In 1997 I had been fasting for a bout 1 1/2 days .I had just told my wife that the only thing I coveted in this world was to go to Israel. The next day our friend who had just got a job with Educational Opportunities came to our home.She said,"Do you know any one who would like to go to Israel?" I said yes, I would. She said, "An eight day package is 1500.00. "I said I guess I won't be going. She came the next day and said ,"How about 490.00 ?" I said yes I will go. I had been teaching Bible at our local church. They decided to have a bake sale. And...they raised 490.00. From all over the county there were about 70 men and women who came. .Mostly they were pastors. The very first day I was there I found myself standing alone by the Sea of Galilee. Then a little later I was sitting in aboat right in the middle. At that point it was like God engulfed my heart with a blanket of love. I thought about where I was before He had saved me and now where I was ..sitting right dab in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. From then on as I saw the different places where Jesus ministered ..I just drank in those sites. I actually touched the foundation of the synagogue in which He preached in Capernaum. They chose one of us 70 to preach a message at the tomb where Christ ressurected. Can you believe it? I was the one chosen to speak. And the Lord filled my cup to over flowing. With a powerful zeal outside of myself I proclaimed the Risen Lord. When I called my wife I could hardly speak. I was really overcome by the experience. . Once you are there you actually believe that is your real home.
Chuck
Here is the empty spot in Christ's tomb where he once lay.
To Big Country
