Our First Full Day

Our first full day in Israel was a big success.  We began the day in Tel Aviv and after a great breakfast, we boarded the bus and were on the road by 8:30 am.  Our first visit was the ancient city of Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod the Great around 30 BC.  There are several pictures attached.  Our wonderful guide, Lior (whose name means "light" in Hebrew), described for us the ancient architecture, city design, and the incredible construction by the Ancient Romans.  Portions of the aqueduct still survive over 2000 years after it was constructed.  We read from Acts 10 and the baptism of Cornelius, the first Christian convert in Acts, who was baptized in Caesarea Maritima.  The city was constructed in the image of majestic Roman power and survived as a bustling city until well after 1000 AD.

The next stop was Mount Carmel, known for the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Ba'al.  We stood on the top of the mountain and read this powerful story from 1 Kings, after which we had a time of prayer for our church, family, and friends.  We were all moved to stand on the holy ground where the power of God was made known to the people of God thousands of years ago.

Following Mount Carmel, we traveled to Har-Meggido, which means "Armageddon" in Hebrew.  This city is mentioned throughout Scripture, and has been understood by Christians to be the place where the  final confrontation between good and evil would take place.  We enjoyed falafel and schnitzel for lunch, and despite some rain, were able to hike all the way to the top of Meggido, where on a clear day you can see all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.  It is an incredible site, for 29 different civilizations have built and been destroyed on this ground, and for centuries, Meggido has been a place of warfare, prosperity, and worship.

Just a few hours ago, we arrived at the Ron Beach Hotel in Tiberius, on the coast of the Sea of Galilee.  On the way to the hotel, we stopped at the tomb of Rabbi Moses Maimonides and learned about the traditions of Talmud and Mishnah.  We are enjoying our hotel, from which we are overlooking the great Sea, and await a day tomorrow in Nazareth, where we will walk in the footsteps of Christ.

Hope you enjoy the great pictures, and a big thanks to John and Kay Norvell for some wonderful pictures.

Blessings-

Sean Miller