How to Start a Fire

In the first chapter of second Timothy, Paul reminds Tim to fan into flame the gift of God, which was somehow imparted to him through the laying on of Paul’s hands (v.6)... What that spiritual gift was, I don’t exactly know, but the implication is that our passion for the Lord can either diminish or develop depending on whether or not (and depending on how effectively or not), we let this mysterious wind - fan into our lives.

So what is this wind? What is this fire?

Well, we'll get into that in a bit, but first let's talk about the basic definition of what a fire is.

So for starters, for a fire to exist you essentially need 3 things combined in the right mixture for it to happen. Namely, you need: heat, fuel, and oxygen. When these 3 things come together in the appropriate way, this "event" of fire, occurs. 

Ok, now, the way I see it, is that just like fire, the 3 things we similarly need to have in our lives for us to engage in the Lord's service are as follows: we need to have love for the Lord and love for our neighbor (Mark 12:30-31)... (which would kind of be like the heat); we need to have people to interact with and share the gospel to (Romans 10:14)... (which would kind of be like the fuel); and we need the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8)... (which would kind of be like the oxygen).

And it's this last one - the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us, that I especially want to expound on right now. 

A camp that I helped out at a month ago in which the theme was 'And You Shall Receive Power'

Because see, that's what Paul tells Timothy he wants him to do - to fan into flame the gift of God. 

In John 21:22 we read that when Jesus appeared to his disciples after he rose from the dead - the verse says that he "breathed on them and said 'receive the Holy Spirit.'

...Remember that to create a fire you need all 3 of the aforementioned elements present in the equation so that all of a sudden the act of combustion takes place... 

Well, up until this time in the New Testament, the disciples did not have the Holy Spirit. They did not have this one crucial element in the equation of creating gospel fire so that it would explode within them; and so here now, we see these disciples of Christ all huddled together and scared out of their wits in an upper room somewhere in the middle of Jerusalem... they're all huddled together worried about what might happen to them, and all of a sudden Jesus just walks in [and that - without even going through the door, mind you (v. 19)], breathes on them, and BAM! instantly this amazing gospel equation is completed, and BADABOOM!, the disciples start having this amazing Holy Ghost power working through them, and BIMBAZZLEWAMBOOGLE! their story (or our story) is dramatically changed forever [and yes, that took me a while to come up with all the right onomatopoeia to describe those instances, but I think I finally got it (just in case you were wondering)]. 

What's interesting though, is that in this passage when Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit to his disciples - he does so in the same way that I start a fire myself - he does so by breathing on these guys (and I think that there were probably a few girls there too), and in the same way, whenever I start a fire, what I do is that I get down real low on my hands and knees and get as close to a few dimly lit embers as possible; I place some small, nice, dry tinder in the vicinity of some kindling, and I just baaaaarely start to blow man... I just blow and blow. I just blow nice and steady for a while, until all of a sudden boom! the tinder lights up, spreads to the kindling, and suddenly the whole thing bursts aflame!

On a larger scale, this was essentially Jesus' master plan of evangelism. He came into this world (Phil. 2:7), he metaphorically got down on his knees in the sense that he humbled himself (v.8), he got real close to 12 men (Luke 6:12-16) and a few women (Luke 8:2-3), and he slowly and steadily started speaking truth into their lives (John 8:31-32).

A couple years later, he breathes on them to receive the Holy Spirit, and then a few days after that, "a sound like the blowing of a violent wind" came from heaven and filled the whole house where about 120 of them were staying (Acts 1:15)... Here we see that Jesus' small initial breath now turns into a violent wind! The Holy Spirit takes power! and the oxygen necessary for a fire to go wild envelops this relatively small group of ragtag followers of Jesus... Before you know it, people from all over the world are starting to hear the gospel spoken in their own language (Acts 2:5-11), Peter gets up and preaches (Peter! the same one that denied Christ just a few days earlier (v. 14)), and about 3,000 people are added to the church that very day (v. 41).

Awesome.

...Now jump about 34 years later to the time when Paul wrote his second letter to his most beloved disciple Timothy, and we get this interesting charge for him to "fan into flame the gift of God" (1:6)... 

