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John Harman

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Dr. John Harman is co-owner of Faith Connections Travel and leads groups as they prepare for and travel to the Holy Land. He holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament, co-hosts a Bible and theology podcast called Orthodocs.faith, and is an Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies at LeTourneau University and an ordained pastor.

Along the Road 2018

Along the Road

April 17, 2024

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While we cannot physically travel to the Holy Land right now, this is a good time to focus on what we can…

Posted by John Harman

Beth Shean theater

What Do Archaeology Specialists Do?

March 14, 2024

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When most of us think of archaeology and archaeologists, we picture the physical field work of excavation itself. That is, the digging…

Posted by John Harman

Cheating weights

Cheating Weights

September 21, 2023

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Fraud is nothing new. Even though corruption saturates countless institutions today and is perhaps flourishing on unprecedented scales, human beings have been…

Posted by John Harman

Friends

Travel and Friendship

August 30, 2023

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This week, a podcast that I listen to reminded me of something important about group travel: Travel gives us many opportunities to…

Posted by John Harman

Grotto of Pan

The “Gates of Hell” at Caesarea Philippi

June 28, 2023

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In Matthew 16, we read that Jesus took his disciples north of Galilee to a place called Caesarea Philippi. Here, Christ asked…

Posted by John Harman

Horns of Hattin

What are the “Horns of Hattin”?

June 8, 2023

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Spending time around the Sea of Galilee is an important part of Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land because of the area's…

Posted by John Harman

Petra hike

Previewing Petra

April 26, 2023

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When we travel to Jordan, a clear highlight is always the full day spent at the ancient Nabatean capital of Petra. This…

Posted by John Harman

Jerusalem cityscape

Extraordinary Jerusalem

April 13, 2023

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I'm not a reader of TIME Magazine, but I couldn't help noticing from inside the travel world that Jerusalem was recently named…

Posted by John Harman

Passover lamb

Choosing the Lamb

April 6, 2023

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Recently, I've been writing here about the Mount of Olives and the "Palm Sunday walk" that we make with our groups when…

Posted by John Harman

Gethsemane Trees

Mount of Olives: Garden of Gethsemane

March 16, 2023

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We finish this series on some of the highlights of the Mount of Olives with what is typically the last stop on…

Posted by John Harman

Chapel of the Ascension

Mount of Olives: Chapel of Ascension

March 9, 2023

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In this series, we are exploring some of the main sites on the Mount of Olives, several of which we typically visit…

Posted by John Harman

Pater Noster compound

Mount of Olives: Pater Noster Church

March 2, 2023

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We continue our look at some of the main sites that we see as we descend the Mount of Olives on the…

Posted by John Harman

Dominus Flevit

Mount of Olives: Dominus Flevit

February 23, 2023

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In this brief blog series, we are surveying some of the key sites that we visit on the Mount of Olives. In…

Posted by John Harman

Mt Olives sunrise

Mount of Olives

February 9, 2023

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Just across the Kidron Valley to the east of Jerusalem is a long ridge called the Mount of Olives. Yes, it's not…

Posted by John Harman

Dead Sea beach sunrise

Living and Dead (Sea)

February 1, 2023

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Devotional, Sites

The Dead Sea is such a unique place. There simply is nothing like it on earth. On many of our pilgrimages to…

Posted by John Harman

Young figs

A Land of Milk and Honey

November 23, 2022

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No fewer than twenty times, the Bible refers to Israel as a land flowing "with milk and honey". It's a familiar phrase…

Posted by John Harman

First century Jerusalem model

How Big Was Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus?

November 2, 2022

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Archaeology, Sites

Readers of the New Testament often wonder, What was the size of the city of Jerusalem in the days of Jesus? How…

Posted by John Harman

What’s Included?

