Keep the "Kodak Moments" Coming!

Tierra del Fuego Patagonia, Argentina...the end of the world!

Answers.yahoo.com defines a "Kodak Moment" as "a heartwarming moment where a picture would save that special memory of the event.  

Our family has had the privilege of taking several overseas trips which complemented our homeschool curriculum.  Each year, our favorite photo becomes our Christmas greeting.

Whistler, BC

Here are a few of them:

Near the Pyramids and Spinx Cairo, Egypt...3 months before the Revolution!

Sunrise on Mt Sinai

Heading Home...tired puppies!

Which is your favorite...and why?

Here are a couple of links to our adventures: South America  Into the Promised Land

Journey to Jerusalem: The Jewel of the Jews A to Z Blogging Challenge

Jerusalem...one of the oldest and most sacred of cities.  For the Christian and Jew, it is a city of symbolism, hope and prophecy.

Other names for Jerusalem:


Mt Moriah (where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, but, provided a lamb instead)

Jebus (Jebusites, of course, lived there.)

City of David (the oldest part of the city, which King David won from the Jebusites in battle)

Zion (reflects the religious aspects of the city)

The Holy City

View of Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives

Jews all over Israel would flock to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate their religious festivals.  It was the center of their lives.  Since the city was on a hill, no matter which direction the people would travel from, they would always say they were going "up to Jerusalem."

Here are some other facts about Jerusalem through the centuries:

Jews came here to celebrate Passover each year

Solomon's temple was built on this spot

God's presence was found here in the ark of the covenant which the children of Israel placed in the temple

David ruled as King in Jerusalem, at that time called 'the City of David.'

David's harp...a symbol of the City of David

Known as the "Beautiful City" by the Jews
Destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC but rebuilt in 516BC   Psalm 137

Remodeled by Herod the Great  in Jesus time (1st century)

Place where Jesus was crucified, buried and raised alive from the tomb.

He will come again and place his foot on Mt of Olives and reign for 1,000 years.  Isaiah 65:18-19.
There will be a 'New Jerusalem' where Christ will reign forever with His saints. Revelation 21-22

Isaiah 2:3
And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

Here are some links you might find 
interesting:


City of David
Christian/Jewish Religious gifts from Israel
Friends of Israel
Michael Rydelnick: Messianic Jew and Bible
Teacher, author and tour guide.
Shabbat Shalom Cooking
Charlie Dyer: Holy Land Expert
Joel Rosenberg, Author of 
"Epicenter" and other Middle East
Thrillers

Our family had the opportunity to take an "Into the Promised Land" tour in 2010.  You can find our blog posts here.

When you think of Jerusalem, what comes to mind?  Shalom!

Don't Worry...Be Jewish! Part 2

We are home now, and almost completely acclimated to our CST zone. We again appreciated your prayers.
Thanks, too, for being such troopers in keeping up with my wordy blog. I assure you that I have left many things unsaid, due to lack of time. I finally realized four days into our trip, that I could blog on the bus as we left each spot, so that I didn't have an hour's worth of work waiting for me after dinner, which tended to start around 8pm. Then there was the issue of purchasing a wireless connection and fitting all I had to do in a short amount of time. It was truly a labour of love...hopefully better than any trinket I could bring home to you!
Due to very little sleep (most days we had to be up at 6am, with our bags packed and outside our hotel room door at 6:45am, at which time we would head down to breakfast), and lack of time to gather my thoughts properly, I would leave pertinent information out, or express myself incorrectly.
Such was the case with my last entry. I entitled it as I did above, because I saw it as a contradiction of terms. Being Jewish is not, and never has been a reason to be happy in the secular realm. They have been persecuted throughout their history as a nation from all sides. And even as we made our way safely through the streets and roads of Israel, we noticed fences, barbed wire and soldiers, (male and female), everywhere we went. The country is surrounded on all sides (except the Mediterranean), with hostility and border tension. From the Gaza strip in the south, to the Golan Heights in the north, and the West Bank, this tiny country interacts with those who not only refuse to acknowledge them as a people or a country, but actively prevent them from uncovering any indication of their roots. Even the Temple Mount, within the old city walls, their most precious piece of property and connection with their God throughout history, is "owned" by the Muslims. Not my idea of a happy situation!
But spiritually speaking, they are the most blessed on earth. God is for them, and He has promised blessing to not only the nation of Israel itself, but to all those who help them (Genesis 12). The nation itself will be a blessing to the entire earth, because out of it, over 2,000 years ago, came the Messiah, Jesus Christ...Savior of the world!
Of course, the promise comes with a caveat. Only obedience to God and His Word can bring about that blessing. We also know from Scripture, that there will be a remnant of Jews that will be faithful to the Covenant. In the end, God will fight for them, and they will win! If you don't have time to read the exciting end times story in full, read Revelation 19-22...you will be glad you did. All those who are faithful to Jesus Christ, from every nation, will experience this new heaven and earth for themselves.
Despite the hostilities around them, I saw a nation that was orderly and peaceful, but prepared. Orthodox children were abundant, everywhere we went, and they laughed and played. Their numbers are growing. We saw fields of palm, date, olive and banana trees, along with other crops. Life was evident everywhere...even small plants grew within the crevice of rocks.
Ezekiel 36:7-11 describes this perfectly: "Therefore says the Lord God: Behold, I have raised my hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you will bear their shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the ruins rebuilt. I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord."
We are so thankful for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Israelites as they headed for the Promised Land, and then slip into Jesus' sandals, to follow His path of ministry that lead to the cross.

