Day 9 Decapolis Cont...

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...

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

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

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

I vividly remember this disgusting place.

Day 9 Continued

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

Day 9 Gamla Continued

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.