HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Wednesday-- 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Will update blog when I return to the states but here are some pictures from today.

From Holy Land Tour Day 9 2 18 09

Drive to Yad Vashem, memorial to the six million Jewish martyrs of World War Two.

Visit the Museum and walk along the Street of the Righteous, dedicated to the non-Jews who risked their lives during the Holocaust.

Lunch enroute.

Drive to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book.

Also visit the Scale Model of the Old City during the Second Temple Period.

Holy Communion at the Garden Tomb.

This evening prepare for your farewell dinner & departure to airport(B,L,D)

From Holy Land Tour Day 9 2 18 09

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Tuesday-- 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 8 2 17 09

Today we drove out of Jerusalem and down to the Dead Sea area ( the lowest place on earth).
Along the way we drove past Bethany where the the House of Mary and Martha and the Tomb of Lazarus is.

We drove past at 1300 feet below sea-level, Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world.

Our first visit of the day was the Fortress of Massada, the last stronghold of the Zealots in the war against the Romans. We took a tram to the top and then walked around the remains of the village. It was an amazing place. Herod built a house there and WOW-plaster walls, frescoes and swimming pools. How they captures and stores water was very interesting.

We continued to the Oasis of Ein Gedi for lunch. This was the place that David went to aviod capture. The water falls were spectacular.

The next big stop as the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Once again the use of water for ritual baths was just mind boggling in the desert.

The final stop of the day we at the Dead Sea. We went floating in the Dead Sea. It was an amazing experience. You felt like a cork as you really floated on top of the water. At over 30% salt--it was even hard to stand up.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Monday-- 2009

Monday, February 16, 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 7 2 16 09

Our morning began with a breakfast and then on the bus at 7:45 for a short ride across town for a lecture with Fr. Jerome Murphy O’Connor at the Ecole Biblique. He wrote a book published by Oxford press called; The Holy Land. He talked for just about 50 minutes about Jesus last few days in Jerusalem. It was fascinating as he made the scriptures come alive.

We then climbed aboard the bus and head for the Temple Mount. We went to see the Dome of the Rock. It is a holy place to pray for Muslims. There is no worship inside, but only a place to pray. The worship takes place next door at the El-Aksa Mosque.

The Dome of the Rock was build when the Muslim's controlled Jerusalem. It is built on the site that Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac. They claim it was not Isaac but Ishmael. It is on the grounds and close to the place where the Holy of Holies was in the second Temple build by Herod.

Right next door is the West Wall of the Temple. Oldest part of the wall still standing and was built by the poor. It is close to where the Temple was built on Mount Zion. It is sometimes called the Wailing Wall, as has water form on the stone that looks like tears. There were Bar Mitzvah happening while we were there. The Torah is read on Tuesday and Thursdays. So they would bring the Torah out to be read, by the 13 year old boys coming of age. You have to cover your head, as you don't want God to be angry with you. Also some do not turn their back on God, but back away from the wall backwards.

There was the blowing of the shofars and drums to celebrate weddings, and Bar Mitzvah.

It is amazing to see how this important wall and the Muslims mosque and here they are right next to each other. It is no wonder why this is the hot spot in the world.

Then we drove over to The Israel Museum. Here we saw a 1/50 replica of The Second Temple built by Herod. This was what Jerusalem looked like during Jesus time in Jerusalem.

They also have the Dead Sea Scrolls. We went for a tour--but we could not take pictures. It was amazing.

We went to lunch at a Kibbutz.

Then we drove on to Bethlehem. This meant that our bus, driver and guide could only take us to the wall. A Palestinian guide and bus driver - then took us to see the Church of the Nativity.
This is the traditional place that Jesus was born. It had some floor tiles from Constantine and it is the oldest church in the world 1500 years. The Persians didn't destroy the church, because of a mural of the wise men - who came from Persia. The door was made smaller so the crusaders wouldn't ride their horses into the church, and animals couldn't just wander in. It also makes one humble as you have to stoop and bow to get in.

The inside is shared between three Christian churches and a Muslim watches over the time as a neutral party so everyone is treated fairly. The stable was in the lower level of a home, so under the church, where a stable would be in a home, is the place where Jesus was born and laid in a manger. Much history to be seen and a very holy place.

We then drove to the East past the Field of Ruth where Ruth, the Moabite, met Boaz.

Adjacent to Bethlehem is Shepherd's Field -Here we saw a cave where shepherds would tend their sheep at night. Why would God come to shepherds? They were raising sheep for the sacrifice-God is telling them, that they now can tell those who come for lambs, that God has sent Jesus as the lamb of God. We also read John 10--the Good Shepherd chapter from the Bible.

