Day 5 Baptisms!

Day 5 Saturday Jun 4 - Mount Arbel , Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Jordan River Baptisms, Sea of Galilee Boat Cruise

This morning we headed to Mount Arbel to have an overlook of the Sea of Galilee and what seemed all of Israel.  Fantastic view and we took many pictures.  Mt. Arbel was a Zealot village in the time of Jesus. As we traveled, we discussed how fortunate we are to be able to come on this trip but we do not have to come to Israel to receive the love of Christ.  Coming to Israel is a privilege, Christ love is a gift received by all who choose to believe.  We gathered at a museum that housed the “Jesus Boat”.  This wooden boat was found deep in the mud of the Sea of Galilee dating back to the time of Christ.  It is not said that this was Christ’s boat but was dated to be one from that time period.  We then went to Capernaum. This was on the North end of the Sea of Galilee and Christ performed many miracles here as he resided here for three years.  This is the place both Tammy and I wanted to visit on our trip. At Capernaum we spent some time praying for friends and relatives and asking for guidance and forgiveness in our own shortcomings.  It was a powerful and moving experience.  We walked through the remains of the synagogue and viewed the home of Peter who moved here and lived at his Mother IN laws home.  A Catholic church is actually built over the ruins of the home and has a glass floor so you can view it. We then went to the Mount of Beatitudes and read the Sermon on the Mount.  Matthew 5.  We discussed how Jesus targets the heart rather than living through laws that cannot be broken.  We understand that there is no way we can walk through this life without the righteousness of Jesus.  Pastor asked us to answer these four “H” questions.. Healthy, What is good in my life?  What is working well?  Hurts, What is paining me, what is driving me somewhere dark, a struggle I may be having?  Habits, Where are they leading me?  Closer to Christ or further away?  Help, What can I do or what can others do to help me?  We made our way to the Jordan River where Pastor Joe performed baptisms for those who desired it in our group.  Tammy and I had planned for this and were both baptized today.  It was a great experience professing our faith.  It was held in an area where many were being performed.  We walked into the water wearing white gowns and one by one were baptized.  Each person read a verse that impacted them, how they lived or how they wished to be remembered.  Tammy’s is Philippians 4:6 and mine is 2 Timothy 4: 6-8.  We had 24 in our group baptized.  Finally as we write this we are preparing for our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  We have praise music to sing and verses to be shared that will bring an end to the day.       

Day 4 !!!

Day 4 Friday June 2  – Dan Nature Reserve; Mt. Hermon; Jordan River source; Caesarea Philippi; borders of Lebanon and Syria; Golan Heights, Bethsaida – This morning we traveled north to the territory of Dan. We saw the head waters of the Jordan River and the beautiful clear water coming from the Golan Heights.  Jeroboam a leader of Dan pleaded the peoples cause, always feeling they were owed more.  He erected an altar of a golden calf here.  Through his actions he ultimately caused all tribes of Israel to sin.  This makes us me the question, what as a leader do I do that may make people stray from God?  I must live and walk the Spirit.  From Dan we sat and overlooked the border of Lebanon and discussed the battles that Israel has been in.  We viewed an area that is a buffer 12 miles wide and 65 miles long that separates the two.  A UN facility is housed in this area to monitor the tension.  Walking further into the reserve we got to see the remains of the gate to the City of Dan.  It was amazing. This was the gate that Abraham passed through when he traveled to save his nephew Lot over 4000 years ago.  From Dan we traveled to Caesarea Philippi.  This is where Christ asked Peter, who do you think I am? Peter replied, You are the Christ.  From the Old Testament, this is where Phillip, son of King Herod Agrippa II established the capital in dedication to the Greek God Pan. In this area was also King Herod Agrippas palace ruins.  This was much larger than we ever thought and have many photos of this area. We then traveled to the top of the Golan Heights and viewed Syria from a UN observation area.  We walked through the military bunker used in the border wars and spoke to a Captain from the UN on duty at the Post.  At our last stop we made it to Bethsaida.  5 of the disciples came from this small fishing village.  Peter, Andrew, James, John and Phillip.  The street that enters the old city is the original stones which Jesus walked and we were able to walk on them as well.  We sat on an overlook here and viewed the two mountain slopes, one on the West and one on the East.  Each of these is where Jesus fed the 4000 and 5000.  Some of this is so hard to soak in until you set back and reflect on the day.  It has all been incredible.

