Variety of Pictures From Israel

Here are some random pictures of our pilgrimage, not as many as we have, but enough for you to enjoy I hope. The pictures are not in any particular order. No commentary to them, just a note to identify them.

Shalom!
:O)
Tom/Deb


Debbie and Tom at Peter's Bascilla on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.




Picture of the place where Jeroboam built a temple in Dan at a place called Tel Dan.






Looking down on the Wailing Wall on our way up a walkway to the Temple Mount or to the top of Mt. Morriah.





An artist rendition of what the Southern Steps of the Temple might have looked liked in Jesus' day.






Does this need any explanation at all? (The place of the skull: Mt. Calvary: Golgotha)





A model of what Jerusalem looked liked just before its destruction.

The hosts from left to right: Dr. David, Debbie, Tom.

A street on the level of Jerusalem in the first century. Jesus probably walked along this corridor.

Soon to be baptized in the River Jordan at Yardenit.

An amazing view of the Sea of Galilee and surrounding area from the top of Mt. Arbel.

Our guide Hana Kessler and bus driver Haim Kalifa.
Both of Jerusalem, Israel.

A boat like the one we floated the Galilee on and had a marvelous worship experience on.

Untouched evidence of earthquake effects on the city of Bet Shean in Jordan rift valley.

Look closely at the small door in the bottom left corner of the large green door and you will be able to see a "camel's needle."

The remains of a synagogue at Capernaum. This was built on the foundation of the synagogue Jesus visited while in Capernaum.

A view of the Western Wall or the Wailling Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.

A fig.

The Eastern Gate. One of my personal favorite sites.

This is what we did while in Israel, walked in the steps of Jesus. In fact, we walked more than 60 miles.

The is located near Tel Dan. Abraham may have walked on these steps when he came to deliever his nephew lot. I can imagine him calling one of the Canaanite kings out for an old fashion "whoopen".

Returning Home

Hello everyone! As you might know by now, we are getting nearer to our homeland. At this writing, we are sitting in the airport in Frankfurt. We have about three hours before we begin to load and head towards Dulles International airport. The flight from Tel Aviv was pleasant. The plane was an A340 Airbus, nice ride. It has more room than most other planes which is a welcomed thing.

Dr. David and I just returned from a short little walk and a quick stop in one of the little shops found along the corridor near our departure gate. I bought two bottles of water and I paid $9.00 for them. I suppose that illustrates vividly the value of our dollar in relationship to the Euro. I’m not too smart and I’m not too dumb either, but I can easily put 2+2 together and get 4. If I’m not missing something I should be seeing, America is in deep, deep trouble.

By the way if you think I’m just referring to economics, think again. The economic situation we find ourselves in not to problem. It is the symptom. The problem is, once again, not economics. The problem is spiritual, relational. We are in spiritual trouble because we are in relational trouble. I’m not talking about the familial kind or the family kind (although that is all too self evident), but I’m talking about distance America has in relationship to the God of creation and specifically, the God of America. Whether or not modern historians and liberal educators will admit what the truth is, some of who do know need to herald the truth as often as possible and those of us who know the power of prayer, pray powerfully.

Remember it was a wise man that said, “Blessed is the nation who’s God is the Lord.”

I don’t believe it is too late, yet, but I am too afraid we are getting closer and closer to that time.

The day here in Frankfurt is beautiful. Just last Tuesday/Wednesday is was quite cold and snowing. Today it is sunny and clear.

Our transport from 3 Mendele Street, Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport was without a problem. But once we arrived at the airport, things slowed to a snail’s pace. Security is always tight in Israel, but not usually this slow. Some of our folks had to completely empty their to-be-stowed luggage. The problem was half shekels inside the luggage. We knew they would do this if they saw certain products from the Dead Sea such as the mud, we forgot about books, and we did not know about the coins. I believe last time those of us who took them home for souvenirs carried them on board our flights as a part of our carry on items. It was an inconvenience if it was not your luggage being examined.

I wish I put into words what this past ten days in Israel has meant to me. To have had the privilege to lead a group of pilgrims to the Holy Land is such an honor I simply cannot find words sufficient to describe. To watch the faces of both the new pilgrims as well the returning pilgrims was an added bonus for me. I would describe the most common reaction to many things seen was that of awe! There were many tears shed both men and women. Sometimes one would weep alone and then other times only the one not weeping would be alone.

We know before we began this journey that the Bible was true and needed no one to verify it, and yet, as I said in an earlier blog, the Bible is alive, but we have walked where the Bible lives.

I am completing this blog from my study at home. We have arrived safely, but not without our problems. James Cunningham became very ill on the day before our departure. All were very concerned about his condition. But by the grace of God, he began to improve somewhat and the journey home seemed very doable.

Debbie and I were assigned seats beside them as we headed from Frankfurt to Dulles. For the first hour and a half or so, there were no apparent problems until I heard a voice over the intercom system asking for medical assistance if any was available. I thought, “I wonder who is ill or in distress among the people setting on the plane in front of us?” Then it hit me like a ton of bricks that it could be and was one of ours when I saw the Doctor rush past me heading for the back of the plane. This time it Juanita, James’ wife. She was gravely ill.

The flight crew was very attentive to her needs and did all they could do to help make this unwanted situation bearable. This unknown physician was a God send and we who know Juanita personally will be forever grateful. One of our own, Linda Farley is a nurse and she stood by Juanita and helped with an obvious loving and patient hand. Isn’t God good even when the situations we find ourselves in are not.

The airlines had paramedics waiting to board our plane a little before docking in order to check Juanita and Jim out and try and determine if hospitalization was a necessity. Although very ill, the decision was made to go home instead of go to the hospital.

You cannot believe how shocked I was when I was told by the coach company I had contracted with that they were expecting us a day later. That meant our bus, which I had planned to meet us as soon as we had gotten through customs and secured our luggage would be waiting to transport us to Charleston, was not waiting.

If the misunderstanding about dates and times only affected me, then there would not have been a problem. But, there were 22 other people, one gravely ill, another quite ill, and at least three getting ill, who had trusted in me to get them home on time and as safe as we could arrive home.

