A Series of Pendulum Swings

As our time in the Holy Land draws to a close, the group buzzes with excitement over all we've experienced, but it's mingled with a dash of grief because we feel the goodbyes looming.

The week has been a series of pendulum swings. A group of strangers have become a community of friends. Together we've surveyed the Galilee from Mt. Arbel, and squeezed our way through Hezekiah's Tunnel in Jerusalem. We threw snowballs on Ronen's Overlook, and watched waters rage down wadis in the desert.

Our final day began with a devotional on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. From there we moved down to the Garden of Gethsemane; walking pensively among the thousands year-old olive trees - reflecting on the physical, emotional and spiritual struggles Jesus endured moments before he would be betrayed and arrested. A highlight of the day was singing as an impromptu choir and listening to the angelic voice of group member, Hollie Carroll, in St. Anne's Cathedral.

Without a doubt not a person in the group is leaving the Holy Land the same as they entered. As Spirit-filled Christ-followers, we don't believe that God is "more present" here than anywhere else. At the same time nowhere else in the world can one connect to the roots and origin of our faith as here. Many of us on this Pastor Familiarization Trip have been dedicated students of the land and people of Israel; now we have come to see and love this land and its people firsthand.

A special word of thanks to all the GTI Team. The excellence with which they prepared us, led us and guided us made ours a journey of a lifetime.

Finally, if you are among those who have followed this blog - traveling with us vicariously, but have yet to travel to Israel yourself - I couldn't encourage you more to prayerfully consider when not if you will personally journey to Israel. Without a doubt, the sacrifice of time, energy and money will be a spiritual investment that will return a lifetime of dividends.

Jim Collins