On the front lines in Israel...

This was shared yesterday in an e-mail from Jerusalem. I have kept the names private, for protection and security, and edited it as such. 

I absolutely agree with his following statements also included about the USA President's recent action (or lack thereof). May the Lord give us USA leaders with a backbone to lead!!! (I hold my tongue and heart back, to pray, as the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) Himself commanded us to, while at the same time letting it be known that we will FULLY stand with our friends, the Israelies!)

We will join our friends in November in Israel, as already planned months ago. 

Steve Martin
Editor

P.S. Artwork and photos added by me.

Sunday, Sept. 1, 2013

Shalom from Jerusalem - the City of Peace!

We wanted to send out an update as the world waits to see what actions will or will not be taken against the Syrian government for using chemical weapons on its own people, including children.  

Because the United States in such a large country, it is good to keep in mind the size of Israel couched in the middle of its Arab enemy nations.  Israel is in effect only the size of New Jersey, with Syria being place about where NY City would be.  Damascus, Syria's capital, and where the chemical weapons were used, is only 134 miles from Jerusalem, Israel's capital, about 2 hours.  However, Damascus is only 67 miles from the Sea of Galilee and only half that distance from the Israeli border.

Due to the fighting in Lebanon as well - two Muslim terror group fighting each other like in Syria, the Sunnis and Shiites - Israel has been on high alert on that northern border as well.  Rockets were even fired at Israel from Lebanon last week.  Egypt continues to be a mess with internal fighting as well - the military government fighting against both the Muslim brotherhood and the terror groups in the Sinai.

Last Sunday, we met with a soldier from a unit to hand off dry-fit ball caps that were requested by the commander.  We were supposed to deliver the caps to the base near the northern border, but due to the rockets fired into Israel a few days prior, they were not allowing any civilians on base, so we met at a neutral site in Tel Aviv.  While we were with the soldier, the commander called to share his appreciation with our organization, saying he'd like to schedule a base visit sometime in the future, but it was much too dangerous right now.  

IDF - Bibles and weapons of protection

When we asked the soldier how they were doing, he shook his head and said they have had to cancel all leaves, nobody was going home for the weekends, and they were on high alert.  Please pray for these watchmen on the borders, that they get the rest they need for their bodies and minds.  We made sure to tell him that there are people all over the world that support what they are doing, praying for them, and sending money to help meet their needs, like these caps.  

He said for us to please tell these people all over the world a big thanks. 

To know they have love and support means more than you know, and we always make sure they know it's from Christians around the world. 

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?"  Psalm 2:1 is occurring all around us - the news is like reading the Bible and watching it come to pass.  And at the same time, Syria and Iran promise that if the United States attacks Syria, that they will attack Israel.  Israel has been reiterating all week that we are not involved in this conflict, BUT - we will respond fiercely if attacked.  We truly believe that they will not be stupid enough to attack Israel if they are attacked by the US, it would mean their downfall and they know it.  Therefore, it's most likely propaganda to scare other countries from acting.  The news has been showing Israelis en mass getting gas masks this week in light of a possible US attack.  Media has made it appear as a panic, but it's more truthfully frustration...long lines of people who waited too long to get what they should already have in their possession.

And now, as the entire Middle East region has been holding their breath all week waiting for a response from the US, instead a retreat is announced.  Whether you believe the US should strike Syria or not, this doesn't bode well for many reasons.  First, Syria and Iran are almost giddy - they view this as weakness.  Second, they can now gauge the response the US may have with a nuclear Iran.  Third, Syria now has until at least September 9th to not only continue killing, but to move & hide chemical weapons.  And lastly, Israel now sees the kind of response the US (Obama) could potentially have concerning Iran, and we know we cannot trust him to "have our backs" in an emergency situation. 

Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hevron (Hebron)

We were also scheduled to visit a base in Hevron today.  After dropping off the dry-fit shirts the commander requested, we were going to be given a tour/escort of the Tomb of the Patriarchs where Abraham & Sarah, Isaac & Rebecca, and Jacob & Leah are buried.  It's not easily visited, because Hevron is a Palestinian city, and both Jews and Arabs share Abraham as their father.  I was on the phone last night with the commander of the base making plans for where we were to meet and everything was scheduled.  Then we heard Obama's speech.  It wasn't long before the commander called back and said we need to reschedule the visit....

So, as we trust in the the God of Israel - Adonai Tzva'ot, Lord of Heaven's armies - we do as a Torah scribe spoke to our organization staff this week --- "We pray, and then we do."  And as our Prime Minster has encouraged us - we trust our government (Israeli) and the Israel Defense Force to protect us, we continue on with our daily lives, and prepare for a month of the High Holy Days, beginning this coming Wednesday evening.

We pray and we do - in the meantime, we have also made preparations personally.  The new apartment we have just move to has one bedroom that is a bomb shelter.  We have made sure it is stocked with food, water and necessary supplies.  We have a plan on who gets what (phones, computer, internet, etc) to get to the bomb shelter in the 90 seconds allotted for Jerusalem. We've had our gas masks since we got here, they are issued to all long term staff upon arrival. Be assured - we are not afraid or concerned - just using wisdom to "pray and do".  Now we watch and see.  But mostly...we will enjoy God's appointed times - Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the joyous Feast of Tabernacles!!

Jerusalem volunteer worker