Category - New Orleanians

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE –TU- 01/04/11

We left Maagan this morning. I love the Galilee and always am a bit sad to leave. We had to pass by the Aroma Coffee at the junction because we had too many miles to cover today.

Dr. Dukes led in 1 Peter 2:1-3 for our devotional. It is all about being because doing comes out of being. He noted that we are to Be a Be—God is much more interested in what we be than in what we try to do on our own. When we are we do—relationship, transformation, character change, new attitudes and new actions. I will post Jimmy’s devotionals when we get back home.

The ride down the Jordan Valley was peaceful. Our driver, Avner, made excellent time from the Galilee to Masada-2 hours. The group toured Masada. Masada was built by King Herod and was the last bastion of Jewish freedom fighters when they were destroyed by Rome in 74AD. Masada is a mountain on the eastern fringe of the Judean Desert near the shore of the Dead Sea, rising from the Dead Sea 450 meters. It is 650 meters long and 300 meters wide. Its natural defenses and remote location were the advantages that transformed it into a fortress during the Second Temple period.

Qumran is about 45 minutes north of Masada. We arrived there about 12:45 and had a quick lunch in their cafeteria. Qumran is located on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. It had a Jewish population dating back to 800 BC and inhabitants up to the Bar Kochba revolt in 132-135 AD. This is the place that Bedouin Shepherds discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. We visited the site. Dr. Parker presented his study of Qumran. We walked the site and then loaded up the bus to go swimming in the Dead Sea.

We drove over to Kalia, about 2 miles away, and many put their hands and feet in the Dead Sea but only 2 actually swam in the Dead Sea. We were back on the road in 40 minutes, leaving the Dead Sea area at 3PM.

Driving thru Jerusalem, Gilla pointed out the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, Mt. Scopus, and other identifiable skyline buildings. We also drove by the Jaffa Gate and had conversation about David Citadel.

Avner had us in Bethlehem at 4 PM. This was very good because the Church of the Nativity closes at 5 PM and when we got there the line was long. We were able to get through the church by closing time at 5PM.

This was a whirlwind day. We shopped at Edward Tabash’s store in Bethlehem for an hour then Avner took us to Ramat Rachel where we will be for the next three nights. Our Israel Pilgrimage is going too, too fast!

Clay Corvin 1/4/11
http://www.rememberme.com
http://www.claycorvin.com
http://www.virtualtravels.com

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE –MO- 01/03/11

Monday in the Galilee was another good day of touring. The weather was chilly and windy. It was excellent weather for touring.

We left Maagan after our morning devotional on the beach and stopped at Aroma Coffee at the junction. We have visited quite a number of Aroma Coffee Shops as we toured in Israel. It was a very good experience every time. The employees of each shop we visited impressed me. They were friendly and prompt. The coffee is good too.

We drove through Tiberius. Gilla shared about the history of the region and specifically about the history at the time of Christ. We turned into Nof Ginnosar where we would visit the “Jesus Boat,” and meet the boat that we would sail in on the Sea of Galilee. Rev. Phil Jeansonne led in our devotional on the Sea of Galilee. The crew played a couple of Christian songs on the sound system, and taught us Israeli folk dancing. Everything worked well together. Our time on the Sea of Galilee was a blessing for each one of us.

Leaving Nof Ginnosar and turning north we drove to the Mount of Beatitudes. It took a few extra minutes to get up the hill to the site. The Mount of Beatitudes is at the top of the first hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The view of the entire Sea of Galilee is excellent. You can see the entire area of Jesus’ ministry on the Sea of Galilee. Pastor Rob Wilton led in our devotional.

We ate lunch at Migdal. Schnitzel, swarma or falafel was our choices. The food is good and they served us quickly. We have eaten at the Migdal Café many other times and they have consistently done a good job.

Dr. David Lema led our devotional at the Primacy of Peter. This site commemorates the time the Lord cooked fish on the beach after the resurrection. He called Peter to come back and lead His church. There is a rock table, Mensa Christi (Table of Christ) in the church building on the site. After the devotional everyone walked down to the beach. It was a good place to think.

