HOTM 2007 Reunion!

Dear History On The Move Tour Participants:

Gloria Edwards (see your directory for address and phone number) has graciously invited us to her home for a dinner and picture reunion on Friday evening, May 11th, at 7:00 PM. We will miss those who are not in the southern California area or who may have a schedule conflict. Since Gloria is providing the main pasta dish, those whose last name begins with letters A – R should bring a salad, and those whose last name begins S – Z should bring a dessert. RSVP regrets only and directions will follow.

We look forward to seeing some of you. Regards,

George Giacumakis, Ph.D.
Director of the Irvine Campus
California State University, Fullerton

Powerful video

Greg M. sent a link to a powerful video highlighting the Messianic movement emerging in Israel. Because they are working with a church that has played a strategic role in encouraging believers in Yeshua, it peaked his interest. You'll notice right way... the video was done in Hebrew. It was braodcast all over Israel. Thankfully, there are English subtitles.

I passed it along to George – he recognized several of the folks immediately… check out the e-mails below. What a story!

EMAIL from GREG
Enclosed is a link to a program that ran on Israel's main TV station during Primetime News. Subtitles have been added for your English speakers out there. God is moving and this is amazing coverage for this land to show
Messianic believers in a good light.

Isreali News Report

Dr. GEORGE’s REPLY
The first family on the video is the Ronen Family at the Finnish Christian Kibbutz Yad HaShmona. If you remembered that Hal Ronning’s Israeli name is Johanan Ronen, then that identifies the head of the family as his son. Daniel Ronen (Hal’s son is veterinarian) is the father of the family that is shown observing the Shabbat Dinner. Note that he identifies himself as a “Messianic Jew” and not a “Christian.” He also appears later in the video as well, since he is one of the heads of the Messianic Jewish Kibbutz. Regards, George.

Here’s the full link –
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6244392868781886952

Photo Gallery - HOTM 2007

C'mon by and see my collection of photos.

PHOTO GALLERY

Ken

Easter Sunday at Home

It was a different Easter Sunday for those of us who traveled together to Israel and Italy this year. We stood in St. Peter's Square just before Palm Sunday. Just a week, later, well, take a look.

None of us will forget leaving the open square in the Old City (Jerusalem). We wandered back into the open space just outside the contested place of the crucifixion: the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. It's an ancient basilica, a patchwork of spaces and symbols and domes and archways and mosaics, all attempting to portray for the pilgrim some sense of what happened here. There are steps to simulate the climb to Golgatha, and a supposed slot which served as a stand for the cross upon which Jesus died. It's an eerie mixture of fact and fiction, spirituality and mystery, with an oppressive air of dark suffering.

Just as we made our exit back onto the narrow alleyways of Old Jerusalem, our guide, Hal, from under his broad rimmed hat, kept in place by a knotted lanyard, shouted from the rail – “He is not here! He is risen!”

It’s a fitting memory for us believers on this Easter weekend.

We stood in St. Peter’s Square barely a week ago. This weekend, that same space was filled to capacity with tens of thousands of folks drawn there by some sort of spiritual longing. Are they looking in the right place?

I’ve posted some photos. It’s a beginning. There will be more. Stay tuned.

Jerusalem Photos (196) Bethlehem Photos (52)
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We're Homeward Bound!

Here's our last group shot... in Florence.

FROM: London
We've arrived in London... and we are about to board our final 11 flight to LAX. We've said good-by to those who are on their way to other destinations.

We should be on time... 2:55 PM, LAX British Air.

Vatican City

Here's a group shot from Vatican City. St. Peter's is behind us. The Swiss Guards stand at attention. More text to come. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Roma!

Roma!

Today, we toured the magnificent remains of the nearly two thousand year old Coliseum. There’s a surprising (for us, anyway) link to our Jerusalem visit. When Vespasian launched the construction of the mammoth arena, it was in celebration of the suppression of the Jewish revolt. Roman soldiers transported slaves and booty from the spoils of a destroyed Jerusalem and surrounding cities. The remnants were used to build the mighty stadium. Perhaps some of the stones from the Temple in Jerusalem now support the ruins of the Coliseum… a cruel irony.

This is but one of the many discoveries jumping off the pages of history as we tour the city of Rome. We got our first look at a Michelangelo original – Moses in the Chapel of St. Peter’s Chains. Later, we wandered deep below ground level to observe ancient Christian gravesites in the Catacombs.

We’re still waiting for the delivery of two lost pieces of luggage. An annoyance for sure; but it hasn’t dampened our spirits. Scott and Terri Last have joined us, as have Steve and Lana Giacumakis. Both couples are adding a lot to our group; joining right in.

Tomorrow – Vatican City. It’s Palm Sunday week – pilgrims are pouring into the city.

Thanks for keeping up. More to come.