AriseNow issue.5

arisenow ISSUE #5 / December 2013

UNSTOPPABLE

MARCOS TAVARES

The NK Maribor Captain talks about his love for God, the church and Israel.

What’s the big deal?

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ

www.arisegeneration.org

THE FATHER OF ISRAELI BASKETBALL The story of Tal Brody

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OUR vision is to courageously and creatively teach, live and share God’s passion for the young generation and stand firm by His plans for Israel and the world.

Blessings from Jerusalem,

arisenow

Jani Salokangas WORKING IN: USA, Canada, Germany, Finland, Norway, England, Philippines, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Namibia, Switzerland...

CREDITS

Rooted in the powerful scripture of Ephesians 5:14, Arise stands to unlimitedly glorify God: to inspire and promote Biblical truths into young people’s everyday lives. Arise devotes itself to cause a generation to arise for spiritual awakening, works of love and support for Israel.

International Director JANI SALOKANGAS Media Strategist EMANUEL MFOUKOU International Administrator SYBILLE HOCHULI AriseNow editors EMANUEL MFOUKOU AND JANI SALOKANGAS

From its beginning in 2002 the ARISE movement has had one mission – to gather students and young people from across the globe to live a life centered in God. We believe that God has a special plan for each person and it is our responsibility to live that calling to its fullest potential. Above all we want this generation to see and discover the unique and crucial plan that God has for Israel in His epic world redemptive plan.

The Arise movement is spreading worldwide. Join the movement today!

Proof reading CHRIS CHAMBERS, LAURA SALOKANGAS Graphics / Illustration JANI SALOKANGAS Writers EMANUEL MFOUKOU, ESTHER MESHOE, JANI SALOKANGAS, SYBILLE HOCHULI, Photography ICEJ STAFF, JANI SALOKANGAS, POND5, EMANUEL MFOUKOU ARISENOW is published by Arise ICEJ. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem www.icej.org

For more information contact us www.arisegeneration.org arisegeneration@icej.org Telephone: +972-2-539-9700 PO Box 1192 Jerusalem 91010 Israel

AriseNow editors JANI SALOKANGAS AND EMANUEL MFOUKOU

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From the leader’s pen

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ohn 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

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esus, our Savior, was born in a small city called Bethlehem, just a couple of kilometers away from our office here in Jerusalem.

Bethlehem means “house of bread,” hence Jesus was born in the city of bread. At the time of Jesus, bread was essential; it symbolized the source of life because it was the primary means by which people survived. So, when Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life,” the people understood the importance He was giving to Himself. He was saying, “I am your daily spiritual food, in fact, I am the only means

by which you can live forever.”

God wanted His Son to be available to all, and that is why He is the bread of life. His birth was announced to shepherds and to the common man, but not to King Herod.

He was born in a stable, and today there is no human outside the reach of the love of God!

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n this season of Christmas let’s eat from His table because that is the only table able to satisfy us. The bible warns us in Isaiah 55:2, “Why do you spend your money for that which is

not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

It is easy to get caught up in searching for meaning in life from the wrong “tables”, because there are a lot of things that bring temporary happiness, but eternal joy can only be found at the table of Jesus. ay God bless you in this season of happiness and joy.

Let’s eat the bread of life and share with others who are hungry but have not yet found it. •

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Jani Salokangas is the Arise International Director and he is based in Jerusalem with his family.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

John 6:35

Hot articles in this issue You lost me

page 5

The Father of Israeli Basketball

page 6

Arise 2013 in numbers

page 10

Unstoppable - The Story of Marcos Tabavres page 12 What’s the big deal ?

page 18

Christ in Bethlehem

page 20

The Samaritans

page 24

The Olive Tree

page 28

Airport Security

page 32

Love - Esther Meshoe

page 40

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me YOU LOST As Christians we tend to often think that our churches are working like a German car engine and that they surely have an Italian sports car reputation to the outside world. The truth sometimes is not seen because there is no willingness to look at it as the truth might hurt. In this case it truly does. New research by the Barna Group shows that young adults looks at churches as judgmental, overprotective, exclusive and unfriendly towards doubters.

The findings, the result of a five-year study, are featured in “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church and Rethinking Faith,” a new book by Barna president David Kinnaman. The project included a study of 1,296 young adults who were present or past regular churchgoers.

The researchers discovered that almost three out of five young Christians (59 percent) leave the church either permanently or for an extended period of time after the age 15.

Researchers discovered that almost three out of five young Christians (59 percent) leave the church either permanently or for an extended period of time after the age 15.

Instead of trying to find a single simple reason to why 60 percent of young people are getting distracted and vanish after graduation (in reality, this disconnect starts long before students graduate), Kinnaman instead established six issues that cause young adults to say goodbye to the church life.

You Lost Me is a must-read for all youth workers and parents of teenagers and young adults. It’s essential we become aware of the church’s reputation with this emerging generation of students, and do everything we can to point our students in the direction of a life-long faith. Arise strongly recommends you to read this book! •

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The Father of Israeli Basketball - The story of Tal Brody

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Tal Brody together with NBA legend Rick Barry and Arnie Fielkow, the NBA Legend Association CEO, during the NBA Legends Brunch in Houston last February in relation to the NBA All Star Weekend.

“They wanted me to play with their team in the NBA” Christians from around the world are well acquainted with the sacrifices connected to volunteering in Israel or other parts of the world. Some leave their jobs and careers behind; others sell their houses or bids farewell to their partners, knowing that God will look after the ones who serve him.

If you think you have sacrificed a lot, meet Tal Brody, also known as Mr. Basketball or the man who put Israel on the map. Brody was born in to a Jewish family from Trenton, New Jersey in 1943, and at the age of eight he already played in three different basketball leagues.

When AriseNow met him in a café outside of Netanya he praised his old neighborhood for having so many basketball courts which contributed to helping the kids and young rascals staying off the streets. After high school he was offered 30 to 40 scholarships to play basketball, and decided to play for the University of Illinois, one of the nation’s best teams. Brody reveals that he after college was chosen as one of the ten best basketball players in the US and that he was 13 in the draft for the Baltimore Bullets, known today as the Washington Wizzards. “They wanted me to play with their team in the NBA,” Brody explains. During the same period, the seventh Maccabean Game came up, and I was asked to play for the US team which took me to Israel for the first time in my life.”

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While in Israel, Maccabee Tel Aviv showed an interest in Brody, and asked him to come and live in Israel for a year to build up and encourage the team who never had made it through the first round in the European Basketball Championship. “I was a Jewish kid from Trenton New Jersey, coming to Israel was a challenge, but the social life here was appealing to me and I liked the beaches and the cafés. At that time Israel went through a recession, and there were lots of boycotts against the country, but I thought I would take one year out of my life to help the team. It was so exciting when we started to win, and I saw how important it was for the spirit of Israel. The Jews suffering from anti-Semitism were lifted by our victories, they were proud that an Israeli team could come in behind the iron curtain and win, everyone was talking basketball and people were smiling.”

