March 2005
Hello, my friends!
Did you make a resolution this year? One of mine has been to memorize the Bible more regularly. So far I've memorized all of Psalms 139, most of the verses related to Whirlwinds in the Bible and I'm currently working on Isaiah 40. I was studying these verses, "Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales: Behold He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor it's beasts enough for a burnt offering," when I decided it was time to go to eat. I headed over to El Azteca, my favorite Mexican food place. The place was nearly empty. There were two ladies sitting behind me and another man at a table across from me. The lady behind me suddenly spoke to the man across from me, "Are you from this country?"
"No, I'm from Lebanon. And you?"
"I'm from Tunisia, but I was raised in Paris. My family is Jewish. Are you a Christian?"
"Yes, but I don't believe in all that religious stuff. There is so much war in my country because of religion."
"There is war, but it's because of politics, not because of religion. Do you know Jesus?"
At that moment I stopped eating and started praying.
"Yes, but I'm not serious about religion."
"It's not about a religion it's about a relationship with Christ."
"I remember in Lebanon armies would come in with pictures of Jesus taped to their AK47 rifles. How can Christians do that?"
"Jesus never preached war. He is against war."
"Still, I remember when the armies came in '82 and destroyed our country. That was done in the name of religion."
"The important thing is that you believe in Jesus. He is the Messiah that the Jewish people have waited for. He came for you too."
The ladies shared their business cards with him and left.
This passage is from Joel 3:9-11, "Declare among the nations, Prepare a war! Rouse the mighty men, let the soldiers draw near, let them come up. Beat your plow shares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears and let the weak say, 'I am a mighty man!'"
We are living in a time of great evil. Wars continue without end. Satan has taken aim at America, and in many ways seems to be winning. We are soldiers called to serve our King. The battle goes on all around us. There may be a skirmish in a restaurant. Or perhaps an opportunity to establish a beach head at your school. The time to get involved in NOW. Step up and fight for your King! This is war!