Israel 2016 – Part 7 March 12, 2016

More about the conference Christ at the Checkpoint 4, with its subtitle “The Gospel in the Face of Religious Extremism.”

St. George killing the dragon is a favorite theme in religious art in this region. This is on the wall of the hotel, showing, I suppose, that the owner is a Christian in some sense. Overhead lights reflected in the glass cover of the piece distract from the effectiveness of this slide, but I liked the art and decided to include it anyway.

Walter, from North America, is a volunteer at Bethlehem Bible College (BBC) and seeks to be creative in his witness against violence. During parts of past year, tear gas was hurled by Israeli soldiers every day in the streets and landed on the BBC property. Walter collected the spent canisters, scrubbed them carefully and made Christmas ornaments, in a venture he calls Peace Parcels.  Come to my house, and I will show you the ones I bought.

BBC had a gift shop, with items at fair market price, to support the artisans who made them. And how could you have crafts in Bethlehem without having olive wood?

John Azumah, originally from Ghana, was one of the speakers. Currently a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA, he was formerly the director of the Centre of Islamic Studies at London Theological School, and from his service there he is acquainted with Brethren in Christ persons Jay Smith, Carmen Schultz, Paul Kiss and others.

On the right is Byron Rempel-Buckwalter from Winnipeg, a volunteer, along with his wife Melita, at BBC. On the left is Jonathan Kuttab, a Palestinian attorney and recognized authority on human rights and Palestinian and Israeli affairs.He grew up in Jerusalem, graduated from Messiah College, and lives part of the year in Lancaster County, PA, and part of it in Israel-Palestine.

Christians can work for peace in so many ways and so many places.

 

 

Israel 2016 – Part 6 March 10, 2016

More about the conference Christ at the Checkpoint 4, with its sub-title “The Gospel in the Face of Religious Extremism.”

The conference is made up of seven sessions.

1. The Challenge of Religious Extremism within Islam

2. Gospel Response to Religious Extremism

Palestinians feel great sadness over the way that the media in the West report part of the story, not the whole story.

In times of crisis the foolish build walls and the wise build bridges. – John Azumah, originally from Ghana, now professor of World Christianity and Islam at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA.

3. Our Muslim Neighbor

4. The Challenge of Christian Zionism

Christian Zionism is the belief by Christians that the Jews have a God-given right to the land of Israel and that this right is exclusive and therefore the Palestinians have no right to be in the land. This belief leads to an uncritical endorsement of and justification for Israel’s apartheid policies. John Hagee of San Antonio, TX, is a leading proponent of the Christian Zionist movement. Some Christian Zionists say that Palestinians don’t  exist.

It is certainly possible to love the Jews and rejoice that they can live in their ancient homeland without espousing the errors of Christian Zionism.

A Muslim leader, via video interview, observed that the occupation dehumanizes both the occupier and the occupied.

It is important to differentiate between Israel as a religion and Israel as a political strategy.           –Salim Munayer, professor at Bethlehem  Bible College.

In talking with a senior citizen from California I learned that everyone at her home church follows dispensational theology and has strong support for Christian Zionism. They opposed this woman’s coming to this conference, telling her that all Palestinians are opposing God and are the enemies of Israel and have no right to live in the land.

Prior to the formation of the State of Israel in 1948 Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together in peace in Palestine.

5. We are Palestinian Christians

Five young adult Palestinians told how God has led them to remain in Palestine, with all its difficulties, including the humiliation of going through the checkpoints, to forgive and love and serve right here. This was very moving to hear their stories and see the joy they are finding in serving God.

6. The Challenge of Religious Extremism within Judaism

7. Palestinian Christians and the Challenge of Religious Extremism

The evangelical presence here is very small. There are 46 evangelical churches in Israel and 16 in Palestine.

Azar Ajaj served as Baptist pastor in Nazareth for 13 years and is now on the staff of Nazareth  Evangelical College. He said, “In Israel we are a minority within a minority within a minority.” The sequence of minorities from larger to smaller is, of course, Christians – evangelicals – and Palestinian evangelicals.

Over a million Palestinians live in Israel but with many restrictions, including a second-class citizenship, and no right to vote in national elections.

8. Religious Extremism within Us

With humility we must acknowledge that in the past the Christian Church has practiced religious extremism through pride, discrimination, persecution, violence and killing dissenting people.

Several speakers pointed out that listening to others is hard work, but this is what we are called to do.

One speaker pointed out an important lesson learned from the experience of apartheid in South Africa – that the oppressed need to  extend forgiveness and the oppressors need to experience repentance.

It will take me some time to process all that I heard and felt in this conference. Some of my blog readers may have opinions that differ from what I have described here, and that is fine. There is room for respectful disagreement in the family of God.

For my part, it has been a privilege to hear firsthand from believers who live in a situation so different from mine and who welcome the understanding and prayers of Christians in the West.