Above the cave is the Church of the Angels that announced the good news to the shepherds.

We stopped at a shop in Bethlehem that specialized in Olive Wood Carvings. It is the main source of income for Palestinian Christians. We went back through the security wall and returned to Jerusalem in our hotel.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Tomorrow the Dead Sea
Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Sunday Feb. 15 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 6 2 15 09

The day began with worship at the English speaking service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, in Jerusalem. 9 am service. Marta Erling was to meet me at the service, but she fell ill and needed to stay home.

Michael Powel is an intern from Trinity Seminary--he is Rod and Sherry Rinell's nephew. What a surprise to meet him in Jerusalem. We chatted after worship in the courtyard. There were many people from around the world at this service.

We shopped for a while and then went back to the church of the Holy Sepulcher to see some of the sights and not be rushed. It was amazing.

We ate lunch and then headed to David Tower museum.

A couple of us took the Rmparts walk--walking on the wall, we went from the Jappa Gate to the Damascus Gate.

Then we walked back through Jerusalem through the bazzar market.

WE stopped and picked a few more gifts and headed back to the hotel for supper and a good nigths rest.

overnight: Jerusalem, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Saturday -- 2009

Saturday, February 14, 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 5 Sat 2 14 09

We began the day by entering the city of Jerusalem through the North Wall - Herod's Gate. Our first stop was at the Pool of Bethesda. Bethesda (Bet Hesda) place of healing. There were ruins here from the Byzantine and Crusader eras.

Right next door we entered the Church of St. Anne, the mother of Mary. Unser the church is a groto that celebrates the birth place of the virgin Mary. This church was build during the Crusaders era.

We walked down to the Lions Gate. This was built duing the 1st century, notice the lions. It came from a dream where the king dreamt of lions attacking, so he built a wall to protect the city. It is also the place that Steven was stoned, so it is also called St. Stevens Gate.

We reentered the city though the Lions Gate and follow Jesus' footsteps along the Via Dolorosa,

1. Jesus is Condemend

2. Flaguation of Jesus (Kings Game of the soliders, was played out in real life on Jesus.)

3. Jesus falls the first time

4. Jesus meets his Mother

5. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross bar for Jesus. (see the hand print in wall).

6. Veronica (Vero Icon) "true image" True image of Jesus.

7. Jesus falls a second time (this was once the old gate of the city).

8. Pillar in the wall - Daughters of Jerusalem weep.

9. Jesus falls a third time-This is by the Etheopian Church-in which we passed through.

We stopped in the court yard of the Holy Seplecure to have our group photo taken.

14. We went right to the tomb of Jesus (there was no line) The box shape strucure around the tomb is called the edicule.

10. Jesus is stripped--preparation.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross--crucifixtion begins.

12. Jesus hangs on the cross and dies (under altar is place for cross).

13. Jesus is removed from the cross (Place of Purification).

14--Jesus is laid in the tomb.

Next Russian Orthodox chapel to see a family burial aera at the time of Jesus.

Chapel of St. Helena (Constitines' Mother) she claimed to have found the cross of Jesus.

We went under the chapel to the quarry area. Romans removed the rock and used as place for garbage.

We journeyed outside and went to a roof top to look across at the Mt. of olives and the Western Wall.

Stopped fro Lunch at the Friends Resturant.

We saw left over pillars from the Roman era.

The building of a new synoguge

Mt. Zion--here was the Upper Room--where the last supper was held and Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.

David Tomb--no pics allowed.

Chapel of Mary Dortitory--Abbey of Mary. Mary is sleeping in the basement.

St. Peter's Church - here we went into the prision in the basement, where Jesus was held while Peter was outside denying Jesus.

Ciaphus's House--The courtyard. Saw steps down into the Kydron Valley--where Jesus walked to Gethsemane

Final stop was St. John the Baptist's birthplace. En Kerem. The blue tiles in the church are for Mary.


Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B,L,D)

Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Friday 13 2009

From Holy Land Day 4 feb 13 2009

Friday, February 13


We boarded our bus by 7:45 am and left the kibbutz. Remember a kibbutz are families and individuals living in community and holding everything in common. They are very popular here in Israel.

Our first stop this morning is Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle. We walked some back alleys and found a Roman Catholic Church, which had a grape press from Jesus time. We read from John 2 about the wedding of Cana and Jesus turning water into wine. It is here for the frist time that the disciples begin to believe in Jesus. The intent of doing this miracle is that the couple and families are not emabarresed or shamed by running out of wine. Jesus wanted equality and acceptance for the families.

