Day7 and last post. 

We have a final day of touring then eat and pack and leave for airport at 1:30 am.  Will not have time to update tomorrow.  Hope you have enjoyed keeping up with us.  Today we are going to show you some of the "side sights" of  Jerusalem as we traveled along to give you a feel for the city.  Of course there will be words of observation from Bruce!

There are NOT (3) three people in the world that are funnier than Andi Smart.

First of all she breaks her toe and has to go to the Dr. to get the pin taken out of it for the trip. Her tremendous husband says... ' You did it to yourself, so you can't complain! ' Geez...I've seen tough before in my life, but up and down the hills and steps with her toes buddy taped she she navigates on...not asking for any assistance.

Walking up to the top of Mt. Carmel looking at a sun dial pointing in different directions and giving distances to various cities and locations on the platform looking out over the Valley of Armageddon....she raises both arms high into the air... " Ahh, which way to San Jose? "

Looking at the location inside of the Temple where Jesus healed the sick man in John 5..." Look, it's the diving pool and the kiddie pool! "

Where I am complete old school taking notes with a pencil and a Big Chief notepad, Brian Smart is all over his Blackberry. So when Alan couldn't locate the proper scripture to read relating to the story @ our location, Brian in less than 3.5 seconds in total Bible Drill domination V*I* C*T*O*R*Y ...bam!  Recites the chapter and verse..... Andi looks to Ridley..." That's YOUR son ! (Sarcasm included)

Andi is a big time spelling bee champion...any question on the misunderstanding of Ze 'evve " The Comedian " accent of Byzantine or Bedouin...she always knows how to spell a tough word... " I GOT THIS!  I GOT this church thing goin' on ! "

 

A Hasidic Jew

 

Would you like to purchase a chicken like this?

Or get your bread from a cart - pushed around outside without a cover and people all around?

How about shopping like this?

 

Inside the Walls of Jerusalem

 

Here we go out amongst 'em early in the morning up into the Temple Mount where Herod raised the height of the Temple built the compound and square and courtyard.  Where other Temples may be more beautiful but this was the largest and most sacred.

 

Today the Muslims were grouped out in the courtyard to study, security guards yell at us ' no touching! ' ...children happily walked past us smiling and waving but boys and girls go to school separately. Where Ze evve " The Comedian " got upset, " These European people have no manners! "

 

 

 

 

We were suppose to be standing where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac and the angel appeared to him with a lamb. Where Jesus was upset where he found the money changers at a sacred place. Where King Abdula of Jordan was assassinated for cutting a peace treaty July 15, 1951.

 

 

 

Then we went outside the Temple walls to St Anne Monastery where the beautiful echo of Alan Shoumaker led us in singing ' Holy, Holy, Holy ' and The Lords Prayer.

 

Quick walk around the Bethesda Pool where Jesus healed (John 5 ) the invalid. Down the Via Dolorosa " The way of the cross ".
 

This route includes the 14 Stations of the Cross which Jesus walked after Ponticus Pilot (John 19:16) handed him over to be crucified at the Antonio Fortress and pointed to the "Ecce homo" arch.

 

We stopped in the " lithostrotos " which means ' the pavement '  and stood on Roman " striated " concrete...which are grooves / striations in the road similar to the sides of the our current highway that hum and wake you up to tell you that not on the road...but in the Roman times it helped the horses to keep from slipping. While standing there Ridley said a beautiful prayer to bless the trip and help us to better understand what our eyes are seeing.

 

 

The Dome of the Rock

 

Man playing near the Western Wall

Dude, just hanging around.  Notice he has the scriptures with him.

 

We have had pretty much the same meal every night- chicken, rice, potatoes. Bro. Alan found a great little PIZZA place near the hotel so a group of us decided to give it a try.  It was a welcome break from the meals we have grown tired of.

 

Then Bruce, Scott and I went for a quick walk to take a couple of pictures of the area light up at night.

 

 

Day 6   A day of distractions.....

If I would have HAD ... A*D*D medicine I would have taken it....

Ze 'evve / The Comedian ....brings up the hill to the eastern side of Jerusalem past the Hebrew University and past Mt. Scopus to the Mt. of Olives.  From there he proceeds to point out the walking route of Jesus when he came in and hid and slept and where he was arrested and where they took him to Ponticus Pilot and what we were going to see later today and the east side of the Temple Wall and the 8 gates, and the closed gate the Muslims believe will keep Jesus out because old the cemeteries he can't walk through and the Temple Mt.