Capernaum is just up the road. Our time there included visiting the church on the site, seeing the White Synagogue, seeing Peter’s house, identifying the process of pressing olives and grinding wheat. Dr. Roudkovski led our devotional inside the White Synagogue. Capernaum is the place where Jesus would have been many times. Walking thru the site you know that you’ve connected with where Jesus would have walked and shared. He worked many miracles here. He taught His disciples and preached the Gospel. Capernaum is now only a museum.

The day has gone entirely too quickly. We drive in the bus on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Dr. Dukes shared about the Gadarene Demoniac near the memorial on the Eastern Shore.

I love the Galilee area. I like being on the sea and I enjoy all of the Galilee. I particularly like the Golon. I think it is critical for the long-term health of Israel as a nation. With all of that said, tomorrow morning we will set our face toward Jerusalem and by evening will be in the Holy City.

Our discussions were wide ranging and in many cases deep. This was another wonderful day of touring in Israel. Our pilgrimage is affective on my life and effective in helping me grow in my understanding of the Bible.

Clay Corvin
http://www.rememberme.com
http://www.claycorvin.com
http://www.virtualtravels.com

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE – SU- 01/02/11

Breakfast then to the shore of the Sea of Galilee for our morning devotional by Dr. Dukes. The setting and the view enhanced our already excellent devotional.

We are going to the center of the Hula Valley to connect with our OFF-ROAD tour across the Hula Valley and up the Golan. We saw the wildlife including birds and various small mammals, the agricultural environment, back trails, cattle herds, horses and discussed a multiplicity of plants and trees. We crossed a small stream and traveled across the Jordan. The men driving the 4-wheel drive vehicles did a great job and were vary knowledgeable about Israel. It was really a very good experience.

We had lunch in the Druze Village of Mesada on the upper Golon with Mt. Hermon in the background. After lunch we went down to Caesarea Philippi.

A student made a presentation at Caesarea Philippi and then Dr. Lan Leavell did an abbreviated presentation on the history of Caesarea Philippi and then tied it in theologically and devotionally. We walked about 1 mile to Herod Agrippa’s summer Palace. Stunning and significant are two words that come to mind immediately. The stonework and site development are magnificent. We then went back to the Pan devotion area up at the mouth of the spring.

Dan was just a short distance away. We got there about 2:45pm. in time to visit the site. Dr. Parker discussed the altar at Dan and other locations. His focus was the types of sacrifices made on the altar and the process they went through for altar worship. There were a significant number of questions.  We left Dan about 4:15pm.

We visited Aroma Coffee in Kiryat Shmona and took a short break from the day.  Another great Aroma Coffee Shop run by caring employees.

This was an outstanding, exceptionally good day of touring. The Golan is so very important to the life and livelihood of Israel. Pray for peace in Jerusalem and rain for Israel.

Clay Corvin- 1/2/11
http://www.virtualtravels.com

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE –SA- 01/01/11
Woke up to a rainy day. Clouds and rain had moved into the Galilee overnight. At breakfast we decided that we would change the itinerary for today. The forecast called for rain all day in the Galilee and we decided to go south and east today swapping Monday’s itinerary for today.

Dr. Dukes led in Devotional this morning, which we had to relocate to the Maagan lobby. He shared three things followers of Christ do.

Our first stop was Aroma Coffee at the junction, excellent coffee and a quick stop.

We drove down the Jordan Valley to Bet Shean. We were the first group there. In fact it was 8:45am and they hadn’t opened the site yet so we were there to open the site. It is a grand restoration to the Roman era. Dr. David Leavell led in the site devotional at the theater. Gilla our guide led the group through the site including the public urinals.

Our driver Avner does an outstanding job as our driver and he always has ideas about how we can squeeze in the most in our day.

