Greetings all from the stranded tourist,
Well the rumors were true when we got back to the hotel. We went to dinner while the Educational Opportunities (EO) staff worked diligently to get us booked on alternate flights. We gather in the lounge after dinner and await news. Here comes Tom, some have flights and some don't, hold tight more info to come. Enjoy some coffee and pretzels and relax and wait. Here he comes again. They have been successful in getting 36 out of 68 of us flights. Time for them to load onto the buses to get to Tel Aviv. You can sense the frustration and disappointment in the rest of us who didn't make the flight. We gather downstairs to here the plan
EO has set us all up in rooms and is working on getting us flights home. We are all confirmed into JFK leaving at 11:30 p.m. On Friday. What? Not Thursday? No Friday. The disappointment rises. We get everybody keys and get them settled into their rooms. At this point, apart from the group leaving for Jordan tomorrow, I'm the only Elder here that has been to Israel, so I have become the default leader of our motley crew for the remainder of our time. There are a few who desperately need to get home, so EO works their magic and we get 7 more out that night. We are down to 25. We try to get folks to see the blessing of two more days but things are still a little raw.
Once we have done all we can do for the night, I head to the lounge and tell Dia the bartender I need an American sized cup of coffee. He holds up a beer mug and says it is the biggest he has. PERFECT!!!! I drnk coffee until the wee hours of the morning and finally head to bed.
I get up early to see the Jordan crew off. We have flights all confirmed all the way home and EO has authorized is a guide and a bus for the day and EO is picking up the tab. How incredible is that? Oh the choices we have. We settle on three: the temple mount sifting project, the main part of the Israel Museum, and the night spectacular at the citadel of King David.
At 10:30 we hit the road. The first stop is the sifting project. A number of years ago the Muslims were excavating on temple mount and simply throwing debree into the valley below. The Israel Antiquities Authority got permission to gather the debris and transport it to another location. Now they allow tourists to work with the archaeological staff to sift through it looking for antiquities. We had a ball, dump a bucket of material on the shifting screens, wash out the bucket, spread the material and wash it down, then sort through it in a systematic way looking for pottery, mosaic pieces, arrow heads, coins, glass, etc. Our group found one ancient coin and lots of pottery shards. We had a ball, I know I don't have a calling to be an archaeologist, but something compels you to do one more bucket thinking the next one will have a treasure. They summarize our time by categorizing and dating our good finds and we are off to lunch. A local place, not one of the tourist destinations. It was delicious.
Next stop, the Israel Museum. There is a gigantic model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ which really helps put things in perspective. Some head to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, others head to the main building. It is a giant museum. There is an archaeology section that takes you from pre Canaanite thru today, a history of Judaism that includes four reconstructed synagogues from around the world, two giant art galleries, and an area of exhibits from other nations and cultures. Two hours isn't enough to take it all in. Back on the bus headed to the hotel for dinner.
After dinner we are on the bus headed to Jaffa Gate to go to the Citadel of King David for a light and sound show. No one is really sure what that means but we have been told it is spectacular. And they were right. For the show we are seated in the middle af the ancient crusader fortress watching the history of the land of Israel projected across every surface
if the Citadel. It is an incredibly moving presentation and is an incredible finale to a spectacular trip. Tomorrow is a free day.
Your brother in Christ
Faron
Friday, February 14, 2014
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Israel: Day Seven
Greetings from our last day in Israel,
Tonight is the night we return to the land of bacon, breakfast sausage and pulled pork BBQ! GOD BE PRAISED!!!! This is our sort of lazy day. We get to sleep in, but me and a few others decide to get up and catch the light rail, think above ground subway train, to the Jewish Market. This is local, real life Israel not a tourist area. They will only take shekels. The market is filled with the sights sounds and smells of Israel. Fresh produce stands, meat markets, seafood markets, candy, fresh baked breads, pastries, spices and the list goes on. I want to get bags full of all of the above and go home and cook something extravagant. Instead I just gorge myself on pastries, fruit, candy and finally hot foccia bread straight from the oven only 4 shekels, which is basically a dollar. YUMMY! We catch the train back and it is time to put our bags outside our room doors and load up on the bus. First stop lunch. Another Kibbutz, this one commemorating Rachel. Full belly's and it is time to head to the upper room.
We approach the Old City at the Zion Gate but we don't actually enter as we turn west in front of the gate. The upper room sits above the Tomb of King David. This is another vanerated spots but may not he the actual location, but it does fit some of the scriptural evidences. There has been a chapel commemorating for centuries and during the Islamic control it was converted to mosque, so now the site is a unique blend of Jewish, Christian and Islamic symbols and architecture. After an explanation and pictures, and a quick trip.to the Tomb of David. We are off to Caiaphas' house. I shared about this beautiful site yesterday, so I won't linger here with more words. Our time here as a group finishes with all.of us in the pit together singing amazing grace. It is pretty overwhelming.
A visit to the gift shop, mom gets me a stohl that the sisters of Carmel made and had delivered that morning. It is beautiful, but you don't get to see it unless yall let me preach in a robe every now and then. ;) On the bus headed to the Garden Tomb.
This is a site discovered in 1842 and offered as an alternate location for Calvaryand Jesus' empty tomb. It is a place that looks more like what one pictures when they think of the tomb and Calvary. There is a cliff, that sort of looks like a skull. Granted it is above a bus depot, but it is a real cliff rather than a protected spot under am altar. There is also an actual first century tomb in a garden. This places appearance tugs at your heart strings but the guide's explanation, a volunteer at the site not ours, feels a little like a time share sales pitch. After the tour we gather, both buses, for a communion service led by the bishop. It is a fitting close to an incredible trip. The only catch is a rumor running around that our flights been cancelled. They site is closing and we are urged back to the bus, headed to the hotel for dinner then departure for the airport.
Bad news, or perhaps good, THE RUMOR IS TRUE!!!!!!
Your brother in Christ
Faron
Tonight is the night we return to the land of bacon, breakfast sausage and pulled pork BBQ! GOD BE PRAISED!!!! This is our sort of lazy day. We get to sleep in, but me and a few others decide to get up and catch the light rail, think above ground subway train, to the Jewish Market. This is local, real life Israel not a tourist area. They will only take shekels. The market is filled with the sights sounds and smells of Israel. Fresh produce stands, meat markets, seafood markets, candy, fresh baked breads, pastries, spices and the list goes on. I want to get bags full of all of the above and go home and cook something extravagant. Instead I just gorge myself on pastries, fruit, candy and finally hot foccia bread straight from the oven only 4 shekels, which is basically a dollar. YUMMY! We catch the train back and it is time to put our bags outside our room doors and load up on the bus. First stop lunch. Another Kibbutz, this one commemorating Rachel. Full belly's and it is time to head to the upper room.
We approach the Old City at the Zion Gate but we don't actually enter as we turn west in front of the gate. The upper room sits above the Tomb of King David. This is another vanerated spots but may not he the actual location, but it does fit some of the scriptural evidences. There has been a chapel commemorating for centuries and during the Islamic control it was converted to mosque, so now the site is a unique blend of Jewish, Christian and Islamic symbols and architecture. After an explanation and pictures, and a quick trip.to the Tomb of David. We are off to Caiaphas' house. I shared about this beautiful site yesterday, so I won't linger here with more words. Our time here as a group finishes with all.of us in the pit together singing amazing grace. It is pretty overwhelming.