How exactly do we fan into flame the gift of God? 

Well first of all, I think that we can start by constantly praying with other believers, because if we look back to the account of what happened on the day of Pentecost, what we see is that right before the Holy Spirit came down on them, this is precisely what the disciples and the women with them were doing (Acts 1:14)... They were praying.

Secondly, if we understand that what was behind Timothy's gift of God was the very working of the Holy Spirit (the pure oxygen as it were, that rouses the flame of the gospel), then we too should effectively fill ourselves up with this Holy Spirit.

How do we do that?

Well, Ephesians 5 gives us a whole bunch of clues as to how to go about it, and among the definite positive, and proactive things we can do to really let the Holy Spirit take control of us, we can: 

• love one another just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
• be thankful
• do what is good, righteous, and true 
• expose the deeds of darkness 
• live wisely, making the most of every opportunity
• speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; and sing and make music in our hearts to God.

...And along with this there is also another fairly significant list of other things that we should avoid so as to likewise stay filled with the Holy Spirit such as:

• not getting into sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed
• not being obscene or talking foolishly and joking coarsely
• not having partnerships with disobedient people
• and not being foolish, getting drunk, or getting into debauchery 

...So if we avoid the things mentioned in the second list, and do the things mentioned in the first list, then I think we'll be on a pretty good track to getting ourselves filled with the Holy Spirit.  

I also think that reading and studying the Bible is a pretty important part of being filled with the Spirit because just as 2 Tim. 3:16 says, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

...There again, we get that word 'breathed'. Scripture is God breathed, it was written by the prophets as they were "carried along by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20-21)... Jesus breathed on the disciples to give them the Holy Spirit... We receive the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in Christ (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:3)... And I think we can also become more "filled by the Holy Spirit" when we read and meditate on the very Scripture that God himself breathed into.

Why?...because the very next verse implies that. It says "so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (v. 17).  

Who equips the servant of God other than the Holy Spirit himself?    

...At the beginning of this entry I was talking about the concept of "fanning into the flame of the gospel." I suggested that for this to happen, there needs to be an appropriate mix of 3 things: 1. a love for God and people, 2. people with whom we can share the gospel to, and 3. the power of the Holy Spirit working through us to reach these people. Clearly the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is something that is received, not earned (Acts 1:8; 2:38; 10:45), but apparently we can "fan into flame the gift of God" (2 Tim. 1:6), and we can also "be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

Interestingly enough, it's that very "filling of the Holy Spirit" (that extra dose of life-giving oxygen) that serves as the crucial conductor to augment the heat of our love in bringing about the flame in the fuel of all the men and women in the whole world so that many of them may come to know Christ.

...Starting fires like this is exactly what we are called to do, and letting the Scripture teach, rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness along the way, is precisely how we can be thoroughly equipped to better engage in this type of service.

...To be better engaged in this type of service by more fiercely "fanning into flame the gift of God."

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This blog post is dedicated to the Velandia family with whom I've started a few fires, and with whom I'm also trying to start a new church (which, in a way, is kind of like starting a fire).

Camping with the Velandias in Villa de Leyva

Pictures Cited:

Fire Triangle

Wildfire Picture

Mouth Watering Reflection

Ajiaco Santafereño

Ajiaco is a savory and delicious soup made with potatoes, chicken, corn, carrots, guascas, cilantro, peas, cream, and capers; and it's one of my favorite meals in Colombia. It is considered "the typical dish of Bogota," and it's remarkable how just by eating a small bowl of it you definitely get your stomach's fill... It tastes especially comforting on a wet or cold day in the big city, and it's a great idea for something to serve at a large gathering of people at any type of big social event. The avocados and rice go on the side, but some people like to mix it in with the soup as well.