I suppose the Scripture that says “Thou hast great need of patience” must have been on top of the Lord’s list of needs for me Friday evening. Still, to make what could be a LONG story short, we were, thankfully, able to secure a bus several hours later than expected to transport tired and patient pilgrims home.

Although the ride home was uneventful, it was somewhat unique. I do not believe the drivers who carried us home were used to West Virginia roads. The curves, although on the interstate system seemed to be a challenge to them. What should have been about a five and a half hour trip at the most took a little better than seven.

I don’t mean to sound like I am complaining, but I do believe the Devil did his best to try and still our joy and blessing from a most marvelous and glorious journey to the Holy Land. But, do you know what? IT DID NOT WORK!!! GLORY HALELUAI!!!

I cannot express in word what I think about this group of pilgrims. I did not hear a word of criticism from them, but I did hear them attempt to encourage me in light of circumstances we were all facing and for which I felt deeply responsible for.

My bed felt good. I’m sure everyone else’s did also.

It is hard for me to believe that some many months of planning and waiting have come and gone. The eleven days and nights journey this group of pilgrims has just experienced, though, will stay with us forever. These past few days and nights have been remarkable investment of time. We have all been touched, in a very special way, on every level of our being: heart, soul, mind, body, spirit.

This journey, or better, pilgrimage has done what I told those who made up our group, changed our lives forever. It is true, we will never be the same from this day and forward.

Again, to the families and friends of those who traveled with us and who helped make this pilgrimage possible, it is my prayer that the God of all grace and mercy will reward you for providing the support for that special loved you encouraged (although somewhat hesitantly at first) to make this amazing journey to the land and places where the “Bible lives.”

Finally, to all of you who have read these blogs and thereby followed us in our pilgrimage through the Holy Land, I wish to offer thanks. Although I had to remove the comment option on my blog spot due to some unwanted response, I do appreciate the verbal response I have received since returning. By the way, my e-mail address is available on this blog spot under our profile.

It is with a grateful heart and from a full heart that I praise the Lord for having had this special privilege to walk the land He has chosen to place both His name and His people, I say may God richly bless you in every way imaginable.

P.S. I plan to do one more blog with more pictures and little commentary. Just enough to let you know where the places are that are shown in the pictures I have chosen out of hundreds.

Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb

Final Day of Touring

Shalom, Shalom, Shalom from the center of the world, Jerusalem. This has been another blessed day, but it is also a very sad day. I know many of you already know why it is. This is our last day in the beautiful land. We begin our journey back home to our homes and families. We will be glad to see them, but we will be sad to leave this place that feels like home.

We are scheduled to leave our hotel at 1:00 AM for the David Ben Gurion airport for a 5:00 AM departure time. Our layover in Frankfurt is longer than we would like, but it will manageable even for travelers that are tired.

Today was a special day as have been all the rest. If someone were to ask what the most special part of our journey has been or what place we felt to be our favorite, I think I, for one, would probably say “The one where I am now.” Each place has its own special beauty. Just this evening, a Jewish emigrant told me, Debbie, and David in the lobby, when trying to describe what it was like coming to Israel from Argentina as a permenent resident and seeing Israel for the first time, she said, “Wow!” I think she said it perfectly, don't you?

We left our hotel in Jerusalem that is home to 730,000 residents for the Israeli Museum. What a wonderful experience that was. Two remarkable things are on display there: (1)a scale model of the city of Jerusalem just before its destruction and (2) the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. Well, at least a copy of them is displayed.


The scale model of the city was built to look like Jerusalem just before its destruction in ?? A.D. (sorry I can not recall the year). The model showed a wall being within a wall. The inside wall marked the area of the Old City in the days of Christ our Lord. It showed what we believe to be true place where our Lord was crucified and buried. Remember that the Bible says our Lord suffered without the city walls.

While visiting in the Dome of The Book (which we do not have any pictures of) we saw several artifacts discovered at Qumran (where we visited on the first day of our touring, that is the place the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered). Things like this are, in my humble opinion, nothing less than amazing!

It was not by chance that near the time that the nation of Israel declared its statehood and sovereign independence as a nation that the complete Book of Isaiah was discovered! This kind of thing is a “Wow” thing. Why not another Book of the Bible? Why the Book of Isaiah? I know that many things may be added to what I am about to say, but I believe enough will be said to cause you to shout if you are the shouting kind.

The Book of Isaiah is often referred to or is known as the “mini Bible.” Why? Well, it contains 66 chapters and the Bible contains 66 books. Coincidence? I think not! There is a natural division in the Book of Isaiah that occurs between the 39th and the 40th chapters. Do you know that there are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament? In the Books of Isaiah the first thirty nine chapters (and I will be overly simple here) speak of the history of the nation of Israel? Isn’t that what the Old Testament in essence contains? The history of the nation of Israel. (I know it could be argued that many years passed before God called Abram to go into a country that He would later give to him and to his “SEED” that would follow. Notice I did not say “seeds” because that is what the Bible said: “seed”. Isn’t it something that God says what He means and means what He says. But remember, the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch or the Books of Genesis to Deuteronomy were written by a man named Moses as God moved upon him and through him.) The last twenty seven chapters speak of the Messiah and the kingdom God has promised to build. Isn’t that what the New Testament at its heart speaks of? It was Israel’s Messiah that the writers of the Gospel spoke about and upon which the New Testament church is founded. (I know the letters written by the five writers of the New Testament moved upon and through by the Holy Spirit gave instruction to the Church, but does not it contain at least 318 references to the second coming of Christ in its 260 chapters.

I could go on, but I do not believe this was a perchance thing! (I thought I was done but I’m not!) Listen to what Paul said in 1 Corinthians “We have this treasure in earthen vessels.” I do not believe it was a perchance thing when whoever placed the Isaiah scroll in something to store it in chose by chance a clay pot. A vessel such as this is impervious to rot or rust. Oh I know a clay pot can be broken and it was due to the fact that it was broken that made the discovery possible. Maybe a few who claim to know the Lord as their Savior and who claim to have the word of God in them should be broken a little so that the Word of the Lord that is hidden in their hearts might come out and be a blessing to many! (That will preach!!!)

