Travel – Page 30 – Gregory Scott Blog

Two Observations From Alaska

After a week in and around Alaska, I have two observations.

First, I’ve been surprised by how big nature is here. The views are expansive, the mountains omnipresent and the waters abundant. Look in any direction and then sweep to the right or the left and the horizon never disappoints.

Alaska is the largest state in the union, larger than Texas and California combined. It’s also the most pristine and unexplored. Roads and towns are few and far between, which leads to my second observation.

Second, I’ve been surprised at how small man is here. Alaska’s population is just over 700,00, and more than half live in Anchorage. I’ve been shocked at how few people live in the towns in which we’ve docked, towns like Skagway (862) and Whittier (182). Man has done little to take dominion over this state. His footprint is relatively small and insignificant. Continue reading “Two Observations From Alaska”

Large Marge & Finding God

Margerie Glacier, Alaska

I’ve been on an Alaskan cruise for the past week.

I considered blogging a travel journal, as I have before on trips to Israel and Turkey, but I couldn’t figure out the Biblical angle. After all, this blog is dedicated to all things Kingdom.

I’ve heard people talk about God on this trip, as people often do when they are out in nature and see the beauty of His creation. I wonder though whether people who discover God in nature ever think about him at any other time. If you have to see a mountain to think about God, you probably don’t know Him.

Our tour guide through Glacier Bay yesterday suggested we ask ourselves what the surroundings said to us. She was vague and relativistic, which is very popular these days, except with those who believe there is something being said.

Continue reading “Large Marge & Finding God”

Israel Travel Journal, Epilogue

Wailing Wall, Jerusalem 2010 © Gregory Scott

When I first posted from my trip to Israel, in my last blog post I said, “Time will tell how significant an experience it [the trip] has been for me, as I read the Bible with new understanding.”

I’m now 16 months down the road, and I can tell you the trip was a game-changer. I’ve never read the Bible the same since then.

Before the trip, I was merely imagining how the places I read about in the Bible looked. Now I can see them.

Reading the Bible has become a richer experience because understanding the physical surroundings enables dimensions of insight into what is happening in the text. Continue reading “Israel Travel Journal, Epilogue”

Israel Travel Journal, Day 9

This was our last full day in Israel, and it was a full one.

We said goodbye to Beit Bracha and then headed to the top of the Cliffs of Arbel, which overlook the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Beatitudes and Tiberias.

I now understand how from this vantage point Jesus could have seen the disciples struggling in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. (Mark 6:46-51). As you can see from the photo on the left, one has a clear view of the Sea Galilee from the Cliffs of Arbel.

From the Cliffs of Arbel we went to the ruins of an ancient Jewish synagogue where Jesus likely taught, then to Sepphori (where Jesus likely worked as a carpenter), then to Nazareth. Continue reading “Israel Travel Journal, Day 9”

Israel Travel Journal, Day 8

I began the day watching the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee from our balcony at Beit Bracha. Beautiful.

We headed north today, and our first stop was the ruins at Chorazin, one of the cities Jesus lamented over because, even though He performed miracles there, they did not repent. (Luke 10:13-14).

From there we drove to the northen-most border with Lebanon in the Golan Heights, where we stood on a mount looking across a vast valley to the Lebanese village on the other side. Arie told us a story about the faitfhulness of God from modern history that took place not too far from there. That has been the rhythm of this tour: visit the place, then study. Continue reading “Israel Travel Journal, Day 8”