October 8, 2007

Tuni Rose
Journal Article from 10/8

After spending the night at En Gev on the shores of Galilee we woke for an early breakfast and then were off to various sites learning about the Crusades!
Our first stop was the city of Akko; which acted as a major port during that time. The 1st Crusades, beginning around A. D. 1099, was marked with barbaric and unorganized fighting between Palestinians and the Christians. Here, Christians began killing Jews, Muslims, as well as fellow Christians. Cannibalism and other atrocities were a common practice. Crusaders were comprised of foot soldiers and knights-descendants of royalty initially from France and the Netherlands later joined by the English. By A.D. 1104 Akko was conquered until 1137 when the Crusaders were defeated but allowed to remain in the city.
On the top of Mount Carmel we reviewed the account of Elijah as told in 1 Kings 18. During that time the people practiced polytheism and ‘believers’ went into hiding. Corrupt priests began offering unholy sacrifices to Baal and Ash Rah, the god and goddess of earth and the weather. Elijah calls the priests of a city to a showdown at the altar. They are instructed to offer a bull on the altar and call on their god to ignite it. Unable to prepare their deceiving tricks, the offering fails to catch. Elijah then prepares the altar and instructs priests to pour water three times over it. After calling on God the altar bursts into flames and the people know the true and living God.
Ceasarea Maritima acted as the capital of the Roman Empire for 600 years. This is where Peter visited Cornelius and declared that the gospel would be preached to the gentiles. Here Paul was arrested, imprisoned, and boldly testified to King Agrippa nearly convincing him to convert. It was land given by Cesar in B.C. 30 to Herod. We learned about the history of the theatre and the significance of the word hypocrite, as used by the Savior.