Capernum, Magdala, and Nazareth

 So on this day, we saw the town of Capernaum with it's 4th century synagogue.  We also visited Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene.  In Nazareth, we drove to the top of the precipice, where the local towns people tried to throw Jesus off of the hill top.

Synagogue at Capernaum

Ruins at Magdala were well preserved.  It was a town that rebelled against the Romans so they Romans destroyed the town and buried it.  When it was discovered, it was well preserved by the sands of time.

View from the precipice showing the town of Nain where Jesus raised a widow's son, and the Mt of Transfiguration.

I love Lew Jones!!!

Our group on the mountain top, the precipice in Nazareth.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

The Mount of the Beatitudes

On this mount, Jesus delivered probably his most famous sermon.  Appropriately entitled, The Sermon on the Mount.  The beatitudes are a part of that sermon found in Matthew 5-7.

the mount overlooks the Sea of Galilee.

Jeff and Sandy Lavelle

Very successful orange tree at the site.

Exterior of the church.  A recent fire has done away with much of the landscaping.  Don't worry, it will all grow back!

Inside of the church

I am going to keep saying this, but this is one of my favorite places to visit.  It is very peaceful!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Sea of Galilee

We started the morning with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

The ancient boat, discovered in 1986, dates from Jesus' time.

Fishermen still cast for the catch on the Sea of Galilee.

Left to right... Mackenzie Viets, Duanna and Tom Mathis, Lois Green, Lew and Donna Jones, Pam Dittmer.  Back row - John and Kim Carlson, Linda Drake, Steve and Stephanie Elkins.

We listened to beautiful music, we sang hymns, and Pastor Sherri gave a very moving message about Jesus calming the storms of life.  Many were moved to tears.  It was a beautiful time.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good. 

Bet She'an

Bet She'an [Schythopolis] was a Roman town during Jesus day.  It is one of the ten cities referred to as part of the Decapolis.   It was the area of the Decopolis where Jesus healed a demoniac.  Mk 5:1-20

There was an earthquake in 749 [the Golan Earthquake] that so devastated the town, that it was largely abandoned and covered over with the sands of time.  Consequently, when the ruins were discovered and unearthed in the 1950's, the city was found to be in very good condition.

Main street where shops would have stood on either side.

Note the sagging steps and fallen columns, a result of the massive earthquake.

Jim Dittmer, Linda and Christine Drake at the ancient pottys.

Jeff and Joni Horn

the ancient theatre.

The dirt covered the theatre up to the top of the first concourse.  The second or upper group of seats, sat out of the ground and was largely scavenged over the years with its stones repurposed by locals.  Today the upper section looks like a framework rubble.

We have a great group on this trip and it has been very rewarding!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Aqueduct

One of my favorite things to see on the Holy Land trip is the remnants of the aqueduct outside of Caesarea.  It originally brought water from Mt. Carmel, about 6 miles away.  The structure is actually 2 aqueducts, side by side, the original one, and then when the city grew, a second one was added.

Mediterranean Sea is in the background.

walking along the edge.

Here you can clearly see the two, side by side.

Water is of course a necessity for any city.  The Romans were brilliant when it came to bringing water over land.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Caesarea by the Sea

Our first stop on the Holy Land tour was Caesarea by the Sea.  I love this town!  It is an ancient port city on the Mediterranean.  It sports an amphitheater, a hippodrome for races, the ruins of a palace and many other things to see.

Our guide, Avi Ben Joseph [in hat] also pictured are Rob and Gail Lundeen, Shirley Early, and Jamie Brigance.

In the amphitheater.

Column cap.  In most sites, the really really cool stuff has been transferred to the antiquities museums.

Hippodrome where chariots and horses raced.  Fantastic things to see!  It is such a blessing to be able to travel.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

self doubt

I think it’s human nature to doubt yourself.  To look back on how you raised your kids and wonder.  To look back on decisions you made and wonder - what if. 

Actually I think that good people have a healthy sense of self doubt.  Those that have no self-doubt I assume just cruise through life, oblivious to the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of others.  

