Monthly Archives: October 2021

Not Sure What to Post

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I’m really not sure what to post this week because it is the fifth Friday of the month. When I started this blog, I had a solid plan for four Fridays in a month.

First, one of the stories that holds a special place in my heart from my trips to Israel. Second, a fun story about food. Third, how things are going with my writing, especially about my book(s) about the birth of Jesus called Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs. And fourth, a special item for sale in Israel. But I wasn’t sure about the fifth Friday and I’m still not.

One suggestion is to do a give-away box of some of the interesting items from Israel, but I don’t have that possibility put together, largely due to cost. Another idea is to create some of my short stories, framed and suitable for hanging.

I’m still working on other ideas so I’m open to suggestions. Please send me your ideas and I’ll come up with a special gift for the originator of any I use.

Following the Word

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One of the many things that touched my heart both when I purchased it in Israel and in the time that has passed since my trips to Israel is a silver hand pointing the way on the end of a short silver rod.

My daughter and I were shopping in a tiny, little shop in the Old City (Jerusalem) called The Silver Pointer. Esther is the wonderful lady who owns the shop.

I didn’t know why anyone would want something like this “hand.” Esther explained that the Word of God is too sacred to be touched by human hands. Therefore, a hand on a rod like this one was used to follow along the page, Word by Word, when reading the Bible. This is especially important so the reader does not lose his place when reading out loud.

To someone who writes and draws in her Bible, it seems strange to say not to touch the Word of God, yet I find it comforting to keep it on my desk where I read and study the Bible.

It is a constant reminder of a gift God gave us so we could get to know him better and better each day.

My Book Overview

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This picture from Unsplash.com portrays how I feel as I research.

Work continues on my book, Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs. So today, I’m sharing the plan for this “book.”

Jesus Gets Hand-Me-Downs has become too long for a book aimed at young readers. Therefore, I’m reinventing the chapters and making them small books that are easy to hold and within the attention span of younger readers while it is interesting to older readers. I’m planning on at least fourteen of these little books.

The first book, subtitled At the Well, is close to completion. It is approximately 3,000 words. The general theme is sharing, sharing our possessions, sharing our history, and sharing our faith.

In addition to the story, features in the book include:

Common Hebrew and Aramaic words with their meaning and pronunciation.

Information about the culture at the time of Christ’s birth.

The story of the founding of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Family structure.

Biblical history.

My biggest challenge is learning the skills necessary to put the book into a format where potential publishers and beta readers will see my vision for the books. I’m also being challenged by all the rabbit trails the research takes me on.

I’m looking forward to sharing the results with you.

Israel Food Memory

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This month rather than post a recipe for the food I loved in
Israel, I chose to post a fun memory about food. Now, I’m fairly sure this is
not traditional Israeli food, but thanks to my grandsons, I’ll always connect
it to Israel.

When our oldest grandson was thirteen, we took him on a trip to Israel. He
quickly made friends with another thirteen-year-old boy on the trip.

When they went downstairs to breakfast at the hotel the first morning, they
discovered a favorite breakfast. Pancakes with chocolate syrup. Maple syrup was
available, but it was promptly ignored in favor of chocolate.

These two teenage boys went back for helping after helping. Sometimes it was
hard to see the pancake drowning in the syrup. In fact, they didn’t eat
pancakes with chocolate syrup, they ate chocolate syrup with pancakes.

A few years later, we took our second grandson to Israel. His favorite
breakfast — pancakes with chocolate syrup.

To both boys’ disappointment, when they got back home, Mom did not serve pancakes with chocolate syrup.

    Impressions of Israel – God is Great

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    One of my favorite things about travel in Israel is how it increases my understanding of the Bible, God’s Word.

    While in Caesarea, our guide taught us about the custom of cutting the hands and heads off statues belonging to a conquered people to symbolize “our god is bigger and stronger than your god.”

    Statues in Caesarea

    That evening, I read 1 Samuel 5 about what happened when the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and put it in the temple of their god, Dagon. When the people entered the temple the following day, the statue of Dagon was lying face down in front of the ark. The people picked up their god and stood him back in his proper place of honor.

    When the Philistines arrived at the temple the following morning, Dagon lay on the floor, before the ark, with his hands and head were broken off.

    The ultimate “our God is bigger and stronger than your god.”

    When I’m struggling and fearful, this memory reminds me there is no reason to fear because my God is greater and stronger than any other god.