Guest Post: Michael Schroeder, April 19 Holy Land Tour

Once again, I am letting Michael Schroeder, Contemporary Christian Musician and Recording Artist, www.michaelschroeder.com borrow my blog to share his thoughts of being in the Holy Land.

Concerts with Michael always bring you home with the feeling that you shared his personal thoughts and connections of being a child of God and follower of Jesus Christ. As Michael walks you through this tour, you will get an understanding of how Scripture connects to the locations he is visiting. Come along for the ride.

I left a few of the photos out because they were loading slowly. He has them all at www.rgsrecords.com Journey with Michael Schroeder to Israel.

April 19th

Sunrise over Sea of Galilee

The day started early with a Sunrise service on the shores of the Sea of Galilee……5:30 came early,….but the sunrise and the worship was worth it!…..breakfast and a longer ride to the far north of Israel takes me to Tel Dan a stones throw from Lebanon.

Sunrise 20 on 20 Galilee

Tel Dan: Following the division of the kingdom of Solomon in 930BC, Jeroboam, Son of Nebat established a cult at Dan as an alternative to the Temple in Jerusalem and placing a Golden Calf in the city.

Tel Dan

Dan, was the northernmost city in the kingdom of Israel, which the book of Judges states was known as the city of Laish prior to its conquest by the Tribe of Dan. Due to its location close to the border with Lebanon Tel Dan has had a long and often bitterly contested modern history, most recently during the 1967 Six day war. (see Ruth 4:1-2, 2nd Samuel 19:8 for references)

Lebanon

The 2nd picture above right is a small city inside Lebanon. I took this picture from the top of Tel Dan, Israel which is a few hundred yards from the Israel/Lebanon Border,…we later drove right along the border for a bit on our way to Har Bental taking the road to Damascus (Paul traveled) to get there.

ABRAHAMS GATE

The excavators of Tel Dan uncovered a city gate made of mud bricks estimated to have been built around 1750 B.C Because this is the period of the Biblical patriarchs, because this is the style of gate that Abraham would have sat in, and because of the Bible account in which the people of Dan take Lot prisoner, and Abraham travels to Dan to rescue him, the gate is called Abraham’s Gate.

Abraham's Gate

Har Bental is a vantage Point that allows a person to better understand history and the proximity of the Golan Heights to Syria a short distance a way,…..

this picture beneath left I took on a clear day from this spot in Israel where Damascus Syria,(Bottom Left) is about 33 miles away. The picture facing the other direction (Bottom Right) shows the Golan Heights, Israel.

The Golan Heights are of strategic importance in the region, and were Syrian territory from 1944 until Israel captured the region in June 1967 during the Six day war. Since then, the area has remained under Israeli control. The picture above right is facing the other direction of the Golan Heights. The picture below is of Mount Hermon facing in between (Psalm 133:3, )

Caesarea Philippi

Bethsaida of Galilee

Peter, Philip and Andrew lived here, (John 1:44; John 12:21), and possibly James and John as well. Though slightly west of the traditional site it is believed by most experts to have been the site of the feeding of the 5000 found in Gospels.

Bethsaida

Heading back to the room after Bethsaida, I grab supper and put together a set list of songs for a concert I’m doing on my last night here in Galilee. Tomorrow I head to Nazareth and other places further south in Israel arriving in Jerusalem tomorrow night. Though I know there is more amazing things to see and do…..I will miss this place……there is a peace here that satisfies the soul in a deep way. I am tired though and heading to bed, a good nights rest will ready me for my tomorrow.

Peace in Jesus
MS ………………………………………………………………………………..