Finding the words and stories to share and sum up in one months time is a challenge for the simple fact that God is doing so many amazing things every day that often I’m overwhelmed in awe and reverence, which leads me to pray myself to sleep.
For you english majors, I challenge you come and serve and try to sum up God’s goodness ... my long sentence still allows you to gasp at the end and catch your breath.
Not so in Israel. It’s amazing!
Have you ever realized that amazing can be in both a good context and a bad context at the same time? I’m frequently going back and reviewing Follow Me which is a short book that has a goal of equipping any Christian for a life of service. It‘s a great book if you are interested in how you can better serve God.
The Bible tells us that a worker is worth his wage. If you decide to get this by the FREE download and enjoy it please contact their ministry and donate.
Back to both good and bad context. In the book of Judges chapter 6-8 you find a shy young Gideon who took an army of 300 against a powerful Syrian army of 135,000.
I’m going to let you in on the end of the story ... Gideon’s army of 300 won with 450:1 odds. That’s only possible by the grace of God.
In both cases you can say that it’s amazing that they won and you can say it’s amazing that they lost. Either way it’s amazing.
We know as Christians that when we walk into a room (or anywhere) that we make the majority. That’s God’s promise. 1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Okay so where am I going with this?
As the Bible says, there are wars and rumors of war going on and the central focus is on Israel. Right now, there are “peace keeping” Chinese war ships docked less than 1 mile from the church building in Haifa.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, this is a very scary place and time. The beautiful thing about Jesus and His Word is that by His love we are saved. It is written that perfect love cast off all fear. (ALL MEANS ALL)
War is almost a daily conversation with everyone I meet. “Hey did you get your gas mask?” Have you ever thought about even needing to ask that question?
I have my life insurance with the greatest most secure Person that ever was. Jesus Christ Mutual Life promises that you can have everlasting life FOR FREE because of the Love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Okay that said I’m going to finish up with 2 stories.
I’ve been praying to meet a Catholic Evangelist for around a month now. Why? Because I’ve never met one. The majority of people around the church building in Haifa are Arab Christians. It’s amazing how many places you see something of a cross, a picture of Mary, or some form of Christian symbol.
I had just finished a good long day and was carrying my guitar and another heavy bag thinking how sweet it would be in just a few minutes to go to sleep. I was trying not to think about the weight of things I was carrying, just the final result.
Walking back to where I’m sleeping at about 11:30 at night. Very dark, the bats were out knocking the berries off the trees and down the street comes this fast moving totally silent vehicle. As the vehicle zipped by I waved and said Shalom! The vehicle stops, this wiry guy waves me over. So I walk up to him in the middle of the street and within 30 seconds he proceeds to give me the full Gospel message that Jesus loves me, he died for me, spent 3 days in death for me, and that I need Jesus to get into heaven.
I was blown away, I said, “do you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”, he said yes. Then I said, “BROTHER!” “You are my brother then!”
We were having a breakfast the next morning for the local community and I invited him to come. I thought that he said in very broken english that he could not come. So I asked if I could bring the food to him in the morning and he said sure. I got his phone number and we parted ways.
In the morning I called him but he did not answer. Taking the food, I headed out the door and down the street to find him. When I arrived, he was just getting back into his “car”. I say this because it’s an electric scooter much like covered golf cart. He then asked me to come into his home where he walked through a hole in a wall to an adjoining room. (literally a hole like you would see someone blow a hole through a concrete wall) He rummaged through some boxes and came out with a rosary. He said, “this is for your mom”. Then he asked if my dad was alive and I said yes. He went back into the room and came back with another rosary. Again saying, “this is for your dad”
I thanked him and invited him for coffee at the church. He basically followed me back and joined us. He has been coming regularly every day sometimes more than twice a day.
This is where I learned more about him. You see, he has an electric cart because he lost a lung to lung cancer. He was coming back so late from the hospital because the high heat and humidity of the day make it difficult for him to breath. After more questions I found out that he was at the hospital because he has lymphoma.
You know he is one of the most joy filled people I’ve met! He knows where he is going when he dies. God is faithful to answer prayers and blew me away with this man. My first Catholic Evangelist who has his time stamped, meaning he does not have long to live. You can be sure, he is making use of the days God has given him.
I was convicted. I’ve was caught up in the language barrier idea that people can’t understand me because I don’t know the local language. You know, God made it clear, it doesn’t matter. The man I met didn’t waste any time giving me the Gospel. He didn’t try to come up with some cool way to hand me a tract. He just opened his mouth and started saying what was in his heart. Jesus was in his heart. Praise God for that!
Not long after that I had a chance to talk with someone I use to work with. They are from another country and I knew enough to know he had never heard the full Gospel message. I didn’t waste any time. People are dying and going to hell and the idea that you’re nice to them by giving them a meal but failing to give the words of everlasting life pretty much comes down to you have fattened someone up for hell. That’s just as ugly as it sounds.
The church presence is growing in Haifa. Just he other day I kid (14 year old boy) who I walked outside to give a cup of cold water to came back after 3 weeks of praying for him. It was a cool way to meet someone. I handed him the water and he was so blown away that he came in and talked with us for a good hour. His english was good and he was asking for help with his english so I invited him to let me help him. I told him I want to learn some Arabic and he was even more excited. Then 3 weeks past and I had not seen him once. He lives close to the church. When he came back (3 weeks later) my back was to the door and he just came in and put his hand on my back! It surprised me! I was so excited to see him! He’s been in and out now several times since. The guitar and talks have been fun. He’s just like any other kid in the world. He has a bike and rides it everywhere. When I asked him if he wanted something to eat he said he was fasting for Ramadan. My immediate thought was what an awesome God I have that I’m free from needing to work and earn my way into heaven. He is muslim. I’m praying for the door to open with him. I don’t understand everything he tells me but one day there was another man in the church that speaks both Hebrew and Arabic. When the kid came in, he kept saying to me ... something in Arabic. The other man translated it to this. “He says (meaning the kid) that when you gave him the cup of water he fell in love with you” ... what an awesome thing that God does to open doors to loving those around us!!!!
I’m so thankful to be here! Thank you for your prayers and interest!
Praise Him if you got Him!!!
Jonathan
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