The World is Flat

Can I share with you how I discovered that the world is flat? The first time I realized it was when I read Tom Friedman's book "The World is Flat" which everyone who is alive today ought to read. He proposes the idea that the world is now flat because of technology and that essentially the playing field has been leveled everywhere (I can't explain more...just read the book!). However, I didn't completely believe him. I figured that there were certainly places in the world that have not been touched by western consumerism/materialism. I figured that a place like Jerusalem would be untouched by western thought. I figured that a place where religion is life would be untouched by by the flat world. That was until a few nights ago. I was relaxing with some friends an a little sidewalk cafe in west Jerusalem just a half-mile outside the Old City. As I was looking up at the stars imaging that Christ looked at that same sky while he was incarnate, what did I hear but "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen playing in a bar down the street. Then Beyonce started playing in another cafe and I happened to look up on the TV and saw Justin Timberlake dancing on MTV! I could have been in America for all i knew! The only difference was that everyone around me spoke a different language and was wearing a Kippah. Other than that it could have been a bar or club in the U.S....how sad! The world truly is flat and there is nothing we can do about it! Don't get me wrong I think some things about a flat world are very good...but let's face it it is a very sad thing when a place loses it's own culture and turns western because of the flat world...not everything about the western world is good! It was at that point in time when I decided that I would spend as little time as possible in the cafe scene in west Jerusalem and as much time as possible experiencing the culture in the Old City and elsewhere in Israel. Other than that realization life has been going quite well for me in the Holy Lands. This past week has been very exciting as I have been exploring the city on my own and also with friends, really trying to get a grasp on it's layout. I have gotten many more opportunities to spend time with Arab's in the Old City which has been great. I even got an excellent opportunity to practice some apologetics with my new Moslem friends. I had the great honor of explaining the Trinity to them (they didn't get it at all..."one is essence three in persons"-they told me that wasn't logical) and defending the deity of Christ to them (they didn't believe me at all..."how can Christ be both God and man" they said "when he died the whole world would have gone to chaos"). It is quite tough defending Christianity to them because Islam is their life and therefore they defend it very well. I have taken classes on evangelism and such but nothing in those courses has prepared me for conversations such as these. It was still awesome though! The fact that God has given me a sinner the opportunity to defend him and the Gospel is something I don't deserve in the least and yet, even when I do it very poorly, he still allows me to do it. I am very grateful for these chances because I think they will help me grow in my faith. The toughest part about it is that the Moslems believe that Judaism and Christianity are right...but that Islam is the fulfillment of Christianity in the same way that Christianity was the fulfillment of Judaism so they don't completely disagree with me but they simply add more (although they don't believe in the crucifixion which doesn't make sense at all). The conversations have been interesting to say the least...I actually ended up giving my Bible to one fellow who was trying to evangelize to me, so perhaps he will read about the Gospel and realize Christ is God and make a change of lifestyle...we shall see. We generally end our conversations with me saying "well I have my core beliefs, namely that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we are probably going to have to agree to disagree, but the conversation has been excellent." Another interesting thing I learned was about the Arab culture. I was grilling one of my friends about his cultural practices and we ended up talking about dating procedures in Arabic culture. Apparently, you generally only marry your relatives (cousins, second cousins, etc.) so, the idea is that if you see one of them you find attractive you send your mother to talk to her and see if she (your cousin) would like to sit down and talk with you. If she says yes then you talk a few times...then get engaged...and a few months later you get married. Talk about different! I asked him if the girl could have her dad ask the boy out...NO THAT IS UNHEARD OF! I found it interesting. Oh yea, and they whole family lives together too...like aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces...all in the same house so I am not sure how all that works because wouldn't you already be living with you cousins? So do you like see them in the hall at home and then have your mom ask them out? (I didn't ask him that!) Interesting though. Well that is just a bit of what has been going on in my life. Classes are going well as well...one of my professors is an orthodox Jewish Rabbi so he is coming from a completely different set of assumptions that I am and it is cool. Today is a day off before a huge 11 hour field study of Old and New Testament Jerusalem tomorrow. I am considering going to the Mediterranean for the day to relax on the beach but we'll see.
Shalom
Oh and for some reason I can't figure out how to upload pictures...I did it before yet now it isn't working but I will try to get some up soon! Forgive me.

Greetings from Jerusalem!

