This journey began at my first visit to church as a teen age boy in Forest Hill, Texas. As part of a Christmas celebration, slides of the Holy Lands were shared on a six foot square screen. All these pictures looked much the same to me, rock & dirt, dirt & rock with names I had never heard. The pictures left me bored and unimpressed. There was however something about the enthusiasm, joy, respect, reverence and the abundant love for this place emanating from the lady showing these slide that reached across the room and pricked my heart. Why did she love this barren landscape? Why did she save for years to make this trip? Why did she say that her whole life was now fulfilled and she could die in peace? It was just a point on the map to me and I did not understand. Just a few weeks after this Christmas celebration I walked down the isle of this same church, confessed my sin and was born into the family of God. Not long after I received a "call" to be a minister, specifically a Pastor, and I have been following that call for almost fifty years. I learned about the place where Jesus was born. I learned about his being a Jew and many hundreds of other facts concerning Israel and these Holy Lands. Fifty years of learning.
A few month ago I received a call from a wonderful family asking if I would like to make a trip to Israel. With much enthusiasm I declared that I would love to go. And so the preparation began in humble anticipation of my Sabbatical Journey to Israel. Proper preparation would be essential to make this trip a success. Every aspect of preparation needed to be examined for nothing could be omitted, postponed, neglected or left to chance. It would only take one mistake and the journey could be destroyed.
The first and therefore the most important preparation was prayer, yes prayer, for the world is at war with terrorism, the nations that surround Israel want to rid all Jewish presence, and in my own heart there existed a small seed of fear. I am not speaking of the fear of death. My hope is steadfastly anchored in Jesus and death would usher me into his eternal presence. The fear sprang from the remote possibility that some unforeseen logistical element would hinder or even stop this from happening.
Preparation is the key to spiritual success. I am prepared in the spirit realm by obedience to God's Word, a constant repentance, humbly approaching the throne of Grace to cultivate a daily relationship and keeping my focus on Jesus. I will share the events, locations, emotions and facts of this Sabbatical in days to come for my preparation yielded proof of success and the journey was sweet. The dirt and rock of Israel made me feel welcome.....almost as if it were my long lost Home.
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