 

 

 

All of this information was being given to us with Ze 'evve's microphone going in and out because his batteries were low as he gets so passionate in his story telling with his hands he hits his microphone.  Me looking at the Jerusalem map upside down to get the correct view from the east. Behind us a guy for some reason decides to start giving the Japanese contingency that has suddenly bunched in against us and walked up behind us rides on a camel taxi.  Vendors attempting to sell stuff trying to get up into the middle of us and beggars asking for change!

 

 

 

My wife Lisa was close to having her Dr. in Ed.  Every time she did a new research paper or attended a seminar she would come back with some new testing criteria...

 

" Here..Bruce take THIS test. I am going to prove to you that you are A*D*D! " Lisa, I am not A*D*D..I DO get excited, I DO get fired up when I am having fun...but I am not A*D*D.  I can sit still in class all my life in school and take notes and concentrate on the lesson.  Every test you have ever given me I have blown it away and out of the water and passed it with flying colors. " You are A*D*D...you just know HOW to live with it! You don't let it defeat you most of time...why are YOU the only one that takes notes like you do to be able to listen? Most of America can sit still, listen and retain it...but NO..not you, you have to WRITE it down to be able to retain it....so see, admit it...you just know how to live with it!  I'm right. I know I'm right! "

 

 

So after Ziggy finishes his history lesson and Bro French adds his insight and knowledge...I barely have any notes worth compiling.  I walk over to the Sr. Partner @ Smart Engineering, must have had some glassy eyed look...to which he asks " Got all of this Bruce? " NO....I answer emphatically!!   To which he gives his best smile and laugh and says ... " Ok, here's Jesus path"...and gives me a play by play.

 

What was I thinking...why did I wait so long to get the coaching?

What I learned from my Australian Cattle Dogs.... by Bruce Cotharn

Along about the age of 12-13 I was walking a busy street with my Mother and was to the inside on the sidewalk.  She proceeded to grab my arm and pinch it (that would ALWAYS get my attention) and spin me to her outside..." Young MAN, a lady is to NEVER walk to the street side! "  Yes Ma'am. " Now get a hold of my arm so that I do not fall and I am protected."

Coming down from the Mount of Olives along the steep downhill slope of Glory Road walking to the Church of Gethsemane...there were Police cars whizing past us...small cars...honking...dirty old men staring, just a bunch of " look out " and " car coming "chaos! 

 

My female red healer that I named after the water color of the Atchafalaya River - Chaffie...spent her entire life intensely paying attention to any and all possible danger. She herded my children, she herded me coming out of football locker rooms in inner city New Orleans, she herded Jeff Gould at church loading orange cones for the Christmas Trees, she herded cows, she herded her puppies from Lisa flying up the driveway in her suburban after school.  She had a kind of high pitch yip of a bark...different than what she would normally sound like...when she was stressed out trying to communicate danger.

Boy, was I yipping and looking to and fro every five steps!

I have nick named Patricia Cabral... " Downhill Pat " ...so I grabbed her arm and strolled down the hill with her...because Miss Yvonne Fowler, I know as a surprise to many, wasn't going to listen. lol :) Then I grabbed a hold of Aunt Linda from Atlanta, Dr. Penton's sister...but now, wait...I got two beautiful ladies by the arm to walk down the slope and I'm NOT to the inside!  Am I in trouble from my Mother?

 

Then I look up and somehow Sue French has strolled away from Bro French who was explaining Jesus path or a historical significance to someone...so she is happily laughing and telling a story on a beautiful morning to Judy Lee about to walk right around a blind turn with a car coming up the hill...do I drop " Downhill Pat " and "Aunt Linda" to cross the street? So I yip! Then yip again!

I think my yips were only outdone by the deep baritone voice of the Fire and Safety Director of Stewart Brain Trust and Biblical Counseling coming from high above us in the back and the " Fearless One " Laura Brown in her best Chicago " Maahhmm...pay attention! "

 

 

Finally making it to the bottom of the hill...I take a deep breath to maybe think chaos is over...but was I ever wrong.  A dirty old man taxi cab driver proceeds to stare down " Sissy " ,udy Lee's sister Robbye...so I step street side in front if her, and stare back at him yipping like I'm feeding cows " Get on OUT of HE-Uh! "

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5 

After having the most passionate extra emotion day learning about defending Israel in fighting the Roman Army on Masada...we headed off to the Dead Sea to swim...or rather bob and cool off in colder than anticipated water or jump in the sulphur springs hot tub or mud ourselves down...or ALL OF THE ABOVE!   

