ESCALATION

At 4:30 this morning (10/2) I was rudely awakened by the sound of the Code Red missile alarm on my phone. I grabbed the phone and headed to my bathroom - my 'safe room'. It was only then that I noticed the Code Red was for the region of Beit Shean and the Jezreel Valley in the lower Galilee, and not for the Jerusalem region.  This Code Red was followed by several others over the next two hours. Clearly this was no false alarm or exercise. I turned on the TV to see what was happening. 

As the day has passed the picture has clarified. At about 4:30 an unmanned drone was launched from Syria, crossed over Jordanian territory and turned into Israel.  An Israeli helicopter succeeded in shooting it down. In response, Israel scrambled its airforce and attacked the site from which the drone was launched. One of the fighter planes, a F-16, was apparently hit by at least one of the tens of anti-aircraft shells fired from Syria. The pilots nearly managed to return to their base, but didn't quite make it and had to ditch the plane to crash just 100m or so from a school on a kibbutz. It was Shabbat so thankfully there were no students in the school. The pilots managed to eject before the plane crashed and burned. One was only lightly injured but the other suffered deep puncture wounds to his stomach and is described as being in a serious condition, though stable at present. All the other antiaircraft shells landed in open areas and no one was injured. In response, Israeli forces attacked some 12 military installations in Syria, killing at least 6 military personnel.  

The crashed F-16 near Harduf at 4:30 this morning.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5103264,00.html

This attack represents a serious escalation on the already tense northern border.  The drone crossed the border and spent about 1 1/2 minutes in Israeli territory before it was shot down. The drone was captured and is a drone, with a wingspan of about 2-3 m, made in Iran where it was copied from an American drone they captured some time ago. The anti-aircraft artillery is also supplied by Iran and its backer Russia. The possession of these weapons by Syria is a game changer and represents a serious danger to Israel. 

The situation seems to have quietened down now but we are all waiting to see what comes next. One thing that seems certain however is that war with Iran and/or its proxies, Syria, Lebanon and Hezbollah is inevitable. The only question is "When?".  Although all sides are saying they do not want war now (meaning they want to build up their arsenals even more), the situation remains very tense and volatile. Some cross-border incident could spark all-out war at any moment. Not only that, the situation in Gaza is also reaching flashpoint. The humanitarian situation is reaching crisis proportions in Gaza and Hamas wants to attack Israel to deflect attention away from its inability to govern the Strip.  In the coming war Israel can expect to be attacked both from the north and from the south. There will be no place in Israel out of reach of enemy missiles. The map below shows the range of Hezbollah's missile arsenal and the time it would take for a missile to reach regions in Israel if fired from Lebanon. Notice it would take just over a minute for a missile to reach Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, less to reach Haifa. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155327045069352&set=p.10155327045069352&type=3&theater

In the event of war, Hezbollah would try to do as much harm as possible to Israel within the first few hours. It is estimated that they have between 130,000 to 150,000 short, medium and long-range missiles and rockets (1) and the ability to fire 1500 to 2000 into Israel per day (compare: 130-180/day in last Lebanon war). The potential loss of life and damage to infrastructure (power stations, water distribution etc) is likely to be catastrophic, not only to Israel but also to Lebanon and Syria, since Israel would also respond with enormous firepower. For more on the likely scenario see this article http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Rockets-missiles-and-more-Predicting-the-third-Lebanon-war-542171  It doesn't bear thinking about. 

And this is just what most Israelis appear to be doing - not thinking about it. Even during this last incident many thousands of Israelis continued to visit the Golan to enjoy the perfect weather, see the beautiful wildflowers and play in the snow on Mt Hermon. This is both our strength as a nation,  and our weakness. Our strength lies in the determination not to allow the enemy to stop us from living life to the full, a kind of defiance, that I have seen over and over again here. However it is our weakness too in that it means we are somewhat not prepared psychologically nor practically should war break out.  I well remember the days leading up to the Gulf War of 1991 when half the population did not believe it would happen - until the first missile landed. Only then did people rush to the shops to buy essential supplies, causing chaos.  Even the hospital in which I was working at the time had not made preparation!

http://www.hermon.com/mt_hermon/17.jpg

 I take great comfort in the fact that although vastly outnumbered and strategically vulnerable Israel has a secure future because God is firmly on our side. The nations around us may plot our demise but God has declared his support for Israel. There is coming a time of great suffering for all of us, Israelis and our enemy nations alike, but in the end, God will establish his kingdom on Earth in Jerusalem as is promised in the Scriptures. This cartoon says it all.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/78/0a/35/780a35a8ff8ee5c6d0f10a42d2420219.jpg

O God, do not remain silent;

    do not turn a deaf ear,

    do not stand aloof, O God.

