[acidfree:2272 style=image align=right size=200] What a week it’s been in Israel. As you probably know, I’ve been serving as [acidfree:2273 style=image align=left size=200]spiritual director for 20 pastors and a few teachers here in Israel. We’ve had a wonderful time. We’re still in Galilee, visiting new sites from Jesus’ life and ministry. Today we took a two hour boat ride on the lake. We didn’t try any wave-walking. It’s been raining here, but we had pretty good weather today. Not sunny and warm, but no rain either...cool and beautiful. Galilee is just tremendous. So many things have happened here. In addition to the feeding of the 5000, calling of the discicples, healing of the Gadarene demoniac, etc, we have seen the mountain where Saladin defeated the Crusaders. Here we see the mountain where Rome defeated the Jewish rebels. Here we stand at the foot of the Golan Heights, captured from Syria, and hear stories of how rockets from Lebanon recently rained down upon Galilee. Today we went past the Jordan River, and ate St. Peter’s fish on a Jewish kibbutz. Check out what we found in its mouth!
Let me tell you another cool fish story that happens to be true. We drove from where we’re staying in Tiberius (on the Sea of Galilee) a few miles to the place where the disciples are said to have caught the big catch of fish. When we got there, the water was just churning maybe 20 yards offshore. There was a whole school of fish shoaling and churning in shallow water, just splashing up a storm. You could just see how one cast off the side of a boat could have easily netted 153 fish. Within a few minutes, the water calmed completely and the fish were gone.
One beautiful bonus has been meeting Christians and Jews who live in this place. It will help me know them and pray for them in days to come. We have had a great travel guide, Claudia, who is doing a great job for us. We go out to various sites in the morning, then in the afternoon we come back for prayer, journaling, small group stuff, etc. I’m also spending time with each pastor for one on one counsel, prayer and encouragement. It’s a great group.
Tomorrow we head to Nazareth, Jesus’ home town. Day after we go up to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter spoke the good confession. Then it’s on to Jerusalem. Keep us in your prayers. All is well so far. See you soon.
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