I Love To Tell The Story

Garden of Gethsemane

2011-07-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Another early start and we are on our way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the upper left hand corner of the above picture is a tomb with a conical roof called Absalom's tomb or also referred to as Absalom's Pillar. Located in the Kidron Valley this shrine is ascribed to Absalom based on 2 Samuel 18:18.

Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar which is in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to preserve my name." So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.

According to Wikipedia, for centuries, it was the custom among passersby—Jews, Christians and Muslims—to throw stones at the monument. Residents of Jerusalem would bring their unruly children to the site to teach them what became of a rebellious son. The Monument of Absalom existed in the days of Josephus, and was referred to in his Antiquities. With that bit of trivia, I wish I had gotten a better picture!!

The Eastern Gate - it won't be your last look! I became a little obsessed with the Eastern gate.
We arrive as Dr. Joel Rosenberg's (Epicenter Conference) group was leaving. I wasn't taking their picture - I was really taking the Eastern gate and the Dome of the Rock!

We are entering the private Garden of Gethsemane and I had to take a moment for this picture.

Dr. Joel Rosenberg (black shirt) had just video taped a message for his website and was leaving.

In the private garden we were given the time and opportunity to pray.

A sweet couple from Colorado (whom I wish would come to Texas for a visit) surreptitiously took this picture of me praying in the garden.

Yes, it is another picture of the gate!

This is the public side of the Garden of Gethsemane. It is very well tended, beautiful and as a result fenced off from the public pedestrian traffic.

This is a side view of the oldest olive tree in the garden.

The Church of All Nations is located next to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The church is Roman Catholic and it enshrines a portion of the bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before he was arrested. The edging around the rock looks like crowns of thorns. I pulled this picture from the Sacred Destinations website because the day we were there the rock was surrounded by a group from India that were so overcome by emotion that they were kneeling around the rock and kissing it.

These old olive trees were beautiful in their own way. What was hard for me to understand was the people that were reaching through the fence to take a piece of bark of the oldest olive tree. Yes, it was living in the time of Jesus but if you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, He lives in you! If you're not sure, read 1John.

These last two pictures are two of my favorites because the monk provides an even more tranquil look to the garden. And the picture below is another view of the oldest olive tree.

They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

St Peter in Gallicantu

2011-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Kay will teach today in the courtyard of St Peter of Gallicantu.

"After the Supper, Jesus left the Upper Room with His disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley."

It was from the Upper Room that they went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.

"Those who had arrested Jesus took him Caiaphas the High Priest."

On the southeastern slope of Mt Zion is the traditional location for the house of Caiaphas. It was another early morning with the sun just coming up over the Mount of Olives. The church was built in 1931. (Again, sorry for the quality of the picture but I was shooting into the sun! Never a good idea!)

The statue commemorates Peter's denial at the questioning of a young servant girl. At the top of the pole is the rooster who crowed. Inscribed on the statue is “Non novi illum” which means “I do not know him.” (Luke 22:57)

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:61-62

I don't think that it's our sins that make us weep "bitterly" though they have a part in it. I think Peter was reminded when the Lord turned and looked in the eye of the Savior he had sinned against.

But the most beautiful part of Peter's story is in John 21 after the Lord's resurrection when He asks Peter three times, "Do you love Me?" Three... one for each denial! And Peter is called into the ministry when the Shepherd says, "Tend My sheep." Complete restoration!!

The courtyard is off to the side of the church and some believe that it is the area where Christ would have been scourged.

We always began our time of worship with a song.

Just like everywhere we have been in Jerusalem it is amazing to consider where you are in light of what occurred here. This is where the high priest lived. From here, Jesus and his disciples walked to the Mount of Olives. Here, Jesus was brought back to the city after his betrayal and arrest. Here, Jesus faced his accusers. Here, He was imprisoned for part of a night. Here, Peter denied his Lord. Here, Peter himself, along with John, was later imprisoned .

Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiaphas the high priest.

Just below the wall where I was sitting was the steps depicted in the sculptured relief above.

This stone pathway actually predates Jesus by 100 -150 years and it crosses the Kidron Valley and climbs the Mount of Olives where you would find the Garden of Gethsemane.

This picture I took from the courtyard and in the distance you can see the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount.

Behind me on the other side of the stone pathway was perched Kay's son, David. (on the left)

"Servus Domini" Latin for Servant of God

I thought you might want to spend a little time in the courtyard at the house of Caiaphas. It is just a taste but a delicious one I think!

The Sacred Pit

If you can possibly read the above it will help to explain the pictures below.

Under the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, a dungeon type chamber, hewn out of bedrock, testifies to the type of power the high priest wielded. A single entrance, or portal, in the floor was the means by which a prisoner was confined in the dark cells below. The only way in or out for a prisoner was via a rope.

While we were in the pit, we read Psalm 88 about being lowered into the lowest pit. We could imagine Jesus being lowered into this pit by a rope. It would have been absolute darkness. “You have put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths.” (Psalm 88:6) The Byzantines built the steps to get into the pit as a part of their church. The only entrance in Jesus’ time was the hole.

"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 17-18

Yemin Moshe and Mishkenot Sha'ananim

2011-07-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

All mighty endeavors spring from a modest beginning, and west Jerusalem's wellspring is the combined neighborhood of Yemin Moshe and Mishkenot Sha'ananim, a humble quarter of stone houses and narrow alleyways perched on a hill a stone's throw away from the westernmost of the Old City's walls, established in 1891. It was Sir Moses Montefiore who proposed Yemin Moshe (the name means "The Right Hand of Moses"), and it was Montefiore whose enormous means, gathered during a unprecedentedly successful career trading and investing in London, built and peopled an entire neighborhood where once there had been nothing more than a barren hillside. His passionate love for the Land of Israel was fostered by a series of tours over the course of his 100-year life.

The neighborhood's most prominent landmark is its windmill, visible (at height) from much of Jerusalem. The windmill was poorly engineered and never functioned properly, but it served as a symbol of the development of Jerusalem, which rapidly snowballed (thanks in part to the further generosity of Montefiore) after Yemin Moshe was established.

On this afternoon Pat and I have free time to explore so just east of the hotel is a park and an artist community with a wonderful view of the old city. My recent posts have been long and wordy so I am going to do my best to make this a primarily visual experience! :)

Bloomfield Park

Gate to Artist's Colony

Gozlan Garden Park

Looking down at one of the archaelogical digs I remember I told Pat that I wanted to take this picture so that when I came back I could take another picture and be impressed at the progress! And who knows, if the Lord tarries perhaps my kids will come and they'll be amazed at the change!

On the way back through the Bloomfield Park we ran into a bride and groom having their pictures taken.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Yad Vashem

2011-07-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a "yad vashem")... that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 56:5

As the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations. Established in 1953, as the world center for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is today a dynamic and vital place of intergenerational and international encounter.

For over half a century, Yad Vashem has been committed to four pillars of remembrance:
Commemoration
Documentation
Research
Education
~ www.yadvashem.org

Our first look from the bus after we entered through the gates. The following four pictures are from the Yad Vashem website as you are not able to take pictures from within the museum.

This the the Holocaust History Museum that is a triangular shaped building which is an amazing piece of architecture in itself but when you how it works with the exhibits within it is truly remarkable.

There are so many things that I could speak to within this building that will forever stick with me. Certainly the historical documents and pictures but how can anyone forget the written words and drawings of teenagers like Peter Ginz who was sent to Terezin concentration camp at 14 years old and two years later was killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz. Or the exhibit in one of the galleries that you suddenly came across in the floor, covered by plexiglass, of the hundreds of shoes of those from concentration camps.

There is so much more to the Yad Vashem History Museum than one blog post could possibly cover and so much more than one visit in one day could do justice to!

As you entered one wing of the museum there was a quote by Kurt Tucholsky, taken from a letter he wrote to German-Jewish author Arnold Zweig. In English it reads as follows:

A country is not only what it does - it is also what it puts up with, what it tolerates.

This is the Hall of Names. It was overwhelming for me and as I type there are tears in my eyes. It is the last room one visits as they make their way through the Holocaust Museum. The ceiling is lined with photos of people who were murdered during the Holocaust. Below the photo-lined dome ceiling are shelves filled with binders. Each binder is filled with the names and whatever biographical information is available for those who were murdered during the Jewish Holocaust.

This memorial file repository contains over 2.5 million pages of testimony and speaks to Yad Vashem's mandate to preserve the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust by collecting their names, the ultimate representation of a person’s identity.
When you leave the History Museum you exit from a dark corridor on to a balcony into bright sunlight. This is deliberate and intended to represent the struggle of the Jewish people during the dark days of the Holocaust, to the light of Israel, and the future of the Jews.

One of the most moving places you can visit at Yad Vashem is the Children's Memorial. It was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and built with the generous donation of Abe and Edita Spiegel, whose son Uziel was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of two and a half.

This unique memorial, hollowed out from an underground cavern, is a tribute to the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust. Memorial candles, a customary Jewish tradition to remember the dead, are reflected infinitely in a dark and somber space, creating the impression of millions of stars shining in the firmament. The names of murdered children, their ages and countries of origin can be heard in the background.

At the end of the narrow stone passageway is this relief of Uziel Spiegel.

The Six-Branched Candelabra is a memorial light for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The base of the candelabra is a pillar which rises and then spirals upwards, with the six branches emerging from the spiral. The candelabra is the symbol of Yad Vashem, and it is lit every year on Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day.

The Pillar of Heroism commemorates Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. The inscription on the concrete block reads: "Now and forever in memory of those who rebelled in the camps and ghettos, fought in the woods, in the underground and with the Allied forces; braved their way to Eretz Israel; and died sanctifying the name of God"

The Hall of Remembrance is a place that allows visitors to pay their respects to the memories of the martyred dead. On the floor are the names of 22 Nazi murder sites - extermination and concentration camps, transit camps and killing sites - chosen from the hundreds of murder sites that existed throughout Europe.

A memorial flame burns continuously, next to a crypt containing ashes of victims brought from the extermination camps.

Our guide, Kenny, is explaining the first of a four part cast aluminum sculpture by Naftali Bezem who was born in Germany in 1924. As an adolescent Naftali was terrorized by the Nazis and tragically his parents were murdered at Auschwitz.

The first of the sculptures represent destruction. A line of people are being led to the crematoria, the inverted Sabbath candlesticks represent the sacred being profaned, and the winged fish depicts the victims' muted cry.

The second sculpture represents resistance. On the background of the flames of destruction and battle, the Jews fight with their meager weapons; the ladder embodies resurgence, ascent and promise.

The third sculpture represents immigration to Israel. Survivors sail to Israel bearing the legacy of the Holocaust. To build a new life they carry with them weapons of defense and agricultural tools.

The fourth sculpture represents rebirth. Symbolized by the righting of the Sabbath candles and the sabra fruit on the cactus plants, representing the new generation, even as the tears in the lion's eyes evoke the memories of the holocaust.

This is the Warsaw Ghetto Square - Wall of Remembrance

In the center of the first sculpture, entitled "The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising", stands the leader of the uprising, Mordechai Anielewicz.

The second sculpture, entitled "The Last March", depicts the mass deportation of the Jews to the death camps.

I am standing along the "Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations". Trees have been planted around the Yad Vashem site in honor of those non-Jews who acted according to the most noble principles of humanity by risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Plaques adjacent to each tree record the names and countries of origin of those being honored.

As a young girl having read "The Hiding Place", I could not have visited the Avenue of the Righteous without visiting Corrie Ten Boom's place of honor.

You may have noticed that Corrie Ten Boom's tree looks awfully young. Within months of her death in 1983, the original tree died and this is the tree that was planted in its place.

She passed away on April 15, 1983, on her 91st birthday. According with Jewish tradition, only those persons who are specially blessed by God are granted the privilege of dying on the same date of their birthday.

Corrie Ten Boom's history is nothing more (and nothing less) than the life story of a common woman who accomplished extraordinary things through her faith in God.

"How blessed are those who keep justice, Who practice righteousness at all times!" Psalm 106:3

The Mount of Olives

2011-06-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Mount of Olives

The view of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. We were up at 4:30 this morning so that we could have at least an hour to ourselves for Kay's teaching - it was worth it!

In the foreground you see the Mount of Olives white with the stones of the Jewish Cemetery. You don't see flowers at a Jewish cemetery because visitors to the grave site leave stones instead. Though it is a strong Jewish tradition there does not seem to be agreement as to why this is done.

One of the things I read was that when the tradition started, grave monuments were mounds of stones. Visitors added stones to "the mound" to show you are never finished building the monument to the deceased. I'm sure there are several valid reasons why this tradition began.

We are walking to the garden chapel of Dominus Flevit where Kay will teach with the Temple Mount as her backdrop.

Olive trees on the Mount of Olives with the sun hitting across the Kidron Valley on to the Dome of the Rock.Looking across the Kidron Valley to the Temple Mount and the Eastern Gate. (Pat and I got up really early!!!)According to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will appear here and bring the dead back to life. Therefore, the hillside became the most holiest cemetery, and the hillside is covered by thousands of grave stones. Just above the trees you can see the gold onion shaped domes of the Russian Orthodox Monastery of St Mary Magdalene.

The view from the Mount of Olives is so beautiful and so full of meaning that it was hard to stop taking pictures.

"But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up." 2 Samuel 15:30

"Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken...Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives..." Zechariah 14:1-11

"But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them." John 8:1-2

Dominus Flevit ("the Lord has wept") is a Catholic Franciscan church. According to tradition, this is the site where Jesus was looking at the city, visualizing its destruction, and weeping over its fate. The location of the church fits the description in Luke 19 - on a descent from Mount of Olives and facing the temple mount.

We are walking down "Palm Sunday Road". Starting at the top of the Mount of Olives, walking down Palm Sunday Road, and ending at the Eastern Gate, is the path that Jesus took his last days.

The Eastern Gate with the muslim cemetery in front of it.

Note: The following video was taken with an iphone as I was taking notes in my Bible. I maintained a view of the temple mount and the Eastern Gate because the speaker was positioned there and it is always more important for me to get Kay's words than her face and I wasn't sure what kind of reception my iphone could get at what distance. I am pleased with the result! :)

There were many unforgettable and life-changing moments on this trip but Kay's teaching here was one of those moments. She spoke on Christ's coming and referenced Revelation, Matthew 24 and closed with Zechariah 14. The above video is the climax of our time on the Mount of Olives.