Sometimes it kind of stinks to have self-doubt, but I guess it’s better than being an arrogant self-sufficient person, blind to the feelings of others.

So if you have some self doubt, take care, you are not alone.  Let it steer you into compassionate living.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Quote from a friend

From my friend Bruce:

"Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness."

Maya Angelou

From me... The world can be mean... at least the people in it can be mean.  We don't have to be.  May we be those who continue to show kindness, whether we get it back or not.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Holy Land Trip

 As you read this, I am on an 18 day Holy Land trip with 40 other nice folks.  Although this is my 5th time to the land of Jesus, I am doing something this trip that I have never done before.  I am taking the Egypt/Nile River Cruise extension.  I will get to see some awesome Egyptian temples, museums and the pyramids!!!

While I am out on this trip, I will continue to post the blog.  Some days, the posts will be random thoughts and some will be pictures and experiences from the trip.

Much love to all of you.  I am very excited to be out on this trip!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

How much longer

 So, every year, I put up the Christmas lights on the house, and then I take them down.  Years ago, I started putting instructions on the end of the light strings.  That way, if I am not around, or if I am unable to hang them myself, someone else will know how to do it.

instructions on light string

lights coming down for the year.

generator start up dates

We have a little generator that we keep on hand for hurricanes and other power outage situations.  We have used it several times in the last 6 years.  But, even if you don't use it, you have to start it from time to time to make sure that the new gas is burning out the old.  You don't want your jets to get plugged.

So when I took the lights down a couple weeks ago, I fired up the generator and let it run for 20 minutes.  I wrote the day's date on the log on top of the generator.

And I wonder... how much longer will I get to do these things?  How many more Christmases?  How many more sunrises?  How many more days of daily breath???

This is not a morbid thought, this is the thought of someone [me] who is working very hard to appreciate and celebrate every single day that we are given.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

the shopping cart

When I go to the store I always park as close as I can at the shopping cart corral, even if it is a bit out in the parking lot. That way I can take a cart into the store. When I do this, I feel like I’m helping the employees. I also get to test the cart to see if it has a bad wheel and if so it gets rejected. And then the third reason I like to grab a cart is because I can use it as a walker. I am going to have my knee replaced later this year, and I need to get the hang of the walker.

When you go to the store, take a cart in with you. It is just a nice thing to do.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Bearing up under a difficult time

We all have difficult times.  Some are more difficult than others.

Someone is waiting for retirement.

Someone is waiting for a medical procedure.
Someone is waiting for probation to be over.
Someone is waiting for an ornery relative to move out.
Someone is waiting for their tax return.
Someone is waiting for their mean boss to retire.

Sometimes, the things that we bear seem to be a difficult load.  Correct that... sometimes, the things that we bear, are a difficult load.

Keep this in mind.  Each day that passes, you are one day closer to the end.  Each day that you tollerate and survive, you are one day closer to what you are hoping for.

I am not a fan of wishing a day away, but sometimes, it brings comfort to know that we are one day closer.  In the mean time, it is a beautiful day in God's world and no matter what you are facing, do your very best to keep seeing the good.

It's a miracle

People like to talk about miracles.

Some years ago, I was listening to one of my favorite Pastors, Hubert Neth, and he said something that stuck with me.  He said something that I am thinking about more and more as I grow older.  I have thought about it a lot since Damar Hamlin had his cardiac arrest incident on national TV.

Hubert said, "you want to hear about a miracle, I'll tell you a miracle, this heart right here [points to his chest] has been beating non stop for 78 years.  That is 100,000 beats per day, 35 million beats per year and multiply that times your age and you get a total.  An enormous total.  You want to hear about a miracle??? That is a miracle."

And so, I am a young 65.  But I think about the hard work that my heart does every day.  And I am very thankful for it.  I am keenly and clearly aware that there is a miracle happening in my body, 24 hours a day, every day.

Thank you God for a beating heart.  It is a miracle.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I can never catch a break

I was checking out in the self service kiosk at Walmart...  No I did not have more than 10 items!!!  A man at another checkout evidently encountered a problem.  I overheard him say, "I can never catch a break."

