Spent several hours in the past few days getting the seeds in the earth for Spring 2010. We have had an unusually long number of freezing cold days in Oklahoma this year - so could not even get our onions in the ground back in February. It was enjoyable to have the kids help me prepare the soil and plant the seeds.
As of a few days ago - we have potatoes, spinach, carrots, lettuce in the ground.
Now the waiting and trusting.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Insightful interview here. I will be with Duke's Faith and Leadership Program later this year!
March 2, 2010 | To hear more from the interview with Nicholas Wolterstorff, click the play button on the audio player at the right of this screen.
You can also download this free on iTunes U.
Nicholas Wolterstorff is an eminent American philosophical theologian, writing on such topics as art, Scripture, philosophy of religion and suffering. In 2007, he published %u201CJustice: Rights and Wrongs,%u201D the first volume of a planned two-volume work on justice.
He is Noah Porter Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology at Yale Divinity School and taught previously at the Free University in the Netherlands and at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. A member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, he currently serves as a senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia.
Wolterstorff spoke with Faith & Leadership about vibrant institutions, the necessity for Christian institutions to hear the voices and see the faces of those who suffer, and what he learned from his craftsman grandfather and father about how to do philosophy.
The audio clip is an excerpt from the following edited interview.
Q: You%u2019ve written about Christian colleges as institutions that ought to educate for shalom. Why is it important that schools aren%u2019t merely academic but that they contribute to the flourishing of communities around them?
As a young professor at Calvin, I was involved in curricular studies. About two years after I got there, I proposed that the entire curriculum should be revised. I%u2019m astonished to this day that the senior people didn%u2019t just silence this brash newcomer. Instead I became head of a curricular revision committee. It became important for me to figure out what holds a curriculum together. You%u2019ve got sciences and arts and my own passion, justice. What holds it all together? It eventually became clear to me that there is a biblical category of flourishing, of shalom. [It is] %u201Cpeace%u201D in the New Testament, but eirene in Greek is a pretty weak translation of what the Old Testament means by shalom. It means flourishing.
That%u2019s what a Christian college should be about. Not just planting thoughts in people%u2019s heads and getting them into professional positions but flourishing, in all its dimensions.
Q: Is that a model that churches and other Christian institutions besides colleges can also aim for?
Absolutely. When the Scriptures talk about love, commanding %u201Clove your neighbor as yourself,%u201D you may ask, %u201CWell, what%u2019s the goal of this? What%u2019s it after?%u201D It seems to me it seeks the flourishing of your fellow human beings in all dimensions. I had various personal interests: art, justice and so forth. I had to ask how I was going to integrate them. It seemed to me that the category that unites these instead of splitting them apart is the category of shalom. That%u2019s what the gospel is about: how humankind can flourish.
Q: Why is it important that leaders of institutions, who can live pretty sheltered lives, ought to go out of their way to be in touch with humans who suffer?
So, a crucial part of shalom, then, is -- and of seeking shalom -- is justice. You can%u2019t have shalom without justice. I mean, you may con people into thinking that they%u2019re doing okay and so forth but whether they%u2019re conned or not, if they%u2019re suffering from injustice, if they%u2019re being wronged, this is not true shalom. So a crucial part of what Christian institutions should care about in teaching their students and parishioners and so forth to seek shalom is to be alert to the ways in which their neighbors and humankind in general are being wronged, and that%u2019s justice.
So, given that I was sort of plunged into two important issues of justice, being sent to South Africa well before the revolution occurred and getting involved with the Palestinians, and these were eye openers. They were in a classic Protestant sense. They came to me as a call from God. So I had to reflect, then, on why I had been relatively unconcerned with this before, these two situations and others, and why other human beings were, and then it became clear to me that what had happened in my case is that I had read about South Africa and I had read about the Middle East but it was being confronted with the faces and the voices of the suffering. That%u2019s what I found profoundly altering.
And I think that%u2019s true for all of us. It remains an abstraction by and large. Television can help. The pictures of Haiti and so forth are far more effective than just the print in the newspapers. So if a Christian institution, then, is really to seek justice, it has to somehow find a way to have those voices and see those faces, either by going there or having them come to you or whatever.
