We have arrived in Jerusalem; Halleluja!

Another long day, but worth it.  Tomorrow we start touring within the Old City.

We spent the morning in Capernaum, on the shore of Galilee, where Jesus lived during His three-year ministry.  We occupied the Synagogue where Jesus taught, for our own hour of worship and teaching before visiting the Mount of the Sermon, further along the Sea.

The synagogue where Jesus taught

The entire area was filled with an amazingly intense, bright white light, and most of my photos came out with nothing but light.  I kept shooting over and over and couldn’t capture anything but light.  I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my camera; the indoor shots were OK.  The sun was still low as it was 8.00am, but there were virtually no shadows.  I went to the shore to get a photo of Galilee and it came out like this:

A Bright Light

At the Sermon on the Mount location the same thing was happening.  Any image with sun in it came out intensely white.  I was getting frustrated but remembered the issue with my battery charger from the first day.  Something told me to put the camera in the bag and grasp the moment.  We had a half hour to sit alone for “reflection.”  I sat on a large rock to read Jesus’ Sermon.

I read this and wept…

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Yesterday was absolutely brutal. From the start of breakfast to the end of dinner, it was a 14 hour day–all of us jet-lagged and with only a few hours of sleep.  The group was tense and quiet.  I was thinking this is torture, not a spiritual journey!

A valley green with kibbutzes

Today, on the other hand, was much more relaxed and fun.  Our bus was the “late bus” (ie: 3 minutes) the entire day, but we didn’t care.  Our personal guide has a great sense of humour, but still keeps everyone hustling.  The group loosened up, even though some still only had a few hours of sleep under our belt; for me it was about four.  Beautiful, sunny day; and only about 85F/30C atop the Golan Heights where we spent most of the day.  Much of the hills are desert-like, but there are some volcanoes that provide rich soil for vineyards (which are plentiful), and the vast, fertile valleys are intensely green with kibbutzes producing just about everything.

First stop was at a kibbutz an hour’s drive from our hotel.  Primarily a restroom stop (our

The Valley of Tears;
half mile to my right, is Syria

busses have Wi-Fi, and bone-chilling A/C, but no toilets); and while half were in line for that, the rest of us were in the little cafe / shop, snapping up fresh fruit and wine produced there, as well as souvenirs and Israel Defence Forces T-shirts that say things like:  “America, don’t worry… Israel is behind you.”  Then we continued to a high spot in the Golan overlooking the “Valley of Tears” (after the Yom Kippur War), a mere half-mile from the Syrian border, for a teaching by Joel on the prophecy regarding Damascus in Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49.  It was a beautiful location, and a great experience.

Lunch was at yet another kibbutz, with a lovely hotel / restaurant.  They are preparing fabulous meals for us here… huge buffets, that most are saying are kin to those on a cruise ship.

Strategic lookout atop Mt. Bental in the Golan Heights

The highlight of the whole day, however, was the amazing historical knowledge and teaching of our guide on the bus as we traveled from site to site.  Most of the guides are Jews, not Christians; which really makes it even more interesting. We also visited Ceasarea Philippi, where Jesus passed by a cave on His way to Galilee, and the Banais Waterfalls before heading up to an even higher point in the Golan, called Kofii anan.  This also overlooks the Valley of Tears, but was about 5 miles from the Syrian border.

I’m sure this will come as no surprise to those who know me well, but my (obsessive) preparation has really paid off.  I have all the “equipment” I need; the shoes are totally

comfortable; and kudos to Giovanni for the physical training!  I expect I’m carrying at least 15 pounds of gear when I’m fully-loaded with backpack, camera, etc., and though there is sweat; it is from the heat, not from the exertion.  Gracias hermano!

Layers of settlements over the centuries have created a small mountain at Megiddo

We stopped at Ceasarea by the Sea this morning where Peter met Cornelius, had lunch at Megiddo (the site of Armageddon), and spent some worship time with a church atop Mt. Carmel before swinging through Haifa and ending up in Galilee.  What a day… There actually is a McDonald’s restaurant near the base of the mount of Megiddo.  Well, when the armies of the world unite for the final battle at Armageddon, they will need to eat, after all!  Fortunately we were treated to a lovely lunch of delicious local food.