“Because of the political situation the Soviet government did not let the CSKA Moscow play Maccabi, but in 1977 we were suddenly allowed to play, not in Tel Aviv, nor in Moscow, but in Virton, a small Belgian city that nobody ever heard or knew about, near the Luxembourg border. All of a sudden this city became one of the most popular cities in Europe, due to the fight between David and Goliath. Nobody expected us to beat them, but we had won the game as soon as we walked in to the gymnasium, all we could see was Israeli flags, and the crowd singing and cheering for our team. It was a mistake for them to choose this place because; it was like a home game for us. The only Russians present were the KGB. We won the game 9179, and all pandemonium broke out, people rushed the floor and were dancing, and again I felt that it was an important decision to give up the NBA and come to Israel.”

Brody continues by explaining that he saw what basketball was doing for the country and that he as a result decided to come back for a second year. “The second year was even greater than the first year, and during the second season I had almost decided that I would like to stay in the country. The NBA feeling had more or less been taken over by this other feeling of staying in Israel, as I had witnessed how the spirit of the country was influenced by our advancement in basketball.”

After his second year the war in Vietnam heated up, and he received a draft notice from Uncle Sam. Without thinking twice he went back to serve his country, and during his basic training he, together with 30 other basketball players who were All - Americans during their college years were sent to San Francisco where they were to play for the US Army Basketball team. Together they won several championships and later on seven people including Brody and the NBA legend Bill Walton were chosen to play on the US national team in the world championship in Yugoslavia in 1970.

It was in relation to this game that Brody during an interview uttered the famous words “We are on the map, and we are staying on the map, not only in sports, but in everything,” a statement that later on has been used in political speeches and advertisements across Israel.

During the 70’s Brody played for Maccabi Tel Aviv and together they won some 10 Israeli Championships, 8 Israeli Cups and the 1977 European Championship.

1977 was a milestone in Israeli basketball, Brody explains, and on the road to the victory in the Euro league Championship of 1977, Maccabee Tel Aviv was facing what was then the Soviet Union and the CSKA Moscow team. A team made up of seven players from the 1972 historical Summer Olympic Games where the Soviets defeated the US in a controversial victory in Munich.

“Israeli basketball has gone through a revolution, in my first games I remember we had to wear gloves because it was so cold, and sometimes we played outdoors in sandstorms. Today we have arenas seating 11 000 people, the Nokia arena, another one up in Haifa and Jerusalem is soon to finish a brand new arena. Israeli basketball has really grown, from not getting passed the first rounds in the European Championship to a country that today has two guys in the NBA. I feel proud of being part of all that and it’s been a nice ride to see it all happening.”

After his successful career with Maccabee Tel Aviv, Brody has been engaged in various exciting projects, teaching young kids from various ethnic backgrounds to play basketball, and some years back Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked him if he would be interested in serving as a good will ambassador to Israel, a role that he currently serves in. Looking back, Brody is certain that God was ordering his steps. “God was definitely in my career and very strongly so, I would say. God plays an important role in every sportsman’s life. When you know that God is with you it makes everything easier,” he explains, adding that Israeli basketball has changed completely compared to when he first came to the country.

“Israeli basketball has gone through a revolution, in my first games I remember we had to wear gloves because it was so cold, and sometimes we played outdoors in sandstorms.

Today we have arenas seating 11 000 people”

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With such a successful career under his belt, AriseNow asked Brody if he could give our readers, young adults from around the world aspiring to be top athletes a word of advice.

“Whether you are Jewish, Christian or Muslim, you have to do the fundamentals. If you learn the fundamentals of the game it’s just a matter of practicing, and living the right way as a sportsman should live. There are things that you have to give up in your life, sometimes even in your social life. You have to make sure you are eating and sleeping well, and before a ball game you can’t be out until two in the morning. A person, as long as he feels that he is doing the best he can to be the best he can, even if he doesn’t make it, at least he knows that he did it the right way. I think that is one of the most important things as a sportsman, to be able to look in the mirror and knowing that you are the person who decides if you did it the right way or not.”

Last February the University of Illinois honored him by hanging his Jersey not far from Doron Williams, and the owner of Chicago Bulls invited him to a game and gave him a shirt with his name. Each year Brody attends the NBA All-star weekend, a weekend for all NBA players who have been active since the league was created back in 1946. “The basketball family doesn’t forget, for me I am going back almost 60 years. Rick Barry, Bill Bradely, and Billy Cunningham, the guys of my period of time all played pro ball, and we have good memories. A couple of years ago Rick Barry was in Israel with DR Jay and did a program for children at risk, and I have hosted the NBA legends twice in Israel.”

“When Allen Houston, a great player for the NY Knicks, Jerome Williams and Anthony Banner, came to Israel for the first time with the NBA legend team, they were so impressed that when they went back to the states they were speaking about their experiences in Israel at different conventions.”

Brody finally explains that more and more Christians are coming to Israel because they want to understand where Jesus was born, and where he was walking. “When you hear about Peter the fisherman, and you go to Tiberias or Beitsaida, you can see where Jesus walked. You can go to Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and when you go back home and you pray, you will feel a lot closer to your faith. I think it’s important for young Christians to come to Israel, just as it is for young Jews to understand and to believe in their history. It’s a beautiful history, it helps keep people in their churches and synagogues, and by going these places you are learning to be much more tolerant,” Brody concluded. •

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Last February the University of Illinois honored him by hanging his Jersey not far from Doron William.

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UNSTOPPABLE THE STORY OF MARCOS TAVARES

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The Bible tells us that we as Christians have been given different kinds of gifts. While some have received the gift of prophecy, others have the gift of healing. Marcos Tavares is truly blessed with spiritual gifts as well as physical ones – especially the gift of playing football.

Marcos is a professional football player, as well as a pastor, a husband, and a father of five children. In addition, he is the National Director of ICEJ-Slovenia.

His story begins in 1984 when he was born in the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. As with most Brazilian youngsters, Marcos grew up playing football and before he knew it he was playing on the Brazilian national youth team for players under 15 years old.

At the age of 19 he met his wife, Letitia, and together they moved to Malaysia, where he landed a contract for a local football club. It was in this Southeast Asian nation – where the majority of the population is Muslim – that Marcos and his wife came to faith in Jesus.

“It all came about thanks to a Brazilian couple from the same city as me,” recounts Marcos, who was 21 at the time. “They shared the gospel every day, and prayed for us, and it was in this way that I came to believe in Jesus.

