Day 4 - April 6

So much to tell about and only one computer which is often occupied. I hope to come back later and add some detail.

Incredible morning devotion by a guy from my group who dramatically performs MLK, Jr's sermons. He quoted the last fifteen minutes of MLK's last speech the day before he was assassinated. It was VERY moving.

Saw Church of St. Gabriel (Mary's Well) - alternate traditional location of where the Annunication happened

Toured Megiddo - a city that was inhabitated for 7,000 years and was used as a military lookout because of its perfect overlook over the Plain of Jezreel in the crossroads of all armies moving through the area...Since it was destroyed 25 (get that, twenty-five) times over the years, it became a symbol of good vs. evil -- Revelation tells us that the last battle (ultimate good vs. ultimate evil) will be fought in this valley (Revelation 16:16-19).

Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:1ff) was also in the Plain of Jezreel.

A few other Megiddo Scriptures:
2 Kings 23:29ff
1 Chronicles 25:20-24



Visited Caesarea (Maritime near Joppa. Herod the Great built a theatre and palace there in honor of Augustus Caesar (why he called it Caesarea). It's a signficant place for our faith because here Cornelius had a vision to send for Peter, and Peter, having had a vision of God telling Peter to eat animals considered unclean by the law, was able to tell Cornelius the good news of Jesus was for Gentiles, too! (Acts 10:1ff)

Paul was kept a prisoner here also where he talked to Festus and Felix, and then appealed to be tried before Caesar.

The most profound thing about this site for me was the theatre there was built in the first century around the exact time the New Testament books were written. The theatre is in ruins. The New Testament is still with us, proclaiming the great news about Jesus. What do I want to put my life into, was the question I heard God saying to me...

Spent the night (and will the next several) in Tiberias right on the Sea of Galilee.

Got to run now, people waiting for the computer.

Love you all!