October 6, 2022

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When Tina and I talk with groups and individuals about doing a Holy Land pilgrimage with Faith Connections Travel, pleasant surprise often…

Posted by John Harman

Hummus

One of My Favorite Dishes on Pilgrimage

September 29, 2022

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When I talk about travel to the Holy Land with individuals and groups, a question that often comes up is, "What is…

Posted by John Harman

Capernaum Synagogue foundation

A Foundation of Faith in Capernaum

September 8, 2022

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Devotional, Sites

In Luke 7:1-10, we read the story of Jesus healing a centurion's servant in Capernaum. The account is familiar to many of…

Posted by John Harman

Restoration and Archaeology

September 1, 2022

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Archaeology, Sites

The tomb entrance Visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on our most recent trip in February was amazing. I…

Posted by John Harman

Southern Steps and Psalms of Ascent

July 11, 2022

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Along the southern edge of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a stairway measuring 200-feet wide. It includes sections of original bedrock…

Posted by John Harman

Western Wall

Praying at the Western Wall

June 23, 2022

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A very special stop in Jerusalem on every Faith Connections Travel Holy Land itinerary is the Western Wall. It is the visible…

Posted by John Harman

Jerusalem from east

Healing Pools, part 4

June 15, 2022

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Another pool in Jerusalem that hosted a healing from Jesus in the Gospel of John is the Pool of Siloam (John 9).…

Posted by John Harman

Healing Pools, part 3

June 2, 2022

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In this brief series, we are taking a look at two important locations for healing miracles in the Gospel of John: the…

Posted by John Harman

Healing Water

Healing Pools, part 2

May 17, 2022

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In my last post (Healing Pools, part 1), we began a look at two significant locations of healing miracles in the Gospel…

Posted by John Harman

Jesus heals at Bethesda

Healing Pools, part 1

May 5, 2022

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The Gospel of John tells us about two healing miracles that Jesus performed at two different pools of water in Jerusalem. The…

Posted by John Harman

Primacy of Peter

After the Resurrection in Galilee

April 27, 2022

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In this season after Easter, Christians often focus on the stories in the gospels that recount Jesus' appearances after his resurrection. A…

Posted by John Harman

Garden of Gethsemane

Choice Gardens

April 14, 2022

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Devotional, Sites

On every visit to the Holy Land, we visit the Mount of Olives while we are in Jerusalem. We start at the…

Posted by John Harman

Tel es-Sultan

A Sword of Victory at Jericho

March 25, 2022

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On our most recent pilgrimage, we visited the site of Old Testament Jericho (called Tel es-Sultan in Arabic). As its name implies,…

Posted by John Harman

Pilgrimage Paths from Galilee to Jerusalem

March 4, 2022

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When we think about pilgrimage in the Bible, the three major feasts given in the Old Testament Law come quickly to mind.…

Posted by John Harman

Pater Noster Church

The Lord’s Prayer in Jesus’ Language

February 18, 2022

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On our recent Holy Land pilgrimage, as always, we visited the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. At one of the locations there,…

Posted by John Harman

The Land of Immanuel

February 11, 2022

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When we arrived in the Holy Land just a couple of weeks ago, one of the first things our guide said to…

Posted by John Harman

Jericho, the Wilderness, and the Dead Sea

February 5, 2022

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Our start to an adventurous day in the Holy Land was a visit to the site connected with John’s baptism of Jesus…

Posted by John Harman

Church of Nativity Belfry

An Amazing Day in Bethlehem

February 4, 2022

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Although the forecast was for rain in Bethlehem, we didn’t get any. The temperature was in the forties, but we had sunshine…

Posted by John Harman

On and Around the Sea of Galilee

February 3, 2022

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Sailing on the Sea of Galilee Today has been one of the most weather-perfect days that we have had on any of…

Posted by John Harman

Wine, Idols, and the Gates of Hell on Day 2

February 2, 2022

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A beautiful and exciting day in Galilee and the north! We had a clear and cool morning to see the sun rise…

Posted by John Harman

Crashing waves

Fearless Travel

January 26, 2022

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Shalom, friends! I’ve been enjoying some soaking in the Psalms this month, and as I read Psalm 46 today, I really connected with…

