Thursday - April 12

Glorious day... I can't believe what I've gotten to experience and see today! I just wish my photos were as dramatic as the things I've seen today.

Had our devotions this AM at the hotel parking lot by the Dead Sea. Not an impressive environment, but it spoke to me about how distracted I can be pursuing results and goals that I miss the benefit accruing to myself as I simply walk the life of discipleship.  It needs to be much more about what He does to change and develop me than it is about what I accomplish forr Him. And this journey is not about seeing stuff - rather it's about simply walking with Jesus through the land of discipleship. Great word!

En Gedi

Ibex actually climbing trees

We drove past Masada (yesterday) and on to En Gedi, a place greatly associated with King David and his Psalms.  Being from the Land of 10,000 lakes its easy to overlook how important, life giving and invigorating water is in the desert.  This gorgeous oasis stream on the shores of a poisonous Salt Sea, to me shouts the sweet promises of Jesus in John 7:37-40. Again we enjoyed the Ibex with their kids and thought about Psalm 18:33 -their amazing hoves had them scampering across the cliffs and even walking across the limbs of the acacia trees.  Kevin reminded us that we often pray for the challenges to be easier, rather what we need is to pray for developed feet to safely traverse the difficulty.

Ritual Baptism Pool Qumran

Our next stop was perhaps the most significant archaeological site of the last 300 years.  Qumran, the site where Arab boys, chasing goats, threw a rock in a cave, heard pottery break and discovered the Dead Sea scrolls.  The site is not impressive, even with the excavated community of the Essenes. But just being there was a blessed dream realized.  We'll see the scrolls (the real ones) in Jerusalem in a few days.

Pastor Kevin and Beth She'an

Jen at Corinthian
Column

We drove further North and quickly the terrain changed.  We entered the region near Lake Galilee to visit Beth She'an, one of the cities of the Decapolis - Greco-Roman pagan cities mentioned in Matt 4, Mark 5, 7.  We entered from the back side and over the top of the high tell.  And the surprising scene was almost more than words can express.  There below us lay the excavated city with theater, agora, gymnasium - it looks like ancient Greece.  And there Kevin passionately related Alexander the Great's strategy enticing Jewish culture toward Greek humanism. Wow!  The place was awe inspiring, but the lecture helped me integrate so much history I've read and biblical debate I've studied.

We're staying at a lovely resort on the Sea of Galilee tonight and tomorrow we start into territory that was site of the majority of our Savior's ministry.  Can't wait!