Solomon's Sins: A to Z Blogging Challenge!

It's about time to share a portion of a Non-fiction picture book for older children which I wrote last year.  It's entitled, "You're on the Wrong Road, Solomon!"

It is based, of course, on the Biblical account of King Solomon in the book of I Kings, and is in keeping with the language and flavor of Old Testament times.

Here's the excerpt:

     Solomon, King of Israel, began his life and rule on the narrow road.  It was God and Solomon...room for two.

     "What would you like me to grant you, Solomon?" God asked the young king.
     Solomon remembered his father's words.  "Continue to walk in God's path, and obey Him, and He will surely bless you.  Then you will always have a son on the throne to rule Israel."

    King Solomon thought for awhile, and then gave God his answer.  "I am young, and your people are many.  Give me an understanding heart to discern right from wrong, so I can rule your people well."

     That answer pleased God, so He not only granted the new king a heart of wisdom, but riches and honor as well.  "There will not be another king like you in all your days," He promised.  "If you walk in My ways, as your father David, I will give you long life."

     Solomon's wisdom was soon put to the test.  

     One day two women, who had given birth to baby boys, came begging for justice. 
     "This woman and I each gave birth to a baby boy," one of the women said.  "In the middle of the night, she rolled over onto her son, and smothered him.  In the morning, she placed him by my side, and she took my son in his place."

     "No!" said the second woman.  She is lying...the baby is mine!"

     What should be done?  This was a hard task...but not too hard for Solomon.  "Bring me a sword," the King said to his servant.  All eyes were on Solomon.  A sword?  What was he thinking?

King Solomon

     Soon Solomon declared his intentions, and spoke to the servant holding the sword.  "Cut the baby in two, and give half to each mother," he said with confidence.

     A gasp was heard throughout the room!  "No," said the first woman, "please don't!  Spare the child's life and give him to the other woman."

Yes, yes," said the second woman. "Give us each half, for that is fair."

     "Ah ha!" exclaimed Solomon.  "Now I know to whom this baby boy truly belongs.  Give him to the first woman, for she is his mother."  What a wise King!  And Solomon continued down the narrow road His God had paved for him...

   Solomon obeyed and continued down God's straight and narrow path, prospering because of it.  But, his wife, the daughter of Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, did not believe in the one true God.  She worshipped many false gods on high places.  Many stones were found on Solomon's path, which caused him to stumble.

     One day, the Queen of Sheba came to witness Solomon's wisdom, and see his wealth and possessions for herself.  She came with camels bearing spices, with gold and precious jewels.  One question after another flowed from her lips, and the King answered them all!  

     When she discovered his wisdom, observed the house he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the cupbearers and the attendance of his waiters and their attire, and the stairway by which he went into the house of the Lord, it took her breath away!

     "How blessed you are, Solomon," the Queen of Sheba said, "and your servants and people as well.  God has shown them favor because of your wise words and ways!" She could see that blessing comes with wisdom.

  Even though God warned him, Solomon married more women from far away countries, where they knew nothing of the God of the Israelites.  They also worshipped and sacrificed to false gods, who could not see or hear.  Great festivals were held in their honor.  Since Solomon loved his wives, he wanted to please them, so he began to worship these gods, too. In his heart, he knew this was wrong.  He wanted to be faithful to the one true God.

     Solomon's path became broken down in places.  Sometimes, he took his eyes off the path.  It would widen a bit, and he would trip and almost fall...

That's not the end of the story!  Do you want to read more, or, have you had enough?  I'd love to hear your comments... both constructive criticism and praise.

Thanks for your help...we are all on a learning curve!

photo credit: Phillip Ratner: http://www.ratnermuseum.com/israelbiblemuseum/virtual/heroes/img0023.htm

Journey to Jerusalem: The Jewel of the Jews A to Z Blogging Challenge

Jerusalem...one of the oldest and most sacred of cities.  For the Christian and Jew, it is a city of symbolism, hope and prophecy.

Other names for Jerusalem:


Mt Moriah (where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but, provided a lamb instead)

Jebus (Jebusites, of course, lived there.)

