Piper at the Holy Sites

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I am Dr. Khaled’s office. Just spent an hour or so with Saleh’s brother George at the LaVie. Was great He is with the Lord

I just got back from Jerusalem where spent the night after being with Linda, Merilee and xxx. I took them to some Holy Sites and then we went to the Wall. We had dinner at the City of Peace Restaurant, mmmm. So Good. Amazing Coffee.

What was funny is that I prayed that the Lord would help me film myself playing Amazing Grace with Palestnian flute at holy sites.  Last night Betchie filmed me at: 11^th, 5^th stations of the cross: Tower of David; Stephens gate; Amazing Bethesda; Church where Mary was born:  Was so fun. I got about 325 views on one of the videos (Stephen’s Gate) and with all others is about 500 so far. This is the first day.

Yusara being a little skittish these days. She said again ‘Take him…” she wants to get rid of Dad.

I took Dad to mosque yesterday and he walked 90 of the way without me holding his hand. When I got to café by mosque a bunch of men were there. Dad sat by Hussein Dhablan’s group and I went and sat by Amo Issa who almost instantly got up to walk away as if in disgust. When I went inside to take dad’s shoes off, he was telling me not to let go of his hand. I told him Dad walked by himself. He kept insisting …

Whatever.

God heard the desire of my heart which  was kind of crazy to have someone film me at the Holy Sites. He sent three single women – from the Phillipines; Southern Califronia and Northern California. It was great. Thank You Lord Jesus that You hear my smallest desires.
The videos are all on Facebook and have reached 1150 views!!!

https://www.facebook.com/smashni/videos/pcb.10153794874395880/10153794849130880/?type=3&theater

Write like no one's reading

I've been taking dad to the mosque lately after I came back from Cyprus when he went by himself

The first time I went and sat with Amo Isa and other guys in front of cafe and Amo Isa when it was prayer time came and said to dad, "You want to pray and took him by the hand."

A few more times I went and Amo Issa took him in. Another time, a man walked with me up to the mosque with dad. I told him to just sit him in the mosque on a chair and that I'd be there to pick him up.

Almost every time I go up the ramp and take dad by the arm and lead him down. Sometimes someone takes us in their car to the house and sometimes we walk.

Yesterday, as I waited the guy with the long bear (scarily long) who used to always tell me he wanted to talk to me for five minutes, came up to me. He was with his sons. He said, angrily, he just wanted to talk to me for 15 minutes.  I was scared of him last time. This time he's scarier. It seems like God may want me to talk to him becuase he is also the Federal Express representative in Deir Debwan and he got my ATM card from Wells Fargo. There was another letter that came from Wells Fargo and he gave it to Najat. 

I don't know what he wants to say my uncle saw me speaking to him last time I was here in 2013 and he said, "Be careful around those guys. They kill." I jokingly said, "Maybe I'm the sacrifice tonight."

But 

This is the reality I face here. I don't know how many people know about me being a Christian. I know many Christians know me from the TV. I don't know how many here know about me. Last time I was here I was told that someone told my sister they saw me on Youtube. I don't know how many know a few  incidents I've had here

--  I was walking down the street and three young men were walking and one of them said: "He's the one that..."

-- Another time I was walking down the street and three guys were walking down the street and two guys seemed to have to pull back one guy who seemed to be saying the same thing, "He's the one..."

-- I don't know who else knows or what they know.

Every time  I go to the mosque with dad this weighs on me but there hasn't been any confrontation until the bearded man yesterday seemed angry

I don't know what he wants to say

Someone should talk to Fed Ex to tell them who their reps are

Mount of Temptation

A few days ago dad seemed down and I asked him what he wanted he said, "Bidi a Tush," that means I want to go out just have fun. The next day I took Najat's black car and took him out. We drove past Rimon and then through Taibeh. As we did I told Dad we should go back because there might be Israeli checkpoints, he said there were none and that I should continue going. We went all teh way to Jericho down the steep winding roads. When we got there, I saw a bus of tourists at the Mount of Temptation. I stopped and took pictures. Then we came back went to Betien and then came and went to Sheikh Ammar and home.

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