A visit to the gift shop, mom gets me a stohl that the sisters of Carmel made and had delivered that morning. It is beautiful, but you don't get to see it unless yall let me preach in a robe every now and then. ;) On the bus headed to the Garden Tomb.
This is a site discovered in 1842 and offered as an alternate location for Calvaryand Jesus' empty tomb. It is a place that looks more like what one pictures when they think of the tomb and Calvary. There is a cliff, that sort of looks like a skull. Granted it is above a bus depot, but it is a real cliff rather than a protected spot under am altar. There is also an actual first century tomb in a garden. This places appearance tugs at your heart strings but the guide's explanation, a volunteer at the site not ours, feels a little like a time share sales pitch. After the tour we gather, both buses, for a communion service led by the bishop. It is a fitting close to an incredible trip. The only catch is a rumor running around that our flights been cancelled. They site is closing and we are urged back to the bus, headed to the hotel for dinner then departure for the airport.
Bad news, or perhaps good, THE RUMOR IS TRUE!!!!!!
Your brother in Christ
Faron
Israel: Day Six
Greetings all,
Well today is the big day for the walking tour of the Old City. We begin at the sheep gate and immediately turn right into St. Anne's Church which commermorates the birthplace of Mary the mother of Jesus and is at the site of the pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic who had no one to place him in the pool. The depth and expanse of the ruins of the pools is pretty overwhelming, but the church is spectacular. The acoustics provide and 8 second reverberation that makes our motley crew sound spectacular as we sing the Alleluia chorus. Back on the street heading west to the Antonio Fortress and the beginning of the Via De Larosa, the way of suffering. The traditional route has all of the spots of the stations of the cross marked, many with chapels.
The Antonio Fortress is a school today so we cannot enter, but this is where Pontius Pilate sat in judgment of a Jesus and washed his hands of any guilt. From there we go to the Chapel of the Flagellation followed by the chapel of the Condemnation. These places mark stations one and two. We travel the route and come to three, Jesus' first fall and four where he encountered his mother. Moving onto the Cardo we travel south a bit to station five, where Simon of Cyrene is told to carry the cross. There is a chapel but we don't go in. From here we turn north and begin a very steep climb up hill. Station aix is where Hesus encounters Veronique, the woman who gives him the rag to wipe his face. Tradition holds that after wiping his face the image of it was left behind on the rag. Continuing west we pass seven, his second fall and eight where he encounters the women of Jerusalem. Nine is right outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and is his third and final fall. Ten through fourteen are in the church.
As you enter the church you immediately ascend an ancient stairwell to your right. This takes you to ten, where they strip Jesus of his clothes and eleven where He was nailed to the cross. There is art on the wall, misaics on the floor and incredible chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. As you move left around the corner you come to the altar above Calvary. You can kneel and crawl under the altar to touch the rock where the raised the cross. This is stations 12 and 13, Jesus' death and removal from the cross. We descend the stairs by a slab of marble which is venerated as the stone upon which they laid Jesus' body to prepare it for burial. While our plan is to walk around to the shrine of the tomb, the 14th station placing His body in the tomb, our guide directs us down to the chapel of St Gregory. He has arranged with the Armenian bishop for us to get a private tour of a chapel beneath St Gregory's which is part of the ancient quarry beneath Calvary where there is first or second century graffiti evidence that this area was the place venerated as the spot where Jesus did in fact die. It is a holy moment and a new spit to see even for Bishop Davis and he had traveled to the Holyland fifteen times. Back upstairs to get in line to enter the shrine surrounding the tomb.
One thing anyone who travels to Israel must understand is that most of the holy places you will visit don't look like what we envision because most every site has had a church built over it. The tomb is no different. Going back to before the Byzantine era, the stone was chiseled away around the tomb so they could enclose it in a shrine to protect it. Over the ages more layers were added to the outside to strengthen its structure. While it doesn't feel right or pluck the heart strings, it is most likely the place. Once everyone has had a chance to enter, we take a moment in a small gery old chapel right behind the shrine which also has a tomb still in tact that they was the tomb where Joseph of Arimethea was final laid. Back out to the courtyard, it is time for lunch. Fladfel or Chicken Swarmma?
After lunch we walk through the reestablished Jewish marketplace along the Roman Cardo, which is in essence an ancient shopping mall. We keep moving, our destination is the Western Wall. Once through security we are there. Once more a time of prayer for our church and then off to the Archaeological park where I spent yesterday. It is almost time for me to preach. The group goes through the Davidson Center museum part and I head for the teaching steps. I climb them praying to calm my heart, I practice two more times and can't get it under nine minutes. Then it occurs to me, perhaps it was God speaking, that the group was tired from walking all over the city and would probably be happy to sit there for a twenty or thirty minutes sermon even if just for the chance to rest. I text Christa and ask her to pray for me and here they come. I meet them at the bottom of the steps. It is time to preach. We read Psalm 120, 130 and 134. Deep breath and go..." I must confess I have a love hate relationship with steps...." I go on to share about steps being a transitional place and these steps in particular being a transition between the secular and the sacred. Are we ready to allow God to transition us, transform us, so that we come back more atuned to the holy and ready to live for him? Based on feedback I did okay, God be praised! We sing a hymn and then it is time to head for the hotel. It has been a good day, and jazz and coffee in the hotel lounge after dinner makes it that much better.
Your brother in Christ
Faron
Well today is the big day for the walking tour of the Old City. We begin at the sheep gate and immediately turn right into St. Anne's Church which commermorates the birthplace of Mary the mother of Jesus and is at the site of the pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic who had no one to place him in the pool. The depth and expanse of the ruins of the pools is pretty overwhelming, but the church is spectacular. The acoustics provide and 8 second reverberation that makes our motley crew sound spectacular as we sing the Alleluia chorus. Back on the street heading west to the Antonio Fortress and the beginning of the Via De Larosa, the way of suffering. The traditional route has all of the spots of the stations of the cross marked, many with chapels.
The Antonio Fortress is a school today so we cannot enter, but this is where Pontius Pilate sat in judgment of a Jesus and washed his hands of any guilt. From there we go to the Chapel of the Flagellation followed by the chapel of the Condemnation. These places mark stations one and two. We travel the route and come to three, Jesus' first fall and four where he encountered his mother. Moving onto the Cardo we travel south a bit to station five, where Simon of Cyrene is told to carry the cross. There is a chapel but we don't go in. From here we turn north and begin a very steep climb up hill. Station aix is where Hesus encounters Veronique, the woman who gives him the rag to wipe his face. Tradition holds that after wiping his face the image of it was left behind on the rag. Continuing west we pass seven, his second fall and eight where he encounters the women of Jerusalem. Nine is right outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and is his third and final fall. Ten through fourteen are in the church.
