The recent trip to Israel was a tremendous blessing.  I personally have been able to travel to the Promised Land now on three different occasions.  While each one was special, I think this last trip was the most meaningful because of who went with me.  This is the first opportunity I have had to take members of the Bono congregation as well.  Seeing their joy and amazement at being in the land of the Bible was priceless.  The trip to Israel, over 3,000 dollars.  The gasoline to the airport and home again, 60 dollars.  The smiles and tears on faces of those who saw where Jesus walked, lived, taught, and died…PRICELESS!  They will never view the Word of God in quite the same light again.  Chris Ellison, fellow Bono traveler, perhaps summed it up best.  When ask what he thought about the trip, he said “It’s not just a story anymore!”  The Word has taken on new meaning and a passion for learning more of God has been stirred.  I would encourage, challenge, implore…beg if need be…any Pastor to find his way to a Father’s House tour of Israel.  It is unlike any other tour and is certain to spark renewal in the hearts of all those blessed to go.  Not to mention, the Word promises that God will bless those who bless Israel.  Be blessed by the Father’s House so that they in turn will be blessed in future trips and so that you might bless others with this life-changing experience.  Just let the blessings flow!

My trip to Israel was amazing! I was told before we left by a good friend that God had a gift for me, and boy did he. I was touched in so many ways as we toured the sites and I listened to the teachings. I was especially blown away at the city of David and hearing all the teachings and seeing all the history. We ended our stop their with time in the upper room, and for me it all came together. The entire journey Jesus took for the Father, came together for me in that moment. I realized exactly what his purpose was and what message he came to deliver. It was powerful and overwhelming to say the least. For me in that moment, I truly believe I had a greater understanding of the Gospel and all that Jesus means historically and symbolically. I can now understand what he means to the gentiles, but after experiencing that moment with God, I now understand the message he was sent to deliver to Israel and the chosen people of God. In the upper room Jesus’ actions cried out I am the king of Jews, and in doing so he also hammered home the point that he is the Messiah. It was truly powerful for me to understand more about the time Jesus spent here on earth, and how God was sending such a powerful message to the entire world. God in that moment said I am the rightful king, but I came to do something even greater for all of mankind. It was an act of love that when sitting in the places where they took place, will bring you emotionally, spiritually, and physically to your knees.

This was the greatest journey I have been on in my life. I’ve not been out of the states, never even been to Mexico and all of a sudden I am invited to go as a part of a group to Israel…. It was just a life changing experience for me. Having seen in my own mind, trying to picture where Jesus walked and what it was like to walk there and then to be there was such a phenomenal change in my life…and to walk, not just where Jesus walked, but as we walked thru the ruins of David’s house and remembering those stories…. I get God bumps right now just talking about it. But I didn’t really go having any idea how it was going to impact me and my ministry back home…. but so many people in our church have talked about it has changed the dynamics… of my ministry there. I don’t know that I sense it that much but they said they just sense such an intensity in the message…. Now even when I’m sitting in my easy chair at home reading my Bible and I read a verse and all of a sudden I realize I’ve been there.. I’ve been there and I see what that really was.