The band had to be there at 4:30 am!
The sunrise. The gray line under the pink sunrise marks the mountains of Jordan.
My friend Brit took a video of us singing "Shine, Jesus Shine". Click HERE to see it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Easter Sunrise Service
Living in Jerusalem, I have become part of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer's English speaking congregation. Every year, we have a sunrise service on Easter morning on the Mount of Olives, so that we can see the sunrise over the Judean Desert. This year we could see the Dead Sea and the mountains of Jordan in the distance. Here are a few photos of the day. All photos are courtesy of my friend Amber. Please check out her website: Amber Sue Photography. She's from Worthington and currently lives in the Twin Cities, so any of you Minnesotans needing a photographer, check her out! She also sells her photos from Jerusalem on Etsy: Amber Sue Photography on Etsy
The band had to be there at 4:30 am!
The sunrise. The gray line under the pink sunrise marks the mountains of Jordan.
My friend Brit took a video of us singing "Shine, Jesus Shine". Click HERE to see it.
The band had to be there at 4:30 am!
The sunrise. The gray line under the pink sunrise marks the mountains of Jordan.
My friend Brit took a video of us singing "Shine, Jesus Shine". Click HERE to see it.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Freedom from Oppression for ALL on Passover and Easter
Recently, my sister attended a lecture on genocide in Rwanda and wrote these words on her facebook: "What makes us decide that one human is more human than another? Arent we all the same? Are we not equal?" I am reminded of these words as we enter the Passover holiday and soon Easter in Jerusalem.
Passover is the celebration of when the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt. It is a story of God's liberation. This story has been used in many quests for Freedom, such as freedom from Apartheid in South Africa and Civil Rights in the United States. In this country, especially for the Palestinians, it is hard to use this story as an expression of their hope for freedom, because it is this very story that is often used against them.
As a Christian, I do not read the story of Moses and the freedom of Jews from slavery as a story with a message only for the Jewish people. I read it as a story with God's universal message of hope and freedom for all the humans he has created on earth. I see all humans as equal and all deserving of freedom from oppression.
At the very time of Passover, a celebration of Freedom and liberation, the oppression of the Palestinian people continues and worsens. The Israeli government has announced closures of the West Bank and Gaza. They have also committed to increasing security around the Old City of Jerusalem. All these measures, lessen the freedom of the Palestinians. Those with permits from the West Bank and Gaza to celebrate Easter, may not be able to come to Jerusalem and celebrate. Even Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem, face restrictions of their freedom of worship, as the increased security within Jerusalem could affect their ability to get to church.
"What makes us decide that one human is more human than another?" I ask, "What makes a government (and the world who supports this government) decide which humans deserve more freedom?" As we reflect on the story of Moses and the Israelites, I hope and pray that we desire and work towards freedom for all people, so that one people's freedom of worship does not become more important than another's. As we reflect on Easter, I hope and pray that we begin to live in the footsteps of Jesus who said:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
For more on the issue of holiday closures for the Palestinians read:
Military Closure for West Bank on Passover
PA: Jewish freedom holiday restricts Palestinians
(Image depicting Palestinians going to Jerusalem through military checkpoints by Zaki baboun, a local Bethlehem artist)
Passover is the celebration of when the Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt. It is a story of God's liberation. This story has been used in many quests for Freedom, such as freedom from Apartheid in South Africa and Civil Rights in the United States. In this country, especially for the Palestinians, it is hard to use this story as an expression of their hope for freedom, because it is this very story that is often used against them.
As a Christian, I do not read the story of Moses and the freedom of Jews from slavery as a story with a message only for the Jewish people. I read it as a story with God's universal message of hope and freedom for all the humans he has created on earth. I see all humans as equal and all deserving of freedom from oppression.
At the very time of Passover, a celebration of Freedom and liberation, the oppression of the Palestinian people continues and worsens. The Israeli government has announced closures of the West Bank and Gaza. They have also committed to increasing security around the Old City of Jerusalem. All these measures, lessen the freedom of the Palestinians. Those with permits from the West Bank and Gaza to celebrate Easter, may not be able to come to Jerusalem and celebrate. Even Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem, face restrictions of their freedom of worship, as the increased security within Jerusalem could affect their ability to get to church.
