Praise God! My house is safe. The evacuation order was lifted a few days ago.
I'm also getting much better, and can now eat meat, which is exciting. Food is so good! I went to Disneyland today with my pastor's family and some friends, and it made me so happy. Now I'm just super tired - but hopefully this will help me finally sleep the whole night through, instead of waking up at 4 am because my body's clock is still off.
Yesterday, I was talking to Keo on the phone and processing with her helped me realize what important lessons I learned from Israel. More than just all the information that I acquired about archaeology or geography, I realized the lessons which I really will take with me were concerning my own brokenness and God's healing power. Sitting in the middle of the wilderness, I realized that in many ways I'm just like an Israelite - seeing God's power and provision time and time again, yet still lacking faith. As I lay on my bed near the Sea of Galilee when I was sick, I meditated on the fact that Jesus came for the sick, not for the healthy - and it was a humbling experience thinking about this while not being able to control my bowel movements. God broke me in many ways - helping me not to rely on my own physical strength, intellect, or academic ability. I experienced a range of emotions during this trip from extreme joy to extreme sadness and I learned what it means to be honest with God through all these emotions. So many lessons which I'll continue to learn through my lifetime.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Terraces Will Be Destroyed
I recorded a video of the song I wrote, that I mentioned in an earlier post...
I wrote it the week before I left for Israel, but named it in Israel, called "Terraces Will Be Destroyed."
I posted it on facebook here...
I wrote it the week before I left for Israel, but named it in Israel, called "Terraces Will Be Destroyed."
I posted it on facebook here...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Landslides Don't Wait for Anyone.
It's weird to think that just last week, I was in Israel, and now I'm sitting in my brother's apartment, because I had to evacuate my house due to the potential threat of landslides. This has been the second evacuation I've had to undergo within a year - first with fires, now with landslides. It just makes me realize that there's no permanency in my earthly home. It's interesting because the night before they called me to evacuate I was worrying about the grade that I got in my Israel class - since I know I didn't do very well. Then there's this evacuation - reminding me there are bigger things to be worried about...
It's been a crazy week - being sick with the stomach flu, and then having to evacuate - what a crazy time of testing for me. I know God is refining me through this, but I can't deny the fear I feel. I already have a tendency to worry even without sickness or natural disaster looming over me, but with these things, my worry is intensified - and in these moments, the only thing I can do is cry out to God. I watched the first two Lord of the Rings movies to get my mind off of things - but I know I inevitably have to face these fears that I carry, especially during the times when I wake up in the middle of the night due to jet-lag.
Lauren gave me a mixtape of songs called "Sangalang's Singalong," which is amazing and I've been constantly listening to it. One of the reasons why we got along so well roomming together - she has a fabulous taste in music, movies, and clothing. There's one song in particular which I really like by Sufjan Stevens called, "Oh God, Where Are You Now?" and I can identify with right now...I was listening to it when I was passed out on my bed in Israel, especially the first day I was sick. You can watch it on You Tube - there are cool images that go along with the music...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqbAy_QVc8k
Here are the lyrics:
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh Lord, hold me now.
There's no other man who could raise the dead
So do what you can to anoint my head
Oh God, where are you now?
Oh Lord, say somehow
The devil is hard on my face again
The world is a hundred to one again
Would the righteous still remain?
Would my body stay the same?
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh God, touch me now.
There's no other man who could save the dead.
There's no other God to place our head.
Would the righteous still remain?
Would my body stay the same?
There's no other man who could raise the dead.
So do what you can to anoint my head.
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh Lord, touch me now.
I like this song because it makes me think of Habakkuk. I like Habakkuk.
It's been a crazy week - being sick with the stomach flu, and then having to evacuate - what a crazy time of testing for me. I know God is refining me through this, but I can't deny the fear I feel. I already have a tendency to worry even without sickness or natural disaster looming over me, but with these things, my worry is intensified - and in these moments, the only thing I can do is cry out to God. I watched the first two Lord of the Rings movies to get my mind off of things - but I know I inevitably have to face these fears that I carry, especially during the times when I wake up in the middle of the night due to jet-lag.
