Posted on 01/02/2015 1:35:50 PM PST by Jan_Sobieski
Sitting in front of the family Christmas tree dressed in military fatigues, Amir Shalayan seemed in no doubt about his identity. “When you go back back in religion, I consider myself a real Jew,” he said, unabashed by the non-Jewish festive decorations in his living room. “Jesus was Jewish and he was observing the Shabbat (Jewish sabbath).”
Mr Shalayan is in fact an Arab Christian, a category he refers to as “Aramean”, but his strong identification with the Jewish faith is offered as explanation for his keen army service. It also accounts for his vocal support of legislation that envisages officially declaring Israel a Jewish state - despite the presence within its borders of around 1.7 million Arabs, including 161,000 Christians, more than 20 per cent of the population...
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
He reiterated the facts of life, that is, that Jews, Muslims and Christians work together in Israel because they have to in order to survive and thrive.
We saw examples of that throughout the tour.
http://www.footprintsofgodpilgrimages.com/
Steve Ray was an Evangelical Baptist minister who thought that all Catholics were going to hell. Being a good man, he didn't want that. So, he and his wife spent a year reading about Catholicism so as to more easily convert the Catholics.
The end result was that HE (and Janet) converted to Catholicism and eventually Steve Ray wrote a book: CROSSING THE TIBER.
My old Texas friend, a Presbyterian, and I went on one of those pilgrimages. It was the most wonderful tour. Steve and his wife, Janet, were wonderful and said nothing but good things about their Protestant roots.
I actually got to place my rosary on Jesus' tomb for a few moments.
The Romans TOOK DOWN the hill of Calvary, as too many pilgrims were always there. So, there is no "Mount Calvary" any more, but the tomb of Jesus' is still there, as it was VERY close to Mount Calvary.
I also got to stand at the edge of Mt. Tabor, the site of Jesus' Transfiguration.
Every Christian ought to try to save his pennies and go on a tour of the Holy Land.
Our tour was in 2011.
Because they are better off living under Israeli law than Sharia law.
I was in my local Arab bakery and saw the Arab Christian owner meeting with his Orthodox Jewish bookkeeper.
If I am a Jew I can pray in Jerusalem at my Synagogue.
If I am a Christian I can pray in Jerusalem at my church.
If I am Muslim I can pray at my Mosque in Jerusalem.
If I am Christian, Jewish, Buddhists etc. there is no place of worship in Mecca nor any place of worship in most of the Middle East.
Any questions?
For later.
Here is a website about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which has 4 videos of its history:
http://www.holysepulchre.custodia.org/default.asp?id=4553
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