Mom and Dad Experience the “Best of Israel”

Mom and Dad are off tomorrow for Israel. This trip will no doubt change thier lives. Dad expressed some of his thoughts in his previous post. Mom asked me to put this stuff on here so we would all have somewhat of an idea of what they will be doing. (thanks Tina)

DAY 1- Monday, March 27: DEPARTURE FOR ISRAEL(map)
We depart Atlanta aboard our Luftansa Airlines jumbo jet bound for the Holy Land! A delicious dinner & breakfast will be served aloft. Our adventure has began!

DAY 2- Tuesday, March 25 ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL
Staying at the Renaissance Hotel(pictured at right) located on the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean Sea. A delicious welcome dinner is followed by overnight rest at our hotel.

DAY 3- Wednesday, March 29 NORTH TO TIRERIAS
After breakfast we tour (Caesarea, Herod’s port city and once the capital of Israel. Continue north to Megiddo, chariot city of Solomon and Ahab. Explore the impressive excavations. Ascend Mount Carmel, visit El Muhraka for a magnificent view of the Plain of Jezreel. From here the road winds down to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.(pictured at left) After dinner we attend a beautiful multi-media show ‘The Galilee Experience “Overnight at Ein Gev Holiday Hotel.

(click here for sweet info about Caesarea.)

DAY 4- Thursday, March 30th VISIT BIBLICAL GALILEE (click here for sweet pics)
Begin the day with a morning cruise on the lovely Sea of Galilee and tour Capernaum, the town of Jesus. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes and Chorazin, then have a St. Peter’s Meal at Ein Gev on the shores of the Sea. Visit the excavations at Beit Shean, Close the day at the Spring of Herod, where Gideon chose his 300 men. Dinner and overnight at Ein Gev Holiday Hotel.

DAY 5 - Friday, March 31: NORTH & WESTERN GALILEE
Drive north to Caesarea Philippi and Banias,, situated in the foothills of Mt Hermon, source of the Jordan River. Drive to Safed, and old Jewish community perched on a high mountain top and at 3,000 feet Israel’s loftiest city. In the heart of the old city we visit the 16 synagogue and stroll through the quaint artists’ colony. On south to the historic seaside town of Acre to tour the Crusader Castle. End the day at “Yardinet” the baptism site at the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight at the Ein Giv Holiday Resort

DAY 6 – Saturday, April 1: THE DEAD SEA AREA (click for pics)
We visit Tiberias Hot Springs and Harnat Tiberias not far from Maagan. The synagogue was built in 341 A.D. The town occupied a special place in Jewish life during the period of the Mishna and Talmud. Then we head south through the Jordan Valley, stopping for an interesting visit at at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. On to the Dead Sea, lowest spot on earth. Enjoy shopping or sightseeing at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Novotel Hotel

DAY 7- Sunday, April 2: UP TO JERUSALEM
After breakfast, our group will visit Masada, the fortress retreat of King Herod, and ascend by cable car to the top of the mountain. We will tour the amazing excavations. Then we drive up the Jericho Road to Jerusalem, the “city of the great king”. Visits include the Temple Institute, Mt Zion and King David’s Tomb. See the Model City of Jerusalem, and excellent model depicting first-century Jerusalem. On to the Shrine of the Book to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Yad V’Shem, a memorial to the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust 1913-1945. Dinner and overnight at the Olive Tree.

DAY 8 - Monday, April 3: TOURING IN JERUSALEM
This morning we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Kidron Valley and the City below. Descend by the Palm Sunday Road to Dominus Flevit, a tear-shaped chapel with its breath-taking view of the Eastern Gate and Old City. Other visits include the Garden of Gathsemane(left), the Church of All Nations, the Old City, The Church of St. Anne, and the Pool of Bethesda. We will visit The Temple Steps at the Then a fascinating walk through The Western Wall Tunnel.

DAY 9 - Tuesday, April 4: FINAL DAY IN JERUSALEM
Today we visit the Upper Room and Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built over the traditional house of Caiaphas, the High Priest. We conclude the morning with a visit to The Garden Tomb and the site of Gordon’s Calvary. The rest of the day is free time for last-minute shopping, packing, or visiting a favorite site. Tonight enjoy a nostalgic farewell dinner and a good night’s rest at the Olive Tree Hotel.

