Israel

Greetings friends,

In less than a week, in three days actually, i will board a plane and head to Israel. I do not take this trip lightly, nor do i go without a lot of prayer and preparation. I feel God's peace and presence upon me, like nothing i have experienced, and i glorfiy God for that. It would seem like lunacy, going to Israel, now, right after Hamas and the Israeli government have rewaged war on each other. But, if Jesus is to be true and real, i sense there is no greater time to go, than now. And there is no other place i need to be, as God has called me, than in the midst of that struggle, with people suffering, daily.

I have spent the majority of my life wondering what is out there. What, in this beautiful, blessed, and yet broken Creation of God's, am i missing by staying in my comfortable, safe, and easy existence? And i have to say, i sense i am missing a lot. I am missing the stories of God's children, who have to hide in caves, because their religion makes them outcasts. No more than that, their religion, their ethnicity, makes them targets from a group of elitists that view these people as animals, and they treat them as such. From my secure home, i miss their stories and their pain. They are why i must go.

If i stay comfortable and safe, i miss the stories of Jewish leaders, working hard, to broker peace and coexistence with the Palestinians. But i also miss the hard work of Muslim leaders, working just as hard, to find peace and commonality with their Jewish brothers and sisters. And i would miss the truth, that to follow the Truth, means that i must be in the middle of their struggle, offering the way of Jesus. It is for the hope that the Way, the Truth, and the Life brings to me that i must go.

If i stay comfortable and safe, which is so easy to do. If i say, there is plenty to worry about in Chicago, New York, New Orleans, or even Dayton, Cincinnati, and West Milton, and i use that as a security blanket to be blind and ignorant of the plight of so many around the world, than i have belittled the cross and sacrifice of Jesus. But if, on the other hand, i choose to go and be a voice of peace, love, truth, and hope to a people immersed in war, then i have honored Jesus. However, if i look only across the mysterious waters and stare blankly into the romanticized world of Jerusalem and turn my blind eye to the struggles of my sisters and brothers in Ohio; i have belittled the cross. However, there is a way that includes both. And it is to that road, which brings healing to West Milton and the West Bank, that i must travel. That is why i must go.

Because God's children suffer all over, and God has made it clear to me to go. But i must also go, because i need to lead the way. I need to show you, my church family, that the way of the cross is not a comfortable, complacent existence. It is sacrifice. It is risky. And yes, it could be deadly. But as Jesus said, "If any give up their life for my sake, they will gain it..." I give my life to Jesus, trusting Him, completely. If i want you all to do the same, i need, no i must model said faith. And that is why i must go.

I also must go, because Daniel Patrick needs a world of hope. I also must go, because Dominic and Emily Wenrick must believe that faith is real. I also must go, because our young people and young adults must know that they can make a difference. I also must go, because our hard working middle agers have to believe they can still leave footprints of change on their world. And i must go, because our retirees have to find a way to continue the work of Jesus: simply, peacefully, and together. It is for all of these reasons that i must go. And i must go now.

I go with the peace of Christ upon me. I go knowing that my wife and child are in safe hands, not only God's but a church family that has promised to care for them, in case something does happen to me. I go believing that it is too easy to just assume war is always an option, but it is harder and more Christlike to believe that peace can be achieved. And if peace is to be real and available, it must begin with me. I go, because God called me, and those God calls, He equips. So i go, but i promise to take you along with me.

Amen..

May the face of God shine upon you all and bring you the peace that passes all understanding.