Q: I%u2019m struck by the Reformed tradition%u2019s particular gift of being articulate about institutions: why they should be founded and tended and what good they bear in the world.
I think that is true. I%u2019m not exactly sure why it%u2019s true, but the Reformed tradition certainly has always had a more institutional character to it than just individuals. I was reared to think of the church and not just a bunch of Christian people getting together. The health of institutions -- educational institutions, ecclesiastical institutions, institutions of all sorts -- has been a crucial part of the tradition.
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Monday, March 01, 2010
God, Fear, Archeology and Agragianism
A youth pastor friend I trust handed me the following: That Deity Formerly Known As God by Jarrett Stevens. It was a quick read, but a good one for me to see and perceive (yet again) how other authors are framing and constructing their texts. This book as far as the argument and thesis was really quite simple - though it was also filled with the modern "vibe" that comes with many "youth" centered texts that I have read. The text was filled with several images, poems, artistic renditions, quirky polls etc. In a nutshell, the author Jarrett Stevens has done a very simple thing. He read J.B. Phillips Your God is Too Small and attempted in this text to rewrite it for a modern generation. I, personally, appreciated J.B. Phillips text over this one. This one, it seems to me should have been titled something like That Deity Formerly Known As God - with lots of images and things to keep you busy on pages in between. The text was simply "too busy" - in the final several chapters, the author offers sermons over a handful of texts. Not a bad text, but not one I would normally read. Yet more perspective for me on what books are "selling" these days and how they are constructed for their audience.
Read Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Harold Kushner. Kushner is of course famous for his text: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Sadly, the only thing I have to say about this text is that I have nothing to say about this text. Kushner tells many stories. He talks about peoples fear. Ultimately, he spends the entire text explaining that it is his belief that God does not want us to be afraid but to have hope and courage. He ends with a quote from the philosopher and psychologist William James, "These, then, are my last words to you: Be not afraid of life area believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." Kushner spends 171 pages of 172 pages tellings stories to support this phrase. That is all.
I picked and and viewed each of the segments of the DVD teaching tool for the text, The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts - the DVD was entitled: The Bible Unearthed: The Making of A Religion. I often tease my students in class before I show a video that they have to be prepared for the fact that this video I'm about to show. "Every Bible video," I say, "contains boring Bible-man." I say this with some tongue-in-cheek with the students - because they know I do not want to be a boring Bible man as I teach - and I try not to do this. But, I am aware of the fact that we who are Ph.D's in some "dead" texts are not exactly cool! That being the case, I was delighted to watch this DVD set because it seemed to have a very good balance of scholars sitting in their offices waxing eloquent about biblical texts, while also showing good images of real archealogical sites that were under investigation - let by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman. The images and camera angles that were used did not look antiquated (and they were not) and the presenters did not seem terribly scripted such that they came across as boring Bible men! (and, they were mostly men.) A teaching tool I will come back to review in more detail so that I can use for future teaching.
What a delight to have read Ellen F. Davis's text Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. While Davis journey is more mature than my own - both in terms of her ability and work as a scholar - and in her aged wisdom - this book felt "right at home with me" or I felt right at home with it - because in it David documents her own coming to awareness of agrarian issues that dominate the background culture of the Old Testament. Further, she cites directly and explicitly in several places the fact that her reading of the Bible has been shaped or configured afresh in the past decade (or slightly more) by the consistent and clear call of Wendell Berry. - While I do not think I have read everything that Berry has written - I am certain I have read much (and most) of what he has published. I fell in love with his essays and articles, and his poetry and fiction many years ago and soaked up his words. For reasons of personal stewardship and materialistic acquisition - I read many, many more library books than books that I have purchased for my own library. After having reading this text from the library, though, I am excited to know that my personal copy will be arriving in the mail soon (since I have ordered it) At some future date I will have opportunity to read again this excellent text - and I will no doubt duly "mark up" the copy that I will own and use it as a regular resource in teaching the ethics of stewardship - and Agrarianism - that Davis highlights as a central concern of the fundamental principles and social basis of life in the Old Testament. A great text.