DAY 10 - Wednesday, April 5: HOMEWARD BOUND
From now on the Scriptures will “come alive” as we read them and as we share lasting memories with our friends and loved ones. Shalom . . . Welcome Home!

First from Dad

Blogging is certainly a new concept. Now with wireless internet I can take the laptop with me and read the comments then write something Donna can type in-key boarding is much to tedious for me.
We leave Monday for Israel. We are really excited about this trip. The Church has been so gracious to us.
We will take the shuttle to Atlanta and fly from there to Frankfort and from Frankfort on to Tel Aviv. Tina will send our itinerary.
I really can't imagine the experience. I can relate to the emotion more. It will be incredible to contemplate the O.T. stories at the actual site of the event. It will be unbelievable to stand on the sites of Jesus’ miracles and messages-then probably more than my heart can hold to witness Gethsemane and Golgotha.
It truly is the Holy Land. It conjures up awe and wonder at the sovereignty of God calling out a people for His name, giving them a land, special blessing, the scriptures, the ceremonies, the distinction and the opportunity to show God's grace to the whole world. But even more the grace of God in opening the door to heathen Gentiles by establishing the Church and in the process "breaking down the middle wall of partition" making one new man a Christian! It all started in the Holy Land! We that were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, even called the "sons of God".

Near to God? Nearer I could not be!
For in the person of His son
I'm just as near as He!

Dear to God? Dearer I could not be
For in the person of His son
I'm just as near as He

I love you all,
Dad

Free Advertising

I am excited to say that I have become a independent consultant for a fabulous company called Tastefully Simple. Some of you may be familiar with there gourmet food products. If you are not, you just wait, I will help you become familiar.:)

If you do not know let me take a moment to tell you. Tastefully Simple is "the original" Taste Testing company. Founded in Alexandria,Minnesota in 1995,Tastefully Simple,Inc. is a national direct sales company with over 30 scrumptious, convenience-driven gourmet foods for everyday enjoyment or special occasions. The products are marketed primarily through home taste-testing parties by consultants who offer samples, easy meal ideas, recipes and serving suggestions.
We also do business presentations, and fund raisers. There are many avenues to share these products with the public.

I had pondered the thought of joining the Tastefully Simple business for about 2 years. I signed up the last week of January. I was ready to make this commitment. Chuck is also very gung-ho about it all. He has been VERY supportive. He also has really liked every product he has tasted.
Well, I just couldn't wait for my start up kit to arrive; when it did arrive I stacked up the boxes and prayed over them and gave my little business to Jesus and thanked Him for allowing me to stay home and also give me a means to help our family. I gave my bus. to Him and told Him how much I wanted to glorify Him through it. I then open the Word and asked God to please show me through His word that I can do this for His glory. I have not read in Jeremiah in long time. I just opened the Bible and that is the book I first looked at. I came right to a highlighted verse and it was one of my very favorite ones." Jer. 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." WOW! that was it I knew then that God indeed has His blessing on this endeavor.

