Israel Pastors Trip Blogs

By the Sea of Galilee….

Today we circled the Sea of Galilee.  Leaving from our hotel in Tiberias, we headed north on the wetern oshore of the Sea of Galilee to Nof Genesaur to visit a 2000 year old boat. 

Then we sailed on a boat (considerably newer) to Capernaum. While on our short voyage Shawn Thornton shared about Jesus calming the storm; we took in the sites around the shoreline; danced the hora (sort-of); and saw a fishing demonstration.

Landing in Capernaum, we visited the old synagogue and Peter’s house.  George Powell taught about all of the miraculous things that took place in that place and confidence that God can miraculously meet the needs in your life as well.

From there to Mensa Christi – the place where Jesus asked Peter – Do you love me?  Larry Macon presented an outstanding devotional about reconciliation.

At Tabgha (the place that commemorates that multiplication of the loaves and fishes) Kurt Sauder insightfully shared.

From Capernaum, after a brief lunch of Lebanese cuisine, we traveled south to the place where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee called Yardinit.  There, I had the privilege of baptising several of the pastors – and several in turn baptised their wives.

Then back to the north to the Mount of Beatitudes where we were able to make our way to the actual hillside where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount.  I had the opportunity to share some thoughts from the greatest object lesson of all time.

Finally, we went up to the Golan Heights to the Peace Vista – a scenic location overlooking the entire Sea of Galilee that was once a sniper post for the Syrian army.

Down the curvy switchback road of the Yarmuk River Valley to the Sea of Galilee and to our hotel for a wonderful dinner and meeting.

Then off to bed for a few hours before starting a new day full of new adventures…

/Dear ones,

Well, here we are at the end of another action packed day. Donn told you a little about the “Jesus Boat” that was found by two fisherman brothers on the buried shore of the Sea of Galilee. It has an amazing story of preservation. It is an carbon 14 dated boat. When the boat began to dry, it would turn to power; so a very complicated archealogical method was quickly put into place to try to preserve the boat. The boat itself contains 12 kinds of woods. Cedar and oak were the beginning woods, and then other types added as the boats were repaired.

Continuing on another fishing boat we took a sail on the Sea of Galilee. It was a gorgeous day. One cool thing that happened was that as we began the sail, the sailor raises the American flag to the singing of our national anthem. And our flag flew right next to the Israeli flag. I couldn’t help but think of the lessons I teach my students about the War of 1812 and the writing of the words by Francis Key Scott during this battle that became the lyrics for our national anthem. I was very proud because we had alot of men and women give their lives to start our country founded on the Kingdom of God, giving us the freedom to worship freely. But even with our history, I gazed at Israel’s flag and felt that they are on the rise now. Jews are returning back to Israel from more than 120 countries. God is setting things up. . . he’s rolling his mighty plan. When our guide speaks occassionally of his time in the wars as a tank driver, his stories are miraculous. Those in the tanks on each side of him were blown away. He was hit inches from his heart, but survived. Csion says that Israel doesn’t believe in miracles, Israel depends on them.

We had a sweet time on the Mt of the Beautitudes. We had to crawl over a barbed wire fence, and sit on a high hillside above the sea of Galilee. We listened as mark read the beatitudes, and then we recited the Lord’s prayer, redeicating our lives back to that which is most important–seeking His kingdom ways.

I want to mention that my dear grandmother was a Bible scholer, in that she lived to read and study the word. When I came to see her after school, I just wanted a cookie. She wanted me to eat a cheese sandwich first, and then to show more her time line work that she had all mapped out on a scroll in her back study. She was a student of the jews, and we often had Jews for Jesus people honored for dinner in her home. At 101, I called her one day, and she was just reading her new “Archeological Review”. I was swimming in my pool. Ha! Did I mention that she went to Eqypt in 1956, planning her dream trip into Israel, but suddenly Israel was closed because of the six day war. She was devestated, but was certain that God knew his plan for her. I feel her with me so much in this trip. She would have loved seeing what we are seeing now.

We traveled all around the Sea of Galilee in a big circle today. We ended up at the Golen Height–and that is another huge story. Syria, Jorden, the bunkers in the mountain sides protected and hidden by eucaliptis (sp?) trees. The road down from the Golan heights was like nothing we had ever scene. Pin turns–it made the mountains and drop off’s of the Colorado Rockies seem small. Good thing our bus driver could manage it. . . I was thinking we may have needed the will that we refreshed before leaving town. (!)

O.K. It is late here. Tomorrow we leave early to begin three days in Jerusalem. Our guide is fabulous. Mark leads us in amazing ways too, giving us thoughts to hang our emotions on.

The walking, heat, and lots to see, learn, and experience is not for the faint of heart. We are on quite an adventure.

Love and blessings,
Barb

Sunset Over Galilee

Our first stop this morning was the “Man in Galilee Museum” on the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee. One of the greatest archaelogical finds in the world is kept here – a 2,000 year-old boat discovered by two Galilean brothers in the mucky shore of the Sea.