Below are some photos illustrating the above comments, and then, some just for fun. Orthodox Jews, young soldiers, and Olivia enjoying a Shabbat meal are a few of them. I appreciate your interest in joining us on our journey...I hope it was enlightening and encouraging for you as well.

To continue this journey on your own, listen to 90.1 FM (Chicago area) at 11am each Saturday for Dr. Charlie Dyer's "The Land and the Book", or log in to: www.thelandandthebook.org
to access this up to the minute and historical look into Israel and the Middle East events.
Another website is: www.cityofdavid.org. Great if you are interested in the history and archaeology of the original Jerusalem in the time of King David. Very professionally done, and of course, with a Jewish flavor!
Shalom!

P.S. Our favorite treats on Bus 2 were coffee and watermelon/honeydew sherbet popsicles. The former kept us awake, and the latter cooled us down!

Don't Worry...Be Jewish!

Such was the writing on a tee shirt we saw as we wandered through the bazaars in the old city with our friends Mila and Greg. They arrived from the States yesterday morning, and planned to spend the day with us.
Not wanting to let go of our steady pace, but needing a break, we took an archeological tour of the ancient City of David, a section of the land below what would be Solomon's temple (present day Dome of the Rock). King David fought the Jebusites and won the land, choosing it because he wanted his people to always look towards, and walk up to, the temple when it was built. It was to be the glory of Jerusalem.
The Israelis discovered this area a number of years ago, and, from time to time, uncover more of this city. In one section, the walls represent three levels of civilization, going back as far as the Canaanites. We then learned about the threat of Assyrian conquest over the land, so, anticipating that event, King Hezekiah had a tunnel carved from the rock to provide a water source from the Gihon Springs, so the enemy could not cut off the source in a time of war. He had his stone masons begin at opposite ends of the intended tunnel...one at the Springs and the other beginning at the pool of Siloam. Amazingly, they met exactly in the middle! Experts think that they followed a fault line for accuracy.

We had the opportunity to trudge for 35 minutes through shin deep (at times hip deep) rushing water in a tunnel that was barely wide enough for our shoulders. At some points we had to bend down so as not to bump our heads on the ceiling. Now that would seem challenging enough, but imagine doing this in the dark! Thankfully, we had tiny flashlights to light our way.
Before heading to another area, we looked at the Siloam Springs excavation, which was just recently found. As we were leaving, we heard a commotion. Some Palestinian school boys were pelting tourists who walked over to a fence on the edge of the property, which was the dividing line between the excavation site, and Silhan, the neighborhood of illegally built Palestinian homes. Israelis have deeds for the property, but are forced away by this group of settlers. This is a very dangerous area...two weeks ago, there were shootings here.
So, our guide found a security guard, who walked us through a safer area, then out of the site. On the way, I found this sign which is a clue to the atmosphere that surrounds this neighborhood.
Since we were not able to visit the Temple Mount on our two week tour, today we did. The Muslims have total control over the highest point of the city, as did the Crusaders and Byzantines in past history. They are sporadic with their hours, and can change on a whim, so we were glad we had a half hour to experience this area that covered an area equivalent to 11 soccer fields. We saw the Mosque with the gold dome, built on the temple site. The color blue used in the tiles, supposedly drives away evil. The Jews want to excavate under this area, but are not allowed. In fact, the Muslims try any way they can to prevent a discovery that will prove the Bible true. They claim that there is no evidence that King David ever lived, and believe that Abraham sacrifice both Ishmael and Isaac on this site. The Scriptures verify the first point, and have no record of the second.