Well a couple of days later I looked on the TS website to see if I could find any other consultants in my area (my sponsor lives in Atlanta) . Well I found a list and just randomly picked one. Her name is Suzanne. I called her up and introduced myself and asked her if she would allow me to shadow her at a couple of parties. She told me a little about how she ran her bus. and said she would love to help me in any way. That was that. then a few days later I got a call it was Suzanne. She said " I was planning on doing an exhibit at "The Taste of Chattanooga". Something has come up. Would you like my spot?" Well, I wasnt sure what to say (being so new with the product). The Taste of chatt. is held at the chatt trade and convention center. It is a large gathering of Restaurants and catering services and other food related businesses. Each of them feature there best food Item and serve it to those attending the EXPO. OK! Well It was going to cost me $200 . I called my sponsor and she was so excited. She said I couldnt ask for a better way to kick off my TS business. So Chuck agreed and we came with the money. Well, my sponsor talked me through what to get a hold of for my display and what products to sample. I pulled some resources together (I only had less than a week to get this together). I did it! By myself I went and set it up and maned my station from 10:00 to 8:30.( Chuck came and kept me company for the last few hours.) WOW! it was a hit! I had so much interest. I received so many leads. and have already booked partys from my leads. OH, yes! I also got to do a TVspot on the 12:00 news. They really took me by surprise. Every one that saw me said I did great. I talked about two of our best products. :) :)
The biggest thing that came out of it is this. There is a Restaurant in our town called Bone Fish Grill. They are a very upscale rest. They have won the Chattanooga Taste Award for the past two years. ANYWAY, Their owner and manager were so impressed with my products. They want me to do an exclusive Taste Testing party in thier restaurant for some of there best clients. They will also do a wine tasting of there products with mine. Isnt that so amazing? This will take place in May or June. Now, what I'm saying is that God is blessing me already. Monday actually starts off the real Kick off of my party's I will be doing what we call "6 in a dozen" I will be having six parties in 12 days. Guess who is hosting my first one. Yes, MOMMY. She has never hosted a home party of any kind. Im so glad she is doing this. Her testimonial will be the best- that "This really is a home party you will want to do again". I have sold over $150 in product before any partys.
So my goal at this moment is that through these 6 parties I will be able to pay off my investments, Also that I will get many bookings.
As you can tell I am so pumped about these products and my new Bus. Please call me and I would love to talk more about it.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WILL BE EATING AT THE NEXT FAMILY GATHERING! HAAA HAAA!

I Love you all and ask for your prayers .

Cita Marie

Put a Face with the Names

For those of you that have been reading the blog, but have never had the opportunity to meet the fam, here is a picture of the kids.



Starting from the bottom and going clockwise, Cita(the only girl), Clair(the oldest), Caleb(the 4th), me(cwjr), Curtis(the youngest and a marine), Cary(the 3rd).

Does the "C" Roth Blog thing make any more sense now? Hint: all of our names start with "C".
This picture is actually the last time were all together to have our picture taken. (i think) Was it???? Well, I just thought this blog should have a picture of us all on it somewhere and I could not figure out how to post it any other way. I will put a picture of Mom and Dad Roth on the next post. I have a great thought to share with everyone, one that may stir up some emotion. I love you all,(family), and for those of you who are just getting to know us, let us know who you are. Comment sometime. We would love to hear from you.

Peace, Love, and Joy,

I am out to lunch and the Post Office.

cwjr

Fatherhood

My little girl turned one year old March 1st, so I thought I might share with you, my family, a little bit of my perspective on being a father.

When Amanda and I were married, we had agreed together that we did not want to have any children, and we were content. As we grew in our relationship and got older, our perspective started to change and questions started to arise like: Who would take care of us when we get old? How will we feel sitting in the pew as they recognize mothers and fathers on their respected days? Would we ever regret the decision? What is it like to experience the joy a child brings? We started to talk. I think Amanda was ready for children before I was, though. I guess the turning point came for me during our fifth anniversary trip to Savannah. I had come to this realization that to be a good father, I had to be a good son. In other words, to be a good father, and have the right relationship with my children that I wanted, would only be a reflection of the relationship that I have as a son with my Heavenly Father. That’s what was holding me back from having children: the lack of a good relationship with my Heavenly Father. So, I had some work to do. God really worked in my life and helped me turn my gaze on earthly things up to gaze on that which is eternal.

Then came Christmas 2003. I had made my decision and gave Amanda prenatal vitamins for Christmas. We cried. We were happy and scared. What would God do? In May, we conceived, and had a little girl in March 2005. I remember holding her for the first time, and the flood of emotions that washed over my soul. For the first time, I experienced the other side of the father/child relationship. Then, I knew how my Heavenly Father felt for me, though on a smaller scale. How He loves me unconditionally. How He wants the best for me. How He wants me to grow in a relationship with Him. How He wants to share all He knows with me. How He wants me to learn from Him. How He wants me to obey. How He misses me when I am gone from His presence. And, the joy He must experience when I come back.

I have so much more to learn about fatherhood, but oh how sweet it is.

Cary D.

