How Dad must feel

It all happened so suddenly
The Stroke
That was 2013
Everything changed forever. Then
He used to walk all over
He would talk to folks
They'd talk to him
His kids were as per "usual"
Neglectful -- maybe he was too
But love was never doubted
His tender heart towards
Some of his kids
And harder towards others
But not all that's gone. Forever
The stroke took away much
Of his ability to communicate
He still thought he had
His unmatched flair with words
He knew several languages
Fluently but never read or wrote
He was funny
He was clever
He was humble
He was greatly beloved
Then the Stroke in 2013
It took a while to know what
Happened
He didn't know at first
It was a haze
All his kids, almost, came
to his beside
His relatives and friends all came
For a while
Why?
He wasn't sure
Everything was like it was
Isn't it?
But people didn't seem to
Understand
Anymore
He needed to be understood
How can you get the punchline
If you don't understand
the words of the joke
JOKE
Joke
So many ways to say it
He kept trying
He'd never give up
But all the sudden
He couldn't bathe himself anymore
He needed help
His sons and daughters started
bathing him. cleaning him
taking him to the bathroom
So humiliating at first
then grudgingly you understand
they dont want to do this
anymore than you want them to
do it
Helicopter flying over head
Sounds like war
War is excitement
amidst the dreary reality
for so long
the kids try so hard,
some do
to feed, clean
ENTERTAin
It doesn't seem to work
but then it does
Dad always said that when
people get old they revert
to childhood
Yup. He was right
Nowadays he can
shuffle around weakly
Everyone tells him
He will be rewarded by God
for the suffering he is
Enduring
Some dare say
"Any thing from Allah is so sweet."
Of course those people
Are living a sweet life
They deserve to, of course
You reap what you sow
Dad tried anger and complaining
to those closest to him
the kids call once a month
sometimes twice
the tension is palpable
I know. I am one of the kids
I did what they are doing
I'd call every  month or so
My excuse always seemed valid
It was too hard to talk to him
It was easier not too
Everyone would surely
Understand
Or at least not care enough
to confront this
Dad is barely able to stand up straight
He is so weak
His brothers and cousins
are kind of mean to be honest
he still wants to go to mosque and
be with them and pray
its so easy to feel bad for the underdog
forgetting he was once not the underdog
and when he was "not the underdog"
He was mean sometimes too
Now none of that matters

Taking Dad

the last few days been taking dad to mo. I take him down and each time there has been someone there that takes him in and seats him on a chair.
then I meet him at the end and walk him home. yesterday brought him up the steep seneda in front of Samir's but today just took him the easier one on the way to Atta's store.

He tried to get me to go in with him yesterday, I told him no.

I sat outside yesterday "Friday" and there were other men sitting in front of the Kahwa who didn't go in either. That made me feel better. The cafe manager told me when the men started coming out of the mosque so I could go get Dad.

Today, I was alone with no chairs sitting on the fence. I read my passport and listened to Graham Kendrick Amazing Love. I also bought some body shampoo at the pharmacy

No questions or confrontations yet but I don't know how long this will last

Everyone is very supporting and happy when I come get Dad. They are happy that I am walking with him. Even Atta came up as we were leaving and asked if Dad wanted to fight (in Atta's way). I said I don't get involved and laughed. Several offered to drive us home but Dad said no. we walked and he sat at Atta's store for a while.

Kind of crazy when you think about it.

I'm sitting outside while everyone inside.


The day before I went to Jerusalem and Western U. I also ate at McDonalds and saw several street musician it was cool:

Teh videos are posted on fAcebook September 22

I called Maisoun to ask her about how to deal with these family issues. 

Near Perfect Day

Went to lunch with Najat and Dad at Mazan restaurant in Jiffna. Beautiful restaurant and they played "El Hob Kolo" by Um Kolthoum for us. It was great

Then  I went with Michael to Ramle where I preached about Idols:

https://ia600406.us.archive.org/0/items/DromeBox.com-2016-04-16/livestream_2016-04-16-16.05.17.589--0700_0.mp4

Three first commandments

I am the Lord Your God You shall have no other

You shall make no idols

You shall not take the Name of the Lord in vain

Why so much idolatry?

Why so many people deceived by idols?