"What makes us decide that one human is more human than another?" I ask, "What makes a government (and the world who supports this government) decide which humans deserve more freedom?" As we reflect on the story of Moses and the Israelites, I hope and pray that we desire and work towards freedom for all people, so that one people's freedom of worship does not become more important than another's. As we reflect on Easter, I hope and pray that we begin to live in the footsteps of Jesus who said:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." (Luke 4:18-19)
For more on the issue of holiday closures for the Palestinians read:
Military Closure for West Bank on Passover
PA: Jewish freedom holiday restricts Palestinians
(Image depicting Palestinians going to Jerusalem through military checkpoints by Zaki baboun, a local Bethlehem artist)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Reflections after a Long Hiatus
You all probably thought I fell off the face of the planet. Well, I'm happy to say that I haven't, I just got consumed with vacations and schoolwork and kept pushing off the blog thing.
I'll start out with a short reflection on what I've been thinking about the past few months.
When I came back to Jerusalem in September, I came back with what I would call a "balanced" perspective. I wanted to learn how to live here happily and see the good in both sides. I had idealistic ideas that if both sides simply talked to each other and there was peace education then peace would come easily. I do believe that both sides need to talk to each other and that the ever growing separation is only building fear and hostility on both sides. I am slowly coming to realize that this is simply not enough. I am not so sure if a "balanced" perspective, is a helpful perspective.
I am reminded of a quote by Desmond Tutu ( a similar sentiment is now painted on the separation wall) that goes as such: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
This quotation convicts me that I should not be neutral in my "balanced" perspective. It's ok to listen to both sides and even enjoy parts of the culture of both sides, but there are clear injustices in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is not balanced. It is clear when living here, that Israel is much strong than Palestine, and the daily injustices carried against Palestinians are clear. I am still filled with frustration, sadness, awe of the injustice, every time I cross the checkpoint, every time I think of families that were kicked out of their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, so that settlers could move in, every time I hear of children being harassed by settlers on their way to school, and every time I hear of an old man stabbed in his bed by soldiers in the middle of the night. These are the stories that don't make the big headlines. World news hears of bus bombings in Jerusalem and the escalation in Gaza and southern Israel, but rarely are the daily travesties of Palestinian life heard in the world news, yet these are the things that happen most often and are the most harrowing on a people and the spirit.
I will continue to listen and to learn, but I know that their is injustice in this place and I am continually convicted to not stand by as a mere neutral observer.
I'll start out with a short reflection on what I've been thinking about the past few months.
When I came back to Jerusalem in September, I came back with what I would call a "balanced" perspective. I wanted to learn how to live here happily and see the good in both sides. I had idealistic ideas that if both sides simply talked to each other and there was peace education then peace would come easily. I do believe that both sides need to talk to each other and that the ever growing separation is only building fear and hostility on both sides. I am slowly coming to realize that this is simply not enough. I am not so sure if a "balanced" perspective, is a helpful perspective.
I am reminded of a quote by Desmond Tutu ( a similar sentiment is now painted on the separation wall) that goes as such: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."
This quotation convicts me that I should not be neutral in my "balanced" perspective. It's ok to listen to both sides and even enjoy parts of the culture of both sides, but there are clear injustices in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict is not balanced. It is clear when living here, that Israel is much strong than Palestine, and the daily injustices carried against Palestinians are clear. I am still filled with frustration, sadness, awe of the injustice, every time I cross the checkpoint, every time I think of families that were kicked out of their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, so that settlers could move in, every time I hear of children being harassed by settlers on their way to school, and every time I hear of an old man stabbed in his bed by soldiers in the middle of the night. These are the stories that don't make the big headlines. World news hears of bus bombings in Jerusalem and the escalation in Gaza and southern Israel, but rarely are the daily travesties of Palestinian life heard in the world news, yet these are the things that happen most often and are the most harrowing on a people and the spirit.
I will continue to listen and to learn, but I know that their is injustice in this place and I am continually convicted to not stand by as a mere neutral observer.
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