Friday, November 7, 2008
Bar Mitzvah
This is the Bar Mitzvah I told you about. The young men in front were dancing & drumming and playing the shofar. Is this cool or what? The young boy is behind one of the men but I didn't catch him.The Old City up Via Delarosa
This is the old city going up the Via Delarosa. As you can see there was stuff everywhere for sale and people everywhere. This shot isn't crowded. The other roads were people everywhere.
Caroline getting baptized in the River Jordan
This was the coolest thing. Both great and very cold!!
Mt Zion as viewed from the Mount of Olives
This is Mt Zion. The Temple would be around where the Dome of the Rock mosque is now standing. The Golden Gate which is walled up where Jesus will come through when he returns is on the right.
Friday, November 7 Check for pictures by Saturday
Friday, November 07, 2008
Well we finally got home tonight at 8:30pm. After many hours of flying it is good to get home and rest. I am sending this to update on my own computer the pictures I was unable to send before. The internet was just too sketchy and only worked at the front desk in Jerusalem so I didn’t send them before. Sorry about not updating the last two days but we were on the road until dark and I was too wasted. It’s hard work having so much funJ
I will add pictures tomorrow also. This was a once in a lifetime trip. You all ought to start saving now and plan to go in the future. It was awesome!!!
Next year in Jerusalem. I WISH!
Janet
Well we finally got home tonight at 8:30pm. After many hours of flying it is good to get home and rest. I am sending this to update on my own computer the pictures I was unable to send before. The internet was just too sketchy and only worked at the front desk in Jerusalem so I didn’t send them before. Sorry about not updating the last two days but we were on the road until dark and I was too wasted. It’s hard work having so much funJ
I will add pictures tomorrow also. This was a once in a lifetime trip. You all ought to start saving now and plan to go in the future. It was awesome!!!
Next year in Jerusalem. I WISH!
Janet
Thursday, November 6th
I know I keep saying this was the best day but this day was another great day.
This was our free day. We could do what ever we wanted so our group decided to go back to the Temple Mount. Some of our group did not get to see the site where the Holy of Holies could have been. God had an additional blessing for us. On our way to get through security, we heard drumming and singing and saw a blue and white tent with lots of people coming up the road. It was a Bar Mitzvah. This is a ceremony when a boy becomes a man. They were 3 young men drumming, dancing, and blowing the shofar. It was so fun and amazing to see. God is so good. We were just at the right spot to see them coming up to the gate. We all had a permanent grin on our faces that morning.
Afterwards we through the old city in bazaar-like streets to go through the Via Delarosa. This is the road where Jesus would have gone through carrying his cross to Calvary. This was filled with tiny shops the size of a very small bedroom with people trying to sell things. There were lots of people and lots of noise. It was hard to worship and we had to walk miles but we finished it with everyone SAFE which was a challenge. God was watching over us.
Then we went to a mall area where local residence shop. At first, we thought it might be like ours and weren’t really pumped to be there but it was more like the bizarre without the danger and crowds. I finished all my shopping with great buys and people were so friendly and nice.
We all truly loved this country and it’s people. This trip ranks right up there with my wedding and my daughter. It was the best. Now if I can just calm down and get some sleep. We are leaving at Midnight to go to Tel Aviv and fly out at 5am.
Next stop, America. Home Sweet Home!!!
This was our free day. We could do what ever we wanted so our group decided to go back to the Temple Mount. Some of our group did not get to see the site where the Holy of Holies could have been. God had an additional blessing for us. On our way to get through security, we heard drumming and singing and saw a blue and white tent with lots of people coming up the road. It was a Bar Mitzvah. This is a ceremony when a boy becomes a man. They were 3 young men drumming, dancing, and blowing the shofar. It was so fun and amazing to see. God is so good. We were just at the right spot to see them coming up to the gate. We all had a permanent grin on our faces that morning.
Afterwards we through the old city in bazaar-like streets to go through the Via Delarosa. This is the road where Jesus would have gone through carrying his cross to Calvary. This was filled with tiny shops the size of a very small bedroom with people trying to sell things. There were lots of people and lots of noise. It was hard to worship and we had to walk miles but we finished it with everyone SAFE which was a challenge. God was watching over us.
