We loaded the van after a good Israeli breakfast on the Mediterranean Shore. The air was salty and crisp and the sky was joyous. I was excited about the day ahead, all the discoveries and insights that were just beyond the next bend in the road.

We traveled the eight miles south to Caesarea. It is located at the northern tip of the Sharon Plain and has been a port city built by Herod the Great, a Roman-Byzantine City and a Crusader stronghold.

Thorn, Tom K. and Steve with the Mediterranean Sea in the backgroung.

We began our touring at the Roman Theater mentioned in Acts 25:23. Jim, Tom B. and Thorn are preparing to enter the Roman Theater. Tom K. is reading the sign.

Near the sign at the main of the theater site is a replica of a plaque with a Latin inscription referencing Pontius Pilate. The original is in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

The ancient city covered about 2 miles. The Roman-Byzantine ruins lie between the Theater and the Crusader City and are currently being excavated. The ruins include administrative buildings, a bathhouse complex, and an amphitheater.

A little further north is the Crusader City. It is surrounded by a dry moat and is a massive site. It includes the original port area of Herod’s City, remains of temples and administrative buildings. It reeks of antiquity, possibly because there is so much stuff that you can see. The Roman ruins are truly impressive and give testimony to the engineering skill of their civilization.

We walked ancient roads and discussed Paul’s visit here and the Centurion of Acts 10. We live in such a short memory world, while in Israel, the memories stretch back many thousands of years.

We are standing at the entrance to the Crusader City and seeing what many Crusaders saw. Beauty, security and possibly even home. We thought ancient thoughts. We listened to the waves, looked at the sand dunes and the Roman aqueduct coming down from the hills and realized how important a place this had been. It is hard to conjure up an image of importance in our minds when we don’t see the buildings and people. Ten minutes more of contemplation then we headed for the van to journey to our next stop at the traditional site where Elijah slew the prophets of Baal, Muhraqa.

We traveled north on hwy. 4 and turned east on hwy. 70 the "Wadi Milek Road". The road up to Muhraqa intersects Wadi Milek at Elyakim Junction where we turned left and traveled 5 miles, turning right onto a bumpy dirt road that continues for 2 miles to the Carmelite Monastery at an altitude of 1,900 feet.

The Carmelite Monastery was built in 1883. The history of this site as a Christian site of reverence dates back to the 6^th century.

This was a unique experience for us. Whether this site is the exact site or not, it is obvious from the scripture that the slaying of the prophets of Baal took place near this location.

The Lord is active in each one of our lives and we often overlook His actions. Correction, intervention, answered prayers and His response to our questions often go unnoticed. In 1 Kings 18 Elijah simply asked God to respond to the challenge of paganism. The greater issue may be that Elijah was asking God to respond to those that were in a position of religious leadership of God's people and had led them into idol worship. I wonder if this has any application to those that profess a "health and welfare gospel" or more pervasively those that proclaim the Lord Jesus by their "lifestyle" and not their verbal witness? Interesting.

Okay. The site overlooks the Jezreel Valley to the east. When it is clear, you can see the hills of Nazareth, Moreh and Gilboa. This isn’t a clear   picture day for distance but gives a dramatic view of the western end of the Jezrell Valley.