There's More to Switzerland Than I Thought!

In my last Galilee post I wrote about the Road to Switzerland, a treat brought to us by our somewhat inconsistent but well-meaning GPS unit "Naggy Maggie".  Last Friday we took our niece Meg to several areas in the Galilee and decided to drive home by way of the Road to Switzerland.  When you reach what appears to be almost the top the mountain there is a fork in the road.  The left turn (which we have always taken) heads out toward the town of Afula and across the Jezreel Valley and then home to Haifa. The right fork actually goes to Switzerland. We have never taken that road assuming that was a dead end, someone's home or a small town.  Anyway, we thought that we had seen all that there was to see.  Little did we know!


I wait for the lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord. 

              Psalm 130:5                                               

 

On Friday we decided to take the right fork and found that we had seen only a small part of the beauty that lay above the sea of Galilee.  We found the Switzerland National Forest! (Clearly we had missed the cues on the sign!)  The road wound for miles, got much narrower and climbed to new heights. We passed a flock of sheep and goats being shepherded down the mountain by their Arab shepherd, a herd of long horned cattle and cliffs with an amazing view of the Sea of Galilee and then the city of Tibereas.  There were hiking trails, picnic areas and very few people.  It was an awe inspiring trip!

There's a spiritual application to our experience on the Road to Switzerland.  Sometimes we think that we have seen all that there is to see in our journey with our Lord.  We take the usual road (often a satisfactory one) and then turn out into the valley of everyday life.  But............. if we wait, take a different turn, there is so much more.  He meets us in new ways and they are more wonderful thank you can imagine.  Have you taken any new turns with the Lord lately,spent some extra time?  It takes a little extra effort and sometimes some patience, but you never know what you might find.

     

Our Shepherd is a friendly one
always anxious to meet us.

The End of the Galilee

This is it, really!  There is so much to the Galilee that it has taken me multiple posts to cover even a part of it.  However, there are a few more stops to make as we make our way back to Haifa.  As we leave the Mt. of the Beatitudes and travel toward Tiberias, there is a set of mountain peaks that dominate the lower west side of the Galilee.  Mt. Arbel extends to 380 ft. above sea level which does not sound very high until you consider that much of the area is below sea level. The split between them is a valley created as a part of the Jordan Rift valley which is the product of a geological fault.  The thing that makes this valley notable is that it is a huge weather producer.  The winds frequently sweep through this valley and produce storms on the Sea of Galilee.  This brings to mind a familiar story and the ancient boat from the time of Christ, which unfortunately was in one of my lost blogs.

Mt. Arbel

The Ancient Boat is a fishing boat from the time of Christ.
Can you imagine thirteen men in this boat in a storm?

And behold there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he (Jesus) was asleep.  And they went and woke him saying, "Save us Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"  then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.                                                         Matthew 8:24-26

South of the Sea of Galilee, where it empties into the Jordan River, is one of two baptismal sites along the Jordan.  It is owned and managed by Kibbutz Kvutsat Kinneret and many Christian pilgrims come to Yardenit to be baptized every year.  What is believed to be the more accurate site of Jesus' baptism, Qsar el Yahud, is in a frontier area between Israel and the country of Jordan near Jericho.  After the Six Day War in 1967, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism decided to set up Yardenit as an alternative to the original site and so it was established.  Qsar el Yahud was reopened in 2011; however, Yardenit is still a popular place for visitors to the Jordan to be baptized.

Many visitors to Israel from around the world are
baptized in the Jordan at Yardinet every year.