City of David (the oldest part of the city, which King David won from the Jebusites in battle)

Zion (reflects the religious aspects of the city)

The Holy City

View of Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives

Jews all over Israel would flock to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate their religious festivals.  It was the center of their lives.  Since the city was on a hill, no matter which direction the people would travel from, they would always say they were going "up to Jerusalem."

Here are some other facts about Jerusalem through the centuries:

Jews came here to celebrate Passover each year

Solomon's temple was built on this spot

God's presence was found here in the ark of the covenant which the children of Israel placed in the temple

David ruled as King in Jerusalem, at that time called 'the City of David.'

David's harp...a symbol of the City of David

Known as the "Beautiful City" by the Jews
Destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC but rebuilt in 516BC   Psalm 137

Remodeled by Herod the Great  in Jesus time (1st century)

Place where Jesus was crucified, buried and raised alive from the tomb.

He will come again and place his foot on Mt of Olives and reign for 1,000 years.  Isaiah 65:18-19.
There will be a 'New Jerusalem' where Christ will reign forever with His saints. Revelation 21-22

Isaiah 2:3
And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Here are some links you might find 
interesting:


City of David
Christian/Jewish Religious gifts from Israel
Friends of Israel
Michael Rydelnick: Messianic Jew and Bible
Teacher, author and tour guide.
Shabbat Shalom Cooking
Charlie Dyer: Holy Land Expert
Joel Rosenberg, Author of 
"Epicenter" and other Middle East
Thrillers

Our family had the opportunity to take an "Into the Promised Land" tour in 2010.  You can find our blog posts here.

When you think of Jerusalem, what comes to mind?  Shalom!

Don't Worry...Be Jewish! Part 2

We are home now, and almost completely acclimated to our CST zone. We again appreciated your prayers.
Thanks, too, for being such troopers in keeping up with my wordy blog. I assure you that I have left many things unsaid, due to lack of time. I finally realized four days into our trip, that I could blog on the bus as we left each spot, so that I didn't have an hour's worth of work waiting for me after dinner, which tended to start around 8pm. Then there was the issue of purchasing a wireless connection and fitting all I had to do in a short amount of time. It was truly a labour of love...hopefully better than any trinket I could bring home to you!
Due to very little sleep (most days we had to be up at 6am, with our bags packed and outside our hotel room door at 6:45am, at which time we would head down to breakfast), and lack of time to gather my thoughts properly, I would leave pertinent information out, or express myself incorrectly.
Such was the case with my last entry. I entitled it as I did above, because I saw it as a contradiction of terms. Being Jewish is not, and never has been a reason to be happy in the secular realm. They have been persecuted throughout their history as a nation from all sides. And even as we made our way safely through the streets and roads of Israel, we noticed fences, barbed wire and soldiers, (male and female), everywhere we went. The country is surrounded on all sides (except the Mediterranean), with hostility and border tension. From the Gaza strip in the south, to the Golan Heights in the north, and the West Bank, this tiny country interacts with those who not only refuse to acknowledge them as a people or a country, but actively prevent them from uncovering any indication of their roots. Even the Temple Mount, within the old city walls, their most precious piece of property and connection with their God throughout history, is "owned" by the Muslims. Not my idea of a happy situation!
But spiritually speaking, they are the most blessed on earth. God is for them, and He has promised blessing to not only the nation of Israel itself, but to all those who help them (Genesis 12). The nation itself will be a blessing to the entire earth, because out of it, over 2,000 years ago, came the Messiah, Jesus Christ...Savior of the world!
Of course, the promise comes with a caveat. Only obedience to God and His Word can bring about that blessing. We also know from Scripture, that there will be a remnant of Jews that will be faithful to the Covenant. In the end, God will fight for them, and they will win! If you don't have time to read the exciting end times story in full, read Revelation 19-22...you will be glad you did. All those who are faithful to Jesus Christ, from every nation, will experience this new heaven and earth for themselves.
Despite the hostilities around them, I saw a nation that was orderly and peaceful, but prepared. Orthodox children were abundant, everywhere we went, and they laughed and played. Their numbers are growing. We saw fields of palm, date, olive and banana trees, along with other crops. Life was evident everywhere...even small plants grew within the crevice of rocks.
Ezekiel 36:7-11 describes this perfectly: "Therefore says the Lord God: Behold, I have raised my hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you will bear their shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the ruins rebuilt. I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord."
We are so thankful for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Israelites as they headed for the Promised Land, and then slip into Jesus' sandals, to follow His path of ministry that lead to the cross.