As you enter the church you immediately ascend an ancient stairwell to your right. This takes you to ten, where they strip Jesus of his clothes and eleven where He was nailed to the cross. There is art on the wall, misaics on the floor and incredible chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. As you move left around the corner you come to the altar above Calvary. You can kneel and crawl under the altar to touch the rock where the raised the cross. This is stations 12 and 13, Jesus' death and removal from the cross. We descend the stairs by a slab of marble which is venerated as the stone upon which they laid Jesus' body to prepare it for burial. While our plan is to walk around to the shrine of the tomb, the 14th station placing His body in the tomb, our guide directs us down to the chapel of St Gregory. He has arranged with the Armenian bishop for us to get a private tour of a chapel beneath St Gregory's which is part of the ancient quarry beneath Calvary where there is first or second century graffiti evidence that this area was the place venerated as the spot where Jesus did in fact die. It is a holy moment and a new spit to see even for Bishop Davis and he had traveled to the Holyland fifteen times. Back upstairs to get in line to enter the shrine surrounding the tomb.
One thing anyone who travels to Israel must understand is that most of the holy places you will visit don't look like what we envision because most every site has had a church built over it. The tomb is no different. Going back to before the Byzantine era, the stone was chiseled away around the tomb so they could enclose it in a shrine to protect it. Over the ages more layers were added to the outside to strengthen its structure. While it doesn't feel right or pluck the heart strings, it is most likely the place. Once everyone has had a chance to enter, we take a moment in a small gery old chapel right behind the shrine which also has a tomb still in tact that they was the tomb where Joseph of Arimethea was final laid. Back out to the courtyard, it is time for lunch. Fladfel or Chicken Swarmma?
After lunch we walk through the reestablished Jewish marketplace along the Roman Cardo, which is in essence an ancient shopping mall. We keep moving, our destination is the Western Wall. Once through security we are there. Once more a time of prayer for our church and then off to the Archaeological park where I spent yesterday. It is almost time for me to preach. The group goes through the Davidson Center museum part and I head for the teaching steps. I climb them praying to calm my heart, I practice two more times and can't get it under nine minutes. Then it occurs to me, perhaps it was God speaking, that the group was tired from walking all over the city and would probably be happy to sit there for a twenty or thirty minutes sermon even if just for the chance to rest. I text Christa and ask her to pray for me and here they come. I meet them at the bottom of the steps. It is time to preach. We read Psalm 120, 130 and 134. Deep breath and go..." I must confess I have a love hate relationship with steps...." I go on to share about steps being a transitional place and these steps in particular being a transition between the secular and the sacred. Are we ready to allow God to transition us, transform us, so that we come back more atuned to the holy and ready to live for him? Based on feedback I did okay, God be praised! We sing a hymn and then it is time to head for the hotel. It has been a good day, and jazz and coffee in the hotel lounge after dinner makes it that much better.
Your brother in Christ
Faron
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Yeah......Two More Days Without Pork
Greetings from Jerusalem Y'all,
Yes, I know I'm behind on blogposts. They are coming, but it is Wednesday night and we are supposed to be on a flight to the states right now, but it has been cancelled. Right now it looks like we will be getting back on Saturday instead of Thursday, so yes that makes twelve days straight without pork!
I WANT A SAUSAGE BISQUIT!!!!!
Yes, I know I'm behind on blogposts. They are coming, but it is Wednesday night and we are supposed to be on a flight to the states right now, but it has been cancelled. Right now it looks like we will be getting back on Saturday instead of Thursday, so yes that makes twelve days straight without pork!
I WANT A SAUSAGE BISQUIT!!!!!
Israel: Day Five
Greetings from sleeping late in Israel,
Today is our free day and while the bulk of our group has risen early to catch the tour bus to Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea, I'm sleeping in late and headed to my favorite spots around the old city. I have to give a devotional tomorrow on the exact steps in the shadow of the Temple Mount in front of my bishop and I'm nervous so part of my plan is to practice.
After sleeping until 10:30, getting ready, enjoying coffee and devotional time in my room. I take off my tourist name badge, throw on my backpack and hit the streets. First stop, after an orange from a local vendor, is Gethsemane with no itinerary, no rush and no one but me. I find a shady spot by the olive trees and sit down in the courtyard and pull out mu Bible. I'm alone except for the feel of the warmth of the sun and the sounds of the city. I start in John and then work backwards through the Gethsemane accounts in all if the gospels. As I read Jesus' pray, I cannot help but to pray it for myself, "Never the less Lord, niy my will but yours be done." I move into the church and again I am all alone except for the solemnness and beauty. I am blessed because what feels like 30 minutes I am alone with God. I sit, I pray, I listen. I hear the tourists coming in and I head out for the next stop.
I actually back track a little so I can walk beneath the Eastern Wall. That path starts at the Lions Gate, called the Sheep Gate in the Old Testament, but Stephen's Gate by Christians because tradition holds that this is the gate they brought him out to stone him. Below the Gate is the Monastery to Saint Stephen. The grounds of the monastery cover the entire area below the gates where he would have been stoned and had his vision. I stop in the chapel to pray. This is a new site for me made possible by my day apart. I leave the church and head down the path towards the south.
As I walk, I get to soak in the view of the Church of the Nations, Gethsemane, the Chapel where Jesus wept, the Mount of Olives and all of the grave yards on both sides of the Kidron Valley. I take my time and soak it all in. I turn the corner at the south end and head north to the Dung Gate.
This is the gate that leads to the Western Wall more commonly called the Wailing Wall. This is the wall on the western side of temple mount which they believe is the foundational wall to the temple. The bottom few exposed visible layers and the thirty feet below the surface are 2nd temple Herodian stones. The Jews come here to pray and place their written pray requests into the wall. It is the place I gave come to pray. I've brought all of your prayer requests, and I pray over each and everyone before I put them in the wall. Then I begin to pray for my family, and all of you by name. An hour and a half later it is time to move on.
Moving on isn't very far, simply back thru security into the archaeological park. This is where I will be preaching tomorrow. I come to bask in the shadow of the temple mount, pray, listen to the nd for any other words for our group. I'm one of just a handful on the park. I stand on the first step and read Psalm 120, one short step and one long step up and I read the 121st. I continue the pattern until the top, finishing with the final Psalm of ascent, the 134th. My heart is quieted, my nerves are calmed, and my ears and mind are filled with devotions for tomorrow. I sit on the steps and begin to write. The words come together and it is time to preach, at least practice preaching. I run through it once, it flows; a second time with a stopwatch, it still flows but it is 9 minutes and 38 seconds. It is supposed to be 5 to 7. I know none of you are shocked that I went long, but I panicked because I'm preaching this in front of the bishop. I run it again, 9:23 but it is getting late and I still want to go to Caiaphas' house. I head out but not before exploring parts of the park I've never seen, walking the route at the top of the city walls and enjoying a power bar.
Back out the dung gate headed to Caiaphas' house. This is another place that holds real significance for me. First this is where they brought Jesus from Gethsemane. The pit they would have held him in is here in the dungeon below the house. Next to the church are the original stairs that Jesus and the disciples would have defended heading to Gethsemane after the Last Supper, the very same steps they brought him back up. But for me this place plucks my soul strings because I resonate so much with Peter and this is where he denied Christ. The top dome on the church has a rooster on it. Lots of prayers and then a stop at the gift shop for stohls and an Americano coffee.
Back on the move I continue walking the circumference of the Old City wall. I pass the Zion Gate and get to enjoy the Garden of the Wall Builders. A walking park beneath the western city wall that has multiple points of explanation of the various walls built over the centuries. A few more miles and I'm at the hotel for dinner and then headed out on the Jerusalem at night tour.
