Hoefling Exodus Tour 11/9/07
http://picasaweb.google.com/rambopreacher/Exodus119
Friday, November 9
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride, Capernaum, Peter’s Primacy, Mount of Beatitudes, Casearea Philippi, Golan Heights and Jordan River Baptism
7:30 wakeup, 8:00 breakfast, 8:45 start
First overcast day here – amazing how chilly it gets if the sun is not out. Very busy day ahead.
Our first stop today is at the Temple of Pan, which is dedicated to many gods, and is said to be the location that Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock of the church. (Jesus = Petra – the rock; Peter = Petros – a piece of this rock). The setting is a cliff from where many niches have been carved to honor different idols. Jesus asked His apostles “Who do you say that I am?” at this spot, to distinguish between the false gods and the True Savior.
Pastor Reyes talked about taking the message out to our friends and families, and three women accepted tot Lord as their Savior at this location. This is also where the well that is the start of the Jordan waters is located.
After leaving these gardens, we went to the Mount of Beatitudes for a sermon on the poor in spirit (not needing worldly things, but recognizing they need the Holy Spirit daily – they shall see God).
Next, we went to the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberius, where Jesus called the apostles. We took a boat ride across the sea, stopping halfway across to work and praise God for all His works. The sun shone on us while we were in the middle of the sea – one of the few times it was out this day. Beautiful ride – songs and dancing. The crew of the boat were from Spain, and they enjoyed our company.
Lunch was on the sea – family style: salad, fries, fish, soup and dessert.
As we travel to different sites today, our tour guide Salo shared a great deal on the history y of Jews in Israel, and on other inhabitants of the land. Most of the region we were in was previously thousands of acres of swampland, which was drained and became the agricultural center for the country. Land was given by the government – if you planted Olive trees, the ground was your to occupy and harvest. Olive and banana groves are very common. There are many fruit orchards, too.
Our last stop for the day was at the Jordan River for a baptism service. Almost half of the 73 people in our group were baptized or renewed their baptism in the Jordan, including Brent and me. It appeared to be a very religious experience that took your breath away – but the looks on our faces were less of awe than of sheer reaction to the temperature of the water – BRRR!!!
Shopping and back to the hotel tonight
BANISHED DEMONS INTO PIGS?
My notes:
In Casearea Philippi, the Temple of Pan was a cliff side area where Jesus probably asked his disciples who He is. and Where Peter told Him that He is the Christ. when Jesus tells Peter that he is "Petros" and on Petra, he will build the church. the innuendo is more clear among the rock carvings and cliff area.
Something that I wasn't expecting was that at this location, there were 3 women that accepted Christ as Savior from our group. it was an amazing experience.
The ruins of Banias is a wonderful site. I only wish we had more information on the Hellenistic period, the last years BC when it was settled. In ancient times, it was a giant spring, gushing from a cave in the rock, which is the source of the stream Nahal Senir. The Jordan River arises from this spring and two others at the base of Mount Hermon.
From here, we went to the Mount of Beatitudes area. the garden was again, beautiful. As we were lead to the garden and sat at a staging area, we listened to a sermon about the sermon, and was semi-interrupted by a nun (yes, a church at this site too), that was telling us that we had to leave because they were closing. I believe what that meant was that they were actually getting ready to have a service, and didn't want us being loud out in the garden while they had their internal service. but I am just guessing. :)
when we went to the shore of the Kineret (Sea of Galilee, lake Tiberius, etc, all the same place) the way to the port/dock was a kewl flowing "aqueduct". my pictures show this. the scenery was gorgeous at the lake and shorelines etc. some of my pictures show in the Google maps that they were taken from the middle of the lake. yes, we were on a boat.
An interesting "coincidence" was that as part of this boat trip, we stopped about half way across, and had a praise and worship type service. lots of rejoicing and praising God. the interesting thing is that the day had been overcast all morning, and yet about when we stopped to have some talk and praise, the clouds split apart and the sun seemed to shine on us in the middle of the lake. Maybe super-spiritualizing, but I believe that God was showing us His hand, as Jesus calmed the storm on this very same area in the first century.
We then got back on the buses and drove to the area that is said to be the location where John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. I don't believe that it matters where you are baptized. I don't even believe that God's Word teaches that we MUST be baptised in order to have salvation. but I do believe (as in paying the tithe), that it is something that a Christian should do.
I have been baptized before. It was an amazing feeling to be baptized in Israel, and especially in the Jordan River, not to mention the same area that Jesus might have been baptized. The significance is that the Jordan represents "death" and the Israelites crossed death into life when they entered the promised land. The Christian symbolism is strong here as well.
As I believe that the act is not an actual cleansing of original sin, nor is it some other kind of cleansing of sin, but I believe that this is an outward, public expression of being Christian. As Christ had died, "buried", and rose from the dead, so too, we associate with that by dying, being burred, and raised from that death in the Jordan river in Baptism.
I know that this is a doctrinal issue for many, but for me it was a special time of renewal in my faith. As I mentioned earlier about the sun shining through, this time, about the time we were baptised (Mary and I went in at the same time, there were three pastors baptising at the same time), it began to rain. did I tell you that the last time I was baptized at Grays lake in Des Moines, Iowa, that it began to rain their as well, and the time before that at Easter lake, it began to rain their as well. Interesting.
