With Sadness and With Joy

Today, January 7, 2009

I have just returned from the Memorial Service for our dear friend, Carolyn Jacobson, in Eugene, Oregon. She passed on to her "real" life on December 14, 2008.

Her son and friends have requested that I keep her blog up, and we would like to welcome contributions that would speak of Carolyn and her trust in Messiah Jesus, Yeshua Hamashiach, along with messages to family members, memories of her influence, and notes about current events in Israel. If you have samples of her writings or snapshots, they would also be welcome.

You may leave comments on this site, or send your contributions to Kathy at jerkyd (at) hotmail.com; only use the correct email address format. Put Carolyn's name in the subject line., and please understand that if lengthy I may need to edit them.

For a time her blog will be a memorial to her and to the people and things that she treasured. For a time we will linger here and contemplate, as she would if she were with us as she was.

For a time we will Consider...Carolyn.

from Carolyn's blog manager, Kathy Davis.

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On Watch for August

“I Will Remember The Land.”

“But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me…then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham I will remember; I will remember the land,” Leviticus 26:40,42.

Nothing Has Changed

A majority of the current coalition members of parliament voted to change the Kadima party’s constitution to allow for a primary to take place by mid-September replacing current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Since most members of the coalition are in agreement to a two-state solution for peace and not concerned about dividing the land it is not likely that anything will change. The only hope is for a candidate from the opposition party to win in the election in 2009. The only one at the moment in the running is former Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. It is still too early to tell. Whoever will take over for Olmert in the interim will pretty much proceed in the same direction.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331040896&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The Odd Couple

President Shimon Peres hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential residence recently. Peres gushed at how their relationship has grown over the last fifteen years. Peres runs a close second to Olmert in brilliant statements.

“I never would have imagined us meeting like this. The feud between our peoples is decades long, but we have never lost hope. We will continue to weather all adversities and we will reach our goal of understanding, respect, economic prosperity and tolerance. After all, even the political Right has come to the conclusion that the two-state solution is best," concluded Peres. Is he telling us the Right has become Left?

Once again, the Palestinian President added another demand to the “only” solution. In addition to Jerusalem, borders and refugees, he added water. In actuality, Islamists not only want Israel, they want your country as well.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3571746,00.html

Wave Goodbye to America

Did you know that Muslim Arabs are buying out collapsing Western banks and businesses and gaining growing international power? The Abu Dhabi Investment Council paid $800 million for 75 percent of New York City’s Chrysler Building. They also purchased the failed Citibank. But don’t worry. Abu Dhabi’s director of international affairs has reassured American officials that they would not use their investment organizations or individual investments as a foreign policy tool. Sleep well.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126866

Pray that the Lord will raise up men in the coming elections, both in Israel and the United States, that will lead their nations in Godly wisdom, integrity and boldly speak the truth.

Pray for the people to rally together in unity and cry out for forgiveness and declare that God Himself is Sovereign.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” And the Spirit and the bride say, ”Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:12,16,17, 20.

Photo Op

My neighbor across from me has a beautiful mixed flower garden. As I was about to take a photo this swallow tail butterfly landed as if to say, "I look my best among the roses."

O, Jerusalem!
A Rat Tail (tale)

The Palestinian Authority's official news agency Wafa says Israel is using rats to drive Arab families out of their homes in the Old City of Jerusalem. "Rats have become an Israeli weapon to displace and expel Arab residents of the occupied Old City of Jerusalem."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331024847&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

"Hey, Tom, wake up! We have a dilemma."
"Sam, can't you see this is my nap time."
"But Tom, you're the rat's only hope. They don't know what to do. They need some wise counsel."
"Ok, ok. What's the problem?"
"They got this message from the Rat Patrol that they're suppose to drive the Muslims out of their homes but they can't tell where the Muslim Quarter ends and begins. They've lived in the Old City for hundreds of years and go everywhere. What do they know about Quarters?"
"No problem. Just tell them to listen for the most noise and that's the Muslim Quarter. The Christian, Armenian and Jewish Quarters are more quiet."
"Thanks Tom. I knew you'd come through."
Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat.

Considering...

Many of us have searched our family genealogy to find out who our ancestors were and where we came from. We have in the back of our minds this dream, perhaps, that we are descended from someone famous or wealthy. Consider for a moment a non-descript carpenter from Nazareth being greeted by an Angel of the Lord as “Joseph, son of David.” Some of us would give anything for that kind of ancestry – to be a descendant of “the man after God’s own heart.”

Who is this man Joseph? He is a Godly man, honorable, soon to be married, and at the moment of the angelic visitation, desperately seeking God’s face. His betrothal to Mary has taken a disconcerting turn. He is faced with a dilemma. From the moment he is greeted by the angel until he settles back in Nazareth he is directed to take Mary as his wife (with all the ramifications), warned of danger to their lives, and in the course of events is told to move three times – twice for a very great distance on foot and by donkey.

Before he becomes a husband in fact, he is told he is going to be a father - and not just any father – a father to the Son of God. That’s what God had in mind all along was for us to be fathered. Since it doesn’t happen that way for many of us, Jesus came Himself to show us the way home. “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Selah

John 14:9, Matthew 1-2, Luke 2 Scriptures from NKJV

In And Around Israel

Camelicious

Camel milk is three times richer in vitamin C than milk from cows and contains vitamin B, iron, and unsaturated fatty acids. As large as camels are they only produce 20 litres of milk a day in comparison to 36 liters a day from cows. That does not diminish the potential of camel milk becoming a $10 billion industry. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum of Dubai owns Emirates Industry for Camel Milk and Products and has started selling bottled camel milk branded “Camelicious” in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

To produce gallons of milk for market, dairies use computerized milking machines. What about camels? The Afikim Dairy Systems in Israel has developed systems and equipment for milking camels as well as cows. The system can accommodate up to 48 camels simultaneously.

Afikim’s customers these days are not only dairy farmers in Israel, but camel farmers in the Arab Emirates. However, sales for the systems go through Afikim’s British distributor. It is one way for the Arabs to acquire products and be partners in industry without dealing directly with Israel.

“And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed….” Genesis 26:4

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1170359790389

Considering...

One time when Jack Hayford was speaking at our church he related in his message that altars are made of hard things. Altars are usually made of stone where an offering of sacrifice is made to God in worship of Him. Removing the things in our lives that trip us up is sometimes very hard but when we are willing it pleases the Lord. I like to relate it to Isaiah 62:10 because the things that trip us up also cause other people to stumble and slow down their journey, even block their way.

“Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the people.”

So, if you end up with a pile of stones you've removed and don’t know what to do with them, build an altar...or two...or....

Selah