Sunday, December 9, 2012

Like it Eilat to Beersheba - Motocross Israel


Video is narrated.  Running into the desert chasing motorcycles on foot turned out to be a worthwhile experience!  Who would have thought? 

Friday, December 7, 2012

Lowest Point Of Entire Trip

Dead Sea

The second picture looks like a Midwest winter picture ... But that white stuff is not ice and snow it's salt. It's 70 degrees and very far from freezing.


Sunday, December 2, 2012

Quneitra

This outpost is like Mount Bental but much bigger and less than a mile from Syria.

Interestingly the rebels in Syria just captured the town last month! This is where some of the bullets and missiles have crossed and the Israel Defense Forces responded.

Update 06 - Finish Well - 10 Day


Update 06 - 172/10 - Finish Well

I’m watching a sunset and thinking of all the things that God has brought to pass in 172 days.  There have been speed bumps along the way which included an 8 day war.  It was really interesting to watch people ignore the possibility of war.  Refuse to prepare for war.  Attempt to prepare for war.  Stash and pack food and supplies for 30 days of war.  As the war is going on people carried on just like normal with a few short interruptions.  It reminded me of tornado drills where I grew up.  The siren would go off and we would immediately run to a basement and wait.  The only difference is that here in Israel people wait for the BOOM.  

Imagine getting hit by a bus and dying.  You wake up in front of God.  You immediately proclaim all the good things that you’ve done in your life.  Then God Almighty, creator of all makes this statement, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”

God straight up ignores all your good works and ends the conversation with “I don’t know you, you have to leave”.

That scares the hell out of me.

This is where everyone gets upset and says God, that’s not fair.

Please realize that regardless of what you believe right and wrong is, God is right ... always.  The Bible says that He is perfect, all knowing, and sovereign (meaning controls everything that happens).

That means that an all knowing God cannot make a statement that is “not fair”  

So where am I going with this? 

I shared a meal with an Israeli who had a missile land dead center of his unoccupied bed.  He slept at the same time every day and this particular day he was not allowed to sleep.  So he left the building.  At the exact time he should have been sleeping, the missile struck.

He did not believe the Jesus was the Savior and Redeemer of our souls at that time in his life.  Today is is a believer in Jesus, thanks to God who gave him a second chance.

We don’t deserve a second chance, but God’s grace for us give us many chances.  I can’t count my multiple concussions ... I’d get hit in the head and everything would go black.

The Bible says that the absence of God is complete darkness or the absence of light.  You know those moments when you have been in a place where it is so dark that you cannot see your hand in front of your face?

Recently I heard of a funeral where the headstone inscription said: 

“Joe Smuckiteli 1877 - 1907”

You realize the only part of our short time on earth is the - ... that tiny dash represents your entire life.  

At the end, God will either say that he knows your “dash” or that he does not know your “dash”

If you are known, you will be blessed for all eternity.

If you are NOT know, you will be cursed for all eternity.

Either way, it’s your eternity.



Do you know how much Jesus loves you?

You can spend eternity with Him by simply accepting Him as Savior and Lord.


Why say all this?

Because I care about you.  Because without the truth of the saving power of Jesus you are dead in hell.

We have the chance to go to heaven and join God in the biggest best party that will ever be and I want for EVERYONE to go.  Including those who I do not like.

How does this apply to being in Israel for 172 days?

Same message of Good News, it’s just in another language.  The urgency is the same.  


Now!  The past 46 days I’ve met people who do believe in Jesus and have the same excitement and joy in telling others as I do.  There are believers EVERYWHERE and it’s been awesome to have a little glimpse of heaven on earth.  Just think of how many people you will meet in heaven from all walks of life and all nations who ALL worship and glorify God who is worthy of our praise!  It’s awesome!

The next 10 days I’ll be meeting more believers and sharing the Good New of Jesus with anyone who will listen.  I’m starting with a waterfall in the north (Saar Falls) and going all the way to the south by the Red Sea (Eilat).  There are stops along the way throughout Israel.  

One of the stops is with the Domari people ... literally Gypsies in Israel.  They are some of most pushed out people of all society.  No one cares for them.  It is the Love of God that gave hope to one of them.  Since then a foundations has been created to draw attention and gain support.

I could not understand the situation, I think most of us cannot.  Imagine being in a place where if your home is robbed and you report it to authorities there are other people groups, even authorities who come and make your life even worse that if you had said nothing at all.  

I’d liken it to a woman being beaten by her husband and reporting it so that she can get help, but the “help” turns around and beats her.

That’s heart breaking.  What the foundation does is provides a safe place to those people and children who would otherwise have no way to get help.  

I’ve met those kids, played with them, and helped to teach english.  It was a small thing and but realize that without the time and care of someone these kids literally are pushed out of public school and cannot get education to help themselves.

On an up note, I met myself.  Not literally, I met an Israeli who’s name is Jonathan and he was very interested in how I was so excited to be in Israel and how I was so fearless during the war.  I was able to share the Gospel with him and I’m looking forward to seeing him again before I leave.  You know, for some, this is the closest they will ever be to heaven.  Lord willing, Jonathan will come to realize the truth and love of God before it’s too late.

In His Loving Grace,
Jonathan

Friday, November 16, 2012

Update 05 - Recorded Live - Transcript From Outside Jerusalem


Jonathan: “I’m safe and everything is good”  

I’m still planning on going back up north to the Golan, which everywhere in Israel right now has issues so what does it matter where you go.

My friend, who is Jewish called me today.

Jonathan: Hello, yeah it’s Jonathan

Friend: Did you hear the sirens go off where you are at today?

Jonathan: Yes 

Friend: It is not safe to be in Israel right now.

Jonathan: Yes I understand that it is not safe to be in Israel right now.

Jonathan: So, Are you moving?

Friend: No

Jonathan: Why?

Friend: Because this is my home and my family is here.

Jonathan: So are you hiding in a bomb shelter?

Friend: No ... but it is not save for you.

Jonathan: You live here and you are not leaving so why should I leave?

Friend: Because I care about you.

Jonathan: I get that!  You know my relationship with God makes me sure I will go to heaven when I die.  Yeah.  You know you can have that same relationship too.  You can know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die.  Then you won’t have to be concerned with any of these things.  I mean, obviously I don’t want to live in fear ... but realize that there are people dying and going to hell and that could happen from a rocket or from a heart attack what difference does it make?  Love you man ... Just as I’ve shared the Gospel with you I hope that someday you will accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord cuz I love you man and I’d love to know that you’ll be in heaven ... you know you can make that choice today?  ... 

Friend: I know I know thank you my friend ... I need to go.  Please be careful.

Jonathan: Alright, thanks, God Bless.

---

That was basically my phone call today.  So the bottom line is do you know where you are going?  If you don’t you should, if you do, Praise Him! because the rest of it does not matter.

I’m fine!  Pray for the country!  And for people to get saved, because ultimately the life here does not matter but our eternity is what matters.  I pray that your prayers are being guided into peoples eternity ... not that “Jonathan would be safe” because God’s got me.  Amen.  Amen.

I’m in the bomb shelter (safe room).  Disney’s castle is in the background with Snow White (you will need to see the video for this to make sense) 

Alright, I’m going to level with you.  

The media blows everything out of proportion and it’s ridiculous.

There are a lot of “things” going on (in Israel).  I’m just outside of Jerusalem to the west and yes I did hear sirens going off today (the warnings of incoming missles)

Some people from my church (Oleksiy and Paula) are in Tel Aviv and they have “things” going on where sirens are going off and they are in the market and will have to go into the bomb shelter (it’s usually a 10 minute wait for clearance after the siren or after you hear the BOOM then you can leave)

Here is the thing.  If the terrorists do their job, then everyone is afraid to go out and be in real life.  That’s it.  It’s not complicated.  If the terrorists do their job FEAR takes over and nothing normal goes on.  You are afraid to get on the bus, afraid to go to the market, you’re afraid to go outside, you’re afraid when the sirens go off or you’re afraid when the sirens don’t go off ... but the bottom line is, Does your relationship with God make you sure you will go to heaven when you die? 

It’s simple.

Mine does.  So I don’t have the concerns, worries ... now I don’t want to be blown up that’s not it at all.  The fact is I know that it is better to be in heaven than here (on earth) and I like it here (on earth) so that means that I’m going to like it in heaven.  Ultimately it all comes down to how many people we can invite to come along to heaven.  That’s what is going to matter, that’s what is going to count in eternity.  That’s what God has called (asked) us to do.  To “Go and make disciples, Go and preach the Gospel” invite people because they don’t have the same hope.  Jesus is our hope.  He is my hope, I hope he is your hope!  He (Jesus) brings peace, love, and joy.  There is no fear in that.  Peace, love, joy, ... what more could you want?  
He is the reason for the hope that I have.

I’m okay.

Pray for people that don’t know Jesus, they need your prayers ... they need your prayers.


Mark 1:15
"The time has come, the kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!
In His Loving Grace,
Jonathan