Hiking Israel

Amish Laker Fan in Berlin Ohio

2012-01-22T07:52:00.000-05:00

A glance back to the hike!

2010-07-04T07:11:00.001-04:00

I'd be ready for another in the Jordan River! Blessed be the Lord our God for he hath gotten us the victory through Jesus Christ his son!

Interesting Reading

2010-05-10T06:59:00.000-04:00

Last week I was studying in Acts 17 and came across some interesting findings about the early church. After reading I decided to search the idols of Athens on the internet. I found some interesting websites. The first shocker was the idol named Nike, the goddess of victory.

http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/ephesus.pdf

Also remember when RVL was telling us about the plagues of Egypt and that every on was to show their gods that He alone is God. Here is a nice piece of reading about it.

http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/history/gods_of_egypt.pdf

Trying this blog again

2010-05-08T07:47:00.001-04:00

I have been having issues trying to paste a video clip on here for several month. I will keep trying! RVL send me an email with the opportunity to have people from church go to Israek in September. I was able to recruit 8 people and wish I was number 9!

All is well at the Weaver home. God has been so merciful to allow me to be tried in the fire this spring. I praise him for keeping his hand on me!

City Gates video

2010-01-29T06:47:00.003-05:00

Leaving Chicago with a group of believers eager to learn more about our wonderful Messiah. We arrive in Amman Jordan and change planes and head back over to Israel. We get a few winks of sleep and off to the hike. Day one we visited this tel and we heard a teaching on city gates.

wooooow

2010-01-24T08:12:00.001-05:00

I suddenly realized I haven't updated in 2 month. SORRY, video coming up! Been blessed with Paul's writing to the Romans in chapter 9 verses 15-17. God wants to show himself strong! Keep seeking the mercy of God!

RVL in Sugarcreek Ohio

2009-11-01T15:10:00.005-05:00

Every session was packed with people. Thursday evening we had around 930 in attendance. Friday evening we had around 1050. We had seating for around 700 in the main auditorium we set up video feed into another room for around 230 people plus the main foyer had over 100 people.

On Saturday morning in a rainstorm we had people at the outside door waiting to get in 2 hours before the service started. At eight o'clock we opened the door and these pictures were taken once they got into the building. On Saturday we fed around 800 people lunch in a large tent on the outside.

Many people traveled from afar to hear from the Word of God! The states represented are California, Montana, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and all over Ohio! God blessed us so richly with all these brothers and sisters. The lessons were so vividly imprinted into our hearts!

RVL in Sugarcreek Ohio

2009-11-01T08:00:00.002-05:00

It's been over a year since we we walked and learned from RVL and now the doors opened in Sugarcreek for us all to ones again hear him teach us from the Bible. On Thursday evening we had around 950 people. I hope to put some video of this event on youtube next week. Check back!

We had a tremendous response from the community. I almost didn't get the ushers there in time as people were coming already an hour before the event started on Thursday evening.

Pictures of the Israelites!

2009-10-13T19:07:00.002-04:00

Day 12 Jerusalem

2009-10-13T18:55:00.004-04:00

Last day scenes of Jerusalem! Mt of Olives, Eastern gate, Garden of Gethsemane. What great memories!!

Day 11 Jerusalem

2009-10-05T21:50:00.003-04:00

I don't think anybody in our group will ever forget our first day in the city on the beginning of the Sabbath!

Day 11

2009-10-01T07:03:00.004-04:00

This morning we moved to Jerusalem. We hiked to the top of Mt Carmel to find out the bus wasn't there to pick us up. We hiked back down. Elijah must have been pretty well built. My knee still hurts today from that trek. We left this area and stopped by to visit these nice gardens before we ended up in Jerusalem. These olive trees may have been there back in Jesus time.

Day 10 Continued.........

2009-09-20T07:02:00.004-04:00

This day has been so packed full. From an unplanned stop by the hillside to have a lesson on the sower and continued to the threshing floor, the nice fields of boundaries and then to the stone quarry. We stopped for a session at the winepress and had the girls dance. That was special!! We had a lesson under the trees but can't recall the lesson. Next we visited another one of Herod's buildings.

We left this place and headed to Capernaum and visited the place were Jesus lived. We walked up the hill by the groves of bananas. What else am I missing for this power packed day??

One Year Anniversary!

2009-09-07T21:22:00.003-04:00

A year ago this was us! We were in Chicago heading to Israel for a wonderful study trip to the land of the Bible. These pictures came from Terry, Spencer, Levi and Anne!

Day 10 Continued.........

2009-09-07T21:16:00.003-04:00

After the sower, the thrashing floor we got to the possible (carpenters shop) new thought on the work traits of our Messiah!

Day 10 Continued.........

2009-08-31T20:41:00.003-04:00

The second part of our day was outside of Bethlehem if I recall correctly. We passed some nice Olive Trees and our teacher broke off a few twigs and took them along to the top of a hill (threshing floor). I couldn't find a picture of this so maybe I'll try and convert a video file.

We walked a ways and got another nice picture of the land dividers aka rocks and path. Anybody remember specific lessons from here?

Day 10 The sower

2009-08-19T21:10:00.004-04:00

I recall jumping passionately on the bus for another day of learning. As we drove east from the nice restful hotel like the day before, no idea where we go but convinced another day we wouldn't want to be left behind. All of a sudden we hear the sounds something like this, "It seems the Lord has other plans, pull over stop the bus!" Getting 50 people to vacate the bus and cross a busy highway is a challenge.
This morning the traffic was heavy as the children of Israel aka Joe tried to cross together. You kidding me, half the group was down the other side by the time us taggers finally got to cross over.
Anybody remember the wonder lessons we learned here? Remember those guys trying to dig and carry out a rock? How about some comments on the lesson of the sower.

Day 9 Decapolis Cont...

2009-07-14T06:56:00.004-04:00

We left Decapolis and took a short hike up to the top of the hill where once was a city overlooking the sea of Galilee called Susita. Here we enjoyed a beautiful sunset along with a time of praying for some of our friends and families who have not experienced freedom from the bondage of Satan.

This hillside was very possible the place where the demon possessed man met Yeshua and was delivered from his bondage.

Day 9 Decapalis continued...

2009-06-24T11:28:00.004-04:00

One of my great memories of this place was the ICE CREAM bars!!! Also the large coliseum left some not so memories imprinted in my mind. I had to think of the one in Rome where so many of my brothers gave their life for our precious saviour!

Here the heat was intense at around 120 degrees. This city was destroyed by an earthquake. One has to wonder if it was the wrath of Almighty God!

Day 9 Jordan River and Decapolis

2009-05-29T06:10:00.004-04:00

After leaving the Jordan River Ray spotted a Mustard Tree. We had a lesson on the tiny seeds of the Mustard and if we had that much faith. If I recall that story, Ray talked about the nature of the Mustard plants.