Friday, November 9
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride, Capernaum, Peter’s Primacy, Mount of Beatitudes, Casearea Philippi, Golan Heights and Jordan River Baptism
7:30 wakeup, 8:00 breakfast, 8:45 start
First overcast day here – amazing how chilly it gets if the sun is not out. Very busy day ahead.
Our first stop today is at the Temple of Pan, which is dedicated to many gods, and is said to be the location that Jesus told Peter that he would be the rock of the church. (Jesus = Petra – the rock; Peter = Petros – a piece of this rock). The setting is a cliff from where many niches have been carved to honor different idols. Jesus asked His apostles “Who do you say that I am?” at this spot, to distinguish between the false gods and the True Savior.
Pastor Reyes talked about taking the message out to our friends and families, and three women accepted tot Lord as their Savior at this location. This is also where the well that is the start of the Jordan waters is located.
After leaving these gardens, we went to the Mount of Beatitudes for a sermon on the poor in spirit (not needing worldly things, but recognizing they need the Holy Spirit daily – they shall see God).
Next, we went to the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberius, where Jesus called the apostles. We took a boat ride across the sea, stopping halfway across to work and praise God for all His works. The sun shone on us while we were in the middle of the sea – one of the few times it was out this day. Beautiful ride – songs and dancing. The crew of the boat were from Spain, and they enjoyed our company.
Lunch was on the sea – family style: salad, fries, fish, soup and dessert.
As we travel to different sites today, our tour guide Salo shared a great deal on the history y of Jews in Israel, and on other inhabitants of the land. Most of the region we were in was previously thousands of acres of swampland, which was drained and became the agricultural center for the country. Land was given by the government – if you planted Olive trees, the ground was your to occupy and harvest. Olive and banana groves are very common. There are many fruit orchards, too.
Our last stop for the day was at the Jordan River for a baptism service. Almost half of the 73 people in our group were baptized or renewed their baptism in the Jordan, including Brent and me. It appeared to be a very religious experience that took your breath away – but the looks on our faces were less of awe than of sheer reaction to the temperature of the water – BRRR!!!
Shopping and back to the hotel tonight
BANISHED DEMONS INTO PIGS?
My notes:
In Casearea Philippi, the Temple of Pan was a cliff side area where Jesus probably asked his disciples who He is. and Where Peter told Him that He is the Christ. when Jesus tells Peter that he is "Petros" and on Petra, he will build the church. the innuendo is more clear among the rock carvings and cliff area.
Something that I wasn't expecting was that at this location, there were 3 women that accepted Christ as Savior from our group. it was an amazing experience.
The ruins of Banias is a wonderful site. I only wish we had more information on the Hellenistic period, the last years BC when it was settled. In ancient times, it was a giant spring, gushing from a cave in the rock, which is the source of the stream Nahal Senir. The Jordan River arises from this spring and two others at the base of Mount Hermon.
From here, we went to the Mount of Beatitudes area. the garden was again, beautiful. As we were lead to the garden and sat at a staging area, we listened to a sermon about the sermon, and was semi-interrupted by a nun (yes, a church at this site too), that was telling us that we had to leave because they were closing. I believe what that meant was that they were actually getting ready to have a service, and didn't want us being loud out in the garden while they had their internal service. but I am just guessing. :)
when we went to the shore of the Kineret (Sea of Galilee, lake Tiberius, etc, all the same place) the way to the port/dock was a kewl flowing "aqueduct". my pictures show this. the scenery was gorgeous at the lake and shorelines etc. some of my pictures show in the Google maps that they were taken from the middle of the lake. yes, we were on a boat.
An interesting "coincidence" was that as part of this boat trip, we stopped about half way across, and had a praise and worship type service. lots of rejoicing and praising God. the interesting thing is that the day had been overcast all morning, and yet about when we stopped to have some talk and praise, the clouds split apart and the sun seemed to shine on us in the middle of the lake. Maybe super-spiritualizing, but I believe that God was showing us His hand, as Jesus calmed the storm on this very same area in the first century.
We then got back on the buses and drove to the area that is said to be the location where John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. I don't believe that it matters where you are baptized. I don't even believe that God's Word teaches that we MUST be baptised in order to have salvation. but I do believe (as in paying the tithe), that it is something that a Christian should do.
I have been baptized before. It was an amazing feeling to be baptized in Israel, and especially in the Jordan River, not to mention the same area that Jesus might have been baptized. The significance is that the Jordan represents "death" and the Israelites crossed death into life when they entered the promised land. The Christian symbolism is strong here as well.
As I believe that the act is not an actual cleansing of original sin, nor is it some other kind of cleansing of sin, but I believe that this is an outward, public expression of being Christian. As Christ had died, "buried", and rose from the dead, so too, we associate with that by dying, being burred, and raised from that death in the Jordan river in Baptism.
I know that this is a doctrinal issue for many, but for me it was a special time of renewal in my faith. As I mentioned earlier about the sun shining through, this time, about the time we were baptised (Mary and I went in at the same time, there were three pastors baptising at the same time), it began to rain. did I tell you that the last time I was baptized at Grays lake in Des Moines, Iowa, that it began to rain their as well, and the time before that at Easter lake, it began to rain their as well. Interesting.
posted by RamboPreacher | 5:28 AM
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