Read Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Harold Kushner. Kushner is of course famous for his text: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Sadly, the only thing I have to say about this text is that I have nothing to say about this text. Kushner tells many stories. He talks about peoples fear. Ultimately, he spends the entire text explaining that it is his belief that God does not want us to be afraid but to have hope and courage. He ends with a quote from the philosopher and psychologist William James, "These, then, are my last words to you: Be not afraid of life area believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." Kushner spends 171 pages of 172 pages tellings stories to support this phrase. That is all.
I picked and and viewed each of the segments of the DVD teaching tool for the text, The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts - the DVD was entitled: The Bible Unearthed: The Making of A Religion. I often tease my students in class before I show a video that they have to be prepared for the fact that this video I'm about to show. "Every Bible video," I say, "contains boring Bible-man." I say this with some tongue-in-cheek with the students - because they know I do not want to be a boring Bible man as I teach - and I try not to do this. But, I am aware of the fact that we who are Ph.D's in some "dead" texts are not exactly cool! That being the case, I was delighted to watch this DVD set because it seemed to have a very good balance of scholars sitting in their offices waxing eloquent about biblical texts, while also showing good images of real archealogical sites that were under investigation - let by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman. The images and camera angles that were used did not look antiquated (and they were not) and the presenters did not seem terribly scripted such that they came across as boring Bible men! (and, they were mostly men.) A teaching tool I will come back to review in more detail so that I can use for future teaching.
What a delight to have read Ellen F. Davis's text Scripture, Culture, and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible. While Davis journey is more mature than my own - both in terms of her ability and work as a scholar - and in her aged wisdom - this book felt "right at home with me" or I felt right at home with it - because in it David documents her own coming to awareness of agrarian issues that dominate the background culture of the Old Testament. Further, she cites directly and explicitly in several places the fact that her reading of the Bible has been shaped or configured afresh in the past decade (or slightly more) by the consistent and clear call of Wendell Berry. - While I do not think I have read everything that Berry has written - I am certain I have read much (and most) of what he has published. I fell in love with his essays and articles, and his poetry and fiction many years ago and soaked up his words. For reasons of personal stewardship and materialistic acquisition - I read many, many more library books than books that I have purchased for my own library. After having reading this text from the library, though, I am excited to know that my personal copy will be arriving in the mail soon (since I have ordered it) At some future date I will have opportunity to read again this excellent text - and I will no doubt duly "mark up" the copy that I will own and use it as a regular resource in teaching the ethics of stewardship - and Agrarianism - that Davis highlights as a central concern of the fundamental principles and social basis of life in the Old Testament. A great text.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sermons on Creation - and John Wilkes Booth (?!)
I do not recommend reading sermon after sermon after sermon. But, this weekend I did precisely that.
I am garnering supplemental resources for students in classes that I teach associated with Biblical Theology and Global Stewardship. I am convinced that the Bible understands us to be stewards in God’s creation – but do not think the Bible has a distinct amount of significant textual space given to the issue. I do believe the Bible addresses it, for sure. But, in truth, the bulk of texts that address the issues of how we use space include principally the Pentateuch, the Psalms, some Wisdom Literature – references to justice and land in the Prophets – but very little directly in the NT – perhaps some parables, a few Pauline notes, and then Revelation. But, while a thread of themes are throughout – no coherent organzing ecological or stewardship “agenda” connects the whole of the corpus. Thus, it is nice to read reflections and ideas of others.
I read first the text: Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet edited by David Rhoads. Most of the sermons were really quite good and several of them I will find a means to incorporate and use with students/persons I work with. In particular, I am certain I will use the sermons by: Peter Bakken, Tanya Marcovna Barnett, Diane Bergant, Wendell Berry (how can I not use Berry!?!), Sally Bingham, Margaret, Bullitt-Jonas, Theodore Hiebert, Bill McKibben, Ched Myers, Barbara Rossing, and H. Paul Santmire. Some excellent reflections, calls to consider, and just “good preaching” found here. Delightful reading and I look forward to re-reading with students in specific contexts where the reading is not so “tightly packed” for me!