After walking back the trails, we got on the bus headed around the sea of Galilee and past the hill of the Gadarenes. After a long ride south we were dropped off at the back entrance of Beth-Shean. I should have put a video clip in here since Ray accused us of nobody taking picture till be got on top of the hill. I actually took video of the hills behind us where Saul went to visit a witch before we got to the ruins.

It was a nice approach to come in from the back side and see the ruins of this Hellenistic city. One of the most amazing things about this city is how in the world did they get these columns upright? Move them? Anybody remember the approx weight? Even by today's standards it's nearly impossible to move them.

The soul of man is very wicked and his spirit which is dormant needs to be birthed again through Jesus Christ so the soul is under the power of Holy Spirit of God and not in bondage to the flesh. The soul of man has a lot of power and needs to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit and not the flesh. The soul of man can do many great things.....mind, will, emotions. Soul power or Spirit power?

Day 9 Jordan

2009-05-13T06:31:00.003-04:00

Remember the hiking bags at the chow hall by Galilee? This morning was so refreshing as we all jumped into the Jordan river. I still have 2 stones from there. How can you forget Verna's facial expression after she was baptized in the river Jordan. Seeing Vernon and Verna both becoming Anabaptist was a special moment. Let me share this wonderful Quote;
"Trials=Uncomfortable Grace.....God will take you where you do not want to go to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own!"

pan video

2009-04-13T18:40:00.003-04:00

I vividly remember this disgusting place.

Day 9 Continued

2009-04-13T17:38:00.003-04:00

Now we are in Cesarea Phillipi. What happened here. What event happened here when Jesus and the disciples came here.

Day 9 Gamla Continued

2009-03-30T05:40:00.002-04:00

From Gamla we traveled through some military danger zones along the Syrian borders. We arrived at a placed that was wired shut. Of course Ray found a hole to walk into a Tel that was currently being excavated. Amazing how so many years ago they cut these columns and collars. The fancy hand chiseling is simply amazing. I don't remember much about these places. The scenes here are between Gamla and Cesarea Philipi. Perhaps somewhere along the road to Damascus and by the Via Maras. Many people possibly traveled through here including Jesus and the Disciples.

Rod challenging us from the word of God

2009-03-22T22:38:00.003-04:00

I loved his analogy of church is like a locker room. It's were we meet to pull together and get encouraged to fight the real battles out in the world!

More of Grand Rapids

2009-03-22T22:33:00.004-04:00

We had such wonderful fellowship. We were so challenged by the preached word on faith. Saturday evening after church we had snacks and fellowship at Chuck's house. We attended the 11 am service this morning and then went back to chuck's house for pizza. We had such a great time. Greg and Josiah were also there.

Grand Rapids, Mi

2009-03-22T22:27:00.002-04:00

As most of you know, Friday was the big day for Lewis. He got married in Rosebush Michigan. Joe and Ina were invited to the wedding and had a way up. We decided to go up Saturday and bring them back. We had a most wonderful fellowship with Rod's and Chuck's! We were so richly blessed! I decided to post pictures of our time together!

Greetings from Grand Rapids

2009-03-22T08:48:00.002-04:00

We had the wonderful privilege of surprising Rod and Libby last night in church. Rosetta, Greg and our family attended the Saturday evening service. He was surprised! He preached on Abraham and the visual was there.

After the service we went to Chuck and Brenda's house for snacks and fellowship. Joe, Ina and Josiah met us there for the evening.

Look me up on facebook for a few pictures!

Day 9 Gamla

2009-03-15T22:29:00.003-04:00

This morning we headed to the east side of the sea of Galilee. This place is called Gamla. Here a very sad war was fought. Who did battle here? Who was the traitor? What sect of people died here? History tells us a large stream of blood flowed down this mountain during a horrific battle that wiped out the whole sect of Jewish people. How long did the battle last? You guys remember this?

Day 8 Sea of galilee

2009-03-08T22:17:00.004-04:00

After the Mt Arbel excursion, we took the bus over to the coasts of the sea of Galilee. After a lesson by the sea, we hiked this mini mountain called Aramas Toppos. Here is where they believe Jesus taught the beatitudes. After this we went to Chorazin and got to sit in Moses seat and listened to several teachings including the Jewish marriages. We then visited the birth place of two of Jesus disciples. Who were they?

Day 8 Mt Arbel part 2

2009-03-01T21:51:00.003-05:00

Heading up Mt Arbel was very treacherous. You can see the pictures on the way up where a slip or a fall meant a sure disaster! If you kept your eyes on where you walked and where the path was, you didn't see the danger as much. If you paused on the journey and looked around, it was a very scary feeling. Doesn't it sound like a life of faith!

After we got to the top, it was such a beautiful scene looking down over the sea of Galilee and over toward the mount of the Beatitudes. It was a very refreshing time and I was sure the bus would be on top somewhere to pick us up. MMMMMM, wrong!

I think the path down on the other side of the mountain was much worse then the way up. We were literally hanging onto steel handles attached to the rocky mountain stones as we tip toed our way down. These pictures don't do justice, perhaps i can get some video on by next week.

Day 8 Mt Arbel

2009-02-24T06:58:00.003-05:00

Our first day by the sea of Galilee. We got up early like usual and headed for (I don't know, grab 4 bottles for the hike)! Well, by now we are trained to have faith in our Guide. We were dropped off at the base of this steep mountain where a nice valley runs between two huge rock mountains. I remember thinking at last an easier day as we started up the nice trail in the valley. Well, I had a surprise when we suddenly turned left and up instead of walking the valley.
Thought:) The scenery is always most beautiful when you can stand on top and look out over the whole scene. Don't forget that to get on the mountain, you have to climb up!!! Many times we are in a tough valley and want to give up, we can't see too far ahead. Because of the valley, we can't see ahead too far and feel so lonely and in despair. Here is where our faith in Christ is strengthened! Once our lesson has been learned and our views have been changed we suddenly find ourselves on top of the mountain rejoicing with deeper faith! Once we view it from the top (God's Perspective)it really is most beautiful! And we find our JOY is bursting for the love from God! He really is a Father to those who trust him!

