King Solomon City

 

 

After I hit publish on my last post I realized I had forgotten to post about King Solomon's city. Right outside the temple where Jesus would have driven out the money changers, archeologist have uncovered the ruens of a city that they are sure King Solomon built over 3,000 years ago. It has just now been opened to the public. In fact it was opened just a couple of days before we were there.

 

According to what has been escavated it shows that the city walls and gates are from the period of the First Temple. And acording to the rocks (which Pilar always told us talked) and the pottery it shows that King Solomon built this city in jerusalem in the later part of th 10th Century BCE.

 

 

 

Here you find Margaret, Sue and Barb all in the area of the pottery. These are huge water jugs. On the jugs are etched writing. The writing told who the jugs belonged to. 

 

Wow we were in a city that was where King Solomon lived - a city that is 3,000 years old - a city that was built  10th century BCE. Amazing.

 

All for now, more to come.

Pastor Deb

 





 

Bethesda & King Solomon

As I sit bundled up in a blanket, watching the snow fall outside, I realize that is was one month ago today we were in the air headed to Israel and the Holy Land. Wow. My head is still spinning from the trip.

As I went through pictures today I got to the Pools of Bethesda and I thought about the miracle that took place there. The ruins of  the twin pools are found on the north side of the old city, close to the Lions gate. These pools supplied water to the temple during the times of the first and second temple (until Herod). There are references in the old testament to the "upper pool", which may have been the name of the northern pool.

 

 

Adjacent to the pools were baths and a healing center. These baths are the site of the healing miracle of Jesus in the pools of the sheep market, which was also called "Bethesda".

John 5:1-15 (American Standard Version) reads:

1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, [waiting for the moving of the water.] 4 [for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.] 5 And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity. 6 When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?7 The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.9 And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed. 11 But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.12 They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up [thy bed], and walk? 13 But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

 

 

Herod the Great constructed a new water system to the north of Bethesda, making the twin pools obsolete. In 44AD Herod Agrippa constructed a new wall, which blocked the water entirely, and so the pools were converted for other use.

Until the 5th C the area was used as a baths center, and its waters were famous for its healing powers, and were the source of its name - Beth-Hesda - the "house of the graceful waters". The site was also named "sheep pool", perhaps since the sheep that was sacrificed in the temple was washed in these waters. This use of the water to purify the sacrifice may have given the waters their perceived healing powers.

At the Pools there is St. Anne's Basilica - Anne was Mary's (mother of Jesus) mother. This is a beautiful church and the acoustics in this pace are fabulous. We all went inside and sang a few hymns. Then we headed out to see the ruens. Shortly after that I returned inside and asked the priest there if he cared if I did some sining. He said "Please do" and I stood in the middle of the area right in front of the alter and sang - "O Holy Night". Wow. I could feel God's presence right there. It was amazing.

 

 

 I spent about 15 - 20 minutes singing in the church and soon had a crowd. It was as I was getting ready to leve that the Priest offered me a job to come and work with him. I was very honored.

 

I can't believe the things I learned in Israel. One of the things is about their military. Each and every person, men and women alive serve in Israel's army. When a young adult turns 18 they enter - mem for 3 years and women for 2. Much of the training and teaching is done by the women. When we were heading to the Western wall we saw a group of young soldiers and their female instructors.

They looked so very young. Here are a couple photo's of them.

 

 

 

As I watched them I tought of our young men and women who serve - my son included - and my heart went out to these young men and womens parents. And I prayed for peace, for strength, for courage, for each and every one who is serveing, has served, or will serve no matter what country they are from. It doesn't matter what country you live in, if you are a parent, or sibling, or spouse, or friend of someone who serves in the military, your heart breaks when they are away from you.

 

So many wonderful memories. So many thoughts and blessings that have truely changed my life in many ways. And so much more to tell you. Keep watching. All for now, more to come.

 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Deb



 

 



 

 

 

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Signs of the Times & the "Dreaded" Water Closet

I am so sorry I have been slow getting this updated. Trying to play catch up and moving forward into Lent has been time consuming to say the least. Today I'd like to show you some of the "signs of the times" that I found rather interesting in Israel. Today's post is silly - and fun.