Bandeja Paisa

The Bandeja Paisa is "the typical dish of Medellin" from where Colombia's astute business people live, up in the mountainous coffee and flower growing region of this country. It's a rather heavy meal consisting of beans, rice, plantain, ground beef, pork cracklings, sausage, a type of thick corn based tortilla known as an "arepa," topped off with a fried egg and an avocado... If this meal won't fill you up, then nothing will; and if you are ever going to start a fast, then this would probably be the best "last meal to choose" before you do so. I say this, just because it goes against everything a fast usually stands for, since it's rather terrible for the arteries (but wonderful in the tummy). "Paisas" (the people from the Northwest of Colombia) are also really good talkers, so maybe this meal has something to do with that as well (I don't know).

Picada

Picadas are the perfect party dishes consisting of medium sliced pieces of grilled beef, chicken, and pork; as as well as ribs, blood sausage, pork cracklings, yucca, potatoes, and either aji (hot sauce), or guacamole and hogao for dipping. Hogao is a deliciously condimented mixture of sauteed onion and tomato, and while not extremely spicy, it makes for a really yummy kick on top of either potatoes or yucca... You'll often eat picadas while watching a soccer game on a weekend cookout, or on the side of the road when you go out with your family on a 'paseo,' which is kind of like a short road trip. One of the greatest things about this type of meal is that it requires absolutely no utensils to eat, and everyone usually shares and picks and chooses what they like best from each dish... Personally, my least favorite item from this meal is the blood sausage, which in Spanish is called "morcilla," but I usually just give that away to other people anyways, so that I don't have to eat it myself.

Caldo de Costilla

Lastly, Caldo de Costilla is my personal favorite breakfast dish, and it's essentially a soup consisting of beef broth, potatoes, cilantro, and a huge chunk of rib. Most people just eat it like that, plain and simple; but I especially enjoy it in the mornings with slices of avocado mixed in, along with freshly squeezed lemon juice.

... And so if any of you haven't opened a new tab on your computer yet to book a flight to Colombia so you can come try some of this amazing food for yourselves, but are still reading this entry - I just want to mention another type of food that keeps me going as well. It's known as doing the will of God, and Jesus talked about it in John chapter 4 to his disciples when they urged him to eat after he had spent some time hanging out with, and talking to, a Samaritan woman at a well. Essentially, Jesus catches his disciples off guard when they see him with this woman, and later tells them that he had food to eat that they knew nothing about... that Jesus' food was to finish the work of him who sent him, and that physical food was relatively unimportant comparably speaking.

...For me personally, I know that it's true that I can sometimes get so caught up in physical things such as food and clothing and entertainment and money that I forget what I really need to be about... I need to be about doing God's business to such an extent that if I don't, I would feel the same affects as one who would try to survive for an extended period of time without eating... That by not doing the will of the Father, I would get restless, weak, and sick; or that I would eventually even die as a result of undernourishment... That that's how important it is to obey what God has called us to do!... So important to serve God in fact, that our very bodies would start negatively reacting against the lack of doing so.

I usually eat like 3 to 7 times a day... Is that how many times in a day that I intentionally serve God as well?

What's interesting is that Jesus told his disciples that he had food which they knew nothing about... and that too is a pretty crazy thing that I need to keep in check as well.

See, as a missionary, one of the main things I do is that I tell just about everyone I know, what it is I'm doing. I do that mostly, just so that people would better know how to pray for me or even so that in some cases perhaps, there would be some who would be more compelled to give financially towards this work that I'm involved in... I hope that in most cases my motives are pure, but I don't deny that sometimes I may even start telling others about what I'm doing in Colombia with that subtle longing mixed in it of just wanting to be recognized for doing so... What's really sobering though, is that for people who have these types of motives, Jesus says that "they have received their reward in full" (Matthew 6:1-16).

Rather, the right attitude is that of those who are "careful not to practice their works of righteousness in front of others to be seen by them" (v.1), because if we have this attitude, then one day we will truly be rewarded by our Father who sees what is done in secret (vs. 4,18).

...Jesus didn't do stuff in front of people to be recognized by them - he did it only out of love for those whom he was serving; and especially out of obedience to his Father.

May we all have that same disposition as well.

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This blog post is dedicated to Nataly Rojas who lives to serve the Lord, and finds her nourishment in doing so, just as how our bodies find nourishment in the various types of foods that we eat.

