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.
The vista on Mt Arbel is stunning!
Parisian Contradictions: A Big Bus Journey Through the City of Light
Detour to the Iron Age: Finding the “Honey” at Tell Rehov
The steep, grassy slopes of the ancient Tell Rehov mound rising 20 meters above the surrounding fertile plain in the Lower Jordan Valley.
After landing in the Heartland and overnighting in Jerusalem, I pointed my rental car north toward Galilee. The drive up Highway 90 was steady, but the archaeology was calling too loudly to ignore. I pulled off at Tell Rehov (Tel es-Sarem) to stretch my legs and see what the summit had to offer.
Standing on that mound, you realize why it was a powerhouse for centuries. The view overlooking the Lower Jordan Valley is simply unmatched—a strategic vantage point that once controlled the pulse of the region.
But there’s more to this pile of rocks than a good view. The Hebrew University in Jerusalem excavated here between 1997 and 2012 and revealed many aspects of life from the Old Testament, including
The Ancient Apiary: This site yielded the oldest known beehives in the world, dating back nearly 3,000 years
The Anatolian Connection: Scientists found that these ancient beekeepers actually imported “gentler” bees from Turkey to boost their honey production (“designer bees”?).
Prophetic Clues: A pottery shard found here bears the name “Elisha,” leading many to wonder if this was a home base for the biblical prophet himself.
It was the perfect stop before hitting the Sea of Galilee. What would these stones say if they could speak? So many memories!
From Ancient Stones to Living Stones: A Week in Eilabun
Hanna and Lena Eid with yours truly in Eliboun.
A Galilean Ministry
Our journey through the Heartland took a turn from the ancient to the personal this week. After a slow, sun-drenched stop at the summit of Tell Rehov—where the ruins of the world’s oldest apiaries overlook the Jordan Valley—we continued north into the heart of the Galilee.
A Saturday Night to Remember
Eilabun is a place where history isn't just under your feet; it's lived out in the community. Because their congregation meets on Saturday night, we had the distinct privilege of joining them for an evening of worship and encouragement.
There is something moving about sharing a meal and a song in the Galilee. The Eids are truly wonderful people, pouring their hearts into a ministry that serves as a lighthouse in this region. Worshipping with the “living stones”—the people who make up the modern church here—is more profound than the “old stones” that we excavate from the ground.
Partner in the Ministry
If you’ve been following our journey and feel a tug to learn more about the vital work being done here in the Galilee, I encourage you to check out their ministry. Hanna and Lena are doing incredible work through the Christian Holy Land Foundation.
Want to learn more about their ministry? See www.chlf.org
One last bite of the Deutschland!
A grilled German bratwurst with a side of vinegar-based potato salad, sliced radishes, and a bowl of spicy mustard.
I had to say goodbye to Germany, but I wasn't about to go without one final culinary salute. My parting meal? A perfectly grilled bratwurst served alongside Kartoffelsalat (a classic German-style potato salad).
This wasn't just a snack; it was a sensory experience. Loaded with onions and sharp radishes, and accompanied by a generous mustard bowl for heavy sausage-dipping, it was the kind of meal that makes a statement. Let’s just say between the radishes and the onions, neither I nor anyone within a five-mile radius will be forgetting this send-off anytime soon!
A Fall Stop in Aachen, Germany
The train station in Aachen.
Even starting from the train station, it’s clear Aachen is something special. Best known as the final resting place of Charlemagne and a sobering site of heavy WWII combat, the city today feels peaceful, vibrant, and surprisingly lush.
Nestled into rolling forested hills, the landscape here is a bit more robust than the flatter stretches of Belgium. With hints of orange and yellow appearing in the trees, autumn is officially in the air. It’s a beautiful reminder that history—even the "bloody" parts—is eventually reclaimed by the quiet beauty of the seasons.
Why is She Smiling?
There’s the smile we love. And look, there’s Mona Lisa too!
Vicki at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris: Witness to Resilience
Mark and Vicki in Paris.
A stop at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is more than just sightseeing; it’s a witness to resilience. Even as the spire and roof are being painstakingly restored following the 2019 fire, the “Grand Dame” of Paris remains the architectural and spiritual heart of the city.
Standing in the Parvis de Notre-Dame—the literal “Point Zero” from which all distances in France are measured—you can’t help but be struck by the defiant beauty of the twin Gothic towers.
An Archaeologist's Rig (part 74)
Look what my daughter found in the parking lot of her mechanic in Köln, Germany. I just love that girl!