I also read, The Best Preaching on Earth: Sermons on Caring for Creation edited by Stan L. LeQuire. I read and resourced this text a few years back – but of course went back to it in my new time of re-thinking some tools for teaching. I am glad I read Earth and Word first. There are good reflections and sermons in The Best Preaching on Earth, but not nearly as well done as Earth and Word. The only two specific sermons I will use for pedagogical practice from this text included the sermon written by Michael L. Blaine and then an article by Jim Wallis.
**
Who cares if it’s written for a youthful audience. I really enjoyed reading Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson. The text pieces together the historical record of what led John Wilkes Booth to participate in a larger series of attacks on the President and others on the night of April 14th. I, for example, had not taken time to consider other persons involved in “the plot” to assassinate the President – nor was I aware of the fact that there were other Cabinet level officials that were planned for attack and or attacked on the same night. We took our children to Ford Theater a few years back when we were in D.C. – so I knew that Lincoln had died in a house across the street from the Theater. We visited that house, as well. But, this delightfully constructed historical fiction allowed me to “get into the story” of John Wilkes Booth and learn more about “Washington City” as D.C. was referred to – and much more. If all books on history were written with this style and flair, there would be many more young people lining up to study history. A delightful read!
I am garnering supplemental resources for students in classes that I teach associated with Biblical Theology and Global Stewardship. I am convinced that the Bible understands us to be stewards in God’s creation – but do not think the Bible has a distinct amount of significant textual space given to the issue. I do believe the Bible addresses it, for sure. But, in truth, the bulk of texts that address the issues of how we use space include principally the Pentateuch, the Psalms, some Wisdom Literature – references to justice and land in the Prophets – but very little directly in the NT – perhaps some parables, a few Pauline notes, and then Revelation. But, while a thread of themes are throughout – no coherent organzing ecological or stewardship “agenda” connects the whole of the corpus. Thus, it is nice to read reflections and ideas of others.
I read first the text: Earth and Word: Classic Sermons on Saving the Planet edited by David Rhoads. Most of the sermons were really quite good and several of them I will find a means to incorporate and use with students/persons I work with. In particular, I am certain I will use the sermons by: Peter Bakken, Tanya Marcovna Barnett, Diane Bergant, Wendell Berry (how can I not use Berry!?!), Sally Bingham, Margaret, Bullitt-Jonas, Theodore Hiebert, Bill McKibben, Ched Myers, Barbara Rossing, and H. Paul Santmire. Some excellent reflections, calls to consider, and just “good preaching” found here. Delightful reading and I look forward to re-reading with students in specific contexts where the reading is not so “tightly packed” for me!
I also read, The Best Preaching on Earth: Sermons on Caring for Creation edited by Stan L. LeQuire. I read and resourced this text a few years back – but of course went back to it in my new time of re-thinking some tools for teaching. I am glad I read Earth and Word first. There are good reflections and sermons in The Best Preaching on Earth, but not nearly as well done as Earth and Word. The only two specific sermons I will use for pedagogical practice from this text included the sermon written by Michael L. Blaine and then an article by Jim Wallis.
**
Who cares if it’s written for a youthful audience. I really enjoyed reading Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson. The text pieces together the historical record of what led John Wilkes Booth to participate in a larger series of attacks on the President and others on the night of April 14th. I, for example, had not taken time to consider other persons involved in “the plot” to assassinate the President – nor was I aware of the fact that there were other Cabinet level officials that were planned for attack and or attacked on the same night. We took our children to Ford Theater a few years back when we were in D.C. – so I knew that Lincoln had died in a house across the street from the Theater. We visited that house, as well. But, this delightfully constructed historical fiction allowed me to “get into the story” of John Wilkes Booth and learn more about “Washington City” as D.C. was referred to – and much more. If all books on history were written with this style and flair, there would be many more young people lining up to study history. A delightful read!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Travel to Israel, Jordan and Palestine with Dr. Michelson
Travel to Israel, Jordan, & Palestine – the “Holy Land”
What kind of trip is this?
