Nina's Notes - Tuesday, January 31 Time doesn't seem to matter these days as we travel and explore. The office and my regular routine seem to have faded into the distance as I walk, and reflect, and share community in this space. When I realize this has happened I have to tell myself that it is ok as I am here as a pilgrim. I am wandering in a different time, a different country, and seeking to find God in new ways in the midst of it all. As I am exploring this new landscape I could be skeptical and question every site we visit - how do they REALLY know that this is where Jesus broke and shared the loaves and fishes, how do they REALLY know this is where they lowered the paralytic through the roof so that Jesus could heal him? Granted, there is room for speculation on some of this, but I have made peace that even if it is not the exact spot where an event occurred, it is certainly in the area and lessons can be gleaned from being there. It is also interesting to see what scenery surrounding the parables and stories of Jesus come close to matching the images I have carried in my mind's eye for all these years. Some are pretty close and others seem pretty off target. In terms of landscape, it continues to amaze me how rocky the hillsides are. I try to imagine what it would have been like for a family to arrive in a new village and have to build a house from rocks as there are few trees. It also amazes me to see the massive and intricate synagogues they built from stone. I can't imagine the technology of erecting the massive columns at the city gates or in the synagogues, but as one of my colleagues reminded me, the pyramids were built 3,500 years prior to that! We also saw a water system that was built during the reign of Ahab. The system was constructed to ensure there was water for the city during times of siege. It is incredible to consider the engineering and ingenuity that went into the construction of this water system. I am realizing more fully the role that foreign gods played in this area as well. We went to what used to be Caesarea Philippi today. In this city stood 6 temples or courtyards - one next to the other! There was the Temple of Augustus, Zeus, Pan, and others. We stood in the courtyard and read Matthew16:13-20, where Jesus asks Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" That whole passage made so much more sense standing there in the shadow of what used to be the temples of the gods. Tonight in our discussion group we wrestled with our own version of the question, "Who do you say that I am? " and had some good time for reflection and discussion. The answer to that question continues to change and deepen as I grow older and as my faith matures. Walking in this place is helping me to once again wrestle with that question in new and life giving ways. I will leave you with that question to ponder as well, and will look forward to discussing the answers with you. Peace!

I don't think I blogged yesterday, so I'll make up for it today.  Yesterday was a good day.  We took a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  It was really good to be on a boat and to look back on land and see all the places we have been from that vantage point.  From way out it seems like each spot is really far removed from the next spot, but as we got closer to shore the reality of the distance between each site became clear.  They really are not far from each other.  After the boat ride we went to a museum to see a 1st century boat excavated in the late 1980's.  It was again amazing to be in the presence of something so old.  And the story of how it was found and recovered is amazing.
Today we went to the Golan Heights.  We saw a waterfall that was beautiful (Banias).  Afterward we went to Caesarea Philippi.  Wow.  What a place.  And what a perfect backdrop for the story of Jesus asking the disciples "who do you say I am".  There in the midst of many gods, Jesus asks his disciples who they say he is.  After being there we got to make an unexpected stop at Tel Hazor.  Tel Hazor is a site that dates back to 10th century BCE.  Tel Hazor is a Caananite city.  The Israelites came to inhabit the city and had quite a rich history there until they were eventually conquered.  But to be there and to recognize the huge amount of time that has passed since then is just hard to express in words.  To be standing where we know for sure people were standing and living and working 3000 years ago is mind-blowing.  After Tel Hazor we went to lunch and enjoyed falafels again.  What a treat!  I love the food here.  It is all so fresh and good for you (for the most part).
Now a quick word about the spiritual dimension of this trip.  I wrote a little bit on facebook, but since some of you from Fourth Presbyterian don't have facebook, I want to share with you how I've been effected spiritually (or at least the surprise I didn't expect to find).  As we prepared for this trip I knew that I would be experiencing some really cool things, but in my mind i guess I was thinking of it one way and now that I'm here I'm experiencing it in a different way (and that 's good).  So much of where my mind goes when I'm reading scripture is to a place that is Tom's thoughts on where Jesus was and where he was doing ministry.  That place, I'm discovering, is often overly concerned with Jesus' divinity.  I don't even mean to do it.  It just that when you read scripture all your life and people have told you it is "sacred and holy" and you have treated it as "sacred and holy" my mind leads me to a person who is "sacred and holy".  Now, I think Jesus was holy, don't get me wrong, but that is not what is so striking about being here.  What is striking, as others in my group have also commented, is Jesus' humanity.  Jesus was real person; a wise person; a clever strategist; a man with plans and ways to make those plans become reality.  I guess I've always consider Jesus to have simply followed a plan God set out, but he clearly had plans and strategies that he followed that now (to me here) seem so human.  And sharply human.  I mean, he didn't just roam aimlessly around and hope that his message took hold somehow.  He made sure by his methods that the message did get out.  because of all that, I'm struck spiritually while we're here by Jesus' humanity and his humanity seems so holy and sacred to me.  That being the case, our own humanity must surely be holy and sacred too.  Many of us spend a lifetime trying to be like Jesus, and I think that's admirable, but I think Jesus spent a lifetime being fully Jesus and that we should spend a lifetime being fully who we are.  Jesus was obedient to God's plan for his life, and that is, in my mind, how we should spend our lives, living the life God gave us to live.  To experience Jesus in our humanity is a good thing.  No need to talk it to death when we can live it for life.
To my friends back at Fourth Presbyterian reading this, blessings to you.  I hope all is well with you and that you are finding Jesus in your life - the one God gave you to live fully.
Till next time, Tom.

