Views of Jerusalem and More Orchids

This is just a sunset photo from my patio. Since Jerusalem is in the mountains, you don't have a lot of pretty sunsets like at the Mediterranean Sea. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever. Psalm 125:2.

Our congregation now has a new place to meet on Saturday mornings (Shabbat). No fancy buildings here just the top floor of an industrial building that the Lord Jesus has graciously provided. When the brethren come together in an atmosphere like this, it is reminiscent of the early believers gathering the Holy Spirit came. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:1-2 If you zoom in on the photo below, you can see the view of the Old City from our congregation.

Looking south from our congregation, you see the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, population 35,000. Gilo was established on a bare mountain top after the 1967 War. Officially today, most of the world would classify it as "settlement". The idea that you can just move this 35,000 and another 250,000 or so Israelis across the 1967 borders is absurd. It will never happen. ... and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Luke 21:24.

This view a little northeast shows the City Center where CFI is located. The white building on the left is the Hamishbeer (Department Store). The wider building on the right is the Leonardo Hotel, formerly the Sheraton, by Independence Park.

Looking far northeast you can see the "String Bridge" at the entrance to Jerusalem from Highway 1 to Tel Aviv. The other tall building is the Crown Plaza Hotel.

The rest of the photos are still from our visit to Utopia Park, where all the orchids are located. Utopia Park has a few animals on the premises including this mountain goat with an upside down mane. It reminds me of Gideon asking God to put dew on the fleece only but not on the ground. Is anything too hard for God? ... behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken." And it was so. Judges 6:37-38

Christmas at En Gedi - 2

These are more photos from a couple of days spent at En Gedi during our Christmas break. En Gedi is located right by the Dead Sea. A few kilometers north of En Gedi is Qumran. Below is a photo of Cave #4 at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1948.

While riding to the current water's edge of the Dead Sea, you can see signs like this where the water used to be before receeding.

At the shore of the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea, also known Biblically as the Salt Sea, was one of the borders for the children of Israel. 'And the border shall go down to the Jordan and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to its borders all around.'" Numbers 34:12.

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6

The evaporating shoreline of the Dead Sea.

Wadi Arugot at En Gedi.

Kibbutz En Gedi has an international outdoor botanical garden. Not everything was in bloom in December, but many plants and flowers were thriving.

Sculptures made from salt at an Ahava Products factory by the Dead Sea.

Caves of the Dead Sea Scrolls.