We begin from the Mount of Olives looking down on the Old City illuminated at night. It is beautiful in a completely different way than the day time. Night time captures not only its majesty but it's mystery as well. We move on to the Western Wall. Again a different essence is captured at night. It is beautiful and there is a sense of celebration from the younger Jews dancing and singing in the courtyard above the wall. Again, I pray for our church. Our final part of the tour carries us through modern western Jerusalem to encounter some of the modern culture. Our guide gave us some free time to wander and shop. He and I became fast friends as we went to a little shop that afforded us the opportunity to sit and relax with a cup of espresso and a little "Cuban." A perfect end to a perfect day!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Today is our free day and while the bulk of our group has risen early to catch the tour bus to Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea, I'm sleeping in late and headed to my favorite spots around the old city. I have to give a devotional tomorrow on the exact steps in the shadow of the Temple Mount in front of my bishop and I'm nervous so part of my plan is to practice.
After sleeping until 10:30, getting ready, enjoying coffee and devotional time in my room. I take off my tourist name badge, throw on my backpack and hit the streets. First stop, after an orange from a local vendor, is Gethsemane with no itinerary, no rush and no one but me. I find a shady spot by the olive trees and sit down in the courtyard and pull out mu Bible. I'm alone except for the feel of the warmth of the sun and the sounds of the city. I start in John and then work backwards through the Gethsemane accounts in all if the gospels. As I read Jesus' pray, I cannot help but to pray it for myself, "Never the less Lord, niy my will but yours be done." I move into the church and again I am all alone except for the solemnness and beauty. I am blessed because what feels like 30 minutes I am alone with God. I sit, I pray, I listen. I hear the tourists coming in and I head out for the next stop.
I actually back track a little so I can walk beneath the Eastern Wall. That path starts at the Lions Gate, called the Sheep Gate in the Old Testament, but Stephen's Gate by Christians because tradition holds that this is the gate they brought him out to stone him. Below the Gate is the Monastery to Saint Stephen. The grounds of the monastery cover the entire area below the gates where he would have been stoned and had his vision. I stop in the chapel to pray. This is a new site for me made possible by my day apart. I leave the church and head down the path towards the south.
As I walk, I get to soak in the view of the Church of the Nations, Gethsemane, the Chapel where Jesus wept, the Mount of Olives and all of the grave yards on both sides of the Kidron Valley. I take my time and soak it all in. I turn the corner at the south end and head north to the Dung Gate.
This is the gate that leads to the Western Wall more commonly called the Wailing Wall. This is the wall on the western side of temple mount which they believe is the foundational wall to the temple. The bottom few exposed visible layers and the thirty feet below the surface are 2nd temple Herodian stones. The Jews come here to pray and place their written pray requests into the wall. It is the place I gave come to pray. I've brought all of your prayer requests, and I pray over each and everyone before I put them in the wall. Then I begin to pray for my family, and all of you by name. An hour and a half later it is time to move on.
Moving on isn't very far, simply back thru security into the archaeological park. This is where I will be preaching tomorrow. I come to bask in the shadow of the temple mount, pray, listen to the nd for any other words for our group. I'm one of just a handful on the park. I stand on the first step and read Psalm 120, one short step and one long step up and I read the 121st. I continue the pattern until the top, finishing with the final Psalm of ascent, the 134th. My heart is quieted, my nerves are calmed, and my ears and mind are filled with devotions for tomorrow. I sit on the steps and begin to write. The words come together and it is time to preach, at least practice preaching. I run through it once, it flows; a second time with a stopwatch, it still flows but it is 9 minutes and 38 seconds. It is supposed to be 5 to 7. I know none of you are shocked that I went long, but I panicked because I'm preaching this in front of the bishop. I run it again, 9:23 but it is getting late and I still want to go to Caiaphas' house. I head out but not before exploring parts of the park I've never seen, walking the route at the top of the city walls and enjoying a power bar.
Back out the dung gate headed to Caiaphas' house. This is another place that holds real significance for me. First this is where they brought Jesus from Gethsemane. The pit they would have held him in is here in the dungeon below the house. Next to the church are the original stairs that Jesus and the disciples would have defended heading to Gethsemane after the Last Supper, the very same steps they brought him back up. But for me this place plucks my soul strings because I resonate so much with Peter and this is where he denied Christ. The top dome on the church has a rooster on it. Lots of prayers and then a stop at the gift shop for stohls and an Americano coffee.
Back on the move I continue walking the circumference of the Old City wall. I pass the Zion Gate and get to enjoy the Garden of the Wall Builders. A walking park beneath the western city wall that has multiple points of explanation of the various walls built over the centuries. A few more miles and I'm at the hotel for dinner and then headed out on the Jerusalem at night tour.
We begin from the Mount of Olives looking down on the Old City illuminated at night. It is beautiful in a completely different way than the day time. Night time captures not only its majesty but it's mystery as well. We move on to the Western Wall. Again a different essence is captured at night. It is beautiful and there is a sense of celebration from the younger Jews dancing and singing in the courtyard above the wall. Again, I pray for our church. Our final part of the tour carries us through modern western Jerusalem to encounter some of the modern culture. Our guide gave us some free time to wander and shop. He and I became fast friends as we went to a little shop that afforded us the opportunity to sit and relax with a cup of espresso and a little "Cuban." A perfect end to a perfect day!
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Israel: Day Four
Good morning from outside the Walls of Jerusalem,
The morning began with a wonderful breakfast. I say wonderful because amidst the cold fish options and salad bar there was French toast and syrup. It was quite the same without breakfast sausage but my cravings aren't as bad as last time. Once we were on the bus we were off to the Mount of Olives. Not only is it the approach Jesus would make coming into the city, it is also the clearest panoramic view of the old city. As you look to the left horizon you can see The Upper Room and the House of Caiphas. Directly in front of you is the Al Asaq Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the latter being built on Temple Mount. Just to the right of the some you can see the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is built on one of the possible sites of Calvary and the tomb. Even further to the right you can see Pilates Antonio Fortress which is where the Via De Larosa (sp?), or The Way of Sorrow, begins. This is the route Jesus followed carrying His cross. This is the east wall which houses the East Gate which Ezekiel propecied as the gate through which the Messiah would enter the city. The gate sits above the Kidron Valley which is principally cemeteries now, Jewish, Christian and Muslim.
Having taken our group picture and being acosted by the days first batch of souvenir hockers we began our walk down the mountain heading to the Garden of Gethsemane. Half way down we stop at the Chapel of Tears which commermorates the spot where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The site also has some ancient caves filled with ossuaries. These are in essence family bone boxes. When some one would die they would wrap them in linen and spices until their body decomposes and then they would place their bones in the family box. This way generation after generation could be buried in the same place. Having heard scripture and sung Great is Thy Faithfulness we continued down the mountain.
