Sojourner's Song

“I have become a pilgrim to cure myself of being an exile.” -G. K. Chesterton


Aaron Telian

I'm a clumsy Christian on a journey of discipline and discovery with Jesus. As a recovering Pharisee, I'm learning to trust God's grace over my goodness. I love the world, and I'm excited about learning what it means to be salt and light in a Post-Christian culture. This is where I write about living the sojourn.


View My Profile

Blog Archive

  • ►  2009 (26)
    • ►  June (1)
    • ►  May (2)
    • ►  April (10)
    • ►  March (1)
    • ►  February (3)
    • ►  January (9)
  • ▼  2008 (112)
    • ►  December (5)
    • ►  November (10)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (8)
    • ►  July (6)
    • ►  June (13)
    • ►  May (13)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (9)
    • ►  February (18)
    • ▼  January (20)
      • Goodbye Galilee
      • Caesarea and Mt. Carmel
      • Last Day in Jerusalem
      • "It's a Complicated World"
      • In Tiberias
      • Going to Galilee
      • A Day in the Holy City
      • Next Update Coming Soon
      • Freestyle Worship Piano: Unlocking Keys
      • The Knesset, Yad Veshem, and Old City
      • And We're Here!
      • On The Way...
      • Going To Israel
      • Freestyle Worship Piano: Introduction
      • Pundit Profile: Wendell Berry
      • Selfish Sacrifices, Part 3: Does My Sacrifice Live?
      • Selfish Sacrifices, Part 2: Scriptural Examples
      • Selfish Sacrifices, Part 1: Introduction
      • A Day To Remember
      • Stuff Worth Sharing
  • ►  2007 (121)
    • ►  December (8)
    • ►  November (12)
    • ►  October (10)
    • ►  September (8)
    • ►  August (8)
    • ►  July (12)
    • ►  June (11)
    • ►  May (11)
    • ►  April (10)
    • ►  March (14)
    • ►  February (5)
    • ►  January (12)
  • ►  2006 (90)
    • ►  December (16)
    • ►  November (15)
    • ►  October (17)
    • ►  September (20)
    • ►  August (11)
    • ►  July (11)

What Susan Said

  • What Susan Said
    - Due to time limitations and lack of quote material, What Susan Said will be indefinitely discontinued. If you’ve enjoyed this blog, leave a comment and l...
    16 years ago

Blogroll

  • As The Deer
  • Bibliological Bibble-Babble
  • Cerulean Sanctum
  • Coffee Cup Apologetics
  • Free Believers Network
  • Greg Boyd
  • Internet Monk
  • Jesus Shaped Spirituality
  • Kingdom People
  • Letters From Kamp Krusty
  • MercatorNet
  • My One Thing
  • Reclaiming the Mission
  • Solomon's Porch Oakhurst
  • The God Journey
  • The Gospel-Driven Church
  • The Scribbles of a Sojourner
  • What Susan Said



Sponsor a Child in Jesus Name with Compassion
Save Children

Labels

  • Art
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • C. S. Lewis
  • Church + State
  • Church Life
  • Culture
  • Derek Webb
  • Economics
  • EduCore
  • Emerging Church
  • Family
  • Freestyle Piano
  • G. K. Chesterton
  • Happenings
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Holiness
  • Israel
  • Jesus
  • Language
  • Music
  • Nature
  • People
  • Photos
  • Poetry
  • Poverty
  • Prayer
  • Reading + Writing
  • Religion
  • Rich Mullins
  • Scraps
  • Scripture
  • Society + Government
  • Southwest Slalom
  • Spiritual Thoughts
  • Story
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Yosemite

My Amazon.com Wish List
cash advance
Dell Computers
Free Counter
RSS Feed
Add to Technorati Favorites

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

And We're Here!

Joseph and I touched down in Tel Aviv almost 20 minutes ahead of schedule, and met up with Timothy and Brittany after claiming my checked bag. We exchanged some currency and headed out to the curb to find transportation to Jerusalem, which turned out to be a Dodge Sprinter that seated 10 passengers. There was a friendly bilingual local resident on the shuttle who gave us some helpful tips about sightseeing and lodging.


On the ground in Tel Aviv

This place is really here, and so are we. Wow.

Checking email at Hotel Palatin, Jerusalem

We located a medium-priced hotel in Jerusalem, and confirmed our safe arrival via email over the hotel's free Wi-Fi network. For me, it was about 40 hours of travel time door to door. Safe international travel, or, for that matter, safe travel of any kind, should never be taken for granted. Thank you for your prayers!


Walking the streets of Jerusalem

Being here for just a few short hours has reminded me what an incredible privilege it is to be born an English-speaker. I feel thoroughly humbled and at times almost guilty that through no choice or virtue of my own I know the most universal language on the planet. Other people must go through a lot of linguistic effort to be able to communicate with the same freedom that we English-speakers enjoy. I don't think it's a gift to be taken lightly.


Enjoying falafels, our first meal in Jerusalem

After a brisk walk around the immediate neighborhood, we returned to the hotel and took showers. Now the lights are out, Joseph is drifting off to sleep beside me, and there is a drunk (or demoniac) carrying on in the streets below. It's not hard to imagine this city as a place that would leave even God with his hands full - prostitutes and tax collectors in one, pious hypocrites in the other. Fortunately for the World, however, YHWH's hands are never full. They have holes in them.
Posted by Aaron at 11:35 AM
Labels: Israel

7 comments:

The Werzinskis said...

Thanks, Aaron. With the videos and your writing it's almost like being there. The city sounds just like Jerusalem should with the Jewish music!

Raylene

1:08 PM
Jeremy Becker said...

Praise the Lord for safe passage...Be careful and discerning to see the Lord's lessons for you all.

2:02 PM
Michael Pipolo said...

Too bad; it's telling me the video isn't available.

Glad to know you arrived safely!

5:35 PM
countrygirl said...

Wow! That is really neat! I've always thought it would be fun to go to Israel. Thank you for sharing the pictures and such. So we can kind of be there too! Have a safe trip :)

6:35 PM
Anonymous said...

Praise the Lord!
It looks fantastic - I can't believe you're really there. Thanks for the quick posts. Keep 'em up when you can.
Much love~

7:30 PM
Garrett Valdivia said...

Heh... that's too cool. I'm sitting here in my room, rain outside in the Sierra foothills, watching YOU and friends in Israel!

Keep it coming! (if you can)

9:58 PM
Anonymous said...

I don't think you have any idea how many of us will be checking your blog regularly while you're there! Thank you so much for keeping us posted and giving us a chance to "go to Israel" with you...kinda. :) Our prayers are with you all. Say hello to the others and hoping to see more videos from you! Maureen

8:15 AM

Post a Comment

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

The Fine Print...

All material on this blog remains my intellectual property. You are free to quote and disseminate any and all of it, but please use proper blogging etiquette, credit (link back to) the source, and make an effort to keep potentially controversial ideas in context. Thanks for reading.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. - 2 Cor. 13:11