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Mar 13 2016

Could a Chromecast be a killer tool for church & ministry?

At my work place we ordered a bunch of Chromecast devices to use in meeting rooms.   These are a gadget that looks like a USB flash drive but fit in a HDMI port of a standard flat screen TV, but also need a separate power adapter or tap 5 volts of a USB port of the TV.

I was quite impressed by these devices so I bought one myself.   They are only GB£30 or so, but I got a returned/open box of the newer 2nd generation one from ebay for £22.   You can’t buy these from Amazon, because they sell a similar rival in-house developed product called ‘Fire stick’

my tv with chromecast

When your Chromecast is in idle mode but the TV is set to the right  channel it will show random pretty pictures that Google Plus users have chosen to be made public.

chromecast dongle chromecast extension

Its pretty much intended to be used purely with the Google Chrome browser with a dedicated Chrome browser extension, therefore you can send content to it from a Windows PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android device.

This could be hugely useful in a church or in your organisation’s reception or lobby, and easy to get content sent wirelessly.

chavah in chromecast

I used this to display a Messianic radio station made by my good friend Judah who is also nifty with technology.

Its designed to work seemlessly with Youtube, so I predict the end of trashy MTV in bars, and instead get music videos in bars sent to a TV instead using a Youtube playlist!!

I think there is a ton of opportunities for this in churches and Christian ministry for worship, teaching or digital signage.   Strangely I don’t see these devices listed on online computer stores in Israel like BUG or KSP, so wonder if these have reached the holyland yet.

Mar 10 2016

Magic teabags in the Arab quarter of Jerusalem

100_3712

I took this picture about 5 years ago.   Tea bags from a quack doctor seems to have a cure for everything! (there was another 10 similar boxes for other ailments there)

For those people who know me, I am rapidly balding as I am in my late 30s.   I asked the vendor if he had something to get my hair back.   He said he had something out the back 😉

Various different news articles I see about conferences about “peace” in the middle east and roughly similar in the range of truth as these products I think. 🙂

Mar 3 2016

1950s stamp book shows Palestine Occupation different from what you think

stanley gibbonsInteresting find I discovered a few weeks ago.

I saw a Commonwealth Stanley Gibbons stamp collectors book in a charity shop.   Its basically a British book publisher that’s considered an authority on the value of old stamps.     This book dates from 1956.

This book just covers countries of the British Commonwealth only.   I didn’t end up buying, just snapped a couple of photos;

This caught my eye.   This stamp dates from 1918.

palestine stamps

The one Piastre refers to a small value coin used by the Ottoman Empire, ie: the Turkish.  In the 1920s these stamps were made obsolete by the British who took over.

Therefore these stamps showing “Occupied enemy territory” is not referring to Jewish people, its referring to Islam.

To avoid putting big files on my WordPress account, I’ve listed these on my Google drive cloud storage space to share if you would like a closer inspection.   Apologies the 2nd page is a bit blurry.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9YywUr33gtSLTg5dzEteVlCWEk 
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9YywUr33gtSSkhWbGZxXzMwQXc

Feb 21 2016

Late bible teacher and Messianic Jew Lance Lambert’s house sale in Jpost

Fascinating article in Jerusalem Post about my friend and bible teacher Lance Lambert.

I spent many times at his home which was decorated in all kinds of exotic souvenirs from overseas.

I think Lance had a great eye for collecting antiques from his travels around Europe, Middle East, China and North America.

http://www.jpost.com/Christian-News/Estate-Sale-of-Jerusalems-Hidden-Mega-Pastor-Lance-Lambert-442913 

 

Feb 18 2016

Are Messianic Jewish/Palestinian Christian peace events motivated by Christ or something else?

Another one of these Jew/Arab meet ups happened again this month in Cyprus.   From someone uninformed what could be better than Messianic Jews and Palestinian Christians get together for reconciliation and understanding they don’t agree on everything?

But, what happens which such event, only offers peace on one their own terms and uses manipulation of the other?

One of the Palestinian Christian leaders is a guy called Sami Awad, who was part of a group called “Zen Peacemakers”

According to a quick look up on Facebook, Zen Peacemakers is actually a Buddhist group.

Sorry, but peace only happens when you have real relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

P1040650 - Copy

This is a great Arabic speaking church in Nazareth I went to – completely full when I went, not enough seats, some standing! Also had English translation using radio headset.

I’ve seen some meet ups between Jewish and Arab believers in the holy land, I find it hugely heartwarming when it happens.   It seems to be easier to create peace in Galilee communities which Jews and Arab live quite close together.

In the four years I live in Israel I had Arab believers in my church and in other congregations I have visited.

I know in Bethlehem there are Arab believers that part of Steve Kory’s church who work together with their Israeli neighbours, and various home churches which operate discretely.  For Christians in the West looking into side with, these are some of your best bets for strengthening the body in these difficult places.

Until then, some of these fake peace groups are as about as convincing as McDonalds trying to combat child obesity.

Details here:-

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/28353/Default.aspx?utm_content=buffer5b6c6&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=latestnews 

https://roshpinaproject.com/2016/02/13/in-cyprus-israeli-messianic-jews-agree-not-to-criticise-terror-supporting-palestinian-christian-leaders/

http://www.comeandsee.com/view.php?sid=1308

 

Feb 15 2016

Mosh Ben Ari – Israel’s best kept musical secret

Mosh_Ben-Ari_01I absolutely love Mosh Ben Ari.  Mosh is an Israeli guitarist of Iraqi/Yemenite Jewish background from the Galilee city of Afula.   He is in his mid 40s with dreadlocked hair who plays regular guitar, electric, bass, and various exotic middle eastern style guitars.   What’s