My Favorite Place in Greece

,

*Get the details and sign up now for the 2024 DisciplePath Greece & Rome Trip. Only a few spots left!

2024 DisciplePath Tour to Greece & Rome

A LAND & SEA ADVENTURE

In the Footsteps of Paul:

JUNE 19 – JULY 2, 2024

Come Along &

Bring a friend!

*Get the details & sign up today! Only a few spots left! Click Here for the Full Itinerary:

2024 DisciplePath Greece & Rome Trip

Contact Us Today to sign up!

February 26, 2024.

My Favorite Place in Greece

*Get the details here for the 2024 DisciplePath Greece & Rome Trip. Only a few spots left!

There are many reasons why people visit Greece and Rome from the delectable food to world-class beaches, romantic villages, magnificent museums, historical sites highlighting the life of the apostle Paul, and much more. Come away with us this summer to find your favorite places around the world!

Ready to sign up for the Greece & Rome trip June 19 to July 2, 2024. Reach out for details & get a link to sign up now to reserve your place. We are almost full so don’t delay!

A very significant event happened 38 years ago on February 26, 1986, which makes this place one of my favorite places in Greece.

“Ancient Corinth, inhabited since the Neolithic times, was considered the richest city of the ancient world and its most important commercial hub until the rise of Athens.”[i]  This beautiful place connects multiple civilizations in one panoramic view. The arches of ancient Rome to the Greek pillars that held high the temples of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses to the dome of the more recently built Greek Orthodox church in the distance are nestled between the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Corinth, the rugged acropolis and ruins from the Temple of Apollo, and the Isthmus. Passing picturesque villages on a narrow country road leads us to ancient Corinth, a place that connects the ancient past to the humble Greek dwellings that house the locals today.

When Joe and I lead tours to Greece, ancient Corinth is one of my favorite places to introduce to our fellow travelers. The rich history, vast beauty, cultural heritage, and spiritual significance make this quiet place one of the most loved stops on our journey.

It was in this place that the Apostle Paul served as the pastor of the early Corinthian church for approximately eighteen months on his second missionary journey.[ii] (Acts 18:11) Later he wrote two letters to this somewhat dysfunctional group of people. The first was written while Paul was ministering in Ephesus , a city we visit while on our tours. The second epistle was written later in the same year while Paul was in Macedonia, possibly from Philippi which is in the eastern region of Macedonia. Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi, another site we are scheduled to visit this summer. While the first letter sternly addressed the immoral behaviors and spiritual immaturity of this church, the second addressed the infiltration of false teachers that had crept in. For this, Paul promised he would be paying them a visit to address this matter.

The culture of ancient Corinth was much like the large commercial cities of today. It was a crossroad for travelers and commerce. Corinth’s two harbors, Cenchrea and Lechaion , and the Isthmus known as the Corinth Canal, connected the goods that flowed through the city from Italy and Spain to the west, and Asia Minor, Phoenicia and Egypt to the east.[iii]  

There was a strong emphasis on knowledge and wisdom as well as a plethora of religious beliefs with temples to the Greek gods, including Asclepius, the god of healing, Apollo, son of Zeus and twin brother of Artemis, and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. This bustling city was “a center for open and unbridled morality”. In fact, “the worship of Aphrodite fostered prostitution in the name of religion.” Just like thriving cities across the globe, the religious diversity, unacceptable behaviors, and cultural clashes caused many problems for the immature young believers of the Corinthian church.[iv]

The first time I visited ancient Corinth, I was caught by surprise when approaching the Bema Seat at the ruins of the ancient synagogue, where Paul likely stood trial. The Jewish leaders accused him of crimes he did not commit and brought him before the Roman proconsul, Gallio, who dismissed the accusations having no regard for the Jewish religion. (Acts 18:12-15). A stone there commemorates the essence of the struggles Paul faced as well as the difficulties we all face in this life. Although the stone is not from the first century, Greek and English words from II Corinthians 4:17 have been carved into it. In his second letter had written these words. The English translation reads this way, “For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”

This verse is one of comfort and hope for me personally. On Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1985, our fourth baby, Christy Therese was born in Statesville, NC. The day after she was born, she was transported to the NICU at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, where she was soon diagnosed with a rare heart defect, transposition of the great arteries.

During that difficult season of my life, I read Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthian church, written around 55 AD. These words gave me hope. So, I the words on an index card and taped the card to Christy’s bassinet to remind me, and those who cared for Christy, of the future HOPE we have because of the gospel proclaimed by Paul. This is the same gospel Paul was martyred for approximately ten years later in Rome. We will visit Paul’s burial site at the Basilica of St Paul when we visit this summer.  

I tell you this story of Christy because of the HOPE I have thirty-eight years after her death. I tell you the story because as you travel through biblical lands, visiting the sites of the earliest followers of Jesus, you may find a favorite place like I did that remind you of the HOPE you have in your own circumstances.

I wish I could tell you how Christy’s life has impacted many people through the years, but time does not permit right now.

I love to visit ancient Corinth when Joe and I lead these tours to biblical lands, not only because can we introduce people to the natural beauty, rich history, and grandeur of ancient Corinth, but because we can share this hope of eternal glory.