Then we went to a mall area where local residence shop. At first, we thought it might be like ours and weren’t really pumped to be there but it was more like the bizarre without the danger and crowds. I finished all my shopping with great buys and people were so friendly and nice.
We all truly loved this country and it’s people. This trip ranks right up there with my wedding and my daughter. It was the best. Now if I can just calm down and get some sleep. We are leaving at Midnight to go to Tel Aviv and fly out at 5am.
Next stop, America. Home Sweet Home!!!
Wednesday, November 5th
Another great day! This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. The writer of this Psalm was not having a good day. Vs 5 says “I called on the Lord in distress. Vs 10 All nations surrounded me. They surrounded me like bees. This is a bonus day. We don’t know the future and circumstances can change, like the Presidential election results, which we found out today, but God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell I the house of the Lord, forever.
Our first stop was on the Mount of Olives at the Chapel of Ascension. It is thought that the Lord’s Prayer was taught, by Jesus, in this garden. The Chapel is in the shape of a tear. They are both in the area of Gethsemane. This is the traditional site where Jesus would have wept over Jerusalem. He knew the city would be destroyed in 40 yrs. (70AD) We went to a small garden on that site where Tommy preached. Jesus always had an eternal perspective. He wept because he knew the people would reject him but he rested in the Lord, in the eternal prize. We also need to keep the eternal perspective in mind with out newly elected president today. God is still God!
The trail we are walking all down the hill to these gardens and chapels would have been the very one used on Palm Sunday down to the Kidron Valley and through the Golden Gate. It was very steep and hard to walk down. Jesus road on a donkey down this road. Matthew 21:1-11 On this road the people declared Jesus is Lord. Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. He looked across at the temple and Jerusalem and wept for the people. At that time he had 5 days left. He knew their hearts and knew they would reject Him yet He rested in the eternal. Phil 4
We then walked \further down the mountain to a Garden we all prayed in. The Olives here are the best in the world. Over 3 thousand years old. Some of them bore fruit in King David’s time. Judas betrays Jesus in this garden.
Next we went the site of Caiaphas House. A Rooster sat on top of church and another in a garden to commemorate Peter’s denial. Road dated from the upper room to garden to be 1 century BC. Caiaphas was the head of the High Priest of the Sanhedrin. Visitors had to pay temple tax which was put toward maintenance of the temple & needs of the High Priest. He also had a dungeon below his house for prisoners needing to be taken to the Roman guard. This would have been where Jesus was thrown until he could be brought to the Roman authorities.
Next we went to Yad Vasham, the Holocaust Museum. Yad – Everyone has a name. Vasham – Everyone has a hand, a purpose. This is like our Arlingtons. Buried here are leaders of the nations, fallen soldiers, and victims of the Holocaust. Even before we went in our guide explained what we would find there. Most of us were crying just at the explanation. It was very moving and hard to take in man’s inhumanity to man.
Next we went to one of the traditional sites of the Garden tomb. This was a tomb in a beautiful garden with one of the third largest cisterns in Jerusalem. This would have belonged to a very rich man. As we know, Joseph of Arimathea, a very rich man, gave his tomb for Jesus’ burial. Matt 27:57 There is another site that could be Jesus’ tomb in the city. We went to it on Friday. We are not sure which one is the actual site. All we can be sure of is that whichever one it was IT WAS EMPTY!!!
My goodness! My brain & heart are overflowing.
Our first stop was on the Mount of Olives at the Chapel of Ascension. It is thought that the Lord’s Prayer was taught, by Jesus, in this garden. The Chapel is in the shape of a tear. They are both in the area of Gethsemane. This is the traditional site where Jesus would have wept over Jerusalem. He knew the city would be destroyed in 40 yrs. (70AD) We went to a small garden on that site where Tommy preached. Jesus always had an eternal perspective. He wept because he knew the people would reject him but he rested in the Lord, in the eternal prize. We also need to keep the eternal perspective in mind with out newly elected president today. God is still God!
