BLOG TOURS
These are two very
different books, except that they both touch on the Middle East. And both
stories tell what happened when the author walked the path of obedience to God.
They both describe a life that is transformed by the presence and power of
Christ.
The second book for this week:
Book Description:
Come with John
and Judy Pex as they hike the 600-mile Israel National Trail from the Egyptian
to the Lebanese borders. During 42 days of trekking through spectacular
scenery, Arab towns and villages, past Jewish, Muslim, Druze, and Christian
holy sites, they discover: + Sights seldom seen by tourists + Physical
challenges and spiritual tests + Cultural encounters and historical insights +
Lessons about peace, faith, and endurance. This book will appeal to: 1)
Students of the Bible 2) Middle-agers who want vigorous role models and new
challenges 3) Christian believers seeking creative ways to test and share their
faith 4) Young adults pursuing the great hiking trails of the world 5) Readers
interested in Israel. Illustrated with (color) photos of scenes and people from
the Trail.
Ordering Info :
176 pages
Price: $14.99
Available through Amazon.com and other
online retailers, or through bookstores anywhere.
The
Amazon Kindle version is FREE March 29 -
April 2 here .
Review Quotes:
"I
wholeheartedly recommend this book for its glimpses of the people, history, and
beauty of the land, and for the author's spiritual insights." - Jeremiah
Greenberg, The Messianic Times,
Jan/Feb 2008
"For
thirty years I have had the incredible experience of traveling the land given
to Israel by God -- from Dan to Beersheba to Eilat. However, 'walking the land'
with my friends Judy and John [by reading this book] has brought a whole new
dimension and depth to my understanding of Israel and its people. I know you'll
be enriched spiritually through Judy's story of the insights given her by her
God on this journey of a lifetime." - Kay Arthur, Precept Ministries International
In their fifties, Judith and John Pex, who run a hostel in
Israel, felt the need for renewal and decided to walk the 600-mile Israel
National Trail. In WALK THE LAND,
Judith shares what they discovered about God, themselves, and the history and
people of Israel, and how their love for the land opened doors to share their
faith in Yeshuah (Jesus).
Interview with Judith Galblum Pex:
You
have traveled much of the world. What are your favorite cities/places to visit?
Usually the latest place I've been becomes my favorite,
though I prefer the more remote locations over large cities. One incredible
experience was going with Galit, who is like an adopted daughter for us, back
to the village in Gondar, Ethiopia where she was born. She had left there with
her mother twenty years previously as a young girl and walked to Sudan from
where they were air-lifted to Israel with Operation Moses.
For
people who have not yet read your book: What drew you to Israel?
I was traveling around the world, searching for a purpose in
life. After hitchhiking alone through Europe for a year, my goal was to reach
India, where I thought I would find a guru. I decided to stop in Israel on the
way. I'm Jewish and have relatives here, so I thought it would be a comfortable
place to rest before the big trip East. I never dreamed that Israel would
become my home.
What
were the biggest challenges and rewards in raising four children in Israel?
Our oldest son was born our first year in this country, and
I had no family and no fellowship of believers in Eilat. I think that raising
children in a different culture than the one you grew up in is always a
challenge. But, on the other hand, raising children anywhere isn't easy. All
four of our children served in the Israeli Defense Forces which also presented
challenges. I am thankful to have raised them in an international,
multicultural environment. They feel very Israeli, but have three passports and
are citizens of the world. The best part is seeing them develop into
independent adults whom I enjoy being with.
How
did you and John get started running a hostel?
There are several reasons. Both of us had traveled a lot and
felt that we understood what kind of place backpackers were looking for. At the
time, no such hostel existed in Eilat. When we started the Shelter we had three
children and couldn't travel as we used to, so a hostel enabled us to keep
meeting people without leaving home. Furthermore, we have always opened up our
home to guests and we really needed a hostel just to accommodate all the folks
who were staying with us!
Did
you know you wanted to write a book about your journey on the Israel Trail
before you hiked it, or was it a decision you made afterward?
Before we walked the Israel Trail I had started a book about
our experience in running the Shelter Hostel. So writing a book was on my mind.
I thought that our journey on the Trail would be a good subject for a book, so
I kept a diary of our walk for that purpose.
You
find many parallels between your walk on the Shvil Israel (the Israel Trail)
and your spiritual walk.
I love maps and when I'm hiking I enjoy checking the map
often. That way, even if I get off the path, I can't stray too far. I make sure
I read my Bible every day also to keep me on the right path for my life.
Another lesson I thought of is that sometimes on a hike we come to a crossroads
and have to make a decision about which way to go. Once we've chosen a
particular trail, I try to be satisfied and appreciate it. Even if it isn't
what I'd thought, I can always enjoy and learn something from it.
Which
languages do you speak?
Besides English, I speak Hebrew and Dutch (John is from
Holland), fluently, and some French, which I studied in school.
Do
you have a favorite Bible verse?
I have many favorites, but there's one special chapter --
Isaiah 53. In verse 6 is the key: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity
of us all." It is amazing how clearly Isaiah speaks about the Messiah
here, 700 years before Yeshua, Jesus, was born. Many Israelis, when they read
this chapter for the first time, think they are reading a portion of the New
Testament.
What
would readers be surprised to know about you?
When people meet me today they are often surprised to hear I
was a hippie/traveler and that I lived for three years in Alaska in an Eskimo village
above the Arctic Circle.
Margie's Comments: When I first received the books to review this month for Cladach Publishing, this was the first book that got my attention. What a wonderful read for someone who has never been to Israel but would dearly love to someday. The experiences Judith shares are thought-provoking, entertaining, and full of wonderful people and history. I was challenged and encouraged in my walk with Christ as the places and events of the Bible came alive to me. I highly recommend Walk the Land.
Margie's Comments: When I first received the books to review this month for Cladach Publishing, this was the first book that got my attention. What a wonderful read for someone who has never been to Israel but would dearly love to someday. The experiences Judith shares are thought-provoking, entertaining, and full of wonderful people and history. I was challenged and encouraged in my walk with Christ as the places and events of the Bible came alive to me. I highly recommend Walk the Land.
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