[i] Ancient Corinth Guide: History & Mythology. 23 November 2023. Retrieved from Greeking me:

discovering Greece and Italy with bespoke, original journeyson 2024 February 26.

[ii] https://www.matthewmcgee.org/paultime.html , Retrieved 2024 Feb 26.

[iii] The Zondervan NASB Study Bible. 1999. p. 1660. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI 49530.

[iv] Ibid.

Today in 1986

, , , , , , ,

February 26, 1986. Today is Christy’s 37th heavenly birthday. Early on the morning of February 26, 1986, our baby daughter, Christy Therese, left us to be with Jesus. She was with us for only two months and nineteen days. I don’t really know the exact moment she entered heaven, I just remember that on that early morning, before the dawn, her breathing began to slow down. Her heart rate lessened, and we were scared. We called our neighbors to come quickly and stay with our other three children who were still sound asleep. We wrapped Christy in her warm blankets and headed to the hospital driving as quickly as we could. It was still completely dark outside. As Joe drove, he coached me as I performed CPR on our little girl, the way that were taught before bringing her home from the hospital a few days earlier. I did my best, trying to make sure my fingers were correctly placed on her chest, holding her body in the proper position, and hoping I was doing it effectively. It was so dark that it was difficult to see what I was doing. When we pulled up to the hospital, Joe put the car in park and ran in as the ER doors slid open in front of him, calling out to the hospital staff that our baby was not breathing. I continued doing CPR in the car, not sure what I was supposed to do. The nurses were there within seconds, grabbing her from my arms and whisking her away. We were ushered to a private room to wait while the doctors and nurses worked hard to revive our baby. However, as hard as they tried, they could not get her heart beating again on its own. Her heart had stopped somewhere between home and the hospital. With CPR and the efforts of the wonderful doctors and nurses, she remained pink as long as efforts were continued. But somewhere during the time her heart first stopped, and resuscitation efforts ceased, Christy flew away into the arms of Jesus.
The doctor brought us the news while assuring us that we did the CPR correctly. The nurses then led us to the room so that we could see her one last time. We held her little limp body close and tearfully said our goodbyes. We knew that this was not a final goodbye. This separation from our baby girl was only temporary!
We are as certain of this truth today as we were that cold February morning. We will be reunited one day. We will see our precious Christy again. At the time, eternity seemed forever away. Thirty-seven years later, it doesn’t seem so long anymore.
February 26, 2023. God healed our hearts and blessed us abundantly with five healthy children, all grown and married now. God has blessed us even more with nine beautiful, healthy grandchildren. One of these grandchildren is Carys, our only granddaughter. Her name means “grace”. And that is exactly what she is. She is a reminder of God’s grace, along with her three brothers and five boy cousins.
We rejoice in today and the blessings of our family in this life. We seek to make the most of every moment, to enjoy each opportunity to spend time with our grandchildren. We are grateful for every visit and every time to cheer them on at their basketball games or football games, to celebrate birthdays, to play board games together, take a walk, go out for ice cream, make cookies, or watch a movie.
When we get to do life together, we pray that they see Jesus in us. We tell them stories of God’s grace in our lives, we tell them the story of Christy’s life. We tell them that their heavenly Father loves them more than they can ever imagine. We tell them about Jesus and pray that they will accept His gift of salvation, that they will know and love Him and walk with Him all the days of their lives. That they will be confident of their eternal future through faith in the Lord Jesus.
Future February 26 and Forever. Whatever the future holds in this life, we have this secure hope for an eternal future with Jesus. One day we will be reunited with our daughter and all our loved ones who have gone before us in Jesus. We know this because God has promised. We trust Him because He is faithful and true. He promises to always be with us, keeping what we have committed to Him until that day when He returns or takes us to be with Him. I don’t know how many more heavenly birthdays Christy will have until we see her, but until then we commit her to Jesus’ loving care, knowing that one day we will celebrate eternity together.

My Thoughts on the Asbury University Revival

, , , ,

My husband and I are committing to PRAY for God to do whatever HE is going to do in this movement of the Holy Spirit at Asbury University. We are praying for the students and for the faculty and leaders that God will continue to work and that they will have great wisdom and discernment in the coming days and weeks. I pray that this is real and that we see changed lives and lasting impact in the community. We are praying that God continues to move across our land to bring true revival to His people and healing to our nation. It will only come through prayer. Such a simple solution, but such a challenging discipline.

PRAYER: Such a simple solution, but such a challenging discipline.

WIM NETWORK: PRAY Event! 2-22-23
FB Post 2-14-2023 Day 7

When I first heard about the Asbury University Revival last week, I wanted to jump in the car and GO. I wanted to be part of it and experience what God is doing there. But as I reflected on this through the past week, I became very aware that we have the same Holy Spirit living in us, and when we follow Jesus, obey His commands, and continue abiding in Him, we will experience this same “revival” in our hearts, our homes, our schools, and our own churches.

So I wait expectantly, praying and asking for grace and strength to allow Jesus to fill me, and others who are HIS, with HIMSELF through His Holy Spirit, for we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. We are not our own. We are bought with a price. We are to magnify Him in our bodies and in our spirits, which belong to Him.

