Places I’ve never been that I’d love to visit: Corinth, Athens, Rome, Ephesus, Patmos, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Petra, and Masada. Maybe someday . . . . (What places would you like to visit someday?)
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It’s a tough time to be a missionary whose support is based on American dollars. As you may know, U.S. money isn’t exactly the currency of choice right now. Apparently other countries aren’t impressed with our $9.1 trillion debt. Sort of makes you miss the late 90’s when we kept hearing how much we were paying down the national debt. Anyway, I hope congregations are making sure that missionaries are compensated to help offset the declining value of the dollar.
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I went back and reread a section of Thomas Cahill’s The Gift of the Jews that included these words about Abraham’s willingness to answer God’s call:
So, “wayyelekh Avram” (”Avram went”) — two of the boldest words in all literature. They signal a complete departure from everything that has gone before in the long evolution of culture and sensibility. Out of Sumer, civilized repository of the predictable, comes a man who does not know where he is going but goes forth into the unknown wilderness under the prompting of his god. Out of Mesopotamia, home of canny, self-serving merchants who use their gods to ensure prosperity and favor, comes a wealthy caravan with no material goal. Out of ancient humanity, which from the dim beginnings of its consciousness has read its eternal verities in the stars, comes a party traveling by no known compass. Out of the human race, which knows in its bones that all its striving must end in death, comes a leader who says he has been given an impossible promise. Out of mortal imagination comes a dream of something new, something better, something yet to happen, something — in the future.
I met a most amazing young man last night. He is a Messianic Jew from Ethiopia currently living in Israel and working with a group called “Tents of Mercy”. His story is compelling. He says he was converted when he met Jesus or more aptly put Jesus met him on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He said there was no question of who he was to serve. He became a believer as soon as he asked him who he was. His own family has since disowned him, mourning his as if he were dead. But I have to say he is very much alive. His name is Avishalom Teklehaimanot. His wife is Hannah. He has two daughters, Desta (5) and Kidan (2). Needless to say I’ve added them to my prayer list. He had the most tender heart I believe I’ve seen in ages. It’s funny how your post brought him to mind this morning what with your desire to see the Sea of Galilee and the quote from “Gift of the Jews”. He sang a blessing over us in Hebrew. It was an incredible moment.
Love both your words, Mike, & Candy’s comment. How I wish I could be an Abraham & leave my comfort zone.
I’ve never been to San Angelo, TX.
David, neither have I been to San Angelo, TX yet here I am in Abilene, TX???
I spent a month in San Angelo one week. If you’ve been to Abilene, you’ve been to San Angelo.
Someone just wants to go to Patmos so he can sing John the Revelator in person…
When did we pay down debt in the late 90s?
“As obscure as this seems, it is actually extremely important. The chief reason that our deficit fell so dramatically in the late ’90s is that we replaced a lot of old, very high-interest debt from the ’70s and early ’80s, with much lower interest debt. Even though the amount of debt was still increasing, the overall interest payments were reduced.”
http://www.greatreality.com/DebtFAQ.htm
Been to Petra, Masada and Jerusalem. Ran up Masada in 115 degree heat. The went went swimming in dead seawhich was 90 degrees at the time. Great times.
Rome is wonderful! (Just don’t go there when the pope dies…been there, done that…trip was planned before we knew the pope was going to die…and it was so crowded you could hardly get around). You really need to go there, Mike. I want to go to Athens… (my nephew is going to be there this spring so that gives me a good excuse) and other points in Greece. In my next life, I want to be independently wealthy so I can travel the world and not have to come home in between to work…and spend lots of time working like Pam. She does such a wonderful work and is such a brave Christian woman! And do lots of mission work…I love going to Ukraine and Ghana!
Debt and Deficit are not the same thing, iIRC. But what has been going down is the federal budget deficit, in spite of the 2001 recession brought on by 9/11.
“The Economics of the Federal Budget Deficit”
Summary
In FY1998, federal budget receipts exceeded outlays for the first time since 1969. Those surpluses continued through FY2001. At one time, those surpluses had been projected to continue, but conditions have since changed. The economy went into recession in 2001, and a stimulus package was enacted. Since then, the budget has been in deficit. The actual unified budget deficit for FY2004 was $412.1 billion.
In January 2005, the Congressional Budget Office projected that there would be a budget deficit of $368 billion in FY2005, and a deficit of $295 billion in FY2006.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/RL31235.pdf
Other than the stodgy subject of federal misappropriation and spending, your other subject about travel is a sparkling one.
I’ve have not been to and would so love to travel to and in are:
Holy Lands
Italy
China
British Isles
Alaska
Hawaii
Anywhere else the LORD might graciously make available to me for a visit.
Places I’ve already visited and would go back in a heartbeat:
The Continental 48 States [what a magnificent country this is!!]
Austria
Germany
Most of South America
Central America
Caribbean
And my beloved Mexico, especially the capital city.
And then there’s Heaven! Yeah and Yay!
I feel very blessed to have been able to visit, Athens and Petra they are awesome places. It is a humbling experience to stand on mars hill and get a glimpse of what Paul would have seen.
Mike, I wanted to say “thank you” for remembering the missionaries who have been hit hard by the weak US dollar. Cheryl and I have been here in Uganda since 1995. Our buying power is probably half of what it used to be. We were just given a significant cost of living adjustment by our wonderful sending church. (The Glenwood church of Christ in Tyler, Texas) I am so proud of these guys!
Many churches do not understand the kinds of financial stress that their missionaries are facing.
I would love to visit the Holy Lands. Mike maybe we could meet up there! Like the Jew say “Next year in Jerusalem!”
Gas is alread $3.07 where we live.