From there we traveled to the place where Herod the Great was buried. This place called Herodian and is as many other places we have seen, remarkable. On our journey there we saw the Shepherd Fields of Bethlehem from a totally different view than ever before. It was BEAUTIFUL. We saw a number of shepherds and their sheep and goats. It is something to see how the modern world of internet and cell phones meet with an ancient world thousands of years old. By the way, shepherds carry cell phones also. :O)


There is at Herodian an active archeological dig going. In fact we saw the men below the path we traveled digging in the hot Israeli sun. The trip up to the summit of Herodian was a challenge, but once on top the 360 degree view of the surrounding area was breathe taking. We also saw the remains of one of Herod’s palaces. We walked back to our bus through the water course of Herodian that provided us with some welcomed shade from the sun and natural air conditioning.

At a Kibbutzim that is located near Herodian we stopped to eat lunch. From there we returned to our Hotel for our final few hours of preparing for our return trip home. Our daily meeting was sweet and, as has been each night, filled with a sweet spirit.

I want to say thanks to the family members of all of you who helped make this trip possible for your loved one. Their dream and vision has become a reality. I am sure that when they begin to tell you about the sights seen, the sounds heard, and the many wonderful and exciting experiences they have had, it will stir something deep within you too.

I have told our pilgrims that going to the Holy Land, the land God chose out of all lands to place His name, the land of Israel will change a person forever.

I believe all of us are as anxious to see you as you are to see us. Pray, as I know you will and already been doing, for a safe journey home.

Until sometime in the near future when jet lag is not too bad…

Shalom!
:O)

Tom/Deb
PS I have chosen the setting for my blog spot to NOT allow comments to be posted. I had a couple early on in this process that I did not want anyone to think I approved of the type of ideas posted. So, since it my blog spot I have chosen to opt out of this option. You may send me any and all comments you wish at the e-mail address found in my profile.

Big Day

Shalom! I hope this finds you all well, I know it finds you blessed. I told you last evening that I would be brief in the blog, but it grew larger than I had expected. My plan for tonight is to do what I intended to do last night, we will see.

By the way, when I posted the number of steps we have taken and the translation of those steps into miles I know you already know the mileage was for all the days we have been here and not just for one day. The pace is not too quick and it is doable by most anyone who will come.

I am sorry that there will be no pictures for tonight’s blog. There are two reasons for that, so hopefully tomorrow will provide more options.

We slept in this morning, 6:00AM wake up call. Departure on the bus was at 8:00AM and then we headed for the Old City and a walk along the “traditional path Jesus took on His way to Golgotha.” I say traditional for many reasons I will not even attempt to address in this blog, but although we do not know the route we do know, as John records, that “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:”

We were at the street level of the first century and the stones we walked on today are, no doubt, some of the same stones Jesus stood and walked on as the Roman soldiers mocked and ridiculed Him just hours before His crucifixion. We read Scripture, prayed, and sang. The Spirit of the Lord was both rich and sweet. Never a more fitting song than “Were You There” moved our hearts in many ways. Closing with a circle prayer was a fitting way to bring our time there to an end.

The Via Delarosa, for me, is a wonderful experience. Why? There are many reasons, but one of the most significant is that pilgrims like myself get to experience the crowded streets of Jerusalem as they may have been in the day our Lord carried His cross towards Calvary.

We are lunch on “Main Street” or the Cardo. Some of us ate pizza, others a fresh bread that they all is very good, a “falafel” was a choice of others. We took a little time to sit and watch the local foot traffic as we ate, and even had some shopping time for the ladies and then it was on to a wonderful experience as we walked under the Wailing Wall. How I wish you have been with us. Without doubt this is one of my favorite places to visit while in the Holy Land.

For instance while in the Western Wall Tunnel, we saw one stone used by Herod the Great in the temple mount construction that was 42 feet long, 10 feet high, and an estimated 12 feet thick. Hana told us this single stone weights an amazing 600 tons.

The weather was perfect and although we walked quite a long way today and are now very tired, we are thankful for having had such a marvelous privilege.

As we stopped in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, I encouraged our group to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and see with their hearts also. The church was cold in more ways than being physically that way. The contrast that exists between being in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and in the place called Gordon’s Calvary is poles apart.

We were privileged to see the place called “Calvary” or the place of the “skull” just outside of the Damascus Gate laying a little north of the Old City. We were guided in the guided by a guide from within that community who gave a number of wonderful and interesting reasons why this place known as “Gordon’s Calvary” could very well be the actual place our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was crucified, was buried, and that arose on the third and appointed morning.

While in the garden, we had a worship service that included participating in the Lord’s Supper. It was a sweet service. We sang, we prayed, we testified, and for a few minutes I tried to preach out of Romans 1:1–4. I’m not sure about the others, but I certainly enjoyed myself.

Communion was distributed by two of our male travelers. Dr. David commented on the Lord’s Supper early in the service and I read a passage from the Gospel of Matthew 26. We had communion in Gordon’s Calvary! No that’s something that just does not happen to often.

It was back to the bus and our hotel for our last full night’s stay. Supper was good and the meeting was also.

It is HARD to believe we only have one more day of touring, but that is it. Tomorrow we travel to Herodian. The place, newly discovered, where King Herod the Great was buried. From there we will take some time to visit at the Israeli Museum. Then back to the hotel after lunch for packing, talking, and attempting to get a little sleep before our 1:00 AM departure from the hotel for David Ben Gurion airport and our 5:00 AM flight home.

Thanks for reading these blogs. I pray they have been a help to you in some degree. I have enjoyed doing them, although it has demanded more of my time than I imagined it would.

I hope you all rest well tonight. We will soon, the good Lord willing, be back in our own beds and with our own families. Yes, we will also be hoping for the effects of jet lag to wear off more quickly than they probably will.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day and the Lord’s grace will be sufficient for its events. It is my prayer that God will keep you in His gracious care.