We drove through the Jezreel on Highway 669 to Beit Alfa. It is the ruins of a 6th century synagogue. It has an excellent video detailing how an early synagogue developed their mosaic tile floor and shows how syncretism had crept into religious practice.

Ein Harod was our next stop and it was just up the road from Beit Alfa. We passed through ancient Jezreel and its related facilities plus to our right was Biblical Shunem but we focused on Gideon’s Spring and stopped there. After our devotional we shared some additional details and returned to road traveling to lunch.

Our lunch stop was Kibbutz Mizra which is the only place in Israel that has pork. The actually grow pigs and do serve pork. But they also have many other things on their cafeteria line and I’ve never had pork there.

We missed the rain all day. It rained some when we were on the road but didn’t cause a problem when we were on the site.

Megiddo was our next stop. Dr. Parker shared about the time of Josiah and also gave an overview of all the armies and civilizations that had occupied Megiddo. The site is well developed and significant in Biblical Old Testament times. The key items were the gates, cultic worship area, granary, stables and the water system.

We were racing time now. We wanted to get to the Nazareth Overlook before dark and we made it. Dr. Williamson shared about Jesus and his hometown of Nazareth.

Night comes early in January. We headed back to Maagan, about a 1 hour trek finishing our touring day. Hannah shared about her work with Africa Inland Mission in Namibia. The evening Bible Study led by Dr. Warren continued our study in Acts.

We had dinner, conversations in the hotel lobby and then back to the room. All of us were quite tired. Looking for a quiet night of rest.

Clay Corvin Galilee SA – 01/01/11

ISRAEL TRAVEL

So much packed into to such a small place
Everywhere you turn
Another event in history
Many applying to life and how to live it

The Lord stepped into this little place
A land bridge between civilizations
Even to this very day
Conflict and fear have and are a part of daily life

When I come here
It means so much to me
The Lord speaks and encourages me
I’m reminded of His love for me

What about this place makes it so important
It is only a very small country
With a 3,000 plus year history
A depth of conflict seldom seen

Jesus lived and walked here
He willingly died for me here
Here is where my lineage began
I belong to Him and being here helps me understand

Clay Corvin SA-01/01/11

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE- DEC 31, 2010

We began our day at Mitzpe Ramon near the Wilderness of Zin. It was windy and chilly. This is unique in this high desert area that is very dry year round with an annual rainfall of only 4 inches. Our immediate stop was at the Makhtesh Ramon observation point where we had an overview of the Makhtesh. This is the Grand Canyon of Israel. Stunning views. One day we will do a jeep trip thru the Makhtesh but not this trip.

We drove north to Avdat once a great desert city of the Nabataean Kingdom. This was the second largest of the Nabataean cities, Petra in Jordan was the largest. It is located 65 km south of Beer Sheva on Route 40. Our visit focused on the wine press and the two churches located on the top of the Tel. The North Church, the Church of St. Theodore is dated to the middle of the 5th century and it abuts a 3rd century tower. The entry to the church has a cruciform baptismal font where a person could be baptized by immersion.

The drive north to Beersheva gave everyone a very good view of the Negev. We went through the western edge of the Wilderness of Zin. Israel upon its movement toward the Promised Land moved thru the Wilderness of Zin. On the drive north we discussed road systems in ancient times and other details related to Avedat.

Tel Beersheva included a visit to Abraham’s Well, and the Israelite fortress. Also a group photo at the entry gate. This site dates back more than 3,000 years. In the Old Testament, ‘from Dan to Beersheva is a stereotyped expression for the limits of the land of Israel (Judges 20:1; 1 Sam. 3:20; etc.)

Tragically the time did not permit a stop at Aroma Coffee, we had already passed two great opportunities for stopping. A two hour drive north from Beersheva and we were ready to stop for lunch at the mall in Or Akiva which has a McDonalds, an excellent Aroma Coffee and other fast food restaurants.