This is not about us. It is all about Him.

I wonder…What is God preparing His people for in the days ahead?

I am in awe of what God may be doing. It is scary, and yet it is exciting that He has each of us here in this moment, in this season, in this place, “for such a time as this.”

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, THEN I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (II Chronicles 7:14)

#asburyuniversity#revival#awakening2023

Miraculous Marriage

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 18:22 – He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

Psalm 128:1-6 – Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you live to see your children’s children—peace be on Israel.

Today we celebrate forty-three miraculous years of marriage, most joyful, sometimes difficult.

A few years ago, we were sitting in a Denny’s restaurant somewhere in Pennsylvania on the night of our anniversary. I don’t recall which anniversary exactly, but probably around the thirty-sixth. We were traveling for ministry meetings that week, and we had not yet had dinner, even though it was quite late. When the server came to our table, a conversation began, and we shared with her that it was our anniversary. She asked how long we had been married and we told her.

She was amazed and asked how we had done it. Spontaneously and simultaneously we emphatically replied, “GOD!”

As I reflect on the miraculous-ness of today, I am completely aware that the longevity of our marriage is not of us, but of God.  Being together forty-three years is a miracle for so many reasons.

First, the fact that we are both alive and well is a direct answer to prayer. Joe was diagnosed with a kidney disease at age twenty-one. The doctors told him that he would need a kidney transplant within a couple of years. When our oldest two children were very small, I suddenly realized the seriousness of the decision I had made to marry a man who had a chronic illness. I had only completed a couple years of college by the time we married, and I was in no position financially to provide for our children in the event of his illness or death. Not only would I not be able to provide financially, but I did also not want to raise these children alone!

So, what should I do? I prayed. Fervently, daily, hourly, until peace came, that God would allow us to raise our children together. God has done above and beyond all that I could ask or think! Our youngest child will be thirty this year, and God has allowed us, not only to raise our own children, but to see all of our five children married and now, we are able to be actively involved in the lives of our nine grandchildren.

Besides, the answer to my prayer and the continued health of my husband, several other factors could have and, statistically, should have led to divorce. As a child, I was abandoned by my parents. I am so thankful for my grandparents who stepped in to care for my sister and I. Because of their commitment, love, and faith, the Lord graciously protected our hearts and lives during our formative years. The saga continued beyond the abandonment in early childhood at the home of a babysitter. One parent had mental health issues, and my parents divorced soon after. Eventually, we moved back to live with my mother, who had re-married. My step-father was good to us, but the marriage was turbulent and ended in my young adult years. Statistically speaking, abandonment, divorce of parents, and instability at home result in an extremely high rate of divorce for children coming out of these circumstances.

Additionally, there are other factors that reduced the likelihood of a successful, happy, secure marriage. These factors, present in our marriage include marrying at a young age, ADHD , the death of a child, financial stress, ministry life, and cultural acceptance of divorce, all contribute to a high likelihood of divorce.

But one powerful factor has the ability to nullify all of the other reasons for the failure of a marriage. That is the God-Factor.  He changes everything! He makes us new creations, filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to live transformed lives filled with joy, love, and peace.

There was a young rich man who could not bring himself to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. Jesus told his disciples it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. In our life together, statistics tell us that we should never had made it this far together. But Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 10:20-26)

How did we make it to forty-three years of marriage, still in love, happy to be together? We answer simultaneously and spontaneously, “GOD!”

ALL SOULS MATTER – EVEN YOURS!

, , ,

By Kim Olachea

Learn more about our 2022 Workshop Series for Women in Ministry

We are continually hearing appeals for support and promotion of agendas from all kinds of human rights organizations:

Save The Children
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
Family Rescue: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence
Black Lives Matter
Pro-Life Action League
Americans United for Life
Citizens United Resisting Euthanasia
International Justice Mission – Fight to End Human Trafficking
International Rescue Committee – for Ukraine and for Afghanistan

The entire world embraces rescue efforts for those who are endangered, disregarded, undervalued, and unjustly treated. Innately, human beings recognize the value of human life and the concept of justice for all people. Many of us are deeply concerned about the travesties of injustice in our own country and around the world. We wonder how to be effective in protecting the rights of children, women, minorities, and the marginalized.

The problem of injustice is not new. It has existed since the entrance of sin in the world in Genesis 3. An ancient sage once wrote, “Rescue those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to the slaughter, Oh hold them back!” (Proverbs 24:11, NASB)


As groups defend human rights for certain segments of people, respect and care for individual souls may set aside. One cannot deny that marginalized people need someone to defend them and speak up for them, yet the reality is that Every Life Matters. Every people group matters. Every ethnicity. Every citizen of every country. Every person from conception to old age. Every man. Every woman. Every boy. Every girl. Every person in need. Every person who does not feel they have need. The rich and the poor. The married and the unmarried. The educated and the uneducated. The healthy and the sick. Those who are securely part of a community and those who feel abandoned and alone. Each and Every person matters. EVERY SINGLE [1]SOUL.

Every single soul should matter to us because EVERY SINGLE SOUL DOES MATTER TO GOD – EVEN YOURS, EVEN MINE. For those of us in ministry, the ones who serve the souls of others, we need to remember that our souls matter, too.