How touching it was to see the Mount of Olives from this vantage point, and know that the Messiah will come through the Eastern gate (just to the left of these arches). Neither a Muslim cemetery or a walled up gate will keep him away!
After we were herded off the premises, we had an authentic lunch of hummus, falafel, and shish-kabobs with pita, along with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, and mint lemonade (great combo, by the way.) In this Muslim restaurant, there are no prices on the menu...the owner sizes you up, and decides at that moment how much you will pay for your meal! Thankfully, we only paid 137 shekels for the six of us, which is approximately $40.

The rest of the afternoon, we spent with the Pipers at their apartment in restaurant row. Mila and I broke away and went window shopping in modern Jerusalem. It was soon time to take the shuttle to the Tel Aviv airport, where we will sit for 6 hours, take a 2 hour flight to Istanbul, wait for three hours, then board the Turkish Airlines flight for our 10 hour flight back to the US.
Lord, willing, we will see many of you soon...thanks for your prayers on our behalf. Keep praying for Chen, our guide, that he will see the Light!

Suffering, Compassion and Triumph...

Today we began our tour at the Lion's Gate in the Muslim section of the Old City. We took the Via Delarosa or, the "Way of Suffering," which Christ would have followed through the Holy City as He was tried, beaten, forced to carry His Cross, and then crucified. Some of the stops are extra-Biblical, being of Catholic tradition; but we all agree that Christ took our payment of sin on Himself, becoming sin for us, as He was tortured and crucified. God the Father could not look at the sin, so Jesus died alone, and was buried. But we know that that is not the end of the story...there is more to come!
Since the city in Herod's time was many meters below the present day street, we did not actually plant our feet where He walked on His journey to the cross, but we did visit locations that commemorated it. In two places, we walked below the surface on the original stones laid before Jesus' time in Jerusalem.
The original Upper Room (pictured at left) was still there as in Jesus' day, and was the place where the disciples and Mary met after the crucifixion (according to tradition) Later, the Holy Spirit came with tongues of fire on those gathered so that the Gospel could be preached in every language. Believers would then have the wisdom of God in their hearts as the Holy Spirit taught them.
The pool of Bethesda, which means, "House of Mercy/Compassion," was next. Here Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath, which caused a tremendous uproar with the Pharisees. We found quite a bit of the pool and its stone structure still standing. We were told in some places, the water would have been 40 feet or more. A beautiful herb garden was at one end. I'd like to imagine that while people were waiting for the stirring of the waters so they could be healed, many took advantage of these health giving herbs. Rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender were growing, including a small fig tree, and of course, an olive tree. Just as maple and oak trees grow in Chicago, olive trees are abundant. On many occasions, we saw women picking the olives and placing them in a large plastic sheet to be transported to market.

