Qumran--the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found
On May 12, I joined 33 others on a trip of a lifetime: Out
of Egypt and into the Promised Land. In Egypt, I crawled into a pyramid, rode a camel, and stepped bare-footed into the Alabaster
Mosque. I saw the Sphinx, the Step-Pyramid, and the ENORMOUS statue of Ramses II. Here. Take a look.
I had just finished a survey course in Old Testament which covered (among other things) prophets.
Naturally then, I loved visiting Mount Carmel where the famous contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal occurred. My
professor for the course, Dr. Cal Robertson, went on the trip and read the story from 1 Kings 18 that day on Mount Carmel.
Awesome. See for yourself.
Much of what you see around Jerusalem is a bit. . .umm. .
.well let's just say suspect in its authenticity. One tourist said his guide told him, "Don't worry if
this site of Christ's birth is busy. We'll just go to the next site of Christ's birth." I went with my eyes wide open; I
was not looking to see THE manger or THE stable. It was enough for me to visit places like the places where Joseph and Mary
spent the first moments of Jesus' life. I saw fields very similar to the ones where shepherds were abiding on that sacred
night. I saw a manger typical of the feed trough where Jesus lay on his first night (and it was stone--not wooden). And I
went in a cave like the one that welcomed the very pregnant Mary and her very weary husband Joseph. I also went to the Church
of the Nativity--a church built over the "exact spot" where tradition tells us Jesus was born. It's a lovely place and I liked
being there. I liked being there because I know for a fact, that since the year 325, believers like me have come to that place
to celebrate the birth of Jesus. No doubt about it--that's a lot of worship.
Visit Bethlehem. It's a wonderful place.
I kept a journal throughout the trip. When I returned home, I edited it and added pictures
from the trip. Some have asked to read it and so here it is. It's long. Really long. So if you really want to read it
(I'm honored), then plan to stay awhile. Hey why don't you get yourself a Diet Dew, ice cold coke, or a cuppa Joe, and
turn off the ringer on your cell phone. After all, if you're going to the Holy Land, you might as well enjoy it.
WARNING: This is a huge, huge file. It may take a while to download.
Further, unless you are just itching to get rid of some printer ink, I wouldn't print it. If you do print it, you might
want to change your printer settings to grayscale so you can at least save your color cartridge.