I and my wife later were baptized back in Brazil, and in May of 2011 both of us were consecrated as pastors

by Apostle Antonio Melo of Portugal. So for me and my wife, we have had the same spiritual journey all the way through – it is amazing!”

Since 2008, Marcos and his family have been living in Slovenia, where he serves as captain of the club NK Maribor, champions of the Slovenian football league. Since he started to play for the team, he has won numerous accolades, including the most valuable player and top scorer awards for not only his club but the entire national league, along with the best foreign sportsman in Slovenia.

“It’s been a big blessing, he explained.“ In addition to a successful sports career, he and his wife also are overseeing the international fellowship Kairos Slovenia, with several dozen members.

“Every day, our congregation is growing. Visitors are coming all the time. The Slovenian players are not often coming to church, but when the Brazilian players on clubs

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“So I wrote it and every time I score a goal, I show them the t-shirt. Everyone has now recognized this, including the media, and when they see me on the street they scream, ‘Jesus is the way!

Jesus is the way!’”

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Since he started to play for the team, he has won numerous accolades, including the most valuable player and top scorer awards for not only his club but the entire national league, along with the best foreign sportsman in Slovenia

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from across Europe come to Slovenia, they visit my church”, said Marcos. “Now I have another Brazilian on my team who has accepted Jesus.

God is making sure to catch all Brazilian players who come to my team. Several players from Brazil have already accepted Jesus, along with a Croatian player.”

“Our church is also engaged in humanitarian activities, and outreach where we teach Spanish and English classes and collect clothes for poor people”, Marcos continued.

Today, Marcos is committed to living for Jesus while pursuing excellence on the football field.

“I am a football player and a minister of the Gospel. God chose football so that I would be able to provide for my family, but the main mission is to share the good news.”

When he moved to Slovenia, Marcos asked the Lord how to share his faith with other players and God gave him a vision to write “Jesus is the way” under his club shirt.

“So I wrote it and every time I score a goal, I show them the t-shirt. Everyone has now recognized this, including the media, and when they see me on the street they scream, ‘Jesus is the way! Jesus is the way!’”

Marcos has also become very clear and open about his support for Israel, and his love for Israel and the Jewish people came about after a visit to the Holy Land. “Jesus was born in Israel, he died in Israel, was resurrected in Israel, and one day will come back to Israel,” he stated. “So I am teaching the members of our church about the importance of Israel and how to pray for, love and support the land of the prophets.”

In the beginning of 2013, Marcos was formally installed as the national director of the new branch of ICEJ-Slovenia. “The connection with the ICEJ is a gift from God. For me, this is a big honor! It is God’s way for our life and a true miracle.

We want to teach pastors from all over Slovenia about the dangers of anti-Semitic theologies, the importance of Israel in the Bible, and that the Jews remain the chosen people of God”, Marcos concluded.

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First name: Marcos Magno Last name: Morales Tavares Nationality: Brazil Date of birth: 30 March 1984 Age: 29 Country of birth: Brazil Place of birth: Porto Alegre Position: Attacker Height: 175 cm Weight: 82 kg Current Club: NK Maribor Country: Slovenia Played in the club: Since 2008 Played games: 145 Goals: 76 Yellow cards: 16 Red cards: 0 Awards: • All-time scorer for NK Maribor in UEFA competitions • In May 2013, voted as one of the best strikers in the 2012–13 Slovenian PrvaLiga • During the 2012-2013 season he scored 17 goals making him the league’s top scorer • Voted as best foreign sporstman in Slovenia ICEJ: Currently Marcos serves as the country Director for the ICEJ in Slovenia.

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What’s the big deal?

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a highlight during the Christmas season, but is it that important?

Jani Salokangas | Photography Pond5

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The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is a highlight during Christmas season, but is it that important? Why was it central that Mary was virgin when Jesus was conceived and born? Why is it fundamental that Jesus did not have a biological father?

Back in the Garden of Eden, God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Throughout the Old Testament, posterity is kept track of through the man or the couple. But in Genesis 3:16 the promise stands alone because it emphasizes that the Messiah would be the seed of the woman alone, at least apart from a man. This is the first reference to the virgin birth of the Messiah.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:18 If the Virgin Birth did not happen, then.

BACK IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, GOD PROMISED THAT THE SEED OF THE WOMAN WOULD CRUSH THE SERPENT’S HEAD To begin with, the virgin birth highlights the supernatural nature of Jesus as God. On one end of Jesus’ life lies his supernatural conception and birth; on the other, his supernatural resurrection and his ascension to God’s right hand. Jesus’ authenticity was attested to by the supernatural working of his Father.

An underlying reason for Jesus’ virgin birth is that it identified Him as the Messiah. In the prophecy found in Isaiah 7:14 it says that a virgin would be with child. Ever since that prophecy, Jews had waited for that specific sign. God has often used miracles to validate His messengers. A virgin birth is a mighty validation.

1. The New Testament narratives are proven false and the Bible’s authority is robbed.

2. Mary, instead of being blessed among women, is a fornicator, an adulteress, and must be identified as unclean, for Joseph asserted that Jesus was not his son.

3. Jesus becomes the ordinary child of sinful parents with the corruption of original sin. Consequently, His preexistence never happened, and therefore He is not God, but also, He is not able to redeem us, and is not worthy of our worship and adoration.

Another reason for the virgin birth is that having a biological father would have directly cancelled Jesus’ divinity. He could not have been the son of Joseph and the Son of God at the same time. Every person born of man has inherited Adam’s sinful nature (Romans 5). It was only as God that Jesus could be the perfect sacrifice for sin, so it was the Holy Spirit who conceived Jesus (Luke 1:35).

Those who reject the virgin birth also reject the divinity of Jesus, the sin nature of man, and the inspiration of the Word of God. Therefore, a denial of the virgin birth is opposing to the Christian faith. God is all-powerful. Jesus is God. The Bible is God’s Word. These are key points in the Christian faith, and they make a virgin birth a very simple matter. • www.arisegeneration.org

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CHRIST BETHLEHEM IN

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The Christmas story is a story of Jesus birth and the coming of the long awaited Messiah. While his coming can be seen as his beginning, it is important to remember that the existence of our Lord and Savior did not begin in the gospels, but can be dated back to the book of Genesis and the foundations of time. Jesus himself makes clear that before Abraham was I am.

Nevertheless, His story as flesh and blood began a few kilometers south of Jerusalem, in a manger some 2000 years ago. Here, the bread of life was born, and the bible tells us that… “she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” This is how the nativity story is retold in the book of Luke, and thus began the journey of the Prince of Peace here on earth.

