Israel

Hey...sorry for the lack of posts lately. I hate excuses, so I won't try to offer one.

In Chicago now for to officiate a wedding for one of my former youth group kids. Love doing this kind of stuff.

I'm worried about this conflict in Israel...really worried. I get TIME magazine weekly. I think it's pretty good journalism and it keeps me up to date on the way the liberal side of the media is thinking. I much prefer it to FoxNews.

Anywho, in the latest issue of TIME, a writer offered a six step plan to peace in Israel. I gave the magazine to a lady we met on the plane, so I'm trying to remember all of them.

1. US must involve themselves diplomatically
2. Israel must restrain itself
3. Hizballah must stop making bad decisions for the Arab world
4. Iran must be handled
5. Iraq must be won

I can't remember the sixth one.

Anyway, this is such a hard topic to

Oh yeah, 6. Hamas must rethink its positions

Anyway, this is such a hard topic to engage in just common every day life. To any normal person in the world, this six step plan makes sense -- especially politically. For the most part, it's the same song that every Secretary of State or US president has sung since 1948.

For me though, there is no man-made plan of peace that is every going to work and I call upon the facts of history as my witness.

At its heart, this is still a spiritual issue and God cares about His people possessing that land. This still stems back to Abraham's disobedience, Israel's exiles as explained in the Old Testament, the giving of the New Covenant and God's continuing fulfillment of His promises to His people as given in the Scripture, especially Ezekiel.

To an outsider, I sound like a religious nut. To other Christians and maybe some Messianic Jews, it makes sense. I care for Israel deeply because I am the seed of Abraham by faith. I think every Christian should be emotionally connected to the Jewish people. We (Christians and Jews)look like idiots to the world. But I'm cool with that.

At its heart, this is still about Jesus. My emotional connection to Israel is based on the fact that I know our Messiah and I wish they did as well. Israel has such a sad and glorious story. It's my prayer that the present conflict will in some supernatural way point their hearts toward the emptiness in their souls and that their Prince of Peace and His government will be realized (Isaiah 9:6) and established, not politically, but in their hearts.

In all things though, brothers and sisters, pray for the peace of Jerusalem.