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

Stir up Love and Good Works

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

It is written that Love is the greatest of all spiritual gifts. It is also written that God is Love. So the greatest of all gifts both given and imparted to us as believers in Jesus Christ is Love.

In the book of Hebrews we are told to
stir up love and good works in each other. Interesting how graciously we are reminded that unless we are stirred our love and good works settle into a cozy thing some would call a rut ... I call it a couch.

I enjoy resting in a couch. The problem for me is I'd much rather rest in a couch that be up early praying and planning my day. I mean it's just much easier to lay around. But that is not what we are told to do and there is a very loving warning in this instruction.

If I'm inside on a cozy couch it is very easy for me to settle into a daily routine. In fact, I like a routine.

The truth is that when we do get together with other believers an amazing thing happens. God speaks to his people through his people. As we talk about God working in our lives, others are stirred up and encouraged by it. The next thing that follows is action. So we see Love and Good Works stirred up by obedience to follow instruction given in God's Word.

A short time ago I had been asked to lead a worship song and thankfully (Praise God) had a song in my heart.

I was out of practice and spent time practicing. I then was reminded of how it's been impressed upon me to make a worship video out of it. The goal was to do it well, to make it distraction free, and used it as a basis to improve on.

This was actually done out of obedience because I've been praying about how to demonstrate worship and what I put together was as good as I have ability for. It actually turned out even better than I have ability for and even more was proof to me that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

I can't even clap and sing at the same time but God is faithful and uses me despite inabilities. I really really want to get better and believe that this was was the way I was shown ... Make the video and learn from your mistakes.

That was for me.

Now the blessing comes in ways that were unimaginable to me. You see, God used it to reach others and now 2 more songs exist out of obedience.

Please watch ... It will bless you!

Back to Stiring up!

Gathering together we get to see God knitting our lives together and I know for me that spurs me on to want to do more. There are people dying and going to hell every day ... It makes it very hard for me to justify sitting on a couch knowing that people need to hear the Gospel. Remember, faith comes by hearing.

It's not comfortable being out there in front of others to be criticized, mocked, and chided. But the blessings far outweigh the reasons mentioned.

Praise Him if you have Him!

In His Loving Grace,
Jonathan

Update 4.2 - Katzrim Tour

Join me in a tour of the town.

The water you see in the video is from a natural spring, unlike the majority of Israel which gets it's water from the Galilee, this small town has their own water source!  

In His Loving Grace,

Jonathan

Sanctuary - Worship - Lord Prepare Me

The Bible tells us to be ready in season and out of season ... for some that means we need to get prepared now so that we are ready for the out of season times.  There are lots of people probably millions right now that are not ready in the season of devastation that Hurricane Sandy caused.  Please pray for them as they have had everything ripped away.  For those who had their souls required of them we can do nothing but for the survivors, they need God and His salvation for the times ahead.  For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him has everlasting life.   More than anything, survivors need Jesus and His forgiveness and Love.  Here in Israel it seems there are more people interested in the devastation in America than for their own sake here.  It really blows me away.  May we all have that attitude toward one another.  In His Loving Grace