Some 2013 years later, the city of Bethlehem is still in existence with a population of around 33 000 people out of whom approximately 1/3 are Christians. The place where Jesus is believed to have been born has today developed in to an enormous church, accommodating three Christian groups, Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolics. In 2012, the city which houses the Church of Nativity and the Shepherds Field to mention just a few of its sites, received some 65% of the 3,5 million tourists who visited Israel.

To take a closer look on how Bethlehem and its Christian population are celebrating Christmas, AriseNow journeyed from Jerusalem to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Here we had the opportunity to meet with the Mayor of Bethlehem, Vera Baboun, in the headquarters of the Municipality located just behind the manger square. When we walked up the stairs we were met by a warm atmosphere of Christmas with a green tree dressed in various ornaments in addition to a replica of baby Jesus surrounded by Joseph, Mary and the wise men.

From the window where we had our meeting we were able to see the church of nativity and the manger square with its Christmas tree, adorned with 45 000 lights and some 6500 baubles.

Some 2013 years later, the city of Bethlehem is still in existence with a population of around 33 000 people out of whom approximately 1/3 are Christians.

The Mayor started by telling us that around 6000 people came to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the first of December in what turned out to be a really successful event. She added that this year’s Christmas celebrations were different as the municipality have prepared a fully loaded program for all tastes.”This year we announced Christmas celebrations to start on the first of December, until the 24th, and we have prepared a very rich program,” she explained. The program consists of both local and foreign artists, such as the German band, Good Weather Forecast, the European Youth Orchestra, conducted by Paolo Olmi, along with several talents from Jordan.

She continued to explain that Bethlehem is an important part of the visit to the Holy Land and that it was in Bethlehem that peace was born. Since she became the Mayor she has been working to boost the presence of tourists in the city where the Christmas season plays a very important role for the city’s tourism industry. “During Christmas our hotels are fully booked, thousands of people are filling up our

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We then continued to the manger square opposite the church of nativity, where we asked local shop owners and people from Bethlehem how they normally spend the birthday of Jesus.

Samir, a believer from Beit Shahour told us that Christmas in Bethlehem is a special event because it attracts the presence of all Christian locals in Israel, Palestine and Jordan, as well as tourists from abroad. On Christmas you will find that the city is crowded and full of joy as people are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Bethlehem is the cradle of Christianity, this is where the Holy baby was born, and young Christians must come and visit because here they are able to find the roots of their faith.

Mayor of Bethlehem, Vera Baboun,

hotels. We currently have 3300 rooms in Bethlehem, but we are expecting to have 5000 in the coming two years. When tourist come to visit, it’s important not only to visit the nativity church but also to walk around and get to know the people of the city. The city of Bethlehem is not separated from the nativity, Bethlehem is part of the nativity,” she concluded.

On our way out from the meeting with the Mayor we found Carmen Ghattas from the Public Relations Department of the Municipality, we asked her to describe a typical family Christmas in Bethlehem. “Usually for us, Christmas is a very holy season and an occasion for the families to gather.

At the beginning of December we decorate our Christmas tree, and when there are celebrations in town we go and attend. On the 24th of December, the day when the patriarch comes, all citizens of the town leave their houses to see the scout parade. The kids have been training all year for this day, so it’s known to be a very special event. This is the day when families normally gather for dinner and fellowship, eat good food, sweet pastries, chocolate, and liquors. In the night we have the midnight mass, not all can attend, but those who have tickets participates in the mass. If you can’t, you can go to the church on the 25th and pray.”

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Mary, working in one of the many stores surrounding the manger square revealed that business was slow at the moment, but that it normally picks up closer to Christmas.

“In my family we have a Christmas tree of course, we prepare presents for the children and the whole family gathers in one house, we cook special dishes like meat with rice, and we eat and celebrate together. For this Christmas, what I expect most of all is peace, because we need that, and of course joy to everyone and peace in all houses all over the world. Another shop owner, Nabil said that he normally works in his shop from early morning on the 24th until 2 Am, as business is booming on this day. “The day after, on the 25th I will be with my family, with my brothers and sisters, and that is how I usually spend Christmas.”

We finally talked to Hassan, 22 from Nazareth who explained that Christmas for him is all about love. “What is so special with Christmas is the love between people; you can feel the love as you gather around the table. The meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus and we can remember what he did for us and how he loved us. During Christmas I invite my Muslim friends to our home, for me it doesn’t matter if you are Jewish, Christian or Muslim. Christmas is a celebration of love between all people.” •

The view from the top of the Promenade towards the Old City.

Winter Wonderland When thinking about snow, Israel is not the first place that comes to mind, and it’s rare that this white fluffy substance called snow falls from the sky over the Holy land. However, during the month of December the country was hit by what many have called “the storm of the century,” and from the 12th to the 14th of December some 40 – 60 centimeters of snow fell over the capital, while Mount Hermon in the North received between 60 – 100 centimeters.

The large amount of snow forced the authorities to close down highway one linking Tel Aviv with Jerusalem and tens of thousands of Jerusalemites had to spend several days without electricity. Due to strong winds, heavy trees caused damage in many parts of the country, while rooftops gave in as a result of being covered with snow. In the aftermath of the storm several of the capitals schools were closed due to cold temperatures and icy roads.

AriseNow talked to two young Jerusalemites about what they thought of the recent snowstorm. Reut Levi, a 12 year old student told us that she has seen snow before but that never in these amounts. “It was fun to have snow, but it was also a bit scary as the roads were so icy. I liked that we could be home from school, even if I stayed in my bed most of the time because of the cold.”

Another Jerusalemite was Aaron Taylor, 20, currently serving in the IDF. He told us that this is absolutely the most snow he has ever seen in Jerusalem.

“During the snow storm I was stuck in my house because it snowed more than 60 centimeters, so it was nothing else we could do. Everything like roads and shops were closed down, and from what I have been told, it hasn’t snowed this much in Israel for over 60 years.”

Snow might be rare to Jerusalem, but it’s not the first time the city received such amounts, and according to records, 98 centimeters of snow fell over the Holy City in 1920. The snow storm which hit the city earlier this month didn’t quite reach the same amounts, but it was surely a storm which will be remembered for years to come, as it goes down in history as one, if not the fiercest snowstorms to hit Jerusalem since the reestablishment of Israel in 1948.

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THE SAMARITANS

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Samaria and the Samaritans The modern day Israel is home to people from different ethnic backgrounds just as it was in the times of the bible. Jews, Arabs, Bedouins, Samaritans, Druze, Circassians, refugees and foreign workers are all part of the nation’s contemporary make-up, and as the bible commands us to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, we need to have an overview of the people residing in the land. In the coming issues AriseNow will provide an historical insight to the different people in the land, in this issue we take a closer look at the Samaritans.

