Wecome to Tarsus

So, welcome to Tarsus. Home of Paul, that's right...the Paul of Acts and numerous books in the Bible. Place of a famous meeting between Cleopatra and Mark Antony. Close enough to walk on the Roman Road where Paul and most likely even Caesar himself travelled on at one time or another. Tarsus has incredible history and is found right here about half an hour from my home! We visited Tarsus yesterday and it was pretty incredible. Just to hear the history pages turning in my mind as we walked through this ancient and modern city. Few places still resemble what might have been of this city long ago displaying architectural characteristics of the early Ottoman Empire. And then in many spots, modern stores and buildings have been built upon the history.
We walked under the arches seen above and onto the Roman Road. We saw what is claimed as Paul's well. We visited what used to be a Christian Armenian church. We found here much the same atmosphere as can be found in our own city. A slow pace of life. In the middle of the day, old men can be found sitting on small chairs playing their favorite game and drinking tea (cay) as they are doing above. I have to do a little research on this game and I'll let you know more and include some more pictures of the people that fill my home in a soon to be blog.
There is a rich history here in this place and it was awesome to get a chance to walk through it yesterday. My life continues to be enriched in so many ways by being in this place. He was present then, intervening in Paul from Tarsus's life and I know that He is ever present now in this place desiring to be glorified, worshipped, and intervene in the lives of those who will be open to Him.