The problem is that we often become so busy in the business of the soul care that we fail to take care of our own souls well.

The foundation of all Christian ministry and soul care is Jesus Christ. What better way to understand soul care for others and our own souls than to look at the life and ministry of Jesus.

We find that Jesus prioritized, practiced, modeled, and demonstrated a life of soul care for others, while at the same time taking care of His own soul. Jesus loved souls more than He loved His own life, and we will find that He called us not only to care for the souls of others but to tend to our own souls as well. How can we love others as ourselves if we do not value our own souls? If we do not take care of our own souls, we cannot effectively love God or love others well. Both are necessary to obey His commands and to truly seek to fulfil His Great Commission.

Jesus challenged His disciples to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.” Notice that He did not end the charge here. He followed with these words, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:34-37, NASB)

We may have the idea that taking up our cross and denying ourselves means ALWAYS SAYING YES to the needs of others while often SAYING NO to the needs of our souls.

But Jesus never lived in this way. The crowds always came. The needs were great. The people came early every day, always wanting to see Jesus. There were always those who needed healing. People were always crying out for His help. Sometimes, they were so busy looking for Jesus, they failed to plan, getting hungry and finding they had no food. Jesus always provided. A group of friends even cut a hole in the roof of a housetop to get their friend to Jesus knowing He could, and would, heal him. Jesus showed compassion ALWAYS. He loved ALWAYS. He healed the sick. He met the needs of the widow. He cast out the demons. He raised the dead. He spoke with grace. He comforted those who were grieving. He cried with Mary and Martha. He blessed the children. He forgave the sinful woman, lifting her up. He gave selflessly. He cared for every soul like no one else could or ever would. Yet even as He gave, He never neglected His own soul.

Jesus practiced personal soul care through a life of balance that included caring for the souls of others and recognizing the His own need to be alone and spend time with His Father. In Luke 21:37 (NASB) we read, “Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.” Jesus knew when it was time to give of Himself and when it was time to go away alone with His Father.

He also recognized His own physical limitations. He knew when His body needed rest. In this way, Jesus modeled one way we can cultivate a healthy soul. “When (Jesus) got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves, but Jesus Himself was asleep.” (Matthew 8:23-24, NASB)

When I was a young mom with little ones, I went to a widely known women’s conference known as Joyful Woman Jubilees, led by Joy Rice Martin and her sisters, the six daughters of the Dr. John R. Rice. I will always remember Joy Martin making this statement: “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap.” That was before “soul care” became a thing in the evangelical world. What a gift this was to me as a young mom and busy pastor’s wife, to receive permission and affirmation to lay down on my bed after lunch, turn out the light, and rest while my little ones were napping! That nap made all the difference in my soul. I was a better wife, mom, and Christian because of those moments of rest that restored my soul.

Recently, I saw a T-shirt that read: JESUS TOOK NAPS. BE LIKE JESUS!

Think about the spiritual implications of Jesus’ nap in that storm recorded in the Gospel of Luke. For Jesus, the most spiritual thing He could do that day for Himself and for His disciples (and for us today as we reflect on the story) was to take a nap!


• For Himself, He physically needed rest!
• For His disciples, they needed faith and they needed to experience His power over creation in preparation for what was to come.
• For us today, the lessons from that incident increase our faith as we recognize that He is with us in the storm and that He is able to rescue us from the storm.

We have sometimes confused the term soul care with self-care, leading to the idea that we are being selfish when we take time for personal soul care. Jesus demonstrated the selflessness of soul care in the Garden of Gethsemane as He prayed, “Not My will but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42, NASB) Yet at the same time, He recognized His own need for soul care, telling His men, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me…” (Mathew 26:38, NASB) His soul was restored in the presence of His Father and strengthened to do what His Father had sent Him to do. It was through the practice of personal soul care that He received the power of the Spirit to face betrayal, torture, and death for our souls.


As we consider the life Jesus lived and His call for us to follow Him, to deny ourselves and take up our cross, we will better understand the need for a healthy soul. Jesus commanded His disciples to “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength… (and) love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)


When we think on these two commandments, we will realize will we love God well when our heart, soul, mind, and strength are healthy. We also understand that if we are to love our neighbor well, we must love ourselves well. This means that we must learn to care for that which God cares deeply for, that is we must learn to care for our souls.

Stephen Smith writes in his book, Soul Custody,
We forfeit our souls every single time we choose to drain ourselves and not replenish ourselves; run on empty rather than stopping and intentionally doing things that will bring us life; burn out rather than live meaningful, significant, and impactful lives that are enjoyable and life giving to others. (p. 29)

The most important thing we can do to cultivate personal soul care is to cultivate our relationship with the Father, as Jesus did each time He left the people to spend time with His Father.