Day 5 January 31, 2012

My iPad has converted to Hebrew --not the keyboard but all the commands. It makes writing this blog interesting because even though it is writing in English it is writing from right to left. Today we travelled to the Golan Heights and went to Baniass which used to be called Caesarea Philippi --now its familiar right? We went to the site where it is reasoned that Jesus asked Peter "Who do you say that I am?" While most of these sites are not known to positively be the place where certain Biblical events took place research over the years gives plausible reasons for choosing the sites. Caesarea Philippi was a place where archaeologists have found the ruins of at least 20 temples dedicated to other gods. It makes sense that Jesus would ask Peter this all important question in this location -- in the face of competing gods. This is also the place where many springs come together and the Jordan River is formed. Many of us grabbed empty water bottles and collected our Jordan River water. I went back to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. It's a quick walk from our hotel and it's a wonderful little chapel. I lit candles and prayed for friends and family. We gather at 5:45 for sort of debriefing and then 15 minutes of prayer and worship. Today our leaders asked us to consider how we answer the question "Who do you say that I am?" I hear the familiar answer "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior" echo in my head and I find that to be still true --and so much more. So much more.

Trisha's Thoughts

I am very excited and happy to be leading this good group of pastors. Like Jennifer, I have another blog, so I am cross-posting with pictures. My journeys began on Jan 5 and will continue to Feb 21. Here is my blog, with a first post on Capernaum: www.bibleinonehand.org.

Here is one picture from that blog, a group photo. One person was missing, but we will do this again a couple more times. 

Nina's Notes - Monday, January 30 Today has been cold and rainy but it held off until we finished our expeditions this morning. We started the morning by going to Bethsaida which is located of the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. The name Bethsaida means "House of the Fisherman" and Peter, Andrew and Phillip were believed to have been from this town. Recent excavation in the city has unearthed portions of a massive wall that surrounded the city, and we were able to see a portion of the gate and the road leading to the entrance of the city. You can also see a portion of the structure that was a residence and also the winemaker's house. These structures were from the 1st century After we left Bethsaida we headed to the Sea of Galilee where we took a boat ride across the sea. It was a little windy and choppy on the sea, but none of us got sea sick. We were able to discern how close the cities where Jesus ministered and spread the good news are to one another. Next we visited a museum that holds a boat dating back to the time of the disciples that was discovered. The boat is made of 11 different kinds of wood. In the picture you see the steel frame holding up the remains of the wooden boat. We stopped for lunch at a roadside place and ate falafels that were yummy! Then the rain started as we were headed back for rest and reflection.