Crazy. People are already talking about gas geting up to $4.00 a gallon by Spring Break.
Abilene.
Barbados sounds nice actually.
Hey Mike,
Here’s an interesting article I picked up on last week that talks about the rapid decline of the dollar’s value. It’s pretty unsettling.
http://economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10109226&top_story=1
Peace and Blessings,
Matt W.
I felt quite blessed after reading the column today. I’ve been to all the places mentioned except Petra. Steve made that trip too. I did work for an airline and we do like to travel. I would say Ephesus was a place you can close your eyes and picture it as it was then- even though the water is not right there any longer. Joseph Shulam is a great guide, he made us see it through the eyes of those long ago.
Barbados is a great trip!
I’ve never been to Gulu, Uganda…but I’m about to remedy that…
I should mention that I wasn’t kidding. I’m a C of C minister and have never once set foot in Abilene, TX. Judging from the names of the C of C’s there, though, (Hillcrest, Highland, etc.) it must be a beautiful community nestled in the mountains. I’m thinking Texas Alps here. Maybe someday I’ll climb its heavenly summit.
I grew up in San Angelo.
It is not Abilene.
It has two pretty lakes, a nice river area in the middle of downtown, Eggemeyers, GREAT Mexican food places, Fiesta Del Concho, an active civic Symphony and an incredible Mom & Pop Chinese food place in the local two gate airport.
But San Angelo does not have ACU, the Paramount, McKay’s bakery, great churches like Highland & Southern Hills, a pretty neighbor like Buffalo Gap, or an interstate.
Australia.
SG mentioned Southern Hills. See? That’s another hilly one.
And I’ve been to Athens, Rome and Ephesus. Ephesus is awesome!
I’ve been to all the places on your wish list–Corinth, Athens, Rome, Ephesus, Patmos, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, Petra, and Masada–with the exception of Petra and (*sigh*) Ephesus. I was once on a ship anchored off the coast of Ephesus. But due to a bug I picked up in Cairo, I stayed aboard (mostly in the bathroom) while the rest of our group toured Ephesus. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was very weak.
Ephesus rocks. Walk around, take your time, explore…. Sit and read; just soak it in. One cool thing is the temple of Diana (”Great is Diana of the Ephesians!Great is Diana of the Ephesians!Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”) is a pitiful grouping of broken and badly reconstructed columns with goats grazing all around. Ooops.
Rome is very very crowded and dirty. But you can’t beat standing in the Sistine Chapel with your neck tilted back at a ninety-degree angle.
I loved the supposed grave of John at Ephesus, just up the hill from the temple of Diana (which is in Selcuk, next to Ephesus). I have no idea if it’s really his grave but it’s cool to know he wrote there on the hill.
I love Rome - it’s no more crowded than downtown Sydney and cleaner than South Africa where I grew up.
I have been to Masada, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem. My most moving experiences were the Garden of Gethsemane and some of the excavation along the western wall of Jerusalem. To see those very old trees in the garden and to know they were probably witness to the greatest surrender to God of all time was very moving to me. And then to stand on a recently uncovered street and entryway into the old city of Jerusalem and know that the feet of Jesus very likely walked on those very same stones…wow, what a rush that was.
HI Mike
Thanks for the support for the missionaries. When I go to the ATM in Choma, Zambia to get Kwache it costs me 25$ more than it used to. To get the equivalent of $250 US costs me $275. Gas here is around $8 gallon. So every oiutreach, or shopping trip for supplies to Livingstone, 2 hours away costs us $50 in gas and if we have to go to Lusaka which is a five hour drive, it costs us $200 in gas. I nver realized how important it is to be faithful to missionaries that you support. I always got paid before when I worked,and now we depend on others…. But as that is said, I really realize how now we truly depend on God for everything. It is kind of scary and a really big faith builder for us also. Where we want to go is Jersualem, and to Patmos and Greece and really to all the Pauline journeys. Maybe one day. Love to all at Highland and keep praying for us. We really do love being here and the people are the answer to the question, of where do I want to be. In their lives.
Laura - you are one great lady! My heart’s prayers go with you!
matt, hold that vision of Abilene, and stay in Atlanta.
This is so off subject, but I wondered if this happens to others.
I will come over here and click on the latest comment up in the right corner. Then I realize I have landed in the middle of a discussion that has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic of the current blog post.
My first reaction is “only at preachermike”. Then I realize I am in a completely different post altogether!
Matt Elliot is still alive? Invite the guy to Abilene Mike. He should not maintain such dilussional thoughts.
i claim ignorance when it comes to this nations defecit and/or debt. in actuality, it is simply a cover-up for the sick feeling i have knowing that i can’t find anyone blame (other than myself)for this problem. am i directlry resposible? well, i don’t remember spending 9 trillion dollars of borrowed money so probably not. however, i am guilty of buying into the notion of having way more than i need. a true american i suppose.
id like to go the garden of gethsemane and hold jesus’ hand while he struggled with fear and doubt. because i know he will continue doing the same for me.
Not to brag Mike, but I have been fortunate enough to visit most of the places on your list and I would have to say that both Corinth and Ephesus are incredible. It was so moving to walk the streets of these cities where our brothers and sisters put together some of the first congregations of Christ followers.
If your in that area of the world then it would be well worth your time to go to Phillipi and head down to Sinai as well.
Amen to the missionary support section. As someone who travels a lot, I feel the hit of the decline in the value of the US Dollar often and it hurts. Especially for those who are missionaries in incredibly expensive places like Europe.
Shalom
RogueMinister
Recently read Alan Greenspan’s book. He is very disappointed in Bush for overspending and increasing the national debt. He completely opposed this action.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org