HAPPY NEW YEAR..........................................

In the relentless busyness of this thing we call "LIFE," we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.....As I sit here writing my mind is already racing to the next moment in my life.... God has been circling me with this thing called "REST," I am reading a book called Sabbath...Sometimes I want to just scream after reading it and after looking at other blogs!!! How do they find the time to be the perfect blogger? Perfect Mom? Perfect Wife? Perfect Teacher? Even there kids do not seem to be intoxicated by this thing called the "WORLD," where my kids are living in it and blending in with it.......  Maybe it is just ME! Maybe I am the failure in this thing called "LIFE".   Maybe it is my desire to accomplish so much in the little time I have and MAYBE its ME that has chose to spread myself so thin.....I have lost it, lost the spiritual rhythm of this thing called LIFE......and because.I have not slowed down to do what is the most important thing in my life..........,  I have lost my way.... My way to the most amazing relationship of all.... with our Lord and Savior...who so graciously waits.......WAITS...for me and WAITS for you to spend time with him......We miss the very quiet that would give us wisdom!!!! We are poisoned by this hypnotic belief that we can have it all and do it all..........all for what??? More success, more recognition, more satisfaction, more LOVE, more information, more possessions, more security......

How I pray this year will be different for us all.......

Wishing you and your family the Happiest New Year of all....... Praying that we all slow down and spend time with God himself....Make it your priority....I am going to try so hard to make it mine.....So much more to blog about on our amazing trip to Israel..... Hope to post more of Israel in the next couple of days... Working tomorrow New Years Day in Neuro Intensive Care Unit.... Praying to be used by God and to be a blessing to someone............

In His Grace,

Robbie

Tiberas/ Children's Home.......Israel

We were on a very tight schedule the whole 10 days in Israel. The hotels would want us back around 7pm for dinner. We were running late on this day and almost did not have time to stop. Also the kids at this Children's center go home at night. They were so excited to see us they waited late, knowing they would have to walk home in the dark and alone. The building in the first picture was one of many around the children's center. This area is very poor. As we walked through this neighborhood, I prayed for each person living here- for their safety and hope. And mostly that they would see Jesus through us and other Christians that visit the center. As we walked up the sidewalk to the center, we heard chanting. Once we were close enough to see the children, we could hear what they were saying. They were saying Tesha, Tesha, Tesha. The children surrounded Tesha, our guide, and loved all over her. Our group then walked into the building.  The center was simple, but full of love. Each room was filled with art work on the walls. Obviously efforts of love. The children were so excited to see us. Oh course Robbie and I were fighting back the tears. While there we heard some very sad stories. I know there are children's home all over the world, poor and needy children, but for some reason I was drawn to these kids. They performed for us- sang and danced. They lit the candles on the Menorah and involved us in the ceremony. At the end of our visit, we handed out gifts- simple ones. I did not hear one time- that she got more, or its not fair. The children's center experience was a breath of fresh air, and caused a need to help others to stir up inside of me and others in our group. It was hard leaving them. The kids were so happy that we were there, they were full of the moment, not even thinking about the future, or problems that tomorrow would bring- the innocence of a child. Most of the children do not have dads. I could see excitement in the boy's eyes when they were interacting with the men in our group. Several of the boys gave paper gifts they had made to the men. I'm sure they will cherish these gifts forever. Please take a few minutes after you read this, to pray for those children, and children everywhere- especially ones that do without. That are hurting, sad, or hungry. I pray that God will protect them and give them extra protection and comfort.

Amy

The Hoppers - Yahweh

The Yahweh Song in Southern Gospel.....Wow!!!! Amy has caused me to love Southern Gospel!!!!

Jerusalem - Featuring The Hoppers

Make sure you turn our music off first... This is so powerful...Turn your volume up loud...... This is Amy's favorite type of music and this is the song and video our amazing guide Tesha had us watch as we came through the tunnel and up into Jerusalem!!!! Give's me chills everytime I listen to this song......This is Southern Gospel....enjoy....

CAESAREA: PART TWO...........BUILT ON THE SHORES IN (1101-1265.)...

