“Coffee In. Coffee Out.” - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Yehuda Hochman with Hannele Pardain 

(CFI-USA 2008 - photo by Steve Martin)

“Coffee In. Coffee Out.”

Yehuda was such an enjoyable Israeli tour guide. When he wasn't speaking Hebrew, Russian, or any of the other four languages he knows, in addition our American English, he would say some quite catchy phrases as he escorted our tour group across the Promised Land.

Having had the privilege and honor of being on three Christian Friends of Israel tours, I truly enjoyed Yehuda Hochman on my last one with CFI. He was the one guiding our "air-conditioned last days camel bus" back in 2008. That camel bus carried 40 men and women on the wonderful excursion.

If you recall that famous picture of the four soldiers standing at the Western Wall in 1967, after recapturing it in the Old City of Jerusalem, from neighboring Jordan, he is the one standing behind the other three more popularly known ones. You rarely hear of him though. At least I hadn’t before that trip.

It wasn't until the last night of that May 2008 travel, when we had our "last supper" (I love the Israeli dinner buffets in the hotels!) that the majority of us only then discovered who he was. When I saw a book with that historic photo on it, and he being asked to autograph it, my curiosity arose even more.

"Why is he signing that book?" I asked Hannele Pardain, USA Director of CFI-USA (or was it Mark DeVito, Chairman of the Board, my roommate?)

When the response was "That is him on the cover", I was disheartened that I didn't buy that poster on that trip, which I could have had him sign.

The title of this Now Think About This edition, "Coffee in coffee out" is one of his most famous sayings I am sure. When the bus made several needed scheduled stops, his words held true. What goes in must come out! Yehuda to this day is a great tour guide. I hope to meet up with him again on one of our trips, and introduce you to him.

The Aroma brand Israeli coffee, with cafes in and around Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheva, had outsold Starbuck's drink offerings. Our bus load was one of the reasons.

In November of 2010, after my then 24 year old daughter Christen walked down the aisle, and joined in holy matrimony to Andrew Blade (I got the honor of being both father and minister!), Love For His People started doing our annual Ahava Adventures trip to Yeretz Israel (Land of Israel.)

Primarily meant to connect our travelers with believers in Israel, we limit the numbers who go with us to just a few at a time. Because going in some sections where  "no tour bus has gone before", on foot, bus or train, enables us to touch the land and people in a more impacting way for each life. We do a lot of walking in the capital city of Jerusalem, where we spend most of our time. It is also a joy to have special meals with friends, building on those relationships established over the decade.

Whether you go on any number of wonderful annual Israel tours, with Hannele Pardain of CFI-USA, Cathy Hargett with Highway To Zion, Jonathan Bernis of Jewish Voice, Barry Segal’s Roots & Reflections travel delight with Vision for Israel, Myles and Katherine Weiss with Zola Levitt Ministries, Peter Wyns and Christians For Messiah Ministries, or on our special Ahava Adventures with Love For His People – plan on going to Israel soon, for a life changing experience! Walk where Yeshua (Jesus) walked, and on those places that you know from the Bible.

For your own spiritual and uplifting good, and to especially show your support for our only true friends in the Middle East – the good people of Israel – make it one of your life priority goals to go. As it is said, “You will never be the same again.”

Blessings will be on ye heads,

Steve Martin

Love For His People, Ahava Adventures

P.S. My 5^th book in progress, Now Think On This – The Inspiration Continues, will feature many photos of that Israel tour. I am planning on an early 2014 summer release date.

Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA humanitarian organization started in 2010 to share the love of the Father in the nations.

If these letters minister to you, please consider sending a charitable gift of $5-$25 today, and maybe each month, to help us bless known families in Israel, whom we consistently help through our humanitarian ministry. Your tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation. Fed. ID #27-1633858.

Go here for safe ONLINE GIFT GIVING THROUGH  OUR WEBSITE using major credit cards: Love For His People If you don't have a PayPal account you can also use your credit card or bank account (where available). 

Contribution checks can be sent to: 

Love For His People, Inc.  P.O. Box414   Pineville, NC 28134

Todah rabah! (Hebrew – Thank you very much.)

Please share this Now Think On This with your friends.

