Hanging in Israel--1

A group of about 18 of us, most of us from Grace, left Phoenix on Monday evening for a journey to Israel. After a 10 hour flight to London we headed into the city on a very cold, blustery, raining afternoon for what turned out to be a quick, cold walk.

After another 5 hours to Israel, we landed in Tel Aiv at 5 am. That meant a long day to stay up!

Our hotel was on the Mediterranean Ocean so quite lovely. About 3 miles down the coast is the ancient city of Jaffa (or Joppa in some Bibles). It was from Jaffa that Jonah boarded a ship to run away from God. It was in Jaffa that Peter, staying at Simon the Tanner's house, healed Tabitha. The Roman Centurion Cornelius sent some men down from Caesarea to Jaffa (at the request of an angel). While they were on the way Peter, in Jaffa, had a dream about unclean animals. God used that dream to remind Peter that the Gentiles are not unclean. Peter went from Jaffa to Caesarea to visit with Cornelius who ended up becoming a Christian.

The next day we headed up to Caesarea ourselves. It's a fascinating ruin on the Sea built by Herod the great. The Theatre still stands, as does the Hippodrome. You can see some of the amazing outlines of his palace. Paul would have been held here before being sent off to Rome. Pilate spent much of his time here while governing Jerusalem.

We also visited Mt. Carmel where Elijah took on the prophets of bail in a contest to see who was God. God won hands down. Then, finally, off to Megiddo, a tel (a hill made up of one city being built up on top of another.) We can see the gates from the time of Solomon. Other buildings from the time of King Ahab. Plus a very, very cool underground water system.

For the next several days we're staying on a Kibutz, run by very orthodox Jews. A beautiful place right on the Sea of Galilee.