We stopped by an Orthodox church across the street but it as closed. Our guide Ezra, reminded us that the Bible did not give an address, but given there was discivered a wine press and jars for purification was a good indication that something happened around this area.

We continue to Nazareth witch is where Jesus parents lived prior to the visit to Bethlehem. We visited the Church of the Annunciation, and Joseph's church which was believed to be the site of his workshop. We talked about how Mary walked to Jerusalem and this distance was 100 miles away. That is 200 miles round trip. That is a long walk. Later--when they fled to Egypt, that walk would have been over 250 miles. Mary and Joseph were in good shape to walk so far through so very rough and desolate country.

On the way in the center of town we stopped at Mary's Well.

We walked through the markets and wounded our way to a synoguge that was from Jesus time.

On our way out of town--going toward Jerusalem, we drove by the cliff that the people of Nazareth was going to throw Jesus off.
We continued to Jerusalem, going by Mt. Gilboa, from which a spring is mentioned in the Bible, 2 samuel and Judges.

Lunch enroute at a Kibbutz.

Our next stop was Beit She'an, to see the excavations and visit the Roman theater. This was an amazing dig of a whole city that help 80000 people. You have to see the picture to believe it.

We drove through the West Bank---which took us by Mt. Nebo (Deut. 34) Moses looked at the promise land and God wouldn't let him enter. It's here tha Moses died.

We went by the city of Jericho (remember the walls tumbling down by trumpets).
The Dead Sea is just across from Jericho (1400 feet below sea level, the lowest place on earth). The drive through this area was wilderness--desert--desolate country. It was just outside of Jericho that Jesus was tempted. It was also tradition that Jesus was baptized by John in this area. Iyt only get about 2 inches of rain a year.

Coming closer to Jerusalme we wnet by the Good Samaritan Inn. Nomad homes that chose to live in the wilderness and watch there sheep and goats.

WE came upon the town of Bethany--the home of Lazarus (Jesus raided him fom the dead) brother to Mary and Martha.

AS we came into the city of Jerusalem, we went to the Mount of Olives. It's on a hill that over looks the city of Jerusalem. It took us by the St. August Luthean Hospital. We stopped at the Mt. of Olives and read Psalm 122. We took time to retell the history of Jerusalem.

Then we drove down the Kidron Valley- by the Garden of Gethsemanie and then by the old wall of Jerusalem. We drove by the valley of Ghenna (valley of hell) on to our hotel (King Solomon).

We ate dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Jerusalem, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Thursday -- 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 3 feb 12 2009

From Holy Land Tour Day 3 feb 12 2009

Thursday, February 12, 2009


Today was spent driving around the region of Galilee, and taking a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee.We read Matthew 4:12-that talks about how Jesus went and lived by the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum.


We began learning about olive presses. Did you know that 2/3of the oil comes from the pit? who knew--the extra virgin oil comes from the pressing of the olive pit.



We began the day at Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fish. Matthew 14:13-ff. There is a church where tradition has it that Jesus fed the 5,000.


We then journed to the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We read Matthew chapters 5-7.


Our next stop was at Korazim.
This comes from Matthew 11, it is the unrepentant city. Here we saw the remains of a village at the time of Jesus which also had a synagogue. We saw Moses seat (see Matt. 23) a preaching stand and a table in a house (it's just rocks)



We proceed to Caapernaum, the center of Jesus' Ministry in the Galilee. We saw Peters house (which has a church on top of it--literally over the top).


The weather was great so we sailed across the Sea of Galilee (8 miles X 16 miles) on a reconstructed wooden boat similar to the one used by Simon Peter. We stopped in the center of the lake and read (about Jesus calming the storm, walking on water and the big catch of fish.) Then we continued to the other side for lunch. Lunch was St. Peter's fish (Talapia with head and tail-reminded me of Africa).


On the way home we stopped at Gerasene (Mark 5). It was here that Jesus cast out demons into the pigs. This was a land of Gentiles-so it was probable that pigs could ahve been in the area. The church that was built, decided that the crosses in the floor were too holy to walk on so they took them out. Not unsual, they were nornally replaced with a fish symbol. They did not replace them--but just filled the holes in with a cement like subastance.


The next stop was the Jordan River. We stopped at the Banias Springs and waterfall (the source of the Jordan River), also named Caesarea Phillipa. I went into the river and remembered my baptism. I also bottled some water to bring back for our baptims. It was cold water.