The region of Samaria is home to several places of importance to the biblical narrative, such as the plain of Moreh, Bethel, Shiloh, Shechem or modern day Nablus where Jacob’s well is located, the Mountains of Blessing and Curse, Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal respectively, along with the tombs of Joshua and Caleb. It was in this region that Jacob wrestled with the angel, and that Joseph was sold in to slavery by his brethren.

The Bible locates Samaria in the region between Galilee and Judea, and according to the renowned Jewish scholar, Josephus, the borders of Samaria has varied depending on periods.

On one occasion he sets the northern border of Samaria in the city of Ginea, present day Jenin.

The name of the district comes from the time of Omri, the third King of the Northern Kingdom who bought the area from Shemer and made it the capital, as explained in the first book of the Kings. In Hebrew Samaria is referred to as Shomron after Shemer which means to watch. The Samaritans themselves claim that the true meaning of the name is watchers or keepers of the Torah.

During the reign of Hoshea, the people of the Northern Kingdom were exiled by the Assyrians who according the bible replaced the Israelites with people from Babylon, Cuthah, Ava and Hamath. Today, just as in the times of Jesus, Samaritans claim to be descendants from the tribes of Ephraim and Menashe who survived the destruction of the Northern Kingdom during the Assyrian conquest in 722BC. In the book of John we can read about the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well holding to similar ancestry as she asks Jesus; “Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?” The Samaritans, who refers to themselves as Israelites follows the Torah, the Pentateuch or the first five books of the bible, and disregards the rest. They practice circumcision and celebrate the biblical feasts, and three times a year they make a pilgrimage to Mt Gerizim instead of Jerusalem.

Throughout the year’s friction developed between the two groups. In the New Testament one can clearly see the animosity between Jews and Samaritans, an enmity which hails from the return of the Jews from the exile in Babylon.

At the time of the return, Sanballat, the ruler of Samaria prowww.arisegeneration.org

tested, and was one of the chief opponents to the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the temple. In order to unite Samaria Sanballat created a religious center on Mt Gerizim and erected a temple based on a copy of the one in Jerusalem. He further appointed the grandson of Eliashib, high priest in the time of Nehemias, to be the high priest over Mount Gerizim and gave his daughter in marriage to this man.

Meantime, animosity between the Jews and the Samaritans continued to grow, and according to the book of Ecclesiasticus, one of the biblical Apocrypha’s dating back to around 200BC, the Samaritans were seen as lower than both the Philistines and the people of Seir. “My spirit takes offense at two nations, and the third is not even a nation. Those who settled on Samaria’s hills, the Philistines, and the foolish people who dwell in Shechem.”

With time the Maccabean leader John Hyrcanus, marched against Shechem, and destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mt Gerizim. Another incident erupted as a group of Samaritans entered Jerusalem during Passover placing dead bodies in the temple in order to defile it, hereafter the Samaritans were denied access to participate in the Jewish feasts. Even Josephus in his writings refers to the Samaritans as Chuteans, and rarely admitted that they were of Hebrew blood. Another text warns Jews from eating the bread of Chuteans, “for he that eateth their bread is as if he was eating swine’s flesh, the text continues,” in a similar manner was Samaritan wine universally condemned.

During the first century and the time of Jesus, Samaria was therefore despised by the Jews who claimed it was an area for gentiles, only Judea, Galilee and Peraea were considered as Jewish lands. According to Josephus, Jews from Galilee who had to travel to Jerusalem quickly had no other choice than to travel through Samaria, a journey which normally took three days. But Jospehus emphasizes that this route was dangerous for Jews and if he had friends travelling this way he often wrote letters to his contacts in Samaria to request safe passage. There were however alternative routes which took longer time and which surpassed the region of Samaria.

Jesus’ dealings with the Samaritans In light of the hatred against the Samaritans it is therefore remarkable to see how Jesus reached out to this group, “the others,” how he travelled through Samaria and how he fought against the ethnic division and prejudice of that time. There are various examples of Jesus engagement with the Samaritans, and even before his ministry took off we can read about how John the Baptist followed the same inclusiveness as his Master. The Gospel of John tells us that John baptized in Aenon and Salim which according to many bible scholars were areas in Samaria, which shows that John was on the same page as Jesus in regards to the Samaritans.

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It seems like even the disciples of Jesus followed the discriminatory customs of the day, and in Luke it is described how James and John dealt with ethnic hostility as they were travelling to Jerusalem. They even asked the Lord if they should command fire to consume the Samaritan village which did not receive them. Whereby Jesus responded; “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

After Jesus death and resurrection and his famous Acts 1:8 speech we can see how the disciples had been transformed and obeyed his command to spread the Gospel in Samaria. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Philip followed Jesus’ command and went in to Samaria, and when the apostles heard that region had received the word of God, Peter and John were sent to enhance the work.

One of the modern day Samaritan High Priests.

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There are various examples of encounters with Jesus, his disciples and Samaritans in the bible, and these can only be understood in its clarity by understanding the hatred held against the Samaritans.

Jesus parable of the Good Samaritan, the woman at Jacob’s well, Simon the magician, and the thankful Samaritan who was cleansed from

The view from the top of Gerezim.

leprosy are a few examples of Jesus care for them.

The story of Jesus, the disciples and the Samaritans therefore shows that spending time with Jesus eradicates all ethnic divisions. John the Baptist immersed them, Jesus healed them and Peter and Philip preached to them.

The Samaritans of today Throughout the years the Samaritan community has been severely decimated, and according to historical records the Samaritans suffered tremendously during the Jewish-Roman wars, and during several Samaritan revolts in the time of the Byzantine Empire the community was almost extinct. Today, only 750 members of the once so strong Samaritan community remain, down from millions in biblical times. Half of the community lives in Kiryat Luza on Mt Gerizim while the rest resides in Holon, outside of Tel Aviv. During the Samaritan Feast of Tabernacles, which this year fell a couple of days later than the Jewish one, AriseNow visited Mt Gerizim where we sat down under a traditional Samaritan sukkah together with one of the communities spokes persons, Rajai Altif also known as Ben Yehuda.

Altif started by explaining his ancestry and that throughout the years the community has shrunk for different reasons, one of them being conversion to Islam, “We are the descendants of the tribe of Levi, Ephraim and Menashe. Hundreds of years ago several families converted to Islam and their descendants are now residing in Nablus.” He continued by talking about the www.arisegeneration.org

biblical feasts and explained the various traditions practiced by the Samaritans in relation to these feasts.

