Balaam's ass talked to him...

For those who are wondering what I am up to, I am busy making friends. Here is a picture of me and "Jack".

the walk

Today I fell in love with the scriptures. They came alive to me. As I sat outside of the Eastern Gate facing the Mount of Olive, it all became so tangible to me. I saw the ‘white-washed” tombs that Jesus used to refer to the Pharisees in Matthew 23. Nothing, however, would prepare me for seeing the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb. It was here that I fell in love with Him all over again. I don’t feel closer to him because He was there, but because He lives in me communing with me daily. I do, however, feel a tender gratefulness for His coming to earth and the privilege I have to be in this place.

Perhaps later I will expound further on the meaningless of Holy sites, falsely representing a risen Christ, through division, bickering and idolatry.

the promised land

My first morning in Israel was breathtakingly beautiful. I awoke to see a deep red and purple sky drawing up to the east from my evergreen, cascaded hilltop. I slowly turned my gaze to the west, beyond the lime green valley of the Shephelah, beyond Tel-Aviv, deep into the crystal-blue Mediterranean Sea. I was surrounded by the rich forest-green hilltops which looked as though they glowed white from the almond trees nestled amongst the limestone. Directly to the south, rising above me, was the copper-topped, sun-lit Mt. Seer looming over dense tall pines climbing up his rugged, aged back. Desolate, depressed valleys surrounded me. A pine-scented breeze gently brushed my shoulder as the light syncopated rhythm of the rain began to fall.

He kept His promise

i walked out limping

Any comments on revenge, the state of Israel and where I will be living in two days? I had such strong emotions after this film, I cannot help but wonder if I arrived at my conclusions justly, or if I was just magnificently manipulated?

from my back yard

this is my view from our anchorage this evening... Blessings

sailing south from augustine to addiction

In my travels, I have never been to a town as friendly as St. Augustine, Florida. The people were genuine and interested in one another. Even more intriguing, they were interested in this sailor merely passing through their town.

I met and had good conversation with over 20 people that day in St. Augustine. Some were old, some young, many homeless, many more travelers like myself. All in love with life no matter what their current situation, financial status or disability. I in turn, fell in love with them.

Sailing south I came to Daytona Beach. There I met a different type of homeless. They were broken not by life's rough waters, but broken and beaten by addiction. This is where I met Tom.

Tom was the most honest homeless man I have ever met. After asking me for some money outside of a liquor store, I told him I would only give him money if he wouldn't buy alcohol. He said he couldn't make that promise. I again asked him if he would buy food, he said "I probably won't". Astonished by his honesty I gave him the money anyway. After returning with food and telling him about some programs he was very thankful, yet sober about his situation. "I have tried to beat this thing so many times, but I continually fail".

What I wanted to say I didn't so I will say it now... Tom, I struggle too. We all do, some admit it and some don't. Addiction is a hideous evil enemy that stalks everyone of us constantly. Our only hope is Jesus. Pray for Tom.

just showing up

As I sat last night on the catamaran "Seven at Sea" in the serene atmosphere of this Georgia inner-coastal town, I was struck with the profound meaning of prayer.
It came about as my dear friend Jeff read to me a small book on prayer by E.M. Bounds. Nothing was more satisfying at that moment than sitting in the stillness and listening to these insightful words. Then it hit me...

God doesn't want our Jobs, money, things, talents, missions, sermons, studies or theology. He wants us alone.

There is only one way to authentically give ourselves to Him, and that is by showing up and being with Him. It is through prayer and meditation. (But let's not confuse ourselves with these over used and seldom understood words). What Jesus really wants is for us to just be with him. To spend time with God demonstrates our desire for nothing other than him. It deflates the meaningless idols that we have so naively filled our every moment with. We go from a noisy existence into the peaceful arms of the Father. We are who we were created to be; beloved.

thoughts from the e.r.

I was reminded that about this time last year I was lying ill (I want to say "deathly ill") in Lima, Peru. It was a very disturbing time for me. Nothing is worse than laying sick in a dirty bed, dripping dusty sweat from a filthy arid atmosphere on New Years Eve, wondering if this is a sign of things to come.

It WAS a sign of the things to come. Last year was a very difficult time for me. It revealed to me my own "inner-sickness." It was a time of spiritual beating and recovery, beating and recovery, over and over again.

I wish that I could say that I have emerged from this sinful brutality, but alas, that is still a distant reality. Perhaps I am not the only one in this infirmary of the sinful condition. As I look up from my own seething wounds of wrong decision, I see that there are others in hospital beds around me, bleeding from the wounds of there own folly.

My hope this New Year lies in the Great Physician. As I remember the pain of this past year, waywardly inflicted upon others, I will remember to pray for the healing of my fellow patients in critical condition.