 

See how your enemies growl,

    how your foes rear their heads.

 

With cunning they conspire against your people;

    they plot against those you cherish.

 

“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,

    so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”

With one mind they plot together;

    they form an alliance against you—

 

the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

    of Moab and the Hagrites,

 

Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,

    Philistia, with the people of Tyre.

 

Even Assyria has joined them

    to reinforce Lot’s descendants.

Psalm 83: 1-8

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Kingdoms_around_Israel_830_map.svg/1200px-Kingdoms_around_Israel_830_map.svg.png

Even though God is for Israel it does not mean we here in Israel should be complacent nor take His support for granted. I do not know when the Lord's great day of judgment will come but with every passing day, it draws closer, and judgment will begin with Jerusalem and Judah. 

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord,

    for the day of the Lord is near.

The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;

    he has consecrated those he has invited.

Zephaniah 1:7

“I will stretch out My hand against Judah,
And against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
I will cut off every trace of Baal from this place,
The names of the idolatrous priests with the priests— Those who worship the host of heaven on the housetops;
Those who worship and swear oaths by the Lord,
But who also swear by Milcom;
 Those who have turned back from following the Lord,
And have not sought the Lord, nor inquired of Him

Zephaniah 1:4-6

It is interesting to note that the word here translated (in NKJV) as 'idolatrous priests' is 'chemarim' which comes from an ancient Hebrew root meaning 'he who wears black'. In modern Hebrew this root is used to describe Christian priests, comarim, but here in this prophecy it refers to those priests in Jerusalem who wear black to draw attention to their piety whilst practicing idolatry and astrology, and failing to seek after the LORD. The word translated 'priests' (the NKJV inserts 'pagan' before the word - erroneously) is cohanim, the legitimate priesthood of Israel, which is also guilty of the same sins.   I cannot help but relate this verse to the false priesthood of the modern rabbinical system which distorts true Biblical Judaism and mixes it with all kinds of occult and pagan beliefs and practices - the synagogue of Satan (see Revelation 3:9).  

Ultra- orthodox in Jerusalem protesting compulsory draft for army service.
https://www.vosizneias.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/RTX333A1-layout-comp-725x479.jpg

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that Judaism is satanic nor all those who practice it, but I am saying that those who, while claiming to be pious, break God's laws and teach others to reject the Messiah, Yeshua, stand to be judged, and furthermore bring us all, as a nation, under God's wrath. 

This week we saw a shameful example of their hypocrisy when two young women wandered into Mea Shearim, and because they were not dressed according to the 'rules' of the ultra-orthodox community, were physically attacked with rocks and firecrackers, and verbally insulted (2). I ask, what is the greater sin- dressing 'incorrectly' or violence against defenseless women?  I could cite many such examples of the hypocrisy of the religious. One Shabbat I was driving down a main thoroughfare which runs next to Mea Shearim (but not through it) and my car was stoned by a group of ultra-orthodox boys, shouting abuse at me. I asked which is the greater sin? And how can they justify picking up rocks to throw on a Shabbat, which surely constitutes 'work' which is after all strictly forbidden in a community that even bans the tearing of toilet paper on a Shabbat? Jesus spoke out boldly against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees of his day because he understood the harm they did to the people. The Pharisees of today are no better.

Of course the true priests, the cohanim, will also come under judgment and according to the New Testament, all who follow Yeshua are considered priests (Revelation 1:6). We too will come under judgment so we need to watch ourselves and keep 'short accounts' with God. 

In Israel today there are very few who follow the LORD God of Israel. The religious sector has the appearance of piety and great zealousness but are not enlightened by Truth, therefore attempt to attain salvation by good works of the Law and this brings them under the curse of the Law, death, and bondage. At the other extreme the secular Israeli is caught up in hedonistic materialism which leads into all kinds of other sins, covetousness, fraud, theft, adultery and so on. Many so-called secular people, having rejected modern Judaism, have turned to foreign gods, and are caught up in the idolatrous pagan practices of Eastern mysticism,  New Age and the Occult. We as a nation are very sinful. We will be judged for our sin and therefore we need to call out to God for his great mercy. 

Thankfully God has provided a way of salvation available for all. In view of the coming judgment God warns us, saying, He says, 

"Gather together, gather yourselves together,

   you shameful nation,

2 

before the decree takes effect

    and that day passes like windblown chaff,

before the Lord’s fierce anger

    comes upon you,

before the day of the Lord’s wrath

    comes upon you.

