North Korea, ISIS and Iran

NORTH KOREA, ISIS AND IRAN

The Lord foils the plans of the nations;

    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

    the people he chose for his inheritance.

Psalm 33: 10-12

With the eyes and ears of the world fixed on the heated rhetoric being exchanged between North Korea and the USA, North Korea's provocative missile tests, and the growing list of terror attacks in Europe orchestrated by ISIS, the situation in the Middle East seems to have somewhat fallen off the radar. This is dangerous. Events in the Middle East are equally alarming and should not be ignored. 

In a surprise visit to Baghdad last week, US Defense Secretary, Jim Mattis, said that now that ISIS has been expelled from its northern stronghold, it is caught between converging forces approaching from both the northern and southern ends the middle stretches of the Euphrates Valley. Mattis referred to this region as being ISIS's 'last stand' (1). I wish that were true. He is forgetting that ISIS is not primarily an army or a state, it is an ideology. States and armies can be defeated but it is not so easy to destroy an ideology. ISIS was able to attract many followers because it was perceived as being victorious, giving legitimacy to its claim to being the true Islamic State carrying out true Jihad, at least in the eyes of extremist Muslims. It has suffered a blow to this image but it is yet far from being defeated. It is merely shifting its arena of warfare and is now digging in in other areas, such as in the Sinai Peninsula,  Egypt, Gaza and the Palestinian areas, Syria and Lebanon, where it continues to gain power. It is also activating its supporters all over the world to carry out terror attacks. Every time ISIS carries out a successful terror attack in Europe or elsewhere, it gains power and additional followers. It is not enough to defeat ISIS in the battlefield we must show its ideology to be flawed and its power to be weak. There is a long way yet to go to achieve this, and I wonder if the Western world has the will to even engage this fight. We, after all, do not have the religious fervour or any united ideology with which to counter that of the Muslim extremists. 

What is more, as ISIS is being driven relentlessly from Syria and Iraq, the power vacuum is not being filled by the local states but by Iran, backed by Russia and supported by North Korea. Yes, North Korea has a finger in the pie in the Middle East too.  The news agency, Reuters, reported that "Two North Korean shipments to a Syrian government agency responsible for the country’s chemical weapons program were intercepted in the past six months, according to a confidential United Nations report on North Korea sanctions violations", and furthermore, "The U.N. experts said activities between Syria and North Korea they were investigating included cooperation on Syrian Scud missile programs and maintenance and repair of Syrian surface-to-air missiles air defense systems" (2). 

Yesterday Yahya Sinwar, the recently elected Prime Minister of the Gaza Strip, told reporters that Iran is helping Hamas to prepare for war with Israel, saying "Every day we build missiles and continue military training" (3).  On Monday, when Israeli PM Netanyahu was meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Sinwar announced that " his group has restored relations with Iran and is using its newfound financial and military aid from the country to gear up for a new round of battle with Israel".  He added that Iran is now the largest backer of Hamas' military wing both financially and militarily (4).  

Iran also backs the terror organization, Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. Hezbollah has fought with Syrian government forces in the Syrian war and is now also being supported by Russia. Hezbollah, which boasts that it already has an arsenal of some 100,000 missiles with which it can attack Israel. Now, however, it wants to acquire from Iran long-range missiles which can target specific sensitive sites in Israel. Over the past few years several convoys of missiles passing through Syria have been attacked and destroyed by Israel. This has led Hezbollah to bring missile construction closer to home.  Ynetnews reports that "Russia has reportedly stationed its advanced S-400 anti-missile defense system near an Iranian arms factory in Syria, which allegedly manufactures long-range guided missiles for Hezbollah to use against Israel" (5). This factory is located near the coastal city of Tartus just north of Lebanon. 

This week the world's attention has been captured by the terrible results of Hurricane Harvey in the United States. There is no doubt that this Hurricane has created devastation of epic proportions and my heart goes out to all the people who have lost loved ones, homes and businesses.  

