Eye Openers

It has been a blessing and a challenge volunteering among the Palestinians in Jerusalem.  At the school, I've had a few interesting incidents.  During one class, I asked the students to describe the landscape of Israel (ooops!).  One student shouted out, "Say 'Palestine'--don't say 'Israel'."  Yes, the tensions between the Palestinian and Jews are very real.  Yet, I pray that the Lord would open the eyes of all who--like this student--still hold the bitter division in their hearts.

One day, after school, a seemingly peaceful conference errupted into a violent altercation.  Two students, who had issues with one another, met with faculty.  Somehow, the men in the families of either students got involved, and began to fight with one another.  Another teacher reported seeing knives involved.  Testimony:  I was in the office next door to where the altercation broke out.  Another staff person was in the office with me.  We prayed together.  Right as our prayer ended, the fight moved to outside of the building.  Praise God for answer to prayer.

I am in a setting in which I volunteer among many Muslims.  Continue to pray for them, as well as the teachers, faculty, and myself.

God Bless You

Let Me Be A Current of Your Peace

It's amazing how easily we can enter into the peace of God--yet how complicated we can make it. Humbling ourselves, taking the low road, keeping your mouth closed when your emotions desire to errupt through harsh words--these are impossibilites without the grace of God. Yet it is available for us. As Paul puts it, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).

Encouraging scriptures on peace and trust: "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility" (Eph.2:14). "Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you" (1 Pt 5:7).

Bye for now.

My Life in the Holy Land

I feel humbled by this opportunity to connect with you in style. Just as the Word became flesh, now I am able to put substance to my written descriptions of the Holy Land.

This is a picture of me, standing in front of the Kidron Valley. If you look carefully behind me, there is a monument. It is the tomb of Zechariah the prophet. I visited this site during my second week here, August 20 something....