Wow what a whirlwind. Today is our last day in Israel on our HolyLand trip, and it has been an adventure of biblical proportions. I can’t describe the amount of information we have attained. This trip has turned out to be much more than a simple trip to Israel. We have been engulfed in history and architecture. It is absolutely amazing– looking and learning about communities and builidings that were built 2 or 3 thousand years ago!

 Not only is the architecture and history amazing, have we been surrounded by the birthplace of Christianity. Through our tour guide Malcolm, and the great people of this country, we’ve had the opportunity to learn about many of the worlds’ other religions such as Judaism and Muslim. In reality there is not a huge difference, except for the main difference of course Being, our Saviour The Christ. And while wars rage in the name of God everyday, I’m quite sure that God would not be happy.

During our travels we got an inside look at the life of the people here, and their politics. It seems to me that my great country, America, would not only help Israel by standing up a little more for the people of Israel, but would also greatly benefit the all U.S.as well. Although Israel is a great military force, without the backing of the U.S. it is very unlikely that it could stand up against the forces that surround this country. Syria, where I believe Iraq’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction” were moved, is to the North West, Lebanon, with a huge Hezbollah stranglehold is to the north and funded by Iran.  Israel has backed the United States since it’s existance and we should have theirs backs well – to any and all lengths.  The tyrants in this world are interested in supremacy, not peaceful co-existence.  Sanctions are a temporary solution for a permanent problem and unless some means of communication can be opened it seems that war will most likely be inevitable. With the threat of nuclear weapons from Iran for years, did sanctions work? Will they work in the future? God only knows. 

While Israel is constantly pressured to give up it’s land “in the name of peace,” other nations are more than willing to take land “in the name of God”. With the U.N. (definition: Usually Nothing), the U.S., and many other nations suggesting that Israel give up more and more land “in the name of peace,” how is this small country, and It’s people, expected to survive? It seems to me that forcing Israel to cede land will not solve problems.  Would the U.S. be willing to give up land, or has it ever?  The politics here are immense. The people have to live their lives on a daily basis wondering what could possible happen next, and the Christian community is dwindling daily. It makes you wonder, how much longer can Israel survive with so much pressure from every direction?  It isn’t religion that should be focused on, faith is what matters and people of all faiths can live in peace if that is their true desire.

Until next time,
Ron and Heidi