Day 7 Galilee

2009-02-16T21:18:00.004-05:00

We headed to the top of this mountain which is believed to be the place where Lot and Abraham separated. Next we roam into this cave and listened to the story of the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Day 6 Heading toward the sea of Galilee

2009-02-08T18:47:00.003-05:00

After the dead sea scrolls we headed north. Outside of Jericho we made a stop to view some farm land. Any lessons out here? It looks like Rod is seeing some great promise as his eyes are fixed to the south! Its been about 5 month since we had a wonderful trip. I get a few emails here and there but it seems most of the people have dropped off the trail somewhere! There is no salvation by staying in touch, smiles....but its very nice to hear from those we walked together with. Share your heart and touch those around you!
May the Word of the Lord give you some courage. The reward is not for the workers, its not for those that labor in the flesh. The reward is for those who put their complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and continue to do so till the end! Its so easy to put trust in man or things of this earth. The current economic conditions in America have caused many to fear the future. May we be reminded that our economy is out of this world! If we trust what we see, then have we great tribulations! My friends, don't fall in the trap from the enemy and focus on situations! Remember the word of God in Deut 8, I have brought you out of Egypt, why, so you may learn that man does not live by bread alone! We live abundantly by the Spirit of God! Our life is a journey of faith, not a culture of good ideas. Our lives have been reconnected to God Almighty by the atonement of Jesus the Messiah. Sin had separated us from him, rejoice for now we are back in fellowship with him! Rejoice not that the spirits are subject to us, but rejoice for the fact that our names are written in the book of Jesus Christ the Messiah! We are bought with a great price!!!!! Glorify God for he has saved us from sin because we put our trust in his SON!!! Jesus completed the plan! BELIEVE HIM! TRUST HIM! He is our deliverance!! Bless God forevermore!

Day 6 Qumran

2009-02-03T07:35:00.003-05:00

Another morning of hurry, eat breakfast we're going to the beach! Ah, not so fast!! We walk down the street and meet by the dead sea and this lonely tree. Who am I? Where am I found in the Bible? What lesson am I for these people? After this tree/beach experience we headed for Qumran. Another nice climb what happened here? This cave picture from Spencer gives a wonderful story for God's people!

Day 5 Dead Sea

2009-01-19T07:26:00.004-05:00

After 5 days of intense climbing and studying the text, we got a nice break! The dead sea experience was quite unique. I vividly remember the frustration of trying to wade in the water and my feet wouldn't stay down. After several swimming trips to the bank to get my feet down, I decided its a law that's greater then my strength. Great parallel to the book of Romans.
Always enjoyed the devotionals in the morning when we gathered in a circle in front of the hotel. If I remember correctly, Lewis had devotions by himself one morning!?

Day 5 Masada

2009-01-15T08:28:00.004-05:00

After the bread and tea session, we headed for the Masada. Climbing up the back way and down the front was quite a workout. Treated with Orange Juice courtesy of RVL was very nice! Am still amazed at how these men built this huge city on top of this rock mountain. Even with today's technology and equipment, it would be a difficult task. But doing it by hand in temperatures of up to 120 degrees, that's hard work!

Day 5 Bedouin Visit

2009-01-04T22:34:00.003-05:00

Day 5 was a cooler day since we had clouds. Perhaps the children of Israel never complained about the desert heat because the cloud was always over them in the day and fire by night...thus no cold nights either. After the incredible lesson on the covenant God made with Abraham, we walked through the desert (possibly Abraham's own dwelling desert) to the Bedouin's home. Here we had some bread and tea.

Ray Vander Laan's Moment with the camera

2009-01-02T08:15:00.004-05:00

The new year has started and with all the holidays and free time, I finally figured out how to convert hd mpeg2 video into a format called wva. This makes the file smaller and the graphics are less quality so i can cut and paste onto the blog. Let's see if this works. I think we all remember Rays time with the camera at Chorasin. Enjoy a smile!

Gregs announcement

2008-12-30T21:53:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I received an email from Mexico and thought it should be posted on the blog. Greg has found favor in Mexico and it sounds like he will import LOVE! I thought it was bad enough importing furniture and about everything else under the sun from foreign lands, but Greg brings a new thought to this International crisis we are facing! Thanks for sharing the picture Greg! May God give you constant direction as you continue to seek his will for your life! I'm sure the whole group wishes you the best!

Day 5 Arad

2008-12-29T21:32:00.003-05:00

As I recall this day was a bit cloudy and cool compared to the desert of the last few days. We hiked up the hill to this city and were rewarded with a lesson on the promise God gave Abraham. The lesson was on making a covenant. The desert picture here is where Abraham and Sarah lived. This was a very powerful lesson!!

day 4 En-Gedi

2008-12-21T15:27:00.003-05:00

I suppose a few pictures here will remind us of possibly the lesson we all remember the most. Here we are enjoying water for the first time after time spend in the hot desert. Give me your thoughts on En-gedi!

Sorry I missed a week!

2008-12-15T07:18:00.003-05:00

It was great to see Greg Martin this weekend! Greg, Melissa and her sister Kim came to church yesterday. Great fellowship afterward! Wow Greg, a new girlfriend and I hear you were on the phone with her after you left here all the way back to Indiana and she lives in Mexico!!!! Nice phone bill!!

We were talking on the way back from church about the 4 cups RVL talked about in the Garden of Gethsemane. Can't find any notes and no sound clips from anyone. Anybody have any recollection???

day 3 lesson 10

2008-12-15T06:35:00.003-05:00

After lunch on this day we went to another place for more teaching and came across this animal under a tree. Anybody remember anything about this beast? The next lesson i only had a few pictures. As i recall, RVL used Jonas' stick and gave a lesson by some rock formation and then we continued across the desert and sat by this beautiful mushroom rock. These lessons concluded the Sinai desert experience as we drove back up to the welcome sight of a feast by the Dead Sea. Still love to think of the dry pita exclusive of pickles and cheese, unless you were first in line) in the wilderness vs the feeding trough of buffet at the hotels and the gracious people patiently waiting (IN LINE) so others can by-pass you. Amazed to think which of these were the Americans! Laughs!

Day 3 Lesson 9 Tabernacle

2008-12-02T18:53:00.004-05:00

After the Sinai story we walked across the desert to the Tabernacle. Remember the wedding was at Sinai. Now the Tabernacle. Menorah? What about moving this 1500# ark? There is so much to learn from this Tabernacle. We could probably have a lesson a week on this for a year and not get done. Give us your thoughts. The important aspect for me is that this structure is not good enough for God, that's why he redeemed me so he can live in me with power! Bless God!

Day 3 Lesson 8 Wilderness

2008-11-23T15:56:00.003-05:00

So its day three and we head south through the desert. We grab about 4 bottles of water and hike the deserts by the Sinai mountains. We climbed this hill for a wonderful lesson on the children of Israel as they left Egypt. We are in Timnah. This intense teaching was a highlight for me. Share your thoughts with us!

Day 2 Lesson 7 Wadi

2008-11-16T22:15:00.003-05:00

After our wonderful shepherd story we visited our first Wadi. What lessons did we learn as we went down into the wadi? Whats the story about the tree in the picture. I remember we had a few stories in the wadi and also, RVL missed the highway out so we had to struggle in the cool desert with temperatures only around 115.

