If the rocks could cry out

The Jerusalem Post online edition ran an article this week about the Hill of Evil Counsel. During the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) in 1937, the hilltop pictured in the article was home to the Government House of the British Crown, occupied by High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope. The infamous name, Hill of Evil Counsel, comes from tradition that marks this as the location where Caiaphas, the High Priest, and his men made the decision to hand Jesus over to the Romans. This hilltop is also the traditional location where Abraham first viewed Mt. Moriah on his way to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Today, The Hill of Evil Counsel is home to the United Nations headquarters. A fitting name? You make the call.

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The Feast of Tabernacles

The Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) begins tonight at sundown. God told Moses, "live in booths for seven days...so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt." Leviticus 23:42-43. All of God's feasts (literally, appointments) served the purpose of a visual reminder of what He had done for his people and who He was. Our booth is a simple pop-up tent that the kids set up. They will eat and sleep in these temporary accommodations for the next week. Enjoy the pictures of various booths around Jerusalem. You may notice that they are built on balconies, rooftops, plazas, and gardens.
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Down at the end of Lonely Street...

On Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), nary a car can be found on the roads of this city of 750,000. Kids, pets, and pedestrians take to the street to enjoy the one smog-free day of the year.


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The Atonement Market?!

During the week of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), many Jews practice a ritual of waving a white rooster over their head while reciting, "This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement. This chicken will go to its death while I will enter and proceed to a good long life, and peace." For a donation of $40, anyone is invited to participate in this event. The chicken is subsequently slaughtered and given to the poor as are the proceeds raised.

I had the opportunity of witnessing such a ceremony this week. The sign pictured above in Hebrew is translated The Atonement Market. In the days of Moses, Aaron, as priest, was to offer a young bull for his own sins and a ram for a burnt offering. He was then to take two goats, sacrificing one as a sin offering and sending the other off into the wilderness as a scapegoat for the sins of the people (see Leviticus 16). This was to be done yearly. Yom Kippur is to be observed as a sabbath day of rest when one is to deny oneself. This is often done by observing a complete fast, doing no work, and refraining from driving one's car. On this day, the children take to the streets with their bicycles where they can safely ride without fear.
As believers, we know that our priest, Jesus Christ, "entered once for all into the holy places, not by the means of the blood of goats and calves but by the means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." Hebrews 9:12.




WARNING! ACTUAL CHICKENS HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THE PROCESS OF THESE EVENTS.

Go Indians!

Baseball is like a marathon. It begins in April and continues into October. Each season brings new hope for the fans that "next year" is here and maybe this is the year. No game is over until the last out. Old guys (ie. Kenny Lofton) contribute as much as the young bucks. Thanks to mlb.com, I am able to follow my Cleveland Indians from abroad. Each morning I check the box scores to see if Cleveland has put any more real estate between themselves and the pesky Tigers. I enjoy watching C.C. add more to his win column or more K's to his repertoire. Will the under appreciated Tribe produce a Cy Young winner or a manager of the year? On a more personal note, Ryan is developing a love for baseball, playing for the local team in Jerusalem. The team is made up mostly of Israelis whose parents (usually the father) grew up in the States and have passed the love of the game to their offspring. Because we have warm, dry weather most of the year, we have a spring and a fall season for the junior and senior leagues.
While following the box scores on the internet is not the same as attending a big league game in person, watching my son in a little league game is just as satisfying!

Beyond Fear: book review

Beyond Fear: A Harrowing Journey Across New Guinea... is the adventure story of 25 year-old Joel Kramer and 19 year-old Aaron Lippard who set out in 1992 to become the first to cross the island of New Guinea, home to some of earth's remotest mountains and jungles, from the north to the south without the aid of motors. It is a story that keeps you on edge as they battle mosquitoes, malaria, crocodiles, snakes, leeches, and spiders. More than an adventure story, you get inside the minds of these two as they struggle not only with nature, but with themselves, with each other, and with their God on whom they must fully rely if they are to survive. The lessons that they learn and share with the reader at the end of their journey make this a book you will not soon forget and one whose message will make its impact.

We had the pleasure of hosting Joel and his family in our home recently for a Saturday afternoon meal. Joel lives here and produces films that tie the Bible directly to the Holy Land. Shorts of these films can be viewed on his website at www.sourceflix.com.

9/11

On war and peace from famousquotes.com and the Bible:

Robert E. Lee - “It is well that war is so terrible, or we should get too fond of it.”

General George Catlett Marshall - “Military power wins battles, but spiritual power wins wars.”

Francis Meehan - “Men are at war with each other because each man is at war with himself.”

Plato - “Only the dead have seen the end of the war.”

John Stuart Mill - “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

Isaiah the prophet - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end…

Guatama Buddha - “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

Prophet Muhammad - “Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms, and prayers? Making peace between one another: enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.”

Jesus - “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Abraham Lincoln - “... peace is a thing which a person must be willing to fight for ...”

Douglas Jerrold - “We love peace, but not peace at any price. There is a peace more destructive of the manhood of living man, than war is destructive to his body. Chains are worse than bayonets.”

Patrick Henry - “The gentlemen may cry, Peace, peace! But there is no peace. The war has actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that the gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Aristotle - “We make war that we might live in peace.”

Benjamin Franklin - “Even peace be may purchased at too high a price.”

God Grew Tired of Us

War has ravaged the African country of Sudan since 1983. The Muslim-controlled government has been effectively eliminating the Christians of southern Sudan. This documentary lays the background for what the Sudanese are still going through and their exodus from Sudan only to find more persecution and suffering in the surrounding countries. The movie chronicles the lives of three of the "Lost Boys" who were relocated to America as part of a program to rescue some of the refugees. Sad and troubling, there is a bit of humor as they integrate into American culture. I watched this video with some personal interest since some of the Sudanese have arrived on the steps of our congregation. No longer is Darfur a far away problem for someone else to deal with, but real people with real needs. Our congregation can't solve the civil war in Sudan, but we can make a difference in the lives of a few families as we show them the love of Christ as we help them with food, medicine, shelter, and the gospel message of Christianity. "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Matthew 25:35-36

...and the lemon flower is sweet

My children bought me a lemon tree for Father's Day this June to adorn the corner of our yard. That same day, I broke up the rocky soil, added compost and fertilizer, and carefully packed the soil around it. I watered it daily and left the rest to nature. Within weeks all of the leaves had fallen and my poor tree was doomed! This week--nearly two and a half months later, my twig of a tree began to sprout leaves and then tiny blooms. And under each bloom--lemons!

"If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Happy B-day, Dad!

Dad, I wish you a day full of blessings and happiness. From you I received my wit and good looks...and at your age, you still have more hair than me!--Love,

Dave

Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day brings back floods of memories. Before moving overseas, we would host a picnic at our house in Painesville for family and friends on this day. One of the first purchases I made, here, was a gas barbecue grill. We have hosted a number of cook-outs, including very American ones with cole slaw, potato salad, watermelon, and of course-chicken wings. I recently found a butcher shop that carries real sausage bratwursts! To all of you who "labor" hard throughout the year, enjoy this official last day of summer.