Trip into the Past - Bethlehem

Last Friday evening my grandson,
Caleb and I went back in time to
Bethlehem.We walked down
the streets of Bethlehem during
the time when everyone
was called together to be counted
for the census. We watched as vendors
try to sell us their wares, as kids
played in the streets and as people
danced and sang.

Dancing and singing

As we entered the city of Bethlehem

we had to sign our names in so
that we could be counted on the

census. And as we walked the streets
we viewed and passed Roman soldiers

with their sheilds and swords.

There were vendors making baskets,

selling fine linen, selling
herbs, selling bread and one

vendor's child was even stomping

grapes to sell wine. There were vendors

that looked richer then some and
poor children that played in the

streets. We viewed shephards
tending their animals. It was a

site to view.
basket weaver

Caleb and the linen lady

Shepard

After our journey through the streets

we entered the Bethlehem
Inn. We were greeted and taken

to our seats by servants. As
we settled in, we were served

our meal, men of course were
served first.

The room was lite only by the aid

of candles and we enjoyed
talking with our neighbors as

we ate our chicken, carrots,
datas, olives and grapes. We

were also able to sample the wine
that the vendor in the streets

had made. Our servant was

named Hannah.

Then our host and his family

entered the room. This would be

Eli, his wife and children. He

welcomed us to his inn and talked about
the long journey that most

of us had to take. He talked

about the census, Ceasar and

the Roman soldiers.

Then there was a knock upon

his door. He sent some of his
loyal servants to see what was

going on. When they returned
they told Eli about a man and a

woman that was looking
for a place to stay, they had

come for the census. They
were late arrivers due to the

fact that the woman was with
child.

Eli had no more room in the

Inn so he allowed them
to bunk in the stables (yes,

I know you know the story)!

Later on during our meal the

same loyal servants came
crashing into the room, yelling

that it was hugh, firey
and it had a tail. After calming

them down, Eli finally
got out of them that it was a

star, right above the
stables. It was hugh, firey

and it had a tail!
Eli mentioned that the tail

must be the finger of
God pointing down upon them.

Things seemed to settle down

once again when
there was another issue,

there were theives
around the stable. Eli

sent his people back out
to find out what was going on.

The servants arrived back

with two theives
with their hands tied

behind their backs.
Only upon questioning

these mean did Eli
learn about the shephards

(theives) and
how they came upon his

stable. How the angels
sang to them and how they

followed the star to
the stable to glaze upon the

baby that was born
in a manger, Baby Jesus.

After having all this explained

everyone in the
Inn got up and went

out to the stables so that
we too could look upon

Baby Jesus. What an awesome

site to behold.

I have taken this trip into

the past several times in
the last few years. The

birth of Jesus takes
place at Silver Springs

Baptist church in
Mt. Juliet, TN. You can

travel back within
the church to Bethlehem

5 times with a
given week. There is no

fee for this transport
it is given to anyone who

wishes to view it
by the church members

of church. This was
the first time for me to take

Caleb and I am
so glad I did, he so enjoyed it.

Thank you for stopping

in and remember
that Jesus is the reason

for the season.

Pam