Almost Done

I will be in Israel for only about 7 more hours. It has been a whirlwind trip with a lot of long days, tough hikes, and information. I was able to pull off an A in the course which is pleasing and reduces the stress level, at least until I get to airport security. Did I say that we are leaving the hotel at 1:30 am for the airport. I am all packed up and under the weight restrictions even with souvenirs which is an answer to prayer. We had a clsing group time and some people were emotional, others were more contemplative, it was interesting.
I think there are two things that have been impressed on me while I have been in Israel. The first is the geography and how the stories of the Bible begin to make more sense when you see the places that it happened. I have seen pictures that are used to explain the text but it is different in person seeing the place and reading the story. I recommend that any believer come and experience the land.
The second thing that I leave here with is a greater disdain for idolatry. So many of the "Christian Holy sites" have been turned into shrines and places where pilgrimages are made. I find the idea of a place being holy contradictory to the Gospel. As a body of believers we have been made holy through the blood of Christ. No place whether it is the place of the Crucifixion, Resurrection, Last Supper, place where Peter denied Christ, where Mary was told she would bear God, the location of the Sermon on the Mount, the shore where Jesus told Peter to tend his sheep, Peter's house in Capernaum, Mount of transfiguration, plain where the feeding of the five thousand was, and the place of Jesus' birth. Those are all I can think of but there are probably more, not to mention several of these places are complete speculation and likely did not have the even occur there. I get sick to my stomach when I see how these places are worshiped instead of Christ himself. There is no reason that Peter's house in Capernaum should be turned into a church where pilgrimages that churches happen. That is clearly not what God is about.
Well that is all from Israel. I look forward to seeing people in America and maybe a baseball game, too.