Sunday, April 01, 2007
Minutes with Marylou
Dear friends,
Did you do your homework? Did you look up the verses in the Bible with the word "rock"? There are a number of them which should help encourage you and I as to how much Jesus really is our "Rock Of Ages"!
As we continue our tour of Israel, we continue up the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. We proceed to Caesarea, capital of the Roman Procurators of Judea. Here we also visit the Roman Port where ships continually brought goods and supplies into the country. This was a difficult port as I told you last month. The Mediterranean Sea was extremely turbulent for the ships. Many ships were destroyed and many people lost their lives. Here was also the Roman Theater and aqueduct. What a place! This was a mammoth place with steep seating in front of the platform area or stage area. I guess I should say around the stage area as it was a semi-circle. It is amazing to me how well the sound carried from the stage as the people performed and spoke. The sound could be heard clear up to the top of the theater. All of this was heard without all the electronic sound equipment we use now days. They didn't have all this kind of equipment. Amazing huh? The Roman Theater seated hundreds of people. I didn't really like the concrete seats--- kinda hard after awhile.... and all that height. Wow. It would be ok if you had a low front row seat though. I am spoiled and like the padded pews and being able to sit at ground level. I don't especially like heights! So, this theater was very interesting. We could be at the top of the theater and hear Pastor speak on the stage. The acoustics were tremendous.
Now, we turn away from the sea coast and go across country to the plain of Jezreel, where we visited Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Just a simple little town with poor surroundings. Most all of these towns also have Arabs living among the Jewish people. So, naturally the minarets are everywhere. A mineret is tower from which the priest calls the people to prayer five times a day. All the muslims have to stop whatever they are doing, fall on their faces and pray. I knew when it was 5:00 a.m. every morning because we could hear the call to prayer from our hotel room. These people are sincere with their beliefs, prayer schedules, dress etc. But, my heart is saddened for them because it is just a "form of worship." They don't know the Lord as their personal Saviour or Heavenly Father. They dress out of fear. They pray out of fear. They go to the temple or wall out of fear. But they DO IT! I want to say, however, I was convicted to pray and read my Bible more after the trip. Everywhere we went in Jerusalem, the stores, the buses, and the streets, they were reading their religious materials or praying. They take their religion serious.
We spent two nights in Tiberias at a Kibbutz. The dinners were buffet style with lots of vegetables that are all grown in Tiberias. I'll describe a Kibbutz more next month. They are unusual. This area is very different than other parts of Israel. It is green and truly an agricultural area. Very beautiful.
God is so good. He used all these things to teach me so much. I appreciate that I was born in America. I'm so thankful I am saved and can serve the Lord with freedom. I love the Lord and I just want to be found faithful. Friend, if you are reading this article, I pray you know the Lord as your Saviour and are serving Him faithfully in your local church. I invite you to the Riverside Baptist Church.
God Bless You!
Marylou