Also, although I have reported some observations that challenge some of the policies of the State of Israel, I respect Israel and am grateful for the privilege of visiting Israel and Palestine.

Israel 2016 – Part 5 March 10, 2016

Let’s return to a photo I posted on an earlier blog.

This is a wall on a street in Bethlehem in the West Bank. By now I have learned the story behind the art.

It is the work of Banksy, an English-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director of unverified identity. He is known for satirical street art on publicly visible walls. How he remains unidentified when he creates art in public places is a mystery to me.

On this piece you have to look closely to see the cross hairs of a gun or tank trained on the chest of the bulletproof-vest-wearing  dove of peace.

Israel 2016 – Part 4 March 9, 2016

More about the conference Christ at the Checkpoint 4, with its sub-title “The Gospel in the Face of Religious Extremism.”

The conference has a Manifesto of 12 points. Here are a few of them.

• The Kingdom of God has come. Evangelicals must reclaim their prophetic role in bringing peace, justice and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.
• There are real injustices taking place in the Palestinian territories and the suffering of the Palestinian people can no longer be ignored. Any solution must respect the equality and rights of Israeli and Palestinian communities.
• Any challenge of the injustices taking place in the Holy Land must not be confused with anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of the State of Israel.
• Respectful dialogue between Palestinian and Messianic believers must continue.
• Christians must understand the global context for the rise of extremist Islam. We challenge the stereotyping of all faith forms, and we object to any faith that betrays God’s commandment to love our neighbors and enemies.

There are presentations by 26 speakers. I will not try to mention or quote all of them!

I am hearing so many different perspectives, and I cannot say I understand all I hear, but clearly, the various speakers are seeking to deal honestly with the Scriptures; to understand the radical nature of Jesus’ teaching about the gospel of the kingdom of God; to present the realities of daily life for Palestinians, who live under occupation; to explore proper Christian responses to injustice and suffering; and to understand and respond to religious extremism in Islam and other faiths. And I affirm these approaches.

Israel 2016 – Part 3 March 8, 2016

Here is a another view of the Church of the Nativity, this time at dusk.

I had coffee in St. George’s Restaurant on Manger Square and saw this mural of the city of Bethlehem, so I had to take a photo.

Here is the theme slide that appears at each session of the conference. A startling contrast between the cross and the barrier wall. You may learn more about the conference at http://www.christatthecheckpoint.com.

Many of the speakers are Palestinian Christians. In the U.S. we hear about Palestinian Muslims and Palestinian terrorists, but there are also Palestinian believers – our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are hearing what life is like for them in their setting.

“Imagine the birthplace of Christianity without Christians.”

This may sound like an exaggeration, and yet we are learning that it could become the case. Already, due to emigration, Christians in the Holy Land make up less than 1.5 percent of the Palestinian community.

Please pray for the believers here. that they will be encouraged, put aside fear, have hope, and give loving witness to their Muslim neighbors and to all people. Pray for Bethlehem Bible College as it enables a new generation of Christian leaders to serve in Bethlehem and beyond. You can learn more about the College at http://www.bethbc.edu

Israel 2016 – Part 2 March 8, 2016

On Monday, March 7, I had the morning and afternoon free before the conference started at 5:00 PM. I walked north through Bethlehem, passed through the Israeli checkpoint in the barrier wall, and walked a few more blocks into the southern-most end of Jerusalem to visit Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Walk with me.

The entrance to the Bethlehem Museum, which I did not have time to visit.

And here is a different dove, on the wall of a general building, not the barrier wall.

Views of Bethlehem Bible College, which has another location in Nazareth and a satellite campus in Gaza.

And here is the barrier wall. 26 feet tall, twice as high as the Berlin Wall. No Palestinian can pass through a checkpoint without a permit, and few new permits are issued each week.  No one is allowed to photograph the pedestrian checkpoints.

Many Palestinians have permits to work in Israel, but the checkpoints are crowded at work hours, so the process can take 3 hours. Many workers arrive at 3:00 AM in order to pass through and get to work on time. At noon, when I went through, there were only two people head of me.

Entrance and view of one building of Tantur Evangelical Institute. Tantur is a department of the University of Notre Dame and is described as an oasis of learning, community and hositality. Terry Brensinger and other BIC people have stayed here during Holy Land tours and studies.

A grotto at Tantur, showing Christ presiding over the New Jerusalem with rivers of water flowing out of the city.

I came to Tantur to visit my Palestinian Christian friend KB, who is the maintenance person here and who  showed me around the extensive buildings and grounds, including an impressive library.

By 5:00 PM I was back at the hotel, where all sessions of the conference are being held. The event is sponsored by Bethlehem Bible College and is called Christ at the Checkpoint 4. There were three such conferences held in the past.

The subtitle for this conference is “The Gospel in the Face of Religious Extremism.”

The registration count is over 400, which is much larger than I expected. People have come from 23 nations. Seven BIC people from southern California are here.

