Shabbat, the flat, and buses

In the Ten Commandments (Exodus Chapter 20) God said a lot of detailed instructions for #4. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. In the time of the Lord Jesus, the Pharisees strict observance of the Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew) went far beyond what the Lord had intended. Today in Israel, Shabbat starts at sundown on Friday and lasts until sundown on Saturday. So the evening and the morning were the first day (Genesis 1:5). Friday evening meals are special in Israel. When you see someone you know sometimes the conversation ends with "we'll have you over for Shabbat". An Israeli family that was praying for Kay all during her illness had me over for Shabbat last weekend. They live between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv near Modi'in. It was a wonderful experience. Besides meeting them for the first time, I met other members of the family and close friends. Below is just one photo of the young kids that were there on Shabbat. The main reason for the picture is the young man on the couch playing with his little brother on the floor. Typical siblings. However, come Monday morning, this young man just finished his Israel Defence Force (IDF) Training and is being sent to the Lebanon border for several weeks. IDF Service is mandatory in Israel for both boys and girls. You ride the buses with these young kids and pass them on the street. They are the defenders of God's Land. Granted they are no more in harm's way than our young men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. But here in Israel, your are home for Shabbat occasionally then back to the front lines. I asked his cousin who is also in the IDF how he was getting to the base Monday morning and he said "my mom is dropping me off".

Below is yours truly standing at the grave of Mattathias (Mattiyiahu) Maccabee near Modi'in. "Get out of town." Close to where we enjoyed Shabbat was a park that said Maccabean Graves. About 160 years before the Lord Jesus, Israel (Judah and Samaria) were under the control of the Greeks. It was Antiochus Ephiphanes who thought he was god and entered the Holy of Holies in the 2nd Temple. He also was slaying pigs on the altars. See the historical book of First Maccabees, which is in the apocropha. And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me. So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city (1st Maccabees 2:27-28) Eventually the Maccabees were successful and Jerusalem and the 2nd Temple were back in Jewish hands.It was the miraculous burning of the oil in the lamps during the dedication of the Temple that became the holiday today known as Hannukah, which means "dedication"."Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? (Exodus 15:11) The Maccabean dynasty was the forerunner of the Hasmonean Dynasty that was present during the time of the Lord Jesus. Even then Hannukah was remembered then as it is today. Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. (John 10:22-23)

Below the closing of congregation this particular Shabbat was with the Aaronic blessing performed by a dance troup. "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)

Below is the lift (elevator) in my apartment building. It is a little bit bigger than a phone booth.

The stairwells in the building where I currently live are dark all the time in order to save electricity. Below is a picture of my next door neighbor that shows one button for a door bell and another button for turning the lights on. All the apartments are designed this way. The problem is when you turn the lights on, they only stay on for a few seconds to allow you enough time to get down one floor. Then you press another "light" button and keep going down, etc. For my granddaughter, Abbie, who is 7 going on 8, she would think this is a lot of fun. For grandpa Cary, an old man with gimpy knees, it's more of a challenge. I hit the light switch just outside my apartment then "giddy up, go" and hobble down the stairs to the next floor before the lights go out. Once in all my excitement, I hit the doorbell of an apartment. Since it was about to go dark, there was no time to stop and chat so I kept on going and just hollered "sorry". He spoke English and said "that's ok" sort of like it happens all the time. Sometimes it is easier to ride in the phone booth.

Below the apartment on the first floor has the same red button as I do for heating the hot water. When I went to press it, I was not sure if the lights were going to come on or I was going to heat their hot water. However, the lights did come on so these buttons must be interchangeable to the maintenance personnel. In Israel there is a Va'ad Tax (Maintenance) that all renters must pay monthly in shekels.

Below is a picture of my bomb shelter bedroom window (closed on the top floor). My neighbors below have theirs open.

My "bs" bedroom window from the sidewalk.

Below looking out my bomb shelter bedroom window at Derekh Hebron (Hebron Road).

Below if you zoom in on the photo, you might be able to make out a typical street sign in Hebrew, Arabic, and English. This one says Arnona (a neighborhood); Old City; and Center meaning the City Center. It would have been easier to take the picture up closer.

Below is a typical Israeli bus. Many are double-connected in length (twice as long). Some are air conditioned. Some are not. All our usually crowded. A gentleman always gives up his seat for a lady, so I usually stand during the bus trips holding on tightly when the driver makes several 90 degree turns. People shop and bring their packages and groceries on the bus. Young mothers are the only ones permitted to board at the back of the bus because they usually have a baby carriage. On one particularly crowded bus we were already standing in the doorways when a young mother wanted to get on board with her baby carriage and a precious little girl about 1 year old. Well, there's always room for one more so you just squeeze a little closer and we were able to get her aboard. Then, of course, the very next stop, someone about 5 or 6 people back needed to get off stepping past 2 baby carriages when none of us could move. An Israeli had the correct answer. At the back of the bus he jumped off temporarily and then jumped back on. That's tricky to do since the bus driver is assuming you wanted off and he's ready to go. The Israeli bus drivers do a wonderful job. It's constant shoving and pushing and going on to the next stop as fast as possible. Besides, you want to be nice to the bus drivers or during rainy season they will leave you 3 feet from the curb and you will get your feet wet when getting off the bus.

