Victor Chen Ministries

A trip to the Holy Lands isn’t complete without a visit to Caesarea National Park. One of the most intriguing archaeological sites in the Middle East, Caesarea National Park is located alongside the Mediterranean Sea. It lies in northern Israel about halfway between Haifa and Tel Aviv.

Historical Background

Caesarea was named in honor of the Roman patron, Emperor Augustus Caesar. Because of its coastline location, it was a strategic spot for Herod the Great to rebuild a town over the former settlement known as “Straton’s Tower.” By the 2nd and 3rd century, Caesarea (which was the headquarters of the Roman government in Palestine), was one of the most prominent cities of the Roman Empire’s eastern area.

It continued to flourish during the Roman and Byzantine periods, but lost its political and economic standing in the seventh century AD when the Arabs took over the area.

During the Crusader period, (1095-1291 AD) Caesarea was secured by a colossal wall and moat.

A planned city, Caesarea had a network of crisscrossing roads, as well as a temple, theater, amphitheatre, bathhouses, markets, and residential areas.

Biblical Significance

Caesarea rates high in many of the events found in the New Testament book of Acts (the Acts of the Apostles.) The city is mentioned in passages including Acts 8:40, Acts 23:23-33, and Acts 24:27-26:3.

However, the most noted event was when Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, a Roman centurion, who became the first Gentile to convert to Christianity.

“Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.” (Acts 10:44-46, NLT).

Visit this link
http://students. washington. edu/cbsf/ cool/Chinese. swf
and you will be surprised that the God of the Chinese is
the God of the Bible

Philippians 3:13 "...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead".

In this juncture of my business life, and in this current global financial climate there is a need to keep focus on what the Lord has for us. We should strain towards the goals which we have in our hearts to achieve.

At this point in time, as I press ahead, there are also many battle scars that I carry that are yet to heal. But I realize that I owe it to myself, to press forward and to remain focused. There are many ifs and 'could have', or had it been this or that, but destiny has made its turn so the best thing to do is to forget what is behind.

Our goals do not change, only the methods and plans to get there as God helps us navigate through these trying times.

Yes change is inevitable, but by God's grace we had changed before change was forced on us.

March 19, 2009