Until the next time…

Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb

Tired But Blessed

A tired ‘Shalom’ to everyone. Let me say this will probably be a brief blog. I am very tired, as we all are…but it is a GOOD tired!!! So, in order to get ready for our last full day of touring (that word does not express the truth), I will choose to invest my time in other things.

By the way, thanks to all of you that have taken time to read these posts and for the feedback you have provided to me.

It has been a glorious day. There is no other way for me to begin this blog. We have spent a long day both in and around Mt. Morriah. This the place Abraham brought Isaac to offer him in sacrifice, the place of Ornan’s threshing floor purchased by David during a time of judgment from the Lord, the place Solomon built the first Temple, the place Zerubbabel built the second Temple, and the place where the third Temple will SOON be built.

The Temple mount is currently under Palestinian authority. We walked on the area of the Temple mount that was expanded by Herod the Great. Not great because he was a great man, for he was far from being that, but great because of his architectural abilities and endeavors.

We passed from Israeli territory into Palestinian territory back into Israeli territory all within two hours of each other. Following our Temple mount time we went to the Walling Wall. This is the “most holy” in of present day Judaism. Of the many things I could say about this place I will say that this place is unique to due to the internal conflict I see and feel. It is both a wondrous place and a terribly sad place to be. I feel happy for the Jews having control of this area and yet at the same time sad because of what they have missed and what awaits them in the future. Let’s do what the Scripture teaches, and I have referred to this passage before, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Lunch was great! Of course there was shopping. Not too much damage done at this time I believe. :O)We wanted to visit Mt. Zion, but the Pope is coming in a few weeks and the traditional site for the Upper Room is undergoing renovation and therefore was not open for traffic today. Maybe it will be on Thursday, we will see and try once again then.

Next, it was on to the City of David and then Hezekiah’s Tunnel. This is an active archaeological site. It is, in many ways–like all the other places we have visited are not :O) ), a remarkable place. Honestly, you would just have to be here to get the full impact of this remarkable place and see it in reference to present day Jerusalem, the Old City Jerusalem, and the original Jerusalem captured by David’s men and claimed by the same as the capital of Israel. We sure have had some “Wow” moments in the last several days.

Of the many things I would like to say about Hezekiah’s Tunnel, I will just say we had a wonderful time wading the water that runs there from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. The water course is about 1,6000 feet long. As we walked we sang and easily sensed the awesomeness of this engineering marvel. At least it is a marvel to me. Do some personal study on this famous Biblical tunnel and it prove very beneficial to you I am sure.

Oh, by the way, we visited the traditional site of Caiaphas’ house. This is the house of the High Priest in the day of Jesus. It is highly probable that Jesus was kept prisoner here on the night he was betrayed, denied, and forsaken. We had a little time in a ‘pit’ where our Lord, after haven been tried and wrongly condemned, was bound and detained until morning broke and Pilate could be consulted. We read Scripture–Psalm 88–sang, wept (not just cried and there has been a lot of that going around these past few days), and moved greatly by the undeniable and awesome presence of the Holy Spirit.

We finally made our way back to our home away from home. Aaaaaah! this is good. Good dinner. Good meeting. Hopefully a good night of rest also.

By the way, a friend of mine has been wearing a meter that measures the number of steps we have taken which can be translated into miles traveled on foot. Her husband called just minutes ago and he told me we have taken 102,818 steps which translates into 51.4 miles. We aren’t done yet.

God bless all of you is my humble but sincere prayer. From a tired preacher but a blessed preacher from the center of the universe (read Ezekiel 5:5 and remember God said this and not me, I’m just quoting).

Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb

PS I cannot end this blog before I tell you that we also walked along the Southern Wall of the Old City Jerusalem at the street level of Jesus' day. In fact, there is NO doubt in mind that our blessed Lord walked along this street when He walked among men before He died for men. Talk about an experience! We sat on the steps of the south side of the Temple Mt. area and I'm telling the Lord showed up in that place.

Pray us and also for out guide Hana and our driver Haim. They are wonderful and wonderfully sweet, but as far as I know they are not believers...I am using this in the proper sense. Again, Shalom.

Galilee To Bethlehem

Ere tov” to all of you, which means, “Good evening.” I’ll tell you the truth, although I don’t do very well with this language either, English is easier for me.

The weather has been wonderful. We arose to a beautiful day as the sun above the Golan Heights until it shined brightly on the water of the blue Galilee. The day started just little earlier than normal due to our move, but we were soon on our south driving along the Jordan Rift Valley. Our destination is Bethlehem.

There were many wonderful sights to behold as we travel along a similar path that all pilgrims traveled from north to south from the earliest days known. We saw the marvelous way the people of Israel have turned this once barren land into one of the world’s most successful producers of agricultural goods. It does not yet look like it will after the King comes to rule, but it is still beautiful. We saw shepherds and their flocks and also a small herd of camels on the side of the road. Of course we took some pictures. We sang as we traveled and some folks even found a way to spend money while riding the bus. I’ll let whoever tell you more when they see you.

We stopped one of, if not the, largest active archeological digs in Israel. The history of Bet Shean is Biblical and historical. As I mentioned in my previous blog concerning Bet Shean, you can read about a special but sad event connected with this city. As we looked as the discovered remains of this once beautiful Roman colony, one can only imagine what a magnificent place this must have been when it was busy with its 25, 000 citizens.

From there it was on to Bethlehem (house of bread), for an afternoon of visiting the Church of the Nativity, worship service in the Shepherd’s Field, and lunch at St. George’s café. We had a wonderful visit. We were able to see the TRADITIONIAL place where Jesus may have been born. We KNOW that it was in Bethlehem, but we do not definitely know the exact place.

The Shepherd’s Field was just a little journey from the Church to this place. There is doubt that this is the Shepherd’s Field. It has been what it is for millenniums. David, as a boy, watched the sheep of his father Jesse. It was from here and to here that Naomi left and returned. It was here that Boaz accepted the proposal of Ruth for marriage. It was here that we see the hand of God guiding the footsteps of many people who were involved in bringing our Lord into this world.