For the missing sheep

2008-11-10T19:27:00.003-05:00

More pictures of the great weekend we had. We sure did miss the missing sheep. October of 2009 looks like the next big reunion when RVL is planning to preach to us for several days! It would be an awesome experience to have the full community in Ohio!

More reunion pictures

2008-11-10T17:57:00.005-05:00

What an encouraging weekend to fellowship with the community. Thanks again to so many of you who shared financially with us. I've been overwhelmed by your generosity. You showed me a serious lesson in giving!! I was so busy with everything that by the time i was ready to relax and enjoy, it was over. I was blessed to see the fire in your hearts to know Jesus intimately. My cry is that we all develop such a passion for truth (TEXT) that we lay down ever idea and every opinion of self in exchange for a deeper revelation of the Jesus the Messiah. I was sharing Jesus several times today with people before I left for Erie Pa. As i drove up here i was so convicted of how many times i used the word I think. It makes no difference what I think, it's only what God says! I will take up this cross and follow him! Love you all!

Reunion Pic

2008-11-09T07:59:00.004-05:00

What an encouraging 2 days we had here. We had several lessons and even did a hike. We were so busy with everything we hardly got any pictures. SORRY! Joe did the Herod story on Saturday morning followed by Amish made Pita bread sandwiches and unlike Israel, we had plenty of cheese and pickles!! Verna wrote a song for Marlene which we sang as a group. Andrea was presented with a gift for her hard work in writing the notes. Rosetta put Andrea's notes in a book and gave them to us. (Very nice with the group picture on the cover!) Raymond shared the Text with us in the evening. We had 13 missing if I counted correctly. We also saw the video in Hi-definition and it brought back lessons and memories. God blessed us so richly! Somebody from the community send us a check of $ 500 ahead of time to cover all expenses for the weekend. We were truly humbled how God provided for his sheep! We missed the 13 hiding sheep, but know in our hearts we shall see them again sometime. Bless God for all of you! Go and make disciples!!!

Day 2 Lesson 6 Sheep & Shepherds

2008-11-02T16:30:00.002-05:00

We finally exit day one, get some rest and back on the bus for a trip south. As we head south on the bus God rearranged our plans with a wonderful flock of sheep surrounded by goats on a hillside. We stopped the bus and got up in the (green pastures)for a first hand look at sheep with their shepherd.

Every picture has an application and a very useful message for us today. Perhaps the lesson we didn't discuss much was a lesson that was perhaps much more then Psalms 23. In Matt 25:32, Jesus talks about the great day of separation when he will separate the nation (people in Greek) like a shepherd would separate the sheep from the goats. Remember how these animals walked together over those hills? The goats have a mind of their own and are often walking on the outside of the flock of sheep. The sheep would be guided by voice but the goats by force. Why would a shepherd want to separate these? What was Jesus teaching about this scene? A very heart stirring message for us who at times want to walk on the fringes of the flock and not be in community with one another because we have an opinion that to us is better or higher then others who we are called to walk with. Lord teach us from this all important lesson!

Day 1 Lesson 5 David & Goliath

2008-10-28T20:55:00.004-04:00

Day 1 was full of adventure as we walked and climbed what we thought at the time was pretty hot and challenging. Looking back it was a very easy hike with great text content. We gathered under this nice tree and what was our surprise discovery? A nice ἀκρίς tree. Picture 3 was the steep climb up the mountain/hill where the giants were. Picture 4 was looking down toward the place where David fought Goliath. The last picture was a first day collapse! Sorry Joe, I had to add this since you were such a wonderful leader from the back end of the line. Love u brother! What can we learn about the story of david?

Day 1 Lesson 4 Samson & Pig bones

2008-10-20T05:20:00.004-04:00

We left Tel Gezer with the bus and headed for the place where Samson dwelt called Eshtaol. We climbed this mountain and could see down the valley of Timnath where Delilah came from. What can we learn from Samson? Where did Samson go wrong? The valley here in the picture is what was given to the tribe of Dan. What happened to Dan? Why did he move? Was his move prosperous? What can we learn from the tribe of Dan and apply to our life today?

We walked up the hill overlooking the Sorek valley and had another lesson on pig-bones. Remember the Bedouin camp right below the tel? Then we experienced that large cave where JR the hat man led us in a song. Anybody remember the song we sung?

Day 1 Lesson 3 Standing Stones

2008-10-14T21:54:00.002-04:00

It's Tuesday night and somehow Sunday passed me by! We were in Florida for the weekend and came home Monday and then an evening birthday party for a friend so here we are. Just came back from a Hebrew bible study with our partial community. As I recall the first day walking past the dar dar tree and visited Tel Gezer and then looked over to the mmm I think east and saw the mountain range where Jacob had his vision of the stairs going up to heaven.

The lesson for this week is standing stones. I was very moved by this lesson. Why did they built or set these huge stones? How big were these monuments? Was this only for the children of Israel? How can we learn from these? When should we erect a stone? What are reasons to set up a stone? Have we taken the opportunity to set a stone or stones since we are back? Check out the picture of the group walking up the hill.....did somebody say public rest rooms? This was our first RVL Restroom and yes, very public I might add!!

Day 1 Lesson 2 Shephelah

2008-10-05T18:35:00.003-04:00

After we left the city gates we walked to the top of the hills and viewed the mountains to the east and the cities to the west. Does anyone remember what happened on the mountains? The word shephelah means low translated lowlands. What is the danger with shephelah? Why was this such an important place? Where is our shephelah and how do we minister? What do you remember about this lesson? Am so blessed by all your comments! I'm getting pictures from Terry tomorrow and then I have another 2300 pix to grab.

Day 1 Lesson 1 City gates at gezer

2008-09-28T16:36:00.005-04:00

The first day we stopped by this tree, can you name it and tell us what was special about it? What was the reason for the city gate? What happened at the city gate? Who sat there and who came there? How can we live out this lesson? How have you put this teaching in practice since you arrived home? Tell us your experience in the comments.

Rods request

2008-09-26T07:33:00.001-04:00

Rejoice for our King is high and exalted!

Another Day to remember

2008-09-24T21:13:00.003-04:00

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might. Love your neighbor as yourself! Who is your neighbor?

Thy kingdom comes as his will is done!!

Day 7 Review

2008-09-24T04:40:00.000-04:00

Good morning everyone! Its 4:45 am and I'm awake. Imagine that! Its called not quite back to normal schedule. I thought maybe a few pictures would remind us of God's wonderful grace the last few weeks.

If you didn't get my email from last evening, please advise! Also, pray for Karina Rose our oldest daughter. Last night she broke out with a fever and her neck has some deep pain. She's still sleeping, when I check her at a little after 4 she still had a low grade fever.

Home at last!!!!