While it is the case that this trip is offered most intentionally for Christian persons (students) who will participate in full-time ministry – there are political, archeological, social and cross-cultural components to this class that are intentionally constructed. Our primary focus is on Bible related sites and issues, but the class (for credit) is entitled “Ideology of Land: Jewish and Arab Perspectives” because there are contested ideas about who lives in these lands and why – and these contests date back in antiquity. The trip is not a pilgrimage, though spiritual contemplation is welcome. The trip is principally educational.
Is it safe?
Given the contemporary world, no one can ever assure anyone’s complete safety anywhere in the world. The Holy Land is no exception to this sad reality. However, travel to and within Jordan, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories does not place one at significantly greater risk of being a victim of violence than does travel to and within any major American city. In my own travel to the area no one with my group has felt threatened by violence.
What sites will the trip visit?
Sea of Galilee Dead Sea Jordan River Bethlehem
Jerusalem Mount of Olives Golan Heights Nazareth
Masada Jerash Caesarea Maratima Sepphoris
Madaba Mt. Nebo Mount of Olives
Mount of Beatitudes Church of Nativity Church of the Holy Sepulchre
What are the dates for the trip?
January 3 to 13, 2011 – with supplemental elective two days to Petra at supplemental cost.
Who will lead the tour?
Dr. Marty Alan Michelson along with faculty from the Society of Biblical Studies.
( See more here: www.martymichelson.com and http://www.sbsedu.org/L3_about_us_faculty.html )
Why do you lead trips to the Holy Land?
I lead trips to the Holy Land because I love the experience. I love introducing people to the traditional holy sites and to the lands of the Bible. Also, I love helping Americans to learn about the contemporary culture and struggles of the people who populate the lands of the Bible today. My trips actively engage questions of peace-making in the Middle East. I make no profit from the trips.
How much does it cost?
$2997 (plus airfare to/from Chicago!) which will cover some meals every day (breakfast & dinner,not snacks!), entrance fees, border fees, guide fees, taxes, tips. Students Loans CAN be applied! The two-day addition to Petra – if enough register to participate – is $525.
When is the money due?
Full payment with the registration will be due ten weeks before the departure date. To make it simple, full payment is due at the start of the Academic Semester per SNU’s calendar – late August.
Aren’t many similar trips to the Holy Land cheaper?
No. Many travel companies practice a “bait-and-switch” method of sales. They either advertise a price that is eventually either is unavailable or is later inflated with additional “fees” (like taxes, tips, entry fees, domestic air, oversea ground transportation, visa fees, meals, etc.). My pricing policy is realistic and does not inflate after you have committed to travel. I have, in the past, had the US Department of Travel add last minute fees for security excise fees, however.
What all is covered by the cost of the trip?
The price of the trip includes all transportation, lodging, taxes and governmental fees, all morning and evening meals (lunch is not included), admission to all sites, and tips. The price does not include the price of lunch each day or the price of keepsakes and a few personally chosen tips.
Is this trip sponsored by the university where you teach? And can I get college credit?
Yes, SNU, where I teach, is associated with this trip. Yes, college credit is available and ENCOURAGED. A BLT (Biblical Literature) class for Undergraduate or *Graduate* students will be offered in Fall 2010. The class can also be taken as Theology or History.
Who may go on this trip?
The trip is open primarily and intentionally to college age students associated with SNU. Other persons will be welcome as space is available for anyone who wishes to see the Holy Land. Parents or Senior adults are welcome to experience the travel together. The main ingredient is a gracious attitude, willing heart, studious mind, and ability to walk/hike or willingness to sit behind while others do their walking/hiking to/from locations.
Can I be baptized in the Jordan River?
Yes. Dr. Michelson will baptize anyone who has not been baptized before and who professes Christ as Lord. For those who have been baptized before, they may renew their baptismal vows at the Jordan River.
Will we celebrate the Lord’s Supper at any point?
Yes. For those who wish to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we will offer the sacrament while on the Mount of the Beatitudes (overlooking the Sea of Galilee).
Are there a limited number of places available on this trip?
Yes. The trip is limited to the number of people who can comfortably travel in a single bus on location.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. You will need a passport at least six months before we travel. You start the passport process at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Do this early, NOW!
