From the Mediterranean to Mt. Carmel

Netanya: After a good nights sleep, the morning started off with a walk on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The skies where so clear that one could see for miles in both directions. The smell of the sea air and the feeling of sand on your feet made the experience complete. We then said goodbye to Netanya and starting on our next leg of our journey to Caesarea.

Herod's great city of Caesarea: Caesarea is an important site in Christian history. It was the place where Pontius Pilate governed during the time of Jesus. This was where Simon Peter converted the Roman, Cornelius, the first non-Jew to believe in Jesus. Paul was also imprisoned for two years in Caesarea. During the 3rd century, Caesarea was a center of Christian learning. In the 4th century, the site converted to Christianity and became a major center of the Christian Roman Empire. After a walk around this beautiful and powerful site, we then loaded the bus and where whisked off to Megiddo.

Megiddo: Megiddo or Tel Megiddo, an ancient fortified city, is one of the most famous battlegrounds in the world. Historians believe that more battles were fought at this location than anywhere else on earth. Armageddon, the mount of Megiddo, according to the New Testament book of Revelation, is once again to host one of the world's major armies in a immense conflict between East and West (Revelation 16:16). Our final stop of the day took us to the Galilee and Mt. Carmel.

Mt. Carmel: In mainstream Jewish and Christian thought, it is Elijah that is indelibly associated with the Mt. Carmel, and he is regarded as having sometimes resided in a grotto on the mountain. In the Books of Kings, Elijah is described as challenging 450 prophets of a particular Baal to a contest at the altar on Mt. Carmel to determine whose deity was genuinely in control of the Kingdom of Israel.

According to the biblical account, the challenge was to persuade a deity, light a sacrifice by fire, and after the others had failed to achieve this, Elijah poured water on his sacrifice, prostrated himself in prayer, and the fire fell from the sky, and consumed the sacrifice; shortly afterwards, in the account, clouds gather, the sky turns black, and it rains heavily.

What a great day of traveling. We look forward to many more like this one. Thanks for your comments; especially thanks for the birthday wishes. To the Ocker family, Donny, Ryan and David and the rest of the family, Mom and Dad (Grandpa and Dee) say hello, are safe, and are having a great time. Please continue to follow us as we travel, ask questions, keep us up to date on Chambersburg news, and comment! Shalom.