When we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was thought to be buried, I was disappointed. I remember seeing Golgotha, or the place of the Skull, and the tomb together outside the city. But, I was overjoyed, when, after visiting the Wailing Wall one last time, we took off for that very site. One Pastor on our bus offered to do a short Breaking of Bread service after we toured the Garden Tomb. This was the second highlight of the afternoon!
The Garden Tomb is cared for and run by a group from the UK, and our guide at the site was very definitely a born again Christian. Many times he said, "But we know of course, that He is in the grave no longer...amen? We have that hope!". He was a testimony to every group that came through...
We saw the hill called Gologtha, which looked like a skull carved from its face. Since most crucified bodies were left on the cross to rot, many skulls have been found near the top during excavations. Another reason that makes this site probable, is its location outside the city wall. It is also near a gate (Damascus), and also close to a crossroad which was called "the Jericho Road." These three points are mentioned in Scripture.
The tomb was just below the hill, and was in a beautiful garden...even more beautiful than Gethsemane. There was a small cave hewn in the rock, and inside were four small carved sections in the floor enough for three bodies, which makes it a family tomb. Scripture points out that Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, had it prepared for his family, but was unused at the time of Jesus' death, and so offered to bury there. Above, and to the right of the door, on the face of the tomb, was a tiny opening for light. I just had to ask our guide which direction was east. Sure enough, on that very early Easter morning, when the two Marys visited the tomb, the sun's rays would have shone directly through that window, and onto the empty grave clothes, proving that Christ was no longer in the tomb. He is risen!

We enjoyed a sumptuous farewell dinner, after sharing our thoughts about the trip. Mine centered on the observation that God is protecting and blessing Israel with safety and an abundance of children...they are everywhere. And of course, we all mentioned how the Bible will now come alive as never before.

The Holy City's Messiah and Bethlehem's Lamb...

This morning we gathered to see King David's tomb, which is not mentioned in Scripture, but is a traditional site whose location has been known through the centuries. It was hidden, evidently, during times of persecution, and brought back after Constantine made Christianity legal.

It is Friday, and at sundown, all orthodox Jews celebrate Shabbat. We walked through the orthodox section of the old city, mingling with families and singles alike who were rushing to prepare for their holiday. Filling the large square were Hassidic men with black hats and side curls, and married women with hair artfully hidden with a scarf who were hurrying their little yarmulka-clad boys and long skirted girls to their destination. Evidently, there is much to do before sundown.

We were given a few minutes to spend at the Western, or Wailing Wall, which runs along the side of the original temple where the Holy of Holies would have been situated. Women on the right, men on the left...each had their place. As Olivia and I walked up to the wall, we noticed many orthodox women saying their prayers as they swayed back and forth. Evidently, that helps with memorization of a passage. On closer inspection, we saw small bits of paper stuck in the crevices of the stone. These were prayers that visitors had left in hopes they would be answered. I was able to reach the wall after others had left, and, placing my hand on the cold stone, prayed that many Jews would see the light of the Gospel and embrace it. Our tour guide, Chen, knows so much Scripture, making connections between Old and New Testaments. He finds it uplifting and full of truth, but still sees Jesus as a righteous prophet and teacher. Pray that he someday will come to know His Messiah as Savior and Lord.
I was feeling guilty for not bringing my scarf today, so I asked Chen if it would offend the orthodox to put a prayer shawl or tallit on my head instead. I had been wanting to purchase one anyway, even tho' men wore them around their waists. He answered quite seriously: "If you were to walk in the Orthodox section of the old city with it on your head, the women would stone you. And if they didn't kill you, the men would finish the job." Case closed!

For the last twenty years or so, there have been archeologist digging tunnels along the foundation of the present old city, directly under and along the Western Wall. We had the privilege of taking a tour of a portion of the tunnel, which brought us to the level of the street during Herod's time, which is exactly where Jesus would have walked! This was the highlight of our day.
Next, we exchanged drivers and tour guides, and crossed over the border into the West Bank to see Bethlehem, the place where Jesus was born. Well, we saw the STAR on top of the place where Jesus was born. Actually, the CHURCH that housed the STAR that marked the place where Jesus was born. For an hour and a half we stood sweating and hungry inside a stuffy Byzantine turned Crusader's church in a queue to see this spot where Jesus lay...and Jack didn't even build it! I think the Holy Family would be puzzled at this commemoration of the birth of the Christ Child. Churches house amazing works of art, but most folks on our tour would tell you that this was a very trying experience.