Below are some photos illustrating the above comments, and then, some just for fun. Orthodox Jews, young soldiers, and Olivia enjoying a Shabbat meal are a few of them. I appreciate your interest in joining us on our journey...I hope it was enlightening and encouraging for you as well.

To continue this journey on your own, listen to 90.1 FM (Chicago area) at 11am each Saturday for Dr. Charlie Dyer's "The Land and the Book", or log in to: www.thelandandthebook.org
to access this up to the minute and historical look into Israel and the Middle East events.
Another website is: www.cityofdavid.org. Great if you are interested in the history and archaeology of the original Jerusalem in the time of King David. Very professionally done, and of course, with a Jewish flavor!
Shalom!

P.S. Our favorite treats on Bus 2 were coffee and watermelon/honeydew sherbet popsicles. The former kept us awake, and the latter cooled us down!

Don't Worry...Be Jewish!

Such was the writing on a tee shirt we saw as we wandered through the bazaars in the old city with our friends Mila and Greg. They arrived from the States yesterday morning, and planned to spend the day with us.
Not wanting to let go of our steady pace, but needing a break, we took an archeological tour of the ancient City of David, a section of the land below what would be Solomon's temple (present day Dome of the Rock). King David fought the Jebusites and won the land, choosing it because he wanted his people to always look towards, and walk up to, the temple when it was built. It was to be the glory of Jerusalem.
The Israelis discovered this area a number of years ago, and, from time to time, uncover more of this city. In one section, the walls represent three levels of civilization, going back as far as the Canaanites. We then learned about the threat of Assyrian conquest over the land, so, anticipating that event, King Hezekiah had a tunnel carved from the rock to provide a water source from the Gihon Springs, so the enemy could not cut off the source in a time of war. He had his stone masons begin at opposite ends of the intended tunnel...one at the Springs and the other beginning at the pool of Siloam. Amazingly, they met exactly in the middle! Experts think that they followed a fault line for accuracy.

We had the opportunity to trudge for 35 minutes through shin deep (at times hip deep) rushing water in a tunnel that was barely wide enough for our shoulders. At some points we had to bend down so as not to bump our heads on the ceiling. Now that would seem challenging enough, but imagine doing this in the dark! Thankfully, we had tiny flashlights to light our way.
Before heading to another area, we looked at the Siloam Springs excavation, which was just recently found. As we were leaving, we heard a commotion. Some Palestinian school boys were pelting tourists who walked over to a fence on the edge of the property, which was the dividing line between the excavation site, and Silhan, the neighborhood of illegally built Palestinian homes. Israelis have deeds for the property, but are forced away by this group of settlers. This is a very dangerous area...two weeks ago, there were shootings here.
So, our guide found a security guard, who walked us through a safer area, then out of the site. On the way, I found this sign which is a clue to the atmosphere that surrounds this neighborhood.
Since we were not able to visit the Temple Mount on our two week tour, today we did. The Muslims have total control over the highest point of the city, as did the Crusaders and Byzantines in past history. They are sporadic with their hours, and can change on a whim, so we were glad we had a half hour to experience this area that covered an area equivalent to 11 soccer fields. We saw the Mosque with the gold dome, built on the temple site. The color blue used in the tiles, supposedly drives away evil. The Jews want to excavate under this area, but are not allowed. In fact, the Muslims try any way they can to prevent a discovery that will prove the Bible true. They claim that there is no evidence that King David ever lived, and believe that Abraham sacrifice both Ishmael and Isaac on this site. The Scriptures verify the first point, and have no record of the second.


