Blog Post for February 22

We have had quite a week.  Our plan has been to take periodic road trips to other parts of Israel.  This week was our first.  Avis has a car rental place here so we took off for three days in a bright red Mitsubishi.

On Monday we traveled to Nain, where Jesus raised  the widow's son in Luke 7:11-15.  Two interesting notes about Nain.  The directions to the village said go to the McDonalds and turn right!  Can you believe it?  Then once we entered the village the church celebrating the miracle sits in the shadow of a mosque.  We could not enter the church because of construction. 

Next we took off on a 28 kilometer ride along the Gilboa Ridge.  Mt. Gilboa was the site where Saul and his sons were killed in battle.  It parallels the Jezreel Valley and every turn was filled with incredible views and wildflowers!

We traveled down the Ridge to the ancient city of Beth Shean.  This is the location where the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were taken and hung on the city walls.  A classic example of a Roman city.  A key city in the Decapolis in Jesus' day.  On the hillside they have discovered twenty layers of sediment that include ruins from a Roman fortress, and Egyptian governor's home and a fortress built by David and Solomon!  Incredible sense of biblical perspective and context.  To know that on this spot Solomon guarded this valley.

We spent the night in a Kibbutz north of Nazareth, but that is another story and another blog. Coming soon!

Saturday morning I will be speaking at the mid-year meeting of the Association of Baptist Churches in Israel. Will be a great opportunity to meet the pastors and church leaders.

We appreciate your prayers.  Pray for the financial challenges facing the Seminary.  Pray for the people we have met and have shared with.  Pray for the pastors and churches in Israel.