Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 515

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

Zoom into Israel – Cool site!

Since we are now here with our group, I thought you might like to take a virtual tour of Jerusalem's Old City. I run around the walls of the city almost every day.

This is a wonderful website where you can click on various "pinpoints" and see the sites in Jerusalem. This is a great source to learn to learn about the many sites available for viewing in the Holy City.

We visit many of these sites during our pilgrimages. Click here to begin the discovery.

Join us in February, April or May as we visit most of these places. Check out our Pilgrimage website at www.SteveGoes.com.

"When will the next Footprints of God DVD come out?"

I get this question every day. We have finished 7 out of the projected 10. You can see and purchase our finished documentaries here. They make great Christmas presents, by the way.

We are currently working on budgets and hoping to get the funding from Ignatius Press to begin the next one in 2012. Still working, praying, waiting, hoping . . .

The next one will be entitled ABRAHAM, FATHER OF FAITH AND WORKS. It will be shot in Iraq, Turkey and Israel.

If you know anyone that wants to make a sizeable donation to help this along, let me know.

How Many Biblical Sites can you Visit in One Run?

Just uploaded a Running trip to EveryTrail. Click the link below to check it out


2010-10-23 Sabbath Run thru Biblical Sites
How many biblical sites can you fit into one run? What is it like to run through hell and back?
Today I tried to hit as many Bible places and interesting sites as I could around Jerusalem. I have over 70 pictures and three videos attached. Boy, did I earn my lunch! Enjoy!