We went to 4 locations along the Dead Sea.

1. Masada – I have to be honest. I had never heard of Masada.  It blew our minds, though. We took a cable car up a 1800 mountain in what looked like the Grand Canyon.  Basically, it was a remote Palace created by King Herod by the Dead Sea.  In 70 AD when the Romans took over things, it became a hideout for a radical group of 900 Jews.  The Romans discovered them a few years later and and did everything they could to capture the temple.  It took about 3 years, but the Romans finally built a ramp up the 1800 foot cliff.  However, when they got up there, they realized that the night before, the Jews had all taken their own lives so that they Romans wouldn’t have the pleasure in killing them.  To hear that story and see the amazing technology of water and food grown in the desert was incredible.

Masada was located on top of the mountain.  Many of the remains are still there.

2. En Gedi – This place is referenced by David many times.  In fact, it is where he cut part of Saul’s garment in the cave and spared his life when he could have killed him very easily.  I really wanted to visit this location.  So cool.  We saw deer that David referenced in the Psalms and also saw the spring of water that he referenced.

3. Qumran – This is there the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in the early 1900s.  These scrolls were originally written between 30BC and 100AD.  They confirm the text that our King James Bible recorded.  There were over 14,000 scrolls discovered.  60% of the scrolls are still unread to this day! The Jews won’t release them.  A theory is that these people were converted by John the Baptist and were at the baptism of Jesus (just down the road) and that a copy of Matthew was also found.  The Jews don’t want it released.  The scrolls have already confirmed that John the Baptist did visit them!

4. Swimming in the Dead Sea!  We got in the Dead sea and actually floated effortlessly.  It was amazing!

Here are some samples of what it is like to be with our tour guide.  These were from today.

Capernaum

Here are some short video clips from the last couple days..

Clip 1: Caeserea – You see this ampitheater that was built by the Romans and King Herod just before the time of Christ. Over 1000 people can sit in this theater and hear the singers, actors, or musicians down at the bottom (without a sound system). Ceaserea was built on the Mediterranean Sea right in the middle of the country. They still use the ampitheater to this day!

Clip 2: This is modern-day Nazareth. A bustling little city in North Central Israel. This is where Jesus grew up!

Clip 3: This is an actual/working olive press that is used annually at Nazareth Village. This is a neat little place that recreates life during Jesus time. We saw a weaver and carpenter actually doing the work of the time period of Jesus.

Clip 4: We were able to visit a local church in Nazareth on Wednesday evening. Here is a clip of one of their worship songs.

To see all the posts from Israel, click here.

I am looking for 70 dedicated men to lead their families and support me as pastor of PromiseLand church. This has nothing to do with a ‘position’ or more ‘church work’. It’s is all about leading by example.

I’m looking for men that are not going to give excuses and wallow in selfish pity.  I am looking for warriors.

If you are not there, but want to be there, then join us.  We will get you there.

God told Moses to do the same thing.

Numbers 11: 16Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you. 17I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.

Men, by joining this group you are committing to the following for 2013:
1. Praying at least 1 hour per week
2. Fasting 1 day per week (2 meals). If you are physically unable to fast from food, you can fast in other ways.
3. Consistently read the Bible.
4. Participate in a PromiseGroup or volunteer ministry
5. Financially give consistently to PSM
6. Be faithful to spouse and kids (spend quality time with both)
7. Be accountable to another man during 2013

Join us by filling out this form.  Click here.

Sincerely,
Robin Steele