The last stop of the day was at a boat that was discovered in the mud that comes from Jesus time. They have preserved it. This is a small boat for the sea of Galilee. You can see why the disciples were afraid in a storm.


Dinner and overnight at your kibbutz

A Kibbutz is like a communion, where people live and work in community. They pool everything they have. We are staying a very nice hotel complex. It seems that tour groups stay at these places. I know they have great service and spectacular food.


After supper we went back into Tiberas to a Dimond whole saler. It was nice to look, but didn't buy anything.

Overnight: Galilee, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE Wed Feb. 11, 2009

From Holy Land Trip 2 11 09

From Holy Land Trip 2 11 09

From Holy Land Trip 2 11 09

From Holy Land Trip 2 11 09

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
After breakfast we drove to Joppa, the ancient port city to view the home of Simon the Tanner. We read from Acts 9:32-43 and then Acts 10:24-ff. It talks about Peter going to Caesarea and Joppa. This is where I walked today. It was amazing to step into history.

Now we will begin our journey north along the coastal road to to Caesarea, built by Herod the Great. It was here that Peter was imprisoned for two years. Herod was a builder. We sat in a 5,000 person amphitheater and then saw peaces of his palaces by the sea. It actually had a fresh water pool right on the salt water beach. We also saw a piece of stone etched with Pontius Pilates name. We saw a aquduck that ran fresh water 15 miles from the spring.

Visit the Crusader's fortress and Roman ruins.

Proceed to Beit Shearim, ancient seat of the Sanhedrin, to visit the Catacombs and the ruins of what was once the most important synagogue in Israel.

We ate lunch at Megiddo or Armageddon. See Revelation 16:16.

We continue to Megiddo ancient chariot city of King Solomon and Ahab. They had a stable with 700 horses.

Mt. Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration. This will be the gospel text when I return on Feb. 22. It is a mountain with heighth. Jesus and the disciples would have had to been in good shape to hike to the top.

On top of Mt. Tabor we visit the Church of the Transfiguration. A Roman Catholic church that marks the traditional place of Jesus' transfiguration.

We end the day by coming to our hotel (Nof Ginosar Hotel) right on the Sea of Galilee. We will stay here for two nights. Dinner was an amazing buffet of salads, main dishes and desserts. The black olives are great, but the desserts are even better. It's all kosher-so no dairy in anything, but I can't tell.

Tomorrow we will go around the Sea of Galilee, including a boat ride and going into the water for a remembrance of baptism. So far it's all been so amazing. I can't take enough pictures or movies to do it all justice. I'm recording the lectures our tour guide gives. I think we could do a adult education class, just on the pics and tour guide insights.

Overnight: Galilee, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE -- Tue. Feb. 10 2009

From Recently Updated

From Recently Updated

From Recently Updated

Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport.

Meeting and assistance through customs to your waiting guide and motor coach.

There were no issues at the air port or going through customs. It was a good to see my checked luggage arrive. Means everything got here.

I did have an multi-plug short circuit, but nothing got fried but that, thankfully. I had a back-up so all is well.

We met our guide Ezra who will lead us each day of our tour. We are on a coach bus, so it will be nice moving from site to site. Very different from the Africa tour.

Transfer to Tel Aviv. Check into your hotel for dinner, group meeting, and overnight

Our first meal was a buffet at the hotel and there was a great variety of food. I sampled different foods and enjoyed the meal. It was good not to be on the plane.

We are staying at the Tel Hotel in down town Tel Aviv. We are only a block from the Mediterranean Sea. There is a thunder storm right now that blew in from the sea. There is lightening and thunder and the wind is blowing hard. We walked down to the sea, after dinner, but the storm was coming so, I came back and worked on updating the blog and getting my luggage packed for tomorrow.

We have a 6:30 wake up, breakfast is at 7 and the bus leaved at 7:45. Tomorrow will be a good day as we head North to the region of Galilee.

Overnight: Tel Aviv, Israel

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE -- Mon. Feb. 9 2009

From Recently Updated

Monday, February 09, 2009
Depart from an airport to JFK. Meet with tour host. Check in with EL AL. Depart for the overnight, non-stop flight to Israel.

There are 36 pastors from all over the USA, from all different faith denominations. Our flight left just a little late, the 747 was full, with no empty seats. We will arrive in 10.5 hours. We had a meal of spaghetti, salad and a brownie.

We slept some, but after a few hours the Orthodox Jews got up and got dressed to say prayers. It woke up most of the plane. I slept a few more hours and then awoke for breakfast (omelet and bagels, with fruit.