A Hot Week

I've gotten into the college life pattern. The pattern that I always seem to fall into. That is, sleeping at weird times, going to bed super late, or waking up super early.  Wasting time doing absolutley nothing and then being depressed about it.  And worst of all, slacking off on studying.  For me, college life here in Jerusalem really isn't all that much different than back at IWU.  But of course there are differences, good and bad.  So despite the similarities I really am having a unique experience here, having lots of time to myself, time to think and reflect. Time to ask myself questions and try to answer them for myself.  But I still seem to be unsatisified with something...I'm not sure what. But never are my answers good enough. I'll try and convince myself that they are, but I know something is still wrong.

It has been hot here this week.  High 80s all week long.  Pure sunshine. No clouds.  Even the "cool of the day" has been absent and the nights have become kind of humid and definitely not refreshing. It seems like it has added to my frustration.  The weather is one of the differences of being here. I am really going to miss the Fall Season.

Tensions have heated since the peace process has continued.  If you aren't up to date on Middle Eastern politics. here is a quick review. Obama is coordinating peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.  The two have begun direct talks with each other and there is some progress being made.  "Peace" means a lot more than just the absence of violence in this case.  Peace means a deal between the two peoples.  A fair deal in which both parties get what they feel they deserve.  The main fight is over Jerusalem.  Palestine wants it as their capital and so does Israel.  So there are some problems.  There are also a few million Arab refugees who were mainly displaced at the end of WWII, when Israel became a state, and in 1967 when Israel went to war with the entire middle east.  So where do these refugees go? And who gets to deal with them?  That is another major issue in the "peace" process.
There was a shooting the other morning a few miles from campus.  An angry mob of Arabs were throwing stones at a privately owned and operated Israeli security guard, and he ended up shooting a man dead.  And thus riots broke out.  People started burning stuff, cars and whatnot, and you could smell all of this stuff on campus.  It wasn't too serious and it was an isolated incident  Don't worry, I'm not in harms way by any means.  My mom driving through Gary everyday is probably more at risk than I am.  However we were advised to stay out of the old city and away from East Jerusalem.  It is going to be very interesting to see how all of this plays out.  Just pray for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122 )

We had another fine field study this past weekend.  We ventured across The Land of Benjamin! The land between inside the land between!! The very heartland of Israel. 60% of stories of the bible have this land incorporated into them somehow.  That stat might be for the Old Testament only...which makes it more impressive.  But in any case, it is an important strip in the land between.  One of the main things that we have been learning in class is the geology of Israel.  The different kinds of limestone here in Israel have had an incredible influence on the people and stories of the Bible.  Every hill and valley are worth mentioning.  The complex road system in and out of the wadis (valleys that carry water) are so important to the people of the land.  I never thought I would be tracking the watershed ridge going through the land of Judah, or coloring the different wadi and valley systems on a map, or plotting important cities and the roads the connect them all together, or doing any of this to gain a better understanding of the Word of God.  Shoot, I never thought I would be doing all of that, then witnessing with my own eyes everything that I saw on the map!  But let me warn you, while all of this has increased my knowledge of the bible in a very awesome and special way, it has also challenged my faith.  While I have been doing all this studying on rocks and roads of the bible, i have also been learning about the rest of the Ancient Near East. I'm in another class called Ancient Egypt and the Biblical World, so obviously i have been studying Egypt as well.  What I have been noticing is the parallels, similarities, and differences of the other religions, texts, cults, whatever else, and how they compare to the Bible.  I will admit it has really shaken me.  I am currently reading a book called "The Bible Among the Myths" This has become one of the most interested topics to me.
So that is my warning, with all of this new knowledge and learning, I have entered in my own heated situation, going through all of this and trying to solve problems that challenge the legitimacy of the Bible.
But don't worry, I do have a "blessed assurance" just like the song sings the words of Hebrews 10:22

There was also another big Jewish holiday this week.  I would love to talk about it, but i'm tired and i actually don't really want to.  I'm sick of Jewish holidays.  lol.  I actually haven't written anything about the Jewish holidays and they are all super interesting, but i can save those for my sunday night series at Faith. ;)
Well. Tune in Again for some more amazing stories.  I'm hoping to keep better track of my experiences and and stories so that i can blog better.  I plan to add some video to my blog too. So look forward to that.  I will also post again soon, but with just a bunch of pictures.  welp, see ya later.

May the peace of Jerusalem come!