Is It Safe?

I get asked every time we go to Israel if it is safe.  My standard answer is that I feel safer in Israel than I do walking in downtown Buffalo.  I've been reflecting on why we have fears.  We suburbanites know there are parts of Buffalo we will not go to at night because it is not safe.  There are murders, gang activity and drug deals going on there.  Yet we remain living here nearby those areas. Why?  Because we know how to function here.  We are familiar with things here.  We know the language here.  We have history here.  So even though there are unsafe things near us here, we are confident living and traveling here.

As you see in the picture above, Israel knows their neighborhood.  There are tensions there just as their are in Buffalo.  Therefore they have trained security and systems in place to create a secure environment.  The picture is a checkpoint between Israel proper and the Palestinian Authority controlled area near Jericho in the West Bank.  It is there for protection and control if someone tries to cause any conflict.  These sights don't bring me fear but rather peace. 

I realized there is a deeper parallel here.  I know some folks who are hesitant to commit to Christ.  Or they want to believe and trust but when you discuss terms like "dying to self" or turning "control of your life" over to Jesus they balk.  Why?  They know how to function where they have control.  They know the language.  They feel safe in that environment.  And to think of launching out into a new way of life that is unfamiliar to them feels "unsafe."  The unknown creates an automatic resistance in us. Those of us who have taken the step of faith find it hard to understand.  If they only would come and see they would know the depths of the love of God, the power of God and the security of knowing and following the Lord.  But fear holds them back.  It is a matter of trust in the promises of God and the testimony of others.

To all my friends who have thought of traveling to Israel but have hesitated because of fear, I give testimony that it is just as safe as living near a major city.  Could something happen to you here at home, a car jacking or worse?  Sure.  Could something happen there?  Sure.  Security is in place and standing ready to guard and protect you.  You will be just as safe or safer.  But the benefits of experiencing the land of promise are amazing.

To all my friends who are hesitant to take the step of faith to trust the promises of God, I give testimony that He is trustworthy and has a transformed life waiting for you, free from fear.  He only wants you to experience life the way He created it to be, full of good things for you and glory for Him.

Why not take that step of faith today??

Hala

This is a picture of Hala and her sister.  Along with their brother, they live in two caves.  Yes, two caves.  Historically, these two caves may have served as the barn area for one of King Herod's palaces.  They are located right outside the entrance to the Garden Tomb, beside a bus station, near the Damascus gate.  Both her sister (on the right) and her brother are mentally challenged, so Hala must care for them.  She has been a believer for over 40 years and has taught children's bible classes in various homes for most of that time.  Her life is hard but she carries the sweet spirit of one who walks with the Savior.  She has been a part of Pastor Steven Khoury's church in Jerusalem since it started.
As Hala shared her story with us, she told of how the love of God melts the hearts of people.  She would go into an area and start teaching the Bible.  She would have some Muslim children taunt, or interrupt or try to intimidate her to quit.  She would engage them, inviting them to join in, or have a snack with them.  Or she would take extra time to talk to them and just show love to them even though they were acting out against her.  She saw over and over again how the love of God broke down the walls and these young men would join her, even bringing their mothers at times. We were told how some of the young boys she has taught are older men now in higher positions in the Palestinian political organization.  It reminded me of the Scriptures:

¹ After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

The Lord touches people in high as well as low places.  Hala is not unrealistic.  Before she died, her mother told her that God had given them the responsibility to care for her brother and sister and so they are the burden they must bear gladly.  She told her mother, yes, but that does not mean that the burden does not get heavy at times.  And she smiled.  God has faithfully cared for her through the years, protecting her, providing for her.  And at her age (65) she is as full of life, faith and joy.

Many of us think life is "hard" for us.  But we don't live in a cave nor have little income while caring for two mentally challenged siblings.   We don't face the persecution she faces for being a Christian or teaching the Bible.  I was moved in my heart to realize that many also don't have the joy that Hala has.  The secret?  Daily she lives in absolute dependence on and personal interaction with Jesus Christ.  And that makes all the difference. 

When God Touches What's Dead

This is a picture of the sun rising over the Dead Sea.  With it containing over 33% salt, there is nothing that can live there.  It receives water but nothing flows out of it.  That is why it is, dead.  It is like our lives when we have everything flow toward us and nothing flows out into the lives of others.  We become addicted to receiving rather than giving.  And the more we receive the more we "feel" we need.  And life outside of ourselves does not exist.