The keynote address was given by Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippines, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance. He spoke on “The Gospel and the Challenge of Religious Extremism,” listing some mistaken assumptions about religious extremism, calling for thoughtful and respectful dialogue with all people,  and insisting that the way of Christ is the way on non-violence.

 

 

 

 

Israel 2016 – Part 1 March 6, 2016

It is my privilege to spend nine days in Israel and the West Bank (Palestine) as a tourist, to attend a conference, and to be on pilgrimage to biblical sites.

My friend Phil was planning to come with me, but unforeseen circumstances forced him to cancel a few days before the trip, so I am here alone.

Arrived on Sunday, March 6. Staying in the Orient Palace Hotel, which opened last October. It is located in the West Bank in the Palestinian town of Beit Jala, adjoining Bethlehem.

Historically, many Christians have lived in the three connected towns of Beit Jala, Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. Beit Sahour includes two locations that are claimed by different Christian denominations to be The Shepherds Field where angels appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus.

Here is the view from the balcony of my room. Typical scene, with a few olive trees standing in any open spot that has not been developed.

Today I walked 25 minutes to the heart of Bethlehem.

Common street scenes in Bethlehem. Blue seems to be the favorite color here.

Peace Fountain (no water running today) in a small square. Installed in 1999.

Wall and bell tower next to the entrance to the Church of the Nativity.

The entrance is unassuming. One story says that the entrance was made this low in the Middle Ages so that the Crusaders could not ride their horses into the church. Who would have thought?!

Inside the church you walk on a wooden floor that protects the beautiful and intricate mosaic floor that dates from the 4th Century.

The original church was commissioned in 327 by the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena. It was destroyed by  fire in the 6th Century and rebuilt in 565. It is under restoration now, so I have no good photos of the dark interior. You can go online and see the beauty of the interior. The exterior is a plain limestone wall.

I see many Common swifts here – a bit larger than the Chimney swift we have in America. Noisy creatures, they fly above and around city buildings in “screaming parties,” as the bird guide book says.

This evening KB came to visit me. He is a Palestinian Christian living in Beit Sahour. His farm was confiscated by the State of Israel because it was deemed to be a good location for a future Israeli settlement. As common in such cases, he was not given any payment for the confiscated farm. KB has worked with Hank Dannecker of 1 NewHeart, an organization that helps children get life-saving heart surgery by Jewish doctors in Tel Aviv through an organization called Save A Child’s Heart.

From Madrid October 19, 2015

In June we took our family to Madrid for a week to celebrate early our 50th wedding anniversary, which will be on December 22. We stayed in a vacation apartment three blocks from Puerta del Sol, Gate of the Sun, the very center of the city.

Here is a photo of the anniversary couple in front of the royal palace.

Unfortunately, the king was busy with other things, so we had to dine at an outdoor restaurant by ourselves.

How we came to this anniversary so soon is a mystery, but we thank God for his mercy and goodness to us in so many ways throughout our married life. Yes, we have had some losses and pain, but God’s grace is sufficient.

Flowers and Plants on Display March 18, 2015

Have you ever visited the United States Botanic Garden?

In February we spent a weekend in Washington, D.C. On a bitterly cold and windy day we went to the Botanic Garden, on the mall, just down the hill from the U. S. Capitol. What a relief to be in a warm place where plants and trees were growing and flowers blooming.

 

I was especially drawn to the orchids.

A fascinating exhibit called “Exposed: The Secret Life of Roots” showed the ways plant roots are a vital part of the earth’s ecosystem. Posters and photos presented the work of Agricultural Ecologist D. Jerry Glover.

In two long rows we saw the actual root systems of wheat, alfalfa and a lot of other plants that I cannot remember.

It is my impression that many visitors to our nation’s capital go to the more  well-known sites and museums and miss the beauty and education of the Botanic Garden. You may want to include this place when you visit Washington, D.C.

Exploring Barcelona December 25, 2014

December 2014. We arrived in Barcelona on December 22 and will leave on the 26th, to head for the Pyrenees Mountains for a retreat with our London and Spain team members. A young couple from PA are with us in Barcelona and will also go to the retreat to provide child care for the two young children who will be there. So obviously, we have spent Christmas week and Christmas Day in Barcelona.

I hope to give a detained report later, but here are a few scenes from this lovely city on the Mediterranean coast of Spain.

At the waterfront of the city is this column honoring Christopher Columbus, who came here to report after his discovery of the Americas.

A close-up, the explorer pointing to the west, from which he had returned.

And here you see the most visited site in all of Spain – Sagrada Familia, the Basilica of the Holy Family, designed by the famous Antoni Gaudi, who lived from 1854-1926. It is still under construction. I plan to say more in a future blog.

 

All over the city the lights of Christmas are beautiful and beautiful. So for now, I close with this scene from The Avenue of the Gate of the Angel.