Zechariah 14 speaks of the day when the LORD will return to fight Jerusalem's foes.

"In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!" Zechariah 14:4-5

"And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one." Zechariah 14:9

Kay closed with this question... "Does He have the preeminence in your life as the only One, the King of Kings? Precious ones, He is coming again and His reward is with Him. And the question is are you ready?" Our time ended with the song Midnight Cry.
Midnight Cry

VERSE 1
I hear the sound
Of a mighty rushing wind
And it's closer now
Than it's ever been
I can almost hear the trumpet
And Gabriel sounds the chord
At the Midnight Cry
We'll be going home

CHORUS
When Jesus steps out
On a cloud to call his children
The dead in Christ shall rise
To meet him in the air
And then those that remain
Will be quickly changed
At the Midnight Cry
When Jesus comes again

VERSE 2
I look around me
I see prophecies fulfilled
And signs of the times
They're appearing everywhere
I can almost hear the father
As he says
Son go get your children
At the Midnight Cry
The bride of Christ will rise

REPEAT CHORUS + TAG
TAG:
And then those that remain
Will be quickly changed
At the midnight cry
When Jesus comes again
At the midnight cry
When Jesus comes again
When Jesus comes again

Masada and The Dead Sea

2011-06-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Masada

About 34 miles south of Qumran is Masada and as we are traveling we are getting some good looks at the Dead Sea.

And, of course, we can't help but snap pictures even though we will be eating lunch at the shore of the Dead Sea.And have the opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea but that's a story for later!!Here is our first look at the desert fortress of Masada!! A little introduction before we proceed...

The only written source about Masada is Josephus Flavius’ The Jewish War. Born Joseph ben Matityahu of a priestly family, he was a young leader at the outbreak of the Great Jewish Rebellion against Rome (66 CE) when he was appointed governor of Galilee. He managed to survive the suicide pact of the last defenders of Jodfat and surrendered to Vespasian (who shortly thereafter was proclaimed emperor) – events he described in detail. Calling himself Josephus Flavius, he became a Roman citizen and a successful historian. Moral judgment aside, his accounts have been proved largely accurate.

According to Josephus Flavius, Herod the Great built the fortress of Masada between 37 and 31 BCE. Herod, an Idumean, had been made King of Judea by his Roman overlords and was hated by his Jewish subjects. Herod, the master builder, “furnished this fortress as a refuge for himself."

Some 75 years after Herod’s death, at the beginning of the Revolt of the Jews against the Romans in 66 CE, a group of Jewish rebels overcame the Roman garrison of Masada. After the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple (70 CE) they were joined by zealots and their families who had fled from Jerusalem. With Masada as their base, they raided and harassed the Romans for two years.

Then, in 73 CE, the Roman governor Flavius Silva marched against Masada with the Tenth Legion, auxiliary units and thousands of Jewish prisoners-of-war. Josephus Flavius dramatically recounts the story told him by two surviving women. The defenders – almost one thousand men, women and children – led by Eleazar ben Ya’ir, decided to burn the fortress and end their own lives, rather than be taken alive.

To Israelis and many others, Masada symbolizes the determination of the Jewish people to be free in its own land. ~Jewish Virtual Library

Here our group is waiting for the cable car to take us up to the top of the rock cliff.

Those that had a problem with heights were a little anxious about this trip - my problem was with the number of people they had allowed on one car. I think the limit was 80 people!! :o You can see below the "snake path" that people can walk up to visit the fortress.The bridge to enter the fortress.For many years, new recruits have participated in a ceremony at Masada when they finish basic training. They hike 15 miles from Jerusalem in full gear and then run up the snake trail to the top of Masada. Here they are sworn in as Israeli soldiers and receive their red berets. I did not witness this, but I was made to understand that afterwards, they march to the southern end of Masada and shout three times in Hebrew: “MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN! MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN! MASADA SHALL NEVER FALL AGAIN!”I believe we went to the western palace. Who knew there would be a choice?!That is the original plaster on the remaining wall behind Kenny.Floor in the anteroom of the western palace; probably used by the Zealots as a kitchen.

The black line whenever seen indicates that anything below it is original and anything above has been reconstructed.This room may have been King Herod's throne room in the Western Palace when he was in residence in Masada.

Pat and I don't want to leave the shade!

The above picture is of the public immersion pool. And the plaster work that remained was so good - it was amazing!

We are now inside the ruins of the Byzantine church.The decoration that remained on the walls of the Byzantine church.

This is the picture looking down over the wall over the fortress to where the Romans would have built their rampart.And this would be looking more to where the Roman encampment would have been in the lower left of the picture.

We are sitting in the Synagogue built by Herod. It was a hall measuring 12.5 x 10.5 m., incorporated into the northwestern section of the casemate wall and oriented towards Jerusalem. This synagogue also served the Jews who lived in Masada during the Revolt. They built four tiers of plastered benches along the walls, as well as columns to support its ceiling. This synagogue is considered to be the best example of the early synagogues, those predating the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE.Kenny pointed out that it was here that the Jews decided on their fate.

This is the Northern Palace or otherwise known as King Herod's residential palace. We did not climb down to see this but I will on my next visit!!The Dead Sea

After Masada we went to the Crowne Plaza in Ein Bokek, Israel which sits on the shores of the Dead Sea. Here we had lunch and had access to the spa, beach, and pool!

There was an indoor pool for those who wanted to stay out of the sun.

The pool was beautiful but the sun was intense even if the Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth and the deadliest sun rays don't reach your skin you still will burn.

It is at this point that I have to apologize to my sister because I threw a big fit about her not taking my picture! I am at a point in my life that being in my bathing suit around others is not high on my list of things to do much less being photographed but boy did I over react! Sorry, Pat!

In case you don't know you can't swim in the Dead Sea - you can only float! I would think it would be like trying to swim in a thin jello!! I was glad I tried it but I wasn't there long because the sun is so intense and I am so fair.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" John 7:38

Qumran

2011-06-27T10:18:00.001-07:00

Jericho

On our way to Qumran we passed Jericho in the distance and Mount Quarantania or The Mount of Temptation as it has come to be known. It is believed by many to be the hill in the Judean Desert where Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:8). (The day might have started really hazy but it didn't take long for the sun to burn off the haze and the skies to clear!!!)

Jericho is the lowest permanently inhabited place on earth. It is just 10 miles from the Dead Sea. The climate of the Dead Sea area is unusual. Its very high evaporation does produce a haze (see above) yet its atmospheric humidity is low. Adjacent areas to it are very arid and favorable for the preservation of materials like the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Qumran

The uncovering of the remains of the settlement of Qumran on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, and the Dead Sea Scrolls found nearby, ignited the imagination of both Jews and Christians. In addition to the oldest copies of the Hebrew Scriptures ever found and scrolls pertaining to the ancient community known as the Yahad, numerous other objects depict the daily life and way of thinking of the Qumran’s inhabitants. Scholars believe that no more than 200 people lived at the site, but the impact of their ideas far exceeded their numbers.

~ Jewish Virtual Library

We have arrived in Qumran National Park and our guide, Kenny, has begun to acclimate us to our surroundings.

What looks to be a rather large rock pile is the sloping stone rampart base to a tower. (OK, the plan was to back up and get a better picture but when your walking on the face of the sun and you're moving fairly quickly to get to Masada before lunch well...)Here he is pointing out the caves in the distance.I believe this is cave six. In all scrolls were found in eleven different caves.Beyond the ruins in the distance is the Dead Sea."They labor with great diligence till the fifth hour after which they have clothed themselves in white veils. They bath their bodies in cold water. And after this purification is over, they meet together in an apartment of their own...while they go in a pure manner in to the dining room, as in to a certain holy temple."

Members of the sect were strict in their observance of the law of ritual purity and maintained seven ritual baths located mostly in the vicinity of the refectory.

Ritual bath.

Some scholars have maintained that ordinary needs for water, for drinking and bathing, could have been sufficient cause for the construction of the Qumran aqueducts and cisterns and such. It is more likely that the unusually elaborate provisions for water are a reflection of the sect’s sensitivity to matters of purity as described in the scrolls. (The aqueduct is seen above.)

Another of the ritual baths.

The central treasury of the sectarians. Three pottery jugs containing 56o silver coins were found in this room.If I look cool, looks can be deceiving!! BUT I am cool compared to what was coming (Masada).

In this picture I am overlooking the scribe's room.In the above picture you can see the ruins of the kitchen.The Refectory - Members of the sect assemble in this room for communal meals and doctrinal deliberations.This is a picture of cave four. Discovered in 1952, it produced the largest find. About 15,000 fragments from more than 500 manuscripts were found.The Judean desert was beautiful in it's own way and it amazed me how people carved their lives out of what appeared to be such an unforgiving land!Yes, cave six was accessible by way of one of the old aqueducts and if you look close people were making the hike over!!"The Potter's Workshop - Pottery for everyday use was manufactured here. Numerous pottery utensils characteristic of the Roman period (first century C.E.) were discovered at Qumran.

This is a suggested reconstruction of Qumran in the Second Temple period.

Before leaving Qumran I want to share a few interesting facts about the Dead Sea Scrolls and their discovery.

In all, scholars have identified the remains of about 825 to 870 separate scrolls.
The Scrolls can be divided into two categories—biblical and non-biblical. Fragments of every book of the Hebrew canon (Old Testament) have been discovered except for the book of Esther.
There are now identified among the scrolls, 19 copies of the Book of Isaiah, 25 copies of Deuteronomy and 30 copies of the Psalms.
The Isaiah Scroll, found relatively intact, is 1000 years older than any previously known copy of Isaiah. In fact, the scrolls are the oldest group of Old Testament manuscripts ever found.
The Temple Scroll, found in Cave 11, is the longest scroll. Its present total length is 26.7 feet (8.148 meters). The overall length of the scroll must have been over 28 feet (8.75m).
The major intact texts, from Caves 1 & 11, were published by the late fifties and are now housed in the Shrine of the Book museum in Jerusalem.

Finally, Dr. Richard Price, Archaeologist and Professor at Liberty University, believes that the Dead Sea scrolls were perhaps our most important witness to the integrity of the Bible. In a conversation with Jan Markell, Dr. Price said the following.

"The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew manuscripts. Those Hebrew manuscripts were very good manuscripts and they were the ones that were present at about 1000AD. But they were still far removed from the originals. But the Dead Sea scrolls closed that gap in time taking us back in time hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus sometimes not within that far distance of the authors of scriptures themselves. And as a result, when we compare text with text, for instance with the entire book of Isaiah, all 66 books, you couldn't have wanted a better book to be entirely preserved in the Dead Sea scrolls. It happens to be the oldest. And we can compare that line for line, word for word, with those manuscripts that are Old Testament translated and it is 95% identical. And the 5% that’s not identical is either spelling errors which are not really errors because no one had a standard grammar. What they did was inserted consonants in to take the place of vowels so people could be able to read them better. That, of course, made it read a little different but that’s not any real change."

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

On Our Own in Jerusalem

2011-06-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Free Day!! Ready to go exploring! We are in a 5 star hotel with a spa and I heard a lovely pool but Pat and I have chosen to see just how many more miles we can walk before dropping dead!! (Heaven just has to be a shorter trip from Israel!! Ha!)

I say that we are on our own but some Precept staff person is always willing to see to it that you get where you are going to even if they have to accompany you there! :)

Ben Yehuda Street

Ben-Yehuda Street is located in the heart of Jerusalem. Most of the street is an open-air pedestrian mall forming a triangle with King George Street and Jaffa Street. The street is named after the Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, who in the late 19th century almost single-handedly revived Hebrew as a modern spoken language. This picture was taken looking back at where Ben-Yehuda ends as a traditional street for vehicles to become a pedestrian mall. Ben Yehuda wasn't always a pedestrian mall. Sadly, on February 22, 1948, during the first phase of the Israel War of Independence, Palestinian Arab terrorists, with the cooperation of deserters from the British Mandatory forces, bombed Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem. It was possibly the first car bombing in history, and it was the first of several bombings of Ben Yehuda Street in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Bombings have occurred on this street in 1975, 1976, 1979, and 1997.

More recently, on December 1, 2001, two suicide bombers detonated themselves on Ben Yehuda Street, followed by a car bomb set to go off as paramedics arrived. Eleven people were killed, including many children, and 188 were injured. Hamas claimed responsibility. On a much lighter note, I had to take this picture because I may see the arches regularly but rarely in Hebrew!Zion Square is a public square at the east end of the Ben Yehuda Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Jerusalem. It abuts Jaffa Road, Herbert Samuel Street and Yoel Moshe Salomon Street as well. This is where Pat and I stopped had iced coffee and tried to figure out how to get to the Old City which should have been easy (if we would have had a map).

The Old City

We did get lost and we are taking a minute to catch our breath - it's not always about the pictures.

Pat is headed in to the Jaffa gate. In the upper right of the picture you can see the citadel or the "Tower of David".

The citadel is located on the western side of the Old City, just south of the Jaffa Gate. Its location was chosen for topographic reasons – this is the highest point of the southwestern hill of Jerusalem, higher than any other point in the ancient city, including the Temple Mount.

Today the citadel is no longer used for military purposes. Instead, it functions as the museum of the history of Jerusalem. Presented in its various towers are exhibits tracing 5,000 years of the city’s history. In the courtyard, remains of the First Wall and its towers, of the Second Temple period and of the fortification from the Byzantine and early Arab periods, have been preserved.

And what could I be looking for?Entering the Old City.

Looking straight ahead toward David Street which would take us to the Jewish Quarter. Of course, we chose to go an easier path through the Armenian Quarter to get there.

AND not only did we make it we caught up with some of our group at the Hurva Square and had a great lunch and even better fellowship!! (Leah, Jon, and Theresa were our fellow yellow bus mates who we loved traveling with!) At the head of the table is David Lawson and to his left his wife BJ. They have been with Precept since 1980 and were bus hosts (and a lot of fun)!

Now this group of trouble makers were the back of the yellow bus (which, for full disclosure, I guess you could include Pat and I) and were always mis-behaving!! Ray, the man in blue, was the ring-leader! His wife Jill has to be a saint to put up with him! But this motley crew was from the big state of Minnesota. Let's just say we laughed a lot! Time to head back to the hotel - but not without a few more pictures. Those yellow flowers had the sweetest scent! This is the King David Hotel and as is the case with much of Jerusalem it, too, has a history as you can read below.