Well, it was a test of patience and fortitude...that's what we get when we "go back to Egypt"! Bethlehem is on Palestinian territory, so they did not allow our Israeli guide/driver to lead us. We were back with the familiar, "one dollar for cold water," or, "necklaces, five for ten dollars," or "postcards for a dollar, Miss".
It's such a relief to be back in Israel. We feel so safe and relaxed...it's a different world. There is a feeling of peace, order and purpose here, instead of chaos.
Our last stop was the site of the home of John the Baptist, or, more accurately, his father, Zechariah's home. It was exactly five miles from the center of town, in a beautiful terraced area in the hills with trees and flowers. Many present day artists live and work here to find the inspiration they need to create. Scripture says in Luke 1:39, that Mary went to her cousin Elizabeth's home in the hill country for encouragement, because she, too, was pregnant with a child...John the Baptist.
We were all dragging, and so were relieved to finally arrive at our hotel. A Shabbat meal was prepared for us, and we noticed a number of orthodox families waiting in the lobby to gather for a celebration. Two of the elevators in our hotel were on Shabbat mode, which meant they stopped at each of the 18 floors, so no one needed to press a button. Remember that no work is allowed on this day of rest.
A rest sounds more than welcome tonight...Shabbat Shalom!

Three More Photos...

I couldn't miss the opportunity to share these photos of Bethlehem with you:





• The star (inside the church) above the place where Jesus was born...












• Copy Cat Coffee Shop...but how appropriate!

• The Shepherds Field where the announcement was made by angels..."For Unto You is Born This Day, in the City of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

The Heights: Masada, and the Road "Up to Jerusalem"...

How is it possible to condense all that we have seen and heard today? Be forewarned...this entry is extra long. So, read it a bit at a time, or make yourself a cuppa, and devour the entire post in one sitting.
We arrived at Masada, or, "the stronghold", this morning at 9 am. Good thing, because it promised to be over 100 degrees today! Instead of walking the snake path to the top, which Herod I would have used to reach his winter palace (as opposed to his summer palace in Caesarea), we took the cable car. In three minutes flat we arrived at the top.

Nine hundred Zealots, who were knife warriors, rebelled against Herod I and escaped to Masada after the fall of Jerusalem. Herod was a Jewish convert from the Edomite tribe; he was not born Jewish. Since the law said that the King that ruled must be of Jewish blood, these Zealots (among others) did not respect him. Herod also wanted favor with Caesar at all costs. Certainly not a King the Israelites could trust.
This group did not want to use structures that belonged to this hedonistic king so they built very simple stone buildings towards the middle of the Mesa. They had storage rooms, ritual baths for purification, living rooms, cisterns and a synagogue. They would keep food in covered clay pots buried in the rock. Over 70 years later, honey and grains were found as fresh as the day they were stored! How did so many people survive for so long without water? The aqueduct built for Herod's palace could hold enough water from one day's rain for 1,000 people, which would last them three years...amazing!
Because they could not worship at the temple in Jerusalem, they used a meeting room or synagogue instead. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the synagogue became the place of worship.
When the Romans in 73 AD, built a ramp on the west face of the mountain (the easiest approach to access the top), the patriots knew that they would soon be captured. In order to avoid slavery, rape and abuse, they chose to have each father slay his wife and children as they would a sacrificial lamb. The 400 men left cast lots, ten were chosen to slay the men remaining, then one remained to kill the nine and then himself. Those ten potshards used to choose them were found on site when archeologist searched the area. This was a war of values, and though suicide was never an option, even during the holocaust, the rebels had to make a choice.
When the Romans burst in, they found no living to take hostage, other than two women and five children, who told the story to a historian waiting with the Roman army. He later was named Josephus!
Chen pointed out that the Jews above all else must preserve life. When a doctor, nurse or military person puts on his uniform, he promises to protect life and rescue others from the enemy at all costs. The Israeli army comes to Masada to take their oaths.
I thought of the story of Rahab, who hid the spies from the enemy in Jericho...was that a lie, or an act to protect life? I asked Chen how the Jews would view that situation. He said, "Of course, she had to do it to protect life."