The path we follow down ends at Gethsemane, my favorite spot in all of Jerusalem. The garden sits next to the Church of the Nations which is built upon the rock where Jesus wept and pleaded to the Father to take this cup from me. The trees are conceivably the last living witnesses to Jesus' pray in the garden and the disciples sleepy failure. The olive tree grows out rather than up so some of these ancient trees have trunks with circumferences greater than 20 feet. This site is holy
The sacred reverberates through your bones as you lean against the fence gazing upon these living witnesses. No matter what you are facing in your life you cannot help but recite over and over again the line from the Lord's Prayer, "Not my will but Yours be done." Sadly the Holy is interuoted by the hockers of cheap souvenirs, "Four for ten dollars." Back to the bus, heading for Bethlehem. Next stop, the Shepherds' Fields where the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
Today is Sunday, time for church and what a beautiful setting to worship. We are seated in the remains of an ancient Byzantine chapel at the shepherds' fields. We heard the story of the shepherds from Luke, Ng Angels WeHave Heard on High, and heard a message from George Strunk, the pastor of Christ UMC in Louisville. He challenged us to think about how we would be changed having experienced Israel in light of the reality that the shepherds were changed having heard the good news. They were different when they returned, how will we be different? The chapel here is built in the shape of a Bedouin tent to commemorate the shepherds who grazed their sheep upon the hills. Looking out across the vast expanse of hills that still has some shepherds with their flocks today you can imagine what it must have been like on that cold dark night to have the explosion of light and the glory of God as the angels appeared. It reminds me that we all need to hear good news amidst the mundane of our lives. Matt Redman's "Your Grace Finds Me" keeps ringing through my head, "It's there in the every day and the mundane." Have any of us had the opportunity to share His good news today?
Next stop, the Church of the Nativity, well after yet another souvenir shop and another hoard of hockers. This church is built over the universally accepted sight for the birth of Jesus and it is perhaps the oldest church in Israel having been built in the third century. Three denominations share the property, the Eastern Irthodox, the Armenians and the Roman Catholics. You can immediately see the disparity in the wealth and resources of each denomination. To enter you must duck through a door which only rises to waist height. The larger opening was reduced to this smaller size in the fifteen hundreds to prevent the Tirlish marauders from entering the church on horseback. While it is a site that should ooze holiness, the hoards of tourist seem to block the spirit. So back to the bus.
Once on the bus we are headed to Jericho, "For a little lunch with a very nice salad bar." The best news is that the Bishop bought us lunch. The restaurant, not surprising had another souvenir shop, but finally we are back.on the bus for a drive by Zaccheus' sycamore tree and then heading to the Old Roman Road which is the route between Jerusalem and Jericho that Jesus traveled. The same route that the good Samaritan would have traveled. We were in route to St George's Monastery, but we experienced the miraculous before we even arrived in that our bus stayed on the road. We were traveling the actual route, the mountains are high, the cliffs are steep and the road is narrow. We were greeted in the parking area by Bedouin souvenir hockers. The only difference in this new variety is their persistence follows you up the mountain. As we walked the trail we looked down a couple of thousand feet into the valley and I don't mean a lush valley that ends in rolling hills, I mean a valley that is 20 or 30 feet across at the bottom before it climbs an equally steep other side. Think yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That is the kind of valley we were looking into, in fact this very valley, is the valley referred to in the 23rd Psalm. When we reached the overlook at the top of the trail we could look down upon St Georges which was built into the side of the mountain. It had originated in the 5th or 6th century as a monastery in a network of caves but today it stands as a beautiful piece of architecture and a working monastery. This trip south has been our first foray into the wilderness and it provides a very different context for a Israel. Where Galilee is lush and green, this area is stark, barren, dry and desolate. This is where Jesus was tempted, where the battle of Jericho was fought, and where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls. Israel while small on actual square footage is incredibly diverse in geography and climate. This was our last stop of the day so it was time to get back on the bus and head to.the hotel. A drive through the desert is a great place for a nap. Tomorrow for our group is Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea but I'm taking the day to linger in places like Gethsemane and the old city.
I was praying for youth service today. I hated to miss it but I know it was a blessing to you all.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
The morning began with a wonderful breakfast. I say wonderful because amidst the cold fish options and salad bar there was French toast and syrup. It was quite the same without breakfast sausage but my cravings aren't as bad as last time. Once we were on the bus we were off to the Mount of Olives. Not only is it the approach Jesus would make coming into the city, it is also the clearest panoramic view of the old city. As you look to the left horizon you can see The Upper Room and the House of Caiphas. Directly in front of you is the Al Asaq Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the latter being built on Temple Mount. Just to the right of the some you can see the domes of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is built on one of the possible sites of Calvary and the tomb. Even further to the right you can see Pilates Antonio Fortress which is where the Via De Larosa (sp?), or The Way of Sorrow, begins. This is the route Jesus followed carrying His cross. This is the east wall which houses the East Gate which Ezekiel propecied as the gate through which the Messiah would enter the city. The gate sits above the Kidron Valley which is principally cemeteries now, Jewish, Christian and Muslim.
Having taken our group picture and being acosted by the days first batch of souvenir hockers we began our walk down the mountain heading to the Garden of Gethsemane. Half way down we stop at the Chapel of Tears which commermorates the spot where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. The site also has some ancient caves filled with ossuaries. These are in essence family bone boxes. When some one would die they would wrap them in linen and spices until their body decomposes and then they would place their bones in the family box. This way generation after generation could be buried in the same place. Having heard scripture and sung Great is Thy Faithfulness we continued down the mountain.
The path we follow down ends at Gethsemane, my favorite spot in all of Jerusalem. The garden sits next to the Church of the Nations which is built upon the rock where Jesus wept and pleaded to the Father to take this cup from me. The trees are conceivably the last living witnesses to Jesus' pray in the garden and the disciples sleepy failure. The olive tree grows out rather than up so some of these ancient trees have trunks with circumferences greater than 20 feet. This site is holy
The sacred reverberates through your bones as you lean against the fence gazing upon these living witnesses. No matter what you are facing in your life you cannot help but recite over and over again the line from the Lord's Prayer, "Not my will but Yours be done." Sadly the Holy is interuoted by the hockers of cheap souvenirs, "Four for ten dollars." Back to the bus, heading for Bethlehem. Next stop, the Shepherds' Fields where the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
Today is Sunday, time for church and what a beautiful setting to worship. We are seated in the remains of an ancient Byzantine chapel at the shepherds' fields. We heard the story of the shepherds from Luke, Ng Angels WeHave Heard on High, and heard a message from George Strunk, the pastor of Christ UMC in Louisville. He challenged us to think about how we would be changed having experienced Israel in light of the reality that the shepherds were changed having heard the good news. They were different when they returned, how will we be different? The chapel here is built in the shape of a Bedouin tent to commemorate the shepherds who grazed their sheep upon the hills. Looking out across the vast expanse of hills that still has some shepherds with their flocks today you can imagine what it must have been like on that cold dark night to have the explosion of light and the glory of God as the angels appeared. It reminds me that we all need to hear good news amidst the mundane of our lives. Matt Redman's "Your Grace Finds Me" keeps ringing through my head, "It's there in the every day and the mundane." Have any of us had the opportunity to share His good news today?
Next stop, the Church of the Nativity, well after yet another souvenir shop and another hoard of hockers. This church is built over the universally accepted sight for the birth of Jesus and it is perhaps the oldest church in Israel having been built in the third century. Three denominations share the property, the Eastern Irthodox, the Armenians and the Roman Catholics. You can immediately see the disparity in the wealth and resources of each denomination. To enter you must duck through a door which only rises to waist height. The larger opening was reduced to this smaller size in the fifteen hundreds to prevent the Tirlish marauders from entering the church on horseback. While it is a site that should ooze holiness, the hoards of tourist seem to block the spirit. So back to the bus.
