Mount Nebo- Moses saw the promised land from here. Deuteronomy 34

The Brass Serpent- Numbers 21:8-9

Machaerus- The site of John the Baptist's imprisonment and beheading

Top of Machaerus

Petra- King Aratus' tomb. Also in Indiana Jones III

Monastery 

Petra- An ancient temple 

With some Nabatean soldiers

Shawbak-A Crusader Castle

Genesis 32:24-31-Jacob's famous wrestle

Ancient ruins of Jershon or Jerash 

The River Jordan-The site of Jesus' Baptism, Matthew 3:13-17

Christmas in July

     I have spent the 4^th of July outside the U.S. three times now. The first one was in Mongolia and it was a tough adjustment to not be in the good old U.S. The second was also in Mongolia and we were on lockdown because of the riots that had just taken place after the elections. This third one I will remember for the rest of my life. Yesterday we celebrated the 4^th of July by having Christmas, we went to the little town of Bethlehem.

     Bethlehem is located just a few miles south of Jerusalem but it is part of the West Bank so we had to go through security check points. Because we were a bus full of Americans we had no trouble getting through. Our first stop was the Herodian. This was one of the many great palaces that Herod the Great built for himself. This particular one was to be a bomb shelter in case anything dangerous broke out. It is a magnificent monument and standing at the top I could see Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Moab, and the Dead Sea. Herod was the one who ordered that all children under the age of two years old be killed. Even though he is responsible for building up the magnificent Second Jewish Temple, he will always be remembered as the one who tried to slaughter in infant Jesus.

     After exploring the Herodian, we went to Bethlehem University and we were able to talk with a lot of the students that go there. There are around 3,000 students that attend there and 70% are Muslim and 30% are Christian. The students said that there is really no contention at all because of religion. I was talking with a Muslim guy and he said that his best friends are Christian. It was really hard to talk with them because they have such tough lives. Bethlehem is located in the West Bank and even though Jerusalem is a 5 minute drive, it takes hours to get through the check points and security and oftentimes they are only allowed to go through once or twice a year. This one guy said that on Christmas he and his family wanted to go to Jerusalem and all of his family got permission to go except him. Then for Easter they all tried to go again and he was the one to get permission but the rest of his family was not allowed to go. One thing the one of the girls said which struck me was her answer when she was asked, “What are your hopes and dreams for the future?” She replied, “to be able to walk the 10 minutes to Jerusalem.” I am so spoiled with all of the opportunities that I have as an American. I have it so easy.

     After Bethlehem University we went to the Church of the Nativity. It is the traditional site where Jesus was born. It is a really nice church and is the oldest, active church in the Holy Land. My professor who is an archeologist said that the spot was a good estimate and that if Christ wasn’t born there, He was born somewhere close by. The church is also famous because St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin there.

     The last stop of the day was at Shepherd’s Field. From there we could overlook the city of Bethlehem as well as the Herodian. Both of the places had kings that had lived there. One of the kings was born into a family of privilege, the other was born into poverty. One had people serving him, the other spent His life serving. One’s name is infamously remembered in the history books, the other’s name is remembered by billions as the greatest to ever live. As I looked over the landscape and read the New Testament passages of his birth, many thoughts and truths came to me. He was Jehovah, Yahweh, The Great I Am of the Old Testament. He was the God of Israel who gave them the law and yet condescended to come to the earth in the humblest of circumstances. He was born in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life. He is our perfect example in all things. I know that to be true.

The top part of the Herodian

This is where St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin in the late 4th century

This little cafe must have been started by 2 guys named Stars and Bucks

"Oh little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie."

Ice is apparently very competitive in Jerusalem. You gotta market well to get the people to come. The far left one says, "Diet Ice." It's for those who are trying to watch their figure.

Julie with some Palestinian preschoolers playing leap frog

Behind me is the pinnacle of the temple. Matthew 4:5-7

The Western Wall at night

We attempted to herd sheep and goats. I am carrying a little lamb but you can't see its head. Don't worry, it's there.

A scribe reading from the Torah.  

I Hear Jerusalem Bells a Ringin'

This father-son combo read the Koran at the al-Aqsa Mosque. Their ancestors have been doing it for 500 years and they have the Koran memorized.

One of my favorite spots in the city. Behind me is the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock. 

Turkey Day 6-Grand Mosque, Nicea, Hagia Sophia

     In the morning we went to the Grand Mosque in Bursa. It’s the 5^th largest Mosque in the world. It was built in 1396 to commemorate the Turkish battle with the Tatars. I really really liked it. It was very clean and looked very new. It has been well taken care of.

     After that we drove to Nicea where the famous Nicene Creed was established. In May 325, Constantine called many bishops from around the empire to solidify key doctrines of the church. Such matters that were debated included the divinity of Christ and the nature of the Godhead. Because of the Nicene Creed, the church became more unified and helped propel Christianity into the Middle Ages.

     After Nicea we drove back to Istanbul where we capped off our trip by going to the Hagia Sophia, or the Aya Sophia. It was built by Constantius in 360 and was for many centuries the world’s largest church. Today it’s the 4^th largest. After being destroyed by earthquakes, Justinian finally built it as it stands today. In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II ordered for the building to be converted into a mosque. Then in 1934, Ataturk ordered that it be converted into a museum. There is definitely a lot of wear and tear on the building but was really awesome to be in such a historic building that is so massive.

     Turkey was such an amazing trip. Not only was it absolutely beautiful but it is so historically and religiously significant. It was soooo incredible to learn about. The highlights of the trip in my opinion were going to or passing by the 7 churches of Asia, the Blue Mosque, and the beautiful scenery at Assos. Even though I posted some pictures, they do it no justice as to how magnificent the country is.

Day 6 Pics

Grand Mosque

Grand Mosque

Nicea

Council of Nicea, 325 AD

Hagia Sophia

I am so strong

Constantine and Justinian with the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus

Turkey Day 5-Hierapolis and Bursa

     Day 5 was a long day of driving. In the morning we went to Hierapolis which overlooks Laodicea. Hierapolis is known for its rich minerals and hot springs and nearby Colossae is known for its cold water. Going there helped me realize the letter to the church of Laodicea when they are chastened for being lukewarm in Revelation. Hot water is useable as well as cold water. But lukewarm water is useless and that’s what the members of that congregation were being chastened for. The Lord isn’t telling us to be all the way good or all the way bad. He wants us to be useable so that He can use us to bless His children.

     After Hierapolis we then made the long journey north to Bursa, the first capitol of the Ottoman Empire. On the way we passed by the cities of Philadelphia, Sardis and then we had lunch in Thyatira. In one day we were able to visit or pass by 4 of the 7 churches in Asia as recorded in the Book of Revelation.

     That night in Bursa we had a sacrament meeting in the bar of the hotel. I can honestly say that the thought of having the Lord’s Supper in a bar was a little weird. But when we got there and sang an opening hymn, I came to realize that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). It was a really spiritual meeting.