Who am I

Good morning.  We are all ready for yet another of Matt Davies’favorite days in Israel!

Yesterday we started out earlier than normal to depart the hotel before a bicycle race closed the exit road to the highway.  After traveling about an hour we arrived at the top of the Golan Heights and an abandoned Israeli army bunker.  It was an astonishing sight to overlook Syria and the United Nations Compound just one thousand feet below on the Syrian border and only fifty miles from Damascus.  The experience underscored the strategic importance of these heights to the security of Israel.

From here we traveled north to the border between Israel and Lebanon to Tel Dan.  This is where the tribe of Dan conquered the native people and established a pagan society worshipping golden bulls. The temple we visited was built shortly after Solomon died.  It is a lush area fed by enormous springs fed by snow run off from Mt. Hebron.  From here we traveled a few miles to Caesarea Phillippi  which is the area where Jesus asked his disciples “Who am I”, to which, only Peter answered correctly, “You are the Messiah Son of the Living God”.  Jesus answered Peter by saying “you are the rock on which I will build My church”.  At this same site the Romans had already erected a temple to Pan who was the god of fertility and who lived part of the year in the underworld.  The site was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 ad.  From here we journeyed south to the Sea of Galilee back to our hotel.  Because we arrived after the beginning of the Sabbath, we dined at a near by restaurant operated by non Jewish owners.

Lailah tov,
Tom and Deborah Britton

From Dena:  Hi family and friends,

Greetings from Israel!  This has been a fabulous and unbelievable trip of a lifetime.  Curt and I have wandered in the desert like the Israelites, we rode  a camel, floated in the dead sea, took a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee, and most unforgettable, Curt and I were baptized in the muddy waters of the Jordan River.

We have traveled from one end of the country to the other and seen incredible extremes from green terrain to hot, dry desert land.   We have visited so many biblical sites that have brought to life  the scripture readings and teachings associated with each of these place where Jesus taught, visited and passed through.  Re-reading scriptures pertaining to these areas will have a personal and profound meaning  as never before.

Our tour guide, Yahuda, and all our pastors have done a fantastic job or leading our studies and recapping the historical events of that time.  It is amazing to see original artifacts, structures, remains of cities, synagogues, temples and other buildings of different periods.   Curt has over 1,700 pictures he will have to edit when we return.  This monumental task will keep him busy for a while.

Sending you love and hugs,
Curt and Dena