Dr. David Jarrell preached a wonderful message about the night of Jesus’ birth. Jenny Hansford sang two sweet songs she has written and the group a familiar favorite at Christmas time, “Silent Night.” Oh, and did I tell you that we did all this IN Shepherd’s Field with the Shepherd’s Field across the valley in the background.

If you remember the Scripture, after the angel announced the birth of Jesus and invited them to go see the Lord and Savior wrapped in swaddling clothing and then go and tell. At the end of Dr. Dave’s message I told the people of our group that we too have a similar commission. In fact, I told them we are to do what the shepherds did, go and tell. But one they did not receive from the angels was to “go and shop.” :O)

Bethlehem is a Palestinian territory. At one time it was home to the largest Christian communities in the entire land of Israel. At one time the population of Bethlehem was 80% Christian. Today the Christian population there is 15%. In fact the owner of Bethlehem Souvenirs, Edward, told me that 100 Christians have left Bethlehem due to the terrible economic situation that exists there.

A short drive to our nice hotel, unpacking, eating, and reflecting on our day’s journey was the last thing we did. I cannot tell you just how the Spirit has moved among us and upon us while here. Our meeting was so sweet I am not sure many tired travelers were very anxious to see the meeting come to an end.

The days are long and the nights are short but we are all blessed…tremendously. Thank you for helping to make this life changing trip possible.

Until the next time…
Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb
PS I finally have wi-fi available in our room!!!

Hotel Address

Greetings everyone…just wanted to put up a quick blog to let you all know that we have returned to Jerusalem. No, it is not the time of Passover (but that is coming soon), it is not the time of First Fruits (that will follow Passover), it is not the time for the Feast of Tabernacles, but we have returned to Jerusalem.

Here is the hotel’s address. It is not the one we were at when we first arrived, but being here feels like being home.

I believe you already have this address, but just wanted to make sure.
Prima Royale
3 Mendel Street, Jerusalem, 92147
Phone: 972.2.5607111
e-mail: royale2prima.co.il

Also, I need to mention one more thing of importance. On our day of returning home, we will be arriving back in Dulles at 3:45PM on April, 3. This time was sent to us in our last communication from Towson. It seems some of our travelers failed to see this change. Please make a note of this on your calendars.

If only your day has been as full and blessed as our day, I pray it has been that and more.

Everyone says to tell all of you “Hello!” and be sure to remind you that you are loved.

Until next time…
Shalom!:O)Tom/Deb

Upon This Rock

Boker-tov! (Hebrew for “Good morning!” or at least it is close.

I hope you rested well last night. Our nights are just now getting back to something resembling normal. Our rooms are comfortable, the food is good, the fellowship is sweet, and the blessings almost seem to be more than we can contain.

Tomorrow we drive north toward the foot of Mt. Herman. It is not only as far North as we will be going but also as far North as we wish to go. Just a little more than a mile away is Lebanon. We are going to visit Tel Dan.

The Bible records a major event that took place between our Lord and the disciples as they walked and talked on their way to Caesarea Philippi. You can read the story in Matthew 16. This story is familiar to Bible readers I am sure.

As we begin our return journey to our hotel we will drive along the Golan Heights. This is a very strategic piece of real estate that lies between Israel and either Jordan or Syria. There are many nations and persons who would like to see Israel give up this portion of land, but they are not in the mood to negotiate about this extremely important military position. When you travel in this part of the world and especially in Israel, you can easily see just how significant it is to do your best to provide safe boarders for the people who live inside this country. Please follow the edict of Psalm 122:6 where the psalmist cries “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Tomorrow night will be our last night of sleeping beside the Sea of Galilee. In some ways we will be sad to leave this magnificent area, but on the other hand, we will leave knowing we are heading once again for the greatest city in the world, the city Jerusalem. There we will spend our last four nights before returning to you who we love and miss.

Hello. I am going to pick up this blog on Sunday evening, just a few minutes before dinner. It has been another blessed day. The Lord allowed the rain to fall while we slept so we could walk and see the things we saw today.

We did head for Caesarea Philippi early this morning. Another busy day was planned. On our way North to almost the border of both Lebanon and Syria we stopped at a place called Hazor. The correct enunciation is “Hatzor.” This place holds an amazing significance in the history of Israel in the days of Joshua and in the days of Tom. There reason I say this is because of what the spade of the archeologist has uncovered. Simply put, the Bible once again has proved archeology. It is supposed that archeology proves the Bible, but this is not so. The Bible needs NO external proof of its veracity.

From Hatzor we continued on to Tel Dan. Remember a ‘tel’ is a man made hill. Tel Dan is famous for many reasons that can be easily found in the Bible. While there, as I have already said, at the northern most part of Israel…and entirely safe. PLEASE DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT CNN says about Israel!!! It just isn’t true.

We saw the “high” place built by Jeroboam and the beautiful plateau in that area. While we traveled up the valley northward we traveled between Lebanon and Syria. I cannot recall the distance between these two sovereign states, but on the map it is referred to the “finger” of the Galilee.

At Caesarea Philippi we spent quite a long time. While there we ate in a little restaurant on an open terrace that had as scenery the Banias (river) running beside us. This place is located at the foot of Mt. Hermon. The snow capped Mt. Hermon has an elevation of 9,000 above sea-level. You will find Scripture referring to this special place in Matthew 16, 17. I believe it was there that the transfiguration took place.

For us, you already know we ate, but we also had our Sunday worship there. If I had time to tell you about the contrast of what has transpired there in all the days of the past as compared to what transpired today as we sang, testified, praised the one true and living God, I would. My beloved friend and co-host of this group Dr. David Jarrell preached a wonderful message with this text: “Whom And Who.” I suppose you would have just had to have been here to understand the blessing of our worship service. Just a wonderful message given by Dave full of many special insights.

Afterward, we walked on up to the place where many false gods found their lodging place in the etched out cleft of the mighty Hermon. If you would like to read a very short but very powerful passage about this stately mountain, find Psalm 133.