A Day in Dairyland

Routine! Wow! - Now there's a tough one! I have found routines are great but in the ministry they need to be adjusted quite often. One never knows what the next day/hour may bring. I struggle with speaking to others need for specific routines though I would stress their importance.
Our mornings tend to be a little rushed with Ryrie in School for the time being and me having to teach a class at 8:15 3 days a week. I'm usually up by 6:45 though I would prefer 6:00. We try to eat breakfast when we can by 7:30ish. If we get started any earlier we will read our 1 year New testament, sing the congregational songs for our next Sunday's worship service, and try to fit in a quick catechism finished by prayer and hugs and kisses before I run out the door. Ryrie gets done with school at 11:45 and he and I leave for lunch at that time. We do the same routine at lunch just not with the rush and I'm usually back at the office by 1:15. I'm usually done around 5:00 at which point I come home and HELP with supper (at every meal I try to help as much as is possible seeing we have 4 small children). Usually that means entertaining the kids so April can finish cooking it. The kids and I will sometimes wrestle or read some Chr of Narnia, tonight we played a matching game that they really enjoyed. Supper is usually on the table by 6:00 - give or take depending on what is going that night - visitation/awana. We follow the same meal routine as breakfast and lunch with scripture/songs/catechism/prayer. Pretty much after supper is clean up time both of the meal and the kids rooms and play area. That wraps up hopefully around 7:30-7:45 and then we do the same routine at the end of the meals depending on the time. Tonight we read a short Bible story rather than our whole NT reading. We are almost through the NT for the first time. It has been a blessing. I'm debating what to do next. We actually read the same passage at every meal so by the end the kids will have heard it about 2-3 times. Repetition is way up there in my book especially at the age they are right now. I may try to get them through the whole Bible. I would read a chapter per meal. Starting in Gen at Breakfast, Job at Lunch and Matt at Supper - something like that. The kids are in bed at 8:00 or a few minutes after. I have decided that is the best time for April and I to run over any music we might need to - 15-20 minutes. After that April and I both have our Bible reading times - She's reads a Spiritual growth book and her Bible, I read 7 pages of the NT along with my 3 chapters of through the Bible reading. Sometimes there are other chores to do like cleaning the kitchen or writing an email. Friday's are my day off so if April and I ever go out we try to do it on a Thursday night. Friday Ryrie obviously still has school so we can't be together as a family the whole day. I try to help April with stuff in the a.m. like cleaning or just getting Caedrin and Regann out of the house for a few hours. I like to do my Bible reading during the kid’s naps in afternoon. We take the kids to the Library for some books and a video because Friday is pizza night and their one chance a week to watch a movie.
Here's the deal. I like our routine - I praise the Lord for a wife who encourages and cooperates with it and for His grace to keep it going. It takes an incredible amount of discipline every day and it doesn't always go as planned. I seek not to flaunt what we do before others outside of encouraging some of these practices in their own lives. I hesitate somewhat in sharing it with everyone, due to the fact that not all of you have it as easy as I do. I honestly believe that the greatest keys to the success of our routine are the absence of Television reception in our home, a very limited appetite in movie watching, and no internet access.

Caleb

Georgia On My Mind

Well, as a matter of fact we have had a death in the family and have had diarrhea not to mention filling the waste basket at the same time. I'll try
to do a better job at keeping you up to date.

CDR

On My Mind

This song has been on my mind all day. I'd love to hear your thoughts...

I NEED YOU
by josh bales
My heart is restless in me My wings are all worn out
I'm walking in the wilderness And I cannot get out
I need You, oh, I need You Blessed Savior come
I need You, oh, I need You
Fill the every longing of my soul
Oh, how I need You, Lord
I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes to see The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray
For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today

My bed is soaked with sadness
My sadness has no end
A downward spiral of despair That I keep falling in
I need You, oh, I need You
To You my soul shall fly
I need You, oh, I need You
Ywh, how I love you more than life
Oh, how I need You, Lord I need Your perfect word
With tearful eyes to see The sin that I afford
I need to weep and pray For all the thousand ways
That I have failed You just today

Your silence is like death to me
So won't You hear my desperate plea
Your silence is like death to me
So won't You hear my desperate plea

Today my soul is soaring Way over mountains high
Though I can see the valleys They're all just passing by
It's not that I am stronger, Look at my feeble wings
But I've been lifted higher Ywh's lifted me in His own strength
Oh, how I love You, Lord I love Your perfect Word
With tearful eyes to see The God who always will endure
Now I will celebrate
For all the thousand ways That You have shown me grace
And made my heart in grace to stay
You've made my heart in grace to stay
Lord, make my heart in grace to stay

I need You, oh, I need You

Obsessiva Magnificat (at least it sounds Latin to me - I'm clueless!)

