Update

We have arrived in Atlanta and awaiting our last leg of the trip back to New Orleans. I am sure there will be many great stories that each one will want to share. The trip to the Holy Land truly changes perspective and allows one to see the scripture in a much brighter light. God has blessed our time in this land. It is hard to pick only a few favorite places because the highlights are numerous and each person is impacted in their own personal way. The best description is WOW and AMEN:)

Jeff Gould

Masada – Symbol of Freedom and Liberty

Some of the Jewish people were able to escape the Roman army that had surrounded Jerusalem. They went to the fortress of Masada, where they had food and water and were safe. However, 3½ years later the Romans had surrounded Masada and were about to take the fortress and make slaves of the Jewish people. The Jewish people on Masada met and decided that they would rather die than be the slaves of the Romans. When the Romans breached the wall on top of Masada, they found that no one was alive to be taken prisoner.

One of the founding fathers of our nation, Patrick Henry, made the following statement: “Give me liberty or give me death.” We Americans will always choose to live in freedom and never as slaves, or we would rather not live. Those of us who are Christians know the true meaning of freedom and liberty. Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 36) We are all set free from our sins when we put our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

Bro. French

Photos from today

Most of our group near the Mount of Olives

Church of Nativity, said to be the palce of Christ's birth


Israeli soldier


Garden of Gethsemane




Jeff Fair with the donkey for hire in the place of the Triumphant Entry

Thoughts and Reflection

by Jeff Gould

I just wanted to give an update while in Israel today.

Below I will share two experiences that gave me very different feelings.

The first experience was having my photo taken with two Israeli soldiers. The Israeli women are required to serve two years in the military when they reached the age of 18, while the young men serve three years. I found great comfort with the Israeli forces all around Jerusalem fully armed. I never felt more comfortable in the presence of the military as well as in the presence of God’s chosen people. Although, it is challenging to know that they are greatly hated by many enemies. My hopes and prayers are that the US never fails to be a friend of Israel.

My second experience today. While in the city of Bethlehem, I was much more uncomfortable. Bethlehem is controlled by Arab forces and no Jews are allowed in beyond the separation wall that separates the territories. The separation wall has helped minimize the terrorist activities. We had to go through heavily armed check points and change buses to go into Bethlehem, the birth place of our Lord. After eating lunch in Bethlehem, we were standing outside and the Palestinian Authority Army personnel hurriedly showed up in a jeep and piled out of the vehicle and began stopping traffic in the street searching people and cars. I must admit that this was quite unnerving. I felt even more uncomfortable taking multiple pictures of them with my telephoto lens as they went about their business. Ultimately, I felt much better when we finished our business in Bethlehem and returned to Jerusalem.

Comment: I did not realize how much I did not know about this history and events.

Lastly, I will give you the highlights of what we did today in bullet form, otherwise I could write for days on the details and feelings. The simplest way to understand is to realize how overwhelming the day became as we literally followed the footsteps of Jesus. My eyes watered many times as we sat and heard the events that took place in the most significant places in the history of our faith.

These are not chronological events of Jesus and most places have a Catholic Church built upon the locations to commemorate the event. In addition, many of the events are believed to have occured at these specific locations with different degrees of certainly and historical validation.

We started on the Mount of Olives overlooking the old city of Jerusalem. What a tremendous view of the city and review of the history by our guide as well as Tommy French.

We then followed the path that Jesus took on Palm Sunday. An incredible walk down the hill knowing Jesus had such a triumphant entry.

We then descended into the Garden of Gethsemane, which actually has olive trees from Jesus's day. This was a remarkable feeling to know that our Lord spent part of his final hours here in prayer while the disciples feel asleep. It had to have been so lonely for our Lord.

Our next stop was the location of the Upper Room. Once again, it was almost beyond belief that we were in the area where the last supper took place and also where days later the disciples received the Holy Spirit and became bold in the proclamation of their faith, even unto death.

One of the more difficult places for me was in St Peter's church where we descended to the very bottom of the place where Jesus was held in a very small cell before his death. I literally sat on the floor as David Goza (our Pastor) read the relevant scriptures and I felt like weeping. I would have loved to stay there for hours and just reflect on the events of Christ. This was also the area where Peter denied Christ three times and we literally heard the rooster crow.

Once in Bethlehem, we went to the Shepherds field where the angels announced the birth of the Lord to the Shepherds. I can’t even imagine what went through there thoughts as this event unfolded.

We then boarded the bus again to go to the Church of the Nativity. I sat next to the believed birth place of our Lord. It does not get much better than this in that this was the birth place of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is the reason for our hope.

Obviously, these are the very high points of the day with little detail, but the walk was incredible and the thoughts are only beginning to sink in. I can now begin to understand how a pilgrimage of this nature for ever changes your view of Christ and how much he truly did for each one of us: You and Me. This act of love will never be matched by any one any where at any time.

Tomorrow will be very challenging as we walk the Via Dolorosa -- The Way of Suffering. WOW.

Never forget: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

HE IS THE REASON FOR OUR HOPE!

Camel Rides

We had the opportunity to ride a camel yesterday. Here are some of the pictures.

Dead Sea

After touring Masada, we floated in the Dead Sea, soaked in the hot sulphur baths and played in the special black mud.

The Dead Dea as seen from Masada

Floating in the Dead Sea swimmin' hole

Jeff really wanted to hug Br. French as a thank you for organizing this trip...

Masada

Sitting in the oldest synagogue ever, used by the Jewish refugees on Masada shortly after the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70AD. The black line on the wall separates the walls that were found intact from those rebuilt by restorers.

This room is where Eleazar and the other leaders decided that the group should commit mass suicide rather than accept capture and torture by the Romans.




The round rocks we are sitting and standing on are Roman catapult balls from the siege of Masada in 75AD.