I do not want to belittle their suffering in any way,  but one thing struck me as I followed the news this past week, and that was the unbalanced picture of the world we receive via the western media. Here on our TVs CNN and Fox News gave us continual live coverage of the situation in Texas for several days. However at the same time on the other side of the world, in the Indian subcontinent, a similar and even greater disaster was unfolding. This horrific event received scarcely a mention. Even today as I watched CNN  news they devoted 15 minutes to recovery efforts in Texas and less than one minute to the horrific tragedy in India. Bangladesh and Nepal were not even mentioned.  The death toll in Texas has reached 46 so far and some 100,000 homes flooded or destroyed, and many are displaced and facing an uncertain future. However in Bangladesh, India and Nepal torrential monsoon rains have killed around 1200 people and sent at least 41 million people fleeing from their flooded homes (6).  The USA is a rich country with well-organized relief services and the resources to rescue trapped people, and eventually rebuild homes and businesses. The nations of the Indian subcontinent are much poorer and do not have anything like comparable resources to help people. The situation there is dire and many more people are likely to die from the flooding, landslides, collapsing buildings, starvation, and disease. Now the heavy rains are moving into Pakistan as well causing loss of life and flooding. To the western media and the world as a whole, I would like to ask the question - is an Indian, Nepalese or Bangladeshi life worth less than that of an American? 

Floods in Pakistan today
http://www.indialivetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/43-people-died-and-61-others-wounded-after-heavy-rain-and-floods-that-took-place-in-Pakistan-indialivetoday.jpg

In a similar vein, there has been much reported recently in the media about terror attacks in France, Spain, England and other western nations. However, in 2016  some 34, 676 people were killed in terror attacks worldwide. Of these only 0.7%, 238, were killed in Western Europe. The majority of fatalities, 55%, occurred in North Africa and the Middle East (7). 


In view of all these tragedies, I have been reminded to be grateful for everything I have, a  roof over my head, a dry place to sleep, clothes, clean water to drink and plenty of food. How many people around the world do not have any of these things? If you have these you are in the 5% most privileged people of the world.  When I see the suffering around the world, through natural disasters, wars and disease it puts my relatively minor problems into perspective. Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, human rights activist and author said this:
When a person doesn't have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity. A person can almost be defined by his or her attitude toward gratitude.

I have also been challenged with respect to my care of my fellow man. Sometimes the scale of need can become overwhelming and cause a kind of paralysis, but there is always something I can do, whether it is practical help, financial aid or prayer. We should not underestimate the value of prayer. Even to help one person is important. Elie Wiesel also said this:

“We must not see any person as an abstraction. Instead, we must see in every person a universe with its own secrets, with its own treasures, with its own sources of anguish, and with some measure of triumph.” 

Finally I would like to recommend an article that appeared in Ynetnews, one of Israel's main newspapers, last week. It is a ray of hope in a very troubled world. It points to the only solution for the world, the love of Yeshua (Jesus). Only He can heal us from hatred and anger and restore us to forgiveness and love. 

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5001245,00.html

References:

1. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5006214,00.html
2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-syria-un-idUSKCN1B12G2
3. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/hamas-leader-iran-helping-hamas-prepare-for-war-with-israel/article/2632784
4. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5008902,00.html
5. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5010187,00.html?utm_source=Taboola_internal&utm_medium=organic
6. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-floods-bangladesh-nepal-millions-affected-says-un-a7920721.html
7. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5007804,00.html

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD....

The verse that has been reverberating in my head all week is this one:

 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

It's a well-known verse and one I memorized soon after I became a believer 46 years ago. We often quote this verse to one another, but do we really believe it? When things go wrong in our lives, when trouble strikes, it is sometimes hard to take this verse at face value. Is this really happening for my good? How can that be? Yet, that is what the Word of the Lord says. 