After lunch we visited Caesarea beginning at the Theater and then north to Herod’s House, the hippodrome, the New Testament harbor and the Crusader City. This place was the beginning of the Gentile Christian Church. We noted the significant aqueduct that brought water from the Carmel Mountains which made Caesarea habitable.

Our final stop today was Muhraqa (the sacrifice) at the top of Mount Carmel. This is the traditional site for Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-46.) The Carmelite Order has a monastery at this location.

Our bus ride took about an hour from Mt. Carmel to our Galilee home for 4 nights, Maagan Guesthouse located on the Southern end of the Sea of Galilee. If you are ever in Israel and can stay in Galilee I would recommend Maagan to you. I have posted on my website: virtualtravels.com their phone numbers and address.

This was a good first day of touring. Our site devotionals were stirring. JP Cox shared at Beersheva how when you experience helplessness and there is nothing you can do about a difficulty how wonderfully significant the Lord’s presence and power is. Dr. Jim Parker did an excellent presentation on the bus about the Nabataean Kingdom and road systems of the Biblical Middle East. Dr. Dukes sharing from 1 Peter did an monologue as Peter and brought Peter as a Biblical Character to life. Dr. Warren began our Bible Study in Acts tonight. Dr. Lan Leavell presented the site devotional at Caesarea and Dr. David Leavell shared at Muhraqa. My heart and soul has been deeply stirred and encouraged. Ginger Moskau shared at the beginning of our Bible Study how the Lord is using her in the Women’s Ministry at Bethel Community in New Orleans.

Little sleep but I’m standing on my feet
Packed and loaded and we go
Learning begins
Overload just looking at the Ramon Crater

Avdat just ahead-A Nabataean desert town
An important place 2,700 years ago
On to Beersheva- the Well of Oath
Reaching back 3,500 years- a touch stone of faith

Abraham and his people lived here
His oath assured them a place to live and call home
We give an oath to Christ
From death to life-Alive in Christ eternity begun

Each day of our tour will be a day of discovery
We will be surprised by some of what we see
The Lord will speak to us along the way
I will pray with you as we walk the “Land of the Bible”

Treasure what you see
Make notes and think about what you hear
Rest some, talk some, fellowship
Ahead of us is the journey of a lifetime, enjoy

Clay Corvin – Nov 14, 2010

What would you be willing to do
To find the answer
The why, how, what, when and who
For a life worth living-that’s you

I would go anywhere, pay any price
Life is a fragile thing and is worth any cost
To get it right, to be whole and complete
To know I was on the right track, that I had value and worth

Amazingly Jesus is searching for you
He is the ONE that has made the first move
Jesus came in human form, lived just like us
Knowing the pain He would feel, He died for me and you

His death paid the price of our sin
He and the Father gave us the win
We can know the why how what when and who
Christ the Lord gives value to you

We are looking for a solution for the chaos in our life
Calm the fear of no meaning or losing or worthlessness
Christ is Lord of all and of us and He offers a solution
Ask Him into your life, confess your sin, live by His advice

Life will change day by day, Jesus will guide you, by His life and light
He will protect you even from yourself
One day, the most important day of your life
You will step into His presence, face to face for eternity

Clay Corvin December 25, 2010

The world is a fearful place
Things changing-no champion
People have no recourse for their life
All were ground down- stepping-stones to hell

Darkness covered the fields around Bethlehem
Shepherds were watching their flocks
A bright light, an angel, Fear NOT
The Shepherds were terrified

The angel announced
A Savior has been born in Bethlehem
He will deliver you from fear
His presence will bring peace and joy

We all struggle with brokenness
Our REDEEMER has come
Jesus will fix what is broken in our life
HE has come the victory is won

Regularly that cold hand of fear strikes at us
Jesus can deal with our fear
He brings strength and peace to our heart
His joy is available for our life

Claim your peace and joy
Live His power each day
Ask Jesus to come and give you life
Your life will be better each day

Clay Corvin December 11, 2010

I experience a certain amount of sadness at the end of a trip. Friday would be a very fast paced day but then every day so far had been that way. We had lots to do to get ready to go. The luggage had to be down front at 9:30am for the guys to pick up and load on the bus. Several folks were trying to get final gifts and things done in the Old City. Several of us walked up to Jaffa Gate for a final coffee at Aroma. It had been our nightly rendezvous place for coffee and conversation. We would all meet at Jaffa Gate at 10am and off we would go. Everything went smoothly and all were accounted for timely.

