While we are definitely in Phase 5 in our journey here, some aspects of the last two days have elements of Phase 4, so I will focus on that. Again, our understanding is that Jesus was the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world, but also was the chief disciplemaker and beckons us to “walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6). So, yesterday as we looked at Phase 3 and considered “come and follow,” we now turn our attention to Phase 4, leadership development or “come, follow and FISH.” Jesus has beeen calling individuals with different backgrounds and passions to follow Him. They have started to do so, but are still missing the point. So, He develops them by giving them a view into who He is and who they are IN Him! He does this by taking them on trips with Him and putting them in steadily increasing uncomfortable situations. When was the last time Jesus made you uncomfortable? I don’t mean the “He wants more money if mine” kind of uncomfortable, but the “He’s calling me to do what? Go where? Reach who? Invest where?” kind of uncomfortable. I think many of us have settled for a simplistic Christian life. He calls us to more. He calls us to everything. Consider those that follow. They were never the same. We considered this today.

This is Mt Arbel, we hiked down this first.Here’s where we ended.

Here’s part of how we did it.

Then we moved on to Magdala.This was the synagogue here in Magdala. Perhaps Mary was healed of her demons right here!An amazing first century mosaic up close.

Look at the colors!

There is a beautiful church with amazing artwork!

Then out friend Heather shared with us about how to find our place in Him and to minister better both as women and to women. It was great! She was way out of her comfort zone but did amazing!!

Then we had a quick shwarma/falafel/schnitzel lunch and headed to our boat tour. They found a boat in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) in the 1980s and it is from the first century.

We then took a boat ride across the Lake and learned from Shane Stacey about the calming of the storm. Again, it was great!

Then we went to Kursi, one possible location for the healing of the demoniac (where Jesus casts the demons into pigs). This was on the Gentile side of the lake. Jews weren’t supposed to go there. Jesus was taking them to an uncomfortable place! Shea shared about this for a bit. Then we explored a Byzantine church! I crawled into a crypt!!

Dead bodies used to be down here!

Then a few of us hiked a trail. We just got back and I’m tired. Until tomorrow, folks. In the meantime, wish Merri Lane a Happy Birthday! She’ll love that!