Another view of the King David. I have another story of the King David Hotel that involves an ATM and it is actually a story I'm quite proud of. But because my posts have been a little long you'll have to ask about that story sometime!
At dinner that night Kay stopped by our table to visit and as I look at the picture I think of how much the Lord has blessed me through Kay Arthur. Who knew twenty something years ago as I began studying Precept Upon Precept that she would still hold such a special place in my heart and that we would be in the Holy Land together! The other thing I think as I look at this picture is that every year she looks younger and I look older! Ha!

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3

The City of David, Zion's Gate, Jewish Quarter, Southern Steps

2011-06-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

The City of David

"Ir David" or the "City of David”, is the actual location of the biblical city of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 years ago. The Ir David Foundation (Amutat EL-AD), a non-profit organization established in 1986, is dedicated to the preservation and development of the Biblical City of David and its environs.
(This leads to the theatre where we saw a 3D movie and also to an observation deck.)

The story of the City of David began over 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later, David's son, King Solomon, built the First Temple next to the City of David on top of Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac, and with it, this hilltop became one of the most important sites in the world.

The inhabitants of ancient Jerusalem once built their homes on this hillside. The earliest structures unearthed here was part of an enormous Stepped Stone Structure that supported King David's Palace and the Canaanite fortress that preceded it.
Hebrew University professor Yigal Shiloh uncovered a house in the City of David opposite the Kidron Valley. It is the most complete house excavated to date within the city. It is known as the House of Ahiel because it contained a pottery sherd with the name Ahiel scratched on it.

This is a four-room house, the typical Israelite residence of the First Temple period. Characteristically, it has three rooms set around a central courtyard and two rows of square monolithic pillars that supported a roof. An unusual feature of the house was that it contained a toilet. Ahiel's house was burnt during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

The Zion Gate

Located in the south, this gate was used by the Israel Defense Forces in 1967 to enter and capture the Old City. The stones surrounding the gate are still pockmarked by weapons fire.

A 25 second video to put you in the moment! I like taking you with me! :)

The Jewish Quarter

My favorite part of the Jewish Quarter was not just the sights/sites but the sounds. It was full of life and the sounds of children, birds and a general sense of well-being. I loved being there and I tried to capture it by walking through it with my iphone recording it. The result of walking over the stones, carrying my gear, watching my step and recording with the iphone was a video that looked like it was done by a drunken sailor!! So, the video above is just one minute where the guide is explaining Cardo Maximus but I think you can get a sense of what I described above!
One of the Judaic shop windows.

The Broad Wall

Excavations in the Jewish quarter in the old city of Jerusalem unearthed a section of the 1st temple wall, built by Hezekiah, during the 8th C BC. The wall was intended to protect the city against the Assyrians (Ashur). The impressive wall, almost 8M thick and 8M high, strengthened the defense of the city.

This is an important archaeological site, since it remapped the Biblical period city, whose boundaries were not known prior to these excavations.

The sign at the bottom indicates the street level during the first temple period and the sign at the top indicates the estimated height of the wall. The blue vertical stripes are 1M each.

The name of the wall was used in a later time in the history of the city, when Nehemiah returns from the Babylonia exile and rebuilds the wall and the first phase of the second temple. He built the city in a smaller scale, but on the west section he reuses the Hezekiah "broad wall", as written in the Bible (Nehemiah 3 8): "...and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall". According to most scholars, this broad wall is at this site - what remained from the first temple era.

The Southern Steps

The southern steps, which have been excavated in recent years, served as the main entrance and exit to the entire Temple Mount complex. And we know from Scripture that Jesus went to the Temple several times throughout His life. The Temple itself has since been destroyed, and the Temple Courts are buried under years of civilization and rebuilding. But the southern steps can still be walked upon today. So if you want to walk where Jesus walked this is the place. Below is an artists rendition of what the steps looked like in relation to the temple.

Again, I can't help but be reminded of all the wonderful Bible stories I have shared with the children through the 29 years Tony and I have taught.

The Bible says that Jesus first visited the Temple as a child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him here to be consecrated to the Lord (see Luke 2:21-40). The family then came back to Jerusalem year after year, as was their custom, for the yearly Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41).

It was on these trips that Mary and Joseph lost Jesus as they were traveling back home, thinking that he was traveling back with relatives or friends. After searching for Him for three days, they finally found Him, back in Jerusalem in the Temple Courts. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. Upon hearing that His parents had been anxiously searching for Him, Jesus replied:

"Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49).

The worn steps cut into the bedrock of Mount Moriah.
A view looking east-southeast down the steps over the Kidron Valley toward the southern summit of the Mount of Olives. At the foot of these stairs are numerous mikvah (ritual baths) used by the Jews for purification. These mikvah were likely used by the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 for baptizing the 3,000 new Jewish believers in the name of Jesus.

In this group picture if you count Kay's row as row #2 then you can find Pat and I on row #5. More importantly, if you look at where Kay is sitting you can see just to her left the original steps cut out of the bedrock of Mount Moriah. Also the wall to Kay's right is a part of the tower of the Knights Templar that was built right up against the Double Gate by the Crusaders to protect the city from Muslim invaders.

In the corner where the two walls meet a lintel from the Umayyad Period (661-750 AD) can be seen over the Double Gate. Part of the lintel was covered up by the Knights Templar when they built their fortification in about 1129 AD.

The above video is of Kay teaching on the Southern Steps. It is just the last 10 minutes but it is a powerful 10 minutes and as always I wanted to give whoever was interested an opportunity to experience sitting on the Southern Steps and looking out across the City of David, beyond the Kidron Valley to the community of Silwan. And this is how we ended our first full day in Jerusalem!! Wow!

The Western Wall Tunnels

2011-06-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Western Wall TunnelsOn this day, Monday, May 16, we had a quick lunch just off the Western Wall Plaza. Mine was an omelet sandwich and let me just say the next time I'm on a tour and the guide begins to tell me a fairy tale that ends with a question concerning tuna, cheese or egg - I will pay closer attention to my answer!! (Thanks, Pat, for the picture. I'm glad someone had a working camera! And I think we need to send this pic to Jon and Theresa! Ha!)

The Western Wall Tunnels connect the western wall prayer area to the north-west side of the temple mount, passing along the side of the temple mount and under the present day houses in the Old City. I have to say this was one of my favorite experiences!!"OUR FEET STOOD POISED AT YOUR GATES, O JERUSALEM" PSALM 122:2
"HERE AT THE FOOT OF THE WESTERN WALL, MORE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE ON EARTH, THE MEMORIES OF THE JEWISH PAST MINGLE WITH THE HOPES OF THE JEWISH FUTURE."

This model, which is situated at the entrance of the Western Wall tunnels, shows the topographical development of Mount Moriah which is the temple mount. Three thousand years ago Mount Moriah looked very different. In order to build the Temple, the mountain was carved out, four huge walls were built around it and thousands of tons of earth were poured in. This created a wide and flat surface upon which the temple was built. (If the pictures seem at odd angles, I as taking them over the heads of others.)

The model illustrates the history of the Temple Mount until today. The neighborhood outside the walls of the temple mount represent the Jewish quarter.

Again, I apologize for the blurred picture! Not only was I having problems with my camera but I was like a kid in a candy store. There were areas that were actively being worked upon and I would be looking at what was being done and then running to catch up!!

This would be considered part of the "Secret Passage". Its name comes from a medieval legend of an underground walkway used by King David. The king could use it to travel unseen from his palace at the Citadel (west of here) to the Temple Mount. The legend was wrong.

We now know that the citadel was actually a Crusader castle and that these vaults originated with the Arabs in the late 12th century C.E. This vault system was built to raise the level of the city and to allow Moslem residents direct access to the Temple Mount. The space under the vaults was locked off in sections and turned into water cisterns.

This area around the "secret passage" is still undergoing excavations. The archaeologists revealed second temple period stairs and other ancient findings. The two pictures above were taken looking down into large shafts.

This is the largest hall in the tunnels hence its name the Large Hall! ;) Four corridors extend from this hall - the eastern most one among them leading to the Western Wall. Here it is possible to see the timeline of the Western Wall in layer after layer of stone. There are stones from different eras and beneath them courses of stones from the Second Temple period. When the Hall was discovered no openings or floors were found. Apparently the hall had served only as a foundation for the structures above it.

A fascinating model, describing the various changes that occurred on the Temple Mount since the Second Temple, was installed here in the western corridor of the Large Hall.

The animated model depicts the destruction that occurred here, the construction in Jerusalem after the destruction, and the Western Wall tunnel's excavation found under today's Old City of Jerusalem.

In our research, my sister and I have obviously been hitting the same sites!! http://www.generationword.com/jerusalem101/38-western-wall-tunnels.html

The descent down towards the Western Wall begins under the arch of the eastern corridor of the Large Hall. From here the wall descends fro a distance of 655 feet until the southwestern corner. Then it begins its ascent to the northern corner a distance of 983 feet.

The largest stone is found here and weighs close to 570 tons. This is one of the stones of the master course of stones of the Western Wall, probably intended to stabilize the courses underneath.

When the Romans destroyed the Temple they furiously dismantled the stones of the other four walls but this large stone was obviously more than they could handle. The rectangular recesses in the stone were created for stone wedges that helped connect another wall to the Western Wall during the Byzantine period.

This impressive stone has been standing here for 2000 years. It has withstood the damage caused by time and by man. It is evidence of the feat of constructing the Temple and the hope of rebuilding Jerusalem for the Jews.

This is an extreme close-up of Warren's Gate. :) (I think I'm using my iphone now?!) Moving on...

This gate is one of the Temple Mount gates that ran along the Western Wall. During the time of the Temple this gate led to a long underground passage and then to a set of steps that led up to the Temple Mount.

Just north of Warren's Gate is an alcove of the tunnels. This part of the Western Wall that was closest to the heart of the Temple is known as "opposite the Holy of Holies". On the other side of the wall about 300 feet in towards the Temple Mount is the foundation stone. The Talmud explains it was from this stone that the world was created. This particular spot faces what is referred to as "the place which God will chose." Jews from throughout the generations turn toward this place for prayer and reflection.

You can see small pieces of papers (prayers) left in the crevices of the wall.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122:6

Jerusalem: The Temple Mount, Pools of Bethesda,The Golden Gate, The Western Wall

2011-06-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem

Jerusalem has always been sacred to the Jew, Muslim and Christian. The Jew venerates this city because it was the site of Solomon's temple. The Muslim claims Jerusalem as the city from which the prophet Mohamed ascended into heaven. And, of course, Christians remember the city as the scene of the Lord's death, burial and resurrection. Only Jerusalem is described as "the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there: (I Kings14:21).

Inbal Hotel
Our home in Jerusalem was a lovely hotel not far from the Old City and in a lovely area of town.
All of our meals at the hotel were in this beautiful courtyard. Our room overlooked the courtyard so we could always see what was on the dessert table! ;)

They had a beautiful lobby that you could not enter without going through security first.

And the entrance to the hotel was just as lovely as the inside!

The Temple Mount

Today we are headed to the Temple Mount and I am taking pictures out the bus window as I am getting my first close look at the Jerusalem wall. The Jerusalem wall has been totally destroyed at least five times. This uneven rectangular wall which encloses the Holy City is the most striking feature of Jerusalem. Originally all Jersalemites lived inside the wall but today only 5.45 percent of the city lives within the wall.

The wall averages 40 feet high and has eight gates and 34 towers. It is about 2 1/2 miles in length.This picture is of the Ophel Archaeological Garden below the southeastern corner of the Temple Mount. The ancient staircase and the Hulda Gate, through which worshippers entered the Second Temple compound, and the remnants of a complex of royal palaces of the 7th century Muslim period are among the antiquities excavated here.

In the distance, you can see the Jewish Cemetery on the Mt of Olives. Jews have sought since antiquity to be buried on the Mount of Olives, where according to the Bible (Zech. 14:4) the resurrection will begin when the Messiah comes. The cemetery has grown to cover the entire western and much of the southern slopes which makes the slope white due to the grave stones.

Sorry, I blurred the picture but the sign says that you are approaching the holy site of the Western Wall where the Divine Presence always rests. They are asking that you make sure that you are appropriately dressed! We had already been told that on the Temple Mount your shoulders could not be bare (no tank tops) and that your knees needed to be covered. Additionally, the Muslims would not allow men and women (even if they were married) to touch - no holding hands, etc. or you would be escorted off the Temple Mount. We did, in fact, have two women pulled aside and not allowed to enter because their knees were showing.

To go on to the Temple Mount you have to go through a metal detector and have your bag searched. Our itinerary at this point was fluid because of the situation in Israel and because the Temple Mount can be closed at a moments notice. So Precept puts in on the itinerary the first day in Jerusalem and if it doesn't work out that day it can be tried every day thereafter until allowed in.

This is a picture of the Western Wall taken from the bridge we are crossing to get on to the Temple Mount. There is a women's side and a men's side.

Thankfully, it is a quiet day at the Western Wall.

Having arrived at the Temple Mount our guide, Kenny, is waiting for some of our group to clear security. I am discreetly trying to take pictures of what happens on the Temple Mount. It belongs to the Muslims and there are groups sitting in circles studying. Our guide has to be careful because one time he was thrown out for laughing too loud. So my understanding is that you can be thrown out for what you say, how you say it or what you do.

This is the El Aksa, which means the "distant place" (from Mecca), is Islam's third holiest shrine, after Mecca and Medina. It was erected on the foundation of a Byzantine church and still follows the general lines of a basilica. It has been been destroyed and rebuilt on numerous occasions. The Crusaders captured it in 1099 and El Aksa became the headquarters for the Knights Templars. But in 1187 Saladin returned the building to the Muslims.

In 1951 Jordan's King Abdullah was assassinated here. His grandson, who would serve as King of Jordan until his death in 1999, was at his side.

Back and to the left is a part of the Islamic Museum.
This is the only part of the rocky knoll, Mt Moriah, that remains uncovered outside of what is inside the Dome of the Rock mosque.