Today the Samaritans are especially known for their Passover celebrations, held yearly on Mt Gerizim. “During our Passover celebration we use animal sacrifices and each family brings, as the Torah commands, a lamb for sacrifice which is then slaughtered and roasted in fire in a ceremony held upon the holy mountain.” Altif concluded by talking about the Holy Scriptures and explained that, “we do not unlike the Jews, have an oral tradition, only a written one, and when it comes to the Ten Commandments, our commandments are different from the Jewish Ten Commandments. For example, one of our commandments state that the temple will be rebuilt on Mount Gerizim.”

In conclusion we remember Jesus conversation with the Samaritan woman in regards to Mt Gerizim vs. Jerusalem as outlined in the Gospel of John. “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” • 27

The olive tree 28 AriseNow

The Bible mentions the Olive tree for the first time in the book of Genesis, as the dove sent out by Noah returns with an olive branch in its mouth. Already from here the tree sets the stage as a symbol of peace and strength which will reverberate all through the bible. That the dove did not return with a fig, carob or a sycamore leaf, but an olive branch shows that the olive tree were one of the few trees, if not the only tree strong enough to survive the flood. When olive tree farmers in the region of Galilee claim that it’s almost impossible to kill an olive tree, they know what they are talking about. When the Romans destroyed the second temple in Israel it is said that they destroyed all the trees of the land, 2000 years later it’s not a coincidence that the symbol for the nation of Israel is an olive tree, what was dead is once again in existence, and millions of trees are each autumn producing fruits all across the land of Israel.

In the book of Kings we can read how King Solomon sent 440 000 liters of oil to Hiram, the King of Tyre as a gift.

Another significance stemming from the olive tree is the olive oil. It is said that one tree is able to produce 10 liters of olive oil, and this precious oil has always been of importance to the biblical narrative. Kings were anointed by oil produced by this precious tree, and we can only recall how the Psalmist poetically poured out his love for the oil. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.” In the book of Kings we can read how King Solomon sent 440 000 liters of oil to Hiram, the King of Tyre as a gift.

As disciples of the Messiah, the fruits of the olive tree should be of uttermost importance. The very word Messiah points towards the tree and in the book of Exodus it is explained how the oil was to be used to anoint kings and priests. “Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.”

The Hebrew word for Messiah is mashiach, which means to smear or to anoint. With time and as a result of globalization, mashiach became Christós, the Greek word for anointed which in English became Christ. The whole notion of Christ is therefore connected to the olive tree and the smearing of its oil.

Jesus suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane is another reference to olive trees and in English Gethsemane translates into the olive press. Here Jesus was shaken, pressed and crushed in a similar process to what olives go through during the production of the precious oil. In order to better understand this process AriseNow travelled to the fertile region of Galilee, home to millions of olive trees, to find out more about the ma-

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nufacturing of olive oil. Here we were able to witness the different steps in the production process, from the shaking and picking to the washing, pressing and crushing of the olives to the finale mis en bouteille of the precious oil.

Our first stop was Shfraam where we had the opportunity to meet with Abu Ahmad Khnaifes, one of the regions many Israeli Arab farmers. He showed us how a modern oil press looks like and took us through the different steps the olives has to go through before it can be sold on the market. He further told us that the olive tree, in Judaism, Christianity and Islam is a symbol of peace, and that in the bible it was also used for cosmetic purposes to look strong and healthy while fasting. “Today many families are producing their own olive oil from private trees in the garden, and the tradition of olive oil production is an heritage which goes back to ancient time,” Khnaifes explained.

On the way to the next stop, the Saba Habib Oil Factory located in Kibbutz Farod in the very heart of Galilee, we passed hundreds of thousands of trees waiting to be shaken and plucked.

Saba Habib is run by Monaem Jahshan, a Christian Arab and a third generation olive farmer who named the business after his grandfather Habib. Having grown up with olive oil farming, Jahshan is a real connoisseur able to tell the quality by a mere look of the oil. Jahshan told us about the different varieties of trees grown in Israel and the incredible health benefits connected to the oil. He revealed that the majority of trees grown in the Galilee are of a type called Souri, a name which originates in the Lebanese city of Tyre, known as Sur, and the oil produced by Saba Habib is based on Souri trees. Other types of trees are the Barnea and the Koroneiki, and according to Jahshan, the color of the oil is determined by the tree. He continued by explaining that his company has left the traditional way of collecting the olives in sacks. “Today we put them in open plastic containers, and they should arrive quickly to the factory for processing. When shaking the trees it is important to make sure that the olives are whole, because the state of the olives makes a big difference to the quality of the oil.” Jahshan is proud of his profession and tells us that consumers in Israel in the last years have become more aware of the various kinds of olive oils, and that his company is trying to educate and teach the public about the different taste and colours of the oil, its quality and what to look for in a bottle of oil.

During the Olive season which lasts from October to December, Saba Habib produces some 80 000 liters of oil, mainly for domestic use. Saba Habib has its doors open for everyone interested in olive products, and each year thousands of Israelis and tourists from around the world passes by to get a taste of its products. Apart from oil, one is also able to buy various types of olives including a range of cosmetic products from soap to skin lotion.

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olive industry in Israel. Here we met with Dr. Adi Naali, the Olive Division Manager of the Olive Council; he shared some of his experiences as an acknowledged expert on olive trees.

“Our job is to try to give liability to the consumer, olive oil is the best product, it has great characteristics in terms of health, as well as gastronimical benefits, and it’s very tasty. Today in Israel we have around 34 000 hectars of Olive trees and there are many new farms in the last years here in the Galilee. Its impossible to say how many trees there are in Israel, but there are millions, 250 000 of these are rain fed while the rest are irrigated.” Naali continued by explaining that olive oil has three major enemies which are heat, light and air and this is one of the reasons why oil production in ancient times took place in caves. He concluded by explaining that the European Union holds 70 percent of the world production, and that out of this number, Spain is responsible for 40 percent. “Israel is a very small producer, there used to be a large production here but it later moved to other places. Today we have a local production of 20 000 tons of olive oil per season, but in terms of quality, Israel has one of the best olive oils in the world.”

In the Bible, the olive tree plays an important role, in the natural as well as in the spiritual, all the way from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelations. In the book of Romans we can read about the fatness of the root of the Olive tree, and Apostle Paul must have been well acquainted with its importance as he used it to explain how non-Jews were able to partake of the Jewish faith by being grafted in to the tree. In Shfraam we were able to see how new trees were growing from ancient trees, and hence get a visualization of how these new branches are dependent of the fatness of the old roots in order to prosper. The same applies to us as believers in Jesus Christ. We can never forget the roots of our faith and that we are fed by what God told the Jewish prophets of old. The very fact that we as Christians can worship the God of Israel is that we are fed by these ancient roots which goes deep back in to the annals of time.

For us as Christians it is important to be aware of our roots, and that the roots of our faith are deeply connected to Israel which gave the world the bible. In the book of Matthew we can read of how the five foolish virgins ignored the fruits of the olive tree, while the wise had understood its importance and as a result made extra provision. Let us be like the wise virgins and draw from the fatness of the roots, it is only through such a mind-set that we will be able to advance the Kingdom of God. •

• 1,000 olives weigh between 4 and 8 kilograms and makes around one liter of extra virgin olive oil • A large tree can yield enough olives to produce five one liter bottles of olive oil.

• Archaeological investigations at Monte Testaccio recovered evidence suggesting that Rome imported approximately 6.5 billion litres of olive oil over the period of 260 years.

• A ton of olives produces about 150 liters of oil

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AIRPORT SECURITY Since its founding in 1981, the International Christian Embassy has brought hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the land of Israel, and according to the Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, some 3,5 million tourists visited Israel in 2012. The large majority of these have passed through the Ben Gurion International Airport just next to Tel Aviv, and been exposed to its vigorous security services. Many are those have expressed worries and anxiety in regards to the strict security at the airport, despite the fact that they have nothing to hide. The testimonies of their experiences vary, for some the security procedure has been an easy one, while others have been pulled aside and interrogated for several hours.

What many visitors to Israel don’t know is that as soon as they land at Ben Gurion they are in the vicinities of an area where the gospel of Jesus once flourished. Ben Gurion is located in an area called Lod, which in the book of Acts is referred to as Lydda. It was in this area that Peter stayed when the disciples from Jaffa came to get him, in order to raise Tabitha from the dead. The book of Acts lets us know that “…all residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.”

In order to give visitors to Israel who are coming to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, a pleasant time at the airport, and to ease the worries of those who are fearful, AriseNow sat down with Harel Amir, the Passenger Service Manager for the Security division at the Ben Gurion Airport.

Amir started by telling us that the airport security at Ben Gurion was initiated as a result of two terror attacks carried out against the airport in the 70’s. Both attacks took place in 1972, the first one against Sabena flight 572 from Vienna to Lod, while the second one, known as the Lod Airport Massacre materialized only weeks after. A third attack was carried out in 1976, by a blond man carrying a Dutch passport under the name of Hugo Miller. Since then no major thing has been reported from Ben Gurion airport, Amir explains, and continues by saying that the main improvements in the airport’s security domain since 9/11 has been connected to new technologies. When we ask him about the most common items found in peoples hand bags, he gives a list of everything from scissors and nail clippers, to teargas and fruit knifes. He adds that even children toys such as guns and fire arms which look like real shotguns sometimes are confiscated.

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BEN GURION AIRPORT • Built in 1936 and served as a military airport during the British Mandate period for Palestine • Throughout the years the airport has been known as the Wilhelma airport and RAF Station Lydda until it was renamed Ben Gurion Airport in 1973 • The airport currently has four terminals • In 2012, 13,1 million passengers passed through the airport.

• In 2011 almost 100 000 flights landed and took off from Ben Gurion • In 2008, 2009 Ben Gurion was voted the Best Airport in the Middle East by ACP. • In 2012 Ben-Gurion Airport was awarded the Roll of Excellence for ranking Top 5 in its category in Airport Service Quality • The Skytrax Airport Awards 2013 placed Ben Gurion as the 100th best out of 395 airports worldwide. Singapore’s Changi Airport was ranked as the best airport in the world.

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What are the day to day challenges for the Airport Security division at Ben Gurion Airport?

“It is to make sure that all passengers that go through Ben Gurion pass through the best security possible according to our regulations. Last September, 1,3 million passengers went through the airport. So the main challenge for us, is that 24/7, we ensure that all of them are passing through the security.”

What’s the profile of the people working with security at the airport?

Usually, when people have finished High School they go to the army, and when they have finished with their military service some chose Ben Gurion as their first job. Most of them will later go on to the university, and the majority of our employees are students, between the ages 20-30.

What sets Israeli airport security apart from other countries?

I think that our strength here in Israel is well-trained personnel and good technology. The combination of the two, I believe, gives us the ability to offer good security with high passenger service level which is of great importance to us.

What advice do you have to give to tourists/pilgrims travelling through the airport?

Passengers should arrive three hours before the flight which gives them enough time to go through the security procedure.

It is also important to be as cooperative towards the security personnel as possible. The first station the passengers pass through consists of some questioning and checking of their documents and passports. Thereafter we are x-raying their luggage. We are doing this to make sure that no one has a bomb placed in their bags without their knowledge.

to him. If he has anything to declare he can tell the security personnel so we can make it safe for him to go on the flight.

Thereafter you are free to check in your luggage and receive your boarding pass.

The next station entails a second security check consisting of a body search and screening of your hand luggage. After this the passenger can proceed to the tax-free area and get onboard the flight. It is difficult to estimate the average time it takes for each a passenger to pass through the security control, as it all depends on the time of the day.

What do you have to say to people biting their nails as a result of what they have heard about Israeli airport security?

I don’t think that anyone has any reason to be concerned of the security in Ben Gurion, rather the opposite I would say. We do it for the passengers. The security procedure is meant to secure them, as well as the flight. When we open the luggage it’s for the passenger, and when we are looking for items, again it’s for the passenger. Of course it is not always pleasant to get your bags searched, or to wait in line for a long time. But this is something that we must do. People shouldn’t be concerned about coming to Israel, it’s a safe country, and the airport is one of the safest in the world.

We welcome all passengers who come to the Holy land, they should feel safe when they arrive to the airport, and we want them to know that we can make their flights safe as they leave and be sure that when they come to Ben Gurion they will have a good experience, not only from the security department but also from other departments at the airport. Welcome to Israel. •

At the second station we open the luggage, mainly for the safety of the passenger to see that everything inside belongs

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CORNER Every year on the 25th Kislev starts the 8 day feast of Chanukkah, which usually is anytime between late November and late December in the Gregorian calendar. The name “Chanukkah” derives from the Hebrew verb chanakh, meaning “to dedicate” or “to consecrate”.

It’s a time of joy and light. Every evening an additional candle is lit on the Chanukkiah, a ninebranched candelabrum for Chanukkah. It’s a custom to eat fried foods like sufganiyot, a round doughnut filled with jelly, chocolate, vanilla and several other fillings. Children receive gifts, mainly in form of Chanukkah gelt (gelt is Yiddish for ‘money’) and they play the dreidel game, a spin top with four sides.

The origin of Chanukah dates back to the time of the Maccabees. They were a small group of Jews dedicated to liberate Jerusalem from the Seleucid Empire of Syria lead by king Antiochus IV Epiphanes who desecrated the Temple and forbade the Jews to practice their faith. The Maccabees managed to defeat the Seleucids under their leader Judas Maccabaeus in 165 BC. The story is preserved in the books of the First and Second Maccabees which are Jewish apocryphal books.

