TIRED FEET...a pilgrim in a strange land

ARE WE THERE YET?

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead…Romans 1:20

There are few places on earth where the grandeur of God’s creation is so uniquely showcased as the state of Arizona. We arrived in Phoenix Monday after four and a half loooooong days of driving…and driving…and driving.

We took a break from the travel Sunday to spend several hours enjoying the natural beauty of the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert is characterized by colorful bands of sedimentary rock which adds color to the arid landscape.

While Arizona’s forest of fossilized word is well know, petrified wood has been found throughout the world, including Prince William Forest Park in Virginia.

Enjoy the photos.

Stopped for some sightseeing

Beautiful

The Painted Desert was named by explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in 1540

In addition to the common red rock, there are many various shades, including lavender

desert selfie

We were amazed by God’s handiwork

A crow, of all things…

The Petrified Forest

Fossilized logs are scattered everywhere…possibly from the time of Noah’s flood or a more recent major flooding event

Anna sits on a huge petrified tree

DAY 10: THE GARDEN TOMB & ABRAHAM’S TENT

He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:6

The last touring day was considered by some, including this blogger, to be the best day yet. We reentered the “Old City” and visited the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the lame man, stirring up a ruckus because it was the sabbath (John 5). In the same area was the Crusader built Church of Saint Anne, aka the “singing church”. The acoustics are so amazing that even our motley crew sounded awesome.
We walked a portion of the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering, and had a Bible study on the 2000 year old Roman pavement stones where it is thought that Pilate sentenced Jesus to death on the cross.

From there we proceeded to the site that many scholars believe to be Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. In the area is a 1st century Jewish tomb, hewn into the rock, that could have been Jesus’ temporary tomb. This was all very exciting to see what we have always read, the tomb is empty. We had a time of joyous praise and communion.

A bus ride into the Judean desert took us to Abraham’s tent where we met “Abraham”, enjoyed a delicious lunch, and rode camels! A fun way to wind up our trip. We had a farewell dinner that evening, packed and headed to bed.

And now, as I write, we are sitting in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, waiting for our flight home.

A worthwhile trip, to say the least. Thank the Lord.

Pool of Bethesda

The “singing church”

Golgotha. From the right angle the eyes are obvious. The lower half of the skull is blocked by a bus terminal.

The tomb door is Center right.

The empty tomb.

Communion

The Judean desert has not changed in 2000 years.

“Abraham” was an entertaining host.

Enjoying the shade of the tent.

What a hoot! We all got our Camel Driver Licenses.

You gotta hold on when the camel kneels.

Steve and Helga

DAY 9: SHILOH & JERUSALEM MUSEUMS

Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. Joshua 18:1

Another amazing morning, today at Tel Shiloh, the early capital of the 12 tribes of Israel. The tabernacle was located here from the time of Joshua until King David moved it to Jerusalem. Our guide, aptly names Israel, shared much of the history of the area and the archeological discoveries. They think the tabernacle site has been discovered and expect their excavations will prove it. It was at this site that Steve taught about prayer from 1 Samuel 1, where Hannah prayed at this very place for a son.

We returned to Jerusalem and visited the Israel Museum. The model of Jerusalem in the second temple period was very impressive and informative. It gave us a sense of the location and distances between the places and buildings we read about in scripture. The Shrine of the Book is home to the renowned Dead Sea Scrolls, archaeological artifacts, and rare medieval manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible.

Next we visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. It is a strong thought provoking experience that I will not attempt to describe. Learn more at the website: www.yadvashem.org

A Palestinian village north of Jerusalem. Note the minaret right of center.

Our Shiloh tour guide. His wife is an archeologist at the site.

Archaeologists think the original tabernacle site is just down the hill from this sign on Tel Shiloh

Recreated 1500 year old olive press

Recreated mosaic found in Byzantium Era church at Shiloh

Mark and Jeanne at Shiloh

Amber blows the shofar

Back to Jerusalem

Scale model of ancient Jerusalem. Very detailed and covers nearly an acre.

My little Bible visiting the Shrine of the Book. The manuscripts kept here may not be his direct ancestors, but they are definitely distant cousins.

Holocaust Museum. These broken off rows of concrete pillars stand as a memorial to the 1,500,000 children killed by the Nazis. Lives prematurely broken off.

DAY 8: JERUSALEM (TEMPLE MOUNT & MORE)

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. John 5:1

We arrived early at the security check point to enter the Temple Mount. We learned much about the history of the mount, the site of both the 1st and 2nd Jewish temples. The Muslim Dome of the Rock, completed in 691 AD, today sits where most Jews think those temples once stood.

We then visited the City of David; not Bethlehem, but the area on the south side of the Temple Mount where David set up his headquarters after becoming king. We walked through the narrow tunnels and caves under the city used by the ancient Jebusites and later the Jews to supply the city with water.

