Mt. Carmel....apple?....alas no.

Sunset from Mt. Carmel...ending our first day in Israel

A statue of Elijah on Mt. Carmel.  This is the approximate location where Elijah did battle with the prophets of Baal.

A couple of tourists....at sunset from Mt. Carmel

Wanna go to the theater?

I wonder if this sign was up when Paul was put on trial here?



This is a theater built by Herod the (not so) Great in Caesarea Maritima.  Paul was put on trial here, found to be guilty, and also did a little judicial jujitsu.  "Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen...?"  Check out Acts 21-26.



When asked by our tourguide to sing something for our group in this theater, I could not turn down the challenge.  So, being joined by Dave (who can actually sing), we stood in the center of the theater and sang The Doxology.  I was never asked to sing again...HAHAHA! 





Truth unburied...

Pontius Pilate stone (reproduction) found at Caesarea

So some supposed scholars, in an attempt to debunk all of Scripture, regularly suggested that there was zero historical evidence for the existence of Pontius Pilate.  Welll...as archeologists (in the past few years) uncovered this palace of Herod the (not so) Great at Caesarea they discovered a stone which made reference to one Pontius Pilate. 

To understand how this could have been covered for so long you need to realize the massive amounts of sand and silt that the Nile River in Egypt once pushed out on a regular basis.  This portion of Israel (on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea) has massive sand dunes formed as a result of the Nile River.  This whole area was covered in sand until recently. 

So as I always say, "If you can't find something, start digging."

Of hippos and dromes

Hippodrome in Caesarea

(Mediterranean Sea in the background)

This is a sure mark of Roman influence on Israel.  The hippodrome provided entertainment for the masses.  Chariots were oftentimes raced in these facilities.  There was a lot of stadium style seating available as well.  The Christians utilized this facility as a sanctuary. 

Contrary to the beliefs of many...hippos did not roam in the hippodrome (nor did hippies...man).

 

Pool time

Herod the (not so) Great's pool on the

Mediterranean Sea in Caesarea (Caesarea Maritima)

 

The rectangular pool in this picture (before the time of Herod the (not so) Great) was the singular Harbor for Palestine.  Herod the (not so) Great turned it into a pool for his palace and created one of the largest man-made harbors in all of the world circa 25 B.C. 

While this is a most amazing feat...you can see how useful this harbor is today by how many ships are docked here.  Yet the King that he sought to kill (holocaust of the Innocents-Matthew 2:16-18) remains enthroned not only in the Kingdom of heaven, but in the hearts and lives of His people to this very day.

A note to all pastors...

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

 

- II Timothy 2:23-26

Pure Waterfall

American Falls

 

Exquisite!