Nataly sharing from John 4

A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

One of the biggest disappointments in the National Football League this year is undoubtedly Chicago Bears' franchise quarterback Jay Cutler (Ooook, fine. So maybe Jonny Manziel is a pretty big disillusionment also, but I mean the kid's just a rookie and has still got quite a bit of time to redeem himself... In fact, some people are saying that it's even good for him to fail so miserably like this in his first season just because that will sack some humility into him and he might start training harder next season*).

Jay Cutler though man, he seemed to have it all.

Ability, athleticism, strong arm, toughness, experience, you name it - some people may have even thought he was actually worth his salt as the highest paid offensive player in the NFL at the beginning of this season (that would be $22.5 million dollars guaranteed, to be exact)...

But no such luck. That $22.5 million would have been better spent paying for Barrack Obama's combined 4 year presidential vacations to Hawaii * than by paying for this guy's embarrassing performances (which incidentally also ran in the $20 million ballpark believe it or not).

But $22.5 million dollars!... can you imagine that? That's probably more money than all of my readers for this blog will make in the next 10 years combined (unless of course this post goes viral).

...And that's just 1 year!  

Now think of this: Russell Wilson, the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks who is responsible for already taking his team to the divisional round of the Playoff's in 2012, winning the Super Bowl in 2013, and now being well on his way to clinching the number 1 seed for the NFC division title in the 2014 Playoffs; only makes $662,434*.

What?!?

...According to USA Today, that's actually less than what either the second or third string quarterbacks for the Seahawks make themselves*, and if I've ever heard of anything ironic, this would be it.

Cause see, on the one hand you got Cutler - an arrogant, snobby, bad attitude-loser making more money than he can count (while producing nothing with it); and on the other hand you see Wilson - a young, solid, dynamic-winning leader making very little money comparatively speaking; and yet tearing it up completely in the whole NFL.

Now don't get me wrong. I am definitely no Seahawks fan (never have been, never will be), but you got to give it to him - Russell Wilson is really amazing; and the fact that he makes so little money while at it, makes him even cooler still.

...A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at a church's youth group a little ways outside of Bogota, and as I was just getting to know the kids - I decided to teach them how to play 'Scum'.

Duitama Youth Group Playing Scum

The idea in the game is that everyone gets an even amount of randomly distributed cards, and turn by turn each player tries to successively and systematically get rid of their cards as fast as they can until they're all gone.

...It's a fun game, but the interesting part is that at the end of each round, the player who performed the best gets ranked as 'King', and then the player who performed the worst gets ranked as 'Scum'.

That's all nice and well, but what this actually means in practice, is that for the next round the 'King' automatically gets the 'Scum's' two best cards, and the 'Scum' automatically gets any two of the  'King's' cards (which are usually his or her worst).

...So that kind of puts a curious twist on everything, and it also gives quite a significant incentive in the card playing world for everyone to try their hardest and do their best... cause if you lose, you lose what you most need for the next game.

So we played that, right? We played it and then I proceeded to speak on the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-26) where Jesus' underlying message is that those who put the resources that they have been given to good use in the Lord's business - well, they're going to receive even more; and those who do nothing at all with the things that God has given them to advance His Kingdom - well, even what they have will be taken away from them.

Fortunately for Cutler, all his money is guaranteed and so nobody can just come along and take it away from him and give it to Wilson... but yet it is pretty likely that as soon as Cutler's contract is over, nobody in their right mind is going to want to renew it, and he'll simply be left without a job.

But Wilson on the other hand? Well, those $663,000 dollars are about to turn into $100 million.*

...So that's just an interesting real life story to get you thinking.

Because clearly this season Cutler has been a joke while Wilson has definitely earned his two cents, but what about you? Are you effectively glorifying God and exponentially using his resources to expand his Kingdom on Earth?... Or are you squandering the nothing that you have so that even what you do have will be taken away from you and you'll be brought before the Lord at the day of judgement only to be killed before him? (Luke 19:26-27).

How about me? ...Cause I mean I can talk about everyone else all I want, but at the end of the day it's me that I'm going to primarily have to be responsible for.