500 million Bhuddists

1.4   billion Muslims

1 billion hindus

Flee from Idolatry

1.       I dolatry most serious and contaminating  تلويث because it strikes right at the character of God

2.       Idol      15 times

3.       Idols      102

4.       Gods 244

5.       Images   71

6.       Image 80

A.      Idolatry slanders God’s character – Idolatrous heart assumes God is other than who or what He is. Have unworthy or erroneous views of God

1.       Mak’r (deceiver)

2.       Holy and angry

3.       Loving and unholy

4.       You thought I was altogether like you

5.       Far away unconcerned

6.       Santa Claus

7.       Job’s friends

8.        احتمى غضبي عليك وعلى كلا صاحبيك لانكم لم تقولوا فيّ الصواب كعبدي ايوب.

9.  1 وانما اقول ما دام الوارث قاصرا لا يفرق شيئا عن العبد مع كونه صاحب الجميع.

10.       2 بل هو تحت اوصياء ووكلاء الى الوقت المؤجل من ابيه.

11.       3 هكذا نحن ايضا لما كنا قاصرين كنا مستعبدين تحت اركان العالم.

12.       4 ولكن لما جاء ملء الزمان ارسل الله ابنه مولودا من امرأة مولودا تحت الناموس

13.       5 ليفتدي الذين تحت الناموس لننال التبني.

14.       6 ثم بما انكم ابناء ارسل الله روح ابنه الى قلوبكم صارخا يا ابا الآب.

15.       7 اذا لست بعد عبدا بل ابنا وان كنت ابنا فوارث للّه بالمسيح

Worshipping God in the wrong way – Jesus said the Father seeks those who will worship in Spirit and in truth. Sometimes we get this the Spirit but not truth.. We enjoy the emotions and power which we should but we forget the truth to where our worship doesn’t change us.

B.      Made an image of God. It wasn’t even another god it was a  supposed image of God

Worship isn’t based on emotion but has to be based on truth –

Idolatry is worshipping any image

Isaiah 47 – he makes a fire with the wood, eats and is full. With the rest makes an idol and bows to it

Don’t replace image for reality

2 Cor. 4:4

انجيل مجد المسيح الذي هو صورة الله.

Colossian 1:15

 الذي هو صورة الله غير المنظور 

Hebrew 1:3

 الذي وهو بهاء مجده ورسم جوهره

Worship of angels

Worship of devils

But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

Worship of dead mean

Psalm 106:28

Eph. 5:5

         No covetous man who is an idolater

Money   1 Tim 6

Get money between you and God and you can’t see Him anymore

9.  Lust – Php 3:19

Whose god is their belly

Whose glory is their shame

Whose

What Idolatry does to us

Idolatry defiles us

Defiles everyone around them

They can’t help you

They won’t do anything for you

Carry it

It wont move

Wont hear

Wont speak

Won’t see

Bring guilt that activate God’s vengeance

Pride makes a god of self, covetousness makes a god of money, sensuality makes a god of the belly; whatever is esteemed or loved, feared or served, delighted in or depended on, more than God, that (whatever it is) we do in effect make a god of

Spent the night in Ramallah and came home in morning 

Came home yesterday. El Al was so nice. A guy in Cyprus asked some questions. Interesting:
He knew that Deir Debwan meant that it was Christian at once
He knew that there are no Christians in Deir Debwan
When I needed he helped by making a hotspot so my phone could go on line and find a message I sent to San Deigo passport agency =  it worked
I was let on plane and I got a 3 month visa


I spent night in Jerusalem at metropole hotel

came home today

Mom sent a message saying I should come home

was nervous about being home

Dad went to mosque today. I am worried about the way he got there -- Yusara left him at the corner and the daughter of Habsi came and took him

i can't beleive that


Amo Issa brought him back


Aziz came over he said its perfect that I stay to November because thats when Ihmaydi can come back

Cyprus

I've been in Cyprus for three days going on four now. It's been a great blessing. Elie has three beautiful daughters and a wonderful wife. I've been staying in the guest house outside. Been great

WE went to Paphos where the Apostle Paul was

today we went to a waterfall and met some Lebanese folks who recognized us freom TV

was fun.

