Last night, we stayed at the seaside Antayla Oteli.  Lovely accomodations.  Palm-lined Antayla is the #1 tourist city situated on the ‘Turquoise Coast’ of the Mediterranean.  And I can see why.  I tried to imagine the ancient harbor of Attalio here. (more…)

I’m happy today that we didn’t get picked up by the Trafik jandarma.  We are making progress in our pilgrimage.

Today, we rode through the Tauras Mountains.  Rugged.  Rocky.  Crags.  Small alpine meadows.  I had no idea the terrain that Paul walked through.  I could spend weeks hiking along the ridges of these mountains. (more…)

Ünal is an archaelogist and director of Yalvaç Museum.

Five years ago, he wrote the book, Pisidian Antioch:  St. Paul, Sanctuary of Men, Yalvaç Museum.

The book is expensive.  Men were forking out 45 Turkish Lira for the volume at the archaeological dig.  After spending some time tonight at a four-tiered Turkish mall, I found the book, the only copy on the shelf, in a tiny English section of a bookstore for 28 Turkish Lira.

After spending so much time, I feel it is appropriate to now quote Ünal.  Listen to his perspective: (more…)

The call to morning prayers woke us early this morning . . . around 5 am.  The muezzin’s Sabah in loudspeakers broadcast filled our room.  It ıs quite a jolting reminder that I am not in Idaho. (more…)

Todd was gleefully hoping that I would get a full appreciation for the squatty potties; however I eluded his expectation by finding a Western toilet.  (Ha,ha)  He also forgot that I always come prepared with my own toilet paper having been raised a good outdoors woman.  I think that I am closer to recovering from jet lag as well.  If you are praying, thank you so, so, much.  The keyboard here is different due to the Turkish language so typing is slightly more challenging.  To our children, we really miss you and love you immensely.  A big thanks to all of our families who are caring for you.  Kids I told Dad he could not climb Mt. Ararat and he is being good.  You are great kids: keep up the good work. 

_________

Well, it has been a good day.  Beautiful weather. 

As I stood up on top of the tell for Lystra, it was just before I heard the call to Muslim prayer.  Interesting.

It is 5:45 on this lovely Tuesday morning – still 9:45 pm Monday night back in Idaho.  Kristie is still resting in bed, but I am wired and ready for action. (more…)

My wife and İ express our kind appreciation to Turkish Air for rescheduling our flights after experiencing major problems (no fun at all) in NYC. (more…)

If you have never been to Utah, you must experience it.

As my wife and I travelled last night to Salt Lake City, we chatted and listened to folks on the 15 passenger van express.  The seats were comfortable (surprising), and the passengers were friendly.  After asking about my profession and the name of the church where I ministered, the older lady across from us remarked, “The Southern Baptist scare the holy heck out of me.”

So I asked why.  She quickly answered, “One preacher cried, ‘We are bad and going to hell.'”

Switching topics, she carried on with a wide variety of subjects with my wife.  And in the course of the trip, my wife joyfully shared a lot of things about our church family, Berean Baptist Church, in Idaho Falls.

Another nice young gal in the van was catching up with her husband this weekend.  He is working on his Masters in history at BYU in Provo.  I guess he plans on working on through to a Ph.D.

Last night, we stopped briefly in Blackfoot, Pocatello, and then Brigham City.  Somewhere in the van conversations, I had fallen asleep.  The two college girls behind us were talking on cellphones, and venting their frustration over roommates breaking honor code over curfews and boyfriend stuff.  I learned the proper techniques for showing physical affection but not break the rules.

At the end of the trip, I woke up to a beautiful sunset.  It lit the Western sky on fire!  The snow capped Wasatch mountains were majestic.