I thought about that...  We are more apt to see what  is wrong, then to see what is right.  Can't catch a break?  He was basically a healthy person.  Standing up, seeing with his eyes, fluent in his language, and normal looking.  His shopping cart included all four food groups and more.

And you can't catch a break?

We need to be happy for the small things.

I woke up.  I can see.  The roof leak is over the garage, not the kitchen.  My family is speaking to me.  I have a few friends.  I can hear.  My car starts [the truck is out of commission, but the car starts.]  I have a college degree.  My friend came to town for a visit.

I can't catch a break?  Sounds like I have caught lots of breaks.

May we stop asking what is wrong and focus instead on what is right.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.  And there is a lot of it out there. 

 

Just a simple, kind word.  Something easy to find.  It doesn't have to be complicated or hard, just a nice word.

Say it.

When you do, people will remember you.  They will note that you are one of the few that were a blessing to them at their last encounter.

One small kind word will create a giant explosion in the heart of the recipient.  Go ahead, make someone's day.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I don't agree

I don't agree.  I don't agree with you.  I hear that from time to time.

Here is my response... 

That is fine!  We don't have to agree.  We don't have to see the world the same.  We can disagree and still go to church together.  We can disagree and still be friends.

Disagreeing does not mean that we have to be disagreeable.  Lots of different kinds of fish swim in the sea.  We are not the same and we don't have to be the same.

I love you and I celebrate you.  We don't have to agree on everything to be people of love.  In fact, people of love welcome others, whether they agree or not.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

On their deathbed

I have been there when many people have died.  I have watched the process of many Christians as they close in on their final moments.

Gracious Christ followers always seem to end their journey in peace.  They know that they are going home.

Arrogant people?  What do they think about on their deathbed?  I have watched people fight the inevitable.  I have watched them square off with God, as if they were going to win this final battle.  But they don't.  It doesn't matter how full of yourself you can be in this life, death has the final word.  We are not after all, "all that."

I have watched believers face death, wondering and hoping that they believed it right.  I have watched people who feared God in their life, really fear God on their death bed.

To me, the best equation for a peaceful passing is this.  Follow Jesus in this life by living a life of kindness.  Don't worry about the details or you will worry about them forever.  Follow Jesus and trust God.  Believe that God loves you.  He is not out to get you on a technicality.

The deathbed is coming for all of us.  May you and I be granted a transition of love, grace and peace.  And that comes from finding the love, grace and peace in this life while we are yet alive.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

to believe or to follow

Christians like to use words like "believe" and "follow."

I would suggest to you today that it is much easier to believe in Jesus than to follow him.  There are all kinds of minimal ways that we can believe, and I think that is ok.  The thief on the cross believed, and that was enough.  If that was enough, then I think we make way too much out of "believing it just right."

Following on the other hand, is a different story.  You can believe but not follow, and many Christians do just that.  They believe in Jesus, but they do not follow his ways of love, inclusion and justice.  If Christians shy away from the poor, if they neglect the needy, if they care only for those like themselves, are they following the way of Jesus?  If they separate the world into the good ones vs the bad ones, are they following the way of Jesus?

I said it a week ago.  Followers follow.  I would like to believe in Jesus just enough so that I chose to follow in his paths.  I want to spend  my time and energy evaluating my practice of following, not my inventory of beliefs.

Are you a believer or a follower?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Healing

This is a blog post in praise of the body's innate ability to heal itself.  I think that we take this for granted, but the body has an amazing ability to repair itself.

Cuts heal over and you never know they were there.  Bad cuts heal with a scar.  We fight off a cold.  And then there are the spider bites.

Last month, I stayed in a hotel and was attacked in my sleep by one or more, possibly a family of spiders.

fresh bites, just starting to itch.

bite on old man's leg

Oh, my, how these bites itched!!!

After about a week, I could tell that my body was winning the battle against the spider venom.  Today, two weeks plus after the attack, I still have the scabs, but I am 99.9% whole.

I just want to give thanks to God for the human body's ability to heal itself.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.