What kind of meals will be available?
Some meals will be served as buffets with traditional Arabic, Jewish, American dishes from which to choose. Other meals will be served in sit down style with service to your table. Lunch will be purchased at local restaurants (at the traveler’s expense). Meal portions will not be “all you can eat” but will be a full portion meal, often served in several “courses.”
How much cash should I take?
The answer to this question largely depends upon each individual’s personal spending habits. The only direct expenses that travelers will incur are lunch time meals and beverages (other than water) at meal times. (In the Middle East, hotels traditionally serve only water and charge a nominal fee [about $1] for any additional beverage.) I have traveled with people who spent less $100 on a fifteen day trip and with people who have spent more than $500 in the same length of time. (Most outlets take credit cards and ATMs are widely available, but I do NOT recommend traveler’s checks—many places will not accept traveler’s checks and many others add a surcharge to traveler’s checks). As a general guideline, I would recommend about $300 in cash for most travelers.
Will the trip offer time for personal prayer and spiritual reflection?
Yes. Most days will include a few hours in the evening when travelers can engage in unstructured activities ranging from personal prayer and meditation to walks along the Sea of Galilee.
What are the hotel accommodations like?
Our accommodations are generally in three and four hotels, comparable to moderately priced American hotels. All are clean, safe and professionally staffed. Some have pools, saunas, hot tubs and exercise. All have private bathrooms and comfortable beds.
Will we meet with any local people?
Yes. We will organize evening programs with people who represent the diversity of political and religious opinions in the Middle East. The programs allow the travelers to meet local Christians, Jews and Muslims from both Israel and Palestinians. Travelers will be able to dialogue with a wide spectrum of opinion.
How do I register for the trip?
Nothing can be done to register for the trip now. But, in March/April 2010 you should plan to schedule for the course for Fall 2010. Plan now to “not take” a BLT credit in your major – and take this course for credit! Contact Dr. Marty Michelson, martymichelson@gmail.com
What kind of trip is this?
While it is the case that this trip is offered most intentionally for Christian persons (students) who will participate in full-time ministry – there are political, archeological, social and cross-cultural components to this class that are intentionally constructed. Our primary focus is on Bible related sites and issues, but the class (for credit) is entitled “Ideology of Land: Jewish and Arab Perspectives” because there are contested ideas about who lives in these lands and why – and these contests date back in antiquity. The trip is not a pilgrimage, though spiritual contemplation is welcome. The trip is principally educational.
Is it safe?
Given the contemporary world, no one can ever assure anyone’s complete safety anywhere in the world. The Holy Land is no exception to this sad reality. However, travel to and within Jordan, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories does not place one at significantly greater risk of being a victim of violence than does travel to and within any major American city. In my own travel to the area no one with my group has felt threatened by violence.
What sites will the trip visit?
Sea of Galilee Dead Sea Jordan River Bethlehem
Jerusalem Mount of Olives Golan Heights Nazareth
Masada Jerash Caesarea Maratima Sepphoris
Madaba Mt. Nebo Mount of Olives
Mount of Beatitudes Church of Nativity Church of the Holy Sepulchre
What are the dates for the trip?
January 3 to 13, 2011 – with supplemental elective two days to Petra at supplemental cost.
Who will lead the tour?
Dr. Marty Alan Michelson along with faculty from the Society of Biblical Studies.
( See more here: www.martymichelson.com and http://www.sbsedu.org/L3_about_us_faculty.html )
Why do you lead trips to the Holy Land?
I lead trips to the Holy Land because I love the experience. I love introducing people to the traditional holy sites and to the lands of the Bible. Also, I love helping Americans to learn about the contemporary culture and struggles of the people who populate the lands of the Bible today. My trips actively engage questions of peace-making in the Middle East. I make no profit from the trips.
How much does it cost?
$2997 (plus airfare to/from Chicago!) which will cover some meals every day (breakfast & dinner,not snacks!), entrance fees, border fees, guide fees, taxes, tips. Students Loans CAN be applied! The two-day addition to Petra – if enough register to participate – is $525.