 Our trusty GPS unit, which we lovingly call "Naggy Maggie" travels in our car and contains "current" maps of Israel.  In the US, she is quite trustworthy.  However, in Israel she is intermittent in her directions at best.  There are times that she is quite helpful but there have been times when she has sent us through every narrow alley that a location has to offer.  That is why I questioned her directions one day in March when my sister Ann was visiting.  We had just left Yardenit and I decided to turn her on rather than wind my way through Tiberias on my way home.  Just south of Tiberas, she directed me to make a left turn up a very steep mountain road.  Here is the sign that pointed up the road.  Of course, my reaction was "Switzerland, really?".  Should we do this?  Maggie did her job that day! As our car climbed the narrow s-curving road, we were treated to the most beautiful view of the lower Galilee that I've ever seen.  Now we take everyone who visits "up the road to Switzerland" as we travel back to Haifa.  So, I leave you with scenes from The Road to Switzerland.  Shalom until next time!

Exploring the Galilee - Part II

Seeing the crowds, he went up

on the mountain and when he

sat down his disciples came to him 

and he opened his mouth and taught

saying blessed are.............. and when

Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds

were astonished at his teaching for he

was teaching them as one who had 

authority..........

Matthew 5:1 and 7:28,29a

In keeping with my plan to spend some of my down time remaining here in Israel in "stopping to ponder" as one of my previous blogs said, I have a plan, and it involves a day trip to the Sea of Galilee. Sitting on the western side of the Gaililee or Kinneret is a lovely church and monastary. The Church of the Beatitudes sits on a hill above the sea on the site where tradition says that Jesus delivered The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).   The church itself is not that old as it was built by the Franciscans in the 1930s on the site of an earlier Byzantine church.  However, it is a beautiful spot high above the Lake with lovely gardens and and a peaceful atmosphere.  I plan to spend a good part of a day there sitting with my Bible, journal and perhaps another book or two.  I will read and pray but I also want to just listen.  Here are some of the reasons that I've chosen this spot.

 Come to me all who labor

are heavy laden and I will

give you rest. Take my yoke

upon you and learn from me,

for I am gentle  and lowly

in heart and you will find

rest for your souls. For my

yoke is easy and my burden

is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

              

I think that you can see why this is my choice of place without too many more words from me.  There are plenty of gardens, walks and benches in this lovely spot - definitely a place to "stop and ponder".

I

What Day Is It?????

I always find Sunday a little disconcerting when living in Israel.  I mean it's Sunday and I'm doing my laundry! Ordinarily, I would be in church and maybe planning time later with the family or friends.  But on Sunday here in Israel, Saturday was Sunday (at least my mind thinks so) and, now that I think of it, Friday was Saturday.  I suppose if I lived here long enough I'd get used to it, but in four months time I never seem to get beyond the confused stage.

An Amazing Israel Breakfast

Just to give you a taste, here is how the weekend went.  What we think of as Friday evening was really Thursday evening, so we had some friends over for dinner.  We had a great time with Marji and Rod who work here, so our Friday evening, no Thursday evening, was really fun.

Then on Saturday, no Friday, we went out to breakfast at Zman Cafe on Hertzl Street.  Israeli breakfasts are amazing, so I've included a picture.  They usually include an omelette, cheeses, a big pile of salad and beautiful brown bread to go with your juice and cappuccino.  Believe me you do not need anything else until dinner time!

Is that corn? Did we miss a turn?
Are we on our way to Philo?

This is not the
road to Philo?

A Beautiful Gate at Yarden Winery

After that we headed out to the Golan.  I had planned on doing the Mount of Beatitudes for the Galilee - Part II, but just consider this a little detour, because the Golan is on the eastern side of the Galilee as I already mentioned in a previous post. We had two goals in going to the Golan; the first was our favorite winery, Yarden, to pick up some of the wonderful wine that is produced there.  Gary went for the Cabernet and I went for a French wine (made in Israel) called a Viognier. I assure you that we will enjoy them.

The Ruins of Ancient Gamla

                                                               

An ancient Roman dart thrower
stands aimed at Gamla.