Linking up

I'm still posting every day over on my regular blog. It's been too hard to cross-post over here, since all the blogger directions show up in Hebrew! You can find my reflections (and pictures) here:

Day Two, Part I: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-tabgha/

Day Two, Part II: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-primacy-of-peter-and-capernaum/

Day Three: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/day-three-mountaintops-and-valley-cold/

Day Four: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/day-four-exploration-and-adventure/

I'm enjoying reading all these reflections from my colleagues--this is an amazing experience!

Day 3 January 30, 2012

Monday morning--a very unique Monday morning as we gathered for devotions at 7:30 and then had breakfast. On the bus by 8:30 which is the "standard" schedule for now. We headed to the boat dock near the Israeli National Museum. However we had a little extra time so we stopped at Bethsaida which is a fairl new archaeological dig being handled in the summers by many US college students. Everything here is made out of rocks. Now many of the rocks have holes in them because they were affected by volcanoes centuries ago. At Bethsaida they have uncovered an area that is clearly the gates of the city. It was quite remarkable. Our guide also reminded us that the digger had only gone back to the firs centur time of Jesus. Underneath would be relics of Old Testament times. Bethsaida is the place to which Absalom went when he was banished by King David. The boat ride was a bit choppy. The skies have been disappointingly gray --only a bit of sun late in the afternoon yesterday. However,our tour guide, Clodia says they need the rain desperately so everyone is being a good sport about it. This afternoon is a steady rain so we stayed in and napped and read.thats part of the delight of this trip --we have lots of down time. Although our leaders tell us some demanding days are coming up. After the boat ride we went into the museum to see the remnants of a first century fishing boat found by amateur archaeologists in 1996. On the boat we got to see many of the sites we have visited along the coast so it gave us a great perspective. We also read the stories from Matthew and Mark about storms on the sea while riding on the boat and we sang a few of the simple Hebrew songs we have learned as a grop. It continues to be difficult to get my mind around this experience. It feels too big to hold all at once. The sense of blessing is gift to my spirit. That much I know.

Jimmy - 2nd post

What an incredible experience this is..., thank you, Jesus!  Wow. Peaceful.  Restful. Connectedness. Awesome. Holy.  These are some of the words that me and my colleagues are using when we regroup to summarize our day.  Perhaps, the most insightful perspective (to me) that expresses the wonder of being here is what a minister said who co-pastors a church with his wife in Frankfort, Ky.  You know how we're regularly asking God to come into our experiences, our home, etc., he described this as God inviting us to His home!  People have been making pilgrimages to Jerusalem for thousands of years, before and after Jesus' ministry.  You might remember when Jesus' parents 'lost' Jesus when they were traveling back home to Nazareth after their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Our tour guides, leaders and the Cousins Foundation have wonderfully prepared us for this journey.  Included in our guide materials are anecdotal evidence and written experiences of those who have travelled many, many years before.  Over the centuries, this land has been fought over and controlled by different countries and pilgrims needed to take precautions when traveling.   In the 14th century, when the land was ruled by the Ottomans, a German Dominican who conducted tours negotiated rules & responsibilities to be followed by the captain and the pilgrims.   I've listed a few. Captain: * The captain shall be bound to provide the pilgrims with a sufficiency of good bread and biscuit, good wine and sweet water, freshly put onboard with meat, eggs, and other eatables of the same sort.  * The captain shall properly provide a galley with experienced mariners, and shall have on board a sufficient armament for defense of the galley from attacks of pirates and enemies.  Pilgrims:  * Let the pilgrim beware of chipping off fragments of the holy Sepulchre, and from the buildings at other places and spoiling the hewn stone.  * Should any woman beckon to a pilgrim or invite him by signs to enter a house, let him in no account do so, because the woman does this treacherously at the instigation of some man, in order that the Christian when he enters may be robbed, and perhaps slain.  Those who are not careful in these matters incur great danger.  * Let no Christian have money dealings with a Saracen except is such sort that he knows he cannot be cheated; for they strive to cheat us.   I am humbled when I think of the conveniences I'm experiencing on this pilgrimage.  Make no mistake, my sponsors are paying top dollar for this enriching experience and I am grateful.  Over the centuries people have risked life and limb to make this pilgrimage.   Some have died on the way.  I feel an obligation to honor my pilgrimage on behalf of those who never made it here and for those who want to come, but never will.  Our visits have taken us to many historic and holy sites.  I especially liked Capernaum ( Kefar Nahum..the village of Nahum...no one knows who this Nahum was).   This is where Jesus came when he left Nazareth and called  many of the Disciples, Peter, Matthew, James and John.  My favorites shrine is the place regarded as Peter's home.   I've told & heard the story of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law many times.  It was fascinating to see the actual remains of that home.  The terrain is very, very rocky and mountainous.  I believe Jesus had to have been physically fit to walk up and down these hills all the time.  Well, be blessed.  I am.   Jimmy