2008-09-22T11:45:00.000-04:00

We arrived safely home on Monday Morning 11:20. We bless God for his wonderful mercy to our family as we traveled. May God root deep within our hearts his wonderful love for us!

We have been so blessed to travel with you all. Thanks for your encouragement and the wonderful words you wrote in our notebook. We are humbled by your love and support.

We love you all!

Stuck in Chicago

2008-09-21T22:17:00.001-04:00

At least we got to Chicago. I hope most of you made it home safely. My wife and I got bumped on our flight to Cleveland so we are still at Chicago till Monday morning 6 o'clock. We hope to be home by mid morning. The flight was oversold. Thanks to Joe and Ina for inviting my wife and I to participate in this trip. May God bless and sustain your life daily!

Last Supper and fellowship

2008-09-21T22:04:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all the wonderful people who made a huge impact on my wife and I! This last supper, we had a time of sharing and fellowship. It was an encouraging evening to say the least. Its going to be wonderful work of God as we let him use us in our own communities across the United States. It was so great to see so many different churches represented in fellowship together. God had truly blessed us as a community!

Stopover in Amman Jordan

2008-09-21T02:46:00.000-04:00

I decided to put a few pictures on here while we wait on the plane. We've been blessed beyond measure! I hope this blog with penetrate deep into your heart and give you a passion to walk a deeper road on the highway of HOLINESS!!!

I pray these pictures from the last 2 weeks have been a blessing. A great conviction was formed within the group to Study the word of God (text) and to live the text. Keep checking back on this blog in the future. I plan to keep writing about our walk of faith and the community. I hope our group along with those who followed us online will become an online community and together we will study, walk and minister to those God gives us (our neighbors). Our hearts have experienced the Fire of God (passion).

Thanks be to God for this awesome experience of knowing him!

Last day

2008-09-20T15:29:00.001-04:00

What a last day! Bags are packed, 4 hours of sleep and we have to get up. Sorry no other data! lol

Assorted pictures

2008-09-19T14:57:00.002-04:00

More pictures

2008-09-19T14:57:00.001-04:00

Day 11 Mt carmel

2008-09-19T14:57:00.000-04:00

Bless God for another day in Israel. This morning we climbed up mountain Carmel. We hiked up some rough terrain to the top. It was 3 miles and took us 3 hours. We felt so great to have climbed up here and were going to eat lunch and the bus will pick us up. Thank God for the bus! Ouch, communication error and no bus around. No problem here since we are seasoned hikers so down the mountain we hike again. My left knee was all back and blue and felt like someone put a knife to it. At first i couldn't even touch it due to the severe pain. Not sure what the problem was. Feels better tonight.

We ate our lunch on the bus and headed for Jerusalem. We visited a beautiful terrace olive garden and had some great teaching while sitting on the rocks. After the lesson, we built a wall.

We arrived at the old city just in time to experience the Jews dancing with the rabbi as they went to the western wall to pray and sing. What an awesome experience! The passion was a sight to behold. Several of us went down to the wall and put our hand on it and prayed to God in the name of our Messiah! The whole group was clearly moved by their passion!

The first picture was looking down the Jezreel Valley from Mt Carmel. In the distance to the right is the valley of Armageddon. Picture 2 is the mountain in the distance. Picture 3 is the street through the old city. This is how the street looked where Jesus carried his cross. Picture 4 was taken while they were praying at the western wall. This photo was a no no, but Levi got it somehow. They warned us absolutely no photos on the sabbath. At sun down tonight the sabbath started and go's till sun down tomorrow night.

Day 10 Farm, rocks and more experiences

2008-09-17T15:00:00.001-04:00

Thanks Rachel for giving me a break last night!

Thanks to God for the gift of life! Bless God for sending us the Messiah so we can have eternal life. This morning we headed west from the sea of Galilee towards Nazareth and stopped by a field that had been harvested and is now ready to prepare the soil again for the upcoming season. You must ask your tour friend about the parable of the sower. We had quite the experience on studying this text. I hope you all get to see my video on this lesson. it will move you on your knees, especially with burning feet and 120 degree heat. smiles!

Another lesson for some study from you our friends. Ray layed out for us the text about the little boy from the carpenters shop. you may want to study this text. you may come to realize that perhaps he had a bit different trade. look up the text! Text means written Word of God.

I thought you may enjoy a picture of our daily lunch. Pita bread with meat and if you are lucky enough to be first in line, you get cheese and pickles to enjoy your sandwich. If you are last in line, well, lets just say you get a very dry sandwich! ouch, they are good if you can load them up!

The girls are dancing in a wine press. its a very touching experience to observe this through the Hebrew culture. Ask somebody to explain!

The last pictures of a pile of rocks was a very moving experience at the end of the day. Today was the last day by Galilee and tomorrow we head toward Jerusalem. So we added to a standing stone by each of us picking up a rock and putting it on this pile as a reminder to the person that led us to Jesus Christ. We heard the experiences of people who has rough lives and how God brought shalom through people who were faithful in bring peace to people in need. We have been so blessed to experience the gift of salvation. Why don't we share this gift with others in a world of chaos?

Day 9 Jordan River and Decapolis

2008-09-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Hi! This is Rachel posting to give Roy a break, as well as his wife who usually has to (or tries to) wait up for him when he's up blogging! They just got a cold bottle of pop and are walking out the door of the hotel lobby. They were hoping to go down to the shore of the Sea of Galilee which borders the hotel grounds, but they both look pretty dragged out, so I think they're skipping that.
Today was the best day on the trip in my opinion. We walked a mile or more back to the Jordan River, over rocks and under fences. Seated on the rocks, with the Jordan waters rushing by, we let our minds go back to when God told the Israelites to cross while the waters were in flood stage. The miracle happened after the priest's feet touched the water. There is no evil God cannot divide, but He wants our commitment. Are you waiting for the miracle of God's leading and standing on the bank waiting for all the doors to open, for the miracle to happen first? JUMP! GET IN and watch the miracle happen.
And then later when John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan. The waters representing chaos, and God calling us to enter the chaos in people's lives, just as Jesus did. God's whole intent is to bring people out of chaos and bring Shalom (peace). This is the way His kingdom comes . . . and then His presence will hover. We followed the "rabbi" . . . our leader, RVL, into the water (shoes and all) to recommit ourselves and repent of the sins of our head, heart, hands, and feet . . .where we have not brought shalom to the chaos, and maybe even added to it. And to make a commitment to bring peace into people's chaos. What a cleansed feeling!
Then with our feet wet from our Jordan experience, we entered the Decapolis.
The Decapolis was ten cities Alexandar the Great set up to do his "mission work" of drawing people into hellenism (humanism we call it today). His way of spreading the hellenism "gospel" was to take control of the media, education, sports, and religion. We topped a hill to look upon the city of Beth Shean, which is being excavated, and even us Amish and Mennonites were saying "Wow!" and in awe of what man had built. In Hellenism everything is about "you". It is the biggest threat to Jesus' gospel, and completely opposite from bringing peace in the chaos.
We walked up the hill to Susita, a city in the Decapolis. This is the place where Jesus came and met the man coming out of the tombs. The picture of the steep hill is very likely where the pigs ran down and drowned in the sea, after the demons entered them. Love always defeats evil. Jesus' love is likely what drove out the demons. We each picked up a stone or two or three and added it to the pile of rocks from previous tours, for the person(s) in our lives who still need Jesus' touch in their lives.
Today was a hot day . . . 119 degrees was the hottest from what I heard. Thankfully our leader is compassionate and tried to find shade for us whenever possible.
Thanks Ruth and Annette for the "hi" . . . I miss you all, my family and friends, and look forward to seeing you all again. This has been a great trip . . . and I'm finding out who God is and where I am in His plan, just the longing and desire I had for coming. Bless God!!! Love you all. Bye, Good night. Keep praying for us. Some days it's hard to keep the stamina when it's been so hot and your mind and heart is full and running over.

