Day 6&7 Tel Dan and Dead Sea

(We apologize for the late blogs...) Internet over here is crazy hard to get (for free that is). Each location we have been to so far has charged around 5 bucks for a half hour! Fortunately, we are now able to blog from John Michael and Abra's home here in Jerusalem (thanks guys!). So we have a *few* days to catch up on! And with days filled with teaching and ministry...it is hard to catch up when we start early in the day and get back later in the evening! But we are trying to be current for all of you out there in blog-land. This blog will not be about Jerusalem just yet...it is coming though! • DAY 6: Tel Dan/Caesarea Philippi The morning of day 6 (Wednesday), Tel Dan we took a beautiful morning hike through Tel Dan area. It was quite a chilly morning! A little ways into the hike we get an illustration of "Unity". We read Psalm 133 where it talks about the dew of Mt. Hermon. The Dew of Mt. Hermon is one of the three sources of water for the Jordan river. Tonye talked about how these three sources meet at the Jordan and can be likened to the unity among believers. Below, Matt represents Mt. Hermon as the snow (shaving cream) melts from the top of the mountain and flows down to then meet at the Jordan. What a good sport! We continued walking through this trail and stopped at the place where an altar was made by the tribe of Dan when they were substituting something tangible for the real true One who provided so much for them. We prayed that our lives would not have any alters that are seeking the tangible and convenient rather than following the Lord. At the end of the hike we came across the city gate for the tribe of Dan. It was amazing seeing structures that were over 3000 years old! It is at a city gate like this one (not this one, but a similar structure) that the interaction of Boaz with his relative would have happened (when they exchanged sandals). (the story of Ruth has a special place in our hearts because that was the passage that was used at our wedding!). Our next location was Caesarea Philippi. This is a place that has carvings into the walls where gods would sit as people would bow and worship them. Jesus did walk through this area and had a very important conversation with his disciples. The context really came alive seeing this area and realizing that Jesus, as he was having this conversation, would have been walking over people that were all bowing to these carved images and missing the living God! (Matt. 16:13) This is where He asked the disciples, "Who do people say I am?" And where Peter responds, "You are the Son of the living God." Through the Spirit these things were revealed to him. This is truly beautiful stonework... it is sad that it was toward idols that could not respond to their uttering, bowing and worship. This area is also a very beautiful area, where we hiked. (It was hiking day!) Along the trail we found a branch and decided to swing on it (lover's swing)...and look where we ended up...on the ground! (Well, it was already on the ground, but it makes a better story that we actually broke it!) A view of the team hiking along the gorgeous terrain. At the end of the hike we see this refreshing waterfall. This stands in stark contrast to what man has to offer (carved images that cannot answer to any call) and what God has to offer (creation, and eternal life AND answering us!). Donna found another swing. This one she was actually able to swing on. No breakage here! Throughout this trip we have had AMAZING food over here. (It is a good thing we are hiking to counteract the pounds we are putting on from the food). These falafels were delicious... and we said we no longer "feel awful" now that we have a "falafel". (cheesy, yes, but we enjoy the silly puns like this!) Later in the evening we went to the location where Ronnie, our tour guide, spent 35 days on the lookout when he was in the Israeli army. Leading up to this location we were stopped by a hungry T-Rex. Fortunately he liked tall thin lads and was satisfied when we offered up Corey. Below, Matt is looking out from inside where they would have night and day watch. (Ronnie has been telling some great stories from his times as a soldier, great for long rides in a van!) From this location we can see how far away some key destinations are... • DAY 7: BEIT SHE'AN & DEAD SEA Thursday morning we started out walking into an amphitheater where Roman games took place. Significant to us is the fact that at this Roman games, often Christians would be murdered for entertainment value, typically by lions. (Having read Mark of the Lion series over the summer, this place made what we read in the book come alive). It is hard to put into words just how it felt to come into this place where people died just for saying that they believed in the Son of God. What faith and courage they had. If we only have an ounce of that...we would live our lives so much more boldly. Below you can see Donna sitting on the original steps and there are ones being renovated to the right. This is the entrance into the amphitheater. (no entrance fee or park guards at this site at all...we had the place to ourselves). We were able to pick up some small pieces of roman glass and remnants from this location. Hopefully those pieces will serve as a reminder for what happened here so long ago... Our next stop was to the more central part of Beit She'an. Donna demonstrates with her fingers where we were located for the day on the map of Israel. The Romans sure did know how to make intricate stonework. Corey poses on top of these ruins. Here is the city theater. We had Ole read from the Word down in the middle, just to demonstrate the way a normal voice could travel up to all of the seats. Donna also demonstrated her "oprah" voice down in the middle of the stage. It was quite loud... We are all amazed at how we can get really up close and personal with the ruins here at Beit She'an. Oh–historical significance of this sight is that when Saul was killed he was brought here and put up on display. (not a very happy story). Walking through the ruins of a Roman city was great...getting to see the Roman baths, roads (as seen below), and intricate columns and capitals...LOVED it! After spending a decent amount of time seeing the Roman city, we headed off to the Dead Sea, where we would be for a night. This is one of the spectacular pictures Corey captured from the van window! The Dead Sea was so placid—which allowed for detailed reflections of the mountain range and clouds.We stayed in a location that is seen as a vacation spot for people all over the world and those in Israel looking for a spa getaway. Below is the view from our hotel hallway. You cannot go to the Dead Sea without getting in the water. Corey demonstrates how well you can float. "Look mom, no hands!" The water feels like it is made out of oil. We were warned not to get our heads under the water (we didn't want to end up in the emergency room from drinking this water).Our last picture for this blog is of a cute kitty that we saw outside our hotel. There are kitties EVERYWHERE that we have been. We had to get a picture of at least one of these little guys. (we miss our girls...Kayla and Matt, how are our girls doing?) Cats over here love (most of them) to be pet but NOT picked up (we tried and the claws go out). Next up, hills of En Gedi and Jerusalem!