Tuesday, September 8, 2009

On the road to Jerusalem - Sunday, August 30th

Mark:
Our morning started out with sense of anticipation of being together with 268 people who shared a common purpose on Sunday. We were headed to the shores of the sea of Gallilee in an area called Tabgha which is believed to have been where Jesus took 2 fish and 5 loaves and fed thousands. The open shoreline was inviting and again easy to imagine the multitude of people hiking and coming together to hear the teaching of Jesus. As a group we enjoyed a time of song and teaching from the passage in Luke 8 led by Mark Driscoll. It was a beautiful start to our day and can only be described as knowing that a living God cared so much for me that he would send a rescuer into a broken human history to establish a purpose for my life and yours – it’s all about Jesus.

We left these shorelines after one last view and headed for the historic city of Beth Shan, south of Gallilee and enroute to Jerusalem. The city in ruins held a deep history going back to the time of Saul and his brutal defeat against the Philistines where they posted the carcasses of he and his sons on the city walls. The Greeks occupied the city for 1,000 years before the Romans rebuilt and occupied. The remains of the Roman theater and the high tell where a former temple existed convey an active lifestyle that was attractive for many to visit and call home. This area would later become a city that the followers of Jesus would go as part of the Decapolis to spread the news of his redemption. Evidence of gathering places tell many stories of the life of the people here.




We pushed off for the highway and drove through the West Bank, the Judean desert, past Jericho and watched as the landscape became barren. For much of the ride we could see across the border to Jordan and began to experience how short the distances between cities and nations in this region. As our guide explained the complicated conflict among the Arabs, Palestinian and Israeli’s, it became apparent that the rooted history will not lead to peace in this day and age.
As we approached Jerusalem and climbed up to an altitude above 3,000 feet, the Bedouin nomads caught our eye as they managed their sheep, goats and camels in the wilderness. Our first view of Jerusalem came as we came to an elevated point and entered into Hebrew University overlooking “the city of peace”. With first impressions capturing how small a geography area contained so much diversity, tension and beauty. Our guide pointed out how over centuries and millenniums that the city had been built upon previous buildings and structures….time and time again.Checking into our hotel, we wondered what the next day would bring as we visited the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem…..

Hannah:
Sunday - Tabgha is the town where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish was performed. Here, we also listened to Mark Driscoll preach.

Later, we left for Jerusalem! It took us about two hours to get there, and on our way we past Jericho, and Samaria. To get there, we went through a lot of the dessert of Israel, which was an interesting side of the country to see. Along the way, we visited Beit She’an. Here Is where the ruins of an ancient city was found. It was wonderful to be able to see another ancient city found in the Bible.

Ben:
We woke up and got on the bus and put all of our stuff back inside the bus because we were going to Jerusalem. When we where looking for the bus it says what color bus. Someone put on top of that PARTY BUS because the tour guide calls the bus the party bus. While we where about to start driving a guy walked by the bus and read it and walked away. That is the new bus name. Then we drove about an hour and a half and went to a small town. It was really really hot even for us (since living in Florida). I started sweating. At one place (Beth Shan) in it was a bathroom for about 50 people and it was the same but bigger in Caesarea. Then we went to the place where they think that Jesus picked the disciples. There was a sunken ship over by there today. Mark Driscoll teached there about when Jesus was really tired and went to sleep on the boat while a storm was happening. (He said he was so tired the bottom of the boat looked like a good place to sleep). Then after he calmed the sea he probably went back to sleep. He taught it really well. Now we got to the hotel and are going to the pool and played volleyball again and did a relay race. My team won and daddy and Caleb’s team lost. Then we went upstairs and took a shower and went to dinner and now. That’s all I have because I don’t know the future.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Times in Gallilee

Mark –

Shortly after sunrise, we trekked out for a group teaching w/ Mark Driscoll nearby at a hilltop location believed to be where Jesus spoke the sermon on the mount. The drive took us nearby an active archeological dig (inaccessible to the public today) along the sea of Gallilee shoreline that is believed to be the home of Mary Magdalene. The beautiful bowl like scene on the hill and view of the calm sea in the morning made it easy to envision Jesus there with his disciples and other fishermen coming ashore, and people moving through the hillside from their remote towns all to hear Jesus layout the beatitudes found in Matt 5 – 7: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who love their enemies, etc.”. Mark Driscoll (http://www.marshillchurch.org/) spoke on the humanity and divinity of Jesus, highlighting how he would seek solitude when fatigued particularly after walking from town to town and after contending with the needs of his followers. From our experience in the area, the distances by foot were measured in number of days! We saw his fatigue as he fell asleep on the boat with his friends (Luke 8). At least on one occasion, Jesus would also hike up to Mt. Hermon (some 6000 feet!), perhaps sailing in a friends boat just to get away for recuperation. Meanwhile he possessed the power to command the wind and waves of the sea of Gallilee to stop when a storm brought the fear of death to his friends on the boat. In this act, he revealed his divinity and authenticated who he was before friends who lacked faith in him. An application to appreciate here is the appreciation that God became man to live among us as compared to the thinking that man becomes god.

We later sailed on the sea of Gallilee and enjoyed singing traditional Jewish songs. Following that we visited a museum featuring a first century fishing boat discovered in a dry season on the lake shore in 1986. For lunch, we enjoyed eating at Saint Peter’s Fish restaurant where would taste the local catch. Our day was not yet complete as we briefly visited Capernaum where Jesus would visit a number of times and the place of work for the fishermen that would become his disciples. We saw Peter’s mother in law’s home and an early synagogue that was used for worship in the first century and subsequently. Our day was capped off w/ watching some our new friends get baptized in the Jordan River.