You don’t have to go all the way to Germany or Saudi Arabia to find a sweet ride. Sometimes they are right around the corner. See here.
Delphi: Where Antiquity Meets the Clouds
Panoramic view of the modern village of Delphi nestled into the steep, rugged slopes of the Parnassus mountains in Greece.
The omphalos
To the ancient Greeks, it was the omphalos—the bellybutton of the world! Today, it remains one of the most breathtaking vistas on the planet.
Looking out over the modern community of Delphi, Greece, you see a village perfectly perched in the rugged mountains just west of the world-renowned ruins. There is a mystical quality to this landscape that makes it easy to understand why the ancients chose this specific spot as their most sacred religious center.
Whether you are drawn by the history of the Oracle or the sheer majesty of the mountain peaks, Delphi is a place that stays with you long after you leave.
Will you join us?
I’m already counting down the days until we return to these slopes! We will be back in Greece from April 21 – May 1, 2023, and I would love for you to be part of the journey. Consider this your official invitation to stand at the “center of the world” with us.
From South Florida to East Jerusalem
This one is keeping us hopping!
Scott Eynon and Community Christian Church have come to the Heartland from Fort Lauderdale. Most of our groups hop off the bus and comment on how hot it is here. South Florida folks find it a bit cool.
Mycenae will be a Part of It
The winding trail to the summit of the site of Mycenae, Greece.
Bible Land Explorers are headed back to Greece in 2023! This exclusive journey begins in the North, tracing the Gospel’s arrival through Thessaloniki, Amphipolis, and Philippi.
We’ll then cross Greece’s rugged backbone to witness the breathtaking heights of Meteora and the ancient spirit of Delphi. In the South, history comes alive at Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, and Sparta, before our grand finale in Athens—the classical heart of the world.
Email for details: BibleLandExplorer@gmail.com
An Archaeolgist's Rig (part 41)
“It’s not a car,” he told me with a smile. “It’s a tractor.”
Found this classic Landy and its proud owner in Northern Kentucky.
The Fortress at the End
We said goodbye to the crew of the AmaVerde and stepped to the dock at Budapest. It was the last stop of our cruise along the “Romantic Danube.” We had traveled some 500 miles, approximately one-third of the run of this magnificent river. We had floated through beautiful swaths of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. But now we were down to the final 24 hours.
Jerusalem: The Final Press
Our group is seated on the front stair of the Church of All Nations.
Our group is wrapping up an incredible journey in Jerusalem, preparing to board the bus for the long journey home. For me, this marks the end of an entire tour season—two months abroad that have been as rewarding as they were exhausting.
We spent our final day at the Church of All Nations, which stands in solemn remembrance of the Garden of Gethsemane. The name Gethsemane itself means “oil press,” a place of “pressing.” It felt like a fitting theme as the Mosaic Christian Church group “presses” toward the finish line of their study tour today.
After weeks on the road, I’m ready to trade my backpack for my own front door.
In Vienna: Our Viral Romance
Some people go to Vienna for the coffee, Others for the opera. I scored COVID there.
You expect to catch viruses and diseases in drab German towns like Feuchtwangen (“Moist cheeks”), Kotzen (“Vomit”), or Elend (“Wretchedness”). But no, no, no. Not me. It was during a night in waltzing Vienna that the symptoms struck: deep cough, tight chest, snotted nose, running wife. Vicki glided in 3/4 tempo to the reception desk and fetched a test kit.
Group Shot Exiting Hezekiah's Tunnel
Hezekiah’s Tunnel provided a pleasant reprieve from Jerusalem’s July. Our new friends from Mosaic Christian Church are all in.
Northern Palace, Masada
The Northern Palace at Masada is a magnificent three-tiered “hanging” palace built by King Herod the Great between 37 and 31 BC. It cascades dramatically down the northern edge of a steep cliff. A modern metal stair transports our pilgrims from the Mosaic Christian Church down dizzying heights.
The Dead Sea stretches off in the distance.
Explorers walk the stair down to the lowest tier of the Northern Palace, Masada.
Cycling Through History: A Day in the Wachau Valley, Austria
Lion Cage (Part 1)
Dürnstein may not tickle the eyes as other Danube castles do, but its secrets tickle the imagination— especially for Bible Land explorers. Here, Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned on his way home from the Crusades. How he was captured and how he was released is the stuff of mystery (and music!). Consider his capture here; we’ll save his release for another post.