How It All Began

"I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul." -Jeremiah 32:41

To my knowledge, this is the only thing God states He will do with His whole heart and soul. Return the lost tribes of Israel to the land. Amazing...

To know the exact time and location of your "re-birth" is quite Christian. Although, I will admit even in those days I had no clue as to when I was "reborn." So when I think back to the beginnings of this great journey, I must do so in general terms because I never knew it would lead me to where I am today. Needless to say, I was NOT looking for this. God found me. God shaped me. And who can run from God?

But as for this journey I can point to the year 2004 as a beginning point. I was still in school at Southeastern Bible College and was working the glamorous job of Hydra Spa associate in the Riverchase Galleria. I also was interning at Meadow Brook Baptist with the youth department. I felt that my life was well put together! I could only think of one thing holding me back. I felt horrible. Physically. My eating habits were that of a typical American college kid. Junk food + coffee + sugar + staying up until the weeeeee hours of the morning = blaaaahhhhh... I dabbled in vitamins and such for a time, but nothing seemed to help. I would be completely drained throughout every day. It was affecting me, my job, and those around me. I had to get some help.

One day while I was passing out amazing Hydra Spa massages, I recalled a book that my mother had read. "What Did Jesus Eat?" I began to ponder the idea of eating as God-on-earth ate. How novel! As I began to research this, I kept being drawn to one idea. One place in Scripture. Leviticus 11 is God's diet plan for mankind. Jews call it Kosher. Christians call it legalism. But one thing I knew, this is what Jesus ate! So I tried it. Unsuccessfully at first I will admit. It is extremely difficult to remember what is and is not kosher after 25 years of gentile eating habits. But nevertheless, I tried. And after a while, I did truly feel better.

It was also around this time that I developed an interest in leading a small prayer group at school. Spiritually I was growing at a rate that startled me at times and strengthened me at others. Leading a prayer group was one more step along the staircase. I had never done anything like that, but felt God was urging me to get involved. Who knows, it may have been a great resume addition!? But anyway, I contacted the person involved with assigning leaders for groups. As I recall, she said that she only had one group left without a leader and that I was welcome to take it. I assured her of my interest and asked what group it was. "Israel" she said. "Who?" "Israel." "Oh, OK I guess." I knew very little about Israel at the time. Basically, I knew Jesus lived there, along with those God-forsaken Pharisees. I remembered a little from the most recent fighting between Israel and the Palestinians, the "Intifada" I believe. Other than that, I knew I would need more information if I was going to lead a prayer group on those who had rejected Jesus.

So I studied. And I learned. And I studied more. And learned more. I began to develop a heart for these people. Granted, it was a missionary's heart. I wanted them to know Jesus just as any good Christian would. It began to be all that I could think about. In fact, it began to consume my thoughts. I could not study enough, nor learn enough about the Jewish people, their land, and their language.

Meanwhile, back at the spa, I had developed a great friendship with several Israelis who were temporary workers at the mall. We hung out a bit, complained about holiday shoppers, and began to develop relationships that still last to today. They tried to teach me Hebrew. I tried to teach them, well nothing actually. I kept waiting for the right time to share Jesus. It was going to be my breakthrough! I would lead these seemingly atheist Jews to their Savior. And who knows, maybe their family and friends as well. I was single-handedly going to prepare the Jewish nation to receive their "Christ." Just one problem. The opportunity never arose to share. I kept waiting and looking for that perfect chance. I prayed. I hinted. I hung out with them. I even participated in my first Chanukah with them. But nothing. Must not have been God's timing.

So there I was. A kosher eating Christian who hung out with Jews, participated in Chanukah, led a prayer group on Israel, and was awaiting my next orders from God. Enter, my good friend Eric Herschberg.