MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

            What a great day we’ve had!  We started out with a trip to Caesarea by the Sea where the apostle Paul had been imprisoned for so long before his journey to Rome.  It was there that he wrote the letters, Ephesians and Philippians.  The ruins were amazing and we were able to visualize what Paul had experienced.  The aquaduct that provided hot and cold water to the city was an incredible work of ingenuity.  Cindy and I are standing under some of what remains.

            Then it was off to Megiddo and the Jezreel Valley.  This is where the final battle will be.  We’re all looking forward to that day when Jesus returns.  Until then, it is sobering to think about what will take place there in the end times.

            After eating some falafels, French Fries, and a Coke Lite, it was then off to Mt. Carmel where Elijah asked God to send down fire to consume his offering in the presence of all the Israelites.  His purpose was to honor God and encourage the people of Israel to turn away from Baal worship and worship the only true God.  How very sobering and convicting it was to think about how easily we straddle the fence in our commitments to God.  It was one of those moments when God spoke directly to all of us about taking our commitment up a huge notch.

Next was Nazareth and Cana.  Being where Jesus grew up and ministered was inspirational and so very interesting.  Nazareth was a city of only 30 families when Jesus grew up there and now is a thriving community of 65,000.  Do you remember that Nathaniel wondered if anything good could come out of Nazareth?  

Our trip to Cana was a quick one.  Found out than Nathaniel was born there.  While in Cana we also had a special service where our married couples were able to renew their marriage vows.  This was a beautiful moment and the kind of service one dreams about being part of.

Another interesting thing that occurred while we were in Cana was that we ran into a group of friends from the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Florida at the wedding chapel site.  Such a small world.

            We hurried on and later arrived about 6:30 pm in Tiberius, where we checked into our hotel and ate a delicious dinner.  They sure know how to prepare a buffet dinner with all the "fixin's" here in Galilee.   

            Time now to head to bed and get to sleep.  We’re off early tomorrow to Caesarea Phillippi, the fresh water springs in Dan that feed the Jordan River, a baptismal service in the Jordan River, and an exciting trip by boat across the Sea of Galilee.  

QUICK NOTE:            So sorry about the few pictures.  My camera froze up at just the wrong time.  After some engineering, it's now back and running for tomorrow.  Will catch up then.  In the meantime, everyone says "hi" and that they wish you were here with them.