pix n

2008-09-16T14:22:00.001-04:00

I thought i'd throw some pix at you. i get the feeling that some of you are looking for some family faces. everybody is doing great! i think lewis has a bit of a problem focusing on the right thing since his interests are being tried over here. i hope you get the hints!

i think at this point most of us fighting some soreness and i for one am missing my 3 little children. Karina, i miss your first at the door hugs. rendall, i miss your infectious smile and running at the door screaming daddyy daddyyyyyyy! Mariah, i miss your sweet hug and kiss every morning when i'm in my home office studying and praying. i wish i could hold you all three! HUGS and KISSES!!

Day 8 Zealots and Golan heights

2008-09-16T13:46:00.000-04:00

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our morning starts with breakfast at 6:15 and at 6:55 we gather under a tree for the morning meditation and prayer. after this we got on the bus and they took us to the other side of the Galilee and we visited the place where the zealots lived when the Romans staged combat. the zealots had a fanatical commitment to the word of God. make sure you have a tour member tell you the story when they come back. the picture of the pointed hill on the right is where they lived when the romans attached them. they said bloodshed was terrible. history tells us the blood ran down this mountain like a stream. the picture in the middle is where they had their synagogue for the studying of the Torah!

we are studying a lot of history during the time Jesus came into this world to show the mess he faced. this place was a horrible place to live. there was destruction and blood shed all over the place. make sure you have a tour member explain how the word of God was studied. the jews show an amazing amount of respect to the Torah! very challenging. we also studied the text jesus used and were shown when in the old testament it was used before jesus preached it. the picture on the left is the road to Damascus about 5 miles south of the Syrian boarder. Jesus walked up here from galilee with his disciples. our minds are on information overload!!!!

our last place was where the god of fertility was worshiped. here they had goats heads and the most lewd stuff i ever heard. i could never write about the horrific stuff they did here. this place the bible calls Cesarea phillipi. jesus brought his disciples up here before he died. ask a member to tell you what Jesus preached here to his disciples. its a wow, now you know what he meant when he said, "take up his cross and follow me...." i can't even begin to unpackage this awesome truth.

the last picture is the collection of water packs after we come back from hiking all day and the restaurant has food ready........bite!!!!

Day 7 in Galilee

2008-09-15T15:14:00.001-04:00

after arriving in galilee last night, we are all looking forward to the blessing at the same hotel for 5 straight days. bless God! WOW! this morning we ate our breakfast and hurried to the tree in front of the hotel for our morning word from God, we call it reading the text. i think most of us were thinking, great, we left the desert and now the steep climbing and 115 temperatures are behind us. nice surprise RVL! we get to the base of mt arbel and he tells us we are going that way pointing and i'm great, walking between 2 mountains and it will be great. was i ever wrong!!! we climbed this baby you see in the picture to the top. with out the help from each other we wouldn't have been able to make it. rugged with path of rock and at times maybe 12" wide and 80 degrees up. the rocks had cable and steel handles to grab or there was no way to go up there. now something happened up there that i think caused about everybody to shed tears. i cannot tell you on this blog. ask the person that you know who is with this group to tell you in person. if you email me next week i'll tell you, but only after we return. it took us around 4 hours to do this trip. there were times on the way down where it was straight down and we were hanging by those steel steps and wires. yes and that included Dale & Erma!!!! The lessons learned will have to be told next week, perhaps in every church!

The pix of the yellow hill is the place believed to be where Jesus fed the 5000, sermon on the mount. we had a wonderful teaching on the mountain 2 times. sorry am so tired i will have to get the notes from my room to give the details. the point is i'm half asleep.

thanks for your comments. this blog is averaging about 200 daily visits. may God be blessed by each of you as you read these words. i hope to give another faith lesson tomorrow. keep praying for us. we are very tired, our feet are burning, my knees are suddenly today giving me problems. God is good! Shalom

Day 6 dead sea scrolls hike

2008-09-14T14:39:00.000-04:00

While most of you were sleeping we were heading out to Qumran for a lessons on commitment from the essenes. these people lived by the dead sea and believed in studying very seriously and preached repentence by water baptism. they would memorize the whole old testament. one challenge was on memorizing scriptures so that God can bring it to our head when the need arises at that special appointed time. Thy word have i hid in my heart that i may not sin against thee. these people were about 20,000 in count and gave their whole life to God. some believe John the baptist may have come from this group. here is where most of the dead sea scrolls came from. check the pictures out, we climbed way up the stone mountain and saw cave number 9 where they found the scrolls. you need to see my video to fully apprecite the place they hid these. the climb was very steep and at one time we experienced the mercy of God as a sister slipped and fell and saved by her husband's hand hanging down a steep cliff/hill into the canyon. no doubt your prayers saved her life. she hung on till we had more people join in dragging her back up. God is good! don't worry just pray!

Karina, here is a picture of the hotel room by the dead sea. Also today we climbed the mountain where Lot and Abraham seperated ways. Next we went into a cave/staple and celebrated the birth of the Messiah. Merry christmas. We continued to the sea of Galilee and will spend the next 5 nights here at the same hotel. another lesson was the manger, it was a stone tub where the sheep would drink their water from. ever wondered where the crisscross manger ideas come from?

Pray for our legs and feet, they are taking a serious beating! Its been many years since my body took a physical beating like this! smiles!! I can see my golf buddies laughing and wondering if i can outdrive mike now with these powerful leg muscles!

Food for thought, John the baptist came from the wilderness preaching repentence. What did he eat? Locust and wild honey. The word locust in the hebrew means carob. We broke one off from a tree and are bring it home.

I was humbled by the wonderful group as they took an offering on the bus to pay my internet connections so i can continue to blog with words and pictures.