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Works referenced:

Cutler's Fans Burn His Jersey
Wikipedia - Russel Wilson
Obama's family Vacations
Cutler's Contract
Russell Wilson - Next $100 Million Quarterback
NFL Salary Cap
Russell Wilson Makes Less Than His Replacemente

The Umbrella Movement (Part 3)

That said, to what extent are we willing to fight for it?

I mean it's one thing to take advantage of the salvation that we have in Jesus personally, but what about fighting for the opportunity for others to obtain it as well?

To be honest, I find it really amazing the guts and culture of the young people who are fighting for democracy in Hong Kong under what is popularly known as the Umbrella Movement.

Completely unrelated to the movement - some friends and I sporting an umbrella.

Once numbering within the tens of thousands, the number of protesters have dwindled somewhat this past month, but still – this movement which was once known for its politeness has now become known for its perseverance.

Taking to the streets with umbrellas, tents, mouth covers and goggles; protesters have continued to occupy at least 3 major roads in Hong Kong for a month now while outlasting the police's use of tear gas and pepper spray to scatter them. ...They've braved weather and discomfort while peaceably getting their point across through speeches. images, articles and internet tweets.

Their goal is to ensure free elections in 2017 for their next governing official, and many of them are considering the idea of traveling to Beijing on November 10 in an attempt to crash a world wide economic cooperation forum where Chinese president Xi Jinping will be hosting American president Barack Obama among other world leaders to talk about future international relations.

What Hong Kong youth want is freedom! though, and their revolution is essentially a battle of wits to see who can last the longest in standing up for their interests... the idealistic millennials who cry out for universal suffrage; or the heavy-handed government who heartlessly turns a cold shoulder to their own people's appeals.  

And I'm really impressed... this type of revolution inspires me for various reasons:

For one, the protesters are peaceful, determined and intentional. For another, they make up a grass-roots movement that has arisen and been stimulated with virtually no resources or overhead supervision. It has rather been propagated by use of social media and non-violent resistance, and it is spearheaded by 2 seemingly unlikely leaders such as Joshua Wong and Alex Chow who are only 17 and 24 years old respectively.

Who would have thought that a couple kids like this could shake up one of the world's largest cities? (it's actually ranked 46th, according to Wikipedia)...

I don't know; but if these guys are able to make such a significant impact on their city for the progress of democracy in this specific context –  than I like to think that I too can fight in unconventional and significant ways for an even more important cause in my own city here in Colombia.

...A while back some friends and I went to the left-winged National University here in Bogota to give
out bread and speak about peace in the middle of the 'Plaza Che' to any student who cared to spend a few minutes discussing the teachings of a revolutionary far more important than the infamous Ernesto 'Che' Guevara.

His name is Jesus, and while Guevara's revolution is old news now compared to the Internet Revolution that took place in Cairo back in 2011 or this new Umbrella Movement that is taking place right now in Hong Kong – Jesus' teachings, authority and way of life far surpasses any other leader's movement that ever was or that ever will be in all of history. 

...I fully believe that Jesus' teachings are truly worth propagating, and just like we have started to see glimpses of hope for change in dictatorial countries such as Egypt and Hong Kong (which represent far greater segments of territories deprived of religious freedom and other democratic ideals), perhaps one day these countries in the Middle East and Far East will be transformed and impacted by the gospel of Christ which is even more important than differing systems of government.

How are you going to represent the Lord in your own country and city? How can you start influencing other cities and countries as well - perhaps even in Africa, Asia and the Middle East?
   

Do you have the guts?

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"It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." - Horace Greely

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Works and Pictures Referenced: 

http://goo.gl/2B23QN

http://goo.gl/8c21eT

http://goo.gl/Ga2shf

http://goo.gl/Jt8Xeu

Ven Te Necesito (Part 2)

The question is: what are you going to make your life count for?

It's crazy that when Jesus talked about this, he essentially told us to forget about the money (Luke 12:33), forget about the family (Mark 10:37-38), and forget about our own selves ( Mark 10:39).