In the days of the Second Intifada (2000 - 2008), when suicide bombings were an almost everyday occurrence, we rose in the morning not knowing if we would survive the day. Every night when I made it safely home again, I gave thanks for having got through another day alive.  I also remember that during that time there were many, many accounts of people being saved from injury or death because something went wrong, a puncture or a traffic jam for example. There were so many such stories it made quite an impact on my life. Now when things go wrong, I thank the Lord and am much less likely to get irritated and angry. I just think, perhaps this is from the Lord, perhaps he is protecting me from something much worse, or perhaps it is for the sake of someone else.  

It may seem a bit arrogant or self-centered to claim that God works every circumstance so that it is for my good, but what an amazing God we have that he can do that for all his children, simultaneously everywhere.  But what of the times when He doesn't save us. There were believers who died in the Intifada after all. Bad things do happen to even the LORD's  most devoted followers - disease, accidents, and all kinds of loss. I don't have an answer for that except faith- faith that even the 'worst' is part of God's working things out for our good.  The LORD took from Job everything he loved, his family, his wealth and livelihood, and finally his health. God did not tell Job why, but simply confronted Job with His awesome majesty and power. Job eventually had to just bow down to God's Will in humility. In the end, that is all we can do. There are times when we are forced to choose between despair and faith. 

A few days ago I experienced a relatively minor 'trouble' in which God demonstrated his working out of things for good. I had to go to the main post office in town, and at the central bus station I boarded the number 74 bus, that should have taken me to the post office in about 10 minutes.  It was quite some time afterwards that I came to the realization that I was on the right number bus but going in the wrong direction, and I ended up right across the wrong side of town. I wasn't best pleased with myself for this silly error,  but I got off, crossed the road and waited for a bus going the other way. In a few minutes one turned up and, as the driver pulled up to the stop, the front of the bus went up over the footpath right where a little toddler was standing. He would have been struck by the bus and injured had I not been there to pull him to safety.  On my way back across town it dawned on me that perhaps God had allowed me to make that albeit time-consuming and inconvenient mistake just so I would be in the right place at the right time to save that little boy! 

Some days later my faith was once more put to the test. My neighbor's dog chased my cat up a tree. My cat has until recently only lived indoors and though he knows how to climb up trees, he has no idea how to climb down again. He was up there for two whole nights and one very hot day,  but he just went higher and higher, until he was in the very topmost branches of a cypress tree about the equivalent of 4-5 storeys high. I eventually found a professional animal rescuer who, after a 2 hour rescue effort and no little risk to his own life, managed to get both himself and the cat down safely. He said it was the most difficult rescue he had ever done and that it was a miracle that he had succeeded. I told him that I was not surprised as I had been standing below praying fervently the whole time.  I don't know for sure but I hope that will have at least sown a small seed in that man's life, and he will draw closer to God as a result.  It was something of a traumatic experience for me and it is not over as now I am very afraid it will happen again. Today I let the cat out once more but it is with a lot of anxiety. I guess the Lord is stretching my faith muscle through all this, once again. 

Cat rescue

 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love.

1 Peter 1: 6-8

I thank God that living in Israel there are plenty of opportunities to grow in faith.  We live in constant physical danger, and have to deal with many emotional trials and spiritual attacks. We cannot let our guard down one instant. The Enemy is prowling around constantly looking for our weak spots.  This is especially true here in the Jerusalem area where the main focus of spiritual warfare lies. Please pray for the growth of faith, and for physical and spiritual protection, for all the Believers here, especially the spiritually immature. Many of the local Believers, especially those in leadership,  are going through fiery trials at the present time, struggling with serious illnesses or other very difficult situations. 

I am pleased to say that in the 30 + years I have lived here in Israel there has been tremendous growth both in numbers and maturity in the Body of Yeshua here. There is still much to be done however. One of the weak areas is the lack of maturity in the local congregations. Many people do not see commitment to congregational life as being important and often hop from one congregation to another. Others are so involved with other ministries, or their work, that they have neither time nor energy to devote to the development of healthy congregational life. 