Day 5 continued

2008-09-13T15:04:00.000-04:00

After viewing the land where Abraham lived we were shown Bedouin hospitality. We were humbled by love from these people. They didn't know we were coming till about 5 minutes before we arrived. we arrived at noon and they welcomed us that made you almost cry. these are muslim people that treated us. they made sweet tea and unleavened bread and made it for us. they had food for all 52 of us. they made the bread, including making a fire and they bring everything to the room in front of us. its amazing, ask any of the people traveling when they get home.

next we hiked the masada that king herod made for himself around 30 bc. check out this picture and bless GOD we all made it up and back down. the history circled around this rock is hard to describe. what a wicked king he was.

to the family of jimmy, check your dad and hubby floating in the dead sea like a dead man. you walk in the sea and your legs just come up. it was so cool, my biggest struggle was trying to get my legs down after they surfaced.

Mark and Joetta, i was walking by the dead sea when a man was heading to our hotel and he said he was from kirksville missouri. I couldn't help but think of you.

Rendall, Karina & Mariah We miss you so much! your mommy and daddy are experiencing a life changing experience that will give you a life to follow with many exciting stories. God has been so good to your mommy and daddy! We love you so much!

Day 5, Masada, Bedouin Visit

2008-09-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

Today was another great day! Each day when we get back and reflect, we say, "Now today was the best day yet." So today was another best day. We started off with being in a synagogue in Abram's area where we had the whole blood covenant teaching. It was really something to think about that when it was Abram's turn to step in that blood, God, knowing full well that Abram couldn't be perfect, said, "I will take your place. If you fail, you can kill me." He knew that we would mess up. So right there he sentenced Jesus to die. It was a very touching moment. A lot of these places we visit, are ruins that archeologists are still uncovering, and they can tell by the stones, or lots of different ways, whose era and time frame it belonged to. So some are completely uncovered, some are restored & alot of them are still undiscovered. There is great respect for these places & we can touch & see things close up. We see virtually no one all day, until we get to the motels. We are in the deep desert mountains at times hiking for hours in 115 degree sun! Studying in this setting is so powerful.
I'll finish the story of today after dinner. it gets very interesting!

More pictures

2008-09-12T23:12:00.000-04:00

Don't have time to write as we need to head down for breakfast. i got up early in hopes of getting some pictures on here. the rough terrain here where we walked looks impassable nor did i think any man could ever climb these rocks. after we started, we found tiny path up the mountain at times barely a foot wide and so steep you almost could climb without another hand. yes, in this wilderness is where Jesus went to be tested and also where john the baptist came out of. on the road (tiny path) we walked today was where david walked on his way up to Bethlehem.

Andrea's mom

2008-09-12T23:04:00.000-04:00

When i told your daughter that you commented on the blog she went "WOW!" She was so overjoyed to hear from you! for your kind words, you get a picture of her sitting on a rock at en gedi. somewhere in these mountain caves david hid from saul

Sorry to those looking for something new

2008-09-12T23:01:00.000-04:00

Last night after we came back to our rooms, my internet connection cards were taken from the room. I started writing and then my time ran out on the one card. my second card was missing from the room so that got me to bed at 10:15 not midnight like usual when writing. the internet is very slow when downloading pictures.

Day 4 in the desert

2008-09-12T14:18:00.000-04:00

OUCH! today was the toughest day yet. tow did we work! am so tired i can barely write nor think! today we hiked the En Gedi Wadi david. here is where david hid from saul. our teacher took us up this mountain and we climbed the desert mountain till we could barely move. feet and eyes burning we found a spring high up in the mountain. Ray jumped in and a few followed while some were wondering should i or aw, wet shoes, don't think so. the lesson was we must immerse ourselves into God, not just dapple with a little of God. don't question God. Jesus taught to pray, "thy kingdom come thy will be done...." this is one line. so when is the kingdom come? the kingdom is come when his will is done.

Passover & Pentecost

2008-09-11T16:01:00.000-04:00

Study this. It took 40 days to get from Egypt to Sinai. 40 Days till Pentecost.

When Moses came down from the mountain and saw the golden calf, he killed 3000 people.

How many people were saved at Pentecost? 3000 people believed! Acts 2:41

What an awesome God!

Under this acacia tree is a deer. this is the deer David wrote as a deer panteth for the water so my soul panteth after thee. Believe me, i have no idea where this poor deer will get water. God bless you, I must rest so I can go.

Tell me your interests

2008-09-11T15:46:00.000-04:00

Make comments for me and tell me whats interesting to you. Bible studies we did? Pictures? Places we walked? Give me input so i can better share with you. There are times you just stand in the desert wiping tears and raising your hands in Praise to God for his wonderful love!

Brother Mike from church. I know there are about 3-4 Mikes, but you know which one i'm talking to! As i walked and studied the wilderness yesterday, my heart went out to you. I wish you could be here, it would give you great understanding of the wonderful value of the wilderness experience. Can't wait to share with you face to face!

If any of you are going through the wilderness, please read this scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your heart! It's awesome what God wants to do with us his children, the bride of Christ!

Read Dueteronomy 8:2-6

Tabernacle & Desert

2008-09-11T15:27:00.000-04:00

Our daily routine is down pat. Alarm at 6 AM with burning feet, stiff backs and a desire to know God. 6:30 is breakfast and on the bus by 6:55. Talk about burning feet and sweating in temperatures of around 115 saddled with 2 2- liters of water bottles strapped to your body with a bible, study guide, cameras and some snacks. This is whats its all about. I wish i had an external hard drive for my brain so i can store all the scriptures we keep getting lessons from. I would estimate we walked about 6-8 miles today. Its amazing that the children of Israel never complained about the heat. If I would blog the lessons, I would have to spent most of the night on this slow computer internet.

We also went through a replica of the tabernacle with some amazing studies. FYI The ark carrying the mercy seat weight aprox 1500-1800 pounds and was carried by 4 men. The saying here among the people is that no one carries God, the ark carried them! It takes 50 chapters to make the tabernacle.

Day 3 in Israel

2008-09-11T15:14:00.000-04:00

We left the town of Mitzpah Ramon and headed south towards the Sinai Peninsula. We walked more 115 degree desert and climbed some rocks. The lessons we studied were on the Exodus of the children of Israel.

Walking where the Shepards walked

2008-09-10T15:00:00.000-04:00

After our session with the sheep, we walked the straight path as quoted in Psalm. Matt, i should have brought 30 more video tapes. the experience is priceless.

Lessons and pictures

2008-09-10T14:48:00.000-04:00

The lessons today ministered deep in many of our lives. The wilderness was given so they learn to trust God. Trust was not for the future but for the very day they lived in. That's how God supplied their need.