Forget about all of that, because sooner or later we're bound to lose it anyway... Why try to make our lives count for something that's so transient?  

Jesus tells us to make our lives count for his kingdom and righteousness rather, because that's something that'll last forever (Matthew 6:33). Invest in it, dedicate yourself to it, and devote yourself to Christ and his gospel because if you lose your life for him, you will save it (Mark 8:35). 

In theory I understand that, and in my heart and mind I intend to try to live that out in practical ways, but I don't deny that sometimes I get distracted. That sometimes I love my life rather than hate it in comparison to my love for God (Luke 14:26), or that my pursuit of earthly things eclipses my commitment or devotion to Christ. I have at times become complacent, indifferent, or even rebellious in not following through with what I know God wants me to get after.       

And in those instances of faltering faith or superficial spirituality when Christianity becomes nothing more than a religion, it's when you start to crave for something more. You see the emptiness and futility of a life lived for oneself and in the strength of oneself; and you want to get back to the essence of knowing that you were created with a purpose by a God who is very much alive and actively calling you to come back to him... that nothing else really matters unless he's there in the forefront, at the center, head, and base of your life. 

That that's the real issue. That that's the real reason for which we were created! ...To live in a close relationship with our Creator. Everything else, all the nature and people and money and activities in life should only serve to help us enjoy and get to know God more... or to make him known more to those around us, so that they too may enjoy and experience him in all his fullness. 

There's a song that I've been learning how to play recently and it talks about this. About how after getting to know God we can turn our back on him and try to live our lives our own way, and about how, after experiencing the fleeting pleasures of sin that this life has to offer – eventually we find ourselves realizing that that which we left God for is just a false illusion that ultimately leads to pain and confusion... That we're lost without the Lord, and that he's completely necessary in our daily everything... That he's the only one that can purify us and cleanse us, and that we constantly need to be going back to a place of abiding there with him at the foot of the cross.

It's a cool song, and though I don't play it or sing it perfectly, here's a shot:  

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Song credit to Lilly Goodman: "Ven Te Necesito"

11 Men on a Ledge/11 Friends on a Ridge (Part 1)

The picture "Men at Lunch" with the 11 fearless builders precariously hanging out on an iron beam atop of the burgeoning New York City amidst the Great Depression has remained an American favorite for nearly a century. It depicts courage and comradery in the midst of a world of chaos and confusion; and it associates 11 anonymous faces with an ideal for which we all aspire.

…An ideal to be people who are capable of rising above the circumstances below us, and along with a few other friends – experiencing instances of serenity amidst exhausting efforts of constructing something great.

   

I bet that most those guys in the picture above were in their 20's or 30's at the time of the take; and just like the 11 friends from our young adult's group below, they probably had all kinds of questions about their future and worth and relationships and dreams.

  

Dreams of doing something meaningful with their lives, and of making enough money to have a life. Of sharing their lives with people they care about, and of caring for the people that make their lives worthwhile.

Bogota Colombia in the 21^st century is a little different from New York City at the beginning of the 20^th, but young adults throughout every era and in every continent are all trying to make their lives count.

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Picture Referenced:

http://goo.gl/yGLUxQ

Reggae Reflections

Jeez Lue Weez man, last night I was talking to one of my best friends and he mentioned Magic! and so I checked them out and they're awesome! haha. I really like them, and their music video Rude is pretty solid... check it: 

...The main idea is that there's this guy that has a crush on a girl and so he asks her dad for his blessing to marry her, but all the dad says is "tough luck my friend," and that he's never going to get his blessing till the day he dies...Like never... Ever... never, ever, EVER!... Like never ever ever EVER!!! and so it's just like... whoa! jeez lue weez, that is soooooo... RUDE!!! Why you gotta be so ruuuude? haha. 

Can you imagine that? 

You can't live without this certain girl... the one and only girl that you love and care about more than anybody or anything else in the whole world, and so you try to be nice, you try to be cordial, but all the dad does is say no and throw it right back in your face.

He completely denies you the opportunity to marry her, and so you're like, what?!? Like really? I mean like man alive... why you gotta be so rude like that? That's just so ruuuude!!!