As you all can see from the title of this "blog" I arrived in Jerusalem safe and sound! I landed in Tel Aviv about 10 AM EST so I had just had my morning coffee on the plane and was ready to go for the day. Unfortunately for my body it was 5 PM in Israel so needless to say I hardly slept that night but I got into the groove of things by Sunday morning. My first weekend in Jerusalem was absolutely astounding and I can't believe I actually have three months here! The sad part is I realize that even if I spent three months only in the city of Jerusalem I would never have near enough time to see everything and yet I will be traveling all over Israel, Jordan, and Egypt with my classes so I will not even experience a small bit of Israel. However, I feel like I got a good start seeing some pretty cool things this weekend of which I will only discuss a few highlights. Sunday morning I decided that I would go to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to worship the Holy Trinity. It was quite an experience! There are many chapels in the church and also Christ's tomb, the rock he was crucified upon, and the stone slab on which he was laid (granted this is all speculation and such things as the slab probably are not original but the places are almost certainly accurate). As soon as I entered the church I could hear all the different groups chanting and singing unto Christ the Lord and it was a very moving experience! I worshipped amoung either the Greek or Armenian Orthodox for a bit (it is hard to say exactly whom since I didn't understand the language one bit). Then I wandered around the church making homage at the various Holy Sites. Eventually, a woman worshipping with the Coptics at the Tomb of Christ came and offered me some Holy Bread which I accepted and she showed me around and invited me to join a procession this Wednesday where the Greeks will carry an ancient Russian icon of Mary across the Old City of Jerusalem...perhaps I will go. Later on Sunday we had our first field study in one of my classes. As a class we walked around the Old City (the "Old City" is the walled city from Suleman the Magnificant in the 16th century but inside are thousands of years of history) for many hours learning about the different areas of Jerusalem. The city is absolutely astounding and is basically one big chunk of history. As we walked along the narrow alleyways we stepped on some stones from the 4th century AD...perhaps Eusebius or Athanasius walked on these very stones during their lives! Eventually we came to a road from the time of the Roman Emperor Hadrian called the "Cardo Maximus." It was astounding! As we walked through the city it was amazing to think about the millions of historical and religious figures who touched the items I was touching! We also saw the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall which were amazing as well. Anyways, I am sure I have said enough about that. Another item of interest is the hospitality of the Palestinians here. I spent quite a bit of time this morning and afternoon wandering around the Old City attempting to get a grasp at its layout (you must understand it is a whole bunch of narrow roads and alleyways). As I was walking I got invited into a shop by a fellow named "Nile." He invited me in for a cup of coffee (which was delicious I must say...very thick Turkish coffee) and we talked religion and other such things for a while. Later in the afternoon I met a fellow name "Mati" and we had some tea and discussed Israeli politics! They treated me as a long-time friend it was quite astounding, nothing like the U.S. I must admit I had heard about Arab hospitality but it is truly great to actually experience. I think that us Americans ought to adopt the Arab practice of hospitality to everyone...it is really quite nice to be treated like a long-time friend by someone you just met! Well, I have said enough for today...I hope I didn't bore anyone too much! Overall I am having a great time in Jerusalem so far...the fellow riding next to me on the flight over told me Israel is a "magical place" and I am beginning to see what he meant. It has truly been great so far. As I am writing this I am looking out at an astounding view of west Jerusalem looking down into the Kidron Valley as the sun sets behind me. Shalom, my friends, shalom.

Pre-Departure Thoughts...

As many of you perhaps know I am about to embark on a semester abroad in Jerusalem, Israel. It is less than 48 hours until my departure and I am, understandably, very excited. This trip/semester abroad will henceforth be called "Jason's Holy Land Adventures" which is where the title of this blog comes from. The reason that I am calling it such is because I am an adventurer and this semester will hopefully be a (good) adventure. In case you were wondering, yes, that picture which looks suspiciously like Harrison Ford is actually me chillin' and thinking about the adventures I will most likely have in the Holy Lands. I have never "blogged" prior to now so I cannot gurantee it will actually be worth your while to read this blog and I can't promise that I will even update it on a regular basis because I might forget I even have a blog. What I can promise is that I will do my best to write in it as often as I remember and keep updating you all with what sort of crazy things I am doing in Israel. The college where I will be studying is called Jerusalem University College (otherwise known as the American Institute of Holy Land Studies). On the right are a few pictures of JUC which is near the Jaffa Gate right outside the Old City of Jerusalem. I will be living on Mt. Zion very close to the City of David and also the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,

which is where Christ was both crucified, buried, and of course rose from the dead! Interesting story about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre: There are a whole bunch Christian denominations that hold worship there...everyday day...all day. Which denomination do you think holds the key to the church door? None! A muslim family has held the key to the door for something like hundreds of years. Each morning they unlock the door and let the Christians worship and every night they lock it back up. Ironic huh? Anyways, all I really have to say about my Holy Adventures is that I am very excited and I have no idea what to expect other than this... With all that said, I will leave you with some words to ponder which were written by Thomas a Kempis in his classic The Imitation of Christ: "Keep yourself a stranger and pilgrim upon this earth, to whom the affairs of this world are of no concern. Keep your heart free and lifted up to God, for here you have no abiding city." This ought to be all everyone's goal in life but I chose it because I feel as if I am going to be a pilgrim of sorts while in Israel...a pilgrim of places where Christ walked and ministered, a pilgrim of history, a pilgrim of spirituality in the Holy Land, a pilgrim of academic pursuits of Israel, and whatever else I may come across. My only hope is that I glorify God while spending time in the land where he took on flesh, suffered, was crucified, and rose, all for for the good and salvation of mankind.