After the worship service, the ice cream we bought did not have time to melt before we started our journey back toward Tiberius and our last night in Galilee. That means packing once again. Some of our group visited a diamond factory. There are no diamonds found in Israel, but Israel is, I believe, the leader in diamond cutting. I hope this does not worry the husbands of the wives too much. They did not spend more than one and a half hours at this place. :O)

It is now time to eat, our meeting will follow after. We will be reflecting on the day and considering what we will be doing and seeing tomorrow. Words fail me as I try to tell you what we have seen and heard. My prayer is the prayer of my friend David who said on a previous journey here, “Lord help us hear and see all that we can so we may tell others who could not join us in our journey.” I wish to have the kind of eyes and ears to hear and see many things I may tell you a little about.

Once again, please forgive my syntax errors and repeated words and words following or preceding each other that seem not to make sense. They probably do not. But hopefully you will be able to get the gist of this humble effort.

Until the next time…
Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb

Awesome Day!!!

Shalom! from the land of Israel.

Well, I can hardly believe this was our third day of touring. What an absolutely AWESOME day in the Lord it has been. I cannot put into words what we have experienced as we have traveled the shore of the beautiful Sea of Galilee, but I'll try.

By the way, I do not edit these very well. So forgive my syntax mistakes and strange sounding sentences. If it wasn't for the built in spell checker things would be worse than they aready are. :O)

Our day began early, as usual. Our first stop was at the traditional place known as the Mt. of Beatitudes. The sky was heavy with clouds and we ran into a little rain on the way. When in this land, one begins to clearly understand the importance of rain and just how God could and did (and still does, although many would not agree) use the withholding of rais as a form of judgment. Any way, at this beautiful place we read from Matthew 5, recited the model prayer (commonly, but wrongly, referred to as the Lord's Prayer...the Lord's prayer is recorded in John 17). The setting and sights are wonderful.

Capernaum is just a little further North on the western shore of this harp shaped sea. It was there that Jesus made His earthly headquarters. If you were to see it today you too would understand why He chose such a place. There is where Peter and brother Andrew lived. Just very near their home was a synagogue. In the practially reconstructed synagogue we read Scripture, sang, and prayed. In fact, we had a most powerful experience of prayer. As we held hands, it wasn't long before it became evident that we were joined by more than the other persons hand we were holding. Either near here or here Jesus condemned one of the nearby towns for their lack of faith. In fact, He the Bible tells us that "He did not many might works there because of their unbelief." I do not believe that was a problem with our group this morning, a lack of faith that is.

Reading about the Sea of Galilee is a marvelous thing, looking at Galilee is another thing, but sailing on the Sea of Galilee is a wonderful and special thing. Our boat hosts greeted us at their launch near the museum that houses the famous so called "Jesus Boat." (Look on line for info) The sky by this time had cleared leaving only brilliant white clouds hanging over our heads. The wind was strong enough to create some small white caps on this 15 mile long X 7 mile wide (at its widest point) fresh water lake.

Pastor Ronnie Nida preached about the word "Awesome" and Judy Keller sang specials. I'm telling you, the same Spirit we met at the synagogue of Capernaum went before us to the boat on the Sea of Galilee. To put it in real simple terms, He simply got all over us! It was nothing short of glorious! The owners of the boat are "believers" or saved and are on their way to Heaven. After we sang, they lead us in several songs of worship and praise. I'm talking the kind of praise music that works for me: "Amazing Grace," "This Little Light of Mine," "How Great Thou Art." The Spirit of the Lord was present in a mighty way. Let me say what I want to say, "GLORY!!!"

When on shore we ate lunch in a little restaurant that served fish that looked at you while you looked at and ate it. Sound good? You need to come and taste for yourself. Some brave souls ordered chicken. :O)

Mt. Arbel was our next stop. To get there we had to do a little hike up a hill that is located on the Western shore of Galilee. The passage that lay below its slope often had its Creator as a frequent visitor while He walked among man as man. When we arrived on the summit of Arbel, the view of the Galilean area was nothing less than breath taking. I cannot put into words with the limited vocabulary of this country boy what my eyes took in. Solomon was right when he said "the eyes of man are never full." Who would not want to fill their vessel with scenes such as this.

As the last event of the day, at a place called Yardenit, we had our baptismal service. Seventeen of our pilgrims were buried in the liquidy grave for their second time. Not in order to be saved, but because they are saved. It was an event that added nothing to their salvation, but was rather an undeniable manifestation of their salvation. Many stood as witness of this act. Not only those who are a part of our group, but people from many places around the world. The very group to the left of group was from Indonesia. Again, just can't find the words.

Back to the hotel for dinner and our evening meeting. It was once again a hallelujah time. We asked for testimony and tears, songs, and praise accompanied them.

What a day this has been. As I began let me say, as Ronnie challenged us to, is was Awesome. Wish you had been here to experience what we did. God is so good.

After I put some pictures to this message, its off to bed and another great and exciting day in Israel. We are headed North toward Caesera Phillppi where we will have our Lords' Day worship service. Dr. David Jarrell will be preaching and we will have special singing.

Hope you are enjoying these blogs.

Until next time...

Shalom!

:O)
Tom/Deb

Where Jesus Did Most Of His Work

Greetings from the shore of the Sea of Galilee at Tiberius, Israel! Well, we have another exciting and full day. We have arrived at Tiberius where we will be spending the next three nights. Our hotel gives us the opportunity to look over the most beautiful body of water in the world. That is not just my opinion. Jesus Himself decided to make Capernaum His earthly headquarters. In fact, about 80 percent of the miracles He performed and the teaching/preaching He did were done in the Galilean area.

Diner was good. The fellowship at diner was also. Our after dinner meeting went well also. At that meeting we review our next day itinerary and reflect on the day’s experience. Our days start early, 6:00 AM wake-up call. Breakfast begins at 6:30 AM and then it was on to the bus for another amazing day.