A short ride later, we arrived in En Gedi (springs of the baby goat), and that's just what we saw, a mother and two baby ibex grazing along the side of the road! This area was know for its date palms and persimmon bushes (not the fruit), which harvested a sweet perfume. Women in Europe would wait for the ships that sailed with their precious cargo from this area hundreds of years ago. Unfortunately, the formula has been lost, and the bush no longer grows in En Gedi.
David was thought to have written Psalm 57 here, when he hid from Saul. And it was also here that David cut a piece of fabric from Saul's robe while he was in the cave.
Of course, we couldn't miss a stop at Qumran, where, in 1947, a Bedouin shepherd boy found copies of ancient Scripture dated 2,000 years old, inside a cave in the side of the mountain. The Essenes left the scrolls as a foundation for the future. What I didn't know was that John the Baptist came from the Essenes who retreated to this area to meditate. They made every word count. No unnecessary words allowed, as they prepared for judgement day. Evidently, it is surmised that he became their priest during his time with the group. We know from Scripture that he lived in the desert and wore a plain, rough tunic, which is common with groups set apart from the world.

We made a short stop along the busy main route into Jerusalem, on a section of the road where it is steep. People needed to watch their step, and as they slowed down and/or look down, or they would be prey for robbers. We saw the remains of an inn with beautiful mosaics depicting food and wine. Because it was such a perfect place to stop for travelers, the Crusaders built a small fortress on the same location.
Samaritans disagreed with the Jews about the place to worship. Was the place or the worship itself more important? Regardless of the views, a Samaritan brought a Jewish man into this inn after he had been robbed on the road. The injured man was previously passed by a priest (Cohen), and a Levite who served in the Temple. The Samaritan truly showed love to his neighbor in this way.
Now it was time to ascend to Jerusalem, but just before we did, we saw Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, on the hills to the left, where Jesus would have stayed while he was in the city of David. It was a very easy (in terms of length, but not climb) walk to Jerusalem.

As we entered the city, the song, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" was playing over the bus intercom. A very touching moment as the gold dome of the rock appeared in the distance. The Temple Mount is the size of 11 soccer fields. We could see the bricked over Eastern gate, where Christ will enter in the Millennium. Muslims have closed it, and place a cemetery in front of it to prevent the Jewish/Christian Messiah from coming as prophesied. Praise the Lord that nothing can stop His coming!!
Chen said that the Jews say that when God created beauty, He divided it into ten parts. Nine were given to Jerusalem, and one to the remainder of the world. I thought about that for awhile. Why would this city be considered beautiful? I would probably have chosen one by the Mediterranean, or another nestled in the hills, like Nazareth. No, it's not the outward beauty, but what the city symbolizes for all Jews that makes it beautiful. One that symbolizes Jewish history, connection with their God through worship, the feasts, ancestry and culture.

We were taken to the top of the Mount of Olives, where Jesus would have wept for the city, knowing of its future destruction. The oldest cemetery in Israel, from ancient times was before us...I believe those would have been the graves of people raised from the dead after Jesus' resurrection.

Gethsemene was the garden of ancient olive trees with gnarled and twisted trunks. These certainly would have been around when Jesus entered the garden to pray, sweating great drops of blood in anticipation of His separation from the Father. This was necessary to bear the sins of the world. God the Father could not, because of His holiness, look at sins, so, His son Jesus bore the suffering alone for us.
It was a meaningful journey for us as Christians today. Tomorrow promises more of the same!

Living Jordan River Meets Stagnant Dead Sea

This morning at breakfast, we heard a woman scream. As we looked to our left, we saw her rise with a look of shock on her face as she bent over her husband, who had collapsed in his seat. Everything stopped as two doctors went over to check on the gentleman (Dan was one). He soon revived, but no one knows what caused the spell. Blood pressure issues might have been the culprit.
The northernmost portion of the Jordan River was our first stop of the day. Those that wished were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be baptized in the same river where Jesus was baptized by John, although His took place near "Bethany over the Jordan", which is now in the country of Jordan. It was a very solemn occasion to watch the white robed individuals take that step in such a meaningful place.

Bet She'an was a Canaanite military base, dedicated to the god She'an, (similar to Dagon or Chemosh). When the Philistines conquered the Israelites and slew Saul, they cut off his head, and placed it on this city's gate. Much later, the Romans added to the city, making it larger and grander than Jerusalem. It became a mercenary base, offering every possible pleasure. The baths (people took one every 10-14 days), were quite a ritual, offering first physical exercise, then a sauna, tepid water, and finally a cool bath. Intellectually stimulating lectures were given, or perhaps a massage or manicure might be in order. It was a place where the latest gossip would have been heard. The Jews say that by morning, even a goat in the Himalayas will know secrets concerning Israel...they can't be kept! Seemed like people spent the entire day worshipping their bodies...we have come full circle now in our present culture! The photo below is a room in the bath, but is missing the floor, which was held up by pedestals.

