Rob Ketterling

ENEMY CAMP

I just got an invite to go into the Enemy Camp this Monday night. (And no, I don't mean West Point like Chris Matthews stated.) I'm going to Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packer's game and guess what?! I'm going to cheer for them! (OK, maybe not the entire team, just the QB Aaron Rodgers because he's on my fantasy football team!) It's always been a dream to see a game at Lambeau Field and now I get to make it happen. Any suggestions and must sees? How about advice if I should drive all the way home Monday night to Minnesota or stop and sleep at a good place? Looking for any help to make the trip into the enemy camp good!

WHAT VERSION OF THE BIBLE?

As I take the time to read my Bible I love to read it in various translations and I'm thankful that it's not just the King James that I get to read. Now I know that there are some people that love the King James and feel like it's the only approved and authorized version but it's also just a translation. If one wants to defend a certain Bible translation as the only one to use, I think they need to go all the way back to the original Greek and Hebrew (and some Aramaic) if they're going to be so strong about it. But since most of us don't read those languages I'm glad that we have wonderful translations available for us to read and study from.

When I'm studying, I like to read from the New American Standard Bible (Old Testament) and New International Version (New Testament) and also the New King James. I use the King James when I use different commentaries and tools that link up to the King James Bible only. In addition to that, I'll search multiple translations once I find the text I'm using in church and look to see if it reads easier or has a slightly different wording that matches what I'm trying to say. That's why sometimes I'll use the Contemporary English Version, New Living and New Century Version as well as the others I've mentioned.

When I'm reading, for devotional purposes (Yes, I do read just for devotional purposes because before I'm a pastor, I'm a follower of Jesus and I need to just read, pray and love God.) I like to read contemporary versions. I really like the Message version and also the CEV and I have one pocket Bible that's the Holman translation that I use. One year I used the J B Phillips translation for the New Testament and it felt like I was reading the newspaper. I liked it as a change up to my normal translation.

As a pastor, I'm not that concerned if people want to read or use any number of translations, my real concern is that you're reading the Bible. I really believe that most people don't read it enough and I would encourage you to get a regular reading program to take time to get into God's word. Our SOAP program has been great and we will do it again in 2010. We will read a chapter a day and we will do many different chapters than we're doing in 2009 so get ready for SOAP 2010 and if you want to change it up some more, use a different translation as well.

STILL BUZZING AFTER ISRAEL

I'm just reflecting on the trip and everywhere I go today people keep asking me about it. I feel like a broken record but it was all I was hoping for and more. I can't wait to go back and I'd love it if I could take the entire church with me and teach at all of the locations. It would be unbelievable to pull up to the Jordan River and have a baptismal service with 2000+ people watching! Maybe  someday, but until then, I'll have to do it every once in a while with a group of 30-80 at a time!

Just curious, is there somewhere else that I should go that I've missed for all of these years? Is there a life changing tour of Rome, Turkey, Greece that could come close and I'm missing out? It just got me to thinking about other places and experiences that are out there that are the best kept secrets. If they're out there, let me know, I'm interested!

BACK FROM ISRAEL

I'm sitting on my couch watching the Vikings game and it's hard to believe that we were just in Israel at 11:00 last night! It's good to be back but it was an amazing life changing trip!

Our last day was spent going out to the lowlands where Sampson was born and was raised and then to the Valley of Elah. In Elah it was a blast to see the place that David killed the giant Goliath. I went down to the brook where David grabbed 5 smooth stones and got some as a souvenir of my own. (I think I got four original stones, the only one missing is the one that killed Goliath!) As a kid this story was one of my favorites and to actually be at the place it happened was every boys dream!

I can't encourage you enough to start planning to make it to Israel someday with RVC. The cost will be as inexpensive as you're going to find anywhere and the experience will be priceless. If you're old, it will be a dream come true and if you're young, it will be something that will help you with your Bible reading and faith for your entire life. I just got back and I can hardly wait until next time!

FROM BIRTH TO RESURRECTION

It was a day that went from the birth to the resurrection of Jesus all within 9 hours! From Bethlehem to Golgotha and back to the hotel with a little more stuffed in the middle. Other than the point that the events happened "on or around" these sites and maybe not exactly at these locations, it was amazing!

We posed for a picture in Bethlehem at the location celebrated as the birthplace of Jesus. We sang three Christmas Carols in the cave and one of the girls on our team (Maria) said, "This makes this the best Christmas ever!" I would have to say that it's going to be hard to top that!

The day ended at the Garden Tomb where we ended our time with a visit to a probable site of Jesus' tomb and celebrated communion together. It was a great way to end our day and wrap up our time in Jerusalem.

Tomorrow we're going to the Valley of Elah, the location of the battle where David killed Goliath with a stone and a sling shot! (I'm going to grab 5 stones from there but I'm sure it will be OK, Israel has enough rocks for everyone in the world!) After the valley, it's one last time to shop (It's the sabbath so we will go to the Muslim quarter.) and then it's time to head home. Man this trip has felt like a month long trip, but in a good way!