Our second goal was to see Gamla. (Now there is a Gamla winery in the Golan, but one of those in a day is enough.)  We were headed for the ruins of what was a prosperous Jewish town during the Second Temple period.  It was located in the southern part of the Golan overlooking the Sea of Galilee and was built on a steep hill shaped like a camel's hump (Gamla means camel in Aramaic.).  The town was a peaceful one until Jewish Zealots fled there in 67 A.D. during the Great Revolt.  It then became the target of the Roman Legions of Titus and Vespasian and was eventually destroyed after a lengthy siege.  Josephus Flavius, who was the Jewish Commander of Galilee during the revolt and who initially led the defense at Jotapata but finally surrendered, witnessed the destruction of Gamla, and became the Jewish historian who has given us many accurate and detailed accounts of that period in the historical books that he subsequently wrote.

The trail to Gamla has a rather menacing name.

Our Saturday (no Friday) trip concluded with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Decks where the wood grilled salmon, sweet potatoes and mushrooms are absolutely amazing. It is in Tiberias which is on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and was built by the Romans in honor of the Emperor Tiberias. Initially the Jews hated it. But, in the second century A.D., with Jerusalem gone, the Jews began to venerate Tiberias as one of their four holy cities.  It is also known for its hot springs and today has a  thriving tourist trade.

Enjoying a Meal on Decks in Tibereas with Family
                           

         

The food at Decks is beautiful!

Now we come to Saturday (which feels like Sunday).  "Shabbat Shalom" is the familiar greeting for both Friday evening and Saturday even among Christians here in Israel.  I really love that phrase, "Peaceful Sabbath", what a wonderful thought! I have taken you to Bethesda Assembly before, but I can never fail to appreciate the wonderful atmosphere is such a diverse place of worship.  This week we had a sermon in English, translated into both Hebrew and Russian.  Following that we enjoyed a wonderful fellowship lunch and a Q and A time with our speaker, Dr. Arnold Fructenbaum (who is from Texas) regarding what the Scriptures say about the times to come.  It was such a treat to get to know, even a little better, the diverse group of
                                                                                            believers that we have so come to love
                                                                                            and appreciate.

So now today is Monday....... no Sunday!  I've come to love our weekends here but it really is confusing........ and I'm doing the laundry.

Oh yes - a little something we saw along the way in the Golan.

 The Golan really is very well protected. :)

Exploring the Galillee - Part 1

The Galilee is by far my favorite spot in Israel!  It is not hard to see why our Savior spent a great deal of His time there and often slipped away to spend time alone with His Father on its hills.   Among my lost posts were posts on Nazareth Village, the childhood home of Jesus, and the Ancient Boat Museum, not far from where I am today, (and I may try to recreate them some day).  But my goal now is to show you a few more places where Jesus would have walked.

Looking Over the Ruins of Capernaum Toward the
Octagonal Church

Although Jesus grew up in Nazareth, his center of ministry was in Capernaum. Capernaum or Kfar Nahum (meaning "Nahum's village") was a fishing village established in the time of the Hasmoneans (between 140 and 116 B.C.) and is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  It is mentioned in the Gospels as a place where many miracles occurred such as the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, the raising of the paralytic who was lowered through the roof of a house, and where the Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. It also is assumed to have been the home of Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, as well as Matthew the tax collector.

Ruins of the Basalt Houses of First Century Capernaum

The houses of Capernaum were constructed of black basalt which is a different stone from other areas of the country and is native to that area.  One house in Capernaum, in particular, appears to have undergone significant alterations over the centuries following the time of Jesus. Inscriptions found on the walls seem to indicate that it was the house of Simon Peter which later was used by early Christians as a church.  It was expanded and changed into an octagonal shape over the centuries, and today, it is covered and protected by an Octagonal Church run by the Franciscans, who have also surrounded the area with lovely and peaceful gardens.

   The Second Century Synagogue as Seen Over Ruins
of Basalt Houses from the Time of Christ

Tagbha - Remembering the Loaves and Fishes

     

      And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in

      Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of

      Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was 

      spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be

      fulfilled.

