Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Preparation

We are now only two days away from departing on our Carolingian & Crusader Tour.

These are always the busiest days at work as I try to to get two weeks ahead on everything at work so I can truly relax on the trip and not be distracted by what needs to get done at work.

I’ve written here before about how I pack for study tours like this one. I plan to do the same this time.

I don’t expect language to be a problem. The wife speaks French fluently and I’ve learned how to say in French, “I’m very sorry but I don’t speak French” and “Do you speak Spanish?” (my second language). At least if I offend the French by not speaking their language they will curse the Spanish rather than Americans. It’s my contribution to the struggle to eliminate the caricature of “the ugly American.” Continue reading “Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Preparation”

Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Reading List

On August 23, 2012, we start our Carolingian & Crusader Tour of Europe.

As with our other travels, I’ve developed a reading list to help us prepare for the trip and enhance the experience.

The books below are listed in the order I recommend you read them if you are new to the subjects–not that I expect you will actually read all of them, but if at the end of this journey you are more interested in these subjects, you will have a place to start.

Also, if you are interested in how others have interpreted the manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth in their eras, Charlemagne and the First Crusade are fascinating studies. Continue reading “Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Reading List”

Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Introduction

The GSB 2012 summer travel journal theme has been decided and the destination set.

The time period is 750 A.D. through 1100 A.D. (The Carolingian Renaissance through the First Crusade).

The place is the former Carolingian Empire (France, Germany, Belgium).

The people are Charlemagne & Godfrey de Bouillon (and others).

If you live in the West, Charlemagne is the reason you are not saying “Allahu Akbar” today. Charlemagne unified what is today Europe and facilitated the spread of Christianity there when Europe was threatened by an imperialistic Islam. His rule also spawned the Carolingian Renaissance. Continue reading “Carolingian & Crusader Travel Journal: Introduction”

Israel Tour Journal: Epilogue

View from Yad Hashmona

We are back home.

The trip home was considerably longer, nearly 18 hours of flying.

To pass the time, I watched four movies. One about a dysfunctional man who became very powerful (J. Edgar), another a comedy about revenge for a broken promise (Oceans 13), a third about a man trying to find contentment within a dysfunctional family (Fireflies in the Garden) and the fourth about a girl and her family seduced by a man who a appeals to their worst desires (An Education).

Watching theses movies was a sort of culture shock, like getting into a cold shower after a hard workout. While in Israel we watched almost no television. There was no time. Each morning I awoke early, read the Bible, met the others for breakfast, after which we left immediately to tour to study the people and places of the Bible. When we returned in the evening, we met for dinner and to discuss what we had learned that day, after which I blogged and went to bed. The world seemed far away. Continue reading “Israel Tour Journal: Epilogue”

Israel Tour Journal: Day 9

The Valley of Elah

Today was our last day touring.

At the Road to Emmaus we learned how the travelers on the road with Jesus finally recognized Him.

At Zorah, west of Jerusalem, where Sampson lived and fought with the Philistines, we learned what parenting mistakes bred rebellion in Sampson and why he is not a Biblical character we should look to as a role model.

At lunch we learned why you should not put olive oil on schwarma when it is wrapped in a tortilla. We learned this by experience with no help from Arie. The manager was nice enough to offer to clean up the table.

At the Valley of Elah we learned about leadership by understanding the topography and dynamics of the battle in which David killed Goliath. We learned this from a mountain overlooking the battlefield. Continue reading “Israel Tour Journal: Day 9”