I believe I told you we were planning to walk down Mt. Olive along what is known as “Palm Sunday” path toward the Garden of Gethsemane where we had a short worship service. From there we were back on the bus headed for Caesarea Maritime. We saw the remains of an ancient Roman Aqueduct built by Herod the Great. The aqueduct runs eleven miles from the foot of Mt. Carmel (the vineyard of God) to Caesarea by the sea where Herod lived in a very plush palace. We also read about Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ where he used the keys of the kingdom to open the door of salvation up to the Gentile world.

Megiddo was our next stop. This is a unique place for many reasons. Probably the most important is its situation. Many battles have been fought in the Valley of Jezreel. If you take your concordance and look, you will find it is mentioned with fighting almost in every instance. Tel Megiddo was the site where Solomon built a summer palace with many stables. A king by the name of Ahab did the same some years later.

As we looked over this beautiful valley, we read the Scripture about the last great battle to be fought on earth. The battle of Armageddon. You may read about it yourself in Revelation 16. To summarize what will happen one day is to say that God is “gonna’ whoop up” on Satan. There is so much to say about the place, but not enough time.

Onward, we went, to Mt. Carmel. What a wonderful place to be, to reflect, the hear the story of Elijah’s great victory against the prophets of Baal that were feed by Jezebel and Ahab. Sacrifices were made. On Mt. Carmel when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, altars were built; rituals were performed; nothing happened until God’s man obeyed his God. You know, I love this story tht tell how Elijah prayed, God heard, fire fell, the sacrifice was consumed, a nation was converted, and one of the greatest victories-if not the greatest in and for Israel-was won.

From the vantage point of Carmel we could see the hills of lower Galilee, Nazareth, the top of Mt. Tabor, all of Mt. Moreh, and Mt. Gilead. The wind was blowing so briskly that it was easy to understand how God could have taken Elijah up into Heaven by a whirlwind. I wish I knew how strong the gusts were there.

Although I don’t know how strong they were, I do know they were not as strong as those blowing on Mt. of the Precipice. This place is just outside the city of Nazareth. It is the traditional place where the people of Nazareth took Jesus intending to cast Him over the edge because He had healed a man and because He had claimed to be the fulfillment of a prophecy He read in their hearing found in Isaiah’s writings. Not long before this display of outrage, the same people wanted to make Him their King. As Debbie often says, "Man is so fickle."

It was a short walk up to the point where one could once again see the Valley of Jezreel and all that surrounds this most magnificent place. Here the wind was very strong. It was an experience we will never forget! A storm was blowing in from the West or from the Mediterranean bringing some much needed rain to the land of Israel. Undoubtedly, we must have been directly under the front of the storm. If Jesus had been with us physically, I could easily imagine Him saying something to the wind like, “peace be still.”

From there, it was on to our new (new to us) hotel in Galilee for our next three nights stay.

In closing, has the Lord spoken to your heart? If not, why not ask Him to today. If there is a storm in your life, whatever that storm may be, He will take control of it if you ask Him to and bring a peace to your heart, mind, and soul that “passeth all understanding.”

It is late. I am tired. Tomorrow will be here soon. So too will Jesus. Get ready if you are not ready. Rejoice in the fact that you are ready if you are.

Until next time…

Shalom!
:O)Tom/Deb

Dead Sea But Not Dead Pilgrims

Shalom from Jerusalem everyone! Let me say at the beginning that this blog will be without pictures. Not that we do not have any, but I absoultely do not have the time to work through them in order to put them in the message. I plan to share them later. Besides, my internet time is almost run out. Our day has been blessed and busy.

We started early. Most of us were somewhat rested, but all were excited and happy to board our bus and travel East toward the Dead Sea passing Jericho on our left where we soon after turned right toward the South end of the Dead Sea and the place where Sodom and Gomorah are buried today.

We visited a place called Masada in the Judean Wilderness. It took us about an hour and a half to make the trip. As we did, our guide, Hana, gave us a great deal of interesting and helpful information. She is an excellent guide. She possesses a passion that is remarkable.

Masada is a remarkable historic place on many levels. Maybe the next time we come you will come and see and hear why it is for yourself! We stopped at En Gedi (the spring of the wild goat) where David cut the end of King Saul's robe off in a cave (1 Samuel 24). We not only saw the water fall there, but also a Gedi or the wild goat that lives in that area and climbs the cliffs of the Judean wilderness. We also saw a "coney." A furry little animal that resembles our groundhogs. (I don't believe they have a "coney" day in Israel though.)

From there it was on to the Qumran. This is the place where the young Arab shepherd threw a stone into a cave to see if he could find his missing goats and sheep, only to hear the breaking of pottery which resulted in what is, in my opinion, the greatest archeological find in the last 100 years. Referring to the Dead Sea scrolls. I don't know about anyone else in our group, but the Lord just simply got all over me there. He has not only given us His Word, but He has also preserved His Word. I'm telling you, we owe so much to the Jew for receiving God's Word and for being such an intriqual part of preserving God's Word.

From there it was on the Dead Sea where some of our pilgrims floated in the Dead Sea. The viscosity of the water is high due to the large quantity of salt in the water, it is about 30 percent. On our way back to Jerusalem, we took a short ride on the "Jericho" road and took a breath taking look at the Judean wilderness. We viewed some of the very area where our Lord spend forty days fasting and being tempted "like as we are, yet without sin." It was, again, a breath taking site to behold. We could see part of the expanding city of Jerusalem in the distance toward the West and toward the East we could see across the Jordan River into Jordan and the area that was inhabited by two and one half tribes of Israel as they began to enter the promised land.

As always, our hotel was a welcomed sight. The food was good. Our meeting was sweet. We leave in the morning, early, for northern Israel and the area around the Sea of Galilee. We will be staying in Tiberius for the next three nights. I will have to see what the wi-fi options are. I will do this as often as I can. I will provide pictures the same.

I am hoping to have more time and options tomorrow. I hope you all have a great day and wonderful night of rest.

Until next time,
Shalom!
:O)
Tom/Deb

Next Stop, Tiberias, Glilee

Boker-tov everyone! I just typed in tongues and now I will interpret, “Good morning!”

