There is no place on Earth like the land of Israel. It is called The Holy Land because God Himself chose it for His people. It's called the State of Israel rather than the Nation of Israel because God's chosen people, the Jews, are still scattered in other nations around the world. Israel is the center of the world and is in the center of the word's attention. There truly is no place on Earth like Israel, where the past, present, and future merge.

     My daughter, Pastor Deborah Slaney, and I made our first pilgrimage to Israel in 1998. God put it in Deborah's heart that she was to go to Israel for the Feast of Tabernacles; so she and I began to knock on doors. At that time we knew no one who had been to Israel or anything about any tours. We finally contacted the International Christian Embassy in Washington, D.C. they were doing a tour, but were already booked up. They referred us to Polly Grimes in Redondo Beach, California. Polly does regular tours to Israel through her travel agency, Tours Through the Book, and she was able to add us on. We weren't able, however, to get airline seating; so we had to travel to Israel on our own and join the rest of the tour group in Tel Aviv. The tour was such a wonderful experience. I felt such a connection to the land of Israel, especially to the city of Jerusalem. The International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem puts on a magnificent celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles at the Convention Center in Jerusalem every year. Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel, and a magnificent city it is, and has a special place in God's Heart. One of these days the New Jerusalem is coming down out of Heaven to sit on that very spot. We, as Christians, are commanded to pray for the peace of Jerusalem in Psalm 122:5-7:

                    Psalm 122:5-7 (King James Version)

                    5For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

     In 1999, God led me to go back to Israel for the Feast of Tabernacles again. When I began to feel the urging of the Holy Spirit, I asked the Lord why He wanted me to go back. He took me to Ezekial 3:17a, which says, "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel..."(Kings James version).

     In the years 2000 and 2001, I returned to Israel for the Feast of Tabernacles, and in the year 2004, Pastor Deborah and I made another pilgrimage for the Feast of Tabernacles. I did not go in 2005, but I am hoping to go in 2006.

     I love Israel, for there is where my spiritual roots lie. Besides, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is Jewish, as were His twelve disciples. As a gentile, I am so thankful that God chose to graft me into the Vine, Jesus. As Christians, we are adopted into the family of God through the blood of Jesus at Cavalry.