There were two buses parked there and I thought it was a tough day for tourists. They were probably eating in the restaurant nearby. I sat down to enjoy the view and pray for Jerusalem. Soon a large group of young men began walking by and they were speaking English. I could understand what they were saying. Below the Kidron Valley is in the center, the Mount of Olives on the right, and the Old City of Jerusalem on the left. In addition to where I currently live, everything in this photo would be given to the Arabs in the current negotiations.
As a couple of the young men walked by, I said "How y'all doing today?" They immediately answered "Just fine, sir" and "Real good." I asked "Are y'all from the states?" "Yes, sir." "Are you hear to protect the President?" One of them grinned and did not want to say anything. I offered "Well, all of you are in your 20's, well fit, nice haircuts, and look like you can take care of yourselves." He just grinned without revealing anything. The more we talked, he was from Branson, MO. I told him that I was here with Christian Friends of Israel and a little bit about Kay. As he left, he said "I'm sorry to hear about your wife, sir". Below in the very center, the dark blue is the northern tip of the Dead Sea. It's usually hazy and difficult to see being about 12 miles away. Just north of the Dead Sea would be Jericho. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. John the Baptist would have been down there preaching in this area. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’" Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. Matthew 3:1-5. When you drive to Jericho from Jerusalem it's all downhill. A steady incline. President Bush is to fly to Jericho in a helicopter later this week.
I met two other young men and one of them asked me where I was from. "Dallas, Texas" I responded. He rolled up his sleeve to show me a Texas Proud tattoo on his bicep. "Where are you from?" "Houston." Then he introduced me to his buddy who's from Arlington. Only he corrected him and said "I'm originally from Lubbock." We talked about CFI and then again about Kay. The young man from Houston wants to be a doctor so he had a few questions. I told them at CFI we would pray from their safety and the safety of the President while they are in Jeruslaem. They thanked me for that. I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together... Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." Psalms 122:1-3...6-7 Below as they got into their buses, I continued my walk.
One report that I had previously seen about President Bush's visit to Jerusalem this week was that he would fly by helicopter to various locations. The State of Israel is also calling up 10,000 police officers for his protection. One of the busier streets in Jerusalem for buses and taxis, King David Street, is to be closed. The report also stated that some US Marines would be here. It makes sense that the helicopter squadron / escorts would be the Marines. Today I met some fine young Americans. They were well disciplined and strong but also courteous and polite. On my Shabbat walk today in Jerusalem, I believe the Lord had me meet some of The Few, The Proud, and The Brave. The United States Marines. Nothing was officially discussed or said as it should be. However, President Bush will be in good hands this week. The US Marines are in Israel. How wonderful to know that our country can still produce such courageous young men who are willing to fight for their country and die for their President. It always good to speak English with anyone in Israel. But these fine young men made me proud to be an American.
Below is a tribute (need to zoom in) to some of Israel's finest who gave their lives in this vicinity that Jerusalem, might be reunited under the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob just as God promised. He is the LORD our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting covenant, Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance," Psalm 105: 7-11.
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