For lunch we spread out and tried several of the restaurants in the bustling Jewish Quarter of the Old City and then walked to the Christian Quarter to browse the many shops and haggle for bargains.

After dinner, many went back out for the western wall tunnel tour. A few of us, including this old man, remained at the hotel in order to rest up for tomorrow.

We passed the western wall as we ascended to the Temple Mount

Al-Aqsa Mosque through a gate on the Temple Mount

Not the typical shot of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount

Steve teaches Acts 3 on the steps at the southern wall. It is very likely that Jesus taught here as well.

This Palestinian gentleman reads an Arabic gospel tract near the Dung Gate.

The Pool of Siloam where the wet A-team exited Hezekiah’s tunnel

We had a few minutes to shop in the Christian Quarter of the Old City

DAY 7: JERUSALEM, VALLEY OF ELAH, KIBBUTZ REVADIM

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32

We started at the top of the Mount of Olives and followed Jesus’ Palm Sunday route to the Garden of Gethsemane. Among the ancient olive trees Steve taught from Mark 14, the passage where Jesus prayed from this same garden. Then we spread throughout the garden for some private time of prayer and contemplation.

The next highlight was a visit to the Church of St Peter in Gallicanti, a place few of us had ever heard of. A complex of caves under the church includes a dungeon thought to be the cell where Jesus was detained for the night following his arrest. We packed into this tiny cell while Steve read Psalm 88. It was both disturbing and moving as we gained insight into to the awful suffering Jesus endured for us.

After lunch we headed to the Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath. Steve shared a passage from Romans 5. What does Romans have to do with an ancient battle? You’ll have to read it to find out.

Next we traveled to the Sorek Valley, near where the ancient Philistine city of Ekron once stood, and visited Kibbutz Revadim, the home of our tour guide “Uncle” Kenny. He showed us around and explained kibbutz life. We met his wife and enjoyed refreshments at their home before planting a tree for Calvary Chapel Fluvanna on the kibbutz.

After dinner many went to see the amazing “Night Spectacular Show” at the City of David. A fitting end to our first full day in the Holy City.

From Mt of Olives

Bible study and quiet prayer time among the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane

Church of St Peter in Gallicantu

Probably the actual stairs used my the soldiers bringing Jesus to his trial

The Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath

We have a tree in Israel!

DAY 6: MASADA, EN GEDI, JERUSALEM

Then David went up from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi. I Samuel 23:29

Our first sunny day! We were up and packed early to board the bus to our first stop, Masada, Israel’s number one national historic site. It was on this desert mountain top in 74 AD where 960 Jews, men, women and children, committed suicide rather than surrender to Roman slavery. Because of this, most Jews hold this site in great reverence.

After a short ride we arrived at the oasis of En Gedi where David hid from King Saul and his army. It’s a beautiful natural area with waterfalls and abundant wildlife. We saw rock badgers and ibexes, both mentioned in the Bible. The study here was from 1Samuel 24.

We had lunch at a waterfront cafe, said goodbye to the Dead Sea and headed to the holy city of Jerusalem arriving just before the start of Shabbat. We saw the walls to the old city and joined other worshippers in prayer at the western wall. This place is known to Jews throughout the world as their most holy site.

I can’t remember all the places we are going tomorrow, but we are starting with the Mount of Olives.

Some of the braver souls who hiked to the top of Masada

The flag flying proudly over Masada

The Dead Sea from Masada

One of the many caves at En Gedi where David and his men would have been safe.

David spares Saul’s life at En Gedi in 1 Samuel 24

“The rock badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags.” Proverbs 30:26

The upper falls

Good bye Dead Sea.

Jerusalem: The temple mount retaining walls, originally built by King Herod. Here the western wall meets the southern wall.

Aaron prays at the western wall

DAY 5: BETH SHE’AN, QUMRAN, & THE DEAD SEA

All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Genesis 14:3

We said our goodbyes to the Galilee and headed due south down the Jordan Valley. Our first stop was Beth She’an, where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were fastened to the walls by the Philistines. Archeologists have uncovered much of this ancient city.

Our next stop was Qumran where the famous Dead Sea scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin boy searching for a lost goat in 1947. Over 900 two thousand years old scrolls have since been found.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing at the Dead Sea. It was cloudy, raining, and the temperature was in the 50’s. Yet these adverse conditions did not hinder some of us from heading to the beach and taking the plunge. Was it cold? Yes! Was it exhilarating? Yes! Would we do it again? Yes! (But only on a sunny day!)

Tomorrow: Masada and Jerusalem

Model of Beth She’an, also known by the Greek name Scythopolis

The stage of the theater

Jacob leads a worship song in the theater. The acoustics are still amazing.

One of the main streets

After the arrival of Christianity, part of the old Roman bathhouse was converted to a church. Note the cross fresco on the baptism pool.

