Summer Part 2 - Bible Lands Tour in ISRAEL!

Here is a smorgasbord of pictures that I took while in Israel. If you love history - especially biblical history - YOU MUST GO TO ISRAEL... on that note, Enjoy!

Drew and I - Roommates for the tour!

Welcoming the Sabbath at the Wailing Wall - an unbelievable experience!

We happened to be in Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan.... and found ourselves in a bit of a jam when the time of prayer on the Temple Mount let out.

The remains of a fortress built into the cliff. 

Masada from the adjacent ridge.

After a very hot hike, we finally got on the ridge and headed toward to siege ramp.

From the top of Masada, we could see the trail we hiked up along with
a siege camp on the ridge.

Catapult ammunition on top of Masada.

The view from Mt. Carmel

The first cave discovered with the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Our awesome guide!!

Checking out the re-made synagogue in Nazareth.

Reading some of this on the Mount of Blessings was definitely a highlight of the trip!

Here are the remains of an old church build around the house of Peter in Capernaum.
This would have also been a frequented location
by Jesus since His ministry was based out of Capernaum!

The darker stones on the bottom are the remains of the foundation of the Synagogue  of Capernaum from Jesus' day.

:D Good Times

Aquaduct at Caesarea.

Fishing boat from the time of Jesus recently found in the Sea of Galilee.

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee

Cliffs overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

Though it wasn't the actual tomb of Jesus, this was a great place to stop....

This museum was built over the house of Annas and this picture is taken, looking into the room where Jesus was questioned. Also, according to the Bible,  Peter made eye-contact with Jesus as he left after denying Him 3 times. Looking at the layout of the building, the only location Peter could have been at to see Jesus is the location from which I took this picture!

Dome in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher -
 a massive cathedral built over the sight
of the crucifixion and the resurrection.

In Jesus' day, these steps were the main way of getting to the temple.

"Not one stone shall be left upon the other." And here you have it!

Prayer rug on the Temple Mount.

Dome of the Rock

Muslims studying the Koran on the Temple Mount.

Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives.

Remains of the city walls from the City of David. 

What!? Olive trees on the side of the Mount of Olives!?

We even got to spend half a day at and archeological sifting sight.

Church service on Mt. Zion. While there we were invited to go eat a Sabbath lunch with a Jewish family! (Which we accepted)

Summer Part 1 - Bible Lands Tour (Turkey, Greece, and Jordan)

This summer is turning out to be an epic and international one. I spent the first 4 weeks of the summer on a Bible Lands Tour with Walla Walla University, going to Turkey, Greece,  Jordan, and Israel. Over the course of this particular trip I took around 2500 pictures... so here is just a small sampling of them. However, this post doesn't include pictures from Israel, being at home in Hong Kong, my family vacation in Eastern China, a 3-day rock climbing excursion with my brother in Yangshuo, or a soon-to-begin 5-week backpacking trip all over Europe.     

The point is this: Enjoy and be sure to stay tuned for more!

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

Spice Market, Istanbul

The Acropolis, Athens

Standing on Mars Hill where Paul taught, with
the Acropolis in the background.

Looking over ancient Athens and the Acropolis.

Pergamum - One of the 7 churches of Revelation.
In the back is seen the acropolis of Pergamum with its ancient amphitheater,
which is the steepest ever found.

Corinth Canal - not that's deep!

Cross on a gravestone from Corinth

One of the pagan temples at Corinth

The ancient gate of Mycenae - untouched since it was built in
the 13th century BC (before the time of Moses). 

Temple at Sardis. On the right side, a small ancient
Christian church can be seen that was built after the Roman Empire was declared to be Christian by Constantine and the temples ceased to be used.

Our fearless leader :)

Calcified cliffs of Hierapolis.

The theater of Hierapolis, with a 15,000 seating capacity.

Machaerus - One of Herod's 3 desert fortresses.
 Here John the Baptist was held and executed.

Theater of Laodicea 

We arrived in Petra just as the sun was setting!

Water canal running into Petr

Little kid selling rocks at Petra.

Looking over "The Monastery" in Petra. It was actually a tomb.

In front of "The Treasury" in
Petra. (This was actually a tomb...) 

The "skyline" of Petra.

Emerging from the Siq - the passage into Petra.

And yes, I rode an arabian stallion. (75% Arabian... close enough)

Panorama of "The Monastery."

The ancient road of downtown Ephesus, now crowded with tourists.

Library of Ephesus.

We got to go into an excavation site of the rich
town houses of Ephasus. Those mosaic floors are original!

The last standing pillar of the Temple of Artemis - one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

Classic Turkish lunch with some buds :)

My favorite hotel - on the Aegean Sea...

Sundown worship on the Aegean Sea.

On a ferry, headed to Patmos.

Panorama from the peak of Patmos.

Monastery of Patmos.

We had 8 hours to chill on Patmos...
so 6 of us rented quads and made the most of it :D

A Patmos alley.

Catching our night-ferry from Patmos to Athens.

Just reading on the Dead Sea... no biggy!

Having some baptisms in the Jordan River, around where John baptized Jesus.

Looking down into the Promised Land
where Moses did the same with God - Mt. Nebo.

Part of the Body

It's been many months since I've posted on this blog...
I'm now a freshman at Walla Walla University, just in case you didn't.
Here we're just finishing up the quarter and headed towards finals week. The stress, lack of sleep, school load is...ya... pretty serious business.
Anyways, one of the final projects in Intro to Faith and Ministry class was to come up with some piece of art on one of the Seventh-day Adventist doctrines. I decided to write a poem on on doctrine number 14 (though it also covers a couple others.)
With God's help, this is what I came up with.
I hope it's a blessing. Don't forget you are a vital part of the body.

We are the Body

By Randy Folkenberg

She opens her door to a small, country town,

She sees not the problems, just souls to be found.

Looking ahead she sees Christ in the skies.

She's a part of the church.

She is the eyes.

Church after church, week after week

He shares with the members God's word which they seek.

Door after door, house after house

He tells his life story.

He is the mouth.

She's not one for words; for sharing her tales

But she's open to listen each day without fail.

From teen to adult, through smiles or through tears

She's there when they need her.

She is the ears.

He decided to act on that thanksgiving night.

For the homeless to fast just wouldn't be right.

To the neighbor who lives on an old, run-down farm,

He helps her with up-keep.

He is the arms.

No work for the father who's wife has been ill

So she offers to help and pay each last bill.

When the loss hits at home and they can't seem to stand

She wipes off their tears.

She is the hands.

Away from their family, to a far distant shore

They follow a call that they cannot ignore.

Not knowing the language and encountering plagues

They continue to share.

They are the legs.

Though unable to walk, with a mountain of faith

She gets on her knees, and requests they'll have strength.

For those far abroad, and those on her street,

She prays for the Work.

She is the feet.

While each one is different, the same goal we claim.

We are part of God's church; our Leader's the same.

Each doing our part, we encounter no bound'ry.

Christ is our Head.

We are the body.

Done

Very short post:
Last class of high school done. Family here tonight. Graduation on Sunday! :)