Our congregation is trying to create a stronger expression of our faith, by means of the establishment of cell groups, in which we can get to know each other in greater depth, support and encourage one another, study the Word together, and create an unthreatening environment to bring in those who are open to the gospel or who are new believers.

 It has been difficult to develop any cohesion amongst us because we are broadly scattered geographically, speak many different languages and have heavy commitments of time and energy outside of the congregation. It is hoped that geographically based groups can overcome these difficulties to some extent. We now have three cell groups operating, one in the city and two here in Mevasseret Zion, one for Portuguese speakers and one for English speakers. The latter was just started last week and will be meeting mainly in my home. 

 The congregation will also soon be starting a Bible Study Course for new believers or those who are interested, and I may be helping out with that too.  We are continuing our Friday afternoon combined meeting in Hebrew and now I am one of two who translate into English on a regular basis. We take turn about.  Recently our congregation has joined with the King of Kings group of cooperating congregations. This is also a step towards maturity and growth as we can share resources and giftings more efficiently, supporting and helping one another, whilst maintaining our independence and identity.  

Another sign of growth in the body is the establishment of a Messianic TV station called 'Yeshua Hai' (Jesus Lives)  Their application to broadcast on cable television was turned down but it is broadcasting online. Here is the link: http://www.yeshuachai.tv.  It broadcasts only in Hebrew and presents gospel movies, testimonies from local believers and teachings. It is relying on word of mouth to spread knowledge of its existence so please pass this information on to those who might be interested.  Pray that this station will be greatly used to spread the good news.

We also have a newsletter that goes out to all who wish to receive it by email. There are both Hebrew and English versions. Here is the latest issue 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/15de19c7f6700214.  There are many articles of interest about Israel and about the Body of Messiah here in Israel. You can ask to have it sent to your inbox by writing to admin@kehilanews.com.   

Another resource for information is the online magazine "Jerusalem Today". You can subscribe to it to receive online or paper issues. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/

There are many excellent ministries involving both foreign and local believers operating in the Land. One such is Ba'ad Hayim (Pro-Life), which reaches out to pregnant women and offers an alternative to abortion. To date, this organisation has saved the lives of some 2000 babies and provides practical and emotional support for their mothers. Last year Ba'ad Hayim received an award from the Israeli government for their "significant contribution to the protection of mothers and children." 

There are also many other ministries which support various groups such as believers in the armed forces, or those recently released from the armed forces, single mothers, and young people, or which distribute food, clothing, furniture and practical help to needy Israeli residents of all ethnic and religious groups. Yet other ministries are active in intercession,  worship and prayer. 

In this blog update I have concentrated on the needs of the Body of Yeshua here in the Land. It is good to pray about the security situation and other events that take place in Israel but it is ultimately more important to pray for the spread of the gospel so that the people of Israel today can find the true peace that passes all understanding, and eternal life. We also need strong local congregations to disciple and feed those who come to faith, or who are involved in the various ministries.  It is God's plan and desire to save the people of Israel, not just practically in returning them to the Land but also spiritually in returning them to the pure and true worship of their LORD God, the God of Israel, in Yeshua, the Messiah. 

I say then, have they (Israel) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.  Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.  For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?...

 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

For this is My covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.”

Romans 11: 11-15, 25-27

THE BATTLE FOR THE TEMPLE MOUNT

It is Thursday evening and I am sitting on the patio of my new home in the Judean hills, some 10km from Jerusalem. I am looking out onto a lovely green forested hillside and the gentle breeze is making that special susurration that only Jerusalem pines seem to make. The tensions and troubles of Jerusalem over the past weeks seem worlds away, but that is merely an illusion. 

