May 31, 2022 Each day seems full and getting to writing a blog doesn’t seem to happen. We have already made it back to Jerusalem, after spending four days near the Sea of Galilee. Many of the locations of Jesus’ ministry are simply in the location. They do not know the exact place of the Sermon on the Mount, the feeding of the 5,000 and other events. Yet, there are a few places that it would have been close to the location. The place to remember the Sermon on the Mount is on

Our trip has moved north, to Lake Gennesaret, better known as the Seas of Galilee. When Jesus started ministry, he left Nazareth and came to Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It is in this region he spent 80-90% of his ministry years. Most sites from the 1st Century were destroyed by the Romans in the Jewish uprising of 70 AD and 135. So, all that remains is foundations. When Jesus came to Capernaum, he was teaching in the synagogue. I have come to realize t

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 3:17 & 4:1 As soon as Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven, “this is my Son, whom I love; with him I well pleased.” The Jordan River is the lifeline for the Jordan Valley. Amid the desert, it brings water to a parched land. This time of

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people.” (Matthew 2:6; Micah 5:2,4) Starting the Footsteps of Jesus is being immersed quickly into the places, sounds, smells of the land of the Bible. I am told it is like drinking from a fire hydrant, a lot comes at you quickly, and your little free time is sleeping. Part of the trip already has been me driving to the Dead Sea and

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem… Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” --Psalm 122: 1, 6 The book of Psalms is the prayer book of the Bible, the prayer book of Jesus. I wonder what his prayer was the first time he came to Jerusalem. He came every year for Passover. We are told that when he was 12,

Time for sabbatical. Starting May 17, 2022 Faith Presbyterian and I are taking sabbatical. This is a time that I will be away for study, rest and developing a new rhythm to life. Our theme is "Take a Breathe-Breath the Word of God." This is based on 2 Timothy 3: 16-17. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." While it may seem that