Check This Out!

Good Morning Everyone:

Hey, check this out. I found this picture of Jerash (Gasara) taken in the 60's by Dr. Charles Feinberg. Sure looks different than the Jerash we visited!

I sent a mass email out yesterday. I am in the process of having a little over 8 hours of video edited by a studio in Escondido. The finished product will be around 4 hours (I'm estimating.)

Would any of you be interested in a copy at approximately $25? If so, let me know and when I get my set I will have them make copies at the time of original production.

OK, that's it for now. I am a better preacher today having gone to the Holy Land with all of you. I thank you for that.

Shalom:

Rick

Reunion Time!

Hello Everyone.

Well, let's get together, shall we? We have reserved the recreation room at Lawrence Welk Resort for Friday, April 18 at 7:00 PM. Let's have a REUNION!

Watch the blog for further details, but for now, be ready to bring your scrapbooks, coffee table books, DVD slideshows, or what-have-you. I'll bring a laptop and projector so we can watch pictures all night. Who needs sleep anyway?

We'll have some kind of refreshments there. FILAFEL  anyone?!!!

See you there.

Rick

Mustard Seed

Hello Everyone.

Last Wednesday we were in our study of Luke's gospel, chapter 13. We got down to verse 19 where Jesus asked what He should liken the kingdom to. He then gave two examples. One was leaven and the other a MUSTARD SEED.

I remembered being at the Jordan River and after our devotion there, I saw Stacey standing out in a field of MUSTARD. Jesus said the kingdom grows like that mustard seed, from very small to very large. And it has on many levels.

Saturday was also a special day. Jillian Shierts came up to Julian with my son's family. After touring the town we enjoyed some pizza and, of course, world famous Julian Apple Pie! We also spent a significant amount of time looking at pics of Israel.  Go figure! Jillian, it was good to see you again.

Shalom.

Rick

Go to YouTube

Darvis playing his Irish whistle in St. Anne's Church

Blessed Resurrection Day to you all.

I got an email from Darvis. His whistle playing is on YouTube. Check it out. Cut and paste the following address into your browser and see him play "How Great Thou Art" in St. Anne's Church!

http//youtube.com/watch?v=PFtN3wIC_PO

Shalom:

Rick

Good Friday

"It's 3:00 in the afternoon. Jesus called for water. A soldier fixed a sponge on a spear and held it up to his lips. It was terribly bitter but it was enough. He strained to lift himself up to grasp for air. Somehow he accomplished it and raised his head toward heaven. "It is finished," he cried, and then he gave up his spirit in death."

This is how I will start my Good Friday sermon at Hillside today. As I have been preparing for this I was, once again, reminded of our time in Israel. So I selected some random shots of our visit to Golgotha, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Garden Tomb. 

Today, we are reminded of what Jesus went through to secure our eternal salvation. "It is finished." Our salvation is complete. Nothing more need be done. God's wrath against sin is satisfied. He died for our salvation, the Bible says. And in just three days, He will rise for our justification!

I say "Hallelujah!" What do you say?

Pastor Rick

Resurrection 2008

Mt. of Olives

From atop the Mt. of Olives looking down towards Gethsemani

Walking to Gethsemani (passed by Dominus Flevit)

Carving of Jesus at prayer

Gethsemani

Golgotha

An empty tomb

Inside the tomb

Good Morning Everyone.

Even as I was preparing some final notes for my Resurrection Day sermon, I was once again reminded of the Holy Land. I put together a few pics of the journey from the Mt. of Olives to the tomb as a reminder for you. 

If you are like me (and I pray you are not - there needs to be only one of me!), this trip has brought to life the Passion of our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

As you read the Resurrection Story this week and as you prepare your heart for worship and celebration, do so with the memory of being in the Land where it happened. By the way, I started reading the Resurrection story many months ago not only to prepare for this trip but also to prepare my Resurrection sermon. I'm going to give you a preview of it.

I am using the John 11 passage, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." My goal is to answer two very basic questions: 

Question - Is there life after death?

Answer - Yes, because of the Resurrection

Question - Is there life before death?

Answer - Yes, because of the Resurrection

Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly!" (John 10:10)

I hope you all have a most blessed Holy Week. I'll be contacting you soon about a REUNION!

Rick

Name That Place

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to name the places of these pictures. Did you get them all?

Shalom.

Rick