The view from my home looking towards Jerusalem

Life in Jerusalem is returning to normal (whatever that is around here) after two weeks of tension and rioting, mainly around the Temple Mount area. It all began when three terrorists, who had brought guns onto the Temple Mount compound, opened fire and killed two Israeli policemen (see my previous blog). To prevent any further such attacks Israel imposed a temporary closure for Muslims wanting to pray at the Al Aksa Mosque, and set up metal detectors and security cameras at the entrance. This seemed like a reasonable response but the Muslim authorities did not see it that way, and once again accused Israel of changing the 'status quo'. The Waqf, the Muslim authority that controls the Temple Mount, forbade Muslims to pray at the Al Aksa Mosque and as a result, thousands gathered on the streets around the Old City to pray. This lead to a number of skirmishes and riots, and at least a thousand people were injured as a result. To me, it all seemed rather petty and childish to say the least.  After all metal detectors and surveillance cameras are a normal part of everyday life in Israel. To enter bus stations, train stations, supermarkets, shopping malls and many other places, including the Western Wall compound, one must pass through a metal detector and have one's bags searched. So why did the Muslim Waqf react so strongly to the installation of metal detectors there? All I can say is that there are elements who are just looking for any excuse to accuse Israel of 'changing the status quo' and threatening the Al Aksa Mosque. Actually, it was Muslims who changed the 'status quo' by bringing in arms and carrying out a terror attack at their own so-called 'holy site'. 

After two weeks of tensions and rioting, Israel finally removed the metal detectors and other security measures. The Waqf has allowed Muslims to once more at the Al Aksa Mosque and has declared victory.  In the Arab mind, Israel's removal of the metal detectors is not seen as a conciliatory move but rather one of weakness in the face of Islamic superiority. For this reason there has been much criticism here in Israel of the Government's handling of this affair. In this part of the world it is very dangerous to appear weak.

We should not be surprised by these events of the past few weeks. This is just one more skirmish in the ongoing battle for the Temple Mount.  Many Christians are uncomfortable with the idea of religious wars or 'holy' wars, but like it or not, we are all engaged in a serious spiritual war. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

The Temple Mount is the place that God chose to be His special point of communication with mankind on Earth, and the place where his Name dwells. When Solomon dedicated the first Temple, God spoke to him saying, 

 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

2 Chronicles 7: 16 (my emphasis)

Solomon's Temple was eventually destroyed and later the Second Temple, which was constructed after the return from Babylon and restored in the time of Herod the Great, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. The buildings may not currently exist but the site is still the place in which the Name of the LORD rests forever, perpetually.  You could say it is the center of God's kingdom here on Earth, the center of the spiritual world, and therefore the focus of the great battle for power between the LORD and Satan. 

It is therefore no wonder that the Enemy, Satan, is doing everything he can to destroy the connection of God with this place. Those of us who live here can certainly testify to the viciousness and the intensity of the spiritual war for Jerusalem, and especially for the Temple Mount. One of Satan's tactics was to engineer the rise of Islam, the Islamic conquest of the Holy Land, and the consequent building of the Dome of the Rock (pictured below) and the El Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount Site. This is a direct challenge and affront to the LORD God of Israel. I think the photo below tells it all. It shows Muslim men praying in the direction of Mecca. Note the direction of the 'rear ends' - they are pointing directly at the Dome of the Rock, which is believed to be the site where the Temples and the Holy of Holies once stood. In Arab culture it is also considered extremely disrespectful and insulting to point the sole of your foot towards another person. Not only are the 'rear ends' pointing towards the dwelling place of God's presence but so are the soles of their feet. Could they dishonor the LORD God more?

Muslims praying on the Temple Mount
http://www.camera.org/images_user/afp%20prayer%2008.jpg

 Islam is not the only weapon that Satan is using these days. Summer is in full swing here in Jerusalem, and it has been especially hot this year, with July temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s most days. The children are on vacation from school and there are many festivals and events taking place here in Jerusalem. This week the annual Gay Pride Parade took place in Jerusalem with record breaking numbers of at least 20,000 people taking part. 

In the Church and amongst believers today there is much confusion about homosexuality. We are living in a world in which there are strong pressures to accept homosexuality as being something normal and acceptable.  It is a very divisive issue and one which splits believers into opposing camps. We do not want to appear narrow-minded or judgemental, and as a consequence we are more and more falling into compromise on this issue. However what the Bible has to say about homosexuality is, in my opinion, quite clear: 

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.

