I have written several times about my personal bucket list, but touring Israel is really one of those true “bucket list” trips. Brad and Debbie Conley joined 37 others under the leadership of Fairview Knox pastor Dr. Jeff LaBorg and wife, Kristi, for a fast paced 10-day tour of Israel last month.
Brad Conley says, “Words are inadequate to describe this amazing trip; the Bible truly comes alive as you stand in spots mentioned in scripture.” They began in Tel Aviv, making their way north through Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, Cana, and Magdala. If you are a student of the Bible, just imagine walking on the ground traveled by those we are reading about in our scriptures.
Brad and Debbie continued on in their travels from Galilee to the site of Jesus’ Jordan River baptism which imagine just closing your eyers and seeing the scriptures coming alive before you. To top that experience, they swam in the Dead Sea where so many of the scriptural stories occurred.
The Bama Store on David Street near the Jaffa Gate of the Old City sells Bama related merchandise with a Jerusalem twist because the owner’s brother graduated from the University of Alabama
Another amazing day of the adventure was the visit to Masada, En Gedi and Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found beginning in 1947. Of course, no tour would be complete without the humbling visit in Jerusalem. Brad commented, “It is an amazing city.”
The Conleys’ highlights were the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb where anyone would be silenced by reverence at remembering our scriptural heritage upon being able to witness these in person.
Brad says that during the entire trip, “I was reminded of Romans 5:8 that states that God demonstrated His love for us in that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us. If possible, it is a trip that all believers should aspire to make.”
Indeed, it is a trip I still aspire to make.
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