Browsing Tag

Israel ’22

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Israel! The Colleys are so excited!

I am so very excited about next November and our Digging Deep trip to Israel! This has been on our radar for quite some time and we are very thankful that it seems to be working out so that we can go with little or no post-pandemic difficulty. There are no vaccination requirements in place now and many testing requirements seem likely to be loosened as well by the time we go. I hope some of you diggers are thinking of going. We will be broadcasting a podcast live from a spot TBD in Israel. We will also be having women’s sessions all along the journey.

Most of you sisters who have committed are very determined to go and are less worried than your husbands about any potential political unrest. I’ve been surprised that it’s mostly the husbands who are concerned about the unrest in Ukraine and other parts of the world as they think about traveling. We will give them a pass and say that’s because they are our protectors.

I do want to share with you today this letter from our group director, John Moore. Written to Glenn, my husband, it’s very reassuring. I can’t say enough good things about the sharp mind and excellent communication skills of John Moore when it comes to dispensing information about the sites we will see and their Biblical significance. This tour is 100 times better than any tour you will take with those who are not members of the church. Our unified fellowship brings an incomparable joy to our travels. It will change your life to be at these sites with fellow-Christians and to worship our God there.

Here’s the letter from John:

Hi Glenn. We are very excited as well.  Because of the pandemic its been two years since we were last there. Hope you and Cindy are well. 

In regard to your question here are some thoughts: 

Are there potential problems/risk? Yes, but that exists every where in the world. There are inherent dangers in sending your children to schools in the US – We’ve had mass shootings at our schools, churches, grocery stores, etc. but we keep on living and try to be vigilant both here in the US and abroad. 

 

Literally millions of tourists go to Israel every year without incident. It is a major destination for tourists from all over the world. 

I would not take my wife to some place that was prone to violence or danger. Does danger exist? Yes, but we have always been treated with respect, and felt safe and secure.  I cannot guarantee that nothing will happen, but neither can I in our own country. 

 

Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with two of its Arab neighbors, Egypt and Jordan, after signing peace treaties in 1979 and 1994 respectively. In 2020, Israel signed agreements establishing diplomatic relations with four Arab League countries, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Morocco.

 

Tension does at times exist between Jews and Arabs but I know of no threats about individuals targeting US citizens in Israel.

 

We are aware that news coverage about the Middle East is sometimes portrayed as a dangerous and unsafe place to live or visit. Such news coverage seldom matches the scene that is witnessed on a daily basis in Israel. Israel is a modern country and highly advanced with excellent security.  Nevertheless, we are aware as in our own country for the potential of areas that are prone to violence or crime. Thus we actively pay attention to the political situation and will rearrange field studies so as to avoid any potentially hazardous area. It is true that the US Embassy frequently issues advisories for US citizens to avoid the public places and bus stops. However, these advisories are typically issued for legal liability reasons as much as, if not more than, for safety reasons. The embassy takes a most cautious stance in order to protect itself from legal action, so that its advisories frequently have little bearing on the true safety of travelers. 

Almost everyone who returns from our trips remarks, “I never once felt unsafe.” Each time we have traveled within Israel, including the two months Carla and I lived there during the summer of 2017, we have been very impressed with the level of security and safety. We’ve traveled with groups before during a time when the United States had issued a travel warning, and we witnessed no issues whatsoever. Tourism is a huge industry in Israel for all Israeli citizens (both Arab and Jew) and for both Palestinians and Jews living in the West Bank and as a result we have always been treated with kindness and respect.

We are highly confident in the Israeli government’s stance on security and concern for its citizens and visitors. If any protests or incidents happen to arise within the country, our guide will be alerted.   Just as in the United States, of course we could not say we would never encounter some sort of incident, but I can say that we have the utmost confidence in the company organizing all of the logistics for the tour.  Lindy Lazarow, who arranges our transportation, lodging, and guides, has been organizing tours in Israel for over 30 years.  Safety and health has always been top priority with her, as with us. Our Israeli guides and bus drivers are knowledgeable and experienced group leaders, and are fully aware each day of any possible issues or concerns.

