This picture is looking at the U.N. “presence” on the border with Syria (directly behind the buildings). Our guides told us that it is an unarmed U.N. camp. Damascus is 40 miles directly behind those buildings. You can’t see it, but behind me in this picture is a large hill (one of 3 on the Golan Heights) in which Israel has placed a strategic intelligence base. It’s said that from here they can see directly into Damascus, and are very well informed if Syria tries to strike. Because of this, the border with Syria is now one of Israel’s calmest borders.
This is the oldest free standing gate in the world. It’s the entrance to the city of Dan which Abraham walked through when he chased after the “Kings of the North” to get Lot back (Gen. 14:14). Back then it was the ancient Canaanite city(I think) of Laish. The gate is over 4,000 years old! Dan was the first tribe to fall into idolatry, and we got to see the remnants of a temple that they set up to worship a golden calf there instead of worshiping the True and Living God in Jerusalem. 
Here is our group listening to the history behind this 4,000 year old city. It was incredible!
This is a column from a temple worshiping the false god “pan”. It is in Caesarea Phillipi, right next to the cave where the spring forms that becomes the Jordan River, this is in Banias, at the foot of Mt. Hermon. This area was beautiful with the crystal clear springs, and the mountains behind it. It was in Caesarea Phillipi that Peter made his statement that Jesus was “The Christ, the Son of the living God”.
So we are leaving the Galilee region tomorrow morning and will be making our way up to Jerusalem by tomorrow afternoon! It’s the Sabbath now, and I am just sitting here reflecting on all that the Lord has been showing me over the past couple of days. It’s so hard to take it all in – I feel like my head is going to explode. In the midst of all these sights, the Lord has been faithful to teach me, and speak to me. I was thinking about the tribe of Dan today as we were checking out it’s false temple of worship. Our guide told us that they left their allotment that Joshua gave them because it was in the middle of what would have been a constant war zone between the inhabitants of the land, and the tribes of Israel fighting them. Because they didn’t stick to where the Lord wanted them to be, they got involved in all kinds of trouble and eventually became the first tribe to fall into idolatry. Relating that to my own life – I want to be faithful to where ever the Lord has me – whatever circumstance, whatever place, whatever situation – trusting by faith that He knows what He is doing, and has the BEST plan for my life – even when on the outside it looks like a crummy allotment! I don’t want to miss out on the Lord’s blessings because I left His will for my own! Lord please give me the faith to do this! This is just one of the thousands of things that I have been thinking about today. Anyway, please continue to pray for us as we head up to Jerusalem tomorrow and will be there and South of there for the next couple of days. I am really looking forward to something special from the Lord while there.
Blessings,
Carlos