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| One year ago today my dear friend Tiffany was taken from this world. I've not written much at all about it because I still don't know what to say. I am positive that she is with her Savior so there is much rejoicing within me however there are also a lot of regrets. I regret that I wasn't as close to her at the time of her death as I had been before she left for YWAM. I regret that I had spent the 3 months prior to her death mostly avoiding her calls. I regret that I was so selfish and took her so for granted. I am angry at the timing of her death. I'm angry and bitter at the loss of yet another friend. I'm angry at being treated like I wasn't as imporant to her as other people because I was not a part of YWAM. Yet in all my anger and inabilities to just let things go I do find joy and comfort in the memories that I made with her. The nights that I was sad and lonely so she came over and curled up on the couch with me to watch a movie. The nights that I was sick so she made homemade chicken noodle soup and brought it to me. The times that I was sad and she cried with me. The times I was happy and she laughed with (and sometimes at) me. The prayers we shared. The quality time that was spent together. The time we set out to go to a First Aid class together and ended up in the wrong place and spent the day on the lightrail and visiting all of her favorite places in the cities. Sharing my first Juicy Lucy experience with her. Having a cook out with her and some friends and her nieces and nephew. Picking her up at her house expecting to be on a schedule and getting there and having to wait because she had her own sense of timing. Trying to help her and Sarah figure out how to make "pin the nipple on the girl". Cooking with her. Going to the cabin with her as a Biblestudy retreat and accidentally getting drunk at the bar instead (quite funny actually). Going to Caribou and getting a soy extra hot chai tea latte. Struggling with boys with her. Struggling with other people period. Dreaming about our futures. Many many Biblestudies whether with a large group or often times just the two of us. Our "procrastionation Mondays" where we made lists of things we procrastinate and and got together and did them. The time that she knew I was short on cash so she emptied her cupboards and freezer to bring me groceries. The list goes on for miles. I know in my heart that I was so very near and dear to her heart. I know because she told me so in her actions as well as words. It didn't matter the condition our relationship was in at the time of her death because she had so much unconditional love for everyone that she met. So I will continue to heal. I will continue to cherish and be ever thankful for the many many memories. I will remember her. Forever. And most of all I will see her on the other side. ~In Memory of Tiffany Ann Johnson~
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| So apparantly I'm a liar and a cheater. On Monday night I went over to this guy's apartment and totally made out with him. I didn't go over there with the intention of making out with him, we were just gonna hang out, but really if I had thought about it nothing really good can happen at 1 am. The even crappier thing is that I was talking to Bobby on the phone while I was on my way to this guy's apt. I flat out lied to Bobby and told him that I was going to my sister's. He asked me 3 times where I was going at 1 in the morning and I lied every single time and told him I was going to my sister's. Wow. It's really nice that I just effectively ruined my relationship with Bobby. What was I thinking? Granted, it was probably one of my stupider ideas to date someone who lives 1200 miles away since one of us would have to move and who knows if that really woulda happened. But I didn't know that I had it in me to hurt someone that I care a lot about so badly. I don't understand myself right now. I need to start making better choices obviously, but I'm not so sure that I'm ready to do that. I don't really know why. I am so not equipped to teach the youth at church anymore that is for sure. I need to pull myself out of that and focus more on getting back on track. I just don't know where to start. I can't believe that I cheated. Really, who is going to want me now because of the mentality of "once a cheater, always a cheater"? I feel like such a horrible person. That's really really not who I am, I don't lie and I don't cheat, so I don't know why I did that. I didn't even like the guy either, he's kind of a sleaze ball. I'm so disgusted with myself. | | |
| Well I made it home from Israel safe and sound... What a trip it was. I can't even put into words the amazing sites that I saw, the sounds I heard and the smells that I smelled. A few highlights: Jumping into the Sea of Galilee and then realizing that Peter did the same thing. Taking a boat across the Sea of Galilee and listening to a teaching about the Lord's Prayer and then listening to a recording of the Lords Prayer in Aramaic. Standing on the hill that was most likely the place where Jesus cast the Legion of demons out of the man. Being baptized in the Jordan River. Floating in the Dead Sea. Waking up and seeing Jerusalem out the window. Walking through the Old City in Jerusalem. Gaining a better understanding of where locations are in relation to each other and how the Temple was set up. Knowing that when the Bible says something to the effect of "Jesus entered the city from the East", which gate it was that He would have entered. Standing in the Garden of Gethsemane and seeing Olive trees that date back to the time of Jesus. Going to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum. Eating some amazing hummus and falafel. Drinking Turkish coffee. Becoming a part of a family with my fellow bus people (Bus # 5, the Gold Standard...). Being free of the distraction of my cell phone and movies. Meeting some really awesome new people. Seeing the empty tomb. Going to the Wailing Wall and realizing how grateful I am that I can speak to God anywhere. It was a really really awesome trip, and I can't possibly write about everything that I did, there's just too much. I am really glad to be home though.... | | |
| For anyone interested in keeping up with where I'll be... Here's my itinerary for my trip...
