Yom Kippur

In about one hour, the country of Israel will "close" for Yom Kippur. Rabbinically, this is the holiest day of the Jewish year. The airport closed a few hours ago. The freeways will close, restaurants will close, and people will stay near their homes and synagogues for a day of prayer tomorrow. There is a nation-wide fast as people attempt to humble themselves before God in prayer. Here at IBEX, we will also have a day of prayer tomorrow. We will have specific times where we will praise God for His greatness ("Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the earth?" Psalm 113:5-6), pray for Israel and the church ("My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved" Romans 10:1), worshipping God for His atoning work ("who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed" 1 Peter 2:24), and praying for missions and the lost. It makes me think of Psalm 130:7-8 "O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." And He has. If only they could see that.

In the above picture, you can see the view the prophet Amos had of the wilderness from his home in Tekoa. In the next picture, we are sitting in the remains of a gate built by Solomon at the important city of Gezer.

We have so many amazing opportunities here. I'm so thankful to have the chance to walk in the land of the Bible and experience it first hand.

Remembering the Past

This morning, I woke up remembering a morning not long ago that began so much differently. On a Tuesday, like today; on September 11, the calendar date today; on a morning 6 years ago, the lives of thousands in America and around the world were changed. Today I pray for comfort for the families of the 3,000 that were killed in the terror attacks, and for safety for all the troops still fighting the war on terror around the world, specifically in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's interesting to contemplate how life is remembered based on significant events. The United Kingdom (of Israel). The Divided Kingdom. The Babylonian Exile. The Second Temple Period. The reign of the Herods. Before and After the birth of Jesus (BC/AD). The Byzantines. The Crusades. The Middle Ages. The Industrial Revolution. The World Wars. Vietnam. Desert Storm. September 11. The Indonesian Tsunami. Katrina. There are many more major historical events I could name, but so much of history is defined by war or catastrophe, pain and terror. Praise be to the Lord that we can look at history and see in light of the life of Christ and what He did for us. As believers, some of the most important events to us are the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Savior. We have hope because of events that occurred 2,000 years ago. We have Scripture that illustrates and tells of God's plan for man's redemption throughout history and the many promises still to be fulfilled in the future - Christ returning for believers. Going to heaven to be with the LORD for eternity. Praise God that we don't have to measure time from tragedy to tragedy. John 16:33 says

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

May we share the message of hope and salvation with those hurting from the result of evil and sin, and with those that are still being affected by terrorism around the world.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?...And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me...Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries...I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!" Psalm 27:1, 6, 12-14

Walking through History

Just now, as I was sitting down to write this, I looked at a picture of my family then at the picture of the Temple Mount as seen from the City of David and I was struck once again by the fact that I can feel so close to home yet be walking all over Biblical history. I cannot even describe how it feels to literally walk on something that has been around for over 2,000 years or to walk in the tunnel that Hezekiah built 700 years before Jesus walked on earth. You start to ask yourself how something could be so well built that thousands of people still see it today. Every step I took yesterday I was reminded of the greatness of our God and how faithful He has been to His people despite the choices they have made. It reminds me how thankful I am that the God who was (and is) so faithful and loving and patient with Israel is just the same with me.

Understanding the Word

The Temple Mount, as seen from the top of the Citadel. The Dome of the Rock stands on the former site of the Temple. In the background you can see the Mount of Olives.

I am constantly amazed at how you can learn more from Scripture every time you read it. In the past two days, I have listened to Psalm 48 being explained by two very godly men, and then I have walked in the very city talked about in the psalm. Along with that, the students are memorizing the psalm for class and I want to memorize it as well, so wherever I go, I hear it being recited. I can't imagine a better way to "study" God's Word.

"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is in her palaces; He is known as her refuge. For behold, the kings assembled, they passsed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; they were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, and pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, as when You break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it forever. We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindnesses, in the midst of Your temple. According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Your judgments. Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Count her towers; mark well her bulwarks; consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death." Psalm 48 NKJV

This is my buddy, Eitan, and I at the airport picking up the students.

My friends, Yuma and Yerimiah.

Galatians 6:10

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

I have never seen this verse more clearing and consistantly followed than here in Israel with those I live around. It is constantly amazing to me the different lives that are lived here, yet with people still being people. The three families I am working for are always thinking of others. Schedules are put aside, for people. Dishes are left undone in order to meet the needs of people. Food and toys are freely shared so that people feel loved and cared for, even when the time to share them is not always convenient. Now this may not sound like much, and you may think, "I do that too, sometimes." But I am serious when I say that these amazing friends live this way all the time. They have learned more than I have about the joy found in living for the Lord first, then others, then themselves. As my Mama likes to say, "True joy is spelled J-O-Y. Jesus - Others - You. Always put the Lord and others before yourself and you will find true joy, living like Jesus." Last night I was once again included in a family dinner. Afterwards, when I went back to my room and checked my phone messages, one of the other families had invited me over for dinner as well. I want to learn to care for others like these families do.

Jesus said, in John 13:15, "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." Jesus has just washed the disciples' feet and was illustrating what true servanthood really looks like, but this verse, I think, applies to all that Jesus said and did. He is our perfect example. What a lot of learning and change I have left to do!

Our God is Great

"The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name -- He is holy." Psalm 99

Our God is great and mighty. He has done great things for His people in the past and His people, us, today. Today as we were driving to have some fun in Israel, this question kept coming up every few minutes. Bill would ask, "What in the Bible happened here?" What an awesome experience to recall God's people and His faithfulness to them as you drive to swim and play?

At lunch we had a very "Israeli" discussion about Creation and Genesis 1 and 2. What an encouragement to always be talking, thinking about or looking at parts of Scripture. I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I am being given.

A Small World

Life in Israel is wonderful simply because it is where the Lord has me right now. I'm so thankful for the chance to be here and I'm enjoying all of the different things I've been able to do so far. I've painted and weeded and trimmed bushes in the hot weather. I've had meals where I can hear a minimum of 4 different languages being spoken, I've helped prepare an Arabic dish for dinner, I've done dishes Israeli style (hard to picture until you've seen it). I've walked through the new shopping center just outside the Old City gates, tasted Aroma coffee (Israel's Starbucks...very good!), and walked through the streets of the Old City. I've wandered around an Israeli mall with a 10 year old to translate for me, watched a 6 or 7 year old Sudanese girl (who doesn't speak a lick of Hebrew or English) make herself at home in the Schlegels house, and helped change a tire on the side of a busy Jerusalem road. And how can I forget the morning hug from 3 year old Eitan, or drink the fresh squeezed grape juice 7 year old Isaiah made for me (he went to the vineyards, pulled off some grapes, washed his hands and the grapes and then squeezed them into a glass...delicious!)? Life is good. Our Lord is better. May I never forget to give Him the glory for each and every day.