Once on the bus we are headed to Jericho, "For a little lunch with a very nice salad bar." The best news is that the Bishop bought us lunch. The restaurant, not surprising had another souvenir shop, but finally we are back.on the bus for a drive by Zaccheus' sycamore tree and then heading to the Old Roman Road which is the route between Jerusalem and Jericho that Jesus traveled. The same route that the good Samaritan would have traveled. We were in route to St George's Monastery, but we experienced the miraculous before we even arrived in that our bus stayed on the road. We were traveling the actual route, the mountains are high, the cliffs are steep and the road is narrow. We were greeted in the parking area by Bedouin souvenir hockers. The only difference in this new variety is their persistence follows you up the mountain. As we walked the trail we looked down a couple of thousand feet into the valley and I don't mean a lush valley that ends in rolling hills, I mean a valley that is 20 or 30 feet across at the bottom before it climbs an equally steep other side. Think yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That is the kind of valley we were looking into, in fact this very valley, is the valley referred to in the 23rd Psalm. When we reached the overlook at the top of the trail we could look down upon St Georges which was built into the side of the mountain. It had originated in the 5th or 6th century as a monastery in a network of caves but today it stands as a beautiful piece of architecture and a working monastery. This trip south has been our first foray into the wilderness and it provides a very different context for a Israel. Where Galilee is lush and green, this area is stark, barren, dry and desolate. This is where Jesus was tempted, where the battle of Jericho was fought, and where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls. Israel while small on actual square footage is incredibly diverse in geography and climate. This was our last stop of the day so it was time to get back on the bus and head to.the hotel. A drive through the desert is a great place for a nap. Tomorrow for our group is Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea but I'm taking the day to linger in places like Gethsemane and the old city.
I was praying for youth service today. I hated to miss it but I know it was a blessing to you all.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Israel: Day Three
Well this morning started earlier than usual because today is the day we leave for Jerusalem. Luggage outside the hotel room door by 6:30 and then head to the elevator to wait. Waiting because it is Shabbat and the Jews are not allowed to push the elevator button, so it automatically opens at every floor. Ironically, while pushing the button is considered work they can take the stairs. In my desire to be healthy, I took the steps....okay, okay, in my impatience I took the steps ;) After breakfast we loaded on the bus to head for Nazareth.
Our first stop was the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. It is built over the original spring that was the water source for Biblical Nazareth. Church tradition holds to two possible locations for where the angel appeared to Mary. One tradition is that he appeared as she was getting water. The other is the cave where they lived.
Our second stop was the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation. It is built over the network of caves that they believe were the dwellings of the families from Nazareth during Jesus' time and they have venerated the one cave they believe was where the angel appeared to Mary. This is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in, and for me that includes so many of the ancient cathedrals of Europe. The walls of the upper church are all adorned with artwork depicting Mary sponsored by countries from all over the world. Last trip I took photos of everything. This trip I was able to bask in the holy. Im starting to think everyone needs to come to Israel twice!
From churches to the mountains, specifically the Mount of the Precipice where the people of Nazareth attempted to cast Jesus off the mountain after he told them the messianic prophecy was fulfilled in their sight. It has gorgeous views of Nazareth, Mount Tabor, and the surrounding valleys. The spirit of the rock climber that resided in me so long ago was stirring and i was finding myself wanting to climb down the cliffs. Sadly this also seems to be be the favorite party hangout for the local youth but the broken glass shards from the bottles sure do reflect beautifully in the sunlight
Okay, next stop Meggido and the Valley of Jezreel, also known as the place of Armageddon. Tel Meggido has been explored by archaeologists for more than a hundred years and they have discovered artifacts from thirty different civilizations. For the ancients cities were built around water sources, so as long as there is water they will continue to build cities, one on top of another. Ultimately that accumulation creates a Tel, in essence a man made hill created from the remains of the old cities. Some of the remains of Meggido date more than 4,000 years old. The most significant uncovered today are from the time of Solomon and Ahab. Meggido was one of Solomon's military strongholds, it was in essence his middle calvary cities as it is where he housed 450 chariots and their horses. They have uncovered the gates, some of the palace and some of the stables. During the reign of Ahab he made the fortress more secure by digging a deep hole down to the spring and then diverting it into the city. It enabled the residents to stay within the walls to draw their water. Perhaps one of the most fascinating ruins is a pagan altar used for sacrifice. It may even be one of the locations where Mannasah sacrificed Israelite children. In still a little confused why they would sacrifice children rather than teenagers ;) The tour of the ruins ended with lunch and now we are on the bus headed to Caesarea Maritime on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Our first stop is the old aqueduct that brought freshwater to this beautiful coastal town. The ruins are just that ruins, architecturally fascinating, but eciplsed by the beauty of being on the beach! The water is cold but swimming pool clear. Shoes and socks come off pants legs roll up and in I wade. My mother is right behind but she gets distracted by shining things in the water and decided to collect shells for the twins.
"Mom there is a drop off right in front of you."
"I know, I see it."
"Mom you're leaning over a bit far and your feet are sinking."
"Quit worrying, I will be okay!"
"Ok!"
"Oh, oh, oh, oh..."
"Keep moving, keep moving."
SPLASH!!!!
Needless to say The JoAnn can now tell everyone that she has gone for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. We did manage to catch her enough that her electronics stayed dry.
From the aqueduct and the beach to the national park that is the ruins of Caesrea Maritime. 2,000 years ago this was one of the most thriving and exotic cities of Israel. One of the worlds earliest deepwater ports with a breakwater. For almost twelve hundred years it thrived at various levels, through the Jews, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs and even the Crusaders, but when the Arabs took it back from the crusaders they razed the city and it would lie in ruins for 600 years. The temples, the palace, the amphitheater, the hippodrome, the shops, homes and harbor all gone until the mid-twentieth century when one man had a dream to rebuild this once great city. Today it is a blend of the ancient and the modern. The amphitheater has been excavated and restored to the point of being able to use it for performances. It can seat approximately 3,600 people and its acoustics are enhanced by the constant breeze blowing off the sea carrying the performance into the audience. The hippodrome has also been excavated as has much of the Crusaders fortress. You can also see the foundations of the palace all protected within this incredible national park.
That is our last historic stop of the day. We have an hour and a half bus ride to Jerusalem to our next hotel but we will be making a stop at the Nis'an brothers souveneir shop in Bethlehem. This will be our first trip through the wall and our first encounter with armed soldiers at the border. While the tension of the area has been mentioned this will be a dose of reality. We are never in danger but it is an acute window into the emotional strife of two people groups.
I have yet to figure out how to get pictures off my phone and onto this blog but I promise that I will update these posts with pictures when I get back to Kentucky. Y'all have a great day. Tomorrows post will include The Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds Fields.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Our first stop was the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. It is built over the original spring that was the water source for Biblical Nazareth. Church tradition holds to two possible locations for where the angel appeared to Mary. One tradition is that he appeared as she was getting water. The other is the cave where they lived.
Our second stop was the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation. It is built over the network of caves that they believe were the dwellings of the families from Nazareth during Jesus' time and they have venerated the one cave they believe was where the angel appeared to Mary. This is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in, and for me that includes so many of the ancient cathedrals of Europe. The walls of the upper church are all adorned with artwork depicting Mary sponsored by countries from all over the world. Last trip I took photos of everything. This trip I was able to bask in the holy. Im starting to think everyone needs to come to Israel twice!
