Ok...kid in a candy store today. The road may not be the same, but we are traveling the route that the disciples knew well. Our first stop is Caesarea by the Sea. This isn't Caesarea Philippi (where Jesus was in Matt. And Mark), but it is still a great place especially for us non-Jews! It was a friendly place for the Gospel, the final stop for old Phillip after he witnessed to the Ethipoian eunuch, and where Paul spent many days. After his conversion, the disciples in Jerusalem "smuggled" him here for saftey, and it is the last place Paul stepped in Isreal. He was jailed here, but Felix gave him liberty because he knew of the Way. This is also where Paul appealed to Caesar here (and the Gospel spread to Rome!). BUT...Caesarea is where Cornelius the Centurion lived. The one who had the vision! Peter was led to go and pronounce the Gentiles as "clean" to become a part of God's family. The Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles here (for the first recorded time) and the world changed! My heart jumps for joy to think that I am privileged to delight in the roots of our faith! Praise God that the Holy Spirit has fallen on me! Sweet Gift of God!
Ok, that was amazing! The most beautiful place! I can see why it was where Pilate lived! This was the last view Paul saw of his homeland.
Now, we are on to Mt. Carmel! Yes, where Elijah had the showdown with the prohphets of Baal! 1 vs. 450! Yet the 1 wasn't Elijah, it was The Lord! No contest! On this mountain, King David met Abigail and Samuel and Saul went to worship. It is really a series of mountains over 24 miles long!
We stopped for lunch and then on to Nazareth! This is the place where it was announced to Mary that she will be the mother of the Messiah, and the place where Jesus grew up! Now, we didn't get to stop at the church of the annunciation (the place presumed that Mary was told about her role in history), but instead we stopped by the Arab Israli Bible Society. This is run by a young woman who is charged with leading the ministry to get the Word into the hands of millions in the upper Galilee area. In five years, what she and her husband are accomplishing is amazing! From children's books, to magazines, to getting the word to Muslim women (which she and they risk much to do) it was an amazing stop...I must say, the faith and devotion to spreading the Kingdom is incredible! If every church had 20 people that devoted in our country - Revival would be the norm, not simply a prayer. I was challenged and inspired today. God is so good!
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