Lauren gave me a mixtape of songs called "Sangalang's Singalong," which is amazing and I've been constantly listening to it. One of the reasons why we got along so well roomming together - she has a fabulous taste in music, movies, and clothing. There's one song in particular which I really like by Sufjan Stevens called, "Oh God, Where Are You Now?" and I can identify with right now...I was listening to it when I was passed out on my bed in Israel, especially the first day I was sick. You can watch it on You Tube - there are cool images that go along with the music...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqbAy_QVc8k
Here are the lyrics:
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh Lord, hold me now.
There's no other man who could raise the dead
So do what you can to anoint my head
Oh God, where are you now?
Oh Lord, say somehow
The devil is hard on my face again
The world is a hundred to one again
Would the righteous still remain?
Would my body stay the same?
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh God, touch me now.
There's no other man who could save the dead.
There's no other God to place our head.
Would the righteous still remain?
Would my body stay the same?
There's no other man who could raise the dead.
So do what you can to anoint my head.
Oh God, hold me now.
Oh Lord, touch me now.
I like this song because it makes me think of Habakkuk. I like Habakkuk.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
There's No Place Like Home.
It's good to be home.
I didn't have internet access for awhile so I wasn't able to update all the adventures, and the last few days I've been sick with the stomach flu. I've pretty much been lying in bed in close proximity to a restroom readily available. Praise God that I was able to get through the 16 hr. plane ride. I'm sad I missed out travelling the past few days and all the fun farewell festivities, but the trip was still great despite getting sick. I was looking at my pictures, and the trip was totally worth it.
I have so much to process, but right now, I'm still feeling pretty weak since I haven't really been eating much the past few days other than bread, crackers, and bananas. I'll probably be sleeping away the next week. Please keep me in your prayers, and call me just to make sure I'm still alive and kicking, since my parents are in the Philippines, and I'm home alone right now. Thanks friends.
I didn't have internet access for awhile so I wasn't able to update all the adventures, and the last few days I've been sick with the stomach flu. I've pretty much been lying in bed in close proximity to a restroom readily available. Praise God that I was able to get through the 16 hr. plane ride. I'm sad I missed out travelling the past few days and all the fun farewell festivities, but the trip was still great despite getting sick. I was looking at my pictures, and the trip was totally worth it.
I have so much to process, but right now, I'm still feeling pretty weak since I haven't really been eating much the past few days other than bread, crackers, and bananas. I'll probably be sleeping away the next week. Please keep me in your prayers, and call me just to make sure I'm still alive and kicking, since my parents are in the Philippines, and I'm home alone right now. Thanks friends.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Floating in the Dead Sea and Crawling into Qumran Caves
Yay for adventures! I love adventures :)
Yesterday, we hiked up Mt. Sinai (or more techincally, Jebel Musa, where Mt. Sinai is thought to be, but scholars are not quite sure). It was an intense hike, 7,500 ft. elevation - around 4,000 stairs, but it was so worth it being on that mountain where God descended to talk to Moses and give His law to His people. We came down, and it grew dark during our descent. I was walking with Susy and Eufemio, and Susy said to look up. The sky was so beautiful filled with bright-shining stars - it was the best sight of stars I've ever seen. So pretty and magnificent. While Eufemio was taking a picture, I started singing all the songs I knew with the word star in it - even "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." haha.
Today was an exciting day. We went up the mountain in Masada - I actually took a cable car because I was too sore too hike up the mountain, since yesterday we hiked up Mt. Sinai. It was a great view - both places.
Then, we went to En-Gedi, saw some sweet waterfalls, ibex - which are deer-like animals, and rock badgers. Todd read Psalm 42 and Psalm 63 - two of my favorite Psalms - about the longing of the psalmist' soul after God like a how an ibex longs for water - and how his soul longs for God in a dry land. Seeing the dry land around me, and then the cool streams of water in the midst of them, these passages have taken on a whole new meaning for me. This is how my soul needs to long for God - the way I longed so much for water today because I was thirsty and coughing - that I actually payed $5 for a bottle of Evian water. (haha, yes, it was an impulse buy, but I really needed water and didn't really look at the prices. ack.)