Day two was as meaningful and spiritual as day one and we had a lot of fun too.  The day began with a trip to worship at the location of a site honoring Jesus' sermon on the mount.  We had a communion service that was very moving.  We had the sermon on the mount read by a number of folks in the group.  That was very powerful.  We then had a chance to look around before heading to Chorazim.  I thought the ruins in Chorazim were remarkable.  There were two or three house ruins that were in tact enough to get a real sense of how the folks in the 1st century lived.  After Chorazim we went to Arbel and had an incredibly scenic view of the Galilee.  You can see so much from Arbel and it gave a real good overview of the area.  Lunch in Tiberius was next and the food was as good as the company.  Our group is really great and I'm blessed to be able to be a pilgrim with all of them.  When we finished lunch we returned to Pilgerhaus and some of us decided to take a swim in the Sea of Galilee.  It was a tepid 54 degrees (brrrrr). Loads of fun being in the water and acting like kids.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow when we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
I'll stop writing now as I'd like to try to post a picture.  This may take some time to figure out, so I'll end.
Blessing to you!

Nina's Notes

This is the second attempt at this today - I am still learning!!! Today has been an incredible journey as our first stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes. I expected us to be just sitting on the hillside but it was very different. The area has beautiful grounds and gardens and we met under a canopy of trees in an outdoor chapel. We gathered and read the entire Sermon on the Mount followed by communion. It was a moving experience as we worshipped together. It was easy to imagine Jesus being there speaking those words with the Sea of Galilee in the background. There is also a church on the grounds that is beautiful and I spent time there praying for my family and my church family. Next we loaded the bus and headed to Chorazin where we saw the ruins of that village. We read the scripture in Matthew 11:20-30 about this village and their rejection of Jesus while standing in the ruins of the synagogue. It was powerful! We had time to then wander through what had been the homes of that village. See some of those pictures on Facebook. The last stop of the day was the Mount of Arbel. We climbeed to the top and saw a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and all the villages surrounding it. The area is very hilly and rocky and the face of the mountain has several caves. Since I am a gardener I always look at the foliage in new areas I visit. Since Israel is approaching spring there are many things that are coming into bloom. The almond trees are starting to get leaves, we have seen oranges, lemons, and plenty of olive trees although they are not blooming. Also many banana trees and mango trees. You see all sorts of flowers in bloom such as bright red poppies dotting the countryside. It is a blessing to be here at this time of year when all is green and preparing to bloom rather than in the summer when it is very hot and dusty. It rains from November to March and then is dry the remainder of the year. There are many irrigation systems that help keep the flowers alive in the summer. For lunch today we went to an Iraqi Jewish restaurant. We had a pita of sorts with chicken or beef that was very tasty! We also had an adventure getting the bus turned around - although all turned out well. I feel very blessed to be here and to see such incredible sights. If I were to have to go home today, I would have many experiences to treasure. Yet, it is only day three and much more to look forward to seeing. I am so thankful for this opportunity - it is a gift that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Peace to you all, Nina

