vlog / podcasts — stevenborst

Luther’s 2 Kingdoms and Why It’s Important

A July 4 Reflection

One Little Word: A Christmas Message

A Christmas Message on John 1, including a reference to Martin Luther's "one little word."

Part 7: A Man Walked Down from Jerusalem to Jericho

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan who finds a man robbed and beaten on the side of the road. I have the opportunity to take a hike on one of the trails going down to Jericho. Along the way we see a monastery, canyons, caves, water springs, and wildlife. The hike ends at the river Jordan and a renewal of baptism.

Part 6: The Temple Mount -- Haram al-Sharif

I had the rare opportunity to not only go on top of the Temple Mount, but to actually go inside of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. These are holy sites for Muslims, as they believe Muhammad ascended to heaven to receive the 5 pillars of Islam from this place. Jews have said that they don't want access to the Temple Mount and will instead do their praying at the Wailing Wall. More recently, however, a minority of Jews have supported the idea of building a 3rd Temple. This is quite provocative, as this would (most likely) include destroying the Dome of the Rock. A final interesting note: some Rabbis teach that Jews should not go on top of the Temple Mount lest they accidentally step on the place where the Holy of Holies used to sit before the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD.

Part 5: 2 Sundays

Come with me as I experience worship in 2 different Lutheran Churches in the Holy Land: Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem and Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. The MUSIC in this video is taken live from the worship services.

Part 4: Ride On, Ride On: A Mount of Olives Journey

I retrace the journey Jesus and the disciples would have taken from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.

Part 3: While Shepherds Kept Their Watch by Night

In the Bethlehem hills, we can see how the Shepherds would have kept watch over their flocks at night.

Part 2: Holy Moly Land

What the Israelites saw when the entered the Holy Land.

Part 1: Tantur

Brief Introduction into my sabbatical stay at Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem.