RichDrama - Blog #CITA to the NationsRichDrama - Blog #CITA to the Nationshttps://www.richdrama.com/blog/tag/CITA-to-the-NationsSat, 04 Apr 2026 10:15:01 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[The Shepherd's Daughter in the Shepherd's Cave of Bethlehem]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/ShepherdsDaughter
Joyce performed this piece that she wrote in the Shepherds' Cave of Bethlehem during our trip to Jordan and Israel through CITA to the Nations.

Have a blessed Christmas: www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Christmas

]]>Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:13:00 -0500<![CDATA[Peace in Israel]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/peace-in-israel
This artwork (and many other works like it in a variety of media) was created through a joint effort of Arab and Jewish students on the shore of The Sea of Galilee.
]]>Sun, 29 May 2011 23:21:00 -0400<![CDATA[Peter Restored]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/peter-restored
Peter restored on the shore of
The Sea of Galilee
I performed Peter's breakfast with Jesus on the shore of The Sea of Galilee, quite near where it is believed that Jesus restored Peter to ministry. Henrietta, one of the members of our CITA to the Nations team read from John 21, and when she read that Peter jumped into the water I jumped from behind the reeds you see in the right of the photo and swam to shore.
]]>Sat, 28 May 2011 14:11:00 -0400<![CDATA[Caesaria Philippi]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/caesaria-philippi

This Druse temple overlooks Caesaria Philippi, where there are shines to Pan (the cave, known as the "gates of hell") and numerous other gods. Here I performed an except from my play, The Acts (you can watch below), in which Peter tells how Jesus brought the disciples there, in the presence of so much spiritual confusion, and asked, "Who do you say that I am?" As Peter I bellowed, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" It echoed off of the cliff.

The presence of the Druze indicates that this place is still a magnet for spiritual confusion. Druse believe the Messiah will be born to a dude, so men with the secret knowledge wear baggy pants in case he suddenly drops out of one of them.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/24667591?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Peter at Caesaria Philippi from Rich Swingle on Vimeo.
]]>Fri, 27 May 2011 23:37:00 -0400<![CDATA[Mt. Tabor]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/mt-tabor

In the distance is Mt. Tabor, one of two places it is believed Jesus was transfigured with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1-13). We're driving into Nazareth, over the mountain from which people tried to throw Jesus after he implied that He was fulfilling a Messianic prophesy from Isaiah (Luke 4:16,24).
]]>Fri, 27 May 2011 23:20:00 -0400<![CDATA[Peter Walks on the Sea of Galilee]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/peter-walks-on-sea-of-galilee
http://www.youtube.com/embed/KraVRq8pi-M
I had this idea in 2005, but when we arrived there were three boats and none of them looked like they would work for this sketch. But then our guide told us we were on the third boat, which turned out to be the very boat that inspired the idea six years ago.

Scripture by Jenny.
]]>Fri, 27 May 2011 00:18:00 -0400<![CDATA[A personal relationship]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/personal-relationship
Jennifer G. reads Scripture as Tom M.
plays Moses in Rich's Bibliodrama.
We were doing a  bibliodrama atop Mt. Nebo. Our friend Tom was playing Moses, who was looking down Mt. Nebo to the rock that he struck, the act which was keeping him out of the Promised Land, which he could also see from atop Mt. Nebo. I directed him to have a conversation with the Lord about his sin and a final word with his people before they left him there to enter the Promised Land without him.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw an Arab family and particularly the father watching us. I was afraid he was angry because we were performing on the path. I thought they wanted to get past us. After we were done the man, who was Muslim, asked about Tom. He said, "He spoke like a man of God. How can he know God like that?" He allowed us to pray with him, and I prayed that God would show him how to have a closer relationship to God through the study of the life of Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus, who is considered by Muslims to be a prophet. The man was beaming with joy after our prayer.
]]>Thu, 26 May 2011 19:28:00 -0400<![CDATA[Crossing the Jordan]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/crossing-jordan
This is one of the last photos I took in Jordan. 
]]>Thu, 26 May 2011 19:28:00 -0400<![CDATA[A double door in ancient Nazareth]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/double-door-in-ancient-nazareth
The larger door stays closed to keep out horse-riding invaders. It's opened for parties.
]]>Thu, 26 May 2011 19:23:00 -0400<![CDATA[Jesus was baptized here]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/jesus-was-baptized-here

Archeologists believe this is where Jesus was baptized, based on a first century Byzantine church that was discovered in 1998. We performed the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, not far from here. I played John the Baptist and then stayed in the river to help Kim, our other tour leader, and my bride, Rev. Joyce, baptize some who wanted to rededicate their lives to the Lord. Two women who were watching, a Belarusian and an Arab, joined our group.
]]>Wed, 25 May 2011 15:21:00 -0400