{"id":1939,"date":"2015-04-21T05:14:46","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T11:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/?p=1937"},"modified":"2015-04-21T05:14:46","modified_gmt":"2015-04-21T11:14:46","slug":"tour-guides-for-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/tour-guides-for-faith\/","title":{"rendered":"Tour guides for faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I am writing these words from the shores of the Dead Sea<\/a> where I am closing out an amazing 10-day trek across Jordan<\/a> with a dozen other faith writers. For some of us, we hoped to gain some inspiration. A few were here to see the sights. Others were looking for a pilgrimage, a way to connect with the roots of their faith.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an amazing place to do it all. While Israel has places associated with Christ\u2019s birth and final days, Jordan boasts so many biblical ties it\u2019s called The Other Holy Land<\/a>. In just a few days you can see Mt. Nebo<\/a>, where Moses gazed into the promised land and was later buried, the hillside <\/a>where Jesus cast the demons into the swine, the baptismal site of Jesus by John the Baptist, and the Herodian castle<\/a> that later served as the place where the prophet\u2019s head was served as a gift to Siloam\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

And that doesn\u2019t count the fabulous Wadi Rum <\/a>desert, full of Bedouin charm, Petra<\/a>, the necropolis city, and the Dead Sea.<\/p>\n

Our visit could have been a typical tourist venture. You know the kind. The driver pulls up to the site and all the people pile out of the bus camera\u2019s in hand. They point and shoot, ooh and awe, take a few selfies, and then pile back in.<\/p>\n

\"Raed\"<\/a>But Raed Haddad <\/a>hasn\u2019t let us get away with this kind of trek. \u201cNow you\u2019ll see some stones here, but before that was a magnificent city that Jesus entered. He was preaching, teaching, and healing. But most of all, he was moving the people\u2019s hearts. It all started in the Old Testament\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Raed has been a tour guide for 21 years and he\u2019s a natural. He has a heart for his country and loves his people. \u201cThis is the birthplace of faith,\u201d he reminds us. \u201cThe Holy Land wasn\u2019t defined by nation\u2019s boundaries as much as it was by tribes.\u201d<\/p>\n

But what comes out in every conversation is his heart for his faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot separate my faith from what I do,\u201d he admits. \u201cIf God is true, He must be in and about everything. That includes my work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paying the price<\/h2>\n

The country has both a spoken and unspoken tolerance and even acceptance of minority faith groups. Christians are guaranteed a certain number of Parliamentary positions and Christian heritage sites are particularly guarded with pride. It\u2019s a completely safe place for the Christian tourist and resident.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be honest. Jordan is a predominately Muslim country. The government claims 3-5 percent of the population is Christian, although those on the ground claim a much lower figure. Regardless, those profess Jesus are a decided minority.<\/p>\n

So being a Christian here isn\u2019t easy. Speaking boldly about your faith is a great challenge. \u201cStanding up for my faith has cost me friends,\u201d said Raed. \u201cSome of my friend will want me to lie or deceive on their behalf. I won\u2019t do it. I\u2019ve lost friends, but God has gained me respect in return.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has lost work too. Raed has been dropped by some tour companies because of his emphasis on faith. \u201cHow can you show people the land of the Bible and just talk about geography? They ask me to tone down my love for the Bible and for God and I won\u2019t do it. I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

How does he get through it? \u201cDon\u2019t be distracted. Don\u2019t be hurt,\u201d he implores. \u201cIf you focus on your wound, it will never heal. Even when people shut the door in your face, he\u2019ll open many others.\u201d<\/p>\n

We are all tour guides<\/h2>\n

As believers in this world, it\u2019s our job to show others God\u2019s wonders and truths. People drive right past the amazing things of God every day \u2013 missing out on the eternity for the sake of the temporal. Like lonely scenic overlooks, the freeways are full of people who don\u2019t know where they are going, but are making great time.<\/p>\n

Am I a tour guide for my faith?<\/p>\n

One thing we can be sure of \u2013 if we do it right, we will be despised and detested for His name\u2019s sake. That\u2019s a promise. Many of our brothers and sisters across the globe are paying the ultimate sacrifice.<\/p>\n

\"Raed[1]_1_0\"<\/a>Share Your Story<\/h1>\n

This week I helping editors at the High Calling share stories about those who on the Firing Line for faith.\u00a0Have you been challenged and oppressed for your faith? Or have you stopped just short, uncertain of the results. What holds you back?<\/p>\n

If you have your own story to share, leave a note below. If you have a blog and write about it, jump on over to the High Calling<\/a> and\u00a0link up<\/a>\u00a0for others to see.<\/p>\n

\u2014-<\/p>\n

Want to go to Jordan? Contact Ra\u2019ed<\/a> and he will guide you on what to do next. You will NOT be disappointed. It\u2019s safe. It\u2019s secure. It will change your life.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Raed Haddad\u200b has been a tour guide for 21 years, and he’s a natural. He has a heart for his country and loves his people. \u201cThis is the birthplace of faith,\u201d he reminds us. \u201cThe Holy Land wasn’t defined by nation’s boundaries as much as it was by tribes.\u201d<\/p>\n

But what comes out in every conversation is his heart for his faith. As a committed Christian in this country, his faith is under fire every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI cannot separate my faith from what I do,\u201d he admits. \u201cIf God is true, He must be everything.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2375,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1010,1166,1195,1513,1252,1266,1268],"class_list":["post-1939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-holyjordan","tag-holy-land","tag-jordan","tag-new-testament","tag-old-testament","tag-persecution","tag-petra"],"yoast_head":"\nTour guides for faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Raed Haddad\u200b has been a tour guide for 21 years, and he's a natural. 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