ANOTHER GREAT DAY

We were able to se so much in Israel today and to learn so much about the history of Israel as well. I would have to say that today was full of surprises so I'll share a few of them with you.

First of all, I was surprised to see the Western Wall and realize it's really only a small portion of the Temple foundation. I was also surprised at the length of the tunnels that run along the Temple foundation and the fact that no where in the Temple area are jews allowed to worship in their own country. It also was a surprise to hear the call to prayer by the Muslim's all throughout the day. You just don't think of that when you think of seeing such a significant place in the history of the Jews and Christianity.

There was a huge surprise as we walked the Via Dolorosa and saw that it is filled with merchants and not a tranquil walk where one can reflect on the walk of Jesus. It was crazy loud and full of shops. It was a day of surprises but not all of them were less than expected types. We also were surprised by the size of the pool of Bethesda and we stopped and prayed for healing of all of those in our church and families that need a touch from God. Our last surprise was the acoustics in St. Anne's Church. I led the team in three songs of praise and worship and when I turned around there were other groups worshiping with us. It was a great day to learn so much more about Jesus!

IT'S A DAY OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day as a country and no matter where you are (I'm in Israel, not sure if there will be turkey for me!) or what you're doing, please be sure to stop and give thanks to God for His blessings. That's what this day is all about and it's something we as followers of Jesus and as Americans need to keep strong as we continue as a nation.

I say that because I am concerned about Thanksgiving becoming nothing more than a secular Holiday in which thanking God gets left out. Simply look at the difference in one year of our President's proclamation of this day. (Even check out Lincoln's speech and realize it was way more about God than it was about unity or us as people!)This day isn't about us being great, it's about God being great, Him being kind to us and full of blessings.

That's why we're stopping today, to thank God for His blessings and to celebrate what He has blessed us with. It's not how great we are as a people, but how great He is as our God. I know there are many that will say we are a mixed country of many religions and even those with no religion, but don't worry, they will enjoy the free day off and perhaps even ask questions as to why we celebrate this day. We're not making it up and trying to trick people into a religious holiday of Thanking God, that's what it is! So celebrate it, say a prayer at dinner, take a moment to thank God and don't be embarrassed by it, it's a day set aside to Give thanks to God for His blessings on our lives and Country. Becca and I are so thankful to God and today we will say a prayer of thanks to God from the country where our faith actually started and after that, we'll try and find some turkey! Happy Thanksgiving!

WALKING ON WATER (NOT REALLY)

Here's what I was talking about when I blogged about walking on the water.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. (Closed circuit to Connor and Logan, have fun with Grandma cooking Thanksgiving dinner and eat some for mom and I. Glad she could stay with you while we're gone.)

DAYS 3 AND 4

Sorry, we had no Internet the last two days so here's a quick post before bed. In the last two days we've walked on the water at the Sea of Galilee, (OK, we stood on a pipe, but it looks like we're walking on it!) we baptized people in the Jordan River, saw where Jesus fed the 5,000, called the disciples, taught in the synagogue and saw the cliffs where the pigs died when demons came out of the man at the Sea of Galilee. We've also floated in the Dead Sea, (Way cooler than I thought it would be.) saw Beth Shean, Masada, Qumran (Where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.) and hiked at Ein Gedi where David cut off part of King Saul's robe. It's been jam packed and full of so many high lites, where do you begin!?

I'd have to say that the biggest high lites have been reading the Bible in the spot where the event happened. Tonight, on our way into Jerusalem we read the story of the Good Samaritan while traveling on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. That was so cool and so much better than any other time I've heard the story.

ISRAEL DAY 2

Once again, if you don't want to follow my "On the first day in Israel" blog, please feel free to skip this and we'll see you next week! If you want to hear what's going on as I lead this team, here comes day two! 

I started with devotions by the Sea of Galilee (I couldn't believe it! Praying before sunrise where Jesus prayed. Hearing roosters crowing, sun coming up over the mountains. It was amazing!) after that we went to Mt of Beatitudes and said the Lord's Prayer together. Following that we went to Dan Nature Reserve and saw where Jeroboam set up a false altar for worship leading the 10 tribes astray. We also walked over to the gates of the city that Abraham likely saw when he rescued his nephew Lot. 

We weren't even close to finished as we went to Caesarea Philippi where Peter had the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God. When I read it to the team I couldn't keep from crying because it was so moving to realize where we were. After that, we went to the Golan Heights where Israel is looking over Syria and trying to keep the peace. This area has been a area of huge conflict.

We finished up by seeing a boat from the time of Jesus that was found when there was a drought in the Sea of Galilee in 1985. It was so cool to see something from that tie frame. Perhaps, and let me say it again, perhaps Jesus was in it. That's just too cool!

So as you can see, it's an amazing time! Next time I come here, (And I will come here again!) join me, t will be life changing! (Pictures are of the false altar excavation, the gates in Abraham's time and the boat that's 2000 years old.)