Leviticus 18:22

The Hebrew word here translated as 'abomination' is תועבה (to'eva), which literally means 'something morally disgusting or abhorrent'. This word is used many times in Scripture and mostly to describe idol worship, the eating of unclean foods, intermarriage with idol worshippers, child sacrifice and witchcraft.  In Leviticus 20:13 it says " If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."  That is pretty clear! 

In the New Testament book of Romans homosexuality is described as the result of idolatry in which God gives people over to the degrading and unnatural act of homosexual sex, 

 Professing to be wise, they became fools,  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

 Romans 1:22-27

I believe we who profess Yeshua as Lord need to receive and love all men and women, regardless of their sins, homosexuals included, but we need to be clear that in the community of believers there can be no compromise with sin, in whatever form it takes. For this reason, although I support the rights of the gay community to live in safety and without persecution, I find the prideful flaunting of this sin in the streets of the Holy City an abomination, and yet another demonstration of the lostness of the people of Israel in our generation. Many have turned away from the God of Israel and have turned to the modern forms of idolatry, including the worship of foreign gods of Hinduism and other religions, witchcraft and occult practices, materialistic and hedonistic humanism, and the worship of ourselves.  Consequently God has given many over to the 'lusts of the flesh' and 'vile passions' including homosexuality among other sinful sexual acts.  The people of Israel, like people everywhere, have a desperate need to hear the pure gospel of truth in Yeshua. 

My new home is in the town of Mevasseret Zion, which name translates to 'the preaching of the good news of Zion' or 'the herald of the good news of Zion'. My neighborhood, although known colloquially as the Castel, is officially called Maoz Tsur, the stronghold of rock, or as it is often translated into English 'the Rock of Ages' understood by Christians to be a reference to the Messiah, Yeshua.  We are located at the western entrance to Jerusalem in the hills of Judea, the inheritance of the Tribe of Judah.  I think these place names have deep spiritual significance and I pray that from here the gospel will go up to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem to all the world. Our congregation has already established a thriving cell group here in Mevasseret and this week we will be starting another, which will, initially anyway, be meeting in my home.  Please pray for us as we work to establish a 'stronghold of rock' and proclaim the good news of Yeshua here at the entrance to Jerusalem. 

TERROR AT THE LION'S GATE

On Friday morning I switched on the news and learned that two policemen had been killed and another injured by three gunmen at the Lion's Gate in the Old City, near the entrance to the Temple Mount. In addition, a paramedic attending the scene was lightly injured by shrapnel. The three terrorists opened fire on the police guarding the area using rifles and a handgun and then fled towards the mosques on the Temple Mount, but were shot and killed by other police in the area. The gunmen were from the Israeli Arab village of Umm-el-Fahm. The two murdered policemen were Staff Sergeant Major Ha'il Satawi (30) and Staff Sergeant Major Kamil Shnaan (22) from the Druze villages of Maghar and Hurfeish respectively.  

 Shnaan (L) and Satawi (R) - murdered policemen
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4989360,00.html


Satawi's wife gave birth to their first son just two weeks ago. Here is a photo of Satawi with his little son.  What a beautiful but terribly sad photo. This little boy will never know his father. 

Shatawi and his little son.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4989360,00.html

The other murdered officer, Shnaan, was to have become engaged in September. I include these photos to remind us all of the human tragedy of these attacks. We have so many terror victims it is easy to grow seemingly indifferent, but every such loss is like a ripple in a pond that spreads and affects so many others. Deep down we are all in continual mourning for our lost ones. Whether we knew them personally or not we share the loss.   

