Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, and a Minor Setback

     I will start first with the minor setback. As I was unpacking last night and preparing my day pack, I discovered there was no memory stick in my digital camera.
     Oops.
     Fortunately, I was able to borrow one, and so I a haven't missed a snap with my camera. On the other hand, I can't download any pics yet for this blog until I can purchase a little gizmo to transfer pics from the memory stick to my laptop. This is a boring way to start the blog, but I thought I'd explain why I haven't uploaded any photos yet.
     Caesarea was incredible. We were a stone's throw from where Paul came before Governor Felix (Acts 23-24) before he was sent to Rome for trial (and ultimately martyrdom). It is also the place where the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Gentiles for likely the very first time (Acts 10). Peter, following his vision on the rooftop, was invited by the Roman centurion Cornelius to come and preach the Gospel in Caesarea. As Peter was still preaching the Gospel message to Gentiles here, "The Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message."
    Mount Carmel was equally incredible, more for the view of the Valley of Jezreel than anything else. Mt. Carmel is the place where Elijah faced off against the 450 priests of Ba'al, as recorded in the closing chapters of I Kings. From atop the Carmelite monastery on Mount Carmel, you could see in every direction over the valley of Armegeddon.
     We concluded the day by walking through some 3rd century Jewish catacombs at Bet She'arim, and are now kicking back at a kibbutz in the Upper Galilee.
     We are somewhat out of luck at this kibbutz, because they will not take U.S. Dollars, but we will press on.
     That's it for the first day of touring. Tomorrow we start at the Mount of Beatitudes. There is apparently a 40 percent chance of rain, but I have my poncho, so bring it on...