Our trip to Israel, March 1005. Jim and Nancy Mercer

A Dream Comes True!

Last year we visited with Dr. Linfield Crowder after a service at Muldoon Community Assembly in Anchorage. He mentioned that he was organizing a trip to Israel in 2005 and we casually told him of our dream to go there "someday," but we didn't think it was possible just yet. Dr. Crowder replied, "Miracles still happen!" And then the Rev. Dick Carlson, a dear friend, "took the ball and ran with it," taking our dream to the church body. When they invited us to be their guests, we were overwhelmed, but delighted and excited to accept! Dr. Linfield Crowder was our Bible teacher for the trip and we were blessed by his ministry.

"Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid."
Luke 23:50-53 NIV

We were filled with awe as we realized we were in the tomb where Jesus was laid after His death - for us!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see Me." Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

Dr. Linfield Crowder (at center in both pictures) explained the Biblical
significance of Jesus' birth, death, and resurrection.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23-1-6 NIV. A psalm of David.

From the Holman Bible Dictionary:

DEAD SEA Inland lake at the end of the Jordan Valley on the southeastern border of Canaan with no outlets for water it receives; known in the Bible as Salt Sea, Sea of the Plain, and Eastern Sea. Its current English name was applied to it through writings after A.D. 100. It is about fifty miles long and ten miles wide at its widest point. The surface of the sea is 1292 feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea. At its deepest point the lake is 1300 deep. At its most shallow it is only ten to fifteen feet deep.

The main source of water for the sea is the Jordan River, but other smaller rivers empty into the sea also. The Jordan River empties an average of six million tons of water every twenty-four hours into the sea. Despite this and the fact that the sea has no outlet, the surface does not rise more than ten to fifteen feet. The reason for this lies in the rapid evaporation of the water because of the heat and acidness of its location below sea level.

This plus other geographical factors gives it a salt content which is approximately five times the concentration of the ocean. This makes it one of the world's saltiest. It also causes a condition where no form of marine life can live even though some fish have reportedly been found in adjacent less salty pools. The surrounding land area can support vegetation and life, however. These features of the Dead Sea plus its location in an hot and arid area inspired the biblical writers to use it as an example of a life apart from the law of God.

Bob Sheffield

References: the Salt Sea (Genesis 14:3; Deuteronomy 3:17); the Sea of the Plain (Joshua 3:16); and the (East) Eastern Sea (Ezekiel 47:18; Joel 2:20). {back}

Our Wonderful Trip to Israel

Jim and Nancy Mercer