After En-Gedi, we went floating in the Dead Sea! It really was an amazing experience - just getting in the water, laying back, and floating without exerting any effort. So crazy! It was so much fun. We put some of the mud on our skin, and our skin came out so soft and smooth - like a baby's bottom. haha.
Because Todd is so cool, he took us to see Qumran Cave #1 - a place which is not on any map, and only a handful of people know it's location. It was a steep climb - a bit treacherous - but we made it - just got a couple of cuts on my hand along the way - but again, so worth it. The Qumran Caves are where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. So cool.
Today was a sweet day of adventures! Yay!
But we have a quiz tomorrow which I haven't studied for at all, and right now I feel like I smell like mud and sweat and salt - shower power.
Yesterday, we hiked up Mt. Sinai (or more techincally, Jebel Musa, where Mt. Sinai is thought to be, but scholars are not quite sure). It was an intense hike, 7,500 ft. elevation - around 4,000 stairs, but it was so worth it being on that mountain where God descended to talk to Moses and give His law to His people. We came down, and it grew dark during our descent. I was walking with Susy and Eufemio, and Susy said to look up. The sky was so beautiful filled with bright-shining stars - it was the best sight of stars I've ever seen. So pretty and magnificent. While Eufemio was taking a picture, I started singing all the songs I knew with the word star in it - even "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." haha.
Today was an exciting day. We went up the mountain in Masada - I actually took a cable car because I was too sore too hike up the mountain, since yesterday we hiked up Mt. Sinai. It was a great view - both places.
Then, we went to En-Gedi, saw some sweet waterfalls, ibex - which are deer-like animals, and rock badgers. Todd read Psalm 42 and Psalm 63 - two of my favorite Psalms - about the longing of the psalmist' soul after God like a how an ibex longs for water - and how his soul longs for God in a dry land. Seeing the dry land around me, and then the cool streams of water in the midst of them, these passages have taken on a whole new meaning for me. This is how my soul needs to long for God - the way I longed so much for water today because I was thirsty and coughing - that I actually payed $5 for a bottle of Evian water. (haha, yes, it was an impulse buy, but I really needed water and didn't really look at the prices. ack.)
After En-Gedi, we went floating in the Dead Sea! It really was an amazing experience - just getting in the water, laying back, and floating without exerting any effort. So crazy! It was so much fun. We put some of the mud on our skin, and our skin came out so soft and smooth - like a baby's bottom. haha.
Because Todd is so cool, he took us to see Qumran Cave #1 - a place which is not on any map, and only a handful of people know it's location. It was a steep climb - a bit treacherous - but we made it - just got a couple of cuts on my hand along the way - but again, so worth it. The Qumran Caves are where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. So cool.
Today was a sweet day of adventures! Yay!
But we have a quiz tomorrow which I haven't studied for at all, and right now I feel like I smell like mud and sweat and salt - shower power.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Frolicking in the Meadows of the Shephelah.
Yesterday: 1 day, 2 emotional extremes:
In the morning, I went back to the southern steps of the Temple Mount and meditated on the Psalm of Ascents, singing praises to God, and reflecting on how amazing it would've been to go up each step, getting closer to the presence of God as He dwelt in His temple. It was a refreshing time, and when I got to the top, I felt extreme joy that I was redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and that now I can approach God freely through Jesus Christ as my Mediator.
In the afternoon, we went to Yad ve Shem, which is a museum on the Holocaust. Just walking in and seeing the pictures and videos of so many people who died during this horrible atrocity was heart-wrenching for me. I walked through this museum, and just felt such deep sadness. As I walked, I dialogued with God - lamenting and not understanding why tragedies like this happen.
It's interesting how I can feel such differing emotions in one day.
Today we left Jerusalem and headed southwest for the region of the Shephelah. We went to the cities of Gezer, Beth-Shemesh, Azekah, and Lachish - places where many battles between the Israelites and Philistines took place. Samson's story takes place in this region, and David and Goliath also have their showdown in this region - the Elah valley. It was fun reading these stories and picturing them take place in these hills and valleys right before my eyes. I also had fun re-enacting these stories as I posed as David with the rock. We also took many jumping pictures which was alot of fun.