Along side the Dead Sea is an oasis by the name of En Gedi.  It is one of the places David hid from Saul when he was chasing him.  There is an interesting prophecy about En Gedi.  While there is life in the midst of the oasis from a fresh water spring, there is nothing that gives life to En Gedi from the sea.  Yet the prophecy of Ezekiel 47 says:

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. ⁷ When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. ⁸ He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh. ⁹ Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. ¹⁰ Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea. ¹¹ But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. ¹² Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” 

This river of water is flowing from the Temple of God in Jerusalem in the future.  And when life comes from God, it transforms things that are dead and makes them alive.   So En Gedi, in the future, will be a sea-side fishing village.  Its hard to envision right now, but God says it will be that way.  There will be salty bogs nearby but where the water flowing from God goes, there will be life.

God does the same today.  When dead things are touched by God, there is life.  We may find it hard to envision people or situations different than what they are right now, but "all things are possible with God."  A friend commented on Facebook when I posted the the above picture:  Beautiful and ironic.
It is a beautiful picture that shows the glory of God.  It is ironic because my friend knows that the sea is lifeless.  But picture the future when the glory is displayed over a life-supporting sea.  And healing will come to things and people around it because of the transforming power of the Lord.

Transformed Rather than Changed

While on our recent trip the Lord showed me a difference between what we think should happen as a Christian and what truly happens when someone becomes a Christian.  Practically, it seems the basis of faith for many people is that we are basically good people and our "faith" in Christ simply helps us deal with the part that is not good.  In other words, Christ changes us so that we are acceptable to God, yes, but we are most of the way there.  I bring my goodness to God, Christ makes up the difference, and all is well.  And I count on God to bless my life and make things go well for me.

How arrogant and totally unscriptural such an attitude is.  And that is the rub.  We are aware of and want to move away from "obvious" sin.  We overlook the little things that show our sin, they are understandable human flaws.  But we miss the thing that is staring us in the face:  the inherent pride that refuses to allow us to confess that there is absolutely nothing good in us to offer God.  When Peter was following Jesus prior to the Resurrection, he was brash, and boastful.  "I will never allow that to happen to you Lord."  "I am ready to die with you."  In short time Peter denied the Lord three times and was in hiding "for fear of the Jews."  He had changed some since following Jesus. But. . .

After the Resurrection and Pentecost, Peter was transformed.  He was in the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17 "a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come."  Now he would die.  Now he would stand for Jesus no matter what.  Now he would never turn away from truth.  He was not changed, he was transformed by the power of Christ and his life was not his own. 

Transformed people love the Word of God and need to pray.  Transformed people do not see their material goods, time or very life as their own, but God's.  Transformed people gladly help others and see their life goal as sharing the love of God wherever they go.  Transformed people love to be with the people of God.  They encourage other people.  They share their story of God's faithfulness regularly.  They talk about their humble amazement at what God does rather than boasting about how much they have done for God.  They are transformed from someone they once were to someone radically made new by the power of the Spirit of God.

So, the question is, am I changed or transformed?  The old hymn stated it well:  Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."

What Does Your Faith Cost You?

We just returned from Israel and my heart is full of many things.  The Lord stirred my spirit about personal things, ministry things, relational things.  As with any trip overseas, we have to be careful to not make blanket statements that sound like everyone and everything is included in our observations.  But I do believe what I am about to share is a good generalization of the facts.

We had the privilege of visiting with several Arab Palestinian Christians from Pastor Steven Khoury's church in East Jerusalem.  I also had the privilege of preaching in Bethlehem at First Baptist Church.  Steven's father, Naim, is the pastor there.  We spoke with people who lost family members who were killed just because they became Christians.  70% are unemployed, many because they lost their jobs because they became Christians.  A number have been ostracized by their families for their faith.  They are suspect or disliked by the Jews because they are Palestinian.  They are objects of wrath and seen as traitors by the Muslims because they are Christian and are favorable at some level to the Jews.  They are hated by the mainline religious groups because they are Evangelicals.  They have no one to stand with them except other evangelicals around the world.  For them, being a Christian is easy.  You either are or you are not but there is no in between.  To become a Christian there means either in fact or potentially losing your family ties, job or your very life.  It means all.  Christ is your life.  And they live by faith every day.
Now I think about life in the West.  What does my Christian life cost me here?  I was humbled and heart-sick over how selfish, self-centered and entitled our "faith" is in the West.  Consider these statements:  "I'm leaving the church because you changed "my service."  "Your" service?  Who are we worshiping?  Let's see, we have worship, teaching, prayer and fellowship at that service and that is a reason to leave?  "I can't attend services or read my Bible or be in a small group or give any offering because I'm too busy or financially strapped."  Really?  Did you find time to watch TV, pay for a movie or Starbucks or lottery ticket?  "I can't be too vocal about my faith because I may offend someone."  Hum?  We are to be ready always to give a reason for the hope that we have.  Our brothers and sisters in the West Bank are taking their faith into the most dangerous areas and Christ is doing the miraculous.
I came home repentant and ashamed.  Again, I don't want to throw guilt around.  That is the Holy Spirit's job.  But I am ashamed of what we call being good Christians if what I have described is used as the test.  I am asking the Lord to break us of ourselves, every bit of us, until all that is left is an absolute dependence on and need for Christ.  Then we may find what it truly means to be a Christian.