How touching it was to see the Mount of Olives from this vantage point, and know that the Messiah will come through the Eastern gate (just to the left of these arches). Neither a Muslim cemetery or a walled up gate will keep him away!
After we were herded off the premises, we had an authentic lunch of hummus, falafel, and shish-kabobs with pita, along with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, and mint lemonade (great combo, by the way.) In this Muslim restaurant, there are no prices on the menu...the owner sizes you up, and decides at that moment how much you will pay for your meal! Thankfully, we only paid 137 shekels for the six of us, which is approximately $40.

The rest of the afternoon, we spent with the Pipers at their apartment in restaurant row. Mila and I broke away and went window shopping in modern Jerusalem. It was soon time to take the shuttle to the Tel Aviv airport, where we will sit for 6 hours, take a 2 hour flight to Istanbul, wait for three hours, then board the Turkish Airlines flight for our 10 hour flight back to the US.
Lord, willing, we will see many of you soon...thanks for your prayers on our behalf. Keep praying for Chen, our guide, that he will see the Light!

Suffering, Compassion and Triumph...

Today we began our tour at the Lion's Gate in the Muslim section of the Old City. We took the Via Delarosa or, the "Way of Suffering," which Christ would have followed through the Holy City as He was tried, beaten, forced to carry His Cross, and then crucified. Some of the stops are extra-Biblical, being of Catholic tradition; but we all agree that Christ took our payment of sin on Himself, becoming sin for us, as He was tortured and crucified. God the Father could not look at the sin, so Jesus died alone, and was buried. But we know that that is not the end of the story...there is more to come!
Since the city in Herod's time was many meters below the present day street, we did not actually plant our feet where He walked on His journey to the cross, but we did visit locations that commemorated it. In two places, we walked below the surface on the original stones laid before Jesus' time in Jerusalem.
The original Upper Room (pictured at left) was still there as in Jesus' day, and was the place where the disciples and Mary met after the crucifixion (according to tradition) Later, the Holy Spirit came with tongues of fire on those gathered so that the Gospel could be preached in every language. Believers would then have the wisdom of God in their hearts as the Holy Spirit taught them.
The pool of Bethesda, which means, "House of Mercy/Compassion," was next. Here Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, which caused a tremendous uproar with the Pharisees. We found quite a bit of the pool and its stone structure still standing. We were told in some places, the water would have been 40 feet or more. A beautiful herb garden was at one end. I'd like to imagine that while people were waiting for the stirring of the waters so they could be healed, many took advantage of these health giving herbs. Rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender were growing, including a small fig tree, and of course, an olive tree. Just as maple and oak trees grow in Chicago, olive trees are abundant. On many occasions, we saw women picking the olives and placing them in a large plastic sheet to be transported to market.

When we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was thought to be buried, I was disappointed. I remember seeing Golgotha, or the place of the Skull, and the tomb together outside the city. But, I was overjoyed, when, after visiting the Wailing Wall one last time, we took off for that very site. One Pastor on our bus offered to do a short Breaking of Bread service after we toured the Garden Tomb. This was the second highlight of the afternoon!
The Garden Tomb is cared for and run by a group from the UK, and our guide at the site was very definitely a born again Christian. Many times he said, "But we know of course, that He is in the grave no longer...amen? We have that hope!". He was a testimony to every group that came through...
We saw the hill called Gologtha, which looked like a skull carved from its face. Since most crucified bodies were left on the cross to rot, many skulls have been found near the top during excavations. Another reason that makes this site probable, is its location outside the city wall. It is also near a gate (Damascus), and also close to a crossroad which was called "the Jericho Road." These three points are mentioned in Scripture.
The tomb was just below the hill, and was in a beautiful garden...even more beautiful than Gethsemane. There was a small cave hewn in the rock, and inside were four small carved sections in the floor enough for three bodies, which makes it a family tomb. Scripture points out that Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, had it prepared for his family, but was unused at the time of Jesus' death, and so offered to bury there. Above, and to the right of the door, on the face of the tomb, was a tiny opening for light. I just had to ask our guide which direction was east. Sure enough, on that very early Easter morning, when the two Marys visited the tomb, the sun's rays would have shone directly through that window, and onto the empty grave clothes, proving that Christ was no longer in the tomb. He is risen!

