Sea of Galilee

What an overwhelming joy to begin our visit to the area were Jesus began and performed much of His ministry!!  We started by visiting the top of Mt. Arbel which overlooks the path Jesus would have taken as he traveled from Nazareth to Capernaum when he began his ministry.  I read to the group from Matthew 4 as we overlooked the region of Magdala to Capernaum.  It was hard to hold my emotions to be able to read the Scriptures.  Our Lord passed through here and chose his disciples from simple fishermen.  He would make them fishers of men as they followed Him.  Isn't it a wonder that He has chosen and called us!

We visited the "Jesus Boat", a boat that was discovered just several years ago dated over 2000 years old.  It is a boat of the style used in Jesus day in this lake.  We went out on the Sea of Galilee which is really a fresh water lake, and there had our morning service.  While on the lake, it started out quite calm, but all of a sudden the wind picked up and white caps were around the lake.  We saw how quickly the storms could come up on Galilee.  It was not a problem for us in the larger boat we were in, but the smaller one we saw at the "Jesus Boat" would have been challenged.  I was reminded of how our Savior calmed the sea when he spoke 'Peace be Still."  Pastor Brad Wilkenson preached an excellent message from John 21 on why Peter was used of God in spite of how he failed the Lord.  We landed at Capernaum, the home of Simon Peter where Jesus called Peter to follow him and where Jesus often returned during his ministry. 

 I was struck by the size of everything as being smaller than I expected, and all the more amazed how the Lord delighted to take small things, people, and places to use for His glory.  It is truly a wonder that someone from this small area would have the amazing impact on the world that Jesus did.  God can use us too!

Today we stood in the fields often thought to be where Jesus preached the sermon on the mount.  It is obvious how the steepness of the slope down to the lake made a natural amphitheater for Jesus to teach.  I read Matthew 5:1-20 and challenged the group about our responsibility to be the light of the world.  Not far from there was a city set on a hill that could not be hid!

We visited the ruins of Chorazin one of the cities Jesus rebuked for their unbelief Matthew 11:21.  We also visited the areas of Dan and Ceasarea Philipi , two of the three sources for the Jordan River.  It is amazing how most the water for the nation of Israel sources from these spots.  The water flows from a spring out of a rock to supply the Jordan River, Sea of Galilee and Dead Sea. It is a lush green and great contrast to the 60% desert in Israel.  At Ceasarea Phillipi we stood where Jesus asked who men said that he was and Peter proclaimed, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  It was at the location of the main source of water for Israel and the place of a pagan temple to the god Pan.  Truly a powerful place for Jesus to claim that upon this rock He would build His church.  We had a wonderful Sunday evening service filled with testimonies of how God has challenged us and songs to praise his name.  I wish our whole church could be here to enjoy this fellowship and challenge by the Sea of Galilee!  

The Sea of Galilee is beautiful, but more than its beauty, it is a heart challenging place!

Tomorrow we head to Jerusalem!  Each day is packed with many great places and lessons from God's Word, but I am sure the best is yet to come!

Thank you for your prayers!  I apologize I have not been able to get out a blog each day, but the days have been so full and I have needed to get to bed at a reasonable time.  Today, I had a good chance to get caught up, although there is so much more that could be written.  I hope these highlights give you at least a glimpse into our trip.

Crossing Jordan into the Promised Land

Today we began with a stop at the River Jabbok where Jacob wrestled with God demanding a blessing from God and where God changed His name to Israel (The Friend of God).

We spent a good part of our day visiting Jerash (Gerasa), the second largest city of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities in league during Roman times.  Some of the world's best Roman ruins are in Jerash.  It is one of the cities that the Maniac Jesus healed went to to tell how great things Jesus did for him (Mark 5).

We also visited the town of Gadara where the Maniac Jesus healed was from.  It to was a part for the Decapolis and heard the testimony of the one who once could not be bound with fetters and ran naked among the tombs and was now found seated, clothed and in his right mind. From Gadara we could see the Golan Heights of Israel.  it is no doubt very strategic for Israel's security.

We went through 6 or 7 Jordanian military check points along a road leading to the border with Israel.  60 - 70 % of the Jordanian population is now Palestinian so the government must be careful not to allow Palestinian attacks into Israel.