Mount Moriah is a rocky knoll of Judea that is much like any one of a thousand others in the Holy Land, except that it is much more significant. Abraham was commanded by God to take his only son Isaac to Mount Moriah and sacrifice him to Jehovah (Genesis 22:1-14). This knoll contained the threshingfloor of Araunah, which was purchased by King David. Here he built an altar and offered burnt offering and peace offering to God, staring a great plague in Israel (II Samuel 24:15-25). On this knoll, David gathered the materials for the magnificent temple of God, which his son Solomon built (I Chronicles 21:18-22:5; II Chronicles 3:1-7,11). The treasures of the house of God were taken from Mount Moriah when the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C., at the time of the Babylonian captivity. When the exiles returned, Nehemiah and the people built a wall around this rocky knoll (Nehemiah 2:4-20; 6:15,16). Here Herod the Great rebuilt the temple.

After the Roman general Titus destroyed Herod's Temple and city of Jerusalem, the Roman Emperor Hadrian paganized this holy mount by erecting a temple to Jupiter. In fact, in A.D. 138 Hadrian rebuilt the city, naming it Aelia Capitolina; and he forbade the Jews from entering the city on penalty of death. In 639, Jerusalem fell in the hands of the Muslims, and Mount Moriah became a Muslim shrine. ~Woodrow Kroll

This is a look at the Dome of the Rock through the Southern Arches
The Dome of the Rock is not a mosque but a shrine built over a sacred stone. The sacred rock was considered holy before the arrival of Islam. Jews believed, and still believe, the rock to be the very place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac (an event which Muslims place in Mecca). In addition, the Dome of the Rock is believed by many to stand directly over the site of the Holy of Holies of both Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple.

The great golden dome that crowns the Dome of the Rock was originally made of gold, but was replaced with copper and then aluminum. The aluminum is now covered with 24 K gold leaf, a donation from the late King Hussein of Jordan.

I took this picture to give an idea of the size of the Temple Mount Plaza.

The Golden Gate

The western side of the golden gate is visible from the temple mount. A large gate house, dated to the end of the Byzantine period, protects the gate.

This was my first encounter with the Golden Gate. Later from the Mount of Olives I became obsessed with taking its picture. From the outside of the Old City and particularly from the Mount of Olives the gate makes for a beautiful picture and holds an even more incredible picture of future events.

The Golden Gate is also known as the Mercy Gate.

"Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut. Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut. It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same". Ezekiel 44:1-3

This text refers to the ancient tradition of the gate in the second temple, dated to the 6th C BC exile in Babylon. According to Ezekiel, God's spirit left the city through the gate, but will return after the Messiah will return through it.

The Golden Gate is the most important and most impressive gate in Jerusalem, and the only visible entrance to the city of Jerusalem from the East. This oldest of all the gates to the city was the only one not rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent in AD 1539-42. Monolithic stones in the wall just above ground have been identified as 6th Century BC masonry from the time of Nehemiah, (Biblical Archaeological Review [BAR], Mar/Apr 1992, p40).

Pools of Bethesda

Ruins of twin pools in the north side of the old city, close to the Lions gate. These pools supplied water to the temple during the times of the first and second temple (until Herod). There are references in the old testament to the "upper pool", which may have been the name of the northern pool.

Adjacent to the pools were baths and a healing center. These baths are the site of the healing miracle of Jesus in the pools of the sheep market, which was also called "Bethesda".

Later, a Byzantine basilica was built over parts of the pools. The Crusaders built a small chapel over its ruins, and later a larger Basilica nearby called St. Anna.

The south-western side of the Byzantine church was located in the south pool, seen above. It was supported by seven arches, three of them are visible. The tall base of one of the arches is seen in the center. Bob is reading the following passage...

"Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. " John 5:1-15

St. Anne's

After the Crusader conquest of Jerusalem, church buildings were rebuilt on a smaller scale with a new church erected nearby the Bethesda pools. This new church, named for Saint Anne and completed in 1138 AD., was built over the site of a grotto believed by the Crusaders to be the birthplace of Anne, grandmother of Jesus.
The church is open to anyone who would like to come in and worship. When we entered there was a group of Chinese singing Amazing Grace. The church is known for their acoustics and I must admit it was breathtaking to hear.

Our group chose to sing "Holy, Holy, Holy". This trip was filled with precious moments!

We are walking through the Islamic Quarter of the Old City to depart through the Lion's Gate.

Lion's Gate derives its name from the double pair of lions (which are actually panthers) engraved on each side. The gate, built in 1538 by Suleiman the Magnificent, is known as Stephen's Gate by Christians who believing that the saint was stoned to death here (in the Byzantine period, Damascus Gate was thought to be the site).

The Western Wall

We are entering Dung Gate on our way to the Western Wall. This gate is set in the Old City's southern wall, that provides the most convenient access to the Western Wall, and it is the only gate which leads directly into the Jewish Quarter.

In Hebrew it is called Sha'ar Ha'ashpot (Garbage Gate), a reference to a Biblical gate in the same area through which the refuse of the Temple (which was the same as the refuse of a butcher shop, only consecrated) was carted outside the city to be burned.The gate was widened by the Jordanians during their tenure in the Old City to accommodate vehicular traffic, one of only two such gates in the Old City. We have stopped just inside the gate to allow Kenny to point out a few things to us.

And, of course, I am as interested in the people around me as I am the antiquities.

One of the things Kenny was pointing out to us was "Robinson's Arch".
Robinson's Arch in the yellow circle.

The Western Wall (Ha-Kotel Ha-Ma'aravi) in Jerusalem is the holiest of Jewish sites, sacred because it is a remnant of the Herodian retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. It has also been called the "Wailing Wall" by European observers because for centuries Jews have gathered here to lament the loss of their temple. At the prayer section of the Western Wall, grass grows out of the upper cracks. The lower cracks of the chalky, yellow-white blocks have been stuffed with bits of paper containing written prayers. Orthodox Jews can be seen standing at the wall, chanting and swaying. Some Jews visit the wall daily to recite the entire Book of Psalms.

I was standing in the women's section with my back facing the wall to get a sense of the buildings that overlook the Western Wall Plaza. The dark brown lamp in the left of the pictures is the way we entered the Temple Mount.

This is the divider that seperates the men's from the women's section.

The Western Wall Plaza is quite large and apparently if you are a dignitary of some sort you can be driven right up to the Wall.

I think some young boys were about to have a special event. The arch in the left of the picture is called "Wilson's Arch" and inside it serves as a place of prayer, study and cabinets for storage of the Torah.

"Great if the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." Psalm 48:1,2

Entering Jerusalem

2011-06-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

I want to preface this post by reiterating what a phenomenal time of teaching with Kay and David Arthur we had been having. That fact plus literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus through the Galilee and seeing a little of what the Patriarchs experienced in this beautifully blessed land had certainly heightened our emotions, enriched our faith and deepened our love of the Father and His people.

I am choosing to include a short video taken with my iphone as we entered Jerusalem. I quickly chose to do this as it was apparent we were going to see something special. You can hear the bus straining as we are ascending in to Jerusalem though we have been traveling south. We will enter through the Mt. Scopus tunnel and we were told to look to the left. It is hard to see but looking quickly you can glimpse the gold dome of the Dome of the Rock mosque that sits on the Temple Mount within the Old City.

If you chose to watch this 5 minute video, you will hear one of our women begin to sob. It was a very emotional moment. Many of us on this bus had only ever dreamt of coming to the Holy Land and then seeing for the first time where one day the New Jerusalem will be was in many respects overwhelming! The bus immediately took us to the Hebrew University, on Mt. Scopus, where there was an overlook for us to get still shots of the Old City and the Temple Mount. Remember the Temple Mount is Mt Moriah where Abraham offered up his son, Isaac, to God (Genesis 22:2) and where Solomon built the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 3:1).

Last night I lay a sleeping I had a dream so fair

I stood in old Jerusalem, beside the temple there

I heard the children singing and ever as they sang

I thought the voice of Angels from Heaven in answer rang

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Lift up your gates and sing,

Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna to your King!"

And then I thought my dream was changed, the streets no longer rang

As with the glad hosannas the little children sang

The sun grew dark with mystery, and the morn was cold and chill

As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill

As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Lift up your gates and sing,

Hosanna in the highest.

Hosanna to your King!"

And once again my dream was changed, new earth there seemed to be;

I saw the Holy City beside the crystal sea;

The Light of God was on it streets, and the gates they were open wide, that all who would might enter, and no one was denied.

No need of moon or the stars by night, or the sun to shine by day;

For it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away.

For it was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away!

"Jerusalem! Jerusalem!

Sing for the night is o'er!

Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna for evermore!"

Tel Bet'Shean

2011-06-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

It was Monday, May 16, and we were checked out of our hotel in Tiberius and headed south down to Jerusalem with some stops along the way. Kay had gone ahead to speak at the Epicenter Conference with Joel Rosenberg but before she left she had told us that she had a surprise for us at lunch even though she wouldn't be with us! So off we went with great anticipation for the day ahead and a little sadness at leaving the sea of Galilee behind!

Tel Bet'Shean

Located 17 miles south of the Sea of Galilee, Beth Shean is situated at the junction of the Harod and Jordan Valleys. The fertility of the land and the abundance of water led the Jewish sages to say, "If the Garden of Eden is in the land of Israel, then its gate is Bet'Shean."
This was our first glimpse of the ruins of Tel Bet'Shean. We were actually on tram that drove us out to the archaeological ruins.

What the above sign is showing is the different Periods of the Tel: Crusader 1099-1187; Early Muslim 632-1099; Byzantine 324-632; Roman 63 B.C.E. - 324 C.E.; Hellenistic 333 - 63 B.C.E.; Israelite Kingdom 1000 - 732 B.C.E.; The Judges 1140 - 1000 B.C.E.; Canaanite 3000 - 1130 B.C.E.; Chalcolithic 5000 - 3600 B.C.E.

This is Tel Bet'Shean. There are two Bet'Sheans. This mound that dates back to Old Testament times, and an extensive Roman ruin has been excavated in recent years at the foot of this ancient mound.

A “tel” in archaeological terms is a mound that grows up by successive cities being built and destroyed on top of the same location. Archaeologists can dig a trench down the side of such a mound to determine how many layers may be in the mound. They have other techniques for finding gates and some other important structures. Eighteen layers have been identified in this tel and archaeologists believe it may have been settled as early as 3,500 years ago.

This is a view of the market/shops area which would have been covered and the amphitheater in the upper left corner.

Tel el-Husn (Bet'Shean) sits at a very strategic place as it dominates the entrance to the Jezreel Valley from the Jordan Valley just south of the Sea of Galilee. The name el-Husn means “Fortress Hill.” It controlled the major roads anciently as well as fords across the Jordan at this point. It had available water via several springs in the area and is in a sub-tropical region rich with vegetation.

It was very important in Biblical history. The Egyptians and Philistines had garrisons here and King David kept it as a royal city. It is perhaps best known as the place where king Saul’s body was hung after his death at the hands of the Philistines.

"Uncle Kenny", our guide, was explaining to us what we were looking at.

Pat is walking on intricately tiled walkways that adjoin the ruins of the shops that lined the market place. At one time these walkways were covered and on the other side of the pillars was the main street of the city.

The entire city was destroyed in October of 749 A.D. by a massive earthquake, leaving these amazing ruins to be found.

The Roman amphitheater dominated the city. The theater could seat 7000 but the upper levels were destroyed and not rebuilt.

After leaving Bet'Shean, I noticed the barbed wire double fencing and it was pointed out that we were looking at the West Bank.

It was so interesting as to see how drastically the landscape was changing!

OK, this was at a rest stop and when I decided to have my picture made with the camel he was sitting down on the ground. When he stood up, I was more than a little surprised! If you look close, I think the camel and I are both making the same face!

Once you're up it's not a bad seat...

but coming down felt as perilous as going up.

As we were making our way to lunch, Kenny was pointing out the different Bedouin camps. Currently, there are 170,000 Bedouins living in Israel.

Kenny went on to explain the culture and how this would probably be the last generation of true Bedouins because now that Israel requires their children to be in school and with education it is unlikely that future generations will be content to live a nomadic existence.

With that we pulled off the main highway, and it dawned on me that we were going to have lunch with the Bedouins!! We were pulling in to a camel ranch!

We are at Genesis Land in the heart of the Judean desert in the land where the Patriarchs lived! This is Eliezer, Abrahams man-servant, and he is introducing himself to us and is going to escort us to Abraham's tent, WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LUNCH :0!

First, he is explaining how Abraham ended up in the Land of Canaan.

Yes, we are walking to "Father Abraham's" tent and have been given special clothes to wear.

Did I mention we're in the middle of the Judean desert!

"Father Abraham" meets us with a pitcher of water to wash our hands and invite us in to his tent.

We are seated on pillows on the floor around large round tables. The lighting for pictures is difficult because it is a large three-sided tent and the sun outside the tent is brutal.

Abraham is speaking and is quite capitivating in his talk.

Our lunch was delicious! It began with pita bread and hummus.

Our lunch ended with fruit and hot tea! Abraham explained that the hot tea would bring our body temperature closer to the temperature of our surroundings and we would feel cooler.

Bob (our bus host) and I after lunch.

Another look back at the tent.

The camel pen!

And, yes, I asked Bob why he didn't stop me from getting on the nasty looking camel at the rest stop when he knew we were going to be seeing these sweet natured camels here!! And he just smiled...

It was an amazing experience and Kay always seems to find a way to take our breath away! From here we go to Jerusalem and that deserves a post of its own!

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion."Psalm 84:5

Capernaum and The Mount of Beatitudes

2011-06-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

Capernaum is an ancient fishing village on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

It was known as Jesus' own town. "Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city." Matthew 9:1

It was here that Jesus taught. ("They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach." Mark 1:21)

This is a lovely spot overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Kay taught on John 6.

In John 6, Christ had fed the multitude. The following day He had preached a great sermon in Capernaum in the synagogue, a sermon in which He claimed to come from heaven and to be the bread of life. He told them that they had soul hunger which was infinitely worse than physical hunger and there was only one thing that could satisfy their souls and that was He Himself. And thus He had claimed in this sermon to be the bread of life, the only soul food that can really satisfy. And the response to His sermon was unbelief and many walked away.

That's the way today. People are enamored with the person of Christ. They're enamored with the things He did. But as soon as He opens His mouth and starts to make demands or commands, they walk away in anger and offense. It's amazing how that the Bible is a living Word, just like it says it does, and it mirrors the fickle heart two thousand years ago parallel to the same kind of fickle heart today as men today treat Him the same as they did then.

And that was the question Kay asked us, "Do we want God on our terms?"

The ruins are powerful reminders of Jesus' prediction about this town.