Below tour buses are the best. The Arab buses are smaller and white but have the same numbers. No Jews get on the Arab buses but Arabs do get on the Israeli buses. There are no set schedules. The buses just come every 15-20 minutes. The trick is knowing which bus to get on. Currently I can catch either 21 or 30. Word of mouth is the best way to learn. When you approach the bus stop if there are a lot of people there chances are the bus will be there sooner. If the bus stop is empty, you just missed it.

Below if you zoom in on the sign, you will see "Caution! Vehicles From Both Sides". Derekh Hebron in front of my apartment is 6 lanes. The two closest lanes are one way going south, the two furthest lanes are one way going north, and the two middle lanes go both directions. Hence the warning sign in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.

Below is my closest bus stop in the middle of the Derekh Hebron. Zooming in you can see a "little green man walking" telling the pedistrians it's ok to cross. Otherwise, you see a "little red man standing still". Some of the streets in Jerusalem only allow you to cross halfway to the median then continue on. Crossing Derekh Hebron there are 3 separate "walk" or "don't walk" signs. When the light does turn green you have to hurry. It only stays green about the same amount of time as the lights in the stairwell. You have to hustle across the road. The gentleman below with a cane is fulfilling prophecy: "Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. (Zechariah 8:4)

Below is the local market where I get my groceries. Don't buy too much in one trip since you have to walk 4-5 blocks to the apartment.

Below, if you zoom in, are Israeli shekels. The flash was a little too bright. The paper notes are 200, 100, 50, and 20. The coins from right to left are 10, 5, 1 shekel, 1/2 shekel, 10 agarot, and a 5 agarot. It takes 10 agarot to make a shekel. Usually no one wants the agarots including the beggars on the street. The current ratio is roughly 1 US dollar equals 4 shekels. At the airport I paid 8 shekels for a coke so it cost me $2.

Below is one of the more unique company perks that I have had. My very own gas mask. No company cars or golf club memberships here.

Around CFI

One morning I took my camera with me to work. CFI is located just one block off Jaffa Road in the City Center (downtown) of Jerusalem. Jaffa Road begins heading west from the Old City (Jaffa Gate) which leads to the town of Jaffa (Joppa in the Bible) on the Mediterranean Sea. Acts Chapter 9:36-41 describes Peter raising Tabitha (Dorcus) from the dead. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner. (Acts 9:42-43) Then in Acts Chapter 10, Peter has his vision at Joppa regarding the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles. At the same time, the centurion has his vision in Caesarea which is also on the Mediterranean Coast about 30 miles north of Jaffa. So the birthplace of the gospel going to the Gentiles is all on the Mediteranean Sea Coast (about 35 west from Jerusalem).
Today Jaffa is just a little village south of Tel Aviv. The port is fairly deep there. In 1868, when Mark Twain visited the Holy Land, I believe his boat/ship also docked at Joppa. But he opted for the horse and donkey excursion that went from Lebanon to Damascus then to Jerusalem. See Twain's book Innocents Abroad before he wrote Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Several hundred years before Peter, Jonah tried to flee from the Lord at Jaffa. But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish;... (Jonah 1:3)
Below is the wall around CFI after entering thru a drive gate.

Below is a flower garden at CFI. To me, it's important that Christians maintain the beauty of Jerusalem for His Chosen People to see.

When Moses was giving his last words to the children of Israel in Deuteronomy, he also made mention of what is known as the "seven species". For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; ...(Deuteronomy 8:8-9) CFI has planted the seven species in their parking lot. Below is a young, pomegranate tree.

Below is a young, olive tree. You might have to enlarge it to see the olives. When you travel up north there are just acres and acres of olive trees. There are also olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemene which means "olive press".

CFI's west side of the building.

Below a beautiful rose in the garden.

Below is my work space at CFI. Currently I'm doing (and still learning as I go) Accounts Receivable for CFI. You have US dollars, Israeli Shekels, Canadian dollars, British pounds, Euros, Swiss Francs, Singapore dollars, etc. We do receive some currencies that even the bank does not take but the local money changers usually do. So I go to the local money changers and get shekels (for a small fee). This week was my first deposit run at the bank on Ben Yehudda street.

Overall CFI usually tries to maintain around 30 volunteers at the office and another 10-12 at the Distribution Center which actually sees Israelis coming in daily with their needs. Israel's Minister of Interior has been leaning on Christian volunteer agencies lately and several of CFI's volunteers with over 5 years of service were asked to leave the land for a little while (up to a year). So this week in addition to Accounts Receivable, I started trying to help pick up the slack with the Wall of Prayer. Two of the ladies, Joyce and Carolyn, that have been with CFI's Wall of Prayer for many years were asked to leave. Kay and I both have always considered them as close friends. It's only right to try and help. During a long weekend in December (Christmas), I'm planning on going up north to the Lebanon border and the Syrian border on the Golan Heights to take some photos for the Wall of Prayer. Specific locations and photos I hope would be an asset for intercessors that pray for Israel. Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word." (Jeremiah 1:12)

CFI's Outreach www.cfijerusalem.org:

Project David's Shield - Reaching out to Israeli soldiers

Project Doors of Hope - Serving the poor and needy in Israel

Project First Fruits - Reaching out to the believers in Israel

Project Forsake Them Not - Reaching out to Holocaust survivors

Project Open Gates - Reaching out to Israeli immigrants (aliyah)

Project Hope for the Future - Reaching out to Ethiopian Jews

Project Last Shall Be First - Home visits to the poorest of the poor