Jerusalem and the Judean Dessert

This is on the top of Masada.  These birds were just caching the updrafts and soaring all around us.  Our guide told us they would eat bread right out of our hands......she was right!  We were treated to an air show by two Israeli F16's that were circling around us and "showing off" a little!  
The famous "Western Wall" in Jerusalem.  
Yesterday in the Muslim quarter of Old City (Jerusalem), I got to have a fresh cup of pomegranate juice.....ah, antioxidant heaven!  This was on top of the fresh squeezed orange juice I had about 2 hours earlier.  The pomegranates and oranges are grown in Israel, along with just about every other tropical fruit!
One of the highlights for me on the trip was the Garden of Gethsemane .  Here the Temple Mount is in the background with one of the 2,000 year old olive tree's from the garden in the foreground.  Right in the middle is the Eastern Gate where one day the Messiah, Jesus Christ will walk through that gate and rule and reign in this, His Holy city!
This is on the Mount of Olives.

Jerusalem !

The Western Wall with the Temple Mount in the background.  We went around the Jewish Quarter of the Old City today - the Lord held back the rain for most of the day!
Here is a group of us from C.C. Philly praying in the traditional spot for the "Upper Room".  A large Byzantine church was found right below us in the very spot.  It could very much be where the early church met! We had a sweat time in the word and in prayer.  
Old City - Jewish Quarter.
Myself with Pastor Aaron Campbell from Antioch of Calvary Chapel, and Pastor Mark Abrams from C.C. North Philadelphia.  We're standing right in front of Gideons Springs, the very stream where the Lord stripped Gideon's army down to 300 men!  

Hey guys !  I have some internet access for a couple of minutes so I wanted to post some pictures.  The pas couple of days have been incredible.  Our first look at Jerusalem was very emotional - it's hard to describe it, but it was something I will never forget.  Please pray for our team tomorrow and the next couple of days as we go to some very important spots here in Jerusalem - the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, Golgotha, the Garden Tomb.  Pray that the Lord would have his way in our hearts over the next couple of days - that we would all leave here taking back with us something special from the Lord.  I'll continue to post more pictures and thoughts soon.  

Blessings,

Carlos

Some more pics of the C.C. Philly Israel Trip

This picture is looking at the U.N. "presence" on the border with Syria (directly behind the buildings).  Our guides told us that it is an unarmed U.N. camp.  Damascus is 40 miles directly behind those buildings.  You can't see it, but behind me in this picture is a large hill (one of 3 on the Golan Heights) in which Israel has placed a strategic intelligence base.  It's said that from here they can see directly into Damascus, and are very well informed if Syria tries to strike.  Because of this, the border with Syria is now one of Israel's calmest borders.
This is the oldest free standing gate in the world.  It's the entrance to the city of Dan which Abraham walked through when he chased after the "Kings of the North" to get Lot back (Gen. 14:14).  Back then it was the ancient Canaanite city(I think)  of Laish.  The gate is over 4,000 years old!  Dan was the first tribe to fall into idolatry, and we got to see the remnants of a temple that they set up to worship a golden calf there instead of worshiping the True and Living God in Jerusalem.   
Here is our group listening to the history behind this 4,000 year old city.  It was incredible!
This is a column from a temple worshiping the false god "pan".  It is in Caesarea Phillipi, right next to the cave where the spring forms that becomes the Jordan River, this is in Banias, at the foot of Mt. Hermon.  This area was beautiful with the crystal clear springs, and the mountains behind it.  It was in Caesarea Phillipi that Peter made his statement that Jesus was "The Christ, the Son of the living God".  

So we are leaving the Galilee region tomorrow morning and will be making our way up to Jerusalem by tomorrow afternoon!  It's the Sabbath now, and I am just sitting here reflecting on all that the Lord has been showing me over the past couple of days.  It's so hard to take it all in - I feel like my head is going to explode.  In the midst of all these sights, the Lord has been faithful to teach me, and speak to me.  I was thinking about the tribe of Dan today as we were checking out it's false temple of worship.  Our guide told us that they left their allotment that Joshua gave them because it was in the middle of what would have been a constant war zone between the inhabitants of the land, and the tribes of Israel fighting them. Because they didn't stick to where the Lord wanted them to be, they got involved in all kinds of trouble and eventually became the first tribe to fall into idolatry.  Relating that to my own life - I want to be faithful to where ever the Lord has me - whatever circumstance, whatever place, whatever situation - trusting by faith that He knows what He is doing, and has the BEST plan for my life - even when on the outside it looks like a crummy allotment!  I don't want to miss out on the Lord's blessings because I left His will for my own!  Lord please give me the faith to do this! This is just one of the thousands of things that I have been thinking about today.  Anyway, please continue to pray for us as we head up to Jerusalem tomorrow and will be there and South of there for the next couple of days.  I am really looking forward to something special from the Lord while there.  

Blessings,

Carlos 

 

Israel Trip - Second Touring day !

Pastor Aaron Campbell from Antioch Calvary Chapel in West Philly, and MJ from CC Philly.
We loaded up two of these boats and had worship and a teaching out in the Sea of Galilee.
This is a synagogue that they uncovered in Capernaum that dates back to 300 A.D.  The one that Jesus taught in lies underneath - we saw parts of it.
Myself with Don and Jeanne McClure overlooking the Sea of Galilee.  Don has stepped in for Joe since he couldn't make the trip.
This is where many believe Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount.  Down by the banana trees there is a natural amphitheatre, your voice can be heard throughout that small valley.  We had worship and a teaching by Don here as well. 

Israel Trip - Calvary Philly

This is the town of Joppa - 4,000 years old.  Where Jonah loaded a ship to Tarshish, and where Peter had his vision to "kill and eat".
This is overlooking the modern town of Nazareth. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth" - yes, He has come, our Savior and Messiah !
This is on top of Mount Carmel where Elijah had his confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Behind it is part of the Valley of Migido" - Armegedan! This view was incredible!
Here is the ampitheatre where many believe Paul gave his defense to Agrippa in Ceasarea by the sea.  
This is the Mediterranean Sea at sunset - this is in Tel Aviv.  

So here are just a couple of pictures from yesterday (the day we landed), and today, our first touring day.  I think it's safe to say that my mind is already blown.  Their really is something special about walking this land - the promise land.  It's hard to describe in words, but when you come, the feeling is unmistakable.  I think the two biggest things that struck me today were being on Mt. Carmel and thinking of the showdown that Elijah had with the 450 prophets of baal.  It must have been a remarkable sight to see "all of Israel" gather on that mountain top and to see the Lord ignite those sacrifices.  What a testimony of His power.  The other thing that blessed me today was to look out over the town of Nazareth.  The very place where our Lord  grew up and spent most of his time here on earth. My mind began to wander as I though about His humanity as a child growing up, but also to think about His deity, and the fact that He was God in the flesh - even as a child - awesome stuff!  We have 2 times in the Word as a group and times to worship the Lord together - He has been faithful to bless us so much, and t's only th end of the first full day.  I will try to post some more pictures tomorrow so please stay tuned for more!  Pray that the Lord would meet al 100 of us tomorrow in a powerful way. We will be worshipping on the sea of galilee, and also sitting on the hill where Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, as well as having a time of baptism in the Jordan river!  Pray that our hearts would be open to not just see these amazing sights, but more importantly, to hear from Jesus - to be changed by Him.  We all want to leave Israel and go home like what the name Israel means - Governed by God, please pray that the Lord would grab hold of our hearts this next week.  I'll update as soon as I can.  Good night all.

Blessings,

Carlos