"And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day."Matthew 11:23
Three stages of development of the house of Peter. (shaded in grey) Oxford Archaeological Guide

The church of Capernaum was founded on the traditional site of St. Peter's home. Closer to the shore than the synagogue, the house was in a poor area where the drystone basalt walls would have supported only a light roof (which suits the lowering of the paralytic in Mark 2:1-12) and could have no windows.

The floors of these houses and courtyards were made of black basalt cobbles, in which it would have been easy to lose a coin (Luke 15:8).

By the mid-1st century AD, there is evidence that one room in this complex was singled out for public use: pottery and lamps replace utensils of normal family use, and there is ancient graffiti in the plastered walls, some of which mention Jesus as Lord and Christ.

The house was certainly a church by the time Egeria made her pilgrimage in 381, which she said included the original walls: "In Capernaum the house of the prince of the apostles has been made into a church, with its original walls still standing." ~ Sacred Destinations

The Sea of Galilee is just beyond the trees.
Ruins of ancient houses.
A look at the octagonal house of Peter which the Modern Franciscan church has been built over. Withing the modern church there is a glass floor that you can look down in to the house of Peter.
Inside the Capernaum Synagogue.

It was the synagogue on this very spot, whose foundations you can still see, which Luke says was built by the centurion whose servant Jesus later healed (Luke 7:3-5). Jesus also raised from the dead the daughter of this synagogue’s leader (Luke 8:49-53).
Above you can see a relief of the Ark of the Covenant. After bringing down the tablets containing the Ten Commandments, Moses put them in this chest along with Aaron's rod and a bowl of manna, the mysterious bread that fed the Jews during the Exodus. The Bible attributes this ark to be the resting place of God when the Jewish tabernacle was erected during the Exodus. Mysterious powers were attributed to the ark, which stood in the Holy of Holies after Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem. The present location of the ark is unknown; it was not found when the Romans captured Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This sculpture decorated a frieze on the 4th-century synagogue which the Jews built on the site of the original 1st-century one where Jesus worshipped.
The Mount of Beatitudes
The traditional location for the Mount of Beatitudes is on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret. Pat and I are standing on the porch of the Roman Catholic Franciscan chapel that overlooks the Sea of Galilee.
On this afternoon, David taught from Matthew 5 on the Beatitudes.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:13-16

The Lord is calling on us to influence the world that we live in, just as He was those disciples gathered with Him as He preached to the multitudes. The Lord is saying that the Christian who lives according to the Beatitudes is going to influence the world as salt and light. In all that a person does and is (or is not), the sum total of our character, consciously or otherwise, affects other people.

Jesus is saying we are to be different; poor in spirit, mournful and meek, thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemaking. And even though we are all those things, we don't crawl off into a monastery somewhere. We get out in the world and we live it right there where others can see it and that by our lives they may know who He is.

After David's teaching, we were blessed to be able to have lunch on site. According to Kay, the nuns are well known for their spaghetti sauce! It was a delicious lunch of hummus, salad, spaghetti, and dates for dessert! I don't know how or why I was the first one at the table but I'll let you figure that one out for yourself! Ha!

The grounds here are so beautiful and serene that I am a little sad that there isn't time for some reflection and possibly a nap!

The Ancient Galilee Boat

The Sea of Galilee Boat also known as the Jesus Boat was an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century CE (the time of Jesus Christ), discovered in 1986 on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel.

The remains of the boat, 27 feet long, 7.5 feet wide and with a maximum preserved height of 4.3 feet, first appeared during a drought, when the waters of the Sea (actually a great fresh-water lake) receded.

The boat has been dated to 40 BCE (plus or minus 80 years) based on radiocarbon dating, and 50 BCE to 50 CE based on pottery (including a cooking pot and lamp) and nails found in the boat, as well as hull construction techniques. The evidence of repeated repairs shows the boat was used for several decades, perhaps nearly a century. When its fishermen owners thought it was beyond repair, they removed all useful wooden parts and the hull eventually sank to the bottom of the lake. There it was covered with mud which prevented bacterial decomposition.

Instead of taking the bus back to the hotel, we are traveling by boat across the sea of Galilee. And the ship's crew is raising the United States flag to fly along with Israel's. A wonderful sight to see!!
Our national anthem! (If you look closely, you can spot me sitting on the aisle.)

I wanted a crowd shot! What a fun way to end the day! (Or is it over?!)

Some great singing...

and not only did our guides have a wealth of knowledge and great stories but additionally...

great surprises!!!
And an hour later with even more memories we are back at the Gai Beach Hotel.

Tonight we are having dinner at the Decks restaurant in Tiberius. The restaurant is set on a long deck jutting out over the Sea of Galilee, Decks serves wonderful meats, poultry, and fish barbecued over fires of citrus wood, olive wood, and American hickory imported from Georgia.

We have just been served our appetizers of hummus and falafel. It was a fun evening as Pat and I sat across from David Arthur and alongside one of our favorite families!

After dinner ...

another surprise...

the owner honored Kay with a special tribute and a message from Prime Minister Netanyahu. (Additionally, earlier in the evening we had had a time of prayer for the Prime Minister as he was headed to the United States to meet with Obama. It had been a difficult day as eight people had been killed at the Syrian border as they had tried to illegally cross into Israel.)

After the tribute, the owner of the restaurant put on Elvis and let me just close by saying that Kay Arthur can dance!!

Meggido

2011-06-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

Megiddo was situated on a 700 foot hill on the eastern slope of the Carmel range. The citizens of Megiddo enjoyed a commanding view of the Plain of Jezreel below it. To the northeast they could see the ridge on which Nazareth was later built, Mount Tabor and the Hill of Moreh which rose toward the eastern end of the plain, and Mount Gilboa in the southwest which guarded the northern border of what was later known as Samaria.

It was an ancient fortified city that was one of the most famous battlegrounds in the world. Historians believe that more battles were fought at this location than anywhere else on earth
We began our time at the base of Megiddo with Kay teaching the book of Revelation. It had been raining off and on hence the large green umbrella that had been brought in to save her Bible. The people standing behind Kay are helping in that they are giving a visual to the lesson of the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowl judgments of Revelation!
Now the three men - Bob, David, and Pete (all Precept ministers) represent the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet of Revelation 16:12-16
Kay would not be happy that I have included the above chart but it succinctly brings Revelation in to focus - much as she did at the base of Megiddo. (Thanks to my sweet Bible teacher, Karen!) That said, Revelation is one of the books of the Bible that comes with a blessing for the reader. "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3

As Kay was coming to the end of our lesson and was reading the scripture below, in the distance we heard the sound of galloping horse hooves but did not realize what was happening until the two came together. It was quite effective and for a moment took your breath away!

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16

Megiddo is the only site in the land of the Bible with remains of thirty cities built one on top of the other.
The area in the above diagram served as a focus of worship for over two thousand years, from the Early Bronze through the Iron period. The University of Chicago excavation section revealed a series of temples (1, 3-5) built one on top of the other. The Megiddo Expedition, led by a team from Tel Aviv University, uncovered an additional temple (2) unique in the Levant in its monumentality and the thousands of sacrifical animal bones found in and around it.

The round circle of stones in the above picture is the sacrificial altar which is striking in its size (32.9 feet diameter) and was located just behind the temple. (I am taking the picture from a vantage point high above.)

The video above was taken with my camera and I realize that it is not the best camera angle of Kay but it was the audio I was really after. Kay is explaining Revelation 14 and what will and will not take place in the Jezreel Plain.

These next four pictures are taken from the same spot with me turning as though I am taking a panaramic shot. It is of the Jezreel Plain.

For those that might have been skeptical if I was really there...

Needing secure access to its water supply, Megiddo utilized different watersystems over its history.

In the 9th c. B.C., Ahab constructed a massive system with a 30 meter deep shaft and a 70 meter long tunnel. This continued in use until the end of the Iron Age.
This Iron Age tunnel connected the bottom of Ahab's shaft to the spring. Before its construction, Megiddo residents had to leave the city walls in order to get water from the spring.

This tunnel was hewn from both ends at the same time and its builders were only one foot off when meeting in the middle.

This was a steep climb down but the sweet woman in front of me had a paralyzing fear of heights and realizing that there was a tremendous drop under the stairs that she could see we had to pray her down to the bottom!

Yardenet - The Baptismal Site on the Jordan River

After lunch at the hotel, we are back on the bus headed to the Jordan river. Because of the rain this morning our bus windows were a little streaked from the rain. I took this picture anyway because we were seeing such beautiful flowers along the way.

We are at the entrance to Yardenet where we have come for some to be baptized in the Jordan and for some to commerate their baptism from some earlier time in their life. Others of us were there just to witness and hear the testimonies. And, of course, all had the option of not coming.
This is the couple that sat in front of us on the bus, Jon and Theresa. They are commerating their baptism. They are from Fort Collins, CO and were a lot of fun to travel with.

This is one of the "back of the bus" couples from Minnesota who were also commemorating their baptisms. Donna and Bill were traveling with two other couples from Minnesota who sat behind Pat and me and with whom share a lot of laughs.

Ray and Jill, from Minnesota, were being baptized in the Jordan and shared a very sweet and tender testimony.
This is a group shot of those of us that were present. I know it is a little hard to see but Pat and I are there in the middle somewhere.

It was a wonderfully emotional day today and it was just beautiful when we got back to the hotel that evening. The Sea of Galilee was so peaceful that just looking at it was good for the soul!

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:8

Mount Carmel and Caesarea

2011-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Mount Carmel

(Hebrew: Karem El = "vineyard, plantation, garden land or fruit of God"), spans thirteen miles from its promontory, which juts out into the Mediterranean Sea at the Bay of Acco. Jeremiah compared the sight of this mountain to Nebuchadnezzar’s domineering rule over Egypt: "Surely one shall come who looms up like Tabor or like Carmel by the sea" Jeremiah 46:18

Mount Carmel is best known as the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Located about halfway between Jezebel’s Sidon and Ahab’s Samaria, the site was well chosen for God to display of His superiority over the pagan god. Here, this dramatic demonstration climaxed when God honored Elijah’s challenge to Baal and hurled down fire to burn up his water-soaked sacrifice (1 Kings 18:19-40). This event probably occurred in an amphitheater-like small plain near the base of the mountain, close to the Kishon stream.

The statue at the Carmelite monastery at the top of the mount reflects the Lord's victory over the prophets of Baal. Carmelite Monastery located on the top of Mount Carmel. They have a roof garden that we were allowed to go up on (after the rain) to take advantage of the views.
Biblically, Mt. Carmel is referenced most often as a symbol of beauty and fertility.
"Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses." Song of Solomon 7:5
But for Carmel to wither was a sign of devastating judgment.

"He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade." Nahum 1:4
Below Mount Carmel lies a vast fertile plain, the Plain of Jezreel.
As I was preparing to leave, I noticed this sweet little garden beside the monastery and I couldn't resist a picture.
And it was always fun when we had Kay on the bus with us!!

The Aqueduct

On our way to Caesarea we stopped on the coast of the Mediterranean to get a picture of the Aqueduct that Herod had built to supply water to the old city. It truly was remarkable but there was quite the storm brewing and quite the breeze blowing and I wasn't too sure if I really wanted off the bus!!

Oh well, how many times are you going to have this opportunity!!

The Aqueduct brought running water to the old city of Caesarea. The source of the water was the springs of Shummi, 10KM away. Herod build the aqueduct in the 1st C BC. later, in the 2nd C AD it was expanded by the Romans. Later, 2 more aqueducts were built.

Caesarea

Caesarea was located on the Mediterranean coast thirty-three miles north of Joppa and sixty miles northwest of Jerusalem.

Herod built his seaport on the site of the old Phoenician city, Strato’s Tower. The place was given this name after the king of Sidon, Strato I, erected a tower as a lighthouse and built a small, fortified port to provide anchorage for ships sailing in the eastern Mediterranean. No natural ports existed along Israel’s coast. During bad weather, this could be a dangerous sector on the major shipping route from Alexandria to Phoenicia, Syria, and eventually to Athens and Rome. To provide a safe haven, Herod created an artificial harbor, constructing large breakwaters.

Uncle Kenny giving us the "lay of the land" for what we are about to see...

Caesarea’s harbor was as large as that of Piraeus, Athens’ port. It brought status and revenue to Herod’s kingdom. He used the port to import materials for his numerous building projects. The harbor also made Palestine easily accessible to Rome, only a ten-day voyage away.

The city of Caesarea encompassed 165 acres. It boasted a theater, an amphitheater, a hippodrome, palaces, public buildings, storerooms, residential areas, and a sewer system.

This is a picture of the back of the amphitheater where Kay will be teaching. This view is a little deceiving as you will see below.

Roman statuary recovered at the site.

Near the amphitheater, a stone tablet was found with an inscription of the name Pontius Pilate, and dedicated to Tiberius Caesar who nominated him as procurator. This tablet probably tells that Pilate consecrated a temple of Tiberius in Caesarea.

The tablet says: "Tiberieum, Pontius Pilatus, Prefect of Judea".
(1) TIBERIEUM,,
(2) (PON) TIUS PILATUS
(3) (PRAEF) ECTUS IUDA (EAE)

This is important evidence of the existence of Pontius in Caesarea.

Remains of Herod's Promontory Palace. Looking down over the fence in the above pic you would see the scene below.

The square area cut out of the stone above was the fresh water swimming pool in Herod the Great's Palace here in Caesarea.

This is an artist's rendering of the harbor that Herod the Great built at Caesarea.
I have included this aerial photo to give an idea of the scope of what was built! After examining the remains of Herod's palace we were driven by bus beyond the stadium and to the Crusader City
You enter the Crusader City by crossing a bridge over a deep moat and through the gatehouse with beautiful Gothic vaulting!

Kay is waiting for our group to get caught up so she can point out a few things to us...
such as the rounding of the edges of these stones which were supposedly made as horses rubbed against them as they made the sharp turn through the gatehouse.

The Gothic vaulting of the ceiling!!

I think we were all impressed by the gatehouse!

We had a delicious lunch at the Aresto Restaurant. We had taboon-oven pizza and salad! A taboon oven is a clay oven, shaped like a truncated cone, with an opening at the bottom from which to stoke the fire.

Playing with the camera outside the walls of the Crusader City.

Palm Tree growing out of the walls of the Crusader City. Note the size of the moat surrounding the city!!