Jesus Boat

From the museum, we took a boat on the Sea of Galilee to the ancient ruins of Capernaum. As we started the ride, the crew of the boat raised an American flag and played our national anthem in our honor. This was especially significant since today was 9/11.

They played some traditional Jewish music during our 40 minute ride. They also played Chris Tomlin’s “Blessed Be the Name” and “How Great is our God” as well – even while jet skis passed us by. It was a good time.

Teaching On Sea of Galilee

Each of the pastors will be sharing a couple of devotionals while we visit various locations. Today, my “site” was the Sea of Galilee and I gave the 5-8 minute devotional on the boat. So much of Christ’s ministry took place around this giant fresh water lake that is the lowest lake on earth. Jesus called his disciples on its shores, walked on its surface, helped the disciples fill their nets with fish, fed them breakfast on its shore, and calmed the sea in a great storm by simply saying “Peace, Be Still!” I focused my thoughts on the peace of Christ and the stilling of the storm.

After the boat ride, we headed for Capernaum. The drive anywhere around the Sea of Galilee is just beautiful. We circled it today. The mountains, valleys, and hills make the setting of the sea gorgeous.

Capernaum no longer exists in any form. It is one of the cities mentioned by Mark in his Gospel that Jesus cursed because they had seen and heard so much and still did not believe in Him. This city became the base of Jesus’ ministry. Here he healed Peter’s mother-in-law. The traditional site in the ruins has a church built above it. Jesus performed many miracles here and taught in the city’s synagogue.

Capernaum 3rd Century Synagogue

One built right after the time of Jesus still stands (mostly complete) on the same foundation of the original one would have stood.

Capernaum had a little twist for us today. It is run by the Catholic Church and is considered a Holy Site. They have a new rule – no shorts above the knee. Our guide, Tsion, said he had been there 317 times and never had this rule applied to his groups. One of the pastors, Rick, did not go in because his shorts were a bit too short according the young man at the entrance to the ruins (who interestingly was wearing shorts shorter than any of ours – but they were mostly hidden by the booth in which he stood). While the rest of us could adjust our shorts so they were long enough, only one other person could not – Lesli. Yep, my conscientious, obedient wife had to wear a towel one of the other wives had with her. It was funny.

Throughout the day we visited three other traditional sites – the place where Jesus appeared after the resurrection, fed the disciples and restored Peter & the place where Jesus fed the 5,000, and then hillside overlooking all of Galilee where it is

Traditional Site - Sermon on the Mount

believed He delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Each site was moving and stirred our thoughts about those amazing events.

In the chapel commemorating the breakfast given the disciples, our group sang several songs including “My Jesus, I Love Thee.” The hard surfaces of the little chapel made the sound wonderful. What a blessing!

Late in the day, we went to a place right where the Jordan River connects to the Sea of Galilee and participated (if we wanted) in a baptism. Mark, our leader, baptized  a few of us and some of the men baptized their wives. Lesli chose not to participate (possibly due to her earlier “shorts” rebellion) and I did want to know the experience so she watched as Mark baptized me there. It did remind me of April 13, 1980 when I publicly identified with Jesus in believer baptism. I enjoyed renewing the commitment of both my life and ministry to my Savior and Lord in this way today.

Before heading to the hotel for a late dinner, we drove up to the Golan Heights. This is the area Israel captured from the Syrians in the 6 day war of 1967. Tsion, our guide was a tank commander in this operation and was shot by the friendly fire of Israeli jets – by mistake of course. He was shot in the hand and in the chest. The tank commanders to either side of him were both killed.

This area still has many Syrian bunkers, now has numerous Israeli farms, areas still marked warning of land mines (large areas right by the main road), and give you glimpses across the borders to Syria and Lebanon.

Galilee from the Golan Heights

Great views of Galilee and a scary road coming down were all a part of this last leg of today’s journey.

Hard to explain, but after growing up in church, completing both Bible College and Seminary, and preaching for over 20 years, our time in the Galilee region has reshaped how I view and how I will teach the biblical stories of this part of the Holy Land. Great day!!!

Tomorrow, Day 4 – includes Masada, Dead Sea, and we end up in Jerusalem.

Jordan River

Me Being Baptized in Jordan

Lesli in her "modesty" towel at Capernaum

Capernaum Ruins

Our Boat on Sea of Galilee

Casting Net Demonstration on Boat

Boat on Sea of Galilee

Flag Raising on Boat

Jesus Boat without Us

Preserving the Jesus Boat

What an amazing day! We started our day looking at a 2000 year old boat that was discovered in the mud of the Sea of Galilee. It was recovered and saved in an amazing fashion. It is the kind of boat Jesus sailed on. It gave such a clear picture of his travels on the Sea and all the stories around it. Then we got on a boat and headed for Caperaum. I had a sense of doing just what Jesus did on that boat more than at any other time in my life. One of the crew showed how they cast out their nets and we talked about all of the stories of Jesus on the boat. It was a special time. When we arrived at Capernaum it was also amazing. It is no longer an active city, but rather one big archealogical dig. We saw the synagogue where he taught, and Peter mother in law’s house. Jesus more miracles in Capernaum than any where else. The streets are so narrow the crowds He drew must have caused a real buzz.

