He Is Risen!

It was a cool springtime morning with the sun rising, the birds chirping, and the bells ringing in the old city of Jerusalem. It was an experience that we will never forget as we worshiped the risen Lord at the empty tomb. Every Resurrection Day the focus is on the empty tomb and to actually be there is amazing! We attended the service with some of the students from the college here and had a joyous time with them.

We even took some video to share with you so that you can get a feel for what it was like. Just click on the video below and watch for yourself. May the Lord bless your day and Happy Resurrection Day - He is Risen indeed!

Easter Service Video

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Good Friday

Friday was an emotional day for us and many others who walked the Via Dolorosa (Road Jesus carried the cross). The city was filled with different churches recreating the event of Jesus going to the cross. We traveled the road from the Antonio Fortress (the place where Jesus was judged and beaten by Pilate) down the Via Dolorosa and out the Damascus Gate over to Golgotha where Jesus was crucified. It's an experience we won't forget.

“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center" John 19:17-18

Hezekiah's Tunnel

We went on a 40 minute walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel. It 's a narrow waterway that was carved through solid rock that Hezekiah built to bring water into the city of David. It was a lot of fun exploring together and walking in the waist deep water with flashlights. The Picture on the upper right is me sitting on the steps of the pool of Siloam at the end of the tunnel. It was the place Jesus used to heal the blind man in John Chapter 9.

"And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing." John 9:7

"This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works." 2 Chronicles 32:30

Mc Unleavened

It's Pesach (Passover) and all the leaven has been removed from every house, market, and restaurant in the city of Jerusalem. Even McDonald's has changed their menu to reflect this week long celebration. Our family has chosen to join with the Jewish people and observe the Passover law by not eating anything with leaven.

"For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land." Exodus 12:19

Pastor Steve

It's been such a blessing for me to spend time with Pastor Steve Apple and his wife Pat. They both are special people that the Lord is using at Calvary Tel Aviv. Steve is amazing with his handle on speaking Hebrew and his ability to reach the people here. He is a great friend who ministers to me through his humble and tender heart for the Lord.

Passover Meal

Last night we attended a Seder Passover meal at Calvary Chapel Tel Aviv. It was such a special time for us as a family to celebrate it here in Israel.

Temple Steps

Sitting on the Southern steps of the Temple Mount. It was the main entrance into the Temple during the time of Christ.

Rainbow in Jerusalem

It's springtime in Israel and we are still getting some rain here. Just outside the Hostel where we are staying was a rainbow in the sky. It was so cool to see it end up right at the building the Bible college is in here in Jerusalem.

Stones of Remembrance

Recently these stones were dug up just below the western wall of the city. They are stones that were throne over the side from the Temple mount when the city was destroyed in A.D. 70 by the Romans just as Jesus said it would happen.

"For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:43-44

Soup Kitchen

On Saturdays, Sabbath, we have been traveling out to Tel Aviv which is about an hour away from Jerusalem to attend Saturday services. It is kind of strange going to church on Saturday but that's how it's done here because Sunday is the first work day of the week. We have been attending Calvary Chapel Tel Aviv. It's been a real blessing getting to fellowship there and to get to know Pastor Steve Apple and his wife Pat. They are such wonderful people and the Lord is blessing their ministry.

This last Thursday we were able to go to Tel Aviv and help out with the soup Kitchen they set up to feed the homeless. We go out on the streets 2 hours before the meal and invite people to come and when they arrive we sit down and eat with them. It was a great time for us as a family to be able to minister there.

Walking the Wall

We were able to go up on the walls of the old city of Jerusalem and walk around. It was such a blast to see everything from up there, we felt like soldiers marching around the city. I can hardly wait to see the new city of Jerusalem... Lord come Quickly!

"Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:14

Student Ministry

One of the things we have been doing during our stay here is going around with the students from Calvary Chapel Bible College of Jerusalem. Pastor Mike Harrington, who is the director of the college, has ask me to help with some of the teaching. It's been a neat experience getting to teach the students at the different sites. In the picture above we are at the burial place of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist.

Please pray for us as a family and that the Lord will continue to speak through my heart and give me the right words to teach the students . It's been such a blessing to get to know and spend time with the students and I am also excited to have the opportunity to take them through the book of Jonah in the classroom here at the Bible college.

Red Sea Experience

I went for an early morning dip in the Red sea with some friends from Calvary. It was cold but refreshing. Not exactly the way the Israelites did it with Moses but is sure was fun. The family and I were able to experience swimming in the Med. Sea, Dead Sea, and the Red Sea together. Way cool!

Camel Rides

A fun thing to do in Petra is to take a ride on camels. It is a great middle east experience. Pictured with us is Kim, Pastor Jerry's wife, from Calvary Chapel Living Water.

The Lost city of Petra

Petra is an incredible place with carvings of temples and tombs out of the beautiful rocks that make up the city. It is also the place where they filmed the last Indiana Jones movie. Nowhere else in the world can you see anything like it!

A Day in Jordan

We crossed the border from Israel over to the country of Jordan to visit the lost city of Petra. It's the place most believe where the Jews will run to and seek refuge and protection in the rock city during the time of the tribulation.