It is Sunday evening and we have had a very full day.  i apologize for not writing more but all of my instructions   are in Hebrew .  Today we began  our travels with worship on the Mountof Beatitudes. We conducted our own Service with Jennifer as our Worship Leader. Most of us read aloud The Sermon on the Mount  and gave Holy Communion to one another. No one knows the exact spot on this mountain but all {Jews Christians and Muslims }agree that it was this this one.  The experience was so moving.  Just thinking of the number of times I have preached from this Serom and now to to hear the words being spoken from the very place where Jesus spoke them! Next we Karazim [Hebrew] spelling - a place that was cursed by Jesus  y

Day 3 January 29, 2012

Another amazing day. We started at the Mount of the Beatitudes where we gathered under some trees on granite benches listened to the Sermon on the Mount and then celebrated communion. Today was the Feast of the Beatitudes so they were setting up for a special mass at 11am. We left as the crowds were gathering. Great cuppacino served at the little concession stand there. Cost was 12 shekels which is around 3.50. Gas is about 8.00 a gallon. We also saw the ruins of Chorizin, the town which Jesis cursed in Matthew 11:21. We begin and end each day with some type of worship and I have this wonderful feeling of being bathed in my faith tradition. I'm not sure I feel closer to God but I know I feel farther from the cares of the world so perhaps that is being closer to God. Speaking of being bathed --5 members of our group took a brief dip in the Sea of Galilee. The water temp is about 54 degrees and the air temp is 61 degrees and overcast!!

My first full day in Israel, like others who have posted I'm sure, has been remarkable to say the least.  We began the day by going to Tabgha, (which means Seven Springs) and is the traditional site of the multiplication of the loaves and fish.  Amazing to be there and awe-inspiring.  Just the thought of being so near where Jesus walked and taught and did ministry is overwhelming and truly spiritual. In our time for worship this evening we were asked to speak one word that might describe what we experienced (at least in part) and after thinking for a while I came up with "connected."  I feel connected to the stories (as they were read at the locations we visited) and connected to the land and the ministry of Jesus and to the mission of Jesus in a way I've not experienced ever before.  Just the thought that as the scriptures were read from the Bible that we were in the location where the story took place made me feel so much more a part of it.
After seeing the location of the loaves and fish story we went to the Primacy of Peter.  Here, one of the members of our group read from scripture the story in which Jesus tells Peter 3 times to "feed my sheep."  Again, truly awe-inspiring.   We then went down to the Sea of Galilee and again, the emotion of being near (and in a little) such a biblically prominent body of water was a moving experience.  I knew when I left (mentally) that it would be moving, but I didn't know how much.
We left that location and moved on to Capernaum.  Wow!  I mean Wow!  I was blown away here.  At Capernaum we all were intrigued by the information we received and again deeply effected by the location itself.  While there we learned that Peter lived in Capernaum (we knew that part) and that Peter and Capernaum were strategic choices for Jesus.  All around were small towns of little influence and the one most likely to be of help to Jesus' ministry was Capernaum.  And Peter, whom I have always thought was probably pretty poor, was a person of both means and influence.  A pretty wise choice for a companion to Jesus in ministry.  Capernaum, too, was a town passed by many travelers.  So when "word of Jesus spread" it did so because so many people travelled by Capernaum and would then carry the . stories to the locations they were traveling to.  I found that fascinatin
 In Capernaum we were able to see the house of Peter, the 1st century ruins and the Synagogue built after Jesus but on top of the synagogue he would have taught in.  Amazing.
I'll end by saying that there is little I can say that can capture the power of this incredible place.  We've hardly been here and already I have seen and experienced more than I thought I would.  I mean, I knew it would be good, but I didn't know what good meant.  This has been truly moving and I look forward to sharing more.  Now if I can just get this to post.  My blog page is in Hebrew and I'm not sure what button to push.
Peace to all of you at Fourth Presbyterian and thank you for your continued prayers.
P.S. I've posted pictures on facebook so if you are a friend of mine on facebook you'll see photos.  I may try to send some via churchwide email, but I don't want to send so many that it bogs down your computer trying to receive them.

