At Journey's End

Forty years ago, a twenty-year-old kid traveled from California to Israel with a basketball team whose goals were to win games and souls. As a fledgling believer and only two days to see the sites, he had no idea what impact the Holy Land would have on his faith and his path for the future. It was the summer of 1974 and for that young man, the Bible came alive for the first time. As a result, that fall he was headed for Bible college.

Back then I wouldn't have dreamed I would ever be a pastor. Nor would I have thought I'd have had the opportunity to lead an incredible trip such as the one we have just completed. Actually, I feel I've simply had the privilege of returning here to teach a few times in the land that inspired me to know God's Word more deeply all those years ago. Some of my Living Oaks flock have come because I'm their pastor. But, this adventure has been incredibly led by Rich Ferreira, Director of the Joshua Wilderness Institute, gifted in so many ways. Our other true leader was Ronen Ben Moshe, our GTI Tour Guide, encyclopedic in knowledge and boundless in personality, patience and humor.

Yes, in a way this trip has been forty years in the making, but it really started when Debbie Carpenter suggested it to me just over a year ago, in August. Now, so soon, we're done. However, the memories remain. For example, we'll never forget Meir, the world's greatest bus (sometimes stunt) driver. Of course there's Joey, our affable, able-bodied medic, who also blessed us with a memorable teaching on Samson and "compromise" (Can't stop singing Tom Jones' "My Delilah"). And we've got pictures, videos, blogs, mementos and new friendships to help us recollect the great times.

Like today as we ventured into the ancient City of David. After a 3-D movie recounting its history, several hearty souls braved Hezekiah's tunnel, a 1700+ foot underground waterway carved through stone dating back to the Assyrian siege on Judah during the reign of Hezekiah—7th and 8th centuries BC. The rest of us were treated to a teaching by Ronen on David and Bathsheba from the site where the story took place! An incredible day in Jerusalem, including shopping, to wrap up our trip, topped off with a memorable farewell dinner in the evening.

We'll be forever changed as we return home. Personally, I'll have a new appreciation for my quiet, uneventful pulpit at Living Oaks. I'll treasure not being rained on, or having a pickup stuffed with noisy rams and camel, or 100 onlookers walking directly behind me like the Israelites crossing the Jordan, or our national anthem blaring from a boat on the Sea of Galilee; things that just happened to occur only while I was teaching the Word, here in this land where the Word originated. I must say, the Palestinians setting off explosions to taunt Jerusalem police, at the moment I mentioned "wars and rumors of wars" while teaching Matthew 24, was a nice touch! God has a sense of humor and timing.

The group has been a wonderful team—and we have been a team—a great sense of community. Living Oaks and the other friends who joined us have been a stellar family with which to travel and enjoy this experience. Thank you. The adventure has been "sababa" (which I learned is actually Hebrew slang for "awesome"). Thanks to all who made it happen. And thanks most to God. Shalom.

Your Grateful Pastor,
Doug Posey