Morales22.com » Israel

Epicenter Conference

Debbie — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:06:43 +0000

Joel Rosenburg,Ann Graham Lotz,(Billy Graham’s daughter) Ray Bentley, Skip Heitzig, Kay Arthur, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, a Shite, a Sunni, and 700 people from North America……..

whose purpose was to illuminate the role of Israel in history, it’s current situation, and God’s direction via the prophetic scripture of the prophet Joel. And Joel ( the Bible) and Joel ( the author and moderator of the Epicenter Conference) showed us the signs of the last days of the world as we know it….and they are happening NOW(But not on May 21!) This conference was 2 days of our Israel tour and a nice break from touring. But even as we sat in the sub- terranean hal lwith intense security, her very enemies were attacking 3 borders and rioting in the old city in observance of the Muslim “Day of Mourning”. (where they rue the day Israel was granted nationhood) Can you imagine one country having a holiday that’s about anger for another country….that would be like the Ol’South having a day of morning for losing the Civil War and attacking their Yankee neighbors once a year. Back on the bus…

IWTWJW III

Debbie — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:14:45 +0000

Awoke the earliest yet–bags in the hall at 6:30am. Explored a portion of the Via Dolorosa and old courtyards (under ground one level) then to the Western Wall. This is the only wall left from Jerusalem at the time of jesus and was the retaining wall for the Temple Mount. I joined the women’s side and approached the tall block structure with minutely folded prayers to insert into the cracks and to touch and pray and lift those petitions to God. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord hears my prayers while I’m in bed or driving or in church, but how awesome to join the centuries of pilgrims placing their modest petitions in cracks of a wall Jesus walked by. I am so here!!!

“Shekeled” at the Wall

Debbie — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:12:04 +0000

One of our group had a very touching experience at the Wailing or Western Wall….a Hasidic jew with prayer shawl and curls asked Lee his name and names of his family so he could pray for them. Lee asked in return for his families’ names and they lifted prayer together at the foot of the big stone blocks. What an ecumenical moment…Christian and Jew together with bowed heads…..50 shekels please……………………..

I walked today where Jesus walked II

Debbie — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:08:20 +0000

Gethsemane, Upper Room, Mt of Olives….

I would find all of these very moving if it weren’t for the huge crowds of tour groups and making sure not to gather with the wrong bus load from Alabama.(the olive trees were artistically gnarly) We were alone as a congregation at the Mt. of Olives at 6:30pm with a strong wind, singing, and reading the scripture ( and watching gun shot puffs in the valley below) I don’t need the real deal for it to be real in my heart, but I now have images in my head ( and in my camera) instead of the previous ones from a DeMille film!

Free Time

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:26:16 +0000

Free time meant the privilege of NOT meeting our “mini group” until 10 am in the lobby. Heaven, and no bus!

We picked the Israeli Museum (boring). When I went to see the Dead Sea Scrolls when they came to San Diego a year ago, I saw more scrolls then; everything today was a facsimile.

But we did find 2 caches and KC’s Jerusalem University campus from her senior year, and walk more miles than these knees should take.

Tomorrow – The DEAD SEA!

Over The Border

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:21:00 +0000

Our buses were not allowed into Jericho. We had to transfer to Palestinian buses and drivers to see what we saw. Can you imagine, we crossed a border with hugs and entered a third world country of desert, filth, fear and hatred. And it was in the middle of Israel???

Saw some digs for the Walls of Jericho, but it was just a pile of rocks (stupid) since the walls fell down and the city was destroyed!

Then we visited Zaccheus’ house (turned into a church, of course) and then around the corner to see the sycamore tree ( I’m a little skeptical on this). But EAGER to get back on our own buses and get away!

Baptism

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:20:17 +0000

Well up until now, my infant baptism had done me just fine! But being baptized in the Jordan River was too special to pass up.

About 2/3 of the group were immersed in cool running water where the Sea of Galilee empties into the Jordan. Special outfits, singing, 3 pastors, supportive friends, tears, wet hugs, photos, little fish, loud Alleluias…and then the commemorative gift shop!

Diamonds in Israel

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:01:50 +0000

Leave it to Israel to process and distribute more than 1/2 the world’s diamonds. Oh they don’t get mined here, DeBeers sends them here to be brokered for the best price around the world. Of course the bus took us to the wholesale mart where my dear sweet husband bought me a diamond and blue topaz ring in honor of our trip and 40th anniversary! What a guy!

I Walked Today, Where Jesus Walked

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 14:58:01 +0000

80% of the miracles occurred around the northern part of the Sea of Galilee, the ones that got written down at least. We visited the hillside where Jesus gave the sermon on the mount, and Capernum ,which was where He and the guys made base camp. Saw the synogogue and Peter’s house. Went into the Golan Heights where huge quantities of water come out of the rocks and flows to the Jordan River. oh yeah, the camera battery ran out :(

On The Go

Debbie — Fri, 13 May 2011 06:01:46 +0000

We are seeing so much it makes one’s head spin. Old testament, new testament, modern war site, etc and jumping all the time.

I’m keeping a log of where we go and what scripture mentions it, but commenting on everything would bore us all. But today, I think going to the top of Mt. Carmel where Elijah double-dared the priest of Baal to bring down fire and they couldn’t and then Elijah soaks his offering and God zaps the crap out of it. Did it for me. But it is because he did this overlooking the Jezreel Valley, otherwise known as Armageddon. It almost looks like Tuscany with all the rolling hills and lush crops. It’s a beautiful panorama, but kinda eerie too, to think it all ends here!