There are many other things we may need to do in times of crisis. We should not discount the effects of physical illness, medical conditions, mental illness, or emotional trauma. In our despair and suffering, we may need medical care, a professional counselor, a mental health professional to guide us toward health for our bodies, minds, and emotional distress. God knows and understands all of our needs, and He has given human beings His wisdom to be able to help those who need it. When we deny these resources, we are limiting God, putting Him in a little box, when He is the infinite Creator of our souls including our bodies, minds, and emotions. The psalmist writes, “For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14 NKJV)


Ultimately, with all other interventions and helps He provides, we still need God to truly heal the depths of our soul, to make us completely whole, if we are to truly love and care for the souls of others.
Puritan Thomas Brooks states it well,

All the soul needs is found in God. There is light to enlighten the soul, wisdom to counsel the soul, power to support the soul, goodness to supply to the soul, mercy to pardon the soul, beauty to delight the soul, glory to ravish the soul, and fullness to fill the soul…The highest good is that which is most suited to do good to the soul. God is thus the most excellent portion suitable to the soul. (Voices From the Past: Volume 1, p.33)

Click here to learn more about our 2022 Workshop Series for Women in Vocational Christian Ministry: A Lil’ Bit of Soul Care
____________________________________________________________________________________
[1] The term “soul” in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew “nephesh”. “In Hebrew understanding…a soul is…a living and breathing, God-created, embodied person with a distinct personality…”  According to Hebrew scholar, Dr. Jeff McCrory, “The soul is the person.” The NIV often translates soul as “my whole being.” Gaultiere, Bill. What is the Soul? Bible Verses to Care for Your Soul. Retrieved fromSoul Care Shepherding, March 4, 2022.

We Did Not Ask For This

, , , , , ,

In 2020, I read each day from the devotional classic, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Keeping perspective during that unprecedented year when the world shut down, remaining focused on eternal priorities amid circumstances beyond my own control, seemed to be the theme that jumped from the pages, a message directly from God to my anxious heart as we were isolated from family, friends, community, and church, placed on a kind of “furlough” from life.

Hope was on the horizon as the new year dawned in 2021. Vaccines were coming – soon! Promises of normalcy were hinted at by leaders of the nations. The pandemic had to end soon. Surely, it would be gone by spring and our lives would return to the world we once knew.

Despite vaccines, the world continued to unravel, with new strands of the virus, death of loved ones and friends, strife among family members, co-workers, churches and communities, everyone advocating their own opinion, few willing to listen well. In our nation, divisiveness and distrust continue to persist. Across the globe, political and economic unrest go on with political polarization, riots, violence, economic instability, continued restrictions, and loss of personal freedom. We all watch and wait, still uncertain of where to go from here and if our lives will ever to normal.

Ein Gedi, an oasis in Israel, west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the Qumran Caves

As I look back over 2021, it seems fitting that my daily readings were from Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. The words and Scripture were soul quenching, refreshing, bringing relief and strength for what seemed an interminable wait for life to go back to what I once knew.

These past twenty-two months have sometimes felt like the wilderness wanderings of the children of Israel, waiting for life to return to normal, hoping their eyes would soon catch a glance of the Promised Land, anticipating the possibility of stepping over the crest of the next hill to find an oasis –  a cluster of green shade trees and cool refreshing waters – like Ein Gedi in the land of Israel.

For us, like for them, we are stepping into the new year of 2022, expectantly peering into the future, optimistic that we will once again feel secure and at peace in our world. Yet sadly, some are barely hanging on, with little faith they will ever fully live again.

On the other hand, those of us who are journeying along with Jesus, have a secure and eternal hope.

As Jesus explained to His disciples,

“I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

There was an old song written by Dottie Rambo in 1970 called Promises. The point of the song was this: The Bible is full of promises. However, there is no promise that our lives in this broken world will be perfect or painless. But we do have the promise of His presence with us in this world AND an eternal future with Him in the next.

We don’t need to wander in the desert of discouragement, fear, or hopelessness. The message of Jesus, His gospel of peace and a future belongs to us. In 2022, I am starting another devotional classic, Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Readings (Volume I). In the dedication, Richard Rushing, quotes his mother. “We did not ask for this, but the Lord will walk us through it.” The first day’s reading begins with Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Jesus commissioned His disciples when He sent them out, saying to them, “Freely you received, freely give.”

Take courage in the presence and power of Jesus. May the propagation of His Gospel be our mission in this new year of 2022.

A Grace Pandemic!

, , , , , , ,

A missionary friend of ours posted this quote on Facebook. It’s worth remembering during this time of uncertainty:

Ancient Corinth, Greece


“..the sovereign hand of God orchestrated the events of the gospel and the plans of people’s lives so that the improbable — rebels becoming worshipers of God — would become a reality.”

Just as happened in the lives of Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and the early church – God used world events to reach the people of the world with the Gospel – so we also get to be a part of what God is doing in world events today. My prayer is that each of us are able to see that circumstances beyond our control, even the coronavirus pandemic, provide us with an opportunity to speak the love of God and the message of the gospel to people who are living in fear.

(We may even need to preach this to ourselves, reminding ourselves of the bigger picture of what God is doing and that He loves and cares for us beyond all we can imagine!) The fact of the matter is that when we trust in the Lord completely we will experience the peace of God that passes all understanding.