The trail we are walking all down the hill to these gardens and chapels would have been the very one used on Palm Sunday down to the Kidron Valley and through the Golden Gate. It was very steep and hard to walk down. Jesus road on a donkey down this road. Matthew 21:1-11 On this road the people declared Jesus is Lord. Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. He looked across at the temple and Jerusalem and wept for the people. At that time he had 5 days left. He knew their hearts and knew they would reject Him yet He rested in the eternal. Phil 4
We then walked \further down the mountain to a Garden we all prayed in. The Olives here are the best in the world. Over 3 thousand years old. Some of them bore fruit in King David’s time. Judas betrays Jesus in this garden.
Next we went the site of Caiaphas House. A Rooster sat on top of church and another in a garden to commemorate Peter’s denial. Road dated from the upper room to garden to be 1 century BC. Caiaphas was the head of the High Priest of the Sanhedrin. Visitors had to pay temple tax which was put toward maintenance of the temple & needs of the High Priest. He also had a dungeon below his house for prisoners needing to be taken to the Roman guard. This would have been where Jesus was thrown until he could be brought to the Roman authorities.
Next we went to Yad Vasham, the Holocaust Museum. Yad – Everyone has a name. Vasham – Everyone has a hand, a purpose. This is like our Arlingtons. Buried here are leaders of the nations, fallen soldiers, and victims of the Holocaust. Even before we went in our guide explained what we would find there. Most of us were crying just at the explanation. It was very moving and hard to take in man’s inhumanity to man.
Next we went to one of the traditional sites of the Garden tomb. This was a tomb in a beautiful garden with one of the third largest cisterns in Jerusalem. This would have belonged to a very rich man. As we know, Joseph of Arimathea, a very rich man, gave his tomb for Jesus’ burial. Matt 27:57 There is another site that could be Jesus’ tomb in the city. We went to it on Friday. We are not sure which one is the actual site. All we can be sure of is that whichever one it was IT WAS EMPTY!!!
My goodness! My brain & heart are overflowing.
Tuesday, November 4th
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Everyday just gets better. It’s hard to think we could absorb so much of what we have studied for so many years. Everything comes together. Everything is etched in our minds. I don’t think I will ever read the Bible the same again.
Today we went through many gates in the old city. We started off our day with Psalms 118:21-24 but I want to go to a few verses earlier.
Vs 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise you. For you have answered me. And you have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Our first stop was the Kotel (wailing wall or western wall) It was so awesome to pray where millions have prayed before. I hope to visit again on our free day when I have more time. It’s awesome to see in person what I have been watching on the internet since April.
We then went to the Temple Mount. This is the man-made surface that is cut out of Mt Zion where the original Temple of Solomon and the second Temple stood. Currently the Mosque or Dome of the Rock is there and the Muslims control it. Tommy showed us where, in his humble but accurate opinion, the Holy of Holies was and the temple. There is room beside the mosque for it to be built. And there is nothing there. It is directly in line with the Eastern Gate where Jesus will come through when he returns.
This gate was sealed over 1000 yrs when Saladin took the city. The Muslims sealed the gate so Jesus couldn’t return through it like cement could hold back the King of Kings.
Then we went the Courtyard of Pilate. It is below where we were. Remember civilizations build on top of other civilizations. The stones were so old and worn down so they looked almost polished. You could see the chariot ruts much like the old wagon wheel ruts on some of the trails in Wyoming. There were markings on the floor where the Roman guards used to play a game with dice. It suggested that maybe this was the place where they gambled for Jesus’ robes.
Next was the Pool of Bethesda. This is a place of healing that many came to. The Bible says when an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; ten whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had. This was the pool where the man who had an infirmity for 38 years was healed by Jesus. He could not go to the pool because he had no one to help him in. I felt like I was standing in the place of so many of my friends who could never be able make this trip because of illnesses they had. What a privilege to pray for each of you there! You know who you are. I love you.
