Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 513

Day 6: Incredible Mass at the Tomb of Christ!

The wake up call came at 4:30 AM. Argh! "You will thank me later," I told the pilgrims. We left the hotels at 5:00 AM to walk the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross).

After walking the Way of Sorrows we quickly toured the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before settling into the benches set up for us and Mass began with pipe organ and singing Franciscans.

Everyone was moved by the Mass! You can enjoy a bit of it on my video. Then we had a group picture and then breakfast with two hours free to regroup or nap.

We took off again for Bethesda and St. Ann's Church, before arriving at the Western Wall for the morning of Bar Mitzpah's. Everyone then had the afternoon off to scatter through the Old City. Most went back to the Holy Sepulchre to enter the tomb and to touch the top of Calvary.

We ended the day with a marvelous tour of the Notre Dame Holy Shroud Exhibit before dinner.

Final Judgment based on "Faith Alone'?

Is "Faith Alone" the Basis for the

Final Judgment?

Dear Baptist Friend Jerry :

I had no intention of writing you again this soon but after having dinner with your brother seeing a copy of a booklet you gave him entitled Studies In Contrasts: The Doctrine of Salvation (by Herb Vander Lugt), I thought I'd drop you a short note.

I was not surprised, but I was again disappointed in the obvious dishonesty (or ignorance) of the author and the unfounded assumptions of the booklet — and your gulliblity in believing this stuff. I decided to write a short note to ask you a few questions to see if you agree with me. . . .

For the rest of the letter, click here.

For many more such articles and letters, click here.

All Day in Bethlehem & Hebron

Hey, family and friends — leave your comments and greetings below in the COMMENTS and I will read them to your family and friends each day on the bus.

Another great day!

How Much Can a Camel Drink?

Since we are in Israel and riding camels, I thought I would post some fun and interesting facts.

I recently wrote the Bible Study on Genesis for www.CatholicScriptureStudy.com. In chapter 24 Abraham sends his unnamed servant to find a bride for his son Isaac.

The servant prays to God and asks, "Whichever girl at the well offers me a drink, and offers to water my camels as well, let her be the one you've chosen for Isaac."

Come on! Get real! What girl is going to draw water by hand for a group of men and TEN CAMELS? Do you know how much a camel can drink?  Try and guess!

Camels can drink _______ gallons in 10 minutes

Camels can drink _______ gallons in one session

Camels can drink _______ gallons in a day

Rebekah drew __________ gallons for 10 thirsty camels

No wonder the servant thought Rebekah was a good wife for Isaac. Good grief, this girl must have been amazing.

The answers are in the Comments below.

Pilgrimage Day Four: Boat ride, Capernaum, Fish for Lunch, Up to Jerusalem

Prelude & Fugue

Prelude & Fugue:

How a Musician Discovered the Catholic Church

Laura is a musician who was raised Methodist and then discovered Evangelical Christianity. But her musical and intellectual pursuits inspired her to dig deeper and she discovered the Catholic Church. You will enjoy her story entitled "Prelude and Fugue."

For hundreds more, conversion stories galore, click here.

Pilgrimage Day 3, Parts I and II

Part I: Visiting both hotels, going to Tabgha for the Multiplication of Loaves and fish. Then a drive to the Lebanese border to visit Banias which is Caesarea Philippi in the New Testament where Jesus renamed Simon giving him the name Peter (Rock). Then to lunch at the Druze Restaurant and driving back through the Golan Heights to Nazareth.

Part II: Nazareth, Mass at the Grotto of Annunciation, dinner at Auberge Shulamit.

Pilgrimage Day 3, Part I

St. Joseph, Father of Jesus?

Today we will visit the House of the Holy Family under the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth. Here I will give my short talk "A Day in the Life of the Holy Family — telling about the quiet, strong hero and father of Jesus. Father of Jesus?

Yes, it is correct to call him the father of Jesus if we understand it correctly — even though Jesus had no biological father. Mary and Luke both set precedent here. (Read my article in THIS ROCK Magazine.)

I don't like most artistic representations of Joseph. He is often portrayed as a sissy — even somewhat effeminate and soft, or on the other hand, well groomed and European.

Having spent a lot of time wandering the paths of Israel, I can assure you that Joseph could not have looked like the often portrayed sissy!  He would be dark skinned and swarthy, sunburned and weathered. Joseph was strong and he didn't have soft hands, perfect hair — and he didn't smell like an Aqua Velva man any more than Jesus did.

Remember there were no showers, deodorant, toothbrushes or washing machines — and it can get pretty hot and humid!

This is my favorite picture of St. Joseph. We used it in our Mary, Mother of God DVD. I think it's  very close to what St. Joseph the Worker really looked like. It was painted by my favorite biblical painter — James Tissot — a French convert to the Catholic Church.

For the WHOLE STORY, buy our documentaries Mary, Mother of God and Jesus, Word Became Flesh. They make GREAT Christmas presents. Click here for more info or to purchase.

Pilgrimage Day 2: Transfiguration, Cana, Lunch, Primacy & Beatitudes