Eventually, we made our way to the border and crossed the Jordan River into Israel at the Hussein Bridge.  After careful border check including luggage scanning (both leaving Jordan and entering Israel) we were allowed into Israel.  We arrived at our lovely hotel on a kibbutz right on the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee.  We were all excited to be in Israel after a few days of wilderness wanderings!  We were also excited to be right on the Seal of Galilee and to spend three nights in the same hotel.

Petra to Amman

It is very apparent that we are in a foreign country in Jordan.  We were awakened in Petra at 5:00 am with the Muslim call to prayer over the loud speakers at the local Mosque.  The further north we drove the more we began to see some (though very little) green.  Almost all the way to Amman it seems that the bedouin culture dominates, even in areas where they have begun to settle in small communities and houses.

We stopped in a road side market where various middle east wares were sold including silk carpets.  The are very expensive, even here.  So, we left them in Jordan :).  I was amazed to see many shepherds with their sheep or goats grazing on the country side and beside the road.  There was so little to graze upon!  We visited a Crusader castle in Al Karak or Karak City.  After lunch we happened across a brief fight in the street between a man who screeched his car to a halt and attacked a shop keeper, but thankfully passers by  and the police quickly broke it up.   As we drove through the streets of Karak City we were amazed at the street markets with meat hanging on display.  This trip through Jordan is helping us to observe the difference in cultures between Muslim and Israeli.  

We crossed two great landmarks which were spectacular today:  the Arnon River which is the border between Edom and Moab.  The river canyon would be best likened to the Grand Canyon.  It is a huge natural boundary.  Thankfully the bus brakes worked very well!  We enjoyed a breath taking view.

Later went to the top of Mt. Nebo where the Lord took Moses to view the promised land before he took him home to heaven.  What a powerful view and site.  What a shame that Moses was not allowed to enter the land due to his disobedience.  How often do we miss the Lord's best due to our unwillingness to trust and obey Him!  The Lord brought His people through great trials before he gave them the blessings He prepared for them.  He proved Himself to them and He proved them to Himself.  We are never worthy, only the undeserving recipients of His love and grace.  He is always faithful and worthy of our worship!

We eventually arrived in the capital city of Amman to spend the night.  The city of Amman is the only place that we saw in Jordan that really seemed modern.  We actually stayed at a very nice hotel.  In Bible times this was the capital of the Ammonites.  King David warred against them in II Samuel 10-11.

Petra, Jordan

We began the day in the beautiful resort city of Eilat, Israel.  I took an early morning walk with a bright blue sky down to the waterfront of the Red Sea.  Eilat is the southern most city of Israel, providing Israel with a strategic port on the Red Sea.  It is clearly a resort city with numerous hotels.  It is the place were Solomon mined beautiful stone for the temple.

We crossed the border into Jordan and noticed a marked difference immediately.  We traveled p the Kings Highway in the land of Edom.  Edom means red and it is very obvious why it is called such from the red rocks and mountains.  We rode through the land where our Lord led and provided for His people with manna from heaven.  I will never think of the wilderness wanderings the same again!  I was amazed at how the Lord could have provided for 2 million people in such a desolate and rough land.  Our Lord leads us through trials and testings before e brings s to the fulfillment of His promises and fulness of His blessings!  We came to Petra in the valley of Moses.  This is the area where Moses smote the rock twice and therefore was not allowed to enter the land for disobeying the Lord and dishonoring the type God planned of Christ. We saw Mount Hor where Aaron was buried.  Tomorrow we will see Mount Nebo where Moses was allowed to view the land before he died.  How sad to think Moses missed the experience of God's blessings due to his disobedience.  How often we too miss out on God's best for us, because we don't trust and obey Him.

Petra was a phenomenal place.  A place of ornate grave from an ancient people who hoped for an after life more than loving this life.  Bedouins who prepared their tombs more than their homes.  Petra got us around around the local bedouin people where we could sense the culture and the need.  Petra was great, but I think the trip through the wilderness taught me the most today.  Tomorrow the land of Moab!  What a wonder that some of God's people were contented with this side of Jordan, when God had such a better blessing for them on the other side of the Jordan river.  ow often are we contented with this world instead f following the Lord to His greatest promises.

My heart is full and praise the Lord for the privilege to come here!!  I know the best is yet to come.  By God's grace, I must come again and bring others to experience the blessing of seeing this land which brings the Scripture into 3 dimension.