We then went through the Lions gate where Stephen would have been dragged through and on down the street to be stoned and caught our bus.
As we drove to the top of the Mount of Olives you could see the mass of gravestones all over it. The Jews do believe that Messiah will return on the Mount of Olives and that the dead will be risen on that day so all want to be buried there and have been for eons. Our Guide reminded us of the Psalm by David that said Yea, though I walk through the valley of death… Looking down from there into the Kidron Valley you can see that same verse applying here. From our place we could see the entire city of Jerusalem both new and old. It was an amazing view. You could envision Jesus weeping of Jerusalem. He could see it all. Of course, we couldn’t just leave with out riding a camel so we all stood in line for some great photo ops. I wish I could get the pics to you but it just won’t work so you will have to wait until I get home.
For our last stop we had communion in the place that tradition holds is the upper room. Our cups were made of olive wood. It was very moving and special and sweet to share with so many.
I have taken almost 600 pictures now. I still have two days to go. I hope you guys are all saving a few days for lots of teaching. I could do about 2 years worth already.
Love you bunches and wish you could be here. Janet
Everyday just gets better. It’s hard to think we could absorb so much of what we have studied for so many years. Everything comes together. Everything is etched in our minds. I don’t think I will ever read the Bible the same again.
Today we went through many gates in the old city. We started off our day with Psalms 118:21-24 but I want to go to a few verses earlier.
Vs 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise you. For you have answered me. And you have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Our first stop was the Kotel (wailing wall or western wall) It was so awesome to pray where millions have prayed before. I hope to visit again on our free day when I have more time. It’s awesome to see in person what I have been watching on the internet since April.
We then went to the Temple Mount. This is the man-made surface that is cut out of Mt Zion where the original Temple of Solomon and the second Temple stood. Currently the Mosque or Dome of the Rock is there and the Muslims control it. Tommy showed us where, in his humble but accurate opinion, the Holy of Holies was and the temple. There is room beside the mosque for it to be built. And there is nothing there. It is directly in line with the Eastern Gate where Jesus will come through when he returns.
This gate was sealed over 1000 yrs when Saladin took the city. The Muslims sealed the gate so Jesus couldn’t return through it like cement could hold back the King of Kings.
Then we went the Courtyard of Pilate. It is below where we were. Remember civilizations build on top of other civilizations. The stones were so old and worn down so they looked almost polished. You could see the chariot ruts much like the old wagon wheel ruts on some of the trails in Wyoming. There were markings on the floor where the Roman guards used to play a game with dice. It suggested that maybe this was the place where they gambled for Jesus’ robes.
Next was the Pool of Bethesda. This is a place of healing that many came to. The Bible says when an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; ten whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had. This was the pool where the man who had an infirmity for 38 years was healed by Jesus. He could not go to the pool because he had no one to help him in. I felt like I was standing in the place of so many of my friends who could never be able make this trip because of illnesses they had. What a privilege to pray for each of you there! You know who you are. I love you.
We then went through the Lions gate where Stephen would have been dragged through and on down the street to be stoned and caught our bus.
As we drove to the top of the Mount of Olives you could see the mass of gravestones all over it. The Jews do believe that Messiah will return on the Mount of Olives and that the dead will be risen on that day so all want to be buried there and have been for eons. Our Guide reminded us of the Psalm by David that said Yea, though I walk through the valley of death… Looking down from there into the Kidron Valley you can see that same verse applying here. From our place we could see the entire city of Jerusalem both new and old. It was an amazing view. You could envision Jesus weeping of Jerusalem. He could see it all. Of course, we couldn’t just leave with out riding a camel so we all stood in line for some great photo ops. I wish I could get the pics to you but it just won’t work so you will have to wait until I get home.
For our last stop we had communion in the place that tradition holds is the upper room. Our cups were made of olive wood. It was very moving and special and sweet to share with so many.
I have taken almost 600 pictures now. I still have two days to go. I hope you guys are all saving a few days for lots of teaching. I could do about 2 years worth already.
Love you bunches and wish you could be here. Janet
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