Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Dig In...To Get the Most From Your Israel Tour

While you may not be going on an archaeological dig on your Holy Land tour, it is still helpful for you to 'Dig In' to some good background material to help prepare yourself for this tour of a lifetime. 


Here is a list of helpful resources:

(Clicking on the picture or title will take you to an Amazon link)




A Visual Guide to BIBLE Events – J. Martin, J. Beck, D. Hansen.
Why did Jesus pick Samaria as the place to announce his messianic identity? Why did God lead Moses and the Israelites to Mount Horeb after they fled from Egypt? Why did the apostle John receive God's revelation on the island of Patmos? 
A Visual Guide to Bible Events illuminates the fascinating connections between Bible events and Bible locations. This beautiful, full-color book is filled with photographs, maps, and easy-to-read commentary. By exploring the relevance of place within biblical stories, this engaging volume brings the Bible alive to modern readers in a way no other book has done before. 
 (Pictorial Encyclopedia)



A Visual Guide to GOSPEL Events – J. Martin, J. Beck, D. Hansen. As the inspired authors of the Bible relayed the story of salvation, they frequently mentioned place names that contributed to the story. Yet readers who are separated from the texts by thousands of years and thousands of miles are often unable to fully understand or appreciate those references. 
This beautiful, full-color book is filled with photographs, maps, and easy-to-read explanations. The engaging writing style makes this resource perfect for anyone--student, scholar, pastor, or layperson--who wants to understand the events recorded in the Gospels in a deeper way.  (Pictorial Encyclopedia) 


In the Steps of Jesus – Peter Walker
In the Steps of Jesus presents a visually stimulating tour of the places Jesus visited and ministered in during his time on earth as recorded in the Gospels. Each location is addressed separately and includes such cities as Capernaum, Nazareth, and Jerusalem. Full color photos bring to life the ancient world of the Bible few will ever be able to visit in person. With every page, the reader will gain greater insight into the history, geography, and unique features of these historic places. A must-have reference book for those interested in the study of the New Testament and the life of Christ. (Pictoral Encyclopedia)


A trip to the Holy Land is, for most, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In this one-stop guide, two professionals—Charles Dyer, a Bible scholar and veteran Holy Land tour guide, and Greg Hatteberg, graduate of the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem—help you make the most of your trip.
Detailed maps and a full-color 16-page photo insert and packing lists, jet lag tips, passport requirements, and a wealth of other practical information will assure you that have everything you need, while a four-week prayer guide and Bible study prepare you for the spiritual journey you are about to take.
The Christian Traveler’s Guide to the Holy Land traces the biblical events of over ninety of the most visited sites and will ensure that your trip is an exciting, spiritually satisfying, and unforgettable experience. (Travel Guide)


Imagine following Jesus along the road, listening in on his conversations, and gleaning from the lessons he taught in the holy places he traveled. Join author Wayne Stiles as he walks in the steps of Jesus: through Bethlehem, Samaria, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Galilee, and beyond. Experience the places where Jesus met a lonely woman in Samaria, a den of hypocrites in the Temple, a Jerusalem Pharisee still searching for truth, fishermen with a sea of false expectations, and a hometown ashamed of him. Entering the Holy land through the settings, sights, and sounds of Stiles's engaging travelogue, readers will not only discover more about these sacred places, but also learn practical lessons that will find their way into their hearts. And ultimately, prepare them for their own encounter with Christ. (Devotional)





ArchaeologicalStudy Bible: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture 
Readers who desire a more intimate knowledge of the historical context of the Bible will appreciate the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. Full of informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects from biblical times, this Bible examines the archaeological record surrounding God’s Word and brings the biblical world to life. Readers’ personal studies will be enriched as they become more informed about the empires, places, and peoples of the ancient world. Features include: • Four-color interior throughout • Bottom-of-page study notes exploring passages that speak on archaeological and cultural facts • Articles (520) covering five main categories: Archaeological Sites, Cultural and Historical Notes, Ancient Peoples and Lands, the Reliability of the Bible, and Ancient Texts and Artifacts • Approximately 500 4-color photographs interspersed throughout • Detailed book introductions that provide basic, at-a-glance information • Detailed charts on pertinent topics • In-text color maps that assist the reader in placing the action. (Bible)


The Zion Chronicles - Brock & Bodie Thoene
If you like a good historical fiction book I recommend this series. This is book One of a five part series.

The Zion Chronicles series covers the events surrounding Israel's statehood in 1948. Each book vividly portrays the intense struggle of the Jewish people in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the forces, within and without, which engulf the Middle East in conflict and controversy even today. Will there ever be peace in Zion? The Jewish people wonder as they stream into the British Mandate of Palestine after the devastation of World War II. What has happened to God's promises to their nation? These updated classics feature a new look and added study questions suitable for individual use or group discussion. (Historical Fiction) - LINK here for the Kindle Edition of all five books.

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Traveling to Israel? Get the most from your journey

Israel again? People often ask me if I get tired of leading tour groups to Israel. The reality is that every time I return I see something new, hear something different and more importantly I am in a different place in my life so that even the places I've been before take on new spiritual meaning. I also get to see it fresh in the joy of those who journey with me.

Getting the most from your journey...

1) Travel with a pastor or a teacher who can feed you with the Word each step of the way. Your tour guide will also be an essential part of your experience. You will be amazed how much scripture all tour leaders in Israel know - whether they are Messianic, Jewish or Arab guides.

2) Prepare yourself by studying God's Word. When you get a listing of the sites you will visit use a good Bible dictionary and concordance and look up the biblical references that tell the narrative of the place.

3) Invest in some reference and devotional material that will enhance your knowledge of what you will see along the way...

Do you like to journal or keep notes along the way? This is an excellent journaling guide I just purchased for myself and look forward to using on my next journey to Israel. I love it! Israel for the Christian Traveler (Full-color Travel Guide, Journal) by Joan Peace.

This 30 day devotional guide would be perfect for preparing for your Holy Land tour. I recommend that you read it just prior to your journey. Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus: A Holy Land Devotional by Charles H. Dyer. 

This is also a good devotional and perhaps you will want to save it for your return so you can look back and be reminded of the things you have seen and apply it to your walk of faith. Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus by Wayne Stiles 

DVD Lessons: Faith Lessons In The Dust Of the Rabbi, by Ray Vander Laan

4) Pack well and know the in's and out's of international travel.

Using and Charging Electrical Gadgets
Luggage

Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.