We’ll it’s almost morning again. In fact, this is still Thursday, March 26. It is almost 12 midnight and we are going to lose another hour here in Israel at approximately 2:00 AM. They too will be going to “spring forward” for a daylight savings experience. But, who cares? I am in Israel! What is a little bit of lost sleep?

At typing time, I know our day will begin early. Wake up calls, packing, dressing, rushing, eating, getting on the bus, and then onward to Mt. Olivet. We will begin our day on the very mountain where our Lord often crossed when coming into Jerusalem; the very mountain on which He spoke His great Olivet discourse; and the very mountain where He met with His disciple one last time before descending into Heaven from whence He came and from whence He is soon to from again.

Some brave souls will be taking camel rides, we will have our picture taken there, we will read Scripture (something we are doing at each site), and then begin our decent down the traditional Palm Sunday path into the Garden of Gethsemane. There we will have a brief worship service. Many emotions and thoughts will flood our mind and hearts as we reflect on what our Lord and Savior experienced in this holy and mysterious place.

From Gethsemane we will drive back towards the Dead Sea descending from a height of 2,600 feet above sea level to a depth of some 1,200 feet below sea level. We will turn North toward Tiberius for a three night stay in a hotel which overlooks the Sea of Galilee. We will visit many Biblical sites where Jesus either taught or wrought a miracle. In fact, those two things were one and the same for our Savior according to His teachings in John’s Gospel.

Sorry about no pictures, but I hope to get some up tomorrow. The next blog will not contain any either.

Hope you are enjoying blogs without the pictures.

Until next time,

Sholam!
:O)
Tom/Deb

Beginning Our Journey: First Step

Shalom, everyone. We are on our way. In fact, we have already sung that grand old hymn, “I Am Bound For The Promise Land.” There is an undeniable excitement in the air. Our minds and our hearts are full in many unspeakable ways.

I was just thinking about Abraham when God called him to leave Ur. Just a word from God was enough. No GPS, no maps, no road signs, nothing to guide him but God’s word. That was enough and more than enough.

It is interesting to know that Abraham was not a Jew although he was the father of the Jewish nation. From him descended Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes. He was living on the other side of the Euphrates River when God called him to the land he promised to him and to his “seed” that was to come from him and his childless bride.

The Bible refers to Abraham as a “Hebrew” which means “he who crossed over.” Even though I don’t believe crossing over the Kanawha River on our way to Dulles International Airport qualifies, I was wondering what it might have been like for our father of faith when he did.

One day soon, I believe, those who have trusted Christ as their Savior will take a journey. God will call and they will go into a land promised by Him who cannot fail. Talk about crossing over….

I want to thank everyone who made it possible for your loved one to join us on this pilgrimage. It will change their life forever. Thanks for whatever sacrifice you have made and will make while they are away. I am sure, though separated by distance, they are and will be carrying you in their hearts each step of the way.

May God bless and keep you all. Until next time, from blessed but tried travelers.

:O)

Tom/Deb

Dog Tired, But Made It!

Shalom from the center of the Earth, Jerusalem, Israel! Well, we made it after a long but safe journey. Everyone is currently in their rooms, trying to unwind and get some sleep. Some of them may wake up around 3:00 AM Israel time wondering what they will do for the next three hours before the wake-up call comes to wake them up. :O)

It was snowing when we landed in Frankfurt and the sun was shinning when we landed in Tel Aviv. We drove to Jerusalem and saw the valley of Aijalon, where Joshua had the sun and the moon to stand still. The Bible is alive, we all know that, but we are in a land where the Bible lives. I believe the battle took place close to a place called Gibeon.

Being here is nothing less than AMAZING!

On our way to our hotel, hots baths, good food, and our nightly meeting, we drove by part of the Old City Jerusalem. To get a view of the old city, we stop on Mt. Scopious and looked down the Kidron Valley, with Mt. Olives on the left and Mt. Morriah or the temple Mt. on the right. Just on the other side of the city walls towards the east is the Valley Hinnom. Can you guess what words comes for the garbage dump of Jerusalem where a fire once burned "continually?"

As we came into the city, "Jerusalem" as sung by John Starns, was playing on the bus's cd player. Hana had us close our eyse. When we opened our eyes, there was our view of the old city Jerusalem. What a lovely place it is. As the king of Salem, (an early name for Jerusalem) Melchizedek met Abram at Mt. Morriah and ate bread and drank wine (an early picture of communion), we too broke bread, drank grape juice, as our guide Hana, a resident of Jerusalem, welcomed us officially to her city and country.

I suppose I could go on and on, but I am beat like all the others. Internet access is either $3.00 for 30 minutes, $6.00 for one hour or $13.00 for a twenty four hours period. I plan to be judicious with both my time and my money with this investment. I hope you enjoy what I am able to send.

Listen, if all of you were here with us I wouldn't need to be doing this. Maybe next time you will be a part of those who make a pilgrimage to Israel.

From a group of excited and blessed believers and from Debbie and myself, we pray God's richest blessings on you.

Until next time...Shalom!
:O)
Tom/Deb

Following In His Steps

Greetings everyone! We are just days away from making the trip of a life time. A trip that will forever change the life of those who do.

Debbie and I are absolutely excited about traveling with our group in the land of Israel. The land we call Holy. The land of God's chosen. The land where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Jesus walked.
It is the land where the Bible lives and breathes. It is a land of prophecies given and prophecies fulfilled. How exciting is that!!!

It is my prayer that creating this blog spot will allow me to communicate with family members of those in our group and with the friends of the same. And maybe, someone will just stop by and find this interesting enough to read and view the photos I hope to post.


I am a laymen when it comes to blogging. In fact, this is my first. I hope to improve as I go.

My plan is to post as many days as I can while we travel Israel. I plan to reflect on the days events on which I am writing. I also hope to post just a few pictures to help share the experience of those loved ones you happily/fearfully agreed to send to follow in the steps of Jesus.

Let me know what you think. My e-mail address is: tomanddeb@suddenlink.net.

I believe it can be located somewhere on our blog spot.
Until we arrive in Israel,

Shalom!
:O)
Tom/Deb
PS Psalm 122:6