

Two Weeks and Counting!!!

Israel:  So close I can almost taste it!  In two weeks right about this time my Nyack friends and I will be headed over to the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  I will be leaving the snow bound Northeast, (Visiting family in New Hampshire right now and there are three storms hitting this weekend...about 2-4 feet when it's all said and done.)  and exchanging it for the slight less snowy weather of the middle-east.  Packing list is underway, (I have a lot of laundry to do...wow.)  and I have to figure out how to manage my fantasy football (soccer) team while I'm over there!  You know, its the simple things in life that bring pleasure.  Anyway, just thought the three and a half people that read this blog would like to know how things are coming along!  (I kid of course.)

In all seriousness, I'm really hoping to gain some fresh perspective on the Holy Land and to be where Jesus and other biblical notables walked in faith.  I really am looking forward to knowing what exactly it meant for the Hebrew people to "go up to Jerusalem." It literally meant to walk up a hill to the city.  But there is a significance of the "highness" and holiness of the city that just intrigues me and hopefully I will have some more light shed on that.

Until I have all this information and fun for you, have a Merry Christmas.

Stay Classy,

-AM

Just around the corner...

I found the Thanksgiving break restful, but at the same time I didn't feel like I got a single thing done!  That wasn't true but I had my hopes set on massive amounts of work being done so I could cruise through the last two weeks of school.  Sadly this was not the case, but I digress.  I was able to finish all of the maps that I need to have marked for Israel which was one of my goals I was happy to accomplish!  

Today my final pre-trip project was due which was reading the book:  The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus' Genius and writing a response to it.  I was told that I might be upset by some of the conclusions reached in this book.  Some of the conclusions that were reached did surprise me, but on the whole, I am enjoying the book and its attempt to put the reader in the Jewish context of the first century AD.  The point that the author really wanted to get across was that Jesus wasn't trying to put the focus on himself so much as he was trying to put the focus on God constantly.  So while what Jesus did was important, from the Jewish perspective what he said of the relationship we have to God is so much more crucial.

Anyway, thats my spiel for now...Israel is right around the corner!  If I can be so bold as to ask for prayer, please pray for this trip.  That not only will be kept safe in an often volatile part of the world, but more so that we will have our eyes, ears, and hearts open to what God would want to show us and teach us about that land and how it applies to the Bible and our lives.  Also, pray for the unity of the team.  In an area like the middle east we will need to stay together and be protecting and compassionate of one another.

Ya'll stay classy now,

-AM

Ideas?

So if you haven't noticed already, (which I doubt anyone has!) I have put up a poll on the blog to find out about anything specific that you might like to read about.  The four options I posted were "Old Testament Notables" "Footsteps of Jesus" "Jerusalem" and "Galilee."  These are just four points of interest that came to mind, but if you have any burning questions that you want answered, by all means, ASK THEM!!

Anyway that is all I have to share.  This week I will be on Thanksgiving break and working on several projects including a part of my assignment for Israel which is map marking!  Oh so fun!  If I find out anything interesting in the process I will be sure to take note and let ya'll know! 

Until then,

-AM

Six Weeks and Counting!!

Yes its true.  I am six weeks away from taking off from JFK International Airport and heading for two weeks in Israel!  I am still just amazed to see how God has brought everything together to allow me to go on this trip and see Him in a new way.  Everyone I have talked to has given me high hopes and great expectations for this trip and I can't wait to get there!

So this blog...I plan on just giving you all updates (or at least the important ones) on what is happening before, during, and after the trip related to Israel.  Be on the lookout for pictures, thoughts, or whatever related to the trip.  It should be great, and I'll make this as interesting as possible!

One thing for anyone wondering..."what is up with the name of your blog?"  Credit goes to Gordon Lanpher for coming up with that.  I wanted something outrageous...and I got it...so ya...thanks Gordon.

Stay classy,

-AM