Posted by John Harman

Beth Shean amphitheater

Why This Bible Teacher Loves Holy Land Pilgrimage

January 21, 2022

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Reading and studying the Bible after visiting the Holy Land is like adding the sets and scenery to a stage production. The…

Posted by John Harman

On the Sea of Galilee

From Galilee to the World

January 13, 2022

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Devotional, Sites

At Faith Connections Travel, we are on the home stretch of preparations for our next Holy Land pilgrimage. I am looking forward…

Posted by John Harman

Church of Nativity Star

The Light of the World

December 21, 2021

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Devotional, Sites

As we focus on and celebrate the birth of Christ this week, the holy site in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity that…

Posted by John Harman

Mount Nebo-Jordan

Seeing the Land Like Moses

December 2, 2021

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Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed…

Posted by John Harman

Group at Caesarea

We Gather, We Learn, We Travel

October 21, 2021

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Resources, Study

Our pre-trip series of classes continues in McKinney, TX, on Tuesday evenings, and all are welcome! These sessions are designed both for…

Posted by John Harman

Pilgrimage

A New Resource for Holy Land Pilgrimage

October 7, 2021

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Biblical scholar, author, speaker, and fellow travel leader Stephen Binz has published an excellent resource that pilgrimage travelers to the Holy Land…

Posted by John Harman

John at the Garden Tomb

Time to Prepare

September 16, 2021

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Resources, Study

Are you ready to get ready? It's time to finalize registration for our Holy Land trip departing January 30. And it's time…

Posted by John Harman

Holy Sepulchre front

The “Immovable Ladder” at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

August 27, 2021

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The public enters the Resurrection Church, better known worldwide as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, from a small plaza off of…

Posted by John Harman

Madaba, Jordan—A 3D Preview!

July 23, 2021

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The Old Testament mentions this city five times, but many Christians have never heard of it. On our upcoming trip to the…

Posted by John Harman

The Wedding at Cana

Wine in Time

July 9, 2021

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In Nazareth, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the coming birth of Jesus. In this "annunciation," Mary is told, "He…

Posted by John Harman

Tall el-Hammam

A New Site on our Next Trip!

July 2, 2021

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Archaeology, Sites

We are excited to include a new site in Jordan on our January 2022 trip itinerary: Tall el-Hammam. This ancient city dominated…

Posted by John Harman

Connect

Here’s How to Connect and Learn

June 4, 2021

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At Faith Connections Travel, we are excited to see the Holy Land re-opening for pilgrimage travel. We continue to look forward to…

Posted by John Harman

The Tales Tels Tell

May 14, 2021

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When we travel in the Holy Land, we naturally spend time at archaeological sites. A common feature of the archaeological landscape that…

Posted by John Harman

Tel Aviv at sunset

Tel Aviv-Jaffa

April 8, 2021

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Faith Connections Travel is excited to have our next Holy Land trip itinerary put together! We are scheduled for departure from Dallas-Fort…

Posted by John Harman

A New Dead Sea Scrolls Discovery

March 26, 2021

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The Dead Sea Scrolls are widely recognized as one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. They are especially…

Posted by John Harman

Resurrecting an Ancient Tree and its Fruit

March 4, 2021

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Archaeology, Modern Israel

Many are familiar with the biblical phrase used to describe the Promised Land, "a land flowing with milk and honey." We first…

Posted by John Harman

arabic study

John learns Arabic. See John toil.

February 19, 2021

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A few months ago, I started a new journey that I have been looking forward to for several years: learning Arabic. It's…

Posted by John Harman

Amman panorama

A Beautiful Preview of Jordan

February 12, 2021

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I am especially excited that our next trip to the Holy Land will include an extension to Jordan. The sites of Petra,…

Posted by John Harman

John at Garden Tomb

You Can Now Subscribe to the Blog

February 5, 2021

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The Faith Connections Travel blog is a place to learn. We talk about sites that we visit in the Holy Land, geography,…

Posted by John Harman

Top Ten Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology in 2020

January 24, 2021

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As you would expect, the COVID pandemic had a profound affect on the world of archaeology, including in the Holy Land. Many…