When they took the city of Jerusalem back they cleansed the temple and restarted the sacrifices and worship and then celebrated an eight day feast. In 2 Maccabees 10:6&8 it is written: “They kept eight festal days with rejoicing, in the manner of the feast of Tabernacles, remembering how, not long before at the time of the feast of Tabernacles, they had been living in the mountains and caverns like wild beasts. They also decreed by public edict, ratified by vote, that the whole Jewish nation should celebrate those same days every year.”

Ever since then, this eight day feast is celebrated to remember the restoration and rededication of the temple.

Josephus Flavius, a Jewish historian who lived in the 1st century AD, was writing about these events as well (see Jewish Antiquities XII) and he calls the feast the ‘Festival of Lights’. In the bible we find another name for the feast, the ‘Feast of Dedication’. We read about it in John 10:22-23: “At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.

It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon.”

In the Talmud we find the well known story of the miracle of the oil, written 600 years after the actual events. It says that when the Jews rededicated the Temple they only had one container of ritual oil left for the Menorah. It was only enough for one day but miraculously it lasted for eight days, the time needed to produce new pure oil. •

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Bible passage “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” Romans 8:6 Many of my friends and family have experienced a variety of upheavals over the past little while…a death in the family, job insecurity, health issues. The youth I know are also not immune to stress and upset. Many struggle with depression, heartache, relationships and schoolrelated challenges such as assignment deadlines and exams. For any of you who are feeling the “weight of the world” on your shoulders… cast your care upon the One Whose shoulders are big enough to carry the burden for you!

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WATCH Persecution As the fighting continues to rage in Syria, and the number of radical fighters grows by the day, the Christian population of the country has experienced an increase in persecution. According to Persecution Watch, a NGO covering the worldwide persecution, some 100 Christian families have recently taken refuge in neighboring Turkey. In one of the churches, the Mort Smuni Church in the Turkish city of Mardin the church members are doing what they can in order to help their persecuted brothers and sisters on the other side of the border.

Father Gabriel, one of the elders in church community of Mardin recently explained the situation lived by the Christian community in Syria. “In Syria the conditions for the Christians is very bad,” he said.

“In Syria the conditions for the Christians are very bad. Last week they kidnapped 12 nuns and before that two bishops. They have killed many people, and Christians are told that they have to convert to Islam.”

Isa Davut, is one of the Syrian refugees who together with his family decided to leave Syria for fear of persecution. “The reason Christians no longer feel safe is that all these radical Islamic groups, jihadis, started to come to Syria,” he said. “Where we live, 10 churches have been burned down. They started to threaten Christians in the town we live. When the local priest was executed we decided to leave.”

We urge all of our readers to remember our persecuted brothers and sister in Syria, as well as the Syrian refugees who are currently staying in cold refugee camps in the region. •

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“Last week they kidnapped 12 nuns and before that two bishops. They have killed many people, and Christians are told that they have to convert to Islam.”

COMING 10-14 OCTOBER 2014

FEAST of TABERNACLES PRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN EMBASSY JERUSALEM

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L

L

OVE

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 provides the best and most explicit description of what love really is: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

The Bible has clarified the true meaning of love, yet love continues to be one of the most misused, distorted and misunderstood words in the dictionary. Society has defined love as a “feeling”, something that you choose to feel or give depending on the circumstances or how well you have been treated. Love has become synonymous with romance and is often mistaken for physical attraction and infatuation. The fact is, a love that is solely based on feelings is conditional and will constantly change. People are in and out of friendships, in and out of love. They love today but hate tomorrow.

True love, however, is based on the will and not on emotions.

It is a decision to purposefully, diligently and sacrificially do good to everyone without seeking anything in return. It constantly seeks the best interests of others and does not wane when hardships arise.

Love is not deceptive, manipulative, vengeful nor abusive.

Genesis 2:22 tells us that God created Eve from Adam’s rib. A woman was not created from a man’s feet so that she can be trampled on; neither was she created from a man’s head so that she can bring him down. She was created from his rib; beneath his arm to be protected and next to his heart to be loved.

The role of the church is to teach, preserve and promote the truth of God’s Word in society without compromise. The church was established by God to be the primary method of positive transformation of the world, and to demonstrate the power and immeasurable love that the Lord has for humanity. Unfortunately, too many churches spend more time talking about the love of God than they do expressing it to others. Some have allowed the purity of love to become perverted by the world’s standard of love. In the name of love sin is tolerated, homosexual marriages are accepted and cohabitation is the norm. The use of pornography is

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widespread, moral degeneration has increased and divorce has become as common inside the church as it is outside it. Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil.

Cling to what is good.” True love is not blind, it is not impulsive, and it certainly is not guided by our feelings, but it is non-partial, sincere, sacrificial, and adheres to that which is right and true.

The love of God is unconditional, but it is erroneous to misinterpret God’s love for us as His endorsement of bad character and immoral behaviour. The Lord loves us even when we are wrong, but the Holy Spirit will convict us in order for us to change our ways and make things right. Sometimes people want to be affirmed when they actually need to be rebuked in love. When someone is going down the wrong road, he does not need motivation to speed him up; he needs the truth to turn him around.

Discipline and correction are not a violation of love but a manifestation of it.

Many believe that only some people are worthy of our love and our enemies are definitely not such persons. However, in Matthew 5:44 Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” It is easy to love those who are good to us, but the true test and measure of our love is to love those who hate us, despitefully use us, and who are the reason for our pain. This agape love was exemplified

by God who loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It was the ultimate sacrifice made by a Holy and Loving God for an undeserving, unloving and sinful world.

Forgiveness is an act of love which is often neglected, and even considered as an act of weakness. The opposite, however, is true. It is the person who forgives the wrongs of another and moves on with kindness, compassion and graciousness who demonstrates great strength, not the one who constantly dwells on all the wrongs and injustices that he or she has suffered.

Colossians 3:13 says, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” If people don’t apologise for the pain that they caused, we ought to forgive and love them regardless.

Forgiveness does not condone the wrong that people have done, but it is the key to our freedom that releases us from the prison of pain, anger, bitterness and resentment. When we embrace forgiveness, we embrace God’s peace.

ESTHER MESHOE South African business woman and motivational speaker.

It is easy to love those who are good to us, but the true test and measure of our love is to love those who hate us, despitefully use us, and who are the reason for our pain.

Loving the Lord and others is the greatest commandment in the Bible and the most distinguishing mark of those who believe in Jesus Christ. We should not only demonstrate the unconditional love of God, but we must also stimulate others to “love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:23-25). We are called to be the reflection and expression of God’s love to the world.

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