Our first view of the limestone cliffs at Qumran.

The excavated buildings of the Essenes community

My little Bible in the actual room where the Essenes scribes copied the scriptures

Cave 7, just left of center, is where the first scrolls were discovered in 1947

The Dead Sea from our hotel

The brave, the bold, and the cold.

That’s me! The photo is blurred because the phone was in a zip lock bag.

After the cold plunge we joined the wiser members of our group in the heated Dead Sea water spa. Very relaxing.

DAY 4: GOLAN HEIGHTS

It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore. Psalms 133:3

We drove about an hour from our hotel in Tiberias through the Hula Valley to the Golan Heights, the mountainous north-east corner of Israel that borders Lebanon and Syria. Our first stop was the beautiful Tel Dan Nature Reserve. We walked through a lush forest and crossed rushing mountain streams until we came to the ruins of the fortress at the top of the mountain. When the northern 10 tribes broke off from the rest of the nation, King Jeroboam made a gold calf for the Israelites to worship and set it up in this “high place”.

From Dan we ventured to Caesarea Philippi, a pagan city sacred to the God Pan. This is where Peter made his confession of faith when he stated that Jesus was the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20).

Our final stop was not a biblical site, but the site of a former Israeli military base at the cold windswept top of Mt Bental. With a sweeping 360 degree view, we could not only see majestic snow covered Mt Hermon to the north but also the Sea of Galilee to the south west.

We then enjoyed hot coffee and tea at Kafi Annan, or “Cafe in the Clouds”, before the bus ride back to Tiberias. Thank the Lord for another great day .

Tel Dan Nature Reserve

The Dan River is one of three tributaries that form the Jordan River

The wall of the fortress at Tel Dan

The main gate where the king would sit in court with the elders

The “high place” on the right is where the people worshipped; the altar is a little lower on the left.

Sitting between the high place and the altar we worship in song and study 1 Kings 12

Springs that flow from the mountain

The sacred place for the worship of Pan

The natural grotto where goats were sacrificed to Pan

Atop Mt Bental

At Mt Bental Uncle Kenny points to the Syrian border, just a mile or two away

Mt Hermon from Mt Bental

DAY 3: NAZARETH, MEGIDDO & MT CARMEL

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:23

We were greatly blessed this morning to meet several of the few remaining Arab Christians that live in the ancient town of Nazareth. They work at Nazareth Village, a recreation of the village as it would have looked when Jesus lived there.

You can learn more about this amazing place at www.NazarethVillage.com.

We met this gentleman outside the synagogue

The recreated synagogue

Entering a typical Nazareth house

The carpenter

Hannah demonstrates first century weaving

Making a scarf

Hannah’s yarn

Stephen and Frank inside 1st century house

Judy & Harry

The steps were slippery

This brother is not just an actor; he is the village shepherd.

The almond blossoms in the winter

Almond trees

All the people who work at Nazareth Village are Christian

400 year olive tree

Olive trees. 21st century Nazareth in the background

We made a contribution to support this awesome ministry. Next trip you will see a plaque for CCF.

MEGIDDO
Famous for its location on the trade route between Egypt and Assyria, Megiddo was one of King Solomon’s chariot cities. The hill overlooks the Valley of Jezreel where the end time Battle of Armageddon will be fought.

Tour guide Uncle Kenny explains a model of the city

Half way up the hill we see one of the secondary gates

The Valley of Jezreel seen through the main gate

Carter at the stable ruins

The enemy would best flee if Joyce and Lynn had been among Solomon’s chariot drivers

This huge man made shaft was built to bring water inside the city in case of a seize

This section opens outside the ancient walled city and would usually have been filled with water

Steve taught from Revelation 16 about the Battle of Armageddon to be fought in the valley below

MOUNT CARMEL

Mt Carmel is most famous for the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. It was pouring rain when we arrived and the scene below was hidden by mist and fog. The rain stopped by the time we finished out songs and study in the chapel, revealing a glorious sight from the roof observation deck.

Joyce and Jacob lead in song before Steve shares from 1 Kings 18

Beautiful succulent gardens before the chapel

Carter and Jacob reenact Elijah slaying the prophets of Baal

The Mediterranean Sea reflects the sun’s light

And after the storm, a rainbow

A cat in the forest

DAY 2: WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. John 6:59

Our first full day was amazing. Clouds, rain, lightening and thunder welcomed us as we boarded the Worship Boat. Not what we had hoped for, but soon the rain stopped and blue sky started to appear. This was more spectacular and inspiring than a sunny morning would have been.

After the boat we saw a 2000 year old fishing boat discovered near the museum that now houses it, visited Capernaum, Magdala, and Mt Beatitudes. After lunch we visited the spot where Jesus met the disciples in Galilee after his resurrection. The day ended with a worship service and baptism at the Jordan River.

The story is in the photos.

The Sea of Galilee