Hope this helps.  

God bless, 

John 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Digging Deep Reaches 9K!

Congratulations to Allison Gray who, a little earlier this week became the 9000th member of Digging Deep! This is way beyond amazing to me. Eleven years ago, when we started with 12 members and providentially left the flood gate open, who would have thought? God’s way are higher than ours and His thoughts are beyond our mental capacities (Is. 55:8,9). He is simply glorious. He has given us every member, every study guide, every new Christian’s baptism, every podcast, every avenue of information. He is the Giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). Will you praise the Giver with me today?

With a little stalking, I think Allison may be from Memphis, TN. She was invited by her friend Lori (but there are 41 Loris in Digging Deep) Allison, in answering membership preliminary questions, says she loves to worship anywhere. I like that. I do, too. If you know Allison, welcome her! Tell her to private message me her address and I will send out her prize package, including the current study guide. Here’s what she will get (The value of the package is $60.00):

Speaking of the current study guide, I hope you are digging into the study of the Spirit this month already. It’s rich and has always been a helpful study to me in “handling aright the word of truth.” It’s a month that will bless years of future study, if God gives them to you.

(Within the next few days, we will be making a final decision about Israel in October/November of this year. If you have registered, let me know privately if you would prefer going ahead with our fall plans for 2022, even with all the vaccine-or-quarantine requirements or if you want to reschedule the DD trip for 2023 when it’s very likely that the requirements will be much relaxed and you can go without a vaccine or quarantine. Your input is appreciated if you are registered.)

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

John Robert is an Early Bloomer! (and other pertinent stuff)

The travel to Indianapolis to speak to ladies this weekend was a gift. God’s good like that. Sometimes the blessings at home are large, but become obscured by my weak human mind in the midst of everyday life’s stresses or the common discouragements that we all face at times. I got to go with my favorite person on the planet to a place where the high today (Saturday) was 71 degrees. (Sorry for your heat advisory this weekend, Huntsville people.) I’ve never seen a congregation that knows how to do hospitality better than those friends at Shelbyville Road. Even as we hurried off to the airport, Mrs. Lois handed us Chick-Fila cards for our lunch-on-the-run. That big bag of hotel goodies and snacks was something else, too. I loved it, but I cannot eat chocolates at 4 pm and almonds at midnight every day, for sure! Family in Him is always far better to us than we deserve! We are constantly indebted to many for much. 

Some have been asking about the prices for the Digging Deep materials/swag that will be introduced at PTP Spark on August 23rd. Some of you have told me you’re planning to take home enough to share with all the sisters in your congregation. We have none of it in hand yet, but all has been ordered and promised by Spark-ignition on August 22nd. 

Here’s what we will have this year:

Study books ( deluxe spiral bound): $17.50 each

Bundle of six or more study books: $16.50 each

Study books (downloadable, printable): free of charge

T-shirts (Comfort Colors): $18.50

Long-sleeved hoodies (sweat shirt type): $29.00

Book and T-shirt bundle: $34.00

I hope this is helpful. 

Speaking of PTP Spark…We will close the registration on August 14th. (www.polishingthepulpit.com/spark). We’ve had a great response and have already changed our Sunday potluck to an express bagged take-away lunch because of the bulging crowd. That’s a great problem to have! Our kids’ classes are filling quickly and the excitement in our diggers is perhaps at an all-time high. We hope you can come! Our outside speakers are exceptional (and so are Lisa, Lindsey, Emily, Carol, Holly and Glenn Holmes! =) We have even named one of Spark’s guest speakers after the event, itself…Celine Sparks! Come on! Bring a saucer, because your cup will overflow! Don’t forget to email Shannon and Sophia Bond (shanmb585@gmail.com) if you want to make a cute plaid pumpkin (pictured here) while you enjoy fellowship with other Pumpkin artisans. 