The doors heading to the Crusaders fortress!!!!!!!As we step into what seems like another world, it shows the hunger and passion of one man's dream to have it all and to have it his way..........It shows how power hungry Herod truly was......As we step into a time zone unfamiliar but have read about we gasp................"The vacant amphitheater."

We continue to take in Herod's dream.....you can't help but think about the number of Jews and Christians who lost their life here.....Amazingly this is where our life as a "gentile," changed forever............Peter opened the way for the very FIRST gentiles to come to the one true God....... He made his very first direct convert to Christianity in Caesarea, of a man named: CORNELIUS.......Herod later imprisoned Peter in Jerusalem during Passover, but he escaped and made his way to Caesarea and from there he set sail for Rome and on into history................

Paul was also imprisoned here for two years before being sent to Rome from this very port..................

This amazing city is located somewhere between Tel Aviv and Haifa.......In the early Middle Ages, Caesarea traded hands several times between the Muslims and the Crusaders......What is left behind now is mostly from the Crusaders time..........The ancient city is now more an archaelogical park located on the Mediterrean Sea 33 miles north of Joppa....and 60 miles northwest of Jerusalem.......

Remains from the Crusader's city......  (graceful ruins by the sea)...................................

Roman theater built by King Herod....

Herod indeed planned an entire city, based on the Roman model.....He including several palaces and one specifically for the Roman governor of Judea.....Herod named the city for the emperor Augustus and its crowning glory was its sea-side port.......The Roman governor "PONTIUS PILATE," (who condemned Jesus to be executed), lived at Caesarea and a plaque bearing his name and a recording a dedication he made had been found....

Restored Roman pillars show where the originals once surrounded an open courtyard in Herod's Caesarea palace.........................

This is where the spectators sat as they watched the sport of the innocent pitted against animals and men fighting against men......In spite of the horror of what took place here there is an energy here....It survived the rule of the Romans and was lifted up by prayers of the faithful...... The stories of Cornelius, Philip, Philip's four daughters, and the Jews who stood faithful, against all this horror........

     The Ocean's breeze is refreshing as we move on through the remains of what changed a spot in time for us the gentiles...........Ironically we were grafted into the kingdom of Christ,  in one of the most materialistic and pagan cities in the Holy Land......

These ruins are as impressive as any in Israel....The visual impact of the Crusaders arches, crumbling walls and smashed pillars proves the layered history that was once alive here.................................

The horse track is in remarkable condition........................

Caesarea was the Queen of the Coast......and the largest Roman port in the eastern Mediterranean......It took Herod around 12 years to build the actual city...It's harbor alone was amazing....Around 1,800 feet long and 160 feet wide- perched on massive walls sunken into the Sea bed, and a huge lighthouse with an ever burning beacon to guide the ships to the shore.......

Scroll down and turn our music off first!!!! Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas!!!!
the cross in christmas from tammi dryden on Vimeo.

CAESAREA MARITIMA: PART ONE...........................................

A Roman aqueduct that carried spring water to Caesarea fights conquest by the sand............................................Originally a Phoenician port, rebuilt by Herod in honor of Caesar Augustus................

Amy and I continued to slip in and out of its beautiful arch-doorways, we find ourselves in a setting that takes us back a moment in time....and for a moment in  time it takes our breath away....

Water, water everywhere......A view of the Mediterranean through one of the arches of the Roman aqueduct that carried spring water to Caesarea............

Mediterranean Sea.......................looking through one of the arches..........................

The Roman aqueduct, a one-time source of water for a city built in honor of everything except GOD.......stretches long in the pale sand of the Mediterranean, providing arched windows toward the ocean. It stands like a centurion in some places, like and old man in others.  Amy and I stepped through it, allowing our fingers to touch the stone. I was amazed at the length of it. It seemed like we had found a hidden treasure of time standing still...........

Later Herod moved from Judea and went to the city of Caesarea, where he stayed. Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, but the people of those cities all came in a group to him. After convincing Blatus, the king's personal servant, to be on their side, they asked Herod for peace, because their country got its food from his country. On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people.  They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not a human!"  Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died. God's message continued to spread and reach people..............ACTS 12: 19-24........