We enjoyed a sumptuous farewell dinner, after sharing our thoughts about the trip. Mine centered on the observation that God is protecting and blessing Israel with safety and an abundance of children...they are everywhere. And of course, we all mentioned how the Bible will now come alive as never before.

The Holy City's Messiah and Bethlehem's Lamb...

This morning we gathered to see King David's tomb, which is not mentioned in Scripture, but is a traditional site whose location has been known through the centuries. It was hidden, evidently, during times of persecution, and brought back after Constantine made Christianity legal.

It is Friday, and at sundown, all orthodox Jews celebrate Shabbat. We walked through the orthodox section of the old city, mingling with families and singles alike who were rushing to prepare for their holiday. Filling the large square were Hassidic men with black hats and side curls, and married women with hair artfully hidden with a scarf who were hurrying their little yarmulka-clad boys and long skirted girls to their destination. Evidently, there is much to do before sundown.

We were given a few minutes to spend at the Western, or Wailing Wall, which runs along the side of the original temple where the Holy of Holies would have been situated. Women on the right, men on the left...each had their place. As Olivia and I walked up to the wall, we noticed many orthodox women saying their prayers as they swayed back and forth. Evidently, that helps with memorization of a passage. On closer inspection, we saw small bits of paper stuck in the crevices of the stone. These were prayers that visitors had left in hopes they would be answered. I was able to reach the wall after others had left, and, placing my hand on the cold stone, prayed that many Jews would see the light of the Gospel and embrace it. Our tour guide, Chen, knows so much Scripture, making connections between Old and New Testaments. He finds it uplifting and full of truth, but still sees Jesus as a righteous prophet and teacher. Pray that he someday will come to know His Messiah as Savior and Lord.
I was feeling guilty for not bringing my scarf today, so I asked Chen if it would offend the orthodox to put a prayer shawl or tallit on my head instead. I had been wanting to purchase one anyway, even tho' men wore them around their waists. He answered quite seriously: "If you were to walk in the Orthodox section of the old city with it on your head, the women would stone you. And if they didn't kill you, the men would finish the job." Case closed!

For the last twenty years or so, there have been archeologist digging tunnels along the foundation of the present old city, directly under and along the Western Wall. We had the privilege of taking a tour of a portion of the tunnel, which brought us to the level of the street during Herod's time, which is exactly where Jesus would have walked! This was the highlight of our day.
Next, we exchanged drivers and tour guides, and crossed over the border into the West Bank to see Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. Well, we saw the STAR on top of the place where Jesus was born. Actually, the CHURCH that housed the STAR that marked the place where Jesus was born. For an hour and a half we stood sweating and hungry inside a stuffy Byzantine turned Crusader's church in a queue to see this spot where Jesus lay...and Jack didn't even build it! I think the Holy Family would be puzzled at this commemoration of the birth of the Christ Child. Churches house amazing works of art, but most folks on our tour would tell you that this was a very trying experience.

Well, it was a test of patience and fortitude...that's what we get when we "go back to Egypt"! Bethlehem is on Palestinian territory, so they did not allow our Israeli guide/driver to lead us. We were back with the familiar, "one dollar for cold water," or, "necklaces, five for ten dollars," or "postcards for a dollar, Miss".
It's such a relief to be back in Israel. We feel so safe and relaxed...it's a different world. There is a feeling of peace, order and purpose here, instead of chaos.
Our last stop was the site of the home of John the Baptist, or, more accurately, his father, Zechariah's home. It was exactly five miles from the center of town, in a beautiful terraced area in the hills with trees and flowers. Many present day artists live and work here to find the inspiration they need to create. Scripture says in Luke 1:39, that Mary went to her cousin Elizabeth's home in the hill country for encouragement, because she, too, was pregnant with a child...John the Baptist.
We were all dragging, and so were relieved to finally arrive at our hotel. A Shabbat meal was prepared for us, and we noticed a number of orthodox families waiting in the lobby to gather for a celebration. Two of the elevators in our hotel were on Shabbat mode, which meant they stopped at each of the 18 floors, so no one needed to press a button. Remember that no work is allowed on this day of rest.
A rest sounds more than welcome tonight...Shabbat Shalom!