3 

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land,

    you who do what he commands.

Seek righteousness, seek humility;

    perhaps you will be sheltered

    on the day of the Lord’s anger."

Zephaniah 2: 1-3

Please pray that all of Israel will gather together before the LORD, humble ourselves and seek His righteousness. We could do no better than echo the fervent prayer of Daniel: 

Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments,  we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land...

 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.

Daniel 9: 4-6; 11; 17-19

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Pray for national repentance for Israel, that people will turn away from deception and seek Truth in humility. Pray that religious leaders will repent of leading the people to reject Truth and will humble themselves before God.
2. Pray for our political and religious leaders that they will have God's wisdom, that they will act with measured restraint but with courage in the face of the threats of our enemies. A quote from Netanyahu after his recent meeting with Putin gives us food for thought : “We are now on the cusp of a watershed moment of whether Iran will entrench itself there or if the process will be stopped. I told Putin that if it isn’t stopped by itself, we will act to stop it. In practice, we’re already operating.”  (3) 
3.  Pray that we as individuals and as a nation will be prepared for war should or when that comes upon us. 
4. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, Judah and all Israel.
5. Pray for our enemies who seek our destruction. They do not know they stand against the all-powerful God, creator of the Universe and the Judge of all. Pray that the lies and deception they have been fed will be exposed and more and more of them have a revelation of Yeshua and find salvation.
6. Pray for more rain. This year's rainfall has so far been way below average leaving us in a drought situation worse than ever before. Already 85% of our drinking water is coming from the desalination plants (which would be prime targets in case of war). Agriculture and the natural ecosystems are in dire straits. With the end of the rainy season drawing close, time is running out for the good rain we so badly need. There is also very little snow on Mt Hermon this year. 

Israel and Egypt from space at night (Photo: NASA)
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4858225,00.html

References:

1. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Rockets-missiles-and-more-Predicting-the-third-Lebanon-war-542171

2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5097125,00.html
3.   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5095165,00.html

GIDEON'S ARMY

 

And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

 

Judges 7:2

After the time of the Judge Deborah, the people of Israel once more 'did evil in the sight of God' and He gave them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites lived in the lands to the east of the Gulf of Aqaba, which today is in Saudi Arabia. The Midianites, together with the Amalekites and others from the East, constantly raided Israel, taking their grain and livestock, causing great suffering, until the Israelites, in desperation, called out to God. In response God raised up a Judge called Gideon, the least son of the least clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh. There came a time when the Midianites, with their allies from the East, raised up a vast army, of at least 135,000 fighting men  (Judges 8:11), and they camped  in the Jezreel Valley below the Hill of Moreh.








https://ferrelljenkins.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/harod_map-sm.jpg

 

Gideon also raised up an army and camped opposite the Midianites at Ein Harod (The Spring of Harod).

 

 



Ein Harod and Mt Moreh today https://lukechandler.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/dscf0160.jpg?w=640



 

Gideon's army was vastly outnumbered since it consisted of only 32,000 men, about a quarter the size of the Midianite hordes!

Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude

Judges 7:12

 

What chance did Israel have against so great an enemy? And yet, God said Gideon's army were too many, and He commanded Gideon to send all but 300 home. Why? It must have seemed crazy, but God intended to fight for Israel and He wanted to be sure that they, and all their enemies, would know that it was He who would give Israel victory. He would demonstrate His power and his love for Israel in a way that all could see, and in a way that would make it impossible for the people to take the glory for themselves. And He did. With God's help Gideon's tiny army succeeded in driving the Midianite hordes from the Land and the people of Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years.

 

Today Israel is surrounded by a great many enemies, some of whom have vast armies, far outnumbering ours. According to the Global Firepower Index, Iran alone has an  army of around 2 million soldiers currently in front-line service or in active reserves, and another 40 million fit for duty if needed (http://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=iran). Add to that the armies of all the other enemies of Israel and you will see we are vastly outnumbered and that is an understatement.  Israel has only about 700,000 soldiers in active or reserve duty, and perhaps another around 3 million fit for duty at a pinch. What chance would we have if all our enemies attacked together now?