Thoughts about Tabgha

Again, I posted over on my blog, but I'm linking here to share with the group (and all you folks at home following our trip!)

http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/day-two-tabgha/

Jennifer M-K

Nina's Notes

This is the second attempt at this today - I am still learning!!! Today has been an incredible journey as our first stop was at the Mount of Beatitudes. I expected us to be just sitting on the hillside but it was very different. The area has beautiful grounds and gardens and we met under a canopy of trees in an outdoor chapel. We gathered and read the entire Sermon on the Mount followed by communion. It was a moving experience as we worshipped together. It was easy to imagine Jesus being there speaking those words with the Sea of Galilee in the background. There is also a church on the grounds that is beautiful and I spent time there praying for my family and my church family. Next we loaded the bus and headed to Chorazin where we saw the ruins of that village. We read the scripture in Matthew 11:20-30 about this village and their rejection of Jesus while standing in the ruins of the synagogue. It was powerful! We had time to then wander through what had been the homes of that village. See some of those pictures on Facebook. The last stop of the day was the Mount of Arbel. We climbeed to the top and saw a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and all the villages surrounding it. The area is very hilly and rocky and the face of the mountain has several caves. Since I am a gardener I always look at the foliage in new areas I visit. Since Israel is approaching spring there are many things that are coming into bloom. The almond trees are starting to get leaves, we have seen oranges, lemons, and plenty of olive trees although they are not blooming. Also many banana trees and mango trees. You see all sorts of flowers in bloom such as bright red poppies dotting the countryside. It is a blessing to be here at this time of year when all is green and preparing to bloom rather than in the summer when it is very hot and dusty. It rains from November to March and then is dry the remainder of the year. There are many irrigation systems that help keep the flowers alive in the summer. For lunch today we went to an Iraqi Jewish restaurant. We had a pita of sorts with chicken or beef that was very tasty! We also had an adventure getting the bus turned around - although all turned out well. I feel very blessed to be here and to see such incredible sights. If I were to have to go home today, I would have many experiences to treasure. Yet, it is only day three and much more to look forward to seeing. I am so thankful for this opportunity - it is a gift that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Peace to you all, Nina

1st pilgrimage

Hi to everyone

We are staying on the Sea  of Galilee  at Pilerhaus Retreat Ceenter. Very beautiful place.  The rooms are actually American sizes but we  should enjoy because  they will be much smaller when we getto Jerusalem.  Today we visited several churches, all owned by the Catholic Church  The first was the church of multiplication and loves and fishes inh
Tomorrow I will attempt to load a few pictures

January 28,2012

This is my attempt to blog from Pilgerhaus in Tabgha. Tabgha means seven springs so this is literally the place of seven springs. Today we visited the church of loaves and fishes which is thought to be the place where Jesus fed the 5000. From there we went on to see the church that is built on the site where Jesus cooked breakfast for his disciples after the resurrection. Then on to cahpernaum and they do spell it with an "h". There we saw the ruins of a synagogue and the ruins of Peter's home where Jesus often stayed and where he healed Peter's mother-in-law. At each site one of us read a scripture that was relevant to the site. I read the feeding of the 5000 outside the church in Tabgha. My room overlooks the Sea of Galilee. This whole experience is so amazing. Tomorrow we will worship at the Mount of the Beatitudes. I'm going to try to post a picture of my lunch but this is all new to me!! Ok! Sorry but I can't get the picture thing yet!!