My favorite part of today was being an explorer and going on an adventure with our tour guide, Todd, to a place which has just been recently excavated - Qeiyata, in between Socoh and Azekah, where the story of David and Goliath could've taken place. We frolicked through green meadows and climbed up steep hills, seeing ancient ruins of gates and towers - a fantastic experience. I love adventures.
I've been trying to upload pictures, but the internet here is not very fast, and disconnects frequently, so I probably won't be able to upload the pictures until I get back, unless I find internet that works better in another hotel.
Please pray for our group - there are many who are sick and not feeling well. I'm also starting to get slightly sick - with a sore throat today. Thanks.
In the morning, I went back to the southern steps of the Temple Mount and meditated on the Psalm of Ascents, singing praises to God, and reflecting on how amazing it would've been to go up each step, getting closer to the presence of God as He dwelt in His temple. It was a refreshing time, and when I got to the top, I felt extreme joy that I was redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and that now I can approach God freely through Jesus Christ as my Mediator.
In the afternoon, we went to Yad ve Shem, which is a museum on the Holocaust. Just walking in and seeing the pictures and videos of so many people who died during this horrible atrocity was heart-wrenching for me. I walked through this museum, and just felt such deep sadness. As I walked, I dialogued with God - lamenting and not understanding why tragedies like this happen.
It's interesting how I can feel such differing emotions in one day.
Today we left Jerusalem and headed southwest for the region of the Shephelah. We went to the cities of Gezer, Beth-Shemesh, Azekah, and Lachish - places where many battles between the Israelites and Philistines took place. Samson's story takes place in this region, and David and Goliath also have their showdown in this region - the Elah valley. It was fun reading these stories and picturing them take place in these hills and valleys right before my eyes. I also had fun re-enacting these stories as I posed as David with the rock. We also took many jumping pictures which was alot of fun.
My favorite part of today was being an explorer and going on an adventure with our tour guide, Todd, to a place which has just been recently excavated - Qeiyata, in between Socoh and Azekah, where the story of David and Goliath could've taken place. We frolicked through green meadows and climbed up steep hills, seeing ancient ruins of gates and towers - a fantastic experience. I love adventures.
I've been trying to upload pictures, but the internet here is not very fast, and disconnects frequently, so I probably won't be able to upload the pictures until I get back, unless I find internet that works better in another hotel.
Please pray for our group - there are many who are sick and not feeling well. I'm also starting to get slightly sick - with a sore throat today. Thanks.
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year's in Israel.
Happy New Year!
These past few days have been amazing. Yesterday, we spent the morning at the Temple Mount, seeing the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and Herodian architecture. It's so mindblowing to think that this was the place where the Temple once was stood. This was the place where God's Shekainah glory once dwelt - the actual manifestation of His presence. Wow.
Something that really struck me yesterday was reading the Psalm of Ascents while sitting on the steps leading to the Temple Mount. The Psalm of Ascents are found in Psalm 120-134. A worshipper of Yahweh would read one of these psalms as they approached the temple to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh. As he read, sang, and prayed these psalms, he would look up and be reminded of the greatness and mercy of Yahweh, and his own sin in light of God's goodness, and his need of God's mercy. I really love the psalms, and as our tour guide was talking about this process of worshippers preparing their hearts before offering a sacrifice to God, I realized my own need to prepare my heart before gathering for corporate worship.
Often times, I'm thinking about so many things before and during church - thinking about what music we're playing for the service, thinking about what I need to do for choir, thinking about things I need to do in general - that even though I am gathered in corporate worship, my heart is not even in it. I am learning alot about the way the Israelites intentionally prepared their heart for worship, and I need to do the same when I come to God, so that my heart would be focused on Him.