One more of the most amazing things I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. John Robert Moon, at five days old attended all sessions of our marriage seminar this weekend and he lives a couple of hours from Indianapolis where the seminar occurred! (Talk about planning ahead! He should be all ready by the time he’s choosing a spouse!) He attended worship last Sunday morning in-utero while his mom was beginning labor for his delivery and he has already attended one additional gospel meeting in the middle of this week since his delivery. Okay! I simply stand amazed! I got to hold him for a few minutes, play with those little still-blue-ish toes and search for an escape route to sneak him away with me! Alas, I did come home without him. I love cuddling blessings so fresh from God!

Israel is still on for November of 2022. Diggers only may register for that trip during the remaining months of 2021. (https://thecolleyhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2022-Digging-Deep-Bible-Land-Passages-Tour-Brochure-Israel-and-Rome.pdf)… Dates are kind of confusing perhaps on this link, but the trip is an AUTUMN trip.)  Then we will open that up to all Christians. It’s an amazing trip. I mean, it’s the best I’ve ever heard of in Israel…and ROME, this time! Imagine Israel without denominational or Catholic trappings…just worshipping and learning with fellow Christians! Blessings on all your plans for Him! In all your plans acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Israel ’22!

On the Sea of Galilee with Kate. It was a memorable trip, to say the least,  for these sisters.

The Digging Deep Israel/Rome trip is being planned as we speak. I’m excited to tell you that, Lord willing, the travel will occur during the first two weeks of November of 2022. This should be a more pleasant time of year for temperatures than our last unseasonably hot trip in May of 2019. We will likely be leaving from Nashville, Tennessee and then have ten days in the Bible lands. I’m very excited to spend a bit of our time in Rome, Italy to see the city of Paul’s imprisonment, later evangelism and subsequent death for Christ. We will get to see some of the amazing places where our Lord walked and worked in Judea. The latter may be the part about which I am most excited because the first trip in 2019 just made my cup (for appreciation of Israel) larger than it was before ever going there at all. There are so many sites I want to see again and view with more discerning and introspective eyes. I am very thankful we did not plan this trip for 2021 (as we initially had thought about doing). I trust and pray that by the end of 2022, we will think about Covid as a somewhat distant memory. God is a great provider!

Ruins of Chorazin, where our Lord did many “mighty works”…

The cost of the trip, though not completely finalized, as it is too early to book flights, will be likely be approximately $5000.00 per person. Digging Deep participants (of any years, past or present) and spouses will be the first to be able to sign up for the trip at any point during the year 2021. You will reserve your spot by paying a deposit to Bible Land passages (more details soon). Then, in January of 2022, the trip will opened up to those Christians who are not Digging Deep participants. So be thinking and talking at your dinner table and making your plans. We will, once again, be having Digging Deep studies for women in many very relevant geographical  spots and there will be times of worship for the entire group.

Bus bonding!

I cannot tell you how vast the chasm is between taking this trip with non-Christians and experiencing it with the Lord’s people. I do not ever want to make this pilgrimage with people who do not love and live the Word. Our fellowship, in 2019, was close, warm and wonderful. Our singing was beautiful and the prayers were fervent. None of us will ever be quite the same after being together for ten memorable days. We had Christians from all areas of the US, and  from New Zealand and Australia. I know this trip will not be an exact replication, but the Lord’s people will make it a little foyer of heaven, itself. I can’t wait!

Between now and then, I’ll be writing more little verbal glimpses of some of the spots we’ll see in this blog. You may want to visit http://biblelandpassages.org, as well. Many thanks to John and Carla Moore for their enthusiasm about our return trip and their patience with our group as we try to plan travel in an uncertain and chaotic time. We are so blessed.

4000-year-old “Abraham’s Gate”… I could not believe I was looking at a place where he walked when he went to rescue Lot!

Be praying. Be planning. Be saving. Be prepared for a trip that impacts your faith and future for Him!