Sunday, April 19, 2009

We had a great day filled first with a moving worship service in a beautiful setting on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Our Scripture, John 21:1-19, where Jesus restored Peter, after his repeated denials, was especially meaningful while we sat on the very shore of the lake where Peter had fished and our Lord ministered. It may have spoiled us a bit for worshipping at home. The music seemed sweeter, the message more profound and the experience of being where Jesus and His disciples walked very special.

After church, we all went our separate ways to relax, shop and explore Tiberias. Most of us ate in one of a lot of great restaurants, with Falafel, Gelato, Israeli Pizza, Gelato, a variety of salads, Peter’s Fish, Beef Kabobs, Gelato and other stuff. Ann tried to feed pizza to a cat and broke a glass in the process. It scared the cat who likely came back later and finished off the pizza.

Early afternoon we all went to a very special presentation titled the “Galilee Experience,” and relearned or affirmed what we’d spent the last couple of days hearing from our world class guide Julie. Many of us bought DVDs of the presentation and will happily share them with you when we get home.
Now we’re done with dinner and all gathered around trying to create our message to you, hoping we can share a small bit of the great time we are having and the blessings of being in the very community where our Bible Stories occurred and the Savior ministered.

Beverly had the experience yesterday of feeling at home in Texas, with lots of Prickly Pear Cactus, Cattle, shrubs and dry ground. The mountains and fertile valley of Jezreel conjure up visions of the very people and stories that we’ve all learned from God’s Word. The mountains like snow capped Mount Herman are real mountains as we Northwesterners know them, to frame the hills of Judea and Galilee.

~ Clergy Comment ~

To walk where Jesus and His disciples walked to pray where they prayed and sing where they sang…, allowed us to worship our Creator from the same geographic location as Jesus did. It could not help but being memorable and the warm sunshine with the clear view of snow-capped Mt. Hermon behind Bruce as he opened John 21 for us, heightened the experience even more. “Follow me” is the last thing Jesus says in John. We have followed Him here and our inspiration will help us continue to follow Him with renewed vigor.

Graig.