ITINERARY FOR ISRAEL TRIP MARCH 8-18 2007
Thursday, March 8 – Depart MSP Airport for Chicago 1:41 pm
Arrive at O’Hare International Airport at 2:59 PM
Run around for 2 1/2 hours trying to find my connecting flight…..
Depart from O’Hare at 5:45 PM
Arrive at Hartsfield International (Atlanta) at 8:50 PM
Run around for 2 hours trying to find my connecting flight….
Depart from Hartsfield at 10:55 PM
Friday, March 9- Arrive in Tel Aviv at 5:40 PM (local time)
Hotel check in and orientation and then off to bed!
Saturday, March 10- Tel Aviv to Tiberias- The North Coast through the Jezreel Valley to the Sea Of Galilee
-Ceasarea Maritima
-The book of Acts repeatedly refers to this city that Peter visited. Paul was held prisoner in Ceasarea for 2 years. From Ceasarea Paul sailed to Rome. Cornelius and his household converted to Christianity here and became the first Gentiles of the Church.
-Megiddo
-Archeological excavations have unveiled monumental fortifications and gateways dating to the days of Solomon- exactly as recorded in the Bible. It is also here the decisive battle between the forces of good and evil will be fought before Judgment Day.
-Mount Carmel
-On the summit of Mt. Carmel, Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.
-Nazareth
-Mary and Joseph made this village their home.
-Jezreel Valley
-Jezreel was the site of a confrontation between the prophet Elijah and King Ahab.
-Tiberias
-Tiberias is 2,000 years old, constructed by Herod Antipas around the year 20. Excavations uncovered an 8th century Christian church.
Overnight at the Gai Beach Hotel in Tiberias
Sunday, March 11- The Galilee Region- The area of Jesus’ Ministry and Miracles
-Mount of Beatitudes
-The Mt. Of Beatitudes is the traditional site of the Sermon On The Mount. Some late traditions of Christianity place this mountain on the area in which Jesus picked his 12 apostles.
-Tabgha-Saint Peter’s Primacy
-Some Christian historians have surmised that Jesus may have come to Tabgha when looking for solitude in which to meditate. Today, Christians recall two of Jesus’ miracles: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, and the event of St. Peter’s Primacy.
-Capernaum
-In this village, Jesus attended synagogue and performed many miracles. He frequented the village so mush that Matthew 9:1 calls it His “own town”.
-Nof Ginosar- The Jesus Boat
-The “Jesus Boat” was constructed around 40 BC and was in use into the 1st Century AD. The boat is 26 1/2 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide and 4 1/2 feet high and was probably of the Sea of Galilee’s largest class of ships.
-Sea Of Galilee
-Biblical figures lived and worked on the shores of the Sea Of Galilee.
Overnight at the Gai Beach Hotel in Tiberias
Monday, March 12- The Northern Boundary- The headwaters of the Jordan and border with Syria and Lebanon
-Golan Heights
-The Golan Heights, situated on the Syrian-African rift, was formed by volcanic activity, earthquakes, and an uplifting of entire regions of the earth’s surface. The region served as a crossroads and meeting point for the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt and throughout human history has witnessed countless battles.
-Mount Hermon
-Mt. Hermon is mentioned over a dozen times in the Bible, often in the Psalms.