Never backing down from a challenge...succumbing to peer pressure and took the bait once again, I made sure to preserve the tradition from two years ago.  Jeff Gould quested me to mud up!  You know, go BIG or go home!
 

But THAT wasn't the only challenge...the Sr. Executive of Smart Engineering told me ....' Yeah, just see if you can do it...lay on your stomach? ' Well...couldn't do it...the buoyancy flipped me...but then the Fire and Safety Director of Stewart Brain Trust and Biblical Counseling Center, had to show his ab strength and pointed toe fundamental scoring from the Russian judge and do it like there was nothing to it!  Gaah, he put it ON me AGAIN!

Most everyone was up for the excitement in the Dead Sea.

Dr. Penton, Trey, Pent, and her sister from Atlanta...all four always walk together and stand together...hold hands together, it's incredibly sweet to watch.  They are very easy going incredibly pleasant soft spoken people...the complete and total antithesis of Renee and me!  Or as Bobby Jones said of Jack Nicklaus after he won his first Master's " A game of which I am not familiar ! "

While Trey was in the Sea, the girls broke away and I got the pleasure of escorting the sisters from the Sea up the hill to the sulphur springs hot tub.  Dr. Penton is a walking flower encyclopedia...goodness!  But my point?  Those girls were fearless, they put their games faces on and beat me into the hot tub! Two swims....two defeats!  Wasn't looking like it was going to be my day!

 

If you GO to a gas station, to RIDE a camel.....you might be a redneck!

 

 

Jerusalem at night from our hotel

Day 4 ...  Baptism in the Jordan River - by Bruce Cotharn and Renee

 

First thing in the morning Ze 'evve the comedian...took us on walking tour through the Kibbutz explaining to us the way everyone helps everyone and gives their paycheck back to the support Kibbutz.  

Girls playing at Kibbutz

 

Boys playing at Kibbutz

 

 

 

Leaders meet on Friday before sundown and vote if any decision needs to be made.  Meals are at a dining room and everyone eats every meal together.  ALL of the children are raised together from age 3...they eat, drink, play, and sleep together.  If a parent wishes to see their child and do something with them anytime, they go to where all of the children are at that time. They can bring them into their home for a visit but they live with all the other children. The efforts of the Kibbutz is completely geared towards the children and their education.  The greatest leaders in the history of the Israel military came from a Kibbutz. 

It was mentioned that the operation of the Kibbutz seems similar to us in comparison to a culture in Amish families. 

Pilgrimage Baptism 

The Jordan River was very cool and refreshing on a  bright sunshine morning filled with crisp air. Bro French made sure to communicate to us before we got off of the bus that this was a Pilgrimage baptism that had nothing to do with joining the church in the ordinance of baptism.

I had originally not planned to do it...simply because it had always bothered me whenever someone had been baptized earlier in life and wanted to do it again as a recommitment...as though their words didn't mean anything the first time...because I guarantee you, when I was baptized on Oct.31' 1980...it meant something...Jesus, in ME, makes me different. My word and my wedding vows meant something personal to me and so did my baptism.

In talking to the Stewart Brain Trust and Biblical Counseling Center, with Buck Stewart as the Sr. Advisor, and Mark and Scott Stewart giving humorous quick witted perspective...I was beginning to succumb to peer pressure. Then Bro. French offered his insight and told me...' You should do it...you will be glad you did. ' End of discussion!

The brisk morning, the cool water, the excitement, the locker room banter....you'd think it was a guys trip! Bro. French was right, I am glad I did it.

 

 

 

 

 

As a former college athlete...I was never really a FAN.  Autographs, baseball cards, memorabilia wasn't important to me...just never has been my thing.

But, a few years ago I played in a golf tournament by one of my favorite Texas Red Dirt music artist...and had him sign my hat. So I decided to baptize my Baylor University hat in the Jordan River and get a well known alumnus to sign it....Bro. French !

 

 

 

Next we headed to Megeddo

 

 

Then on to Bet Shehan

 

After our Baptism in the Jordan River and visiting Megeddo and Bet Shehan we headed to Jerusalem where we will be based for the remainder of the trip.  The following shots were taken out of the bus window as we travelled along.

 

Goats on the side of the road

Roadside shopping

Just a camel hanging around

We even found a McDonalds in Afula.

 

 

Coming in to Jerusalem

 

 

 

Tomorrow we will float in the Dead Sea and visit Massada.