More reunion pictures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.