We were told the history of the kibbutz, which was communistic in nature. Everything was shared...bank accounts, food, work, etc. And the children only saw their parents 2-3 hours a day! The remainder of the time they were with their classmates (who were more important to them), and the entire community was responsible to raise them (it takes a village...). They worked together for a common cause.
When the students went off to college, they saw the capitalist side of things. This caused discontentment and emotional problems, which brought much strife to the community. Today, they have privatized much of their daily life, but still maintain that social structure and cohesiveness. This shows how important the family structure is! This transition took over 25 years to materialize.
Now we are headed down towards the Dead Sea...the lowest spot on earth. Its salt content is 34%, and three times saltier than any other body of water. It has healing properties, especially for those who have health issues relating to their skeletal system, and is soothing for the skin. Insurance policies in England, Poland, and Germany will pay for 3 weeks of intensive treatments, including lodging and airfare. Hummm...socialized medicine doesn't sound so limiting when you hear that!

The Dead Sea is divided into two parts, north and south, the central point being at Masada, where we will go tomorrow. Very soon, we will be enjoying our own spa treatments, using Dead Sea mud and salt. Floating in this salt solution will be quite an experience, and even more so if we get some in our eyes or mouth...which Olivia did, but we washed it out quickly. How strange it was to bob around like a cork. I tried to turn on my stomach, but was quickly flipped over!
Tomorrow we tour Masada, that great mountain fortress. The story is a sad one. Qumran is the place where the shepherd boy found the scrolls of Scripture, which verified that the Bible is a true historic document. Of course, we don't need that verification, but the world does. We will see them as well when we set our sights on The ancient city of David. "Tomorrow, in Jerusalem!"

Fish, Fish and More Fish...

Driving along the sea of Galilee this morning, the far shore did not look much different than it would have in Jesus' day. No skyscrapers, electric towers or other signs of modern life. Tiberius, where we are lodging these two nights, is the only city on the lake, and somewhat larger than Lake Geneva in Wisconsin.
Our first stop was the museum that housed the ancient fishing boat found in nearby Capernaum after a drought in 1986. An international team of experts found a way to extract it from the mud, and keep its structure intact with foam blown in an around the boat before it was moved. When it reached the shores, everyone rejoiced and some cried as it was lowered to the ground. To think that this first century fisherman's boat could have been one that Jesus preached from, traveled in, or slept on during His ministry! It was a connection for Jews and Christians alike.
Immediately afterwards, we took a larger boat of similar shape out on the lake (more accurate than the word "sea"). At one point, familiar praise choruses were broadcast from a loudspeaker, and many of us joined in. It was the highlight of our day, praising the Lord on the shores of Galilee!
We then moved along to the church of the loaves and fish, which housed a rock and a mosaic dating from the Byzantine era, (around 400 AD), commemorating this awesome miracle of Jesus. Chen mentioned that Jesus came to the common people; the fishermen and farmers, who populated the area.
Peter's house in Capernaum was next, the location being verified by the words, "Peter, Messiah, and Lord" inscribed on the stones on the wall of his home. Later, it was enlarged as people joined to worship with him. "Upon this rock will I build my church" Jesus said (Matt 16:18) ...literally, the first home church! The remains of the town and a synagogue built on the foundation of the first century synagogue was also nearby.
Evidently, the people wouldn't accept Jesus' words, so, Capernaum was cursed and destroyed by Muslims around 700 AD, and never rebuilt (Matt 11:23) How sad! Few miracles were done in Nazareth, his hometown, because they too, failed to believe. I wonder: how many miracles have I missed because I have not had faith in Jesus' words?
After our lunch of pita (bread) and St Peter's (fish), or tilapia, which is abundant in the lake, we took off again for the Mt of Beatitudes, which, because of its location, made a natural amphitheater for Jesus as he spoke from the shore. This amplified His voice so thousands could hear Him clearly.
Lastly, we arrived at Caesarea-Philippi, a city given to Herod the Great's son, Philip, who named it after Augustus Caesar's son. This was a pagan area, dedicated to the god of Pan, who was a protector of nature. Greeks built a memorial in the rock where springs burst forth from the cave. It was so appropriate for Peter to be given the 'keys of the kingdom' here (Matt 16:19) and open the way for Gentiles to receive the Gospel in such a pagan environment.
A full day, but a beautiful location, and lots of insights into Christ's ministry and the Church. Tomorrow, the Dead Sea, Masada and Qumran. Chen, our guide, is willing to be interviewed about his life as a fisherman's son. He grew up in Galilee, and has a treasure house of information that I can use for my children's story of the feeding of the 5,000. It is written from the viewpoint of the little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus. Lila Tov...good night!

Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth...and Hedonism

Today we had a cornucopia of foods for breakfast. Just when I was remarking about the amazing buffet of fresh yogurts, muesli and soft cheeses from around the world, I noticed another table of salads, raw veggies and a variety of olives. After I had filled my plate, I glanced to my left, and saw an array of dried and roasted fish.
We arrived at our table, thanked the Lord for our food, and began to eat. I wanted a mundane cup of tea, so, I went searching for it on the other side of the room, where, to my amazement, was another table of hot breakfast foods, and an assortment of breads and pastries. "Further in and further on", as the Centaur in "The Last Battle" proclaimed. And so I did! I found my tea and also an array of fruits, fruit smoothies, an omelet bar, and an espresso station. Was I dreaming? And this isn't Heaven yet!
Back to reality, we headed north to Caesarea. Another beautiful spot to live...the Mediterranean coast is breathtaking, and the cool breezes a welcome relief from the heat. Which is why Herod I, an architect as well as King, commissioned his palace to be built here. Even today, it is the home of the highest real estate in the country.
Herod had the aqueduct that was meant for the city partially diverted to his home, so he could fill a pool carved from the rock in the Mediterranean...a fresh water pool within the ocean! He also built the hippodrome (where chariot races were held), just outside his door. How's that for hedonistic tendencies?
More importantly, this was where Peter met with Cornelius, a Roman official and a righteous man, after they both had dreams. Peter was in Joppa, dreaming about God pronouncing all things clean to eat. Even Gentiles, God revealed, were clean if they believed in
Christ's work on the cross...unbelievable to a Jew! Cornelius, was lead in a dream to find Peter, so he could bring him the Gospel. They met, Cornelius converted to Christianity, and soon, many Gentiles in the known world were changed through Christ's work on the cross. Being the first Christian convert, I'm sure he was a great influence on the entire Roman government in some way. Later, as more Gentiles turned from their pagan ways, they chose Caesarea as their home.

We then took the winding road up to to top of Mt Carmel, (seemed higher than Sinai) where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Fire from Heaven consumed his water-doused sacrifice, to show that Jehovah was the one true God. We could see the valley of Megiddo spread out before us, north and east from that lofty vantage point. It was more vast than I had imagined! This is where all the armies of the world will meet to make war in the battle of Armageddon, evil against evil. Then suddenly, the Messiah, Jesus Christ the Lord will appear and smite the nations with the sword of his mouth. This incident is found in Revelation 20; the good news is...Christ wins!

The king of Megiddo had his royal stables on a ridge overlooking the plains of the same name, so we toured the archeological site. Over 20 ancient civilizations have been found in the layers under the valley of Jezreel...to think this will be the site of civilization as we know it is hard to comprehend.
Nearby, was the mountain of transfiguration, where two disciples saw Jesus with Moses and Elijah. They wanted to build a memorial, but that was not in Jesus plan to have them worship a site, instead of the person, as we sometimes do today.

At the end of the day, we visited the church in Nazareth that housed the cave Mary was living in when the angel Gabriel announced that she would bear a son. Some believe the angel met her at the well a distance from her home, disguised as a human. A large city today, nestled in the hills overlooking the Megiddo plain, it was also in ancient times. A very ordinary city, from what I understand.
Within a short drive, and certainly within easy walking distance from Jesus' home, was Cana, the location of His first miracle. Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding when the last of the wine ran out.
Now, we are traveling towards Tiberius, where we will lodge for two nights. Tomorrow, we will see the places Jesus ministered while he was in Galilee.