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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    Perspectives: Journey through the Holy Land

    Journey through the Holy Land: Time to get out of the boat

    March 5, 2018 / By Ben Webb / 2 Comments

    I remember counting down the days until the Holy Land trip. As the departure date approached, I became more and more excited for what was in store. The trip came at the perfect time in my faith journey. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. Getting to see the birthplace of Jesus, the Sea of Galilee, and the Stations of the Cross was incredibly powerful.

    The biggest takeaway from this trip was the personal spiritual challenge I felt from being in the places Jesus had been. As the youngest person on the trip, I greatly benefited from being able to talk to people older and wiser than I am. Experiencing the trip with my parents, old friends, and new friends made this a trip of a lifetime.

    I found my faith being challenged more and more as the days passed. My favorite moment was the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Looking around the large body of water, imagining all the ministry that Jesus did on its shores, recalling how Jesus calmed the storm with a few words and walked on the surface of those waters - what a surreal experience!

    The account of Peter taking his eyes off Jesus as he was called to walk on the water to Jesus really spoke to me. The devotional message for that day emphasized that even though Peter failed and took his eyes off Jesus, at least he had the courage to get out of the boat. This moment made me realize that it was time for me to change and to truly fix my eyes on Jesus. This trip will forever impact me. It’s time for me to get out of the boat! I strongly encourage everyone to take a trip to the Holy Lands at some point in their lives if they are able.

    Comments 2

    I agree...ones life is not the same after walking in the same places Christ walked. A trip one cannot forget...I have the privilege of having friends living in Tel Avi ....it is time to get out of the boat

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 5, 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Good words. Proud to call you my new, younger friend.

    .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 5, 2018 at 9:29 pm
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    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."