Day 3

Well we had a more laid back and relaxing day today than yesterday. It was a chance to enjoy God's Creation and drink in from the River of Life!

It started out with me doing the devotion on the bus on the way to the Mt. of Beatitudes. I did it on being called to be fishers of men and how when Jesus calls us, He demands and deserves our immediate response.

We then began our touring of the places where 80% of Jesus' took place. We made it to the Mt. of Beatitudes and Pastor Stokes read the Sermon on the Mount in the prayer garden. It was very moving to just here the Words of Jesus speaking about how our righteousness can and must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, which was purely outward.

From the mount, we went down to Capernaum only about 3 miles just 1 mile straight down. Before we got there we stopped at the place where Jesus performed the miracle of John 21 and called Peter to feed his sheep. I led the group in singing, "Come and Dine." We went on to Capernaum and saw the ruins of the synagogue where Jesus would have taught and the house where He healed Peter's mother-in-law.

Then we went out for a boat ride on the Sea of Gallilee. It was awesome to be out there where Jesus calmed the Sea and walked on water. The wind got up a little. It is easy to see how a storm could quickly and violently blow up on this Sea (Lake 8 miles by 13 miles) which is below sea level and tucked in behind mountains and receiving a strong Mediterranean wind. The boat captain was a converted Jew who has a singing ministry of translating popular praise and worship songs into Hebrew. He sang for us on the boat! IT WAS AMAZING! I about started running, but the boat was too small! :-p

After the boat ride, we went for an interesting fish dinner. If you could get beyond the fish staring back at you, it tasted really well. It was Pan Fried Tillapia and fries. We then went around to the Land of the Gadarenes and saw the hill where the pigs committed sooeycide after Jesus cast a legion of demons into them.

We then ended our day at the Jordan, and I fulfilled a lifetime dream of being baptized in the Jordan River. It was such an awesome day, as I was reminded that He is Lord over Diseases at Capernaum, over dinner on the hillside where He fed 5,000 men + women and children, and over the demons at Gadara. We truly serve an awesome God and a wonderful Savior! God Bless!