Ahava Adventures Word from India Pastor

Ahava Adventures Experience

John Ebenezer from Hyderabad, India

John and Steve in Jerusalem

Nov. 2013

Dec. 14, 2013

  

Dear Steve,

Shalom. I have just sent emails and news from Israel and other festival dates which I needed (to the ones we stayed at in Jerusalem), saying thanks for their prayers and care of our stay, wishing everyone from us a blessing.

I am at Mucherla with our team and pastors, They have seen the DVD and photos from my trip to Israel with you. Everyone saw you walking with me. All are surprised about the trip of Israel. Praise God! I am so blessed to have travelled with you. God provided for me to be with you as a partner with mission. I thank GOD.

Our team of five each has two going from house to house lighting the candle for Christmas. Many have seen my baptism at the River Jordan, praising GOD for the chance which I have with you. Many thanks for your goodness and love. I will come again 2014 and planning to bring few with me, but the cost is higher for them.

One Catholic sister, whom I gave her a rosary, was very much happy to see you travel with us. Let us pray Yeshua will open the doors for many people from India to be with us.

Please send the details of festivals and holidays in Israel so I can pray for us many. David, Lucie and Joseph were very much happy to see the DVD and photos from Israel on the Ahava Adventures trip in November.

John in Jerusalem with book

"Ahava Love Letters"

 You are all in our prayers. Please say hi to Ben (Martin, who joined us on the trip) from me and your family too,

 Ahava, shalom,

John Ebenezer

Pastor, Lighthouse of India Ministries , Hyderabad, India

Click here: Ahava Adventures 2014 info

John and Ben Martin on bus in Jerusalem

John and Steve - with the Eastern (Golden Gate) 

across the Kidron Valley in Jerusalem

Bakery Girls in Jerusalem - serving good bread!

These girls were gracious 

to let me take their photos. 

Todah rabah! 

(Thank you very much in Hebrew.)

Hmmm...good!

...and they were good eating too!

Fresh!

Challah bread for Shabbat

I loved taking these photos on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, near Ben Yehuda Street, just before getting on the morning train to Yad Vashem. On our Ahava Adventures annual trip! Come along and meet them too in 2014! 

Steve Martin, Love For His People

Check it out: Ahava Adventures 2014

Camel riding in Israel - Ben Martin - east of Jerusalem at sea level

Ben Martin of Love For His People

YouTube: Ben Martin on camel in Israel!

Camel riding in Israel - Ben Martin - east of Jerusalem Sat. 11.09.13 at Sea Level.


Videos filmed and shared by Steve Martin - to give appreciation to and love for those we support, through Love For His People, Inc.

Back Home...for Now

Greetings to those who read my Blog. A big ahava shout out to my friends! ("Ahava" is love in Hebrew.)

First of all - Thanks for reading! I appreciate you coming back, daily or when you do, to check things out. You may have noticed that for the past ten days you haven't seen any new posts. I was in Israel during this time, and I couldn't access my blog page to add any new posts. (It was probably due to the new software I downloaded while there, and I couldn't figure out how to delete it until last night at home. I know, you "can't teach an old dog new tricks to fix his computer" stuff.)

We sure did enjoy the Ahava Adventure that we had in Israel, and are already beginning to plan next year's annual trip. Maybe you can join us then. Looks like November is still a great time to go. Our pastor friend from India, who made his first trip this year with us, talked of bringing two more along next year.

Right now I am back at my full time accounting job desk in Charlotte, taking my lunch hour break. I add to the Blog whenever I get some time from my other daily responsibilities.

Hopefully you have seen/read my latest Ahava Love Letter, which I entitled "Love For His People in the Land”. You can see it on this blog, or on the new blog I have set up, which will just be for my Ahava Love Letters. 

Of course, I will continue to post them on this Love For His People blog, and my Facebook pages.

If you like photos, I took over 2,400 while in Israel Nov. 3-Nov. 11, 2013. They are all fully on my Facebook page, and I will post some here from time to time. If you like videos, you can see over 30 that I also recorded in Israel at our YouTube Love For His People channel. 

(Click here: Love For His People/Steve Martin)

Israel is more amazing each time I go back. We love spending time with friends whom we have established long term relationships with over the years, and then meeting new ones. Our commitment to Israel and His people grows stronger every day. 

Be blessed as you yourself bless the Jews and the nation of Israel. They truly appreciate it, as does their Creator, our Lord Jesus, Yeshua Hamashiach.

