I put this together for a lesson I gave at the women's ministry meeting Thursday. Even though these pictures were taken in 2005, the collage is new and I thought you might enjoy seeing it. From top left and around: Ceasarea Philippi (The Gates of Hell); Foundation stones of two synagogues in Capernaum- the dark stones are from the time of Jesus; Windows of the Church of the Holy Sepulchure which overlook Golgotha; The Dome of the Rock and Jerusalem; The Great Theater at Ceasarea Maritima; The Spring of Dan which is one of 3 at the head of the Jordan River; The Western Wall; The Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem; Ann on Ann St., Jerusalem; The Dead Sea; St. Peter's Fish from the Sea of Galilee (we call it Talapia); The Shrine of the Book, Israel Museum, where the scroll of Isaiah is on display (Dead Sea Scrolls); Jeff standing by one of the foundation stones of the Temple Mount platform; A model of Jeroboam II 's illegitimate altar in Dan; The Jordan River; The Garden of Gethsamane; and in the center- sunset on the Sea of Galilee.
Great collage! And such a great opportunity to walk the same places that Jesus and His disciples walked! I hope to go one day. I have been to Rome before and that was awesome to see the prison of where Peter and Paul had both spent time and to see the Colosseum where a lot of Christians died for their faith.
@bkbinthecity Thanks bkb. My talk featured reactions people have to the land of Israel and highlighted some of the famous people who've been there- past and present (Mark Twain, Hannah Hunard, Egeria- who was a 4thc. nun, Helena- the mother of Constantine, Kathryn Kenyon, Bruce Fieler, and of course- moi!). Each person comes to the land expecting something or with a certain perdisposition and walk away with that either being confirmed or changed. For me, I gained a deeper connection to the people and places of the Bible. Now when I read about a place or person, in my mind's eye I can see it. I was so blessed to have been there, not once, but three times while studying in two seperate programs. That's it in a nutshell!
@annaruth Anna if you can go- GO!! Before I went, people would say to me, "Oh, you'll never read the Bible the same way again!" and I'd inwardly roll my eyes. Now I realize how true that is. But more than that I have a deeper connection to my faith than I ever did before. It's hard to explain- but it's somehow more meaningful. God's Word is about REAL people in REAL places. It's not a fairly tale. That is so significant. I've also been to Greece following the footsteps of Paul and Lord willing, I'd like to go to Rome someday. That must have been so powerful.
@digitalrn I probably sound like a broken record- if you can go Rick-GO!! It's wonderful and as I told Pam- it is very safe in spite of what the media tries to tell you.