We Love and Hate Salt

I enjoy putting salt on my food for flavor.  When it gets icy out, I'm glad I have some salt to put down so it melts the ice and makes a safe environment.  Those are good things.  In a week and a half we will get into the Dead Sea (8 times more salty than the ocean) and I will find out if I have any open cuts.  That won't be as pleasant.  I love salt and sometimes I hate what salt does to me.  Both are real.
   Jesus said some things in the Scripture I read today that enlightened my thinking and imagination about salt:

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.
   ⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”  (Mark 9:49-50)

 The context of these statements is that of being disciples of Jesus, not leading others to sin but taking extreme measures to rid ourselves of those things which lead to our sinning. The first statement is a picture of sacrifice as found in the book of Leviticus 2:13 where it says that they were not to leave the salt of the covenant of their God out of their grain offerings.  So salt was used as a purifier, a means of holiness in what we offer to God.  So everyone of us will be "salted with fire", purified by God when we offer ourselves to Him.  Like the salt poured into wounds, it won't be pleasant but it will bring healing and wholeness.  
The last part is what drew my attention.  He said to have salt in ourselves and be at peace.  The "salt in yourselves" part is in the plural.  It seems that Jesus is telling us that the corporate atmosphere of His church will be a place where the process of being made holy, being salted and purified from our sin, will be happening regularly.  But it won't be done in a vacuum but flow from us individually to us as a group.  In other words, rather than causing each other to sin as we did in the past, we are working together to be acceptable offerings to the Lord, salted with fire.  But there must be a proper balance in the seasoning of the salt so that our desire to see that process happening leads to an atmosphere of peace rather than conflict with one another.  The Spirit of unity will be the sign of a balanced approach.


Lord, help me never to lose my saltiness personally and help us as a church to be balanced in having saltiness among ourselves.

I Almost Missed God Because of My Religion

Ever miss seeing God because you were too busy being religious?  Its easy to do.  Manoah, the father of Samson did.  You can read Judges 13.  His sterile wife receives a Heavenly visitor who declares that she is going to have a son.  He will be set apart for God's service from birth.  She has some special directives to follow so the boy is consecrated out of the womb.  Manoah missed everything but feels the weight of the responsibility. He asks God for a redo on the visit so they know how to raise the boy.  God honors the request.  Manoah asks his questions, God answers and then Manoah goes into religious mode.  Its not bad.  He wants to be hospitable to the guest and so offers to slaughter a young goat.  He then asks for the name of the guest so he and his wife can honor him when their son is born.  All the time he misses the fact that this is the angel of the Lord.  This is God Himself.

   Notice the graciousness of God.  He repeats His directions for the task.  We are slow and He is patient.  We offer Him cultural rituals.  He declines the meal but directs Manoah to do a "fellowship offering."  He clearly wants to have relational interactions with us.  The issue is that Manoah was thinking on a peer to peer basis (a meal) and God requires that we still acknowledge Him as God.  He opened the way for the holy interaction.  Like Moses taking off his shoes because God made the ground holy, Manoah has to come with a proper offering to sit down with God.  We come to Him boldly through Christ today.  But our boldness is not an excuse for brashness.  He is still God and we are not.  God then does something marvelous during the interaction.  In the midst of the offering He leaves no doubt who He is.  He ascends back to Heaven in the flames of the offering.  What a marvelous God.  Religious Manoah becomes afraid because they have seen God and no one does that and lives.  As Manoah's wife observes, if He intended to harm us He wouldn't have given us a task to do or allow us to fellowship with Him.  No reason to fear, just love and serve Him.

I pray that He will help me not miss intimate relationship with Him because I am busy being religious before Him.  Religion breeds fear.  Walking by faith breeds life.