How about something a little different and kinda fun? Let’s start out the new year thinking about the land of Israel—the land of our promised inheritance, and where the redeemed saints will meet Yeshua our King and rule with him when he returns.
My wife just found the hard drive that had all of our photos from our 2008 Israel trip, and I just finished going through them all. Can I share some of my favorite fun photos with you? Well, I’m going to anyway…
That spring, YHVH graciously provided Sandi and I with the funds to be able to go to Israel to help in the abib barley search with Nehemia Gordon and team. We were in the land for two weeks and got to travel to many places. After traveling to the land of the Bible, the Scriptures have never been the same as before. Now you can actually visualize the land and many of the places the Bible speaks about because you’ve been there! The Bible comes alive a new and powerful way, to be sure.
Here are a few pictures that I picked out to share with you. Please enjoy…
Here I am visiting with a camel in the Jordon Valley.As you can see, we became quick friends.
Dead Sea mud anyone? You’ve never seen me like this before! Sitting in the remains of a synagogue in Capharnaum on the Sea of Galilee. Though this synagogue was built several hundred years after the time of Yeshua, it was likely constructed on top of the one Yeshua preached in.Here Sandi is standing next to “the Jesus boat” which is in a museum near Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. This boat was found in the mud at the bottom of the lake and restored and is now on display. It is from the time of Yeshua and is like the ones that he and the disciples used. He may have even ridden in this same boat. Who knows? In northern Israel near the base of Mount Hermon taking a drink from of one of the streams that forms the Jordon River.Here I am with my back up against the Western Wailing Wall (the Kotel) in the Old City of Jerusalem. (Can you spot me?)In south Jerusalem with the Mount of Olives in the background.Outside the city walls of the Old City near the Damascus Gate.Descending the stairs, which is at the base of “the Pinnacle” of the Temple Mount, that leads across the Kidron Vally and over to the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the Mount of Olives.At the Sea of Galilee.I love the Sea of Galilee!Here I am on the Temple Mount standing on the remnants of the soreg also known as the middle wall of partition—a wall that kept the Gentiles out of the Temple area. That wall has now come down and everyone can come to Yeshua regardless of their ethnicity, for there is not longer Jew or Gentile—just the one new man, called the Israel of Elohim (Gal 6:16)! As you can see, I have a gleeful smile on my face as I’m reflecting on this reality.Here I am in the Jordon Valley standing on the wreck of an Israeli tank likely from Israel’s war of independence in 1948.This is in northern Israel at Tel Dan, the place where King Jeroboam set up his government when he split way from Judah, and where he built a temple to compete with the one in Jerusalem.On the Temple Mount in Jerusalem with some relics of Herod’s Temple.At the Yemin Moshe neighborhood looking toward the Old City of Jerusalem.After running around the land of Israel for two weeks pounding your feet on all that hard stone, finally a guy has to rest his weary legs. Here I am sitting on what’s left of a 2,000 year old public comfort station (otherwise know as a toilet) in some ruins below the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Oh! How fascinating and interesting! Thanks for sharing all of those pics. I was particularly interested in the fact that you got to spend some time with Nehemia Gordon. I am especially grateful for all the research he is doing with the ancient Hebrew manuscripts and what he is discovering of the New Testament written in Hebrew, and for bringing to light that Yehovah is all through the Hebrew Scriptures. It has changed my whole perspective on Scripture. Wish I could ask about your time with him….
On that trip, we spent a full week with NG. We had been corresponding with him since the early 2000s on biblical calendric issues. In fact, my wife was the first person that we know of to put out a printable monthly calendar on our website for free download. Others had been doing this (like M. Rood) previously, but they were merchandizing the calendar. We wanted to give it away for free to help people.
When in Israel, we accompanied NG on the abib barley search, rosh chodesh search, plus toured with him to several places in the land such as Massada, the Dead Sea and the area of Sodom. Was a real blessing!
He and I hiked the ten miles from the Mount of Beattitudes (the Horns of Hittin) down to the edge of the Sea of Galilee and then on to Capharhaum. During that hike as he was huffing and puffing along (he’s a big guy!) on that hot day as he was chug-a-lugging water from a 1 gallon milk jug), I peppered him with endless questions on everything that I could think about especially relating to how to pronounce YHVH. After that hike, I went from saying Yahweh to Yehovah. To me, the evidence was irrefutable, and it has been confirmed to me over and over again to this day.
Yes we are grateful to NG for all the good work he has done. He has heard the gospel message, and knows the truth of Yeshua the Messiah. This we know because my wife witnessed to him over the dinner table in a restaurant in Tiberias. So pray for his salvation! He’s can’t too far away from salvation, if he isn’t there already.
Thanks for sharing brought back so many memories!! I went in 2016 for a month. I remember telling friends the Bible became 3D after my trip. Powerful experience. So many economical ways to stay there Everyone should go!
Thank you Natan and Sandi-how lovely to see the land from your perspective-we see things we wouldn’t ordinarily see. In some pics you actually look Hebrew tho’ in others you look kind of Amish, but always happy. What a treat you gave us! I’ve been telling my hubby “happy NOT new year.” not the holly but the holy 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us!
Oh! How fascinating and interesting! Thanks for sharing all of those pics. I was particularly interested in the fact that you got to spend some time with Nehemia Gordon. I am especially grateful for all the research he is doing with the ancient Hebrew manuscripts and what he is discovering of the New Testament written in Hebrew, and for bringing to light that Yehovah is all through the Hebrew Scriptures. It has changed my whole perspective on Scripture. Wish I could ask about your time with him….
On that trip, we spent a full week with NG. We had been corresponding with him since the early 2000s on biblical calendric issues. In fact, my wife was the first person that we know of to put out a printable monthly calendar on our website for free download. Others had been doing this (like M. Rood) previously, but they were merchandizing the calendar. We wanted to give it away for free to help people.
When in Israel, we accompanied NG on the abib barley search, rosh chodesh search, plus toured with him to several places in the land such as Massada, the Dead Sea and the area of Sodom. Was a real blessing!
He and I hiked the ten miles from the Mount of Beattitudes (the Horns of Hittin) down to the edge of the Sea of Galilee and then on to Capharhaum. During that hike as he was huffing and puffing along (he’s a big guy!) on that hot day as he was chug-a-lugging water from a 1 gallon milk jug), I peppered him with endless questions on everything that I could think about especially relating to how to pronounce YHVH. After that hike, I went from saying Yahweh to Yehovah. To me, the evidence was irrefutable, and it has been confirmed to me over and over again to this day.
Yes we are grateful to NG for all the good work he has done. He has heard the gospel message, and knows the truth of Yeshua the Messiah. This we know because my wife witnessed to him over the dinner table in a restaurant in Tiberias. So pray for his salvation! He’s can’t too far away from salvation, if he isn’t there already.
Love it! Can’t wait to visit!
Thanks for sharing brought back so many memories!! I went in 2016 for a month. I remember telling friends the Bible became 3D after my trip. Powerful experience. So many economical ways to stay there Everyone should go!
Thank you Natan and Sandi-how lovely to see the land from your perspective-we see things we wouldn’t ordinarily see. In some pics you actually look Hebrew tho’ in others you look kind of Amish, but always happy. What a treat you gave us! I’ve been telling my hubby “happy NOT new year.” not the holly but the holy 🙂