NT memories suggest the road to Damascus is a transformational place.
Remembering the Biblical Story
How do you remember the story the Bible tells? Try this: BeeP SLoWLy JaKe CaRRieS CoCoa
Under Bethphage
The Arab community of Bethphage stands over the village with the same name from the biblical period. Downslope, tombs are found in the trees.
Bus Wash
That coach sparkles for a reason.
My Coffee Struggles
Where to find good coffee in an Israeli hotel.
Pool of Siloam
Current excavations at the public pool mentioned in John 9.
All Greened Up
The winter rains have “greened” the area around Khirbet Qumran. It’s a perfect moment for a group shot, taken on a trail just below Cave 1 where the first set of the Dead Sea Scrolls was found. Among the set was “the Great Isaiah Scroll,” the oldest complete copy of the book of Isaiah (ca. 100 BC).
Shenanigans in East Jerusalem
Friends for life: Ibrahim and Maha Abu-Rakabeh (and Barbara Serago too!)
The Birthplace of John the Baptist
Visit Ein Kerem, a lovely Jerusalem community remembered for its famous son.
The Great Sea
The Mediterranean in perspective.
Old City Pizza
Eat lunch in Jerusalem’s oldest pizzeria.
Acacia Tree!
The acacia tree is an example of resilience in the desert. This one helps us understand the texts of Exodus and Joel.
Hebrew Humor
Sign and slogan: “Burgerim: Always More than One.”
Sigh.
Hey, that Rami Assali!
Christian HolyLand Foundation
Notes from Matt Nance, Director of the Christian HolyLand Foundation:
I‘ve been home for 3 weeks and can’t stop thinking about our amazing Holy Land Pilgrimage! I teamed up with David Mullins for pastoral support and Mark Ziese for amazing archaeological and biblical scholarship, this was the dream team with myself just paying the bills, making sure all the coffee was drank, and walking in the back to catch the stragglers.
For many, a trip to the Holy Land is the ’Trip of a Lifetime,’ but sadly not all trips are the same, many just churn through tourists for the money.
We really try to do things right.
1. Firstly our trips don’t make money. Missional Pilgrimages are an essential part of our ministry strategy.
2. We keep groups small to allow for genuine relationships to form and not overwhelm interactions with local folks.
3. Instead of rushing from site to site to see as much as we possibly can, we follow a more relaxed itinerary that seeks to soak experiences in.
4. We combine world-class teaching with authentic cultural experiences and transformative missional engagement with local believers.
5. We get off the ’tourist trail’ and engage everyday life alongside the folks who live in the land today.
Walking across Galilee
Our Jesus Trail group on the last hill of the day. The Galilean village of Kfar Cana is in view. Photo by John Christy.
Group Photo in the Bath
Villa action. The gang visiting Herod’s bath. Herodion, Palestine.
Nun-crafted Spaghetti
We enjoyed a fine spaghetti lunch at the Casanova in Bethlehem. Nun-crafted home-made Italian pasta with tiny Jericho bananas for desert.
Jericho Lunch
Stopping in Jericho for lunch. In the fine company of Clair and Rami.
Maryland in the Heartland
Joe Wilson and friends arrived in the Heartland last night. Today we captured the view from Mt Arbel! I think they're gonna be a good bunch.
Tell Rehov
Arrived in the Heartland last night. Spent the night in Jerusalem and headed north to Galilee in a rental car. Since the day was slow and the archaeology was beckoning, I made a stop at Tell Rehov, climbed to the summit, and sniffed around.
What a wonderful view to the Lower Jordan Valley!