The other place we went today that was so interesting to me is the place where Mark Dreistadt thinks Jesus preached the sermon on the mount. It is a natural ampitheather, and when the wind is blowing in from the lake one person’s voice could be heard by many thousands of people. The flowers, the birds, and mustards seeds, all mentioned in the sermon are all there in that place.

This afternoon we dwelt more with current events than the life of Jesus. We drove up on the Golan Hieghts which border the northen edge of the sea. Our guide, Tsion is a former tank commander from the wars in 67 and 73. We saw how Israel has developed the land, and also the bunkers that Syria had on the heights. We drove to both the Syria and Jordan borders. Peace is fragle here.

At any rate God is big and incharge, and He came down and walked among us and today I got to walk in some of His footsteps. Since I know He loved me enough to come I can trust Him even in a world on the edge.

Thanks for all of your prayes. We feel them and we love all of you.

Pastor Donn

Oh my goodness, what a day . . . we left out of Tiberias for a day of sightseeing and study that took us entirely around the Sea of Galilee. I’ll give you the cliff notes . . . first we saw a 2000 year old boat from Jesus’ time discovered in the Sea of Galilee just 23 years ago. It was discovered because of a drought and what an amazing site to see. Then we boarded a boat for a ride on the Sea and headed for Capernaum. There I gave a devotional and focused on the story of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant and the words of the Centurion . . .”Jesus, just say the word and he will be healed.”

Then off to Tabgha where we visited the place that commemorates where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish . . . the Mensa Christi . . . where Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love Me?”

Then a quick bite to eat and off to the Jordan River as it leaves the Sea of Galilee to a baptismal site . . .9 of us were baptized . . . I baptized my wife . . . what an experience . . . words can’t describe so I won’t even try.

Then off to the Mount of Beatitudes for a very moving reading of parts of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as we sat on rocks in a place that could have been the very place where Jesus taught. Unbelievable!

Back on the bus and heading north passing Bethsaida, the birthplace of Peter, Andrew, James and John . . . onto the Golan Heights with a breath-taking view of the Sea of Galilee from the Peace Vista . . . as well as some more current history and then descending back into Tiberias on one of the steepest and most curvy roads I’ve ever been on in my life . . . and in a tour bus at that.

In fifteen minutes I’m off to dinner and then to bed because I’m running on 3 and ½ hours of sleep.

Don’t worry . . . those of you joining Ann and me on our trip in February and March next year . . . it will be a much slower pace but just as life changing. I can’t wait for you to be here and us walking together where Jesus walked. I’m sooooooo excited for you.

yes, we have been running where Jesus walked and although the pace has been crazy, its been unbelievable beyond words.  even as i write this, im  trying to get it in before dinner.  we are on a fast pace but its been overwhelming.  thank you for your patience in waiting for a post.  i hope to be more regular the next couple of days when we hit Jerusalem but hopefully you can glean from other posts on the site.

the group is a great group, we are bonding and sharing hearts everyday more and more.  the first day was just unbeliveable.  standing on the top of mt. carmel, thinking about elijah calling on God to just deliver, to test the power of God and watch him make a statement.  to not waver.  ceaserea, was an incredible hisory lesson in helping me understand that almost every sight you visit in israel is layered with up to 26 civilizations of people who came and wiped out a site, built a new one or built upon the old one.   so when they are excavating on one site, you may find roman, byzantine, greek, ottoman periods of building.

im typing lots of thots not in any particualr order right now and i only have another 5 minutes to do so…..after 1 day, christy and i couldve left israel already full but realized we had another 5 days ahead….this is a blessing from God and im telling you my friends, every christ follower i pray has the opportunity to expereince Israel…it will transform you…..

heres one: the process of the olive pressing and making oil is called geth sem ne in the hebrew language….i was thinking of the same pressing and crushing of olives that brought the imagery of jesus getting arrested in the garden of gethsemane…he was crushed for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities…..the land itself over here makes passages come to light…..

day 1: you can read from others where we went…

today…we basically hung out all over the sea of Galillee….there were so many life lessons, healings, and power encounters around this area its unreal…the sea isnt big at all and we were able to just be quiet in the boat as we sailed….to picture jesus ministry around this area…to sit where he gave the sermon on the mount….it probably was given in the morning for its quiet, the winds are still, and the birds are flying overhead….in fact the mountain in the spring is full of colorful lillies so when the master teacher shared of sermon on mount, He could easily have said, look at the birds of the air, and these lillies of the field….mt. 6:25-33…….what worries you today my friend?  God knows, and hes already working on it….

so much more but you know me, id rather talk in person so i wont leave it all on this blog…look forward to some coffee time and face to face downloading with whoever wants to get pumped about going to israel…..bless you guys, thanks for your prayers, cj and i are feeling them….we have had good energy levels in the midst of the fast pace…..will write soon again….

sorry for the misspellings, got to type and go…..