Sidenotes by Anita

Friends,
You will note we are using many of the photographs we took on our various trips to Israel.  After 50 years in the ministry we discovered a whole new view of the Bible from the places we visited, the things we saw, the people (Jews) we talked to, and the whole overwhelming feeling of being in THE HOLY LAND where Jesus walked and lived.  We were invited to go with a friend and small group of 14 the first time, 27 the second time, and 30 our 3rd time. We did not visit just the tourist places in Israel, but many of the places that were special to the Jews.

We felt safe, for the most part, everywhere except upon the Temple Mount where the Muslim Dome of the Rock stands and guarded by their group. That was a place where the Spirit of God was not dwelling.

But Gary and I came back, after our first visit, completely changed in how we studied the Bible now.  The Bible was written, for the most part, by Jews, to the Jews.  Jesus was Jewish.  He lived and practiced the customs of the Jews (old testament and Torah). When you read the scriptures and ask yourself, "who is the writer, and who is he writing to?" then ask yourself, "what was the time period, who were the predominate people associated with the passage of scripture. Example: Was the Apostle Paul writing to Jews or Gentiles (anyone who is not a Jew)? Who were the ruling governments at the time, what were the Jews living through (persecution, famine, government overthrows, etc.)
What group of people influenced the culture at that time? Greeks, Romans, etc.?

When you consider ALL the background surrounding a passage in Scripture it gives you a much clearer vision.
So as you join us in our journey, we will show you how to examine the scriptures through a different set of lenses-those of the people of the day and how they understood what Jesus and the disciples/Apostles were experiencing when they wrote.