From churches to the mountains, specifically the Mount of the Precipice where the people of Nazareth attempted to cast Jesus off the mountain after he told them the messianic prophecy was fulfilled in their sight. It has gorgeous views of Nazareth, Mount Tabor, and the surrounding valleys. The spirit of the rock climber that resided in me so long ago was stirring and i was finding myself wanting to climb down the cliffs. Sadly this also seems to be be the favorite party hangout for the local youth but the broken glass shards from the bottles sure do reflect beautifully in the sunlight
Okay, next stop Meggido and the Valley of Jezreel, also known as the place of Armageddon. Tel Meggido has been explored by archaeologists for more than a hundred years and they have discovered artifacts from thirty different civilizations. For the ancients cities were built around water sources, so as long as there is water they will continue to build cities, one on top of another. Ultimately that accumulation creates a Tel, in essence a man made hill created from the remains of the old cities. Some of the remains of Meggido date more than 4,000 years old. The most significant uncovered today are from the time of Solomon and Ahab. Meggido was one of Solomon's military strongholds, it was in essence his middle calvary cities as it is where he housed 450 chariots and their horses. They have uncovered the gates, some of the palace and some of the stables. During the reign of Ahab he made the fortress more secure by digging a deep hole down to the spring and then diverting it into the city. It enabled the residents to stay within the walls to draw their water. Perhaps one of the most fascinating ruins is a pagan altar used for sacrifice. It may even be one of the locations where Mannasah sacrificed Israelite children. In still a little confused why they would sacrifice children rather than teenagers ;) The tour of the ruins ended with lunch and now we are on the bus headed to Caesarea Maritime on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Our first stop is the old aqueduct that brought freshwater to this beautiful coastal town. The ruins are just that ruins, architecturally fascinating, but eciplsed by the beauty of being on the beach! The water is cold but swimming pool clear. Shoes and socks come off pants legs roll up and in I wade. My mother is right behind but she gets distracted by shining things in the water and decided to collect shells for the twins.
"Mom there is a drop off right in front of you."
"I know, I see it."
"Mom you're leaning over a bit far and your feet are sinking."
"Quit worrying, I will be okay!"
"Ok!"
"Oh, oh, oh, oh..."
"Keep moving, keep moving."
SPLASH!!!!
Needless to say The JoAnn can now tell everyone that she has gone for a swim in the Mediterranean Sea. We did manage to catch her enough that her electronics stayed dry.
From the aqueduct and the beach to the national park that is the ruins of Caesrea Maritime. 2,000 years ago this was one of the most thriving and exotic cities of Israel. One of the worlds earliest deepwater ports with a breakwater. For almost twelve hundred years it thrived at various levels, through the Jews, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs and even the Crusaders, but when the Arabs took it back from the crusaders they razed the city and it would lie in ruins for 600 years. The temples, the palace, the amphitheater, the hippodrome, the shops, homes and harbor all gone until the mid-twentieth century when one man had a dream to rebuild this once great city. Today it is a blend of the ancient and the modern. The amphitheater has been excavated and restored to the point of being able to use it for performances. It can seat approximately 3,600 people and its acoustics are enhanced by the constant breeze blowing off the sea carrying the performance into the audience. The hippodrome has also been excavated as has much of the Crusaders fortress. You can also see the foundations of the palace all protected within this incredible national park.
That is our last historic stop of the day. We have an hour and a half bus ride to Jerusalem to our next hotel but we will be making a stop at the Nis'an brothers souveneir shop in Bethlehem. This will be our first trip through the wall and our first encounter with armed soldiers at the border. While the tension of the area has been mentioned this will be a dose of reality. We are never in danger but it is an acute window into the emotional strife of two people groups.
I have yet to figure out how to get pictures off my phone and onto this blog but I promise that I will update these posts with pictures when I get back to Kentucky. Y'all have a great day. Tomorrows post will include The Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds Fields.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Friday, February 7, 2014
Israel: Day Two
Greetings all from bright sunny and warm Israel,
This morning started with scrambled eggs and grapefruit, but I must confess they were incomplete without bacon. Bill reminded me im not supposed to eat grapefruit with my cholesterol meds but I've decided that since we are in the holy land it is holy grapefruit and thus not an issue for cholesterol ;) I've decided that waking up on the shores of Lake Tiberias every morning isn't all bad.
Our touring started at Beit She'an. This is an Israeli National Park that is a preserved archeological site. It is located at the Tel where King Saul and his sons bodies were brought by the Phillistines after their death. In the 1930's archaeologists determined that this Tel had 18 layers from different civilizations. They uncovered ruins from.the crusades and Turkish periods but twenty years ago they decided to bull doze those and excavate down to the Byzantine period. They have unearthed a bath house complex, complete with toilets, a shopping promenade and an ampitheater. As you walk through the ruins you can't help but experience the ancient. It is funny how in America we think of old in terms of centuries, but here old is determined by millennia.
Stop number two, the Valley of Arbel and the old Roman Road. This is the route Jesus would travel to Cana and Nazareth and is believed to.be the spot where Jesus encountered the centurion who said, "simply give the word and my servant will be healed." It is called the Valley of the Pigeons because it is where they would raise the pigeons and doves for sacrifice at the temple. The valley is by Migdal which is the town Mary Magdalene is from.
Next stop, the Benedictine monastery of Tabgha. This has the chapel commermorating the site where Jesus fed the five thousand. This is one of those places I become acutely aware of the balance struggle between being a tourist and experiencing a Holy Place. I write this as a person on my second trip, spending very little time with a camera in my hand. There is so much to see, but then making sure to take the time to experience the.holy I snuck off into the chapel, a place of silence and prayer where I was able to experience the solitude of the sacred, but then here comes three different tour groups jockeying for photo taking position. I don't write in judgment as four years ago.that was me, I simply write.in realization that we.must always be aware of the need in our lives to balance the secular and the sacred. It is a perpetual challenge in the Holy Land.
From Tabgha to my second favorite place in Galilee, the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter. This is the site where my favorite piece of scripture occurred, John chapter 21. This is where Peter has gone back to his old life of fishing after the resurrection and Jesus comes and calls.him again to a life of ministry. It is one of those places where i am reminded that no matter how far i may wander from Jesus and the call, He will always come looking for me to remind of his call on my life. im not sure there can be a greater purpose for visiting Israel than that; each of us being reminded of God's call on our lives. Time for lunch, i hope you like fish, guts, tail, eyes and all; St Peter's fish and a Coke.
Okay, done with lunch and a trip.through an olive oil store and now off to the ruins of Capernaum. This is the city of Jesus, where he and conceivably seven of his disciples were from. We got to see the ruins of Peter's house where Jesus healed his mother in law so she could serve them. There is a church built on top and an ancient monastery. The ruins are an extensive excavation of the bulk of the city and a synagogue that was built upon the synagogue from Jesus' time.
Sunset today begins the Sabbath, so our day has drawn to a close but it has been another incredible day and we have been truly blessed.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
This morning started with scrambled eggs and grapefruit, but I must confess they were incomplete without bacon. Bill reminded me im not supposed to eat grapefruit with my cholesterol meds but I've decided that since we are in the holy land it is holy grapefruit and thus not an issue for cholesterol ;) I've decided that waking up on the shores of Lake Tiberias every morning isn't all bad.