Here are some pictures of Paphos and Cyprus

Ben Gurion

spent the night at the Austrian Hospice. Was not a very pleasant experience but overall its was OK. In morning went to central bus station and then am here to Ben Gurion
I'm flying with El Al. I was moved at how kind the security folks were with me. They were very sympathetic about Dad.

Just ate a huge bagel and had a coke -- 46 shekels -- ouch

on way to Cyprus.

God's favor seems to be on my trip

Rainy Day Ramallah written at Musallam Hospital

Rainy day Ramallah

Liquid not yet fallen fallen 

Falling from the sky

Gray so dark the color bodes

Of eyes so color blind

Of all sorrows we have heard

Many through the days

This is what we got

I’d rather be playing Guns n Roses with the band

I’d rather be back home not in this foreign land

But daddy he got sick today I had to do my share

No one cares how much I play till they know I care

Rainy day Ramallah its not like Paris France

Where poetry drips off the lips

Like sight starts with a glance

Here the movement’s slower

At least it seems to me

That birds don’t quite scrape the sky

Though they spread their wings

Dad’s asleep his mouth agape

It looks like he’s in pain

Or close enough to breath and gasp

And make the clouds drop rain

Upon this land so arid

So dreary and ashamed

Or is it just my memories

I tried so to escape

Here with Khaled and Waleed

Sohaila was there too

Fatima and me we watched

To learn this world so new

Back then it was raining too

We stepped out of a car

And ate a sweet delicacy

Too sweet for my taste

We also got wet when we walked

From the shop back to the car

And then on to Jericho

A journey seemed so far

We played as children often do

As if we’d smash into the hills

All barren and yellow, it’s the desert

Dad’s mouth is half open

He yellow dentures show

As if its hard to breathe

In time I know I’ll know

His own teeth long ago they failed

To meet his need

These fake and clumsy dentures

Each day to help him eat

On continents across the globe

My father wandered bravely

And taught a generation

How to break the barriers

How to get a passport

How to stand in line

How to fly upon a plane

And how to find a wife

He’s the one whose feet did run

And we just simply followed

He took at he risks

And we just mocked and followed

Dads eyes are like permanently teary

His look angry

His body is bruised and wounded

He’s a fighter

He just had a pouch of sodium chloride put into his left arm and he’s falling asleep watching the middle easts equivalent of Good Morning America

The drip drip drip is going down the hose

Rainy Day Ramallah

November Rain

When I went to Brazil in 1981, one of the main songs for me for that time was "Light of the World," by Barry Maguire or "Old Branch," also by MaGuire.

When  I went to Croatia, the song was "Us Now," by Jon Gibson

When  I came here in 1989, the song was "Judas Kiss," by Petra and "Holiness" by Wayne Watson

The last time I was here in 2013, I think the main song I would say was "Take a Walk," as it came to reflect how I was feeling back then, etc. 

If I was to say which one particular song seems to be a big part of this trip, I think (the secular) one would be November Rain by Guns 'n Roses

I started playing it at open mikes in So Cal. Had some pretty cool reactions especially at the Fox's Coffee House where I first played it with a backing track.

I was also enjoying playing at Bogarts in Seal Beach where the guy who does the open mike said of me "...he usually does scorching guitar leads..."

I also did it twice in Laguna Beach -- Once I sang it and once the kid "Christian" sang it

I also did it at Beach Hut Deli which I think was probably my best but Chris the guy who does the open mike didn't like using a backing track and was reluctant to compliment me though Mohammed was there and he complimented me

Since I've been here in Holy Land, I have heard the song a zillion times - the real one and the one I did at Foxs (mostly)

But I think that will be the song I associate with this trip the most

HEre are some of the performances of it

Fox's (may not work)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0zhUwraJiBBS0JiSkNwZmYyRXc/view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDnsVE4eOeg

Old Man and the Sea

Najat and me took Dad to Jerusalem and Jaffa today. I pushed him all the way to the Al Aqsa and then  she said, "Are you going in?" She said they would think its strange if they see someone standing and not praying with them. I said I'd stand outside and wait. She said I shouldn't stand so close. I went up to the Dome of the Rock but didn't go in and went out the gate to one of the dark halls and had a carrot juice. Then I when to the third station of the cross:

Then we went to the restaurant Old Man and the Sea عجوز و البحر

it became a theme for me of the day. Adleh understood it when I told here