Israel

   Today, as I walked half-way around the globe, I met a man and we talked about Israel. Not about the Bible (although he does believe the words of the Scripture), but about water. As we looked down at a water resigour here, and he explained to me how there are four tunnels (one of the constructed before the Civil War) and where they carry water for irrigation and drinking, I pointed out the back of my shirt, which contains a “Tel Gezer” diagram. A year and a half ago, I was cleaning steps leading to a water source that predates Joshua. (Video)

Steps up from the Water Tunnel at Gezer

   I have several stories about the water project, and about Gezer in my book Israel: Stories for Your Journey. The book contains 250 stories about the Holy Land to help you understand geography … and if you want to go on a trip, to help you prepare … better than any other book on the market! Having been on three tours and read widely, I can tell you with assurance, this is the book to get if you are going on a tour!

A book you should own!!

   This month, as I express thanks for many things, I am thankful for the land of Israel, and the promises it holds. The land is a place of my heritage. I am descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. From infancy, I have heard their stories. Parts of the stories I have memorized. These stories have guided me in life. They offer direction and promise. When I walked where these great men have walked, I felt excitement inside. There was a realization I was standing on the very ground where these men walked!

Shepherds in Beer Sheva going out as did Abraham

When I was young, my mother read me stories about King David. I carry his name. (Actually the name of my great-grandfather … but if you go way back in the family tree, King David is there). I read of how he killed Goliath, how he cared for sheep, how he fled King Saul, and then spares Saul’s life (I have that in my book also!) I enjoy the Psalms David wrote, and sing the words in my heart at times. I am thankful God placed them in the Bible.

The Sea of Galilee from Capernaum

The stories of the New Testament are of encouragement also. I have tread that sacred ground where Jesus, along with his disciples walked. I have entered synagogues where Jesus prayed and taught. I have visited the village of Capernaum, and sailed on the Sea of Galilee. I am thankful for the life I have received as a believer.

Arches Reservoir in Sippori, Israel

I have written before, in earlier blogs, about Sippori, and the archeological dig I did there. I am thankful for the privilege of visiting Israel four times … I stayed for two months on the last trip. I would like to go again, June 30-July 9, with 25 people who will accompany me on a trip. Can you come? E-mail me at www.KosherCopy for more details. It will be a small group, which will enable us to see much more than huge tour groups.

Picture as I climbed the Mount of Olives ... Come with me!

I am thankful for the experiences God has given me traveling the world. Especially Israel. “It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Deut 11:12

Two Fish and Five Loaves

After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. (John 6:1-2)

View of the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum

The second year of Jesus’ ministry is called “the year of popularity.” People were responding to His miracles and desired to hear His teachings. During Passover, people received word that Jesus was in the area and gathered to hear him near Tagba, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Tagba is a very fertile area where the fish are especially thick in the sea because seven warm springs release mineral rich water the area. (Read more about the area in Israel: Stories for Your Journey)

View of the north shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tagba

People gathered into a natural amphitheater near the warm springs in especially large numbers in order to listen to Jesus. The conservative count of the people who attended this teaching session was 5000 men, plus women and children. The crowd came from Capernaum, Bethsaida, Magdala, and other villages along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. There were also people from Gadara, Hippos and the eastern side of the sea.

A pond in the chapel at Taagba

The multitude of people listened attentively as Jesus taught. He taught with richness of content, clarity of words, and great authority. He shared beatitudes to be followed in life along with teachings on prayer, humility and charity. The people listened to every word. Jesus spoke for many hours, and the attentiveness of the people never wavered.

Gardens of the Heptagon at Tagba

As evening fell the disciples came to their teacher and suggested he allow the multitude to go find food for supper. Jesus knew they must be hungry and asked his disciples to find them food so they would not overwhelm the villages in the area. The disciples looked at the crowd and said this would be quite expensive and was not affordable. But Jesus insisted, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

A statue of a disciple at the Heptagon at Tagba

While most of the disciples were wondering how to do this, Andrew went out into the crowd. He found a boy who brought a lunch with two fish and five pieces of bread. The boy had listened to Jesus so intently that he had not eaten his lunch. Andrew asked if the boy would offer his lunch to Jesus and the boy immediately said yes.