What a great day! And when we think that it can’t get any better of an experience, we still have the next day to look forward where we will meet on the Gallilean shore where Jesus fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves for Sunday singing and some great teaching….stay tuned.

Hannah-

On Saturday, we went to the mount of beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, and preformed many miracles. Here, we heard Mark Driscoll preach, and then we visited the Catholic Church that was established there. Later, we went to Capernaum. This is where Jesus, Peter, and his mother-in-law lived for a certain amount of time. We took a little time here to tour the area, and then we got back on the bus to Tabgha. Tabgha is the town where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish was performed. Here, we also listened to Mark Driscoll preach. Last but not least, we went on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and got to see a 2,000 year old boat! The whole day was full of amazing sites to be able to see and experience.

Ben -

In the morning we went to the mountain of Beattitudes. And 5 minutes after we sat down this huge bee stung me and it hurt so bad so I pulled the bee of, of me and it stung me when I pulled it off. Now its just a big rash it really itches. Then later when we got back to the hotel we went to the pool and the rest of the bus went to the pool so then we played volleyball and they thought I was the best at it and of course I was the youngest playing and they asked me to serve most of the time playing that I mad 2 friends - Brendan and Ruth.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Arriving in the land of Israel - August 28/29th



Mark:
We have experienced quite a bit since our last update when we left Athens. We have not had convenient access to the internet (only 1 workstation available in Tiberius, Gallilee) and have been on a constant move. We are now in Jerusalem and where our remaining days of touring will be spent. In a nation that is comparable to the size of New Jersey, we quickly realized that the driving distances between our points of interest were relatively short (max 1 ½ hours) and there is much to see, touch, smell and hear. Here are some highlights from our time in Israel so far.

We arrived in Israel at a predawn hour and after breakfast and quickly paced through Tel Aviv enroute to Caesarea. Herod the Great rebuilt Caesarea in 21 BC with permission from the Romans. In so naming it, he honored Caesar Augustus and designed it with a massive harbor, castle, theater and hippodrome facing the Mediterrean Sea. Pontius Pilate later ruled from here during the time of Jesus as the Romans controlled Israel. The Romans enjoyed the competition of chariot racing in the hippodrome, but our imagination was filled with the many crashes that brought roars from the 20,000 spectators. This seaside town is where Paul would have sailed during his travels. It is also where Peter brought the good news of Jesus to a Roman centurion (Roman commander) named Cornelius found in Acts 10.

While the ruins filled our imagination with the life experiences of what many encountered in Caesarea, it was soon time to move on. We traveled to Mount Carmel and crossed the Jezreel Valley. The view was spectacular and gave us a perspective on Elijah and King Ahab’s encounter with the idolatrous folly of the prophets of Baal and their destruction (I Kings 18). Across this valley, you can see Nazareth (town where Jesus grew up), the international road and up into the Megiddo valley. Many other biblical accounts are recorded or referenced here among the lush olive three lined forest and fertile valley. Solemn to think that on this valley, John the revelator, has described the scene of what will be the battle of Armageddon.

We arrived at our hotel in Tiberius for the evening, resting on the edge of the Sea of Gallilee. The surrounding mountains have not moved and would have been the same view as what the fishermen of the early century would have enjoyed, as well as Jesus. More to come on the sea of Gallilee – a favorite….

Although this blog is brief, we look forward to sharing our full account with you all. Our days are packed and we are worn out when we get back to the hotel. Thus our blog encounters are sporadic… so keep your comments coming as we find them encouraging. I am sure that you will find the accounts from our family interesting and entertaining.

Hannah:
We went to the city of Caesarea today, which was so far, my favorite area of ruins. Here, we’ve learned of Chariot racing, The Romans love for blood, & the two items that the Romans created – the bikini and concrete. We also learned of the public toilets they used back in King Heorods day. They would have toilets lined up and both men and women would use the bathroom. What would they wipe with? Yep, you’ve guessed it: Their hands! Also, there would be a stream flowing right in front of them, and that’s where they would wash their hands. Caesarea was a fantastic place to be able to visit and see with our own eyes. Caesarea was definitely one of the highlights of this trip for me.
(sea of Galilee boat ride?)

Saturday, August 29th:

On Saturday, we went to the mount of beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, and preformed many miracles. Later, we went to Capernaum, where Jesus, Peter, and his mother-in-law lived for a certain amount of time.


Ben:

When we got on the plane I was really tired so I ate then went to sleep. Once the plane landed I was ready to get off. Then we waited for the bus leaders and drivers. Then we put our luggage in the bottom of the bus. (We went on the a different bus because our bus was not on at the air port so we took the blue ours is the purple. Then we went to breakfast and it was at A hotel (not the one we were staying at). It was really good! Then we left for the hotel that everyone was staying at the we took them and went on the purple bus. On the bus we drove to Caesarea and it was really cool! I learned that there they created concrete. So the king created a base out on the shore line and made a pool and a house on the farther side (by that water). And also they have a horse cart racing area and a lot of people played there and the prize is the blood that the people that died in the game. They died by the turn. If the driver was going to fast the cart will flip and the people that were sitting there will get some parts of the cart flying at them. At the entrance was a place where men will use the bathroom and its right in front of the other people. NASTY! You wipe your hands with your left hand because you shake with your right. The sink was underneath your feet and it runs down the front of all of the toilet. (I hope no one put there hands in when the other persons poop hand was in it and the poop will go on your hands then you will really need to wash your hands) NASTY EH?