Happy Lord’s Day!  I pray you are blessed this beautiful Sunday!

Three questions are often asked regarding a journey to Israel:

1. Why Israel?
2. Why now?
3. Isn’t it dangerous over there?

Why Israel?  Israel may be the most fascinating place on the planet.  In a nation approximately the size of New Jersey, there are 5 different climate zones.  In places where barren desert, treeless landscape, swampland or sand dunes once dominated the terrain, you now find beautiful cities, thick woodland, and incredibly lush farm land.  There are stacks of civilization (called “tels”) all over the land, much of it excavated, much of it left for future generations to explore.  It’s a truly fascinating place.

However, I have two much better reasons to go.  First, Genesis 12 teaches that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.  Israel stands more and more alone in world affairs these days, and to visit the land and express support for the State of Israel is one way to bless them.  I want to stand on the right side of God’s equation, don’t you!

My second primary reason is that I have grown to love the land, the people, and Judaic heritage that birthed our Christian faith.  This is the land of Jesus and it is absolutely impossible to describe what it is like to walk where Jesus walked.  Likewise, the Bible goes from black and white to HD when you actually see the sites and imagine the happenings of Scripture.  To sail on the Sea of Galilee while imagining Jesus calming the storm on that very sea (Mark 4:35-41) makes every detail come alive!

So why Israel?  Because I can’t stay away!

Check back later to find out “Why now” and “Is it dangerous over there?”  Thanks for stopping by!