Wonderful First Day!

What a full and wonderful day we had today!  We enjoyed a feast for breakfast filled with Israeli pastries, breads, eggs, potatoes, etc, etc.  

We travelled from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, only to travel through the city briefly.  It wet out appetite for the city we will visit more thoroughly at the end of the trip.  We quickly gained an understanding of the division in Israel.  As we entered the city we did so on a highway that had a wall on both sides.  It was Palestinian territory on both sides of the road, but the road was under Israeli control.  We felt quite safe and saw no problems, but could readily understand that there is not unity in the land.

We travelled on from Jerusalem toward Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered near the northern part of the Dead Sea.  On the way we passed the city of Jericho.  From there we could see Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the land and died.  We made a brief visit by the Dead (Salt) Sea where some tested out their buoyancy in the 33% salt water.  From there we drove to an oasis in the desert called Engedi where David fled ad hid from Saul and enjoyed our lunch.  From there we visited Masada, the absolutely amazing fortress where over 900 jewish zealots withstood Rome for five years until 73 AD when they took their lives as a "Holiness to God" rather than surrender to be slaves to Rome.  Our hearts were taught and challenged by their zeal and dedication to live or die for God.  We all wished for more time there as we were overwhelmed by the story of the fortress and the beautiful scenery from atop of the fortress overlooking the Dead Sea.  Several of the ladies enjoyed getting great deals on the Ahava creams at the factory store at Masada.  The major industry of Israel is the Salt Sea products.

Our final drive was through the Southern Desert in Israel.  The Negev is over 30% of the land mass of Israel.  We are now staying the night at the beautiful Royal Tulip Hotel in Eilat, where we once again enjoyed a delicious meal for supper.  Some of us walked to the shore of the Red Sea before returning to get a good nights sleep.  We started the day at the Mediterranean Sea, stopped at the Dead Sea, and ended the day at the Red Sea.  What a fulfilling day!!!

Well, I must get some rest.  Tomorrow we enter Jordan and visit the stone city of Petra.

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Arrived Safely in TelAviv

Thank you all for your prayers!  We arrived safely and on time at 4:15 local time in TelAviv, Israel.  After gathering luggage and loading onto the bus we rode to the Grand Beach Hotel in TelAviv.  We enjoyed a good supper in the hotel at 7:00 pm, a group meeting, and then many went on an evening stroll on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea.  TelAviv is the modern day Joppa where Jonah set sail to head for Tarshish running from God's call to go to Nineveh.  We enjoyed a scoop of ice cream on the shore of the Mediterranean as a bedtime snack.  The temperature is very comfortable! We were also able to see a Jewish wedding taking place on an outdoor deck of a beach front restaurant.

We are all very excited, but exhausted from the trip.  You can imagine Centira shouting "Yoohoo!" as we landed and the plane load applauding as we arrived safely.  

Tomorrow we will be up early and on our way up to Jerusalem and then down to the Dead Sea.  Along the way we will stop at Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.  Then after the Dead Sea, we will travel south to Eliat, the southern most point in Israel.

We are thrilled to be here!  Thank you so much for your prayers.  Two girls Rachel and Janna, who joined us from Pennsylvania were delayed in the Pittsburg airport.  It did not look possible that they would make the connection in Atlanta.  We spent time praying for them and the Lord answered prayer.  Not only did they board the plane just as they were closing the door, their luggage made it on board as well.  The Lord reminded us that He loves to do exceeding, abundantly, above what we ask or think . . . He even put them in First Class!  Upon arrival we met Rachel and Janna and found out that Nancy taught Janna in Kindergarten at Southside years ago.  It is a small world.  We have enjoyed renewing the acquaintance.

Well everyone else has gone to bed and I must get there too.  I will add more to the blog as I am able.  Thank you again for your prayers and joining us on our journey via the blog.

Ready to Go!!!

We are safely at O'hare waiting for flight to Atlanta and then on to TelAviv.

Thank you for your prayers and interest in the trip.  I have run out of time before we board the flight.  Hopefully I can get a chance to give our itinerary once we get to Atlanta!

Final Packing

Less than 24 hours and we are on our way to Jordan and Israel!  Praise the Lord for this opportunity.