Holy Land Tour 2015

It's official! Joyce and I are  hosting a Holy Land Tour in 2015. This is a shout-out to those who have traveled with us in the past and to those who have always wanted to go, but until now haven't done so.

The dates for the tour are June 8-17 and it will be with Maranatha Tours Inc. The total price per person from Chicago is $4,141. This includes round trip airfare, land transportation, tips, and breakfasts and dinners. Lunches are not included.

For previous travelers to Israel on our Maranatha Tours, we have made a few tweaks in the itinerary. The new sites include Magadala, the hometown of Mary Magadalene, just recently opened to the public. Joyce and I got a sneak preview this past March. It is a wonderful place with remains of a synagogue and homes from the time of Jesus. A beautiful new chapel looking out over the lake provides a peaceful setting to contemplate and worship. We will also visit Bethsaida, the birthplace of Andrew, Peter, and Philip and the scene of several miracles performed by Jesus. Another added attraction is Kursi (Gergesa), which is probably the site of the exorcism of the demoniac and the drowning of the pigs. If time permits, we also plan to go up to the cliffs of Arbel and take in the marvelous panorama of the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights, and Mount Hermon. In Jerusalem, we have added the Wohl Museum and the Burnt House in order to provide a striking visual impression of the luxurious priestly quarter in the time of Jesus and a much more likely location for the home of Caiaphas the High Priest who condemned Jesus to death.

We realize that a big concern right now is safety. Rest assured, we won't make the trip if the situation continues as it is. There is, however, a very good likelihood that the situation will be favorable for a trip by the time our tour is scheduled. As always, we adhere to US State Department guidelines in this regard. For now, let's all follow the exhortation of the Psalmist and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

The Jewish Passover Seder always ends with this traditional prayer: "Next year in Jerusalem." Hope to see you there!
 

New Book on Revelation

Dear Friends,

I'm pleased to announce that within 30 days, my new book will be published!

This book, called The Good News of Revelation, is co-written with a former student of mine, Ed Cyzewski. We have tried a fresh, innovative approach to this oft-neglected and oft-abused book. In just over 100 pages, we seek to present the primary message and leading themes of the book. Our conviction is that John had a pastoral purpose in writing and the essential message is as relevant today as it was then, namely, to encourage Christians to be faithful to the Lord Jesus even to the point of death. For all who persevere and overcome, the Risen Lord promises a reward beyond imagination.

Ed introduces each of our five main sections with a fictional story that takes the reader into the world of early Christians who were seeking to be faithful to the Lord Jesus in the midst of hardship and persecution. How did John receive this extraordinary message, how was it passed along to other believers and how did they respond to the good news? These are some of the issues that Ed creatively brings to life.

My task is to provide an exposition of Revelation that takes into account its historical setting and its theological significance both then and now. Readers will note that Ed and I take a quite different tack from the popular Left Behind books in which the details of Revelation are correlated with current events and culture. The Good News of Revelation takes seriously the first century setting of the message and the indebtedness of John to his Jewish heritage and the Greco-Roman culture in which he lived. The upshot is a more nuanced interpretation that respects the integrity of the book itself. We think the result is a satisfying and edifying read. Hope you will agree!

Attached below are the front and back covers.