My day in a nutshell...AWESOME!

We ended our stay at the Sea of Galilee and headed down the state of Israel along the Gilboa mountain range towards Jerusalem.

We stopped at the springs traditionally thought to be the ones where Gideon (more God than Gideon) chose his 300 fighting men. I was thrilled to be called upon to read the scripture there--as I read it from my Dad`s Bible. Thanks Dad for the loan of a small Bible, I plan on marking the section of Judges that I read for you.

Next stop was BetShean, where King Saul approached the witch of Endor and where later his body was hung by the enemies. It is a huge archeological site. A great teaching there, lots of interesting historical facts.

We stopped at a little roadside stand for filafla. I tried one the first day here and didn`t like it. Today`s was a different story. Even our guys on the tour who have gone several times before said it was the best they had had. When one of them told the cashier how good it was, she grinned and said, `It`s because of my Grandma, she makes all of them with her special recipe.`

Next detour was through the town of Jericho. I guess I was REALLY expecting a pile of rock walls. But it was a bustling city. Our busdriver even took us to the town square where they have a sycamore tree. The sign says it is the one Zaccheus climbed, but even the tour driver said he kind of doubted that. Surely it wasn`t a toursism ploy.

Now we are in Jerusalem. There is something about it that is exciting, eery, intriguing and puzzling. It looks like a modern city, until you turn your head and see the Dome of the Rock, or the Mt of Olives where the Jewish cemetary is, or see the remains of the Temple.

They took us to the place where Caiphas lived and where they believe Jesus may have spent his last night before the crucifixion. It was, well I don`t know how to explain it. I put my hand on the wall of a 15 footx15 foot cell/pit where they believe He had been. Where He might have been praying for me. Where He may have had to ask His Father to give Him the strength to do what was needing to be done. Where He might have thought about me and whether or not I was worth what He would endure.

I don`t know if it is really where He was held. I don`t know if they could provide me with enough facts to convince my head. I know in my heart it was a special place. A place where they have narrowed down to a small place He might have been--and only by His grace I stood today.

I took a picture of my hand on that wall. The wall He might have touched. The wall He might have leaned against as He agonized over my sins. The wall where He might have leaned in an attempt to rest. A wall where He might have banged His fists and poured out His real thoughts to His Father.

I don`t know. And yet I know the outcome of that night, His prayers, His Father`s decision to grace Him with enough grace and His love for me.

I know that. More so now than ever before!

Wish you were here, friends.