No time yet for spiritual reflection of the day.  More tomorrow!

I’m actually on the 5th floor (with a view of the Mediterranean), but I first touched my feet on the earth here about 17 hours ago.  My seat mate on the EL AL Airlines flight from Madrid to Tel Aviv was a young man who serves in the Israeli Army. Now, that was an interesting conversation!  All in all, the trip went very smoothly. My camera battery charger sort of ‘blew up’ this afternoon, sending me into momentary (almost) panic, and about an hour and a half zipping around in taxis, finding a Nikon shop and buying a replacement.  (Just for the record, it’s not my fault.  The charger IS universal in terms of voltage and I have an adapter, but for some reason… )

The group dinner gathering this evening was great.  Evidently all 200+ attendees did make it, though some luggage is still traveling.  Mine arrived with me, fortunately.

Joel Rosenberg made a wonderful presentation this evening after dinner, and I am glad to discover that he is, indeed “leading” the whole group! He has a great sense of humour.  If you have never read any of his novels, they are a must for anyone interested in End Times prophecy.

I am truly pleased that all of you are “following” me and leaving comments.  I honestly feel that you are all here with me!  We start touring early tomorrow, and I have to pack up before retiring.  Stay tuned; reporting next from Galilee!

It is good to get out and about once and a while.  It makes me realise how sheltered my life is at home.  Is it because we do not live in a big city, or is it that we live in a service-oriented community?

I am glad that I spend a good amount of time studying the Bible, because it keeps my head full of scripture when I pass through the world at large.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2

“…to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  James 1:27b

“Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4b

Next stop:  The Holy Land!!

I depart on Monday, but my mind is racing ahead!  When I spent a brief time in Jerusalem years ago, I was a believer but not a dedicated Christian.  We visited a few of the requisite tourist sites: The Holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb, Bethlehem… And quite frankly, I thought to myself I should have felt something; if the place was truly holy, I would have been able to “feel ” it.

In retrospect, that would be like expecting to feel the exhilaration of a rollercoaster , simply by standing beside the ride, never having the courage or faith to actually get on board.  But honestly, brethren, how can we truly experience a ride like that just by imagination?  How can we stand at the gate staring at the ride and expect to feel everything leap within us as the car flies over the summit of the highest peak, or sink deep into our bowels as we lurch out of the lowest depth.  We’ll never feel the tremendous force from side to side as the car speeds around a curve to the left, then the right, then again and again!  We will never feel the wind in our face as we glide in to the finish of the ride.

Now, fast forward to God’s threshing floor.  Do we think he is going to just give us all His glory if we merely stand at the door and say “I want to feel it?”  No, my friend.  He is going to sift us first:  we will be tossed up again and again, and shaken with all the stones, dirt and chaff; hurled in the air and from side to side. Up we go, and down we fall, over and over again…only to then be subjected to the tremendous wind of His breath as He separates us from the chaff to leave only the pure, wholesome grains in His hand.

Life is a pilgrimage, not a tour.  We must first take our step of faith through the gate, strap ourselves into the seat and take the ride.  That, my friend, is how and when you will “feel” the glory and holiness of God, no matter where on His earth you are standing.

“Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  Exodus 3:5

Less than two weeks to departure date and I am super excited.  I’ve been working out at the gym for four months now, getting in shape for “several miles per day” of touring.  Let’s hope I started early enough, and that most of those miles are on the bus–not on my feet!

With my church Women’s Group, I recently completed Beth Moore’s study on the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134); which are songs and prayers of the Jews of ancient times as they made their required annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem, three times a year, to worship in the Temple.  These pilgrimages were made in observance of three important feasts: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths (aka Tabernacles).

I feel particularly blessed that I am able to make my own pilgrimage now, with the richness of Jerusalem’s history fresh in my mind.