The altar where Jesus blessed the fish and the loaves

Jesus received the two fish from the boy, which had been caught in the waters of Tagba, blessed them along with the bread, and distributed the boy’s lunch to the disciples in order to be shared among the multitude of people. As the disciples broke tiny pieces off the loaves of bread and filet of fish, so they would not run out, both the minuscule serving and the source of the serving grew and replenished itself so the small meal brought by a young boy was enough to feed everyone. A miracle occurred which reminded the disciples of Elijah’s multiplication of flour and oil in 1 Kings 17. Jesus compared it to the provision of manna and quail during Israel’s forty years of living in the desert. [Mt 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6]

Guidebook for Visitors to Israel

You can learn more about the place where the miracle took place in the book Israel: Stories for Your Journey, available on Kindle Reader for $2. Over 250 stories are contained in this new travel guide which covers most Christian tourist sites in Israel. This easy read will be of benefit to every person who plans on traveling to israel.

This book relates how the feeding of the 5,000 relates to Passover

The book Spring; Connecting with God contains many more details about the feeding of the 5,000, including how this seaside meal connects to the Passover of the Jews and Jesus’ Last Supper.

Seventeen Months and Counting

I, and those who choose to go with me, will embark on a fourteen day trip to Israel in less than seventeen months, 500 days, May 5-18 2018 to be exact. I am looking forward to this trip, and to taking friends with me! (I hope you can go.)

Join us on a trip to Israel May 5-18, 2018

As with all good trips, this takes planning. Much planning has already gone into this endeavor, which was but a dream six months ago. At that time Sarah, Chelsea and I were in Israel. Sarah had just completed a dig at tel Gezer. Chelsea was beginning her program at Hebrew Union with David Illan to dig at Dan (we will visit both sites on our trip), and it was said, “Wouldn’t it be great to get a group of friends to come back to Israel in two years?”

Eating dinner in Jerusalem

We went out to dinner with Shlomo, who will probably be our Israeli tour guide, and discussed this trip. We talked about places we had just seen, and places we needed to see while in Israel.

Our tour leader standing on the Precipice near Nazareth

I then began talking to people and thinking about when this trip should occur. Finally, in November, I talked to John Delancey in order set the date for our trip and put the details in place. We looked at possibilities and talked about ideas. Then we looked at dates, availability of flights, hotels, sites, and meals. This month John e-mailed me the plan for our trip, and I am pleased to announce a May 6-19 trip to Israel. We will see a lot!

2018 Israel Tour sites and regions traveled

Our 2018 trip will begin in Tel Aviv where we will experience how the modern state of Israel was born.  We will proceed south through the regions where King David fought Goliath and where Samson lived to Beer-Sheva where Abraham stayed. We will proceed east to the Dead Sea, climb Masada and see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found before we proceed north to the Sea of Galilee. We will visit areas where Jesus walked, and sites further north. After four nights on the Sea of Galilee we will travel south to Jerusalem, where we will spend the final four days of our tour.

City of Joppa with seaport

I’ll say it again (and keep repeating), my family and I would love for you to go with us (sign up, e-mail me, let me know you’re interested)!

Beautiful Bell Caves in Israel

Good trips take planning. This week in Advent Journeys, we read about the journey of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem. Their trip was planned in detail after seeing the star which appeared to announce the birth of the King of Israel. They gathered food, clothing, transportation, maps, star charts, and gifts suitable for a king.

Riding Camels in Israel

Our trip will take planning. In this blog I want to help those who are going on the trip to get more out of the experience. I will be writing about our upcoming travel plans over the next seventeen months. I will take twelve months to write about our stops (taking one month to write several blogs about each day in Israel) and also write about what a person needs to take with them and how to prepare for the trip. I will also produce a travel guide for each member who signs up so they can carry more detailed information on their tablets or kindle to Israel with them. I want us to be prepared for the best experience possible!

A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee

If you are going on the trip (or if you are not able to join us but would just like to follow along by internet) please 1) “follow” on the KosherCopy facebook page; 2) add me to your Google+ circle of friends; and 3) e-mail me so I can notify you when a new blog is produced.  I will also send you updates at the end of each day on our trip.