 

This week a Commission headed by Maj.-Gen. (res.) Yohanan Locker published its report that recommends the IDF (Israel Defense Force) budget be cut by 9.6 billion shekels each year over the next 4 years.  These 'efficiency' cuts would include a reduction of 11 % of the army's resources and personnel by 2017,  and cutting back the length of compulsory service and reserve duties, among other measures. It seems crazy considering the massive military threat Israel currently faces - just as crazy as Gideon's cuts. But perhaps God is preparing the stage, for yet another spectacular demonstration of his power and love for Israel. I remember the saying 'Me plus God is a majority'. Its true. As long as God is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

 

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. ⁹ It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12: 8-9

For the day of the Lord upon all the nations is near;
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
Your reprisal shall return upon your own head.
¹⁶ For as you drank on My holy mountain,
So shall all the nations drink continually;
Yes, they shall drink, and swallow,
And they shall be as though they had never been.

¹⁷ “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance,
And there shall be holiness;
The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
¹⁸ The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
And the house of Joseph a flame;
But the house of Esau shall be stubble;
They shall kindle them and devour them,
And no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau,”
For the Lord has spoken.

Obadiah v. 18

 

Although we know that in the end, the God of Israel will triumph and destroy all those who rise up against his holy people, I fear this will not happen until the people themselves cry out for salvation and rescue. The LORD is bringing Israel back to her land, but most are returning in a state of unbelief. We are all aware of the threats hanging over us but most are living in a state of denial with an 'eat, drink and be merry' attitude, instead of  repentance. Since the foundation of the State there have been many wars and confrontations with our neighbors and in each one God has clearly intervened to save many lives and to give Israel, though vastly outnumbered, the victory. There are many, many reports of miraculous events that support this view. I have noticed that as long as the fighting is going on, the newspapers and the people do give recognition to the hand of the LORD and his supernatural protection, but as soon as the fighting stops, everyone forgets, gives glory to the IDF and our own strength, and then everything goes back to normal. We forget so quickly the goodness of the LORD.  

 

There are many parallels between our times and the time when the remnant of  Judah under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, and rebuilt the Temple and the walls around the city.  They too had to hold a weapon in one hand and build with the other, for their neighbors lead by Tobias, Sanballat and Geshem the Arab, fought against them. Even so, it took them, under the leadership of Nehemiah, only 52 days to completely repair the entire city wall which the Babylonians had totally destroyed.  And their enemies were astounded:

 

   And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.

Nehemiah 6:16
 

Once the work was complete, all the people, in the seventh month gathered together and Nehemiah read to them the Book of the Law, and when they heard its words, and realized their sin, they wept. That year the whole people kept the Feast of Tabernacles with joy, but when it was over they gathered together with fasting, wearing sackcloth and with ashes on their heads, confessing and repenting of their sin. They then entered into a solemn curse and an oath "to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes"(Nehemiah 10:29). Later, at the dedication of the wall, all the people rejoiced with great joy before God:

Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Nehemiah 12: 43.  

 

Yet, what happened?  Nehemiah had to return to Babylon for a time, and the minute his back was turned, the people permitted their erstwhile enemy, Tobias, to set up his household in the Temple itself, corrupting the priesthood and the sacrifices, and all the people turned away from the commandments of God, profaning the Sabbath. How short our memory! However Nehemiah returned, worked to restore the proper functioning of the priesthood, and eventually cleansed the Land of all pagan worship. (Nehemiah 13:30).

What will it take to convict the people of Israel today of their sin and bring them to repentance? Today the nations are gathering around against Jerusalem, and the stage is being set for a mighty battle that Israel's little army could never win. When all hope of victory will be lost, then the people will cry out and God will step in and bring victory, as is prophesied in Jeremiah 12  and elsewhere. God will save Israel and he will destroy her enemies. Zion will see victory, Israel will be restored, not only physically but also spiritually.  All Israel will be saved and they will know their Messiah  (Romans 11:26). Hallelujah!





 And what else is happening in Israel this summer?
 

This week the first intake of the year of new draftees into the IDF took place. At least 43 young Messianic believers will be in this year's draft, and I believe there are currently  around 300 believers serving in the IDF. Please remember to pray for these young men and women who face a lot of challenges, not the least that of being separated from family and congregation, whilst being subjected to a great degree of peer pressure to conform to the behavior and beliefs of their comrades. In spite of this many of our wonderful young people have been recognized as outstanding soldiers and most stand firm in their faith shining as a light to their peers.

 

 

High summer is now upon us and the children are on vacation. The heat out on my balcony has just driven me indoors for the relative cool of my apartment (the indoor thermometer is reading 30 degrees!), even though it is just 9AM. We cannot complain however as the summer has not been particularly hot up until now, and the low humidity (about 30%) here on our mountain keeps the heat bearable. Only one year ago, Operation Tsuk Eitan was in progress in Gaza, and  our poor soldiers were sweating it out in army fatigues, sleeping  in the dust, behind their tanks, and risking their lives every  minute. The civilians in the south were crammed into  sweltering bomb shelters as the sirens blared warning of incoming rockets and missiles, sometimes as many as 12 times a day.

 

One day this week I took myself off to the lovely swimming pool at Ramat Rachel nearby.  As I arrived at the pool, I was thinking how great it was to be able to swim,  and relax on the lawns under the trees, without having to worry about where I would have to run to if the sirens went off. Just at that very moment, the siren went off!!!! I had to laugh at the irony. Everyone stopped and a ripple of shock passed through us all until the head lifeguard called to us that it was just an exercise. Even so in the midst of the blaring noise, which went on some minutes, there was an eerie silence. Everyone stopped, no one talked or walked or swam. We just stood there. I know my stomach twisted as it always does when the sirens go. I was probably not alone and I am sure we all shared the same thoughts, remembering last summer, and knowing that the threat of war is hovering over us all the time. It was a harsh reminder that the calm and joy of our summer vacation could be cut short any moment. Later that same day, in the evening, our neighborhood peace was rent by the sound of several large explosions nearby, followed by gunfire and hovering helicopters (a sure sign that something is amiss). I never did learn what happened but since then we have been hearing sporadic gunfire in the Arab villages across the valley.  This is not unusual and sometimes it is just a wedding celebration or some other event at which is it customary in Arab society to shoot off guns (forgetting that bullets fired into the air, must come down somewhere!). However it had been quiet for several months since the police cracked down on the disturbances earlier in the year. I hope that this does not mark a return to the sporadic explosions and volleys  of gunfire we used to have almost daily.

Many of Israel's children are currently enjoying summer camps. All over Israel you can see groups of happy, laughing children having the time of their lives, playing games, touring the Land, and swimming. But what about the kids in Gaza? There the kids are going to 'summer camp' too, but the goal of these Hamas-run camps is "to train the vanguard for liberation: spiritually, intellectually and physically, to be ready and able to play its role in liberation," according to a statement by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4683772,00.html This  year's 'summer camp' accepts people from the ages of 15 to 60, and 25,000 are attending, mostly youngsters.  They are  being taught how to fire live ammunition (using portraits of Israeli leaders for targets) and how to infiltrate and carry out attacks through terror tunnels, hand-to-hand combat and other military skills. Worse still, they are being indoctrinated and brainwashed into a culture of hatred and violence.  





Israeli youngsters enjoying summer camp
http://www.tshcamp.com/wp-content/gallery/daycamp2/740x420_swim.jpg


 Gazan children show off their skills at their 'summer camp' - with real guns..
http://www.ynet.co.il/PicServer2/24012010/2688381/k1_wa.jpg

Where is the outcry of the human rights groups about this abuse and  the brutalization of a whole generation of children? How is it that Hamas has money for this but not to rebuild homes destroyed in the war they started last year? Perhaps those 25,000 young people would have been better employed rebuilding those parts of Gaza destroyed in last year's war, or learning the skills needed to build a better future for themselves and their people?

 

Another feature of Israeli summers are forest and brush fires. Yesterday two large fires broke out. One, in the Galilee, was brought under control quickly, but another near Beit Shemesh burned out of control for many hours. This was the biggest fire since the catastrophic fire on the Carmel in 2010 in which 40 people perished. Thankfully since that time our fire fighting capability has improved, not the least by the acquisition of at least 13 planes that can drop fire retardant. With the help of 150 firefighters and volunteers, and the planes, the villages of  Tarum, Kfar Uriya and Ta'oz  were saved and there was no loss of life. Nevertheless 370 acres of wooded land were burned.

 

There is an especially high fire risk in the pine forests around Jerusalem. High temperatures, strong winds,  combined with pine resins and  a lot of dead branches brought down by the snow over the last years,  all creates a volatile mix. Just a piece of glass in the sunshine is enough to ignite a fire which can spread very quickly. The fire near Beit Shemesh yesterday is thought to have started when an (illegal) rubbish fire got out of control, but over the past years many fires have been lit by arsonists as acts of terrorism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Beit Shemesh Fire and Rescue  

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4683675,00.html

 

 

 I have only two weeks left of my summer vacation and then  it will be back to work. I plan to enjoy every moment . However please join me in lifting up the people of Israel at this time. Tension and stress levels run high. Many people go abroad during the summer for a time of rest and to visit relatives. When here we just get on with life and mostly are not so aware of the stress levels, but when you go out of the Land it is as if a heavy burden is lifted, and you realize how much tension you have been under.  But then you must come home and for many re-entry is difficult.  Please remember us all in your prayers. They are important and God hears them all.