Israel: A Land of Contrasts
Jun 9, 2016

While the mention of places such as Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee evoke sentiments of the country’s religious importance, Israel has another side to it that makes it an exciting and fun place to be.

Mount of Beatitudes

As you walk down the plantation through a dirt road, marvel at the beautiful landscape and expansive Sea of Galilee views from Mount of Beatitudes.

Tel Dan Nature Reserve

Close to the borders of both Lebanon and Syria, Tel Dan boasts extensive excavations, having hosted both an ancient Canaanite civilization and the Israelite tribe of Dan. Stroll through luxurious foliage and spend some time at the wading pool… a little piece of heaven.

Hezekiah’s Tunnel Tour

A highlight of the visit to the City of David where you experience an amazing engineering feat: the 1,500 foot long tunnel created by King Hezekiah to protect Jerusalem’s water source (the Gihon Spring) from the invading Assyrians.

Dead Sea Float

Dive in and experience the acclaimed healing powers of the water and mud at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. It is true what people say about the Dead Sea – just about anything floats, and you will have an amusing time playing around with the buoyant effect it has on your body.

Timna National Park

Timna is the site of the world’s first copper mine. You will see exciting finds near the spectacular Solomon’s Pillars, being natural structures formed by centuries of water erosion through fractures in the sandstone cliff until it became a series of distinct, pillar-shaped structures.

The Rose Red City of Petra

Carved directly into vibrant sandstone cliff faces, Petra was once a thriving trading centre but today is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and named one of the new seven wonders of the world. You can see varying blends of Nabatean and Greco-Roman architectural styles in the city’s tombs, many of which were looted by thieves and their treasures thus lost.

Give us a call today on (65) 6295 5193 or contact us here and find out more about this tour.

We say to you – visit Israel – it will be by far the best vacation experience of your life!

The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece (Part 3)
Jun 7, 2016

Besides visiting the sites that the Apostle Paul went as mentioned in part 1 and part 2, you can also enjoy a cruise to several ports of call such as Mykonos, Kusadasi, Santorini, etc and you can also sign up for a shore excursion at each port of call! Read on to find out more.

Iconic Aegean Cruise

Kusadasi, Turkey

Take a shore excursion to discover the ancient ruins of Ephesus and House of Virgin Mary.

Paul at Ephesus

Acts 19:1, NKJV
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples”

It was here in Ephesus that a man name Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana started a riot, unhappy that he was losing business and profit because of Paul. Paul persuaded many people saying “they are not gods which are made with hands”, turning many away. After this incident, Paul departed to Macedonia.

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Mykonos, Greece

Greece’s most famous island, a whitewashed paradise in the heart of the Cyclades.

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Heraklion, Greece

Join a shore excursion to explore the island where the Minoan civilization once flourished.

Santorini (Thira), Greece

Site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world and what remains today is a submerged volcano and a caldera.

Patmos Island, Greece – UNESCO World Heritage Site

A significant Christian pilgrimage site where John wrote the Book of Revelation in the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse.

Photo credit (palandhatty.blogspot.sg)

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Athens

Disembark at Athens where Paul addressed the Areopagus.

Acts 17:21-23, NKJV
“For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:”

After this, Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

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Meteora – UNESCO World Heritage Site

A bonus site for all!

Meteora literally means “middle of the sky”, “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens above”. It is known for its spectacular rock formations and the 24 monasteries that emerged on the countless summits of the rocks from the 14th until the 16th century. These monasteries were built by monks using ropes, folding ladders, nets and baskets to carry the construction material to the top of the rocks. Today, only 6 monasteries are left.

Pilgrims from all over the world come to visit this holy site today as it was regarded by the early Christians as the perfect place for absolute isolation, a place for spiritual elevation.

If you would like to discover more about Greece, contact us to find out more!

The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece (Part 1)
Apr 28, 2016

The Route that Apostle Paul Followed in Greece passes through places where the Apostle preached and forms an ideal combination of pilgrimage and sightseeing in some of the most beautiful places in Greece. His journey in Greece is a route that can touch not only the believers but also everybody who loves history.

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Kavala (Ancient Neapolis)

Photo credit (conference.iabl.org)

Acts 16:10-12, NKJV
“Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.”

Paul disembarked for the first time on European soil after a journey lasting two days at Neapolis, on the site where today’s Kavala was later built.

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Philippi

After walking 15 km northwest along Via Egnatia from Neapolis (Kavala), they arrived in Philippi. Philippi would most likely be the first place in Europe that hosted Christian congregation.

The Philippian Jailer Saved

Acts 16:24-26, NKJV
“Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”

Lydia Baptized at Philippi

Acts 16:13-15, NKJV
“And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.”

Photo credit (holylandphotos.wordpress.com)

Lydia was probably the first person who converted to Christianity in Europe. Although we do not know the exact location today, a small church has been built at the spot where it assumed that Lydia was baptized.

Read part 2 and part 3 here!

Feast of First Fruits (Bikkurim)
Apr 21, 2016

April 23-24, 2016

Scripture references: Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

The Feast of First Fruits is held on the Sunday following the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of the First Fruits are referred to as one feast.

The original Feast of First Fruits was celebrated in Spring to acknowledge the early crops. It was a thanksgiving offering to God. The Israelites brought the first sheaf of the harvest – the first fruits – to His Temple as a wave offering.

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Since the Temple is not available today, the Feast of First Fruits is no longer celebrated the same way. Feast of First Fruits is now celebrated by counting of the Sheaves (Omer) to Shavuot (Pentecost), fifty days later.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23, NKJV
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.”

Festival of Freedom
Apr 15, 2016

Pesach (Passover), April 21-22, 2016

Scripture reference: Exodus 12:1-14

Passover or Pesach celebrates God’s protection over the Israelites during the tenth plague in Egypt – the killing of the firstborn. God ordered the people to take a lamb, slaughter it and sprinkle its blood on the lintel and doorposts of their home. At midnight, when the angel of death saw the blood on the doorposts, he passed over their homes, sparing them from the plague. Finally, Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt.

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The Passover has been celebrated for thousands of years on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish calendar, Nisan. Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper.

Today the Passover is celebrated in Jewish homes with a family ceremony – the Seder (Order).  There is a prescribed order to the meal with prayer, food and drink. Each person is to recount the story of Passover as if he himself had been redeemed. They eat traditional symbolic foods to remind themselves of the suffering of their ancestors in Egypt and of that miraculous deliverance from bondage.

There are six traditional items on the Seder plate. Each item has its own symbolic meaning. Find out more here or watch the video below.

Feast of Lots (Purim)
Mar 23, 2016

Date in Hebrew calendar: 14th and 15th of Adar

Scripture references: Esther 9:20-22

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Book of Esther.  It’s a story of mystery and intrigue as Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, uncover and foil Haman’s plot saving the entire Jewish population.  A two-day holiday was instituted to commemorate this event.  Even though God is not mentioned in this book, His hand can be clearly seen in the many miraculous twists of the story.

Today, Purim is celebrated in Jewish homes and schools as children dress up in costume, put on plays re-enacting the Purim story, and give each other gifts of Haman’s Ears cookies and other treats.  In the synagogue on the evening of Purim and on the following morning, the entire Book of Esther is read.  Everyone is provided with or brings their own noisemaker so that whenever Haman’s name is mentioned, the congregation will drown out his name.  Although Purim is a joyous light-hearted event, it recalls great danger, great deliverance and the great faithfulness of the God toward those who trust in Him.

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