                                               Matthew 4:13,14   

When I first visited these historical sites I found the tendency to build churches everywhere a bit troubling.  However, those churches do protect and maintain these historical areas that were so crucial to our Lord's ministry, so I now look at them as wonderful places of peace and beauty and am grateful for the care that is taken to preserve them.  When I next write I will show you the Mt. of the Beatitudes, a church with one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen.

The Tagbha Mosaic                                                                       

The Church of the Twelve Disciples

The Beautiful Sea of Gaililee

Contemplating the Sea of Galilee from the Gardens
of Capernaum

Lest We Forget

Over the years I've heard many stories of WWII and the Holocaust.  After all, my dad landed on Normandy the day after D Day and lived through Europe serving as a medic in the army and bringing home an impressive seven battle stars.  How I wish that I had appreciated that more ask a child and asked so many questions!  He died at the age of 50, a delayed war death according to our doctor.  Now I would love to know all that he saw and what he thought about so many things.  When we meet in heaven someday, I will have so much to ask!

I've had the opportunity to study the Holocaust, read the stories of people like Ann Frank and Corrie Ten Boom and even climb into the Hiding place in the Ten Boom family home in Harleem, the Netherlands as well as visiting Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria.

However, in last week I did two things that have once again impressed on me the need, now more than ever, to make sure that the events of the Holocaust are never forgotten.  I read a book that rivals the Hiding Place as a must read.  The book is "The Journey" by Myrna Grant and, though out of print, can still be acquired, used, on Amazon.  It is about the life of Rose Warmer, a Jew who, after a tumultuous life, became a Chrisitan believer and went to the camps with her fellow Jews to minister and witness to them.  She survived the war, but at a terrible toll to her health, and ended her years here in Haifa doing what she felt so compelled to do, sharing Yeshua Meschiah with her fellow Jews. Many of our friends at Bethesda Assembly knew her and that is where we first heard her story.

The second thing that I did was visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.  I had been before but Gary had not, so we went and spent a considerable amount of Wednesday there.  Pictures are not allowed inside the museum or I would show you a many of the tragic things that we saw.  It is not an easy visit, but the pictures and recording of first hand accounts as well as areas like the memorial to the millions and a half children and babies that died and the hall of records of the names of the dead, least we forget them, serve to strengthen my resolve that this is a part of history that we must not forget and cannot ever be denied!  

No other race in history has endured such methodic and vicious attempts to totally annihilate it.  This alone should reaffirm our belief that God has a plan for our redemption and that plan is through the people of the Book, the Jews.  They are not a perfect people, but they are His agent of redemption of the world.  He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins through them and He will also bring about the end of the Ages through them.  May we never forget and continue to pray for Israel and her people!





      For if their rejection meant the reconciliation     
        of the world, what will their acceptance mean
        but life from the dead.                 Romans 9:11

      

Sometimes Things Don't Go Your Way !

Today I was writing a new blog and I was not satisfied with it.  After a little while I decided to delete the blog and start over.  Unfortunately, I was writing from a hotel in Old City Jerusalem with a very sporadic internet connection, meaning that when I had saved the blog earlier in the day it looked like it had not been saved.  Then, when I went to delete it, I found that it had indeed been saved numerous times.  Sooooooo, I hit delete not knowing that several of my past posts were on that page too.  Poof!!!!!!  Some of my favorite posts were gone and, try as I might, they are really gone.  Everything after April 19 has vanished into thin air, including "Driving in Israel" and "Stopping to Ponder".

If anyone has saved either of those and has a copy, please send it to me.  Otherwise, I have learned two valuable lessons:  (1) be careful when using the internet in an Old City Jerusalem Hotel with thick walls and inconsistent internet and (2) I'll get over it. Shalom!

I leave you with some photos of the beautiful Gloria Hotel, just inside the Jaffa Gate, in Jerusalem.