Filming on top of Massada

This was us filmimg today's insert for the Global Day of Prayer http://www.globaldayofprayer.com on the top of Massada.

At this point we have 212 of the world's 220 nations praying during the 10 days of prayer leading up to the global day of prayer on the 11th of May 2008 which will be linked and broadcast from Jerusalem with live feeds coming in from across the world.

Massada in the morning

It's just after sunrise and we are climbing up the Roman rampart to Massada. This is a very moving place. The price of war is incredible. It is so sad that we sacrifice the lives of others at the altar of ideological difference. As we arrived whole groups of paratroopers (17 and 18 year old boys) were on their way down the mountain after a few days of very hard training (what we called 'vasbyt'). I was so sad for them!

I did not enjoy being in the army when I was conscripted, I could not imagine sending my son (let alone my daughter like in Israel). Very sad!

At the waterfall in En Gedi

Here's a picture of Graham Power and I at the waterfall in En Gedi. This is an incredible oasis in the dessert! It is quite a climb to get up here, but I made it in my crutches (the secret is that I have 4x4 traction control in my legs!)

En Gedi is the area in which David spared King Saul's life in a cave. You can read about it in the Bible, here 1 Sam 23:29 - 24:1 forward.

What a great afternoon with my friends! We swam in the dead sea, came here, and now we are on our way into the desert to stay in a Bedoin tent.

Tomorrow morning we awake very early, and go to Massada where we shall film further inserts for the 'Global day of prayer' daily TV shorts.

Swimming at the dead sea!

This is the lowest place on earth (about 400 metres below sea level). We we're floating in the dead sea (it has 35% salinity, the normal salt content of the sea is only 3%!)

This is a picture of friends Corne (right) and Cois (left) de Kock - they're covered in the mineral rich mud (for which Ahava cosmetics is famous for).

Qumran community - where the 'dead see scrolls' were found

It is hot out in the desert today. We're at the Qumran site where one of the most important documents in Semitic religious history was found.

This is a fascinating place!

Filming for Global Day of Prayer at the Jerusalem Convention centre

Today we filmed some more inserts for the Global Day of Prayer - http://www.globaldayofprayer.com

Here you see Graham Power and Peter Sorokewa (from Ghana). I was filmed doing a communion service at the garden tomb. It is quite nerve wracking!

This photo was taken at the Jerusalem convention centre.

By the way, I'll be on a documentary that is shown on SABC 2 on Sunday 18 May, 9h30 am entitled 'One and undivided' about Bishop Paul Verryn.

An 'Apple shop' in the Old City of Jerusalem... An ancient iPod anyone?

Yup, an Apple shop in the old city of Jerusalem... I wonder how much an iPod from the time of Jesus costs?

Inside the Church of the Holy Sephulcer

The heading says it all! This is quite an experience, each time I see it I am surprised by how many people it attracts.

The 'old city' of Jerusalem

This photo was taken just inside the 'beautiful' gate past the pools of Bethesda and the Chapel of St Anne (the mother of Mary). This is the first station of the cross on the via dolorosa (the way of the cross).

The pools of Bethesda

Here are the excavations of the pools of Bethesda. This was where Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac, it later became the pools where the Jews cured the animals for sacrifice that had impurities or broken limbs (quite appropriate) before they were taken to the temple to be sacrificed. Jesus also performed his third miracle here when he healed the man who had been paralised for 38 years.

The house of Ciaphas, the pit (Psalm 88)

This picture shows the excavations of the house of Ciaphas and the pit where Jesus was held on the night before he was crucified.

While in the pit Jesus prayed Psalm 88. It is encouraging to know that the Lord also felt hardship and struggle, yet presented himself to God for mercy and care.

Sabbath at the Western Wall (the temple mount)

A photo of the start of the Sabbath at the Western Wall (also called the wailing wall). Well, actually the Sabbath will start at 18h30, it is now 16h30.

It is great to be back again.