So what do you do?

Well, you marry her anyway. You marry her no matter what he says... You run away with her and become your own family. That's what you do... It's what you do fair and square. End of story. That's all there is to it.    

Do you see how that could raise a little tension?

...Now imagine that tension multiplied a million times over in a tiney little country surrounded by multiple Arab states 650 times your size that really don't like you very much at all, and you just might start to get an idea of what it's like for Israel.... 

Israel is the guy wanting the girl. The girl is the land they're living on, especially Jerusalem. But Palestine, or multiple people from the various Arab nations surrounding Israel, are the "dads" who don't want to give that land away.

...And so the problem is that the land has technically already been given away to Israel, and it was given to them back in 1948 by like the official land and country marriage organization called the United Nations.   

And so this marriage to Israel and their land… well, not only is it officially recognized by most of the world – there’s also a little rumble that occurs there between the brand new Israeli state and the Arab states a few days later... A little rumble that Israel miraculously wins!

Now these rumbles go on and on and on for decades (and the turmoil is highlighted in 1967 with the Six Days War), until about in 1987 when a rather small political organization of Arabs called Hamas is formed out of a previous organization called Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Movement. This group gains momentum, and in the 1990's and early 2000's starts really getting after it on every opportunity they’ve got to destroy the notion of Israel as it's own sovereign state... And Israel, on the other hand, with a surprisingly powerful Air Force and Defence Force - defends themselves from the oncoming attacks while also managing to perpetually retaliate in a semi-offensive way.

And so what does Hamas do? Well they don’t really care too much about all their losses as long as that gets them more sympathy from the public, and so they keep debilitating Israel... They keep attacking – they throw rockets to Tel-Aviv and send suicide bombers into Jerusalem and build secret tunnels especially into the Israeli side of perhaps the most coveted realty zone in the whole world; namely the Gaza Strip.

In other words, to get a better understanding of this whole messy disaster, check out this video that explains the history of this dilemma in a little more detail...

And as a side note, just keep in mind that Israel as a nation with its strategic connection to the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia right along the Eastern border of the Mediterranean Sea is the epicenter of the whole world. And Jerusalem; the great city of King David – is the epicenter of Israel. And Temple Mount; the specific place where the Jews want to build the temple that you can read about in the Bible - that's in the epicenter of this city… and well, just to top it off and make matters even worse – let’s just say that Temple Mount is inconveniently already taken up by a huge Islamic Mosque…

Now if you’ve ever heard of a gnarly situation, I think that this one would definitely constitute itself as being the biggest.

And so who’s to blame for it all?

…Well, that’s where it gets really tough to define because apparently both Israel with their killing of so many Arab civilians; and Palestine with their incessant launching of so many rockets are definitely almost both just as seriously and as equally in the wrong in all of this.

…Maybe we could go back and blame it on Abraham, the ancestral father of both Israel and Palestine, or perhaps we could just stick with SIN as being the ultimate source of it all… The same kind of sin that you and I have; just as much as the Arabs and Jews, and which can only be remedied with the blood of the most controversial Jew who ever lived in those parts… The most controversial Jew who some acknowledge as the promised and long awaited Messiah… the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s, the Everlasting Son of God.

He’s the ultimate Savior that can bring true shalom to the world (John 14:27), and in the midst of all these tears and wars and bloodshed, I think that one of the only things that we can really cling to are the promises in the Bible concerning the final victory of Jesus when all of this will turn around…

Seriously man. And while you're at it, please click play on Matisyahu's song: One Day to hear a spectacular interpretation a Jewish reggae artists's hope for change:

Yeah for Matisyahu! (best song ever).

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Luke 19:41-44

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Luke 13:34-35

 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her broodunder her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
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Other Good Videos Explaining the Situation in Israel:

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Pictures Cited: 
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398512.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2014/jul/24/the-conflict-in-gaza-in-pictures
http://www.islamic-architecture.info/WA-IS/WA-IS.htm
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/robert-spencer/hamas-genocidal-technocrats/
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/15/bbc-supreme-court-middle-east-report