Wind, Oaks, and Water

Hello everyone! Here’s what my brother sent me about his adventures last Saturday in Israel. They said goodbye to their hotel in Samaria and headed west to the Israel College of the Bible. Here is a picture of their pretty sign:

I think I have pretty good eyes, but I didn’t notice at first that the tree is made up of all the names of Jesus, in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. Wow, that’s a lot of names! And, just like that tree, my brother said that the Bible College does a whole lot more good work than you would think if you just looked at their little office in a couple of floors of an office building in a busy suburb of Tel Aviv.

This sweet young lady is an Arab Christian named Celeste. She helps put all the College’s resources and video shows out onto the World Wide Web. I sure hope she comes to Tulsa some day, so I can meet her!

Did you know that before people had books and even before they had telephones, they used to read from rolls? When I first came to live with my brother, I ate a whole Bible, and I’ve eaten part of a roll of paper towels, but I never knew that the two went together! This is a very special roll, though. It is what is called the Torah and was copied by hand in Europe in the 1700s. When the Jewish people started being treated really badly back before that big war, they tried to save these rolls and get them out of Germany and Europe. This is one of those! Wow. That is so special, I wouldn’t try to eat it. In fact, I would volunteer to turn the wooden rolls with my teeth if I ever got to see it.

My brother and the group then went to the Mediterranean Sea, to a place called Caesarea Maritima. It was built by King Herod as a resort for Pontius Pilate. You’ve heard of them, haven’t you? I don’t think the people liked either of them very much and I can see why. I usually only try to bark at thunderstorms, but in their case, I might make an exception. Here is an amphitheater, and I wouldn’t even have to bark too loud, because of what they call the acoustics. Dr. Jim (in the blue shirt) explains how the sound works, while Ben introduces Rev. Tony, who plays the part of the Apostle Paul. Bravo!

Underneath the stage are the dressing rooms and the orchestra pit, just like theaters today.

This big piece of rock is called a sarcophagus. It is like a coffin. Wow, I bet the pallbearers had to work out a bunch!

Can you guess what this is? It’s the world’s first toilets! Right there in Caesarea Maritima! There was flowing water underneath. I think I’ll just stick with the big white punchbowl in our bathroom!

Did you wonder where the water came from? Well, this big bridge is actually a water bridge, called an aqueduct. It brought fresh water from a long ways away, down to the beach.

I’ll bet this horse would have liked that fresh water.

My brother said that there were a couple of regattas going on while they were by the sea. I know our friends from the Yacht Club would have had a good time!

After lunch, my brother and the group went up to the top of Mount Carmel. I was glad to know that it isn’t where they make that candy: it makes the roof of my mouth stick to my tongue! This Carmel means “vineyard of God”. Much nicer! Here is a church on the top of the mountain.

A very famous event happened here. This is where the prophet Elisha showed the prophets of Baal that God was boss! If you remember the story, Elisha built an altar and then had them drench it with a whole lot of water. Then, he prayed, and God sent fire down from Heaven and lit the wood like nobody’s business! I know my brother wished that Elisha was at our house a few months ago when he left our pellet smoker out in the rain and it fried its little computer brain! He had a salad that night and I didn’t get any treats.

Well, enough about that. Here’s a pretty picture from the top of Mount Carmel.

Their next stop was the Sea of Galilee. You’ve heard of it, I’m sure. It’s where Jesus and his disciples fished and preached and healed people. Well, my brother and his friends were fortunate to get to stay five nights right on the shore!

I think I would have spent the whole time thinking, this is where Jesus walked, or ate, or walked on the water. My one time trying to walk on the water at the Hoffmans swimming pool did not end well, and as a Retriever I can really appreciate how Jesus retrieved Peter from the sea, like a professional.

Well, I know we both miss each other, but I’m glad my brother is having such a good time. I am, too! Cheers!