We ate several luches at different "kibbutz". This is a sign from Ein-Gev. It's a Fish Resturant that we at at while in Galillee. They served St. Peter's fish - whole if you wanted it.

 

While ther I decided to have a Coke. That is the drink of choice in the soda world.

I enjoyed looking at all the different signs - different language and so here are some "just for fun."

 

 

 

Now I don't know about you - but there are some things in my life that I just don't understand - nor do I want to. One of them is automatic flush toilets. How many times have you been sitting quietly and that thing just "flushes" for no reason. Well this doesn't happen in any way shape or form in Israel. The problam in Israel is figuring out how to flush the toilet in the first place. Let me give you some examples. Let's call this the "trials of the water closet."

This is the Jepardy - or game show toilet - hit the knob on the top to flush this one.

 

This is the dashboard model.

This is the delux dashboard model. You can push the right side for little water - or the left for a lot.

Gas pedal or break? NO ONE IS SURE!

This one you have to look for. It's up above on the ledge.

Why so complicated?

 

And these babies are not called "water closets" for nothing. They truely are a closet. In fact on the first day out - when we were in Bethlehem I got locked in one. So here I am - can't get the door open - and I start saying "Hello - Hello - Anyone out there." Snickers and laughter come quickly to the others. They pushed - I pulled and HALLELUJAH - I was free at last.

 

 Not only did we have trials with finding the "flusher" but at one place we had to pay 2 sheckels for 4 small squares of toilet paper. What's with that.

 

 

 

 

This last picture is for my sister Pam - I told her that we would probably have to jump out of the plane - and then try and catch our luggage one the way down. See Pam - I told you.



 

 

All for now - More to come.

Grace and peace, Pastor Deb

 

Fun at the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea has been known throughout the Bible by many names. In Genesis it is called the Salt Sea. Joshua called it the Sea of the Aravah or Plain. Ezechiel called it the East Sea and Zechariah called it the Former Sea. Josephus called it the Sea of Asphalt and in the Talmud it is mentioned as the Sea of Salt and the Sea of Sodom.

 

 

 

The Dead Sea is the lowest place on earth. It's 1290 feet below sea level and we could tell that as our ears popped as we drove to it. The Dead Sea is 11 miles across and 48 miles long. It is is 30% solid content being rich in Sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorides and magnesium bromide. All of these are refined and used in industry and agriculture. The problem with this is that the sea is so much lower than it should be because of this and the drought combined.

 

 

Everyone was told that it is not a good idea to get int the water if you have high blood pressure or any hear conditions. So those of us who were able and willing headed out to the water, salt combination.

 

 

The bottom floor of the sea is a very rich mud. You'll notice that it looks like we were having trouble standing up - WE WERE! The mud sucks you under like quick sand. We were told to back into the sea and not walk forward into it because it would pull us forward and we would fall face first into the water. I originally though this was because of the salt and minerals. As I backed in I knew that it was because of the MUD that just sucked you under. We were told to not get the water in our mouths or eyes and if we did get right out and rinse it out.

 





 

 

We were also told that we should not stay in long. But get out and rinse off - then get back in. We saw some people who were covering them selves with the mud. And I'll have to say the parts of our bodies that got muddy - when we came out and washed off - were very very soft. In fact shortly after we left we went to a store that was selling this mud for $85.00 a jar - and not a very big jar at that. Man did we miss our chance to make some extra cash - ha ha.

 

 

Even if you can't swim - as long as you keep your head above the water - you will float in the Dead Sea. The make up of the water will not allow you to drown. The only way you could drown is if you take in the water through your mouth. It was an amazing and crazy feeling all at the same time. I did have some of the water splashed on my lip and it tasted like pure salt. Everyone enjoyed the time and we even had ice cream after. Really enjoyed those as they were $4.00 a bar.

 

 

Grace and Peace,

All for now, more to come,

Pastor Deb