The Apostle Paul writes these words in II Corinthians 4:16-19 (by the way, these words are inscribed on a stone monument located in ancient Corinth in Greece):
“All things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart…For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

When our faith is in the Lord, we are able to smile at the future (like the Proverbs 31 woman) because we KNOW our future is secure in Christ, We KNOW He will provide all our needs, and we KNOW that we can fully trust His love and His sovereign hand no matter what circumstances we face to do what is best for us and for His glory!

When we KNOW these things, then grace will spread to more & more people!

2020 Vision

,

2020 Vision

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind…”(Psalm 146:8)

“He laid His hands on his eyes….and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.” (Mark 8:24-25)

As a little girl in first grade, I was a shy, quiet and obedient student, so the teacher placed me in a desk near the back of the class. I hated sitting in the back row, because I couldn’t see what was written on the board. In fourth grade a friend came to school with new glasses and I tried them on. Suddenly, I realized for the first time that the reason I couldn’t see the board was because my vision was bad. Really bad! When my parents finally recognized that I didn’t want glasses just because my friend had glasses, they took me to visit the optometrist.

The doctor carefully checked my vision using multiple lenses asking me repeatedly, “Which is better, number one or number two?” After what seemed like forever, it was discovered that I was extremely near-sighted. I could easily see up close to read a book, but my distance vision was 20/600. The prescription was written, new glasses were made, and when I slipped them on my face, everything was new and clear! Putting on those new glasses changed my world!

Before salvation we are blind spiritually and ignorant of our need for spiritual sight. When God sends someone or allows some circumstance to reveal our spiritual blindness, we become increasingly aware that we are missing something. The Holy Spirit continues to expose our deficiencies as the Lord gives Light with a glimpse of the Savior! When we look through the lens of faith, the Light of the World shines and changes everything. Once we were blind, but now we see clearly!

As I grew physically, my eyes continued to change, sometimes so gradually I didn’t even recognize the change. The doctor’s re-examination would reveal the need for a new prescription and often new frames.  The correct lenses would be cut and placed carefully into new frames that better fit my age, lifestyle, and personality. With each change, crystal-clear 20/20 vision was restored.

Early during this the past decade, life began to change, subtly and ever so slightly. We were settled in the ministry serving in a local church, as pastor and pastor’s wife, doing what God had called us to do many years ago. What once was as clear as crystal now seemed as clear as mud. We strained and squinted trying to see what we should do to be more effective in our current ministry, but nothing seemed to make sense. The framework of our current state became uncomfortable. It didn’t seem to fit the way it had for so many years. We struggled to see, but we couldn’t make out the pathway or even the next step. As God began adjusting the lenses through circumstances and people He had placed in our lives, we began to see a sharper vision of what to do next. We realized that we needed a new plan to accomplish a new vision. Not just new lenses, but a completely new framework to fit the work we knew He was calling us to do.

As we enter this new decade, we are joyfully wearing the new “glasses” God prescribed for us – new lenses for the ministry (in missions) and a new framework in which to accomplish this (a new location with different responsibilities). It was hard to give up the old comfortable frames and lenses we were accustomed to wearing for so many years. It took us a while to get used to the new ones. But in this new decade the frames fit perfectly, and the lenses provide clarity for the ministry God has given us.  

Just as we expect our physical eyes to change over the years, our spiritual eyes may need adjustment from time to time. For now, God has restored our sight and given us 2020 vision: To go and make disciples, (Matthew 28:19), proclaiming Him…teaching every person with all wisdom, so that we may present every person complete in Christ. (Colossians 1:28)

May the Lord bless you in this new decade and give you 2020 Vision for what He is calling you to this year. Don’t be surprised if it requires a new pair of glasses!

The Sparkle of Christmas

,
Let the Light of the Glorious Gospel Shine!

The Sparkle of Christmas

Noelle[i] is a new Disney movie about the daughter of Santa. Her brother, Nick, was destined to become the new Santa, but he didn’t have the “sparkle”. He knew all there was to know about Santa, but he didn’t get it!  Breaking the mold of a 2000-year old tradition, Noelle “sparkled,” and ultimately changed everyone’s pre-conceived notion of who the real Santa would be.

Noelle’s sparkle was the result of living out Christmas 24/7, by caring for others and putting other people above herself. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

Jesus came, forgoing the expression of His position as the God of the universe, humbling Himself as a servant, sacrificing Himself as the Lamb of God for the sins of the world, and offering eternal, abundant life both now and forevermore! [ii]Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

This incredible gift is for everyone who believes! Not just for those who have been “good”, but for everyone, no matter what a person has done!

The one stipulation is that you must believe. I don’t mean the belief of assenting to God’s reality, but one must truly believe, like the child who believes in Santa. To believe unto salvation is to completely trust that Jesus is who He says He is and did what only He could do.  To know and understand that apart from Him, there is no hope for salvation. True belief can be compared to the small child who believes implicitly that Santa will deliver the longed-for gift on Christmas morning, and that apart from Santa, the gift is an impossible dream.