-Ceasarea Phillipi-Banias
-It was near Ceasarea-Philippi that Jesus traveled with His disciples to examine their understanding of who he was. Here Peter proclaimed his identity. Jesus responded “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
-Tel Dan
-The Tel Dan Nature Reserve encompasses both a fabulous landscape and the ruins (and partially restored remains) of an ancient Israelites city. Both the city and the rushing river that flows through the Nature Reserve are named for the Israelite tribe of Dan.
-Jordan River
-The Jordan River was always an important source of water for agriculture, but many other biblical stories are told of its banks. The crossing of this river would have terrified the generation that grew up in the desert wilderness with Joshua. The floating axe head in its waters in the ministry of Elisha, the healing of Naaman the Syrian by Elisha, and of course the Baptism of Jesus by John were important events recorded in the Biblical record.
Overnight at the Gai Beach Hotel in Tiberias
Tuesday, March 13- Lower Galilee to Jerusalem- The decapolis dig to our triumphal entry into the Holy City
-Gileon Springs- Ma’ayan Harod
-Located at the foot of Mt. Gilboa is the spring of Harod- one of the sources of fresh water flowing into the Beth Shean valley. The spring is situated near the modern settlement of Gidonia, whose name is a reminder of momentous events that took place here in the days of the Judges of Israel. Gideon gathered those who wished to volunteers in his army and took them to the spring of Harod. Gideon was asked by the Lord to screen the men and only those who “lapped the waters up with their tongues” were to be accepted.
-Mount Gilboa
-Here King Saul felt forced to commit suicide on the slopes when facing certain defeat by the Philistines. In light of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, David cursed the mountain: “O mountain Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, nor fields that yield offerings” (2 Sam 1:21).
-Beth Shean
-In recent years archeologists have carried out massive excavations at the site. The archeology has yielded 2 cities: the biblical site of Beth Shean at the site of the tel (or arch mound), and the site of the Greco-Roman city of Scythopolis, founded in 250 BC. Scythopolis incorporated all the ‘glory that was Rome’ and the best of Hellenistic culture.
-Mount Scopus
-It was here that the Roman legions of Titus camped before capturing Jerusalem, as did the crusaders in 1099, and the British forces in 1917. Today it will serve as our platform, allowing a sweeping view of the Holy City below.
Overnight at the Regency Hotel in Jerusalem
Wednesday, March 14- The Dead Sea- The fortress, the find and the float
-Masada
-About 70 years after Herod’s death, Jewish Zealots turned Masada into their final bastion. The Romans, in their desire to lower Jewish morale, sent several legions to Masada. Their aim: to destroy the 960 men, women and children who had fled Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. Unable to live their lives in the tradition of their forefathers, the defenders of Masada chose to die at their own hand rather than fall into the hands of the Romans and fall into slavery.
-Ein Gedi
-Ein Gedi is a tropical oasis rich in flora and fauna whose Hebrew name means “springs of the young goat”. It’s so beautiful that it is found in a poetic description in the Song of Songs. David fled to the caves of Ein Gedi when hiding from Saul.
-Qumran
-In 1947 a young Bedouin boy, chasing after a goat, entered a cave. He discovered jars containing scrolls which scholars dated all the way back to the Essenes. The Dead Sea Scrolls are arguably the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century. The entire book of Isaiah was found, as well as fragments of every Old Testament book, with the exception of Esther.
-Dead Sea and Wilderness of Judea
-Throughout the turbulent history of the Land of Israel, whenever people fled civilization, the wilderness of the Judean desert became the ideal place to hide. Here David fled the wrath of Saul, Elijah found refuge in its caves, and the Essenes escaped Hellenistic domination of Jerusalem. Here the Zealots made their final, desperate last stand against the might of Rome.
Overnight at the Regency Hotel in Jerusalem
Thursday-Saturday, March 15-17- Jerusalem- The Biblical, Cultural and Historical Sites of the Holy City
-Holy Sepulchre
-Housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has always been one of Christianity’s most sacred sites. Because it is crowded and noisy in the church, it is hard to imagine what the area was like in the time of Jesus. Yet 2,000 years ago both Calvary and the burial grounds were well outside the city walls according to many archeologists.