Day One

My name is Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, and I am writing about this journey over at my regular blog, http://forthesomeday.wordpress.com. Because our internet connection here is a bit slow, I'm not able to repost directly here very easily. So, I invite you to click here for my reflections on the journey from Louisville to the Galilee: http://forthesomedaybook.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/pilgrimage-day-one/

Jimmy's First Day

I still pinch myself at this incredible trip of a lifetime!  I am blessed far beyond my deserving (in this trip, as in everything else in my life).   Since this is my first blog, I'm excited about what I'll say first. Ha! My plane flight was very good. From Louisville to Newark and then from Newark to Tel Aviv.  The Tel Aviv ride was expectedly long, but unexpectedly uncomfortable.  The plane was incredibly huge...biggest plane I've ever flown in.    Because it's designed for this type of trans-Atlantic travel, I assumed they made sure every seat was spacious for long journey's such as this.  It was a 777 Boeing jet with three sets of three seats in each row in the area for the  "common people".  I was crammed in a middle seat, in a set of three on the right side of the plane.  For the 10 & 1/2 hour flight I got some sleep...about an hour of uncomfortable sleep on three occasions.  My intention is not to gripe at all, but to let you know and to remind myself of what I'll be looking forward to on my "12" hour flight back home (that flight will be longer because we'll be flying against the wind).   I did enjoy the comfort of having nearly 200 movies and television shows available to me on a screen on the back of a chair in front of me.  In addition, there were video games and music I could enjoy.  Of course, the regular first class and business first class flew in luxurious seats that could stretch out in what looked like a cradles.  Who wants to bet I'm finding myself in an upgraded seat on my way back? The Israeli airport is very beautiful.  Aside from the airport instructions and commercial advertisement written in Hebrew, it looked like any major American airport.  Our bus tour guide later told us that this airport is the only international airport in Israel.  This is due to the region in Palestine being very mountainous, but Tel Aviv is the flattest land available in Israel.   Also, security has a lot to do with it to...one way in, one way out.  After landing, securing luggage and converting some currency, I moved through the customs security gate and boarded our tour bus along with my group.  We took our 3-hour bus ride through Palestine to the Pilgerhaus Tabgha hotel and drove by many sites that we'll cme back to later during our tour.  In future blogs I'll write more about my site visits.  When we got to the hotel it was dark. I spent most of Friday in the air and on a bus.  Upon arriving, the first impression that got my attention was the smell of the sea.   My hotel is literally beside the  Sea of Galilee and I can look out my patio door and view it. Jesus spent a lot of time around this sea.  It's a very modern hotel and the people are very kind and attentive.  There is a 7-hour time difference between my home and Israel. It will take me a couple of days to adjust. I'm starting this blog report at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning and it's 8:00 p.m. Friday where my daughter, April and her team are  playing a basketball game in a prestigious tournament, the Louisville Invitational Tournament.   Some people know that I have some significant food allergies and I need to be especially careful here.  I forgot my Benadryl at home so I'll have to employ an additional level of scrutiny on my food selections.  Dinner looked and tasted delicious.  With my meal, I ordered a bottle of Sprite ($12 shekels...less than $4 U.S. dollars).  As I took my first swig of the soda, I thought it tasted weird.  Although it had a good 'fizz', it might have been old and settled.  A member of my group told me that it was a kosher Sprite.  He explained that it will taste kind of like syrup because it's made with real sugar and other ingredients unlike the artificial stuff we consume in the U.S.  Ok, really?! Well, off to bed soon.  I've checked in with family and they know I'm good. I look forward to encountering the sense of holiness in this historic and storied land.  It's very exciting.  Coming to the hotel earlier today, as we passed by Mt. Meggido (or Armageddon...I'll explain later).  I remember reading that this is where OT Israel's King Josiah was killed in battle many centuries ago.  Over time, I suspect EVERY inch of this land has seen the death of someone, by one way or another.  It is, indeed, hallowed ground.  I pray that the God of tender Mercy and unquenchable Grace will bless me to be revived.  Jimmy

Getting Ready

I bought really comfortable new shoes today and a "converter" for the electric. I also got a perm yesterday so I have very curly hair, but I won't have to pack a blow dryer!!

Together in Henryville, Louisville, and the Galilee

Our group of twenty-two first met at a three-day retreat in Henryville, Indiana, last October, where we learned one another's names, and worshipped, learned, discussed, ate, prayed, and played together. We met again in Louisville in December and January, and on January 26 we will depart via Newark to meet in Tel Aviv. From there we will drive to Pilgerhaus on the Sea of Galilee for our first week.