To believe in Jesus for salvation is to recognize that apart from God, we can never receive the gift of abundant and eternal life described in the Bible. To believe in Jesus is to repent (turn away) from who we are apart from Him – that is sinners who can never measure up to God’s standards. To believe in Jesus is to change directions, (turn) to God, to agree with Him. This kind of belief impacts who we are and everything we do because of WHO HE IS. The child believes Santa is watching every day – that Santa “sees when you are sleeping, knows when you’re awake, knows if you’ve been bad or good…” so the child acts differently. True belief in Jesus is believing that Jesus is changing you and bringing glory to God through your life. HE makes you different. He makes you a new creation![iii]

The difference between the child who tries to measure up by being good and the individual who believes in Jesus is the recognition that we can’t measure up to God’s standards by ourselves. The child acts differently because he believes Santa will reward him for being good. We act differently when God mysteriously changes who we are through the power of His Holy Spirit. As we immerse ourselves in His Word and follow Him in our daily lives, Jesus shines in us, making our lives to “sparkle” so that others may [iv]“see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.”

Chambers writes that we must never substitute the [v]“power of the Gospel” with our “knowledge of the way of salvation” lest we “hinder the reality of redemption” in others. It is the “sparkle” of the Light of Jesus, the Light of the World, that causes people to recognize the power of the Gospel to transform lives.

[i] https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/wp/1NOwi3epkH6X

[ii] II Corinthians 9:15 NASB

[iii] II Corinthians 5:17 NASB

[iv] Matthew 5:16 NASB

[v] Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest (Updated for Today’s Language). “Not By Might Nor By Power” (December 7). Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. 1992.

It Was Not A Good Weekend!

, ,
Enderby Parish

Good Friday has passed. I have never understood why this day is called “good.” It was the saddest day in history from a human perspective.

Eleven years ago, I spent Easter week in England with a group of teens from The Kings Christian School in Cherry Hill, NJ. The Saturday before Easter was a cold, rainy – and snowy day, typical for England during this time of year. We were serving in the tiny village of Enderby. Our teens and the youth group from Enderby Mission Church partnered with another local church for a special “Good Saturday” outreach for the children of the community. At least one hundred children came, and there was an outdoor barbeque (even in the rain!) There were games, candy, and a program for the children. After the festivities, we went inside the historic Enderby Parish Church, first built around the year of 1230, where our team led in worship and presented a puppet show, followed by a clear presentation of the gospel story. It was a good day.

But that Saturday following the crucifixion of Jesus, the Sabbath for the Jewish people, was anything but good. The disciple’s rabbi was dead. Mary’s child had been brutally “killed”. Mary Magdalene’s Savior and Lord was gone from her life. All of those who loved this great Teacher, who believed He was the Messiah were devastated. He was dead. He was gone. Hope was gone. It was the worst Sabbath that they could ever have imagined.

By Saturday morning, the initial shock of the crucifixion had become the tragic reality of their lives. When they woke up that morning, they realized it wasn’t a bad dream. It was real. Jesus was gone. The horrible Friday had turned into an even worse Sabbath. Their hope of Messiah was dashed, like a glass struck against a stone.

As the grief stricken followers of Jesus went through the motions of the Sabbath day, I wonder if the ancient words of the psalmist in Psalm 22 or the message of Isaiah 53, penned by the prophet and copied by the scribes through the centuries of Jewish history, briefly swept across their minds.

Did any of them remember, even for a single moment, the words spoken by Jesus just days before. He had taken his disciples aside, away from the crowds, saying to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him…” (Luke 18:31-33) Did any of them think, “Could He have been describing Himself? Was He trying to prepare us for this moment?”

If He was speaking of Himself, if the psalmist and the prophet were describing what would happen to Jesus, then He was truly the Messiah. But, what did He mean when He finished describing His own death, when He said, “and the third day He will rise again?” Was it possible that He would come back to them?

If they did think of this at all, they would have remembered the events of the past three years. He had raised the little girl who had died, even if no one believed she really was dead. What about the young man whose body was being taken for burial? Jesus had raised him up. They had seen it with their own eyes. And of course, there was Lazarus. Jesus had spoken just three words, “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus came forth all wrapped up in the white burial cloth. He came hopping out of the grave and they had to unwrap him so he could even walk.

But Jesus was dead. How could He raise Himself? It couldn’t be true. He must have been speaking about the final resurrection, like Martha had mentioned to Him prior to Lazarus’ resurrection. But it couldn’t be true, could it?

Jesus was gone, and His family and His disciples could not understand. Somehow, with all that Jesus had taught them, “the truth was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.” (Luke 18:34)

It was not a good Friday or a good Saturday, but Sunday was coming, and everything would change!

Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun in Greece & Rome

, , , , , , , , ,

It’s been fun traveling with my husband, leading tours together, and sharing experiences in the US and around the world for nearly 46 years. I wouldn’t trade those trips together for anything, but there is something to be said for GIRL TRIPS! If you want to laugh A LOT and do CRAZY things together, then travel the world with your sister, cousin, mom, or girlfriend – ‘cause girls just wanna have fun!

In April of 2018, my husband and I were leading our first tour to Greece and had the last-minute opportunity of inviting my sister to join us. Like me, this was her first visit to Greece.

