Wow, recently returned from Jerusalem and it is truly an amazing place. I have visited many places including Notre Dame, the Coliseum, and the Vatican but nothing has had such a spiritual feel as the old city of Jerusalem. We traveled to Israel to play a game for the EuroCup Challenge so again I was able to travel to an amazing place for free. The team arranged for us to have a walking tour through the streets of Jerusalem. We had a guide who walked us through the walls starting at the new gate. We proceeded to walk the streets that Jesus, Muhammad, and Constantine had also walked. How is this even possible? The city is the birth place of 3 of the major religions of the world. As I had said before visiting some of the other major sites of the world was truly incredible and I continue to be in awe of the buildings and how our ancestors could accomplish such amazing things. Jerusalem on the other hand has a whole different feel. I can't explain it and I can only say that it almost brings you to tears and you can't really explain why? It may have been the fact that I walked on the same streets and touched the same walls as Jesus Christ. I was able to see the Dome of the Rock where the profit Muhammad rose into heaven. There are not too many places in the world that really reach a person on a level that transcend the physical. You walk down the streets and realize you are walking in spiritual history. The final stop through the city is the Wailing Wall, one of the most holy sites for Jewish people and I was able to place a prayer note in the wall. Placing a prayer in the wall feels like asking God face to face for a personal prayer. The wall has a presence that transcends anything I have ever felt. I was able to place a prayer in a place that has been a keystone of Jewish faith for centuries. There are just not enough ways to describe how amazing an experience the City was. I visited the birth place of my Faith which many Christians only dream of.
The basketball end continues to be good. The team is doing very well and I have been playing well. I have been fortunate to have a european coach who treats his players with great respect. The team as a whole continues to be a great thing. We play well together and I must say that of all the teams I have played for we have really meshed well and hopefully will continue to smash it up on the court. Prayers and love to all back home, Jessica and I miss you all and can't wait to be home for Xmas!