The Roman Theater, capable of seating 5,000 spectators, was constructed in the time of Jesus and Pontius Pilate, and has been restored. This is where Kay taught us and where they were setting up for an upcoming concert!

This is the view from the top of the amphitheater looking out over the ruins and the Mediterranean.

The theatre has incredible acoustics and a beautiful view of the Mediterranean as a backdrop.

Biblical History

When you are in the Holy Land you quickly realize that wherever you go it it is going to be rich in Biblical history! Here in Caesarea...

After baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip was "transported" to Azotus (Ashkelon) and from there continued to Caesarea, evangelizing as he traveled (Acts 8:40)

As a result of Paul’s boldly proclaiming Jesus in Jerusalem, the Hellenistic Jews there plotted to put him to death. Believers who were concerned for his life, brought Paul down from Jerusalem to Caesarea to return him to his hometown of Tarsus (Acts 9:28,29).

An angel of the Lord visited Cornelius, a God-fearing Roman centurion at Caesarea, instructing him to send for Peter who was in Joppa (Acts 10:1-8).

Immediately after Peter’s vision of various animals lowered from heaven in a white sheet, messengers arrived, summoning Peter to the centurion’s residence in Caesarea, a two-day journey up the coast. There Peter first preached the gospel to Gentiles. Cornelius and his Gentile household believed in Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, validating the fact that salvation was for all people (Acts 10:24-48).

Herod Agrippa I died in Caesarea after "being eaten by worms" as God’s judgment on him for receiving praise due only to the Lord (Acts 12:19, 21-23).

The apostle Paul returned from his second and third missionary journeys to the port of Caesarea (Acts 18:22; 21:8). After his third journey, Paul stayed in the city with Philip and his four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. Paul then proceeded to Jerusalem with several disciples from Caesarea (Acts 21:9-16).

Because of danger to his life, the Roman authorities in Jerusalem sent Paul to Caesarea for trial. The apostle gave a bold witness to Christ during his hearings before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa. Under house arrest for two years at Caesarea, Paul eventually used his Roman citizenship to appeal to Caesar for a hearing (Acts 23:23- 26:32).

Tel Dan and Ceasarea Philippi

2011-06-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

As if our time with Kay in Chorazin were not enough to absorb and contemplate for a day, we are off to lunch and on to Tel Dan. It is so wonderful to be so well taken care of and to be able to board a comfortable bus without a care as to the route taken, knowing that when we arrive the food will be excellant and plentiful and the sights beyond will take our breath away! I don't believe it will get any better until we view the New Jerusalem!

Anytime you travel it is always good to see the universal knife and fork!!

Today we had lunch at the Hagoshrim Kibbutz Resort and Hotel. Sorry, no pics of the food. They had several buffet tables and my hands were full. :) I will point out that all of our meals were Kosher which meant that no dairy was served along with meat. That said we had a long buffet table of creamy desserts and ice cream every night in Jerusalem but it was made with soy! If you are frowning, then you should appreciate that we all fought over the ice cream bowl! (Did I say fought over - OK, perhaps a healthy tussle would be a better description! Ha!)

Tel Dan

Tel Dan is a part of the Tel Dan Nature Reserve which is only about 120 acres. The reserve features three trails and the one we are on will take us to the ruins of the Canaanite city of Laish.

"This gate, which was approached on a stepped path, is built of three arches. The arches, the piers supporting them, the the towers flanking the gate are constructed of sun-baked bricks and were covered with white plaster. The gate has survived to it's full height of seven meters. Today it is possible to see only the outer arch."

This is one of the oldest arched gates in the world dating back to the 18th century BCE. According to the Bible (Genesis 14;13-16) it is outside these gates that Abraham fought a battle against the 4 kings in order to free his nephew Lot.

Two outstanding women of the faith whom I love - Kay and Tommye from Precept Ministries.

Two amazed women of the faith happy to be in such wonderful company!!

Above is a picture of the Israelite city gate which has been heavily reconstructed. The famous "House of David" stele or sign was found outside this gate.

Thanks to the Bet Ussishkin, a small nature museum in nearby Kibbutz Dan, this is a picture of the stele found in the marketplace in Dan outside the Israelite gate. This inscription is important because it represents the oldest textual reference to the historical King David ever found!

"Following the division of the Kingdon of Solomon in 930 BCE, Jeroboam son of Nebat established a cult at Dan as an alternative to the one at the Temple in Jerusalem. He placed a golden calf in the city and built a house of high places. In the Hellenistic period, the cultic precinct was surrounded by a wall that is visible to this day. A bilingual (Greek-Aramaic) inscription found at this site attests to the sanctity of the precinct."

Jeroboam looked upon religion as a tool of the state, not as a strength and the pleasure and the glory of the life of his people. So Jeroboam made two golden calves; one of them he set up before a great altar at Bethel and the other he placed in the land of Dan at the headwaters of the Jordan River.

And, he said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, that brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” Now, there are two things about that. One is this: it shows the deep, basic unbelief of King Jeroboam, for God had said to him, “You walk in My commandments and I will establish your house forever.” He did not have to fear or to worry about that dread, that the people might return back to Jerusalem and to Rehoboam, for God had promised him, “You obey My commandments and walk in My laws, and I will establish your house forever.” But, Jeroboam didn’t believe the Word of God.

Area where Jeroboam would have set up the golden calves of Dan. The stairs located in the right of the picture lead to the high place.

Altar Chamber

The gate throne where the judges and even kings would sit to hear lawsuits brought before the city elders. Lawsuits were routinely conducted at the city gate for several reasons. It was a naturally open place to assemble witnesses; it was the literal and symbolic hub of the town’s public affairs; and many cities housed divine icons, which might serve as ritual object in oath taking.

Tel Dan Post

I am standing at the Tel Dan Post where the "Water War" between Syria and Israel took place. In 1923, the British Mandate of Eretz Israel and French Mandate area of Syria and Lebanon drew a line with a lead pencel to reflect the Biblical verse, "from Dan to Beersheeva". Both sides claimed sovereignty over the area covered by the pencil line, which represented 130 meters of land, including 'En Dan, one of the most profuse springs in the Middle East.

In 1964, Syria used the thickness of the pencil line as grounds to claim the right to draw water from the Dan. (Note: The Dan is the largest tributary of the Jordan river and the only source of the Jordan that is wholly located within Israeli territory.) The Syrians built a post in the village of Nohila and stationed tanks there. In respo se, the Israel Defense Forces paved the patrol road and blocked Syrian access to the Dan springs. The Israeli armored forces also used the Tel Dan Post to prevent the Syrians from diverting the sources of the Jordan river.

The picture above was taken when I turned and looked up and behind me where the Israeli Defense/Intelligence Force maintains a post.

This is a picture of the United Nations camp that is maintained down the road from the abandoned Syrian village of Nohila.

Trenches used by the Israeli army until the 1967 Six Day War

In front of the largest tree you see in the picture above is the remains of a burnt-out armored tank.

These pictures are important if for no other reason than to remind us of how close Israel's enemies are to her and how important our support of her is!

" And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:3

Caesarea Philippi/Banias

Situated 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the base of Mt. Hermon, Banias is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. It is a beautiful spot that is truly an oasis from the heat! :)

Banias, as well as being a place of great natural beauty, is the site of ancient Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus demanded to know of His disciples who people were saying He was.

And Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he charged them to tell no one about him. Mark 8:27-30

Caesarea Philippi was the local center of the Cult of Pan (hence Panias/Banias) and, as being close to the source of the Jordan, had the river gushing out of a cave that led people to declare it was the river Styx, the gateway to the underworld. (You can see the cave above and the water supply is such that it no longer flows from the mouth of the cave.)

Beginning in the 3rd century B.C., sacrifices were cast into the cave as offerings to the god Pan.

The view looking down from the mouth of the cave.

Adjacent to the cave is a rocky escarpment with a series of hewn niches. Archeologists know that statues of the deity were placed in these niches by depictions of such on coins of the city.

One niche housed a sculpture of Echo, the mountain nymph and Pan’s consort. Another niche housed a statue of Pan’s father, Hermes, son of nymph Maia. Inscriptions in the niches mention those who gave large donations.

As always, I am impressed by the detail of the work done at that time.

That is Pat in the distance "getting the shot" and the four women to the right represent Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Africa! And let me just add that we traveled with a wonderful group of people!!

A picture of the countryside as we are headed back to Tiberius and the hotel. I am sorry I haven't included any of the teaching by Kay and her son, David which was awesome but this post is a little long!! And to think this is just the end of day one!!!

Chorazin...

2011-06-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Cursed City

We know from scripture that Jesus did many miracles in this city. These people witnessed the mighty power of God in their streets for the better part of three years. Yet, it seemed to make no difference in their lives, Jesus finally said: "Woe to you, Korazin...If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you" Matthew 11:21-22

I thought I would include the above sign in case you wanted to try your hand at a new language!

And who could resist such beauty blooming where it is left unattended.

Our guide "Uncle Kenny" born in New Orleans raised in Israel.

The majority of the structures are made from black basalt, a volcanic rock found locally. The main settlement dates to the 3rd and 4th centuries. A mikvah, or ritual bath, was also found at the site.Houses in the central quarter. In front of them is the main street of the city.

Barley was growing wildly in the adjacent fields and it was pointed out that it is one of the seven firstfruits. Can you guess the other six?

The entrance to the Synagogue was decorated, and the reconstructed gable is located on the floor of the outer court and shown above.

This is the view of the south entrance and the outer court. It was accessed from the main street by a staircase, and there were 3 doors (the restored structure shows only the side door on the left and the central door on the right). A part of the decorated top of the door is seen on the floor.

The 3rd century synagogue was destroyed in the 4th century and rebuilt in the 5th.

Our group (yellow bus) listening to Kenny, who you can't see, but can follow our bus hostess Diane who you could always find because of the yellow umbrella! :) (Bob and Diane were our host and hostess in Greece, as well, and given the opportunity we would travel with them again!! They're the best!!)

I am always amazed at the detail of the work that was done so long ago.

A decorated conch which probably flanked the Ark of the Law.

The 'seat of Moses'.
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. Matthew 23:1-3

And, sadly, a Medusa was found built right into the synagogue wall!! It's presence shows an assimilation with the Greek and pagan practices of the time. Perhaps this, too, helps to explain the curse on this town. A town that had the King of Kings come to visit regularly and were witness to many miracles and generations later still could not stay faithful to the one true God!

A message for us as well! When we present ourselves to the world as God's covenant people we must be true to God and His Word or He will judge us!

"You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your sins." Amos 3:2

The Galilee

2011-05-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

Our first hotel is the Gai Beach on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in Tiberius.

As I looked out upon the Sea of Galilee from our hotel room, I couldn't help but think upon all the wonderful Bible stories I had taught children for years that had taken place right here in this area. Along these shores multitudes were healed (Luke 9:1-6), multitudes were fed (Luke 9:10-17) and multitudes were taught (Luke9:23-27; 37-62). On the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to leave their fishing business, follow Him and become fishers of men (Luke 5:1-11).

The Sea of Galilee is actually a relatively small body of fresh water called a sea because of what the normally placid lake can become given the right conditions. It was explained to us that with the configuration of high mountains on either side, the tunneling wind whistles down from the north across the surface of the water and along with the crosswinds from the Mediterranean blowing past the Horns of Hattin on the west the waters become a churning sea. (Twelve foot waves not unheard of!) The incident in Mark 6:45-52, where a sudden and violent storm arose and just as quickly was calmed at the Master's command, is a classic example of this very phenomenon.
In the King James Version of the Bible the Sea of Galilee is known as "Chinnereth" (Numbers34:11; Joshua 12:3). The modern spelling is "Kinneret," which is taken from the Hebrew word Kinnor, meaning "lute" or "harp". The sea is roughly harp-shaped. In the New Testament it is sometimes called "Gennesaret" (Luke 5:1).

Even when we ate we always had a view of the Sea of Galilee.

Another view of the surrounding area.

The view out the front of the hotel - a glimpse of a Jewish cemetery.

"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." Matthew 4:23

Israel Study Tour

2011-05-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had the tremendous privilege and honor to once again travel with Precept Ministries on a trip of a lifetime. On this journey we traveled to Israel where, in many instances, we were following the steps of Jesus. We saw biblical archaeological sites that literally took us back to the time Jesus and to the patriarchs! And for me and many others we fell in love with the people and the land of Israel and when we left, a significant part of our hearts remained behind only to be reunited on that glorious day of Christ's return!

Travel Day

We left on Monday, May 10, from Houston Intercontinental and we made one stop in Newark, New Jersey, to change planes and from there preceded to Tel Aviv where we arrived on Tuesday, May 11, in the afternoon.

I would label the picture "Before" as in we are anxiously awaiting our flight to Newark.

This would be "Almost After" since this is the beginning of the second leg.

Now you might wonder why I would continue to take these unflattering closeup shots. Good question! I was surreptitiously taking the picture of the large Jewish man against the window. We had not even left the gate and he had already begun to snore and woke himself up!! BUT he was also the nicest man - as we were departing the plane in Tel Aviv he was pulling a bag on wheels down the aisle behind him. And I being funny said that I bet my bag could ride on his and even though I said I was kidding he stopped and took my bag. Though he had wanted to go to baggage claim for me, at the gate I insisted he give it back to me!

Eleven long hours later...

We made it!

The first look at some of the rest of our group! In fact, the four people in this camera shot are a lovely family from Tennessee. Their son, Alan, a strong Christian young man had such a dry wit he could have been a Hamblen.

And then I saw Larry and Carla from Cypress who had been to Greece with Tony and me so now I was really starting to feel comfortable.

OK, so there was no "After" picture taken but I think you know what that looked like. We are loaded on the bus and headed to Tiberius. On a side note Israel runs on military time - a slight adjustment for me on that and their monetary system operates on shekels!

"If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
Numbers 14:8-9

The Opportunity of a Lifetime

2011-05-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my sister and I will be boarding a flight to begin our journey to the Holy Land. It is a trip that I have always dreamed of and am so blessed to be wholeheartedly encouraged by my sweet husband and to once again be travelling with Kay Arthur and her Precept team!

Someone once said that 10 days in the Holy Land is like a semester in seminary! We will be on the ground for 12 days traveling through THE LAND OF THE BIBLE!!!!!!! Just typing that brings tears to my eyes and makes me so excited I can't get there fast enough!! I want to leave with this verse concerning God's beloved land of Israel...