Yad Vashem the Holocaust Museum was our first stop. This is a very sad stop and it breaks my heart every time. Man’s inhumanity to man is hard to comprehend. This level of evil is stunning.

We had lunch at the Israel Museum and then visited the Shrine of the Book and the Jerusalem model on the run. They closed at 2pm and we were hustling to get through.

The Garden Tomb was next. This is one of my favorite places in Jerusalem. The group took the tour and then we had a worship service. The Garden Tomb area is beautiful and is the perfect place to spend a few moments in worship. The tomb was empty and our hearts were blessed.

Elah Valley and the location where David and Goliath fought took us about 30 minutes to get there. Most collected a few stones. I’m amazed the place has any stones left. It was a good walk down the riverbed. Gilla plotted out the location of the Philistines, Israel and the activity. It’s a great story and the location is authentic.

Barry one of our pilgrims commented that “he had read the Bible all his life in black and white and now he would always read it in living color.” A journey through Israel brings the pages of the Bible to life. It is encouraging to take God’s Word and touch item after item as it is detailed in Scripture. A person will never be the same after they travel the land of the Bible.

We had a great dinner at Abu Nassar in Jaffa and then on to Ben Gurion Airport for our return to the US. In about 18 hours or so we would be home.

ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE -TH- 25 November 2010

Our time in Israel sure has passed fast. It seems just yesterday we were leaving New Orleans for Israel and now that was a week and 1 day ago. The weather has been very nice the entire trip. A couple of days it was warm but for the most part it has been fine each day. We have also had very clear skies and atmosphere. We’ve been able to see without the sand or whatever in the air making things that are a few kilometers away to appear fuzzy. Crystal clear so my pictures in the desert and elsewhere should look great.

We left the Lutheran Guesthouse at 8am and met Gilla at the Zion Gate. Our first stop was the David’s Tomb and then upstairs to the Upper Room. The building is a Crusader building but tradition has it that this is the location of the Last Supper so it is a special place for us to have a devotional and sing. Stan did an exceptional job again as he led our devotional. It was special.

St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied the Lord Jesus was our next stop. Mel shared in the courtyard about his life and faith and tied it in with the struggle and heartache Peter experienced when he denied Jesus. We took pictures of the Roman Stepped Way and sang hymns in the church. A few minutes in the Gift Shop and away we went up to the Mount of Olives Overlook. We had a fantastic view of the entire Old City of Jerusalem. If you stood still and thought hard you could almost envision how it would have looked at the time of Christ. We traveled from the Mount of Olives to Mount Scopus and had lunch at the Hebrew University Aroma Coffee Bar. It was very good!

Haas Promenade located on the Hill of Evil Council, the traditional site where Judas met with the Pharisees to finalize his betrayal of Jesus, was our next stop. Ironic that the British would have their headquarters here during their period of the mandate and later the UN would put it headquarters here. The view of the City of David and the Temple Mount are spectacular. We left the Haas Promenade and traveled down to the Pool of Siloam then back up to the foot of the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane. Dr. Dukes led our devotional here. We left the Mount of Olives and went up to the Herod Gate (the Flower Gate) and walked down to Saint Anne’s Church and the Bethesda Pool. Don Richard led our devotional.

We were all tired. We came back to the Jaffa Gate. Some went to Aroma Coffee while others went to the Jewish Quarter to shop and some went back to the Lutheran Guesthouse.

Avner, our driver, picked us up at the Jaffa Gate bus stop at 5:30pm for our evening meal at the American Colony Hotel. The meal was very good. Dr. Dukes finished our Bible study –Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John.