Today, we went to the Central Benjamin Plateau, Samaria, and Jericho seeing the locations of ancient cities where the Patriarchs walked, where the Israelites fought battles against their enemies, where so much Biblical history happened, seeing how God triumphs. Seeing all these different ruins made me think about a song that I actually wrote before going on the trip. Honestly, I wrote this song after Nate and Kyle wrote their song, and I felt inspired to write since they wrote a song. haha. But pretty much, most of the stuff that I'd been meditating on this past semester just spilled out of this song. After studying the prophets and seeing the judgment of God, and being evacuated from fires - the themes of judgment and fires have been in my thoughts. Now that I actually see the ruins of these judgments, it all seems to be coming full circle for me. So I leave you with the lyrics:
Chorus
Run, run from the destruction of the city
'Cause fire consumes both the living and the dead.
Flee, fast, far away from here
The flood will wash us away.
Look outside tonight
The sky shines bright
It blinds my eyes.
Don't stay in tonight.
The creepers will bite
There's no good-byes.
Chorus
Hold on tight
Run with all your might
There's so much to fear.
Don't look back
At the angry attack
Let's get out of here.
Chorus
After the fire is over,
We'll go back and see
The land that's laid to waste.
We'll dance in the moonlight
In the remains of the ruins
Of a faraway place.
Let's waltz on the rooftop,
Let's swing on the doorstep
That's no longer here.
There's no picket fences,
No nicely-trimmed lawns,
Only memories we held dear.
Chorus
I recorded a rough version of this, but Team Glasses will be coming out with a real demo after I get back from Israel. Ask me for it if you're interested.
Thanks for reading! Love you all!
These past few days have been amazing. Yesterday, we spent the morning at the Temple Mount, seeing the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, and Herodian architecture. It's so mindblowing to think that this was the place where the Temple once was stood. This was the place where God's Shekainah glory once dwelt - the actual manifestation of His presence. Wow.
Something that really struck me yesterday was reading the Psalm of Ascents while sitting on the steps leading to the Temple Mount. The Psalm of Ascents are found in Psalm 120-134. A worshipper of Yahweh would read one of these psalms as they approached the temple to offer a sacrifice to Yahweh. As he read, sang, and prayed these psalms, he would look up and be reminded of the greatness and mercy of Yahweh, and his own sin in light of God's goodness, and his need of God's mercy. I really love the psalms, and as our tour guide was talking about this process of worshippers preparing their hearts before offering a sacrifice to God, I realized my own need to prepare my heart before gathering for corporate worship.
Often times, I'm thinking about so many things before and during church - thinking about what music we're playing for the service, thinking about what I need to do for choir, thinking about things I need to do in general - that even though I am gathered in corporate worship, my heart is not even in it. I am learning alot about the way the Israelites intentionally prepared their heart for worship, and I need to do the same when I come to God, so that my heart would be focused on Him.
Today, we went to the Central Benjamin Plateau, Samaria, and Jericho seeing the locations of ancient cities where the Patriarchs walked, where the Israelites fought battles against their enemies, where so much Biblical history happened, seeing how God triumphs. Seeing all these different ruins made me think about a song that I actually wrote before going on the trip. Honestly, I wrote this song after Nate and Kyle wrote their song, and I felt inspired to write since they wrote a song. haha. But pretty much, most of the stuff that I'd been meditating on this past semester just spilled out of this song. After studying the prophets and seeing the judgment of God, and being evacuated from fires - the themes of judgment and fires have been in my thoughts. Now that I actually see the ruins of these judgments, it all seems to be coming full circle for me. So I leave you with the lyrics:
Chorus
Run, run from the destruction of the city
'Cause fire consumes both the living and the dead.
Flee, fast, far away from here
The flood will wash us away.
Look outside tonight
The sky shines bright
It blinds my eyes.
Don't stay in tonight.
The creepers will bite
There's no good-byes.
Chorus
Hold on tight
Run with all your might
There's so much to fear.
Don't look back
At the angry attack
Let's get out of here.
Chorus
After the fire is over,
We'll go back and see
The land that's laid to waste.
We'll dance in the moonlight
In the remains of the ruins
Of a faraway place.
Let's waltz on the rooftop,
Let's swing on the doorstep
That's no longer here.
There's no picket fences,
No nicely-trimmed lawns,
Only memories we held dear.
Chorus
I recorded a rough version of this, but Team Glasses will be coming out with a real demo after I get back from Israel. Ask me for it if you're interested.
Thanks for reading! Love you all!
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