"For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper." Deuteronomy 8:7-9

He is Risen!

2011-04-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

There is no greater gift for a parent on a Sunday morning than to sit together in worship with their adult children. Add to that a grand child in the nursery it truly makes your joy complete. It calls to mind the Sundays as a child that while we would be spending the weekend with my grandmother she was never upset that we were late to church on Sunday mornings. She would proudly walk her family down the aisle as the opening songs were being sung and as they were brought to a conclusion inevitably the pastor would take a moment to say, "Well, I see Mrs. Strawn has her family in for a visit. Welcome, we are glad to have you this morning"

This Easter was special as Tony and I were able to worship with Meagan, Jeremy, Sawyer, and Meagan's mom and her husband. It was a lovely service that spoke to what Christ's resurrection did for those who believe and it included wonderful old hymns that I had grown up singing! We always miss those who can't be with us at these special moments...

but we are always close in each others hearts. Josh sent us this picture with his Iphone just before his service started in Bentonville, Arkansas. He and Jamie were not physically with family today but from the moment the day started with the text "He is risen" they were close in in spirit and faith.

Of course, Jeremy quickly sent him this picture from his Iphone of the service we were in! My only regret was that I failed to get a picture of all of us together! I'm sure my mother and my grandmother would be quite disappointed to know that I would not have thought to get that traditional picture! And it would have been precious - Sawyer in his new outfit, Jeremy with his Easter tie, and Meagan looking beautiful with her lovely hair all put up in curls! Oh well, the picture in my minds eye turned out great and it is captured in my heart forever!! And I know Meagan got a picture of Sawyer that she'll share!!

"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:8-11

Happy 1st Birthday!!

2011-03-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

Because these two people fell in love and in time had this precious baby - we got to have a party this weekend!!

Saturday, March 26, Sawyer turned one and so on Friday we traveled to Austin for a great time! Josh and Jamie drove in late Friday night from Arkansas and on Saturday we went to Meagan and Jeremy's to celebrate! We had a beautifully planned and decorated party!!! Thanks, Meagan!!

What a gorgeous wreath Meagan made for the door!!

Sadly, I did not get a picture of the birthday cake for the adults but it arrived special delivery from Houston in the care of Sawyer's Mimi, prepared by R J Goody's bakery, so you know it was delicious!

Amongst all of the lovely decorations they had a slide show of Sawyer's first year in pictures playing on the television!

We had wonderful fellowship with family and friends!!

Aunt Amanda, Uncle Tyler, Geeps, Aunt Jamie

(There are not enough pics of Aunt Jamie because she is behind the camera! And I owe her a big thank you because most of these pictures are hers!! Love you, Jamie!)

Uncle Josh, Jeremy (Daddy), Michael

Lolly

Mimi

Uncle Josh

Mom and Dad's good friends, Emily and Justin!!

Aunt Amanda

Lolly and Dora

And what is all the paparazzi taking pictures of!!!!

We had cake!! One of us had a "smash cake"...

"Where's the cake?"

" What are Mom and Dad wishing for?!"

Does he have a target?

Who is he pointing at and who is about to get a fistful of cake...

The boy next door!! So he moved to his mom before Sawyer let go!

It was a joyous occasion!

We had presents!

(These were just a few that Sawyer opened that afternoon!)

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy" 1 Timothy 6:17

Words Worth Repeating

2011-03-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Does The Bible Contain Errors?

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

The first predicate adjective that describes Scripture, namely, its being inspired by God, focuses on the authority of His written Word. Theopneustos (inspired by God) literally means, “breathed out by God,” or simply, “God-breathed.” God sometimes breathed His words into the human writers to be recorded much as dictation. He said to Jeremiah: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” (Jer. 1:9). But, as clearly seen in Scripture itself, God’s divine truth more often flowed through the minds, souls, hearts, and emotions of His chosen human instruments. Yet, by whatever means, God divinely superintended the accurate recording of His divinely breathed truth by His divinely chosen men. In a supernatural way, He has provided His divine Word in human words that any person, even a child, can be led by His Holy Spirit to understand sufficiently to be saved.

It is of utmost importance to understand that it is Scripture that is inspired by God, not the men divinely chosen to record it. When speaking or writing apart from God’s revelation, their thoughts, wisdom, and understanding were human and fallible. They were not inspired in the sense that we commonly use that term of people with extraordinary artistic, literary, or musical genius. Nor were they inspired in the sense of being personal repositories of divine truth which they could dispense at will. Many human authors of Scripture penned other documents, but none of those writings exist today, and, even if discovered, they would not carry the weight of Scripture.

Many men who wrote Scripture, such as Moses and Paul, were highly trained in human knowledge and wisdom, but that learning was not the source of the divine truth they recorded. David was a highly gifted poet, and that gift doubtless is reflected in the beauty of his psalms, but it was not the source of the divine truths revealed in those psalms.

Scripture first of all and above all is from God and about God, His self-revelation to fallen mankind. From Genesis through Revelation, God reveals His truth, His character, His attributes, and His divine plan for the redemption of man, whom He made in His own image. He even foretells the eventual redemption of the rest of His creation, which “also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” and which “groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Rom. 8:21–22).

The Bible is not a collection of the wisdom and insights of men, even of godly men. It is God’s truth, His own Word in His own words. The psalmist declared, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven” (Ps. 119:89). God’s Word is divinely revealed to men on earth and divinely authenticated in heaven. Peter declares unequivocally, “Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:20–21).Those God-given, humanly recorded words became God’s written Word, inerrant and authoritative as originally given. Propheteia (“prophecy”) is not used here in the sense of prediction but in its basic and broader meaning of speaking forth, of proclaiming a message. It carries the same inclusive idea as “the oracles of God,” with which ancient Israel had the marvelous privilege of being entrusted (Rom. 3:2). “Interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20b) translates epilusis, which refers to something that is released, sent out, or sent forth. In this verse the Greek noun is a genitive of source, indicating origin. In other words, no message of Scripture was originated and sent forth by men’s own wisdom and will. Rather, the godly men through whom Scripture was revealed and recorded were divinely instructed and carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture is inspired and inerrant in both testaments. All Scripture refers to the New as well as to the Old Testament. The hieros grammata (“sacred writings”) were the Hebrew Scriptures (The Old Testament), which Timothy had been taught from childhood (v. 15). Graphe (Scripture), on the other hand, was commonly used in the early church not only of the Old Testament but also of God’s newly revealed Word, in what came to be called the New Testament.

Scripture is inspired and inerrant in its words. To deny that all of the Bible is inspired obviously is to deny that all of the words of Scripture are inspired. Just as obviously, such denial places man as judge over God’s Word, acknowledging as authentic and binding only those portions which correspond to one’s personal predispositions. Whether the human judgment about inspiration is made by a church council, church tradition, or individual preference, it is based on subjective, sin-tainted, and imperfect knowledge and understanding. When men decide for themselves what to recognize as true and worthwhile, as meaningful and relevant, they vitiate all authority of Scripture. Even when they concur with Scripture, the agreement is based on their own human wisdom.

Scripture is inspired and inerrant in everything it teaches and reports. Some scholars maintain that, because the Bible is not a textbook on such subjects as history, geography, and science, it is inerrant only when it speaks on spiritual and moral matters. But like those who claim to accept the underlying divine concepts and principles of Scripture but not its words, these interpreters also determine by their own resources what is divine and infallible and what is human and fallible. Again, man becomes the judge of Scripture.

~ John MacArthur

Happy First Day of Spring!

2011-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

"The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever."

Isaiah 40:8

Saturday and Sunday with Sawyer

2011-02-21T11:37:00.001-08:00

Saturday started with a happy baby and pancakes which he wanted no part of!

Why is Sawyer smiling? He just gave his piece of pancake to Mr. Darcy!!
And Mr. Darcy quickly returned to see if Sawyer had more to share! Sadly, Sawyer would not share his oatmeal and Tony would not share his pancakes. Such is a dog's life!

After a slow start to the morning, the Hamblen's decide a walk to the park was in order. You might take note that his hair was in fact blowing in the breeze!

"Yes, I'm a wild child!!"

"I hope they brought a brush for my hair there are some cute chicks out here in their jogging strollers!

"Higher, Pops, Higher!!"

"I had better hydrate if I'm going to catch up to those cute chicks in this cheap stroller!"

"Thinking of pretty girls, I need to call my Momma!"

"This night night kiss is for you Momma!"

"Sunday morning and I have a present!"

(We celebrated Valentine's a little late and Sawyer was having difficulty focusing on the present because Mr. Darcy was having a fit to open the present with him!)

Mr. Darcy couldn't be held back any longer!

"And there's a card!"

"I know I can do this!"

"I've got it!"

Doing a little light reading while waiting on Lolly! Sawyer is going to go visit his Mimi while Lolly and Pops teaches Sunday School. The fun train just keeps on rollin' for Sawyer!

You know you've had some fun when you have had to change your clothes! Ha! We are back from church and Sawyer is busy reading his books again.

In fact, Sawyer is reading his Bible to Lolly! I have read this book to him since he was just weeks old and now he turns the pages and just chatters away! Uncle Josh thinks Moses is his favorite story but I think Noah is!

See, Josh, I think that is the story of Noah he has stopped to tell me! I'm just sayin'...

And sadly our weekend has come to an end! A bottle for the road and we are headed to Austin. It is hard to say which one of us will be the saddest - me or Mr. Darcy!

"My Mom and Dad missed me so much they threw an impromptu party!! They broke out the bubbly!"

The kids did a good job of getting Sawyers play room all fixed up and it was fun to watch Sawyer as he saw it for the first time. And then when they started to blow bubbles he got soooooo excited! Jeremy and Meagan were glad to have Sawyer home and Sawyer may be to young to recognize it but his heart knows that there is no place like home!!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7

Weekend at Lolly and Pop's

2011-02-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

WARNING: Cuteness Alert!! Cuteness overdose is a concern and a possibility!

Jeremy and Meagan were sweet enough to allow Tony and me to pick up Sawyer Thursday afternoon and bring him to Houston for a weekend visit! Our time together in pictures follows:

What a wonderful traveler Sawyer is and it didn't even bother him that his Lolly was taking his picture while he slept. I know I'm prejudiced but he has such beautiful eyelashes! (Didn't get those from his Lolly!)

I am the happiest little boy in the world!! I have had my supper and Pops is bathing me and getting me ready for bed!

Lolly has got to get some tub toys! A plastic cup just doesn't cut it! (And if your wondering, that is not the paci Sawyer went to bed with! :-)
Friday morning after a good night's sleep and look what I've found - muffins anyone?!
Sawyer was sooooooooo tickled with himself this face turned into a giggle!! (This is his first time at Lolly and Pops that he has been this mobile and able to pull himself up!)
Uh-oooooh is that more cabinets over there...

Sure 'nuf! "Look Lolly, both hands!"
He was working hard! (As was I!)
It was time for a distraction!!!

"I am having so much fun Lolly has forgotten to put my clothes on!! Oh, boy!"
"My Mom and Dad drive through all the time and it's not so hard!!"
"What can I pick up from here?! Uh-ooh Lolly's on my trail! Foiled again!"
"What was it that Lolly said to me about smashed fingers?!
"Something's fishy about this. Lolly is letting me play here!"
"Why can't Mr. Darcy have it?!"

Partners in crime! One thing we learned this weekend was that if we told Mr. Darcy no that he could not have something like the little tupperware cup, Sawyer would pick it up and give it to him and look at me with that sweet little face in the picture!
Best friends or partners in crime!
Friday, Tony had to work in his office downstairs but when he came up for a break he and Sawyer had a free-for-all of rough-housing! So when it was time for Tony to go back to work I put my hands out to Sawyer for him to come to me and he (grinning) shook his head back and forth to say no!! Jeremy had told me that he had started this and they had seen it when he had had enough to eat he would shake his head no but this was our first experience with it and it was hilarious. And, of course, Tony loved it!
Sawyer taking his best friend for a walk...
which turned into a meet and greet! And Sawyer had the young redhead wrapped around his finger! She had been tickling his feet and so when she stopped he would meekly lift his foot in the air so she would do it again!
We ended the day with a "belly laugh" and you would think that I would have enough shame not to post this picture but since Sawyer is the only one showing his belly I thought it was good to see just how happy a grandson makes his Lolly!!

Stay tuned there is more cuteness to come!

"We love, because He first loved us." 1John 4:19

I See A...

2011-02-15T18:03:00.000-08:00

Hummingbird!

What do you see?

"Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy." 1 Timothy 6:17

Music is...

2011-02-12T16:58:00.000-08:00

what feelings sound like.

~Author Unkown

Remembering Mother On Her Birthday

2011-02-10T13:01:00.000-08:00

Today I stopped by the cemetery to place flowers on my parents grave in honor of my mother's birthday. It's not a long visit because I know that 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And my parents have been present with the Lord for some time because of the personal relationship they have with Jesus Christ but I like to take a moment out of life's routine to stop and honor their memory.

For me, Mother was a wonderful stay at home mom who took care of me when I was sick, cleaned my room when I didn't, taught me how to iron by making me iron sheets, loved me no matter what and prayed with me to accept Christ as my personal Savior.

For my Dad, she was the best bookkeeper he could have ever had, she was the visionary he wasn't, she was not only the best cook but the only cook he wanted serving him food, and she truly completed him.

For my sister, she was everything a mother should be and more and I won't try to speak for her.

For my husband, she was the mother-in-law he called "Mom" before we were ever engaged. Tony loved her and mom had a sense of fun that could take his teasing.

For her grandson, Josh, she made the best oatmeal and kept a chest of toys to play with. (Josh was five when she got sick.)

For her grandson, Jeremy, she did something he never knew about. As a grandmother, your love knows no bounds and you will fight for what you feel is right for your grandchildren. When Jeremy was two he was in the hospital and his Mimi called his pastor at home because he had not come to the hospital to visit her grandson. (Jeremy was three when she became ill.)

To her Lord and Savior she was a good and faithful servant who taught Sunday School for 32 years!

We miss you Momma and look forward to the day when we will all be together again! Happy Birthday!

"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

A Simple Message

2011-02-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

There has been a constant in my life and that has been the Graham family. I have always been able to look to the Graham's to be faithful to the simple message of the Gospel which is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their faithfulness to the simple message of the cross have brought millions to eternal life in Jesus Christ.

