Our Story

“So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.  And all the people were amazed” – Mark 4:20

Well…today is Friday!!!!  It was a big, big day as Marty would say…

Our first stop was Mt. Gilboa, bright and early at 9:00 am.  Sitting on the mountain top looking over the Jezreel Valley and looking at Endor mountain, we all joined in song and sang “How Great Thou Art.”  It was so powerful!  This is the story from 1 Samuel 28:1-19.  Verse 4b says, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa…and there we sat!  Our challenge here was, “Do we inquire of the Lord?”  Do we talk with God and ask for his leading, or do we plow ahead and then when in trouble cry out “Please God help!”  Herod’s spring was also at the foot of the mountain where Gideon chose his army.

11:30 we arrived at the Decapolis city of Beth She’an or Sycthopolos.  We have no record of Jesus, being this Greek/Roman city of 50,000 people, but God put His people here.  These were amazing structures there that showed this Hellenistic society (me, myself, and I mentality) did really take care of the number one self.  The Greeks and Romans wanted to control 4 things so they could change any world view: Media, Sports, Religion, & Education.  Using the text of Ecclesiastes 1:10, is there anything of which can say, “Look is this something new?  Is it not still the same today?”

We came to another Decapolis city of Susita/Hippos.  This city is where the story of legion and the pigs from Mark 5:1-20.  We all know the story, and have read over it many times in the past, but today we got an answer to a question that we have struggled with since high school (a long time ago!).  Why did Jesus say don’t tell after all his miracles and healings?  And now to begin he says, “Go home to your own people and tell them.”  Why the difference?

When Jesus said, “don’t tell,” that was among believers.  So when he said tell, it was in a city of pagans and unbelievers.  Legion now had a “God story” and he was to share it!  Another exciting thing we learned to day was that the Nicene Creed was co-authored by the Bishop of Susita.

Last stop of the day, around 5 pm, was the Jordan River which starts high in the mountains 9500 feet at Mount Hermon and comes to 1000 feet below Sea Level to the Sea of Galilee.  We had time to meditate and ponder here.  We need o have God sightings/God storys as we share with a dying world in need of living water.  Do we have our story ready and are we ready to tell our story?  Let me introduce ourselves: we are Arnie and Sherry Tenbrinke, Children of the one true King.

Photos taken by Sid and Karen Doornbos