When is the money due?
Full payment with the registration will be due ten weeks before the departure date. To make it simple, full payment is due at the start of the Academic Semester per SNU’s calendar – late August.
Aren’t many similar trips to the Holy Land cheaper?
No. Many travel companies practice a “bait-and-switch” method of sales. They either advertise a price that is eventually either is unavailable or is later inflated with additional “fees” (like taxes, tips, entry fees, domestic air, oversea ground transportation, visa fees, meals, etc.). My pricing policy is realistic and does not inflate after you have committed to travel. I have, in the past, had the US Department of Travel add last minute fees for security excise fees, however.
What all is covered by the cost of the trip?
The price of the trip includes all transportation, lodging, taxes and governmental fees, all morning and evening meals (lunch is not included), admission to all sites, and tips. The price does not include the price of lunch each day or the price of keepsakes and a few personally chosen tips.
Is this trip sponsored by the university where you teach? And can I get college credit?
Yes, SNU, where I teach, is associated with this trip. Yes, college credit is available and ENCOURAGED. A BLT (Biblical Literature) class for Undergraduate or *Graduate* students will be offered in Fall 2010. The class can also be taken as Theology or History.
Who may go on this trip?
The trip is open primarily and intentionally to college age students associated with SNU. Other persons will be welcome as space is available for anyone who wishes to see the Holy Land. Parents or Senior adults are welcome to experience the travel together. The main ingredient is a gracious attitude, willing heart, studious mind, and ability to walk/hike or willingness to sit behind while others do their walking/hiking to/from locations.
Can I be baptized in the Jordan River?
Yes. Dr. Michelson will baptize anyone who has not been baptized before and who professes Christ as Lord. For those who have been baptized before, they may renew their baptismal vows at the Jordan River.
Will we celebrate the Lord’s Supper at any point?
Yes. For those who wish to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we will offer the sacrament while on the Mount of the Beatitudes (overlooking the Sea of Galilee).
Are there a limited number of places available on this trip?
Yes. The trip is limited to the number of people who can comfortably travel in a single bus on location.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. You will need a passport at least six months before we travel. You start the passport process at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. Do this early, NOW!
What kind of meals will be available?
Some meals will be served as buffets with traditional Arabic, Jewish, American dishes from which to choose. Other meals will be served in sit down style with service to your table. Lunch will be purchased at local restaurants (at the traveler’s expense). Meal portions will not be “all you can eat” but will be a full portion meal, often served in several “courses.”
How much cash should I take?
The answer to this question largely depends upon each individual’s personal spending habits. The only direct expenses that travelers will incur are lunch time meals and beverages (other than water) at meal times. (In the Middle East, hotels traditionally serve only water and charge a nominal fee [about $1] for any additional beverage.) I have traveled with people who spent less $100 on a fifteen day trip and with people who have spent more than $500 in the same length of time. (Most outlets take credit cards and ATMs are widely available, but I do NOT recommend traveler’s checks—many places will not accept traveler’s checks and many others add a surcharge to traveler’s checks). As a general guideline, I would recommend about $300 in cash for most travelers.
Will the trip offer time for personal prayer and spiritual reflection?
Yes. Most days will include a few hours in the evening when travelers can engage in unstructured activities ranging from personal prayer and meditation to walks along the Sea of Galilee.
What are the hotel accommodations like?
Our accommodations are generally in three and four hotels, comparable to moderately priced American hotels. All are clean, safe and professionally staffed. Some have pools, saunas, hot tubs and exercise. All have private bathrooms and comfortable beds.
Will we meet with any local people?
Yes. We will organize evening programs with people who represent the diversity of political and religious opinions in the Middle East. The programs allow the travelers to meet local Christians, Jews and Muslims from both Israel and Palestinians. Travelers will be able to dialogue with a wide spectrum of opinion.
How do I register for the trip?
Nothing can be done to register for the trip now. But, in March/April 2010 you should plan to schedule for the course for Fall 2010. Plan now to “not take” a BLT credit in your major – and take this course for credit! Contact Dr. Marty Michelson, martymichelson@gmail.com
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