Day Two Blog!




Didn’t think we could top Day #1, but we did. We started the day at Cana of Galilee, where Jesus attended a wedding & performed his first miracle by turning water into wine to keep the wedding feast going. We had over 30 couples renew their vows in a beautiful church right in the heart of the town. Talk about sentimental. It was great. Hats off to Jack & Deanna Brown for celebrating 48 years together – the most of any couple renewing their vows. And to Bill and Carol Rogers. What a moment to watch them renew after 41 years right alongside their best man, Larry Lemmons. Many a tear of joy was shared. The best bread on the planet earth is fire cooked right on top of some hot coals on the streets of Cana.

Then it was off to Meggido, where some 20 different civilizations have been built on top of each other over the years. The ruins of this strategic town were incredible, particularly the underground water systems. The Bible says this place, otherwise known as Armageddon, will be the site of the epic battle at the End of Days. Fear not, nothing happened today to end the world. Just had a mediocre lunch at the site and some cool Indiana-Jones type archaeology.

Caesarea by the Sea may have been the highlight. Some 20 years before Christ, Herod tried to bring Rome to the Middle East. His structures along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea are almost indescribable. I’ll try. We worshipped inside an amphitheater that has been around for over 2,000 years – original marble, stonework and all. Dave cranked out a great version of “Mighty to Save” right from center stage. Ask him about it sometime. We walked through a hippodrome that rivals any sports pavilion I have ever seen. It used to lay hidden underneath a parking lot next to the amphitheatre until only 20 years ago. I have never seen anything like it, and there is a good chance Paul was brought before the authorities right inside this very arena. It was overwhelming. Herod built a huge harbor on the shores – the same harbor Paul sailed from on many of his evangelism journeys. There were steam baths, palaces & a huge 9 mile aqueduct that still exists – it pumped water all the way to Caesarea so Herod could have water on the second floor of his beachside palace. Wait 'til you see some photos of this place. The ruins are totally accessible – you literally walk around mosaic tile floors that are 2,000 years old. There is also a stone that has an authentic inscription of Pontius Pilate’s name on it. This place could not have been cooler. The Mediterranean Sea was breathtaking – far different from my CNN preconceptions of it. I could vacation here.

Finally, we ended up atop Mt. Carmel where Elijah is said in 1 Kings 18:16 to have battled 450 prophets of Baal for proof that God is in fact God. If you don’t know the story, check it out & you’ll know where we were. This place is the highest point we’ve been to. It was windy & cold, but quite spiritual.

As we were driving home, we stopped along side a country road and saw an authentic 1st century tomb – tucked up in a cave with an entrance and a stone that you could roll in front of the opening. This was not the tomb Jesus was buried in (we’re a ways from Jerusalem), but it is certainly an authentic version of one similar to it.

This trip has surpassed any expectation I had. The ruins are so raw and accessible & the land speaks every bit as much as the scriptures themselves. Our hosts have been so gracious & informative. Our safety has never been suspect & we are looking forward to tomorrow when we “turn our faces towards Jerusalem” & head to the City of David by way of Jericho & Qumran. Until then, blessings!