Thursday, November 6th
Day 4
We had another 5:00 am start to the day. Since we are spending three nights at the Leonardo Club Hotel near the Sea of Galilee, we could have slept in at least another ½ hour. But, I needed to wash some clothes, so the extra time awake was well spent. After breakfast this morning, I made a last minute run to the dining room to pick up some fruit for lunch. As I turned to leave, I found myself alongside our tour guide who was walking out with a cup of coffee. I commented that I must not be not running late if I was heading out with him. He gave me a slight smile, but said nothing. Once outside the hotel, and while we all were waiting to board the bus, Shelley glanced over at him and commented that he did not look well.
Once we were finally settled in our bus, the guide from the “green bus” made an unexpected appearance. He introduced “Henry” as our new tour guide. Our previous guide, who was still visible through the windows, was to be taken to the hospital for examination concerning yesterday’s “elocution” issues. A prayer for him was led from up front, and he was in our prayers for some time. Henry remained the “blue bus” guide for the duration of the trip. He proved to be an excellent guide, who was appreciated and loved by everyone on the bus. The guests on the other two busses felt the same way about their guides.
Our bus included a group of about 16 people from LifeWay Church in New Hampshire, including “Scotty” and his family. Scotty’s son Riley, a worship leader at LifeWay, brought his guitar along. We were specially blessed whenever Riley and our new friends from LifeWay would lead impromptu worship while traveling on the bus! Please see the “on the bus” picture below.
As we started out on the road this morning, Scotty took hold of the microphone in the front of the bus and confessed that God had spoken to him about him having a critical heart, and sensing the same thing present on the bus. He made a timely and heartfelt plea to rid ourselves of such feelings. Indeed, I had sensed that developing, both on the bus and in my own heart. I thanked Scotty for sharing as he headed back to his seat. He and I would go on to enjoy several more personal Christ-centered conversations during our journey together.
Today’s tour began in the Galilee area. We entered Capernaum, the city to which Jesus had moved (Matthew 4:13), and then proceeded out from, in order to spend much time teaching, and healing the sick (Matthew 4:23). Please see the second picture below. We visited an excavation of what is thought to be the house of Peter, and we worshiped in the ancient synagogue there (see third picture below).
Next, we traveled north into the Golan Heights and spent an interesting time in Katzrin, an ancient city of Israel, perhaps as alive today as it was 2000 years ago. We dressed in first century garb. See Shelley and I in the fourth picture, and see Becky and Shelley in the fifth picture below. Shelley and several others had the opportunity to prepare and bake bread on a large plate over an open fire. We also learned how olives and grapes were crushed in the first century on a seasonal basis. Some of us even took part in operating a grain thresher.
Then we traveled to Kibbutz Ginosar, where we observed what has been dubbed the “Jesus Boat” (sixth picture below). It is the remnants of a boat restored from the first century. In the evening, we experienced a special candlelight (i.e. with small flashlights) worship service on the location of the ancient synagogue of Chorazim, and we participated in a special time of Communion. We returned for a second night in our hotel by the Sea of Galilee, and enjoyed another dinner buffet.
Bus Worship
Capernaum Entrance
Capernaum Synagogue
1st Century O’Briens
1st Century Sisters
1st Century Boat
Copyright 2025 Rich O’Brien
Israel Journey – Day 4
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Posted: December 14, 2025 by OBrien Rich
Thursday, November 6th
Day 4
We had another 5:00 am start to the day. Since we are spending three nights at the Leonardo Club Hotel near the Sea of Galilee, we could have slept in at least another ½ hour. But, I needed to wash some clothes, so the extra time awake was well spent. After breakfast this morning, I made a last minute run to the dining room to pick up some fruit for lunch. As I turned to leave, I found myself alongside our tour guide who was walking out with a cup of coffee. I commented that I must not be not running late if I was heading out with him. He gave me a slight smile, but said nothing. Once outside the hotel, and while we all were waiting to board the bus, Shelley glanced over at him and commented that he did not look well.
Once we were finally settled in our bus, the guide from the “green bus” made an unexpected appearance. He introduced “Henry” as our new tour guide. Our previous guide, who was still visible through the windows, was to be taken to the hospital for examination concerning yesterday’s “elocution” issues. A prayer for him was led from up front, and he was in our prayers for some time. Henry remained the “blue bus” guide for the duration of the trip. He proved to be an excellent guide, who was appreciated and loved by everyone on the bus. The guests on the other two busses felt the same way about their guides.
Our bus included a group of about 16 people from LifeWay Church in New Hampshire, including “Scotty” and his family. Scotty’s son Riley, a worship leader at LifeWay, brought his guitar along. We were specially blessed whenever Riley and our new friends from LifeWay would lead impromptu worship while traveling on the bus! Please see the “on the bus” picture below.
As we started out on the road this morning, Scotty took hold of the microphone in the front of the bus and confessed that God had spoken to him about him having a critical heart, and sensing the same thing present on the bus. He made a timely and heartfelt plea to rid ourselves of such feelings. Indeed, I had sensed that developing, both on the bus and in my own heart. I thanked Scotty for sharing as he headed back to his seat. He and I would go on to enjoy several more personal Christ-centered conversations during our journey together.
Today’s tour began in the Galilee area. We entered Capernaum, the city to which Jesus had moved (Matthew 4:13), and then proceeded out from, in order to spend much time teaching, and healing the sick (Matthew 4:23). Please see the second picture below. We visited an excavation of what is thought to be the house of Peter, and we worshiped in the ancient synagogue there (see third picture below).
Next, we traveled north into the Golan Heights and spent an interesting time in Katzrin, an ancient city of Israel, perhaps as alive today as it was 2000 years ago. We dressed in first century garb. See Shelley and I in the fourth picture, and see Becky and Shelley in the fifth picture below. Shelley and several others had the opportunity to prepare and bake bread on a large plate over an open fire. We also learned how olives and grapes were crushed in the first century on a seasonal basis. Some of us even took part in operating a grain thresher.
Then we traveled to Kibbutz Ginosar, where we observed what has been dubbed the “Jesus Boat” (sixth picture below). It is the remnants of a boat restored from the first century. In the evening, we experienced a special candlelight (i.e. with small flashlights) worship service on the location of the ancient synagogue of Chorazim, and we participated in a special time of Communion. We returned for a second night in our hotel by the Sea of Galilee, and enjoyed another dinner buffet.
Bus Worship
Capernaum Entrance
Capernaum Synagogue
1st Century O’Briens
1st Century Sisters
1st Century Boat
Copyright 2025 Rich O’Brien
Category: Blog