It’s been four years since I’ve been in Israel. I’ve been amazed at the changes . . . the amount of archaeological work that’s beencompleted at Megiddo and Caesarea Maritime, and the amount of new building incities like Nazareth and Tel Aviv. Israel shows signs of activity and growthand prosperity.

However, the Sea of Galilee has been a shock to me. The water level is greatly reduced. There’s extended shore in areas that really hadno access to the lake before. The days are short here, and we start early andgo late. Even in the dark, the shrinkage is surprising.

The sea is a lake really. It’s only about thirteen miles long and seven miles wide, and you can see across it in all directions. I thinkthat was the first impression I had of the lake and it hasn’t changed. It’slike a perfectly built stage on a world theater in which God showed the worldHis plan. At night, you can see the lights from all the towns and cities aroundthe lake illuminated (can’t hide the city on the hill). During the day, you cansee the movement of life around the lake.

Before I saw the lake in person, I always wondered how five thousand men plus women and children were even able to know where Jesus was. Inperson, it all makes sense because of the way you can see from one side toanother.

I wonder about what wasn’t recorded in the scriptures. The private moments with Jesus and His disciples at night, sitting around thecampfire. I can hear imagine the laughter of companions, and the serious topicslate at night that were so personal to the disciples that none of them wantedto share them. I hear their voices here and rejoice in a Savior who can be sopersonal, so intimate, so transparent.

This is a special place . . . a holy place . . . a place God chose to present the fulfillment of His plan to us.

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

We were in Nazareth today. Not really in, but overlooking the city. I did some research before I came about the city that was Jesus' hometown as a boy. Here's what I discovered:

1.  There were probably only about 120 or 150 people living there, and probably about 20 homes. Everybody there knew everything about everybody else. It was a small town.

2.  The town was located in the base of the basin and was considered one of the most beautiful places in all of Galilee. From the bottom of the basin, the town was serene and isolated.

3.  From the top of the hill above the town, you could see 30 miles in several directions. From there, you could see the plain of Megiddo (or Armageddon), Mount Carmel, twenty battlefields–sites of both victories like those of Barak and Gideon, and defeats like those of kings Saul and Josiah. 

All that's great, but what does that teach us about Jesus. First, He was raised in a typical Jewish family and a large extended family. Everyone in town knew His business.

Second, it must have been a "normal" Jewish childhood. He learned a skill from His father Joseph and He learned about His heavenly father from Joseph as well. He visited Jerusalem for feasts and times of worship. He worshipped weekly at the temple. It was a typical Jewish childhood.

Third, he experienced human relationships in Nazareth - both joys, and frustrations, and even humiliations.

How can we know this? Read Mark 6:1-4. Jesus' childhood was so normal that the people in his hometown that knew Him the best couldn't understand how He had learned so much about God. They knew Him only as the boy who belonged to Jospeh and Mary. And, they had never forgotten about His background. Otherwise, they would never have described Him as the son of Mary. They knew only His humanity and couldn't accept His divinity.

From Nazareth, Jesus left and went to the Judean desert to begin His ministry. Nazareth was the place of preparation, or growth, of beginning.

Today, Nazareth is a huge sprawling city with well over 100,000 residents. It's shared by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. How many still cannot recognize Jesus as who He is?

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

I'm the world's worst at New Year's Resolutions. When I make them at all (which after years of guilt-filled feelings of disappointment for my inability to keep my resolutions) which isn't often, I tend to look at the things in my life that I don't like and try to fix them . . . weight gain, lack of exercise . . . Sound familiar?

This year, I met two adorable children on a senior adult trip to see the Christmas lights north of Atlanta. The children serenaded me all the way back after the light display with a variety of Christmas songs. My favorite was their personalized rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." They ended the song with "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New YOU." That grabbed my attention and I've continued to think about it since this. I mean, really, can we create "happiness"? What is "happiness" anyway? A fleeting emotion? The ability to laugh and giggle? Or is it "learning to be content in all circumstances"? (Phil. 4:11) 

Our family had a really tough year in 2009. As my husband told someone, "We wrecked two cars and sunk our boat, and that was just the beginning." We were so happy to see 2009 end. Then, 2010 turned out to be even worse and included the death of Bob's dad. I've talked to so many people who have experienced a tough couple of years. That helps me understand "a Happy New YOU". I cannot control what the New Year will be like, but I can control how I respond to it. 

So this year, I'm going to make New Year's Resolutions that are keeping with the things that matter most to me:

(1)  I pray for contentment this year, not happiness, as I seek to depend upon the peace of Christ in my life to see me through whatever 2011 has to offer.

(2) I pray for wisdom this year, not knowledge, as I seek to demonstrate the impact of Christ's peace on those whose lives I touch.

(3) I pray for patience this year, not endurance, as I seek to distinguish the opportunities that come from God from the frustrations of life.

May the new year bring you the peace and job that comes from Christ!

Margie Williamson

Community Manager

Awhile back, I worked on a Habitat for Humanity home. During the afternoon, all work came to a stop while a small group worked to square up the framework on the house and the roofing tresses. A group of almost 50 workers stood back and watched them work, pushing one wall and pulling another, until the framework was completely squared. Only then did the rest of us go back to work to put the outside “skin” on the frame.

This should not have been a big deal to experience. But if you are a DIY person, like I am, you’ve probably discovered that no wall in your home is square. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had to find a way to make something work––replacing doorframes or installing

molding or hanging wallpaper––because the walls and corners were so not perfect! All the houses we've worked on were acceptable in their construction, but certainly not perfect.

Sometimes we Christians can get so busy in doing the work of discipleship that we forget to focus on making sure our framework is squared. Discipleship focuses on who we are in Christ––our relationship with God––first and foremost. What we do for Christ should always be reflective of who we are in Him. Will you join in the conversation about this journey of daily becoming more like Christ, from the inside out? This network provides a wonderful opportunity to join with others on the journey of becoming more like Christ daily.

In his blog It's Not About You. Take the Tour. Do One Thing., Steve Dueck challenges us to do just one thing each time we participate in this network. Keeping with that theme, what's one thing you would like to get out of this involvement? Help start the discussion by responding in the comment section or adding your own blog about discipleship in your life.