Posted by John Harman

Christmas Lutheran Church-Bethlehem

Not So Different

October 8, 2020

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On all of our trips to the Holy Land, we find ourselves in that ancient and special place on a Sunday. Sometimes…

Posted by John Harman

Revetment wall at ancient Jericho

Jericho: God Has Gone First

September 11, 2020

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Jericho is familiar to Christians from both the Old and New Testaments. From very ancient times, it was a gateway city into…

Posted by John Harman

John at Arbel

How the Holy Land Captured Me

September 3, 2020

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I first had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land in 2009 as part of my graduate studies. It was a glorious,…

Posted by John Harman

Caesarea aqueduct

Let the Living Water Flow

August 17, 2020

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We love to visit the spectacular (and huge) site of Caesarea Maritima on our tours. Also called Caesarea-by-the-Sea (and to be distinguished…

Posted by John Harman

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre: 3D History

June 12, 2020

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As we continue to celebrate the reopening of certain sites and the gradual restarting of tourism in the Holy Land, let's add…

Posted by John Harman

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of the Holy Sepulchre reopens!

June 6, 2020

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In late March, the famous Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem closed due to coronavirus lockdown, but last week it opened…

Posted by John Harman

Dr Jack Beck

Bible Weekend 2020 with Dr. Jack Beck

May 21, 2020

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I recently reviewed Jack Beck's new book, The Basic Bible Atlas, here on the Faith Connections Travel blog, and many of you…

Posted by John Harman

Rest

Holy Land Travel as Sabbath

April 24, 2020

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Devotional, General

When we say "sabbath" these days, most people think "day off" from work or "go to church," if anything comes to mind…

Posted by John Harman

Basic Bible Atlas

The Basic Bible Atlas: An Excellent New Resource

April 2, 2020

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Geography, Resources, Study

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the importance of having and using a Bible atlas in your Bible study and…

Posted by John Harman

The Western Wall

March 19, 2020

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Archaeology, Modern Israel

The famous "Western Wall" of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is a special place of prayer and worship, as well as of…

Posted by John Harman

Dead Sea area

Your Friend, the Bible Atlas

February 2, 2020

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Geography, Resources

In every biblical studies course that I teach, I try to make sure that the role of the Bible atlas makes its…

Posted by John Harman

Western Wall Plaza

Christian Tourism in Israel

January 22, 2020

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During the 2019 Christmas season, about 165,000 Christian pilgrims visited Israel. The Ministry of Tourism even provided free buses to shuttle visitors…

Posted by John Harman

Geography is the Story’s Stage—and More!

January 14, 2020

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When one reads the Bible, it becomes clear how geography is the stage on which the redemptive narrative takes place. The land…

Posted by John Harman

Capernaum

Do You Dig It?

January 9, 2020

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Exploring the many ancient sites that we’ll see on our journey to the Holy Land, as well as visiting museums and special exhibits, will bring us face-to-face with the topic of archaeology. I will post on this subject from time to time so that we can become better acquainted with it as we prepare to travel.

Posted by John Harman

Israel in 4K

January 3, 2020

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The Holy Land is certainly a feast for all the senses. Let your eyes feast here on some spectacular footage from The Vine Studios that includes images of modern Israel, some key archaeological sites, and views of the breathtaking countryside.

Posted by John Harman

More than sightseeing

December 30, 2019

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A journey to the Holy Land with Faith Connections Travel is more than just sightseeing. We hope that it will be part of your journey of faith.

Posted by John Harman

Coming in 2020!

December 27, 2019

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https://vimeo.com/379456207 During these holidays, take time to explore FaithConnectionsTravel.com. Registration is open for our December 2020 trip to the Holy Land. Browse…

Posted by John Harman

Bethlehem Tree Lighting

December 22, 2019

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As you can imagine, the lighting of the town Christmas tree in Bethlehem is a big deal. Enjoy the video of some…

Posted by John Harman

Sea of Galilee at sunrise

The Journey Begins

December 20, 2019

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Certainly travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas…

Posted by John Harman

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