Our touring started at Beit She'an. This is an Israeli National Park that is a preserved archeological site. It is located at the Tel where King Saul and his sons bodies were brought by the Phillistines after their death. In the 1930's archaeologists determined that this Tel had 18 layers from different civilizations. They uncovered ruins from.the crusades and Turkish periods but twenty years ago they decided to bull doze those and excavate down to the Byzantine period. They have unearthed a bath house complex, complete with toilets, a shopping promenade and an ampitheater. As you walk through the ruins you can't help but experience the ancient. It is funny how in America we think of old in terms of centuries, but here old is determined by millennia.
Stop number two, the Valley of Arbel and the old Roman Road. This is the route Jesus would travel to Cana and Nazareth and is believed to.be the spot where Jesus encountered the centurion who said, "simply give the word and my servant will be healed." It is called the Valley of the Pigeons because it is where they would raise the pigeons and doves for sacrifice at the temple. The valley is by Migdal which is the town Mary Magdalene is from.
Next stop, the Benedictine monastery of Tabgha. This has the chapel commermorating the site where Jesus fed the five thousand. This is one of those places I become acutely aware of the balance struggle between being a tourist and experiencing a Holy Place. I write this as a person on my second trip, spending very little time with a camera in my hand. There is so much to see, but then making sure to take the time to experience the.holy I snuck off into the chapel, a place of silence and prayer where I was able to experience the solitude of the sacred, but then here comes three different tour groups jockeying for photo taking position. I don't write in judgment as four years ago.that was me, I simply write.in realization that we.must always be aware of the need in our lives to balance the secular and the sacred. It is a perpetual challenge in the Holy Land.
From Tabgha to my second favorite place in Galilee, the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter. This is the site where my favorite piece of scripture occurred, John chapter 21. This is where Peter has gone back to his old life of fishing after the resurrection and Jesus comes and calls.him again to a life of ministry. It is one of those places where i am reminded that no matter how far i may wander from Jesus and the call, He will always come looking for me to remind of his call on my life. im not sure there can be a greater purpose for visiting Israel than that; each of us being reminded of God's call on our lives. Time for lunch, i hope you like fish, guts, tail, eyes and all; St Peter's fish and a Coke.
Okay, done with lunch and a trip.through an olive oil store and now off to the ruins of Capernaum. This is the city of Jesus, where he and conceivably seven of his disciples were from. We got to see the ruins of Peter's house where Jesus healed his mother in law so she could serve them. There is a church built on top and an ancient monastery. The ruins are an extensive excavation of the bulk of the city and a synagogue that was built upon the synagogue from Jesus' time.
Sunset today begins the Sabbath, so our day has drawn to a close but it has been another incredible day and we have been truly blessed.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Israel: Day One
Greetings from Israel y'all,
Well we are wrapping up day one and are pulling out from the Jordan River heading for our hotel in the city of Tiberias. The weather has been beautiful and that alone has made for a most incredible day. We started this morning boarding a boat on the Sea of Galilee. This is by far one of my favorite places in Israel. The wind was a little brisk and the boat gently rocked as we listened to scripture and a devotional. This is one of those places that is undoubtably authentic! This is where Jesus called the disciples, where he walked on water, where he calmed the sea, and it is a place you can still hear him calling today.
From the boat we disembarked at one of the Israeli Antiquities sites to see the Jesus Boat. This is an ancient boat discovered in 1986. It is a boat just like what Peter, James, and John fished from. A cup of coffee and potty break and we were off to the Mount of Beattitudes. This is the site commemorating the Sermon on the Mount. From there we headed north, to the Gates of Hell, well to the place they believe that Jesus asked the disciples who he was and he named Peter the rock and told him the gates of hell would not prevail against the church that would be built upon him.
Having been that close to the gates of hell it was time for lunch, chicken schnitzel and a coke zero fills the belly and good company fills the heart. From there we headed to the slopes of Mt. Hermon which is one of the.possible locations of the Transfiguration. While I wasn't transfigured I was inspired to nap on the way to the Byzantine chapel ruins commemorating the site where Jesus cast the demons out of the demoniac and into the pigs. It was here that I heard the best news of all, there are still wild boars roaming there today, THERE IS BACON IN ISRAEL you just have to kill it and butcher it yourself! ;)
From the bacon site we headed to the Jordan River to have a time of remembering our baptism. The good news is that I have a bottle of Jordan River water for baptisms, the possible bad news...not enough for immersions. I was here on my last trip so I was more intrigued by the swarms of giant catfish than the site itself. Catfish are unclean to the Jews so they don't eat them so.they get bigger, and bigger. I was hoping to upload photos for yall from my phone but The Google doesn't like my windows phone. From remembering we headed to the hotel for dinner and then a tour of one of the diamond centers. No I did not by an engagement ring, but I was tempted. So now we are back, I'm tired and thinking about bed. I pray all is well with each of you and CUMC. I've been praying for you at the holy sites, but I must confess that I have not missed the ice and snow. It is my goal to make a daily post for those of you who want to follow along.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
Well we are wrapping up day one and are pulling out from the Jordan River heading for our hotel in the city of Tiberias. The weather has been beautiful and that alone has made for a most incredible day. We started this morning boarding a boat on the Sea of Galilee. This is by far one of my favorite places in Israel. The wind was a little brisk and the boat gently rocked as we listened to scripture and a devotional. This is one of those places that is undoubtably authentic! This is where Jesus called the disciples, where he walked on water, where he calmed the sea, and it is a place you can still hear him calling today.
From the boat we disembarked at one of the Israeli Antiquities sites to see the Jesus Boat. This is an ancient boat discovered in 1986. It is a boat just like what Peter, James, and John fished from. A cup of coffee and potty break and we were off to the Mount of Beattitudes. This is the site commemorating the Sermon on the Mount. From there we headed north, to the Gates of Hell, well to the place they believe that Jesus asked the disciples who he was and he named Peter the rock and told him the gates of hell would not prevail against the church that would be built upon him.
Having been that close to the gates of hell it was time for lunch, chicken schnitzel and a coke zero fills the belly and good company fills the heart. From there we headed to the slopes of Mt. Hermon which is one of the.possible locations of the Transfiguration. While I wasn't transfigured I was inspired to nap on the way to the Byzantine chapel ruins commemorating the site where Jesus cast the demons out of the demoniac and into the pigs. It was here that I heard the best news of all, there are still wild boars roaming there today, THERE IS BACON IN ISRAEL you just have to kill it and butcher it yourself! ;)
From the bacon site we headed to the Jordan River to have a time of remembering our baptism. The good news is that I have a bottle of Jordan River water for baptisms, the possible bad news...not enough for immersions. I was here on my last trip so I was more intrigued by the swarms of giant catfish than the site itself. Catfish are unclean to the Jews so they don't eat them so.they get bigger, and bigger. I was hoping to upload photos for yall from my phone but The Google doesn't like my windows phone. From remembering we headed to the hotel for dinner and then a tour of one of the diamond centers. No I did not by an engagement ring, but I was tempted. So now we are back, I'm tired and thinking about bed. I pray all is well with each of you and CUMC. I've been praying for you at the holy sites, but I must confess that I have not missed the ice and snow. It is my goal to make a daily post for those of you who want to follow along.
Your brother in Christ,
Faron
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