Israel/Greece - It's not easy being One 6/15/2017

Our final day on this excursion/vacation/pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Greece. And it has been a ride.  

It was a simple day.  A hot day, but simple.  We got an early start for the Acropolis, only a 15 minute walk from our hotel.  Cindy's knee and asthma were bothering her, so we received permission to use the elevator to ascend to the top. It was really more like a funicular or one of those skyscraper construction lifts attached to the side.  It was fun.

The plateau atop the Acropolis was a rocky surface with a few gravel paths.  But the temples!  It was amazing that such grand work was performed thousands of years ago. And built in only 9 years! We circled the three temples and enjoyed the experience with our friends from the tour, nearly all fellow church members.  

I know the Apostle Paul was in Athens, but it's not certain he went to the top of the Acropolis.

One place we know he went to the was Mars Hill, a rocky hill on the western side of the Acropolis.  This is where the Apostle Paul spoke to the high council of Athens in Acts 17.   There is a tablet imbedded in the stone that contains his words in Greek.  

Two of our young students with us read Paul's words aloud to us very near the same spot he likely stood at. Then our tour co-host, Ronnie, also our preacher, added some brief thoughts.

Our local tour guide, Thenia, closed with the observation that part of Paul's message was that we are all equal in the eyes of God.  That was a well accepted message in Corinth, with its multi-levels of society.  But it was not a message well received among the elite of Athens.

My thoughts turned to, have I absorbed that same message well?  How well has anyone? I pray this trip has reinforced for me what is important to God.

"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

Israel/Greece - Renewal 6/12/2017

We were tired.  We had an very early flight from Tel Aviv to Athens.  Israeli security requests 3 hours minimum before a flight departs.  So we got up in the morning by 2 AM for our 3 AM checkout, one hour drive, and arrival for our 7 AM flight.  Everything went smoothly and helped with enough caffeine.  We were in Greece by mid morning.

Martha, our coordinator, and tour guide Thena, met us and we promptly headed south to the region of Ancient Corinth. 

We visited the old Corinth harbor at Cenchreae where the apostle Paul once arrived and sailed from.  

We lunched along the Corinth Canal, and lastly we walked the streets of Ancient Corinth.  

Paul was definitely here at one time, as were many other notable Bible followers of Christ. Many places he may have walked are conjecture - the forum, the main street to the port, perhaps the shops or places in the water district area.  But one place we know for sure Paul stood was the Beme, the judgement seat of Corinth.

Here Paul prepared to defend himself before the Roman pro counsel, only to see his case dismissed.

Paul’s influence and memory of what he taught (and the One he taught about) has long outlasted the city where he spent over 18 months.

Later we drove down the coast to Nafplio, a town along the shore of the Argolic Gulf in the Eastern Peloponnese in the south of Greece.  It had been a long but filling day, and we looked forward to a couple of days to reset and renew.

As the Apostle Paul once wrote to the very city we had just visited:  "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)