Israel!! Days One through Three

Day 1 Tue May 30 &  – Day 2 Wed May 31 Depart U.S. from Chicago-Ohare – you will need to book flights to and from Chicago – flight to Zurich will depart at 2:20p -arrange your flight to arrive at least three hours before departure time. We transition from Zurich to Tel-Aviv and arrive in Tel-Aviv at around 2:30p the next day.  – After an afternoon Arrival in Tel Aviv. Stroll and/or Swim in the Mediterranean. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Everything went pretty good considering being up for 24hours to get to Tel Aviv.  We flew Swiss Air from Chicago, through Zurich and onto Tel Aviv.  We were really impressed with the service from Swiss Air who served us Swiss chocolates after each meal.  The stewardess brought Tammy a plate of assorted chocolates for her birthday. We checked into our hotel and had a great dinner.  We checked into our hotel in Netanya and finished the day walking along the boardwalk on the Mediterranean sea.  The sea h was much larger than we thought as it looks like it goes forever.   

Day 3 Thu June 1 - Caesarea by the Sea; Haifa, Megiddo; Mt. Carmel, Rosh Hanikra/ Mt. Arbel overlook; Sea of Galilee

After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and followed the Via Maris along the Mediterranean to the ruins of King Herod’s ancient seaport at Caesarea.  We walked into the theater which actually is still is used today for concerts.  This was our first impact that we were really were in Israel and the bible was appearing right before our eyes.  The theater was where God struck down King Agrippa for his pride.  We watched a film of the history of the area and how the seaport King Herod the Great designed was so majestic and powerful.  After his death and over time it eventually crumbled into the sea.  Like the failure of the seaport, Herod failed at killing Jesus when he ordered all male firstborn two years and younger to be killed.   This area also is where Paul was imprisoned and stood before the Roman courts to testify his faith and about Christianity.  We walked into the Hippodrome where games of competition, chariot races and gladiators fought. I found my first piece of pottery to tag as Pastor Joe had explained how pottery is found among these areas.  We viewed the aqueduct that carried fresh water over 10 miles to Caesarea. We finished our tour at Caesarea and headed north beside the Via Maris driving by Mount Caramel and stopping at Megiddo.  Megiddo was unbelievable.  The area has been excavated to expose 25 civilizations that inhabited this area, each stacked on top of the other.  It was constantly fought for as this was a major pass through from Egypt and Babylon. Megiddo overlooks the valley of Armageddon.  It is enormous and so much larger than we thought.  Splitting the country in half the valley runs from Galilee to the Mediterranean.  It is around 65 miles long and emotional to imagine standing at the final battle field.  We walked through the tunnel that was carved through the rock for a water source.  We took 180 steps down to the bottom of the cistern which all was carved through solid stone. After lunch we traveled to Nazareth to an area call Nazareth Village.  This replicated what the area looked like during the life of Christ.  They explained what the area looked like during the time, what the Roman soldiers wore and what they were armed with and how they crucified prisoners.  The crucifixions were nothing like the movies have portrayed as they were crueler to the prisoners and very close to all the public to experience and be threatened by.  We saw how tools were made, wool was sheared and spun and wine being stomped.   We walked into a replica synagogue of the size and setting that Jesus would have taught in.  We watched the olive presses at work and ended the tour with each of us receiving our own oil lamp from our host.  To end the day we have checked into our hotel at the Sea of Galilee.  We had 9 hours of lessons and experiences today and tomorrow brings a new day.       

Two Weeks Out!

Wow! Two weeks from today and we will be in Israel! Received this journal from our friends from the ONE to ONE Board.  They have provided love and support through all of our journeys and each of them have such a HUGE heart!  Last night we began packing and accounting for what we have and may need for the trip.  We look so forward to what God has in store for us and all that we can experience and learn from this trip.   Most of all, we are looking forward to sharing all of this with our friends and loved ones.  Praying that this experience warms your heart and awakens the holy spirit within you! 

Tonight we met at Ernie and Phyllis Swanson's home to discuss the final plans for our trip.   We are now 28 days away!  We discussed days 8 through 11 from our itinerary.  From Massada, Beersheba and Bethlehem we will spend our final 3 days in Jerusalem.  It is so overwhelming trying to imagine what we will experience.  The Mt. of Olives, following the steps through the Via Dolorosa, praying at the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and stepping into the Upper Room.  Questions were answered concerning local customs, kosher foods, souvenir purchases and photography.  We continue to learn more about each other and laugh at our multiple suggestions for inflatable air pillows for the flight.  It appears we will be an army of pillows once the planes wheels are up!.  We closed the evening with each person stating where they are most excited to visit.  We both stated ours was Capernaum.  Jesus spent close to 20 months here performing miracles of healing.  This is where Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew to discipleship.  We will see the synagogue where Jesus taught and one of our favorites for Capernaum is the story of the paralytic man lowered through the thatch roof.   We closed the evening in prayer knowing the next time we meet we will have our luggage in hand!