I’ve just returned from a ten day trip to Israel with some folks from GRTS. We traveled with a larger group from Crossroads Bible Church and their pastor, Rod Van Solkema, led the trip.
Dead Sea at Sunrise
He wanted us to learn the land with our feet, which meant loads of hiking. It was an absolute blast and a thorough soul-refreshment in every way.
We hiked for several days in the desert, including climbing Mt. Timna, the snake path up to Masada, and the mountains above Qumran.
About to Climb the Snake Path at Masada
After the Climb up Masada
Climbing Mt. Timna (or, Making Our Way to Mordor)
On Mt. Timna. That’s a heart-stopping sheer drop just behind me…
Cave 8 at Qumran
High Above Qumran — that’s the visitor’s center in the middle and some of the caves just beneath it
In the North, we scaled Mt. Arbel and Mt. Carmel, along with a number of other places.
Climbing Mt. Arbel, Overlooking the Sea of Galilee
Doing so much walking and hiking gave us an excellent grasp of the geography of the land — where everything sits in relation to other places. It also allowed me to eat as much hummus and warm pita as I wanted (and falafel and shwarma and shnitzel, among other things) and still lose a few pounds!
Discussing Mark 3:1-6 at the Synagogue in Capernaum
John Hilber and I went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at 5:30 in the morning and had the place to ourselves for nearly an hour
My colleague, John Hilber, and I seriously enjoyed the time with our students, along with the Crossroads group with whom we traveled. And we’re thrilled about the outrageously wonderful opportunity for GRTS students to travel to Israel made possible by our partnership with GTI Tours.
The GRTS Crew
Faith Improvised 
MSW
Our daughter lives on the moshav where you spent your first night. We were there for two weeks in June. Love that place. Only wish it were more peaceful…
timgombis
I wish I had known that! It was a lovely spot. Indeed, we were regularly overwhelmed by the clash/juxtaposition of beauty and tragedy in the land…
Tim Cole
Herr Professor: Thanks for sharing the pix. Reminds me of some good times on Masada! I was chased off the Roman siege ramp by Israeli police some years ago. I was only digging up some ‘wood’ sticking out of the ramp!
Also good to see Dr. Hilber: we graduated together 30 years ago (seminary).
Wish I could have joined you all.
But I like to remind our people today: there is no such thing as the Holy Land anymore. God changed his address. We are now the true “Holy Land, the dwelling place of God. Voila!