This morning I ran across a letter Franklin Graham wrote and I appreciate so much his faithfulness in writing it and his courage and commitment to stand firm in his calling to preach against sin that I wanted to include a vital portion of his letter here.

Too often in our day, people are not considered responsible for their own actions. Many in America have lost any real understanding of sin. We live in a society where killing, rape, and violence are part of our daily lives through movies, books, TV, and the Internet. Instead of wickedness and sin, we see entertainment. Instead of repentance, we shift responsibility. America accepts a nonstop stream of sin portrayed as entertainment, much of it delivered right into our homes, and when real-life wickedness interrupts, we watch with fascination instead of falling on our knees in prayer.

At the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, we are going to continue to preach against sin, calling it what it is, and we are going to continue to preach Jesus Christ who died on a cross for our sin. I’m not going to be politically correct. I’m not going to retreat. The Bible says, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,” and then it says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11–12). ~ Franklin Graham

May God continue to bless the Graham's and the work they do in bringing people to Christ.

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Words Worth Repeating

2011-01-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Last week in one of Kay Arthur's lecture's she asked the question, "Are you living without knowing Who God is?" And if we know Who God is, are we living according to Who He is? Are we living a life worthy of Who God is?

Revelation 4:11 "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created."

This song of praise comes from the four living creatures (lion, calf, face of man, eagle) who stand before God's throne and cry "Holy, holy, holy". Saying holy twice gives it emphasis but saying holy three times moves into the SUPERLATIVE. The lion is the king of the beasts. The ox/calf is a symbol of strength. The face of man is he who is above the other creatures, with the ability to communicate. The eagle is the majestic one, who when he is ready to die anchors himself on a rock and looks straight into the face of the sun until he dies.

Revelation 4:8 "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within: and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY , WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."

Is God Worthy? Those who have been closest to Him, who have been there from the beginning, cry out that God is "HOLY" or set apart, without taint, a Being of total and absolute perfection. "Holy" sums up all of the attributes of God. Those that hear every decree from the throne, who see how He rules and reigns , cry "Holy, holy, holy." Why? Because He is worthy.

Worthy means inherent value, the value that is within not because of what God has done but because of Who He is. God has INHERENT VALUE. His worth doesn't come from something apart from Himself.

Revelation 4:11 teaches that God is to receive glory, honor, and power. Glory (doxa)means to recognize, to have an opinion. So when we give God glory, it means that WE RECOGNIZE HIM FOR WHO HE IS. Honor (time) which means reverence, proper esteem. We revere God by FEARING HIM. Power (dunamis) means to be able or capable. He is capable of performing everything we see in the Word of God. Why is He capable? Because He has created all things. Nothing in life happens apart from God's intention/will/purpose. God is saying that we exist because He willed us to exist. And yes God willed the devil to exist but not the devil's choice to desire to be like God.

"Will" (thelema) comes from thelo which means "to will". The "-ma" on the end means the result of His will. It is NOT the result of demand but it is an expression of DESIRE, and expression of PLEASURE.

God wants you to know that HE HAS CREATED YOU FOR HIS PLEASURE, to bring Him joy. So when THELEMA is used of God, it indicated what God did of His good pleasure.

Colossians 1:15-16 "And He is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. (This does not mean Jesus was created but that He was there before creation.) For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him.

So why were you created? You were created for God, for His good pleasure. Are you living for His pleasure or for your own pleasure? Are you living according to Who He is? Are you living according to the fact that He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power?

~Kay Arthur

Happy Anniversary Meagan & Jeremy!

2010-12-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

What a wonderfully blessed 4 years it has been!!

A Prayer for Marriage by Kay Arthur

Father, whenever we communicate, help us to uphold the priority of our marriage, permitting no other relationship to weaken ours. May the word “divorce” never be formed on our tongue, never pronounced with our lips. May it never be considered as a viable option—for it strikes terror in the heart, fear and anger in the mind, and anxiety to our souls. And it grieves Your holy heart.

May we always, in all our conversations, uphold the oneness of our marriage, understanding that what affects one always affects the other.

May we allow open and honest communication, encourage vulnerability and authenticity. May we never be guilty of breaking each other’s spirit. Rather, may we affirm and strengthen one another so that together we can endure any weakness, any failure and not lose hope.

Father, help us to sharpen our communication skills. Teach us to communicate with our eyes—to convey our delight in the other’s presence, to say, “I love you,” to let our loved one know even in a crowded room, “You’re special to me.” Remind us to give each other the gift of our full attention when we talk.

Teach us to respond to what is said so that our mate knows he or she is being heard. Help us to keep a confidence, to build a wall of trust so that we are free to share all that is in our hearts. And as we listen, Lord, help us to avoid giving quick or pat answers. Help us to listen patiently. Remind us that our loved one does not always want advice. Sometimes we just want to be heard; to say it, and to get it off our chest.

Father, may we feel the freedom to open up and share our fears. Sometimes it is so difficult to admit weakness or fear, but we need to be able to talk to someone—and of all people, it should be our spouse. May we also know that we don’t always have to dispel each other’s fear—nor should we think we must have the cure. May we just learn to listen. . .listen and pray.

Father, we all need to have that sense of significance, of worth, of security, so teach us to continually look for ways, for words in private and in public, to build our loved one’s self-esteem. When one of us shares with the other, may we learn not to attack each other verbally. May the goal of all our conversations be for the building up of one another, the healing of one another, and the encouragement of one another so our loved one will want to talk, to communicate. May our words never be demeaning or destructive.

And finally, Father, when our tempers flare, may we make it a practice not to lay our heads on our pillows and close our eyes until we have resolved our anger. You tell us very clearly, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

As we look at the one lying on the pillow beside us, may we remember that this is the one to whom we made our vows to love in sickness and in heath, for richer or poorer, for better or worse until death do us part.

Help us realize, Father, that a marriage like the one we prayed for is a marriage that speaks to all the world of the power and indestructible joy of living in obedience to the Word of God. A marriage that demonstrates to the world that with You it is possible to have a marriage without regrets; a marriage that gives others a snapshot of the marriage of the Lamb and the heavenly home You have prepared for us.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32

Wonderful Christmas Reflections

2010-12-29T08:24:00.000-08:00

Through the years Christmas has grown and traditions have naturally changed. This year Christmas began with the Christmas Eve candlelight service at Second Baptist Church with Dr. Ed Young. This has been our tradition for the last few years and it is a lovely service that never disappoints. As things have changed it was just Tony, Pat, Dan and I - a small but intimate family gathering! The night was filled with the traditional carols of the seasons and was focused on the redemptive power of the life of this child born in a manger.

We were delightfully surprised by a solo of "O Holy Night" done by Mark Ballas (Dancing With The Stars) Thanks, Mark, for making this video of that performance available to us! It was amazing!!!

Christmas morning was spent with Tony, me and Mr. Darcy opening our presents to each other. I decided to include the above video of Mr. Darcy receiving his bag of toys. He loooooves toys and was focused on one in particular!!

Jeremy and Meagan spent Christmas Eve with her Mom, Step dad, Grandmomo, sister and brother and were going to come over sometime after breakfast depending on Sawyer's schedule.

Can you guess where Josh and Jamie were spending Christmas this year? If you said the North Pole, I wouldn't have blamed you but it is Minneapolis!

In that tissue somewhere is the best baby in the whole world!! And I can say that because it is 11:30 am and at 2:00 pm he needs to be at his "Geeps" (Meagan's dad's) to celebrate with his family and at 4:00 pm he is going to try to see his great grandmother and great grandfather at my sisters house!!!

Sawyer loves books!! His favorite is his Bible and my prayer is that it will always be!!!

Look at that baby still in his cute Christmas jammies!!

One of his other favorite things is music! He loves clapping hands to songs and so we got him some musical shakers!

Did I mention he is cutting some new teeth. What he is holding is a large puzzle piece that has a large wooden knob on it that fits perfectly in his mouth!!!

OK, it may not have been the most practical gift but it is a signed picture of Colt McCoy and it is a happy memory for the Hamblen family. We were all present (including Sawyer) to see Colt's last game as a Longhorn! (Yes, he got hurt and yes, we lost but still...)

This gift was from Auntie Jamie and Uncle Josh and was a big hit!! It was a shame they weren't here live to see it but Josh did call and we were able to "face time" with him.

A lot of our pictures were blurred due to the fact Sawyer was a boy in motion!!

It is 4:30 pm Christmas Day and we are at my sister's home for an early dinner and he is still smiling!!! His shirt says "Mommy's Best Gift"! Too cute!

Pat's home was beautifully decorated and she could have fed the neighborhood and it was delicious as always! Sadly, as I am going through my pictures I don't see any of my sister or her delicious feast! That is indicative of the fact she was always working and my cameraman was eating when the food was ready! ;-)

Sawyer brought in one of his Christmas gifts from "Geep" to show the girls. And he was so sweet to share as they all wanted to play with it!

Hannah shared her ball with Sawyer!

More toys to open from Hannah and Kate!!

It was nice to have Erin home for Christmas this year! Now, if we can only get Lucas to come in on the same day!!! (Sorry, Amy, I don't think Tony realized you would be in the line of fire from the flash!)

What a sweet family!!

Meemaw and I were helping Katie acclimate to her new picnic table!!

And as we all prepare to go home so the babies can make their bedtimes, Tony takes one of my favorite photographs of the day!! I know it was a hard day for a lot of people but memories captured like this are priceless.

Change has always been very hard for me but that is what life is - change! And I am sure next year's holidays will change again but the one thing that never changes is God's love for us! It is like the explanation of the Christmas tree that I give my Sunday School class. I tell them we use an evergreen tree for our Christmas tree because God's love is everlasting! How does He love us..

Isaiah 49:16 says He loves us so much He engraved our name on the palm of His hand.

Matthew 10:30 says He loves us so much He knows how many hairs are on the top of our head.

Psalm 56:8 says He loves us so much He saves our tears in a bottle.

Jeremiah 31:3 says He loves us with an everlasting love.

And most importantly...

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

God's holiness demanded that sin be paid for, and then God's love found a way!!

A Little Early Christmas...

2010-12-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

When you have your Christmas pj's on and you have been a good boy all year (OK, eight months) then it is quite alright to receive a present a little early!!!

Not quite sure what to think about Dino?

OK, I get it now! He lights up and makes music! YEA!!

Lolly, I'm on board with a little early Christmas!! ;-)

"For you are our glory and joy."

1 Thessalonians 2:20

Thanksgiving Vacation

2010-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

This year with the help of Jeremy and Meagan we decided to do something different for Thanksgiving. We rented a lovely home in the Texas Hill Country (sight unseen) and we're absolutely ecstatic with the results. I have included numerous pictures that are the product of two in-house photographers - Jamie and Jeremy! I hope they don't mind that I have procured their work for this blog! It was just too good not to share. And to say that we are blessed is putting it mildly!! (Allow me the opportunity for my usual disclaimer. The weekend before we left I was very ill and barely made it to Wimberley. So when you see me there is a reason that I look like death warmed over!)
The gate to the property. Let me just say that I am glad we didn't arrive after dark!

One of many art pieces the owners have on the property.

Just a peak of the house can be seen from this vantage point.

The kids all arrived before we did.

From the front of the house you couldn't see much but once you went inside you never wanted to leave!

This is a shot of the back of the house. They have seating on the upper level of the deck for 10 people which includes my favorite - the swing!! What a great place it was for me to recover!

This is a view from one level of the deck looking out over the pool. Of course, it was too cold to swim but not too cold for the hot tub. I was just too lazy to get in it!

The view was just spectacular and it was hard to get me to come inside!

This part of the deck held an outdoor dining table.

Another piece of art in the backyard.

And, of course, plenty of deer came to visit.

We had special family time!

We got to read our favorite book. I think it is funny that it is written by a "Beck".
(Meagan's maiden name!)

We had lots of happy times!

Sawyer was excited because he got to open his Christmas presents from Auntie Jamie and Uncle Josh!

Opening presents can be serious business!

Josh even got to open one of his!

And lucky me - another birthday!!!! Ya just can't have enough of those!

This was Meagan and Jeremy's night to cook and on the menu was Spaghetti, Cesar Salad, and Garlic Bread. Sadly, I still could not eat. But it smelled great.

Thanks Jamie for faithfully taking our pictures!

Now one of us got really spoiled on this trip!! Wonder who?!

We made fire!!!

You may wonder where are the marshmallows?! Everyone was full from dinner! You are going to see that there was never a shortage of food!!

There would have been a time when I would have never though this possible but Jeremy had a recipe he wanted to try for breakfast!! ( Jeremy was the pickiest eater as a child that you could ever imagine!!) And the above picture is the successful result of that recipe. It is a baked apple with a streussel filling with syrup.

It smelled wonderful and I still could not eat so Jeremy has promised that he will make it for me over Christmas!!! (AND I'm holding him to it!)

Look at those sweet boys cleaning up the kitchen!!!

Sawyer loved the Hill Country!

We played hard and laughed a lot!

I know I'm prejudiced but he's the cutest little lumberjack in the whole world!

I wasn't always sitting in the swing on the back porch. We went shopping and we went for walks!

And sometimes we took naps!

We experienced the Texas Fall!

And sometimes you had to look hard to find it!

Mr. Darcy decided he is a Hill Country dog. He loooooooved his time there!

He decided he belonged among the wildlife no matter what...

the locals thought!

Jamie and Josh cooked and cooked and cooked. They decided to have a Luby's night. So they brought their Luby's Cookbook and made Cheese steak (the boys Luby's favorite), mac and cheese, new potatoes, and a huge salad. AND, yes, there was leftovers! Additionally, Jamie made a Tres Leche cake! Jamie loves to cook!

Josh's plate. The salad plate had already been cleared!

A little Frisbee needed to be a lot of Frisbee with all the eating that was being done! :-o

It's Thanksgiving!! And we'll just let the pictures speak for themselves...

I am so glad my sister and brother-in-law could be here. There are some memories that only your sister can appreciate!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. After having been so sick, my beautiful daughters and sons stepped in and pulled it all together because Thanksgiving was my meal to prepare! I am so blessed!

On Saturday we all decided that our last meal together would be in town at The Leaning Pear.

It was a lovely end to a wonderful little family vaction. There is nothing better than making memories with the ones you love!

The sun sets on a very special time but soon it will rise on another and again we will wonder at how blessed we all are!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!" Psalm 150:6