Day 2 in Israel

2008-09-10T14:10:00.000-04:00

Well, day 2 has come and gone. The days are truly so rich, we wish we had bigger brains to hold it all in. Just an example of the morning devotions: There was a rabbi in the desert ready to climb a mountain. On the way up, he found a scorpion. The scorpion said, "pick me up and take me to the top." The rabbi said, "no way, you'll sting me and I'll die." Oh no, I won't, said the scorpion, If I'd sting you, how would I get to the top." I promise I won't. So he picked up the scorpion, put him on his shoulder and carried him up. When they were almost to the top, the scorpion reared back & stung him in the neck. As the rabbi was dying, he asked, "Why did you do that?" You promised not to. The scorpion's answer? YOU KNEW WHO I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME UP! Wow! We went to the desert today; the first thing we saw was a herd of sheep and goats cross the road in front of us. Ray says that is almost unheard of this time of year here. So he changed his plans, we stopped and had a Psalm 23 time. It was incredible terrain for sheep to be on -steep and rocky and rough. We found tiny tufts of brown grass that the sheep eat. These are the green pastures!! And there's only enough for 1 day. They completely & totally trust the voice of the shepherd. And the shepherd, believe it or not, are usually girls. Today there 2 girls and a little boy. Ray said when there's only 1 shepherd, and they die, the entire herd had to be slaughtered, because the sheep would not follow another voice. So they often have younger ones along to get them used to several. It was just incredible. We also a desert experience today. Literally. We walked and climbed through a wadi (canyon) for about 5 hrs. It was 115 deg. and it was brutal. This was very likely the same wadi that Abraham and Lot walked through. And perhaps the children of Israel. From thinking the children of Israel were whiners and complainers, we were rather sympathetic and were surprised they never grumbled about the heat. And where did they sleep? It is completely rocky. And there is no source of water or food for miles. The desert is where we trust Him (our shepherd) with our life. We sat for sessions in there and it was so beautiful to have people open up & share the deserts they're in or have been in. We wept together and prayed together.
One more thing in the desert was a small broom tree. It is the only shade in there. A verse in Psalms says The Lord is the shade at my right hand. He's never further than what we can reach. And we need to be shade for each other. So we concluded that the desert times are also the most beautiful times. There's so much more, but it has been a full rich day.

Here We Go Again

2008-09-09T15:12:00.000-04:00

We probably walked 8-10 miles feeling more like 20! We went up one area that was so steep it was tough. We made it but it was all some of the group could take. This place is where the Philistines met up with the Israelites and the place many believe David fought Goliath. We even saw the dry brook where he picked up the stones. Many more stories but no time to blog it. Am tired and ready to rest.

Hiking the rugged terrain

2008-09-09T14:59:00.000-04:00

We saw many interesting sites including this site which was the gate of the city on top of this hill in Gezer. This city gate had 6 chambers signifying this was built during the days of king Solomon. Many interesting stories on the gates of the city. Must explain later.

Day one in Israel

2008-09-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

Praise the Lord we had a nice 4 hour sleep as the alarm went off at 6am with breakfast at the hotel and on the bus by 6:55. After we were all on the bus, sorry for the late ones who didn't get wake-up calls and had almost no time for food.

We got on the bus with no time to spare we were heading toward our first hike. The first lesson we learned today was water water and more water! It was very warm and water was our survival gear. We headed to the Shephelah. This is an area about 12-15 miles wide and is often referred to as the lowlands. Whoever controlled the Shephlah shaped the culture of that part of the world.

A lot of old testament history came from this area.

Arriving Israel

2008-09-09T14:37:00.000-04:00

After waiting in the plane for about an hour in Amman, we finally arrived in Israel. I think most of us were a bit grouchy and tired after we had to wait while the officals had to go through every bag in the plane due to one passenger not making it on the plane while his bags were loaded. We arrived at the hotel around 1:00-1:30 in the morning. At least we enjoyed a hot shower!

Amman Jordan Layover

2008-09-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

After flying all night we finally arrived in Amman Jordan. We have a 7 hour layover at the airport before we head over to Israel. We were blessed upon our arrival that they offered the whole group hotel rooms to rest. Upon arriving Chicago last night, we got a call from Grandma that Mariah our 3 year old started with fever. Pray for them that Jesus may touch them and heal them. We decided to travel to Mt Nebo and view the promised land like Moses did. We were ready to go but the bus decided to not get here in time so we cancelled out and eat dinner here and now ready to head to the airport in 10 minutes.

We have a very nice group of believers. Am looking forward to some wonderful fellowship and a great learning experience. We've been told that we should arrive at our hotel in Israel about 1AM Local time and the alarm will go off at 6AM. Doesn't that sound fun, little sleep and 12-14 hours of walking, hiking and studying!

We bless the name of Jesus! Everything went good and we are ready to go. Gotta rush as the bus will be here any minute. Keep praying for us! Tomorrow we begin our journey!

Day of Rest

2008-09-06T18:35:00.001-04:00

After walking all morning along the beautiful lake Michigan and the downtown Chicago, I'm finally resting. It was a gorgeous morning as i walked the trails. The coastline has a trail 10 1/2 miles long and traffic was extremely heavy. Hundreds of walkers, joggers and bikers were out early enjoying the clear morning. I was amazed how many people were out this early.

Made it to Chicago

2008-09-05T20:12:00.000-04:00

I flew this morning to Chicago. I had a business meeting here since I'm in Israel during the Casual Furniture Show. After my meeting i walked down to the Navy Pier and walked 31/2 hours on the waterfront hiking trail. I'm rather tired with no break. I hope I'll make it in Israel.

Bags are packed

2008-09-04T12:10:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, i stuffed all those things in a small carry on size suitcase. I'm leaving for Chicago tomorrow morning to attend a furniture show and then my wife will fly out on Sunday afternoon and join me for our trip across the pond.

Packing light??

2008-09-03T22:34:00.000-04:00

Ok, now it's the part I hate. Packing! I'm packing light, at least I was planning on it till my electronic equipment started to pile up. I'm taking this huge pile and stuffing it all into a small suitcase. I've done stuff more fun and edifying then this!

Getting Ready

2008-09-02T15:48:00.000-04:00

Its been about 6 weeks of training, sweating and studying and finally we are ready to follow a lifelong dream, Walk where Jesus walked. I'm looking forward to next week as we hike the Holy lands. We have not been given much information on or about this tour. About all I know is," be prepared to walk from 8-10 miles a day in the desert with temps up towards 115." Bring good shoes, hat, sunscreen and drink lots of water!!!

It's already hard on me to leave the 3 wonderful children and I'm still at home. I wonder how in the world I'll make it! My wife Anne will accompany me on this trip at 100 lbs lighter, so maybe she can carry some of my weight, lol!

I hope we have internet connections over there or my blog will become non-existent.