Ahava and shalom,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

P.S. My good wife Laurie sure is glad I am back home! Such a sweet deal.

Western Wall Tunnel - Jerusalem

On our Love For His People Ahava Adventure in Nov. 2013 

we went into the Western Wall Heritage Tunnel. Amazing.

The tunnel was built by King Herod as part of the Second Temple. 

This would have been standing in Jesus' (Yeshua's) time.

(Photos by Steve Martin)

Blocks are 40' long and weigh 700 TONS.

Location in the tunnel where the Holy of Holies in the 

Temple was located above.

My feet standing in the tunnel.

The aqueduct feeding water to the Temple was open to the public last year.

Back To The Future...

Ben and I leave Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 am, for our annual fall Ahava Adventures trip to Israel. (This is my 11th trip. Ben's 2nd.)

These trips are part of our Love for His People ministries, which Laurie and I started in April, 2010. We are committed to go each year to meet with those we support on a monthly basis with contributions received. These are either Christians working as volunteers in ministries there, or believers who live in Israel. We have been doing  this even beyond the three years of the ministry.

On this ministry trip we will be joined by our good friend, 70 yr old pastor friend from India, John Ebenezer. I went to India in Feb. 2010 and spent four days teaching 75 pastors, that he oversees, on the importance of blessing Israel and the Jews. He is so excited about coming and getting baptized in the Jordan, among other events on his 1st time to Israel.

Pastor John Ebenezer from Hyderabad, A.P., India

(on the left)

Pastor John praying with one of his pastors in training.

Steve at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv

We land Sunday afternoon (Israel time) in Tel Aviv, are picked up by our friends from Christian Friends of Israel, and then drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galillee. Supper is with a Messianic Jewish couple who moved there from Cleveland many years ago. 

We are also delivering 40 lbs of bandanas form the USA for the IDF soldiers (Israel Defense Force) which fills an extra suitcase I am bringing. Imprinted on the bandanas (scarves) is Psalm 91, both in Hebrew and English. We will personally give some of them to the young men and women on Monday when we visit a base in northern Israel.

                           

IDF (Israel Defense Force) soliders. Typically 18-21 yrs old.

Young women in the IDF.

Other highlights include dinners at five Israeli homes, again of those families/ministries we support; my meeting with the head pastor of Kings of Kings (for 30 years) in Jerusalem) and the Producer/Editor of Israel Today magazine, Aviel Schneider - both in Jerusalem.

Steve with Aviel Schneider 

of Israel Today magazine - Jerusalem

On Shabbat, Friday night, we will be with a young Jewish family of six, with another child due in 2014. Their apartment in central Jerusalem is less than 700 sq. ft. Packed, but full of love and hospitality!

Ben and I enjoyed a Shabbat meal with them during our last time in Jerusalem in 2010. We (Love For His People) send them $200 a month in regular support. We hope you join us in supporting families like these in The Land.

Click here to: Donate Even Now 

using our safe PayPal account

Another most important aspect of the trip, in addition to being with our friends, is to pray at the Western Wall (The Kotel in Hebrew). I will again place names in cracks in the Wall. Be blessed and send me your name and family members via e-mail (loveforhispeople@gmail.com). I will do it.

In order to keep our costs down, we only stay one night in a hotel. The other nights are with our friends. We walk a lot, and/or take the city bus and train to historic and spiritual locations. Keeps it cheap, and adventurous at the same time. We meet more of the local people this way, and share our ahava (love in Hebrew.)

Please pray for us as we journey to the Promised Land. Our solid commitment is to give strong, ongoing support to the Lord's Chosen people. It grows in our hearts every year. We love His provision, connections, and protection always.

Shalom and ahava! (Peace and love in Hebrew),

Steve, Laurie and Ben Martin

P.S. I am taking my camera (of course!) and laptop. Expect to see photos and videos on this blog and Facebook pages nightly! (Did you think otherwise??!!)

Next year in Jerusalem for you or a loved one?

Check this out by seeing our full website:

Love for His People - Ahava Adventures 2014

My good friend George Payne 

gave me this

Ahava Adventures jacket!

Young David in Jerusalem.

You can join with us 

in blessing families in Israel.

Please use the donate button

in the right hand column

to go to the 

Love For His People, Inc. 

contribution page.