ClifWJ wrote the other day concerning the obsession many have with this cultural phenomenon that is the blogosphere. I for one have been semi-sucked in - though the blogs I read mainly pertain to the position I hold at our church and I have found an abundance of help from them. However, the amount of gossip and often thought provoking discussions that go on can steal a person’s time and thus be a problem. As humans many things can be obsessive for us. The definition of obsession is a persistent DISTURBING preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; broadly : compelling motivation. Unfortunately most of our obsessions are harmful either to our physical bodies, our relationships or our spiritual lives. Certainly now that you all are participating in this dialogue I am anxious to hear what is going on in your lives and what things are on your hearts. That too can become an obsession for us all. Ours is to do our best to keep it at the interested level. I find I have to guard the amount of time I spend reading blogs - even helpful ones because usually one leads to another and before you know it an hour is gone. Why all this talk of obsessions? Clif asked me to write something short/emphatic (short? Ha/emphatic? You decide.) concerning what should be our true obsession or as he says magnificent obsession. Truth be told any obsession we have is in our eyes magnificent. That then leads us to the question of what is truly magnificent or exceptionally fine? The answer is in what God sees as magnificent. Is His view our view? Certainly as believers it should be! I am of the conviction that the only thing God sees as magnificent is His Glory and our Glorification of Him. I wish I could say that is my obsession as well. While I think of it often it does not consume me the way I would desire. What then are the things I can do to fuel my desire to see God Glorified and to make His glory my obsession? We all know the ‘simple’ answers of Bible reading and PRAYER/PRAISE (the reason I emphasize this is because I believe that as we praise God for who He is we will have a better idea of what brings Him glory and the more we show our dependence in Him the more He is glorified) and simple as they may seem we often find them impossible to do. What then are we willing to sacrifice to make sure that gets done? Is there some change we should make in the amount time we spend in front of the television/computer/blogs/good books or even with our children? I'll tell you this there are many days I am thankful we no longer have TV reception or an internet connection in our house. I find it much easier to find time for God's Word and praise/prayer when those distractions aren't there. Consequently, the more time I spend in God's word and in praise/prayer the less I have a desire to get those things back into my home. Some weekends I will get a DVD movie to watch with April on my laptop but usually it keeps us up too late and we are too tired the next day and I regret having watched it. Then I ask myself was it even edifying in the first place? Going back to the idea of time spent with children our parents truly gave us the heritage of eating meals together. I can’t tell you what a blessing that is to me – I am blessed in the fact that I am able to eat every meal every day with my children. I know not everyone can do that. But what of the time we spend with our children – of what quality is it? My kids love to wrestle with me and while I don’t mind that I would much rather be reading to them. I am blown away by the questions they ask and the words they want defined as we read through the NT at mealtime. My goal is that God would be glorified in the lives of my children both in the example our family must model at our church as well as in their own personal walk with God.
I read a challenge the other day regarding Bible reading. It is one I intend to act on starting today - being the first day of March. Every month for the rest of this year I plan to read through the entire New Testament that month. I think it is like 11 pages a day in my Thompson chain and only about 5 in the other little Bible I have. It will be a challenge - My days can be very busy but by God's grace before I lay my head down at night I will run the check to see if I have been faithful to my commitment. I would desire to say with the Psalmist:
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Is your magnificent obsession with God’s Glory disturbing anyone today?
I hope this was helpful – I only bring to the table struggles with which I grapple with on a daily basis. God is so merciful to me. As James 5:16 says Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Let us pray one for another.

c caleb