-Mount of Olives
-Jesus frequented the mountain, traveled over the mountain to visit his friends Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and Simon the Leper, in Bethany. It was here that He gave a major address to the disciples. He spent the night before His arrest in the gardens at Gethsemane. It is from the peak that He ascended into heaven. The Mosque of the Ascension covers the spot from which Muslims recall Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. On the slope a tear-shaped chapel, Dominus Flevit Church, commemorates the place he wept while envisioning the dire future in store for the Holy City of Jerusalem.
-Mount Zion
-Near to David’s tomb is a building that recalls the place Jesus partook of the Last Supper. His disciples prepared for the meal, that many believed was the Passover Seder, in this upper room on Mt. Zion. Others revere this as the site of Pentecost. Two churches are located on Mt. Zion. The Dormition Abbey stands on the site where the Virgin Mary fell into eternal sleep. Across the road, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu recalls Peter’s failure at the denial of the Lord Jesus in the house of Caiaphas.
-Shrine of the Book
-The Shrine of the Book was erected in 1965 for the preservation and exhibition of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
-Western Wall
-The Western Wall was thought to have been an actual part of the Second Temple built by King Herod, and was revered as such for its sanctity.
-Jewish Quarter- The Cardo
-Uncovered in the 1970s, the Cardo (main street) in the Jewish Quarter was excavated for about 200 meters. This portion dates to the time of Emperor Justinian in the first half of the 6h century AD.
-Southern Steps of the Temple Mount
-Some suggest that the 15 long steps may have been one of the locations where pilgrims sang the 15 Psalms of Ascent as they went up to worship.
-The Via Dolorosa
-The Via Dolorosa (Path of Sorrow or “Way of the Cross”) is the route tradition says Jesus followed, from his condemnation by the Romans to the spot where he was buried after the crucifixion. The path begins at Lions Gate in the Muslim Quarter, and ends within the Church of the Holy, in the heart of the Christian Quarter.
-Model City of Jerusalem
-The model recreates Jerusalem in 66 CE. In that year, the Great Revolt against the Romans erupted, resulting in the destruction of the city and the Temple. The ancient city was then at its largest, covering an area of 445 acres. The model reflects ancient Jerusalem at its peak, just before all was lost.
-Yad Vashem- The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority
-Yad Vashem- Jerusalem is the Jewish people’s memorial to the murdered Six Million and symbolizes the ongoing confrontation with the rupture engendered by the Holocaust. Containing the world’s largest repository of information on the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is a leader in Shoah education, commemoration, research and documentation.
-Western Wall Tunnel
-In front of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches and passageways remained untouched for centuries. We can explore the remnant of the Temple, known as the Western Wall and the adjacent tunnel system. Along the way we will be privileged to view some wondrous archeological discoveries.
-Garden Tomb
-Scriptures emphatically states that the tomb was near a garden. A Christian explorer, General Gordon, sought a place which fit the biblical description of John 19 and 20. Assisted by a dream, which helped him locate the area, he eventually discovered the site now called “Gordon’s Calvary” of the “Garden Tomb”.
Overnights at the Regency Hotel in Jerusalem
Saturday, March 17- Depart from Tel Aviv at 10:55 PM
Arrive at Hartsfield International at 5:45 AM
Sunday, March 18- Depart from Hartsfield at 8:01 AM
Arrive at O-Hare at 9:08 AM (local time)
Depart from O’Hare at 12:00 PM
Arrive at MSP at 1:34 PM
And go home and crash…….
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| In 7 days I will be on an adventure of a lifetime. I am SOOOOOO nervous! Here's me, one who doesn't like going to church by herself, going on a tour of Israel with a group of 200 people that I don't know. How crazy is that? I am pretty sure that God will totally change me and my life through this experience. I'm a little scared about that, but I trust that the changes will be good and for my benefit. I am also hoping that through this I will be able to pull myself out of my rebellion and get back on track. In other news, I've been talking to a boy.... Now, before you get all excited for me let me just say that he lives in Alabama. But we are both just complete dorks and it's really fun being dorky together. So yeah.... It's great. | | |
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