Day 6, Saturday, March 17. This morning we are crossing the Sheik Hussein Bridge into Jordan. We will go to Jerash, a city of the decapolis that was one of the most important and best preserved cities in the Near East. We will view the Jabbok River, where Jacob wrestled with "a man" who wrenched Jacob's hip socket. Then we drive to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land, the green Jordan Valley- the " Land of Milk and Honey." From there we venture down to the Dead Sea to lodge that night.

Day 5, Friday, March 16. This morning we go first to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. We visit the Nazareth Village, that is a replica of a first-century town and ancient farm. Then we go to Beit She'an, perhaps best known as the site where King Saul and his sons were hung from the city walls by the triumphant Philistines. We will conclude our day at the baptismal site on the River Jordan. Where if anyone so desires, I will baptize them in the Jordan River. It doesn't sound like we will do much on this day but the three locations will take up a great deal of time. We will then head back to Tiberias to our hotel and a wonderful buffet dinner on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is amazing how small the Sea is, in comparison to some of the lakes we have been on.

It is now Thursday, March 15 and we are going to some more interesting places. We will visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.In many of the locations we find churches built there. This one is unique in that it is a round one with all the disciples mentioned. We go to Caesarea Philippi, where in that region Peter proclaimed Jesus to the the" Messiah, the Son of the living God."  Then we visit a restaurant near the Sea of Galilee for what a lunch consisting of what they call, St. Peter's fish. We call it in Mexico, mojarra. And , weather permitting we go for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  I am trying to give you glimpses of our days in the Holy Land.

Today we are in Caesarea. A city constructed by Herod the Great on the Mediterranean. It was in Caesarea where Peter baptized Cornelius the centurion. We will also go and view the ruins of Megiddo, the Biblical Armageddon. And one of the place that is so moving to me is Mt. Carmel, where the prophet Elijah challenged the priests of Baal. And you know the story, Elijah called unto God to send down fire and He did. We need an Elijah for today to challenge the godless, heathen philosophies and so that "the God who answers by fire, is God."

When you read this today we will be in Israel for our third such trip of our lives. This is our 50th Anniversary trip. For many years I had no desire to go to the Holy Land but something changed. As I was reading through the Bible( I try to do so every year), my interest peak in knowing first hand some of these places that I was reading about. We will go to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jabbok River, Mt. Nebo , Mt. Carmel and on and on. Pray for us as we travel in the Land of our Lord and pray that we may come away with an even more realization of our Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry.
" I walked today where Jesus walked, In days of long ago. I wandered down each path He knew, With reverent step and slow. Those little lanes, they have not changed,"