We were giddy with excitement even before we boarded our first flight. Knowing the layover was going to be in Vienna, we imagined the Austrian countryside depicted in The Sound of Music with snow covered alps in the distance and white patches of tiny flowers (edelweiss) along the runway.  Our plan was to belt out the song, “The hills are alive with the sound of music…” getting the rest of our group to join in. However, as the plane approached the runway in Vienna, alas, there were no mountains, not even a hill, and definitely there was no edelweiss! Our singing never got beyond a whisper that faded away as we broke out in hilarious laughter. People probably thought we were crazy! But I have to say the Austrian pastries in the airport were delicious!

Riding a donkey up the steep mountain path to Fira, the capital of Santorini, to secretly taking pictures of the large shirtless man singing in the Old City of Rhodes fountain, Plateia Ippokratous, in the medieval town square, caused us to giggle like little girls, making this the most memorable trip ever! Other highlights included our attempt at Greek “line-dancing” and wading in each body of water we encountered – including the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Ionian Seas. We even dipped our feet in the ice-cold stream that is the traditional site of Lydia’s baptism not far from biblical Philippi, described in Acts 16:14-15, just to say we did it!

My sister and I are always up for trying new foods, so we tasted almost every Greek delicacy, especially relishing in the strong, smooth Greek coffee served in tiny white demitasse cups in local villages. For dessert, we often sought out refreshing gelato and pagotó at the local Greek ice-cream shoppes along the way.

What I’ve learned through these years of leading tours is the most fun and laughter happen when girls travel together. I’ve had the experience of meeting and traveling with many women from all over the US and other parts of the world – moms and daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters, sisters, cousins, girlfriends – and even mothers-in-law & daughters-in-law. Maybe you’re celebrating a birthday or retirement or sisterhood or friendship, take a risk. Join the adventure. Invite a friend or sister, cousin or daughter.. Plan on some serious fun in Greece and Rome this summer! You won’t regret it!

14-Day Footsteps of Paul Land and Sea Adventure to Greece & Rome – June 19 to July 2, 2024

Oh, and just so you know, this trip is not just for girls, guys are welcome, too! Believe me, they will have fun. But from my perspective, most of the time, girls have more fun!

You can learn more about us and our trip, plus check out the complete itinerary on our trip website. OR just call or text me and I’ll send you a brochure. Feel free to reach out. We can talk by phone, communicate by email or meet for coffee if you live in the New Bern, NC, area. I’m glad to answer any questions you may have and help you sign up. Just a few spots remain so don’t wait! You can learn more on my Blog: My Favorite Place in Greece. Contact me at  info@disciplepath.org  OR Call or Text Kim at 856-979-888O.

The Countdown Begins NOW! – Lord Willing!

, , , , , , , ,

“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Lord willing, on February 26, 2024, we will be boarding our non-stop flight to Tel-Aviv with an amazing group of travelers to walk in the footsteps of Jesus in the Holy Land of Israel and travel to ancient land of Jordan, where we will experience one of the seven wonders of the world at Petra!

Your Tour Hosts, Dr. Joe and Kim Olachea
00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds

Today we begin counting down the days…365…364…363….

Is travel to the Holy Land on your bucket list? Would you love to see all seven wonders of the world? Or maybe just one? Do you want to walk the streets of Jerusalem and see where Jesus walked – or sail on the see of Galilee, where Jesus walked on water? Have you ever wondered what it is feels like to float in the Dead Sea or be baptized in the Jordan River?

The year of 2024 can be your year! What are you waiting for? Make your decision today and you will, Lord willing, have a year to plan, prepare, save, and work toward this once in a lifetime trip!

I humbly say, Lord willing, especially since March of 2020. We were scheduled to lead a tour to Greece with 29 travelers just eleven days after the world shut down due to COVID. Of course, our trip was cancelled like everyone else with travel plans in the rest of the world! We tried to schedule it again in the fall of 2020, spring of 2021 and the fall of 2021. Thankfully, in the spring of 2022, a handful of our original group of travelers settled on the Second Missionary Journey of Paul tour, like the one we led in 2018, since no one knew at that time when or if the original tour would be available. The group had a glorious time. The second missionary journey of Paul is one of our favorite trips! We hope to do this trip again in the future. Finally, in November of 2022, we were able to take a delightful group of folks on the original Greece & Three Continent Cruise Tour that included Ephesus, Egypt, Cyprus, Israel, and Rhodes. That trip was absolutely incredible.

So we have learned to say, “Lord willing!” which is definitely a biblical principle for those who follow Jesus. James writes in his epistle,

Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city…]Yet you do not know [h]what your life will be like tomorrow…Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” (James 4:13-15, NASB)

Today, travel appears to be back to normal. We are expectantly and confidently looking forward to traveling to Israel and Jordan Feb 26 to Mar 8, 2024, and we invite you to go with us. At the same time, we don’t forget the words of James! We need to live fully and make the most of every moment. And at the same time we need to remember, as King Solomon wisely wrote, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).

Are you ready to go with us? Sign up today to get the full itinerary and find out how you can sign up now to to go with us to Israel on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 through Friday, Mar 8, 2024. Get your name on the list! Mark your calendar, make your plans, save your spot!

Start counting down the days, and, Lord willing, we will see you Next Year in Jerusalem!

As they say in Israel, “L’chaim! (to life!)!

Get your brochure & itinerary for Israel – Jordan 2024 – Feb 26 to Mar 8