Holy Lands (2019) ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Chap 7 #knights #sunlight #hils #holylands #yyccomics https://www.instagram.com/p/CeCjOJcJYu3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My last #readtheworld21 and #aprilinarabia review for the month. This book is exactly why I am grateful for this kind of challenge. I had bought this quite a while ago, but it was stagnating on my shelves. I am certainly interested in the topic, but really, when are you ever in THE MOOD to read about why things are so broken in the Middle East? . . This was both incredibly educational but sometimes frustrating, as it seemed to assume a bit more familiarity with the region than I started with. But it’s a massive subject, and the book gives so much context and history already, it can’t be expected to fully explain every little thing. . . The basic premise, though he never explains it this way, is that there needs to be separation of church and state in the Middle East. Under the Ottoman empire, many religious communities coexisted more or less peacefully. It is Pelham’s argument that the post-World War Western compulsion to split all these communities up exacerbated differences and turned arguments over doctrine into arguments over land. The middle section documenting the modern reality of terrorism, religious persecution, and genocide is difficult to read, but the book ends with uplifting examples of people turning toward peaceful coexistence. . . I do wish it had spent a little more time establishing the tolerance and peacefulness before the breakup of the Ottoman empire, but there is lots of suggested reading in the back to fill in any gaps. An interesting read! . . #holylands #nicolaspelham #columbiaglobalreports https://www.instagram.com/p/B_nQ-vyA0ps/?igshid=1lp2wtxdjae20

"Rise up singing Roll the stone away Rise up from the darkness Rise up from the grave Rise from the silence Rise up and set me free Rise up singing Rise up in me We shall all be silent For death is not the end Because he rose up singing We too shall rise again With the saint in chorus We shall rise and sing Eternal Hallelujahs for risen King of Kings" (Rise up Singing) This is the garden tomb where Jesus may have been laid. So cool to visit when we were in Jerusalem. Happy Easter for He lives. #Easter #Christainty #EOTours #HolyLands (at The Garden Tomb) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwh0Mp1B_4xxQXJG3qQFR7TP3IDBwgkQ6l1b880/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18fmefprb90uo

In honor of World Book Day, a selection of books from my TBR shelves from all around the world. Have you read any of these? What should go to the top of my list? . . #bookstack #worldbookday #internationalbooks #translatedbooks #holylands #nicolaspelham #voicesfromchernobyl #svetlanaalexievich #sexographies #gabrielawiener #sunflower #gyulakrúdy #sigizmundkrzhizhanovsky #autobiographyofacorpse #neartothewildheart #claricelispector #thesailorwhofellfromgracewiththesea #yukiomishima #tayebsalih #seasonofmigrationtothenorth #qiumiaojin #notesofacrocodile #alasdairgray #ahistorymaker #hopscotch #juliocortázar #louiseerdrich #theroundhouse https://www.instagram.com/p/But4GDJnncd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=t1ijo351c1wd

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002hl7

Had one of the coolest and most significant experiences today. I got to reaffirm my baptism in the Jordan River. I was an infant when I was baptized so I obviously don't remember it. This experience has given me a way to remember being baptized in a whole new perspective. It's also crazy to me that I was able to reaffirm my baptism in the same place Jesus was baptized. Thank you Pastor Matt for letting me reaffirm today. #RememberingMyBaptism #HolyLands #HF19 #JordanRiver (at Jordan river yardenit) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt8_-ykhW-JZ40ZAA5l_Dc7u9L6lXHZtzedSmg0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l9f5h2y6c7q

Leaving in 13 days! Thank you so much for Pastor Matt and Anne for organizing this trip. I'm so excited. #holylands #Christianity #educationalopportunities #israel https://www.instagram.com/p/BtRigRPhndw6M7r7e3LtKd_2BzCZCHoWc6_Jqo0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=frw48lqfxsc3