The Druze community has suffered more than its fair share of such losses. I should explain that the approx.137, 000 member Druze community in Israel swear allegiance to the State of Israel and many of them serve as soldiers in the IDF or as policemen.  They are exemplary soldiers who often serve in the most dangerous situations and often consequently pay a very high price. Nevertheless, their loyalty to Israel never wavers, and they are an example of what could be if we all could chose to live together in peace as they have done. Although Druze speak Arabic and most consider themselves ethnically Arab, they are not Muslim and have their own religion. The Druze religion branched off from Islam in the 10th and 11th Century and incorporated elements from many other religions and philosophies. The religion is monotheistic and they recognize many prophets including Mohammed, Jesus and John the Baptist, but their most revered prophet is Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, the Priest of Midian. Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel the Druze faced discrimination from the Muslim powers, but now they have full recognition and citizenship in Israel, and are the only non-Jewish group who are conscripted into the army, this at their own request. They are respected by Israelis as loyal citizens, many of whom have risen to high positions in both civilian and military life. 

This is just the last of a whole litany of terror attacks in Jerusalem this year, mostly in and around the Old City. Ynetnews published a summary of these attacks, and I quote:

This attack was preceded by several stabbings and shootings in the capital, as Jerusalem's Old City and its surroundings have become a focal point for terrorist activities since the beginning of the year.

In June, three terrorists armed with semi-automatic weapons and knives struck in two different parts of Old City near the Damascus Gate, fatally wounding 23-year-old border policewoman Hadas Malka, who later succumbed to her wounds. Five others were wounded in the attack.

  

In May, a 37-year-old police officer was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack near the Lions' Gate. The terrorist, Mohammad Abdullah Salim al-Kasji, a 57-year-old Jordanian citizen, arrived in Israel a week prior via the Jordan River crossing in Beit Shean. He was critically wounded in the attack.

In April, a British student named Hannah Bladon was killed after being stabbed multiple times in the chest in a terror attack at IDF Square on Jerusalem’s light rail route. Bladon studied at the Hebrew University as part of a student exchange program, for only one semester.

  

Just two weeks before that, two civilians and one police officer were moderately wounded during a stabbing attack on Hagai Street in Jerusalem's Old City. The terrorist was shot dead by security forces after being chased by the police and Border Police.

In March, two 20-year-old border policemen were moderately wounded after being stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist in another attack that took place near the Lions' Gate. The attacker was shot dead by one of the injured officers.

  

In January, four IDF soldiers—three women and a man in their 20s—were murdered and 17 wounded when a Palestinian truck driver deliberately rammed into pedestrians on a popular promenade overlooking the Old City.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4989180,00.html

These attacks are just the latest in the so-called terror wave which began in September 2015. Last month the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published these statistics for this period:

Twenty months of terror – 13 September 2015 to the present

• In 2016, 12 vehicular ramming attacks and 100 stabbing attacks were thwarted by security forces.
• Since 13 September 2015, 50 people have been killed in terrorist attacks and 759 people (including 4 Palestinians) injured.
• There have been 180 stabbing attacks and 124 attempted stabbings; 150 shootings; 58 vehicular (ramming) attacks; and one vehicular (bus) bombing.
• http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Palestinian/Pages/Wave-of-terror-October-2015.aspx
• You can see a complete list of attacks on this website. 

Most of these attacks occurred in or around Jerusalem, and are motivated by the lie that the Mosque of Omar on the Temple Mount is in danger. After Friday's attack the Temple Mount was closed to all worshippers as the police combed the area for weapons and/or other terrorists. This of course has caused an outcry from the Muslims accusing Israel of changing the 'status quo'.  The reality, however, is that it is the terrorists who have caused any so-called change to the 'status quo'. It is they who have defiled the sanctity of the site, not Israel.  In fact, there is no change to the status quo as the Mosque will be reopened for prayers on Sunday, and this is by no means the first time the site has been closed because of the security situation.   

It seems to me however that there is a general increase in general tension in the Muslim sector in recent days. Over the past few days there has been a drastic increase in the sound of gunfire coming from the nearby Arab villages of Jebel Mukaber and Tsur Baher. On Thursday it continued most of the day and well into the night. This has not happened since the police cracked down on it and similar activities several months ago. It seems as the summer heat reaches its peak so do tensions. 

Life in Jerusalem continues unabated and summer is the time for many festivities, shows and events which attract thousands of locals and visitors.  Please pray for safety for these events. I thank God that the tourists, mostly Evangelical Christians, are still coming in large numbers. The economy of our city depends largely on this and we also appreciate the support and prayers of these welcome visitors.  I was most encouraged and amused the other day when I went into the city and discovered a group of Korean Christians worshipping God in song right there in the middle of Ben Yehuda St, one of the main streets of Jerusalem. They were attracting a very appreciative crowd, religious and secular alike,  who were all taking photos, sending videos and clapping along in time with them. I was laughing to myself because these people had no idea what these Koreans were singing about - Yeshua (Jesus).  If they had known they would not have been so appreciative!  I thank this group and others like them who with great boldness and love proclaim Yeshua in the streets of our city. 

                                          Korean Christians singing in Ben Yehuda Mall

We are experiencing the hottest July I can remember and temperatures are reaching the mid-thirties Celsius every day over the whole country, and there is little relief even at night. Many of us are struggling with the heat which is tiring and makes every little task seem worse than normal. I am in the throes of packing to move house and it is hard going. I seem to get so little done each day and time is running out on me. However, at least I am indoors. Spare a thought, and a prayer, for those who are working outdoors often doing very hard physical labor in this heat.  Last week I helped a friend move and I felt so bad for the men who were having to tote her furniture and boxes down the equivalent of about 4-5 flights of stairs to the truck and then up two flights into her new home all in the heat of the day which reached 37 degrees. I am praying the day I move will not be so hot.  It is the custom here that leases run from summer to summer which means people are always moving in the worst of the heat, something I have never understood.  I suppose it is a habit that was imported from Europe where it would make some sense, but its one custom I would sure like to change.  

Please also continue to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and especially for the courageous police and soldiers who guard our city. They are often the targets for the terrorists and are putting their lives at risk so the rest of us can go about our daily lives.  Apart from the dangers they must stand about on corners, in full battle gear, in the stifling heat fighting dehydration, heat stress and boredom.  Here is a photo of some of our animal friends who also help protect us - many of the streets and alleyways of Jerusalem are too narrow for cars and horses are used instead. I love these police horses who are so beautifully kept and groomed. Pray also for their safety and also that of the police dogs who also play an important role, without even understanding why, but just out of love and loyalty for their human friends. 

                               A passerby feeding a police horse an apple under the watchful eye of his master (not a practice that is encouraged but she did ask permission). 

  

Israel is a sinful nation and we fall far short of God's standards. We have strayed into man-made religious systems of belief and practice, or at the other extreme, hedonistic materialism. Our rabbis are blind guides, spreading error and lies.  We as a nation are full of dishonest practices and corruption. The poor are oppressed.  As a result there are many gaps in our spiritual wall of protection. We who worship the Lord are called to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and for the salvation of Israel. God is looking for people who will stand in the gaps, and stay his judgment. Please stand with us in prayer for God's protection and mercy.

Long ago, when Israel was full of sin God said, 

I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
Ezekiel 22: 30

On that occasion, he found no one, but I pray that in our day there will be found 'gap-fillers'.    When God purposed to destroy Sodom Abraham plead with God to spare the city and God said if only ten righteous men were to be found in it, He would spare the city. Sadly ten righteous could not be found, and so only Lot and his family were saved out of the destruction.  I am pleased to say that there are way more than ten counted righteous by the right of the blood of Jesus in this city today, but it is my prayer that we all may be found standing in the gaps.  This is no easy task for the spiritual warfare here is intense, and therefore we need your support and prayers.

PRAYER FERVENTLY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM AND THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL IN THE MESSIAH. 


PS. Please excuse all the formatting weirdness.  It is Google Blogs that is not working properly.