Posted in Uncategorized on July 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Today our band of pilgrims traveled to the Dead Sea region to experience the rugged wilderness. We began at the site of Qirbet Qumran, home to an Essene monastic community during the Second Temple period, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947.
We then explored the ruins of ancient Jericho [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 31, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This was our day in Bethlehem. We began with a visit to Herod’s palace at the mountain-top Herodion, with its tremendous vistas of the Judean hill-country.We explored its ruins and descended its ancient watercourse. We then traveled to Bethlehem. We toured the Church of the Nativity, which marks the cave in which Jesus was [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Today was a wondrous day whose experiences cannot be contained within a simple description. We visited the Temple Mount (or Haram esh-Sharif), where the holy Muslim sites of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque sit atop the Jewish Wailing Wall. The Muslim mosques are excellent examples of architectural artistry that date to [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Herod the Great built Caesarea Maritima as a Roman city on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, complete with aquaduct, theater, hippodrome (for horse racing), and other luxuries. It is a beautiful site, as you can see for yourself. We had some lighter moments here, too.
Posted in Uncategorized on July 27, 2008 | 1 Comment »
We began our exploration of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives this morning. Here is a shot of the group, with the Old City and the Dome of the Rock in the background. We walked down through the Kidron Valley, with its numerous churches and cemeteries, to Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 27, 2008 | 1 Comment »
We are safely in Jerusalem now and everyone is well, but internet access is more difficult. I will write more and post some pictures once I find the time and reliable wireless! For now, here is a brief summary of the whirlwind of Saturday and Sunday.
We left the Galilee on Saturday morning and drove towards Jerusalem. Along the way [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Today was a day of rest for our group, prior to driving to Jerusalem tomorrow. Everyone has enjoyed the out-of the-way German pilgrim’s hostel (Pilgerhaus) where we have been staying on the Sea of Galilee. Hopefully we have gotten enough rest to see us through next week’s more hectic pace in Jerusalem.
Posted in Uncategorized on July 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Lamar Helms writes for us:
That we have only to look out our doors or windows and see the Sea of Galilee, or to walk a few yards and descend two sets of steps to wade in the water would seem sufficient to stimulate the body and spirit. But no — there is so much more.
[...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The first week of the Spiritual Renewal Pilgrimage has convinced me of one important thing: Great hope for the church. Neal and I have the privilege of traveling with 21 outstanding ministers who are very diverse, very committed to ministry in Christ’s church. They are insightful, wise and filled with joy. We [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on July 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Our morning excursion took us north to Banias, or Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27), in the Golan Heights. The bus ride wandered through historic parts of the area, with views of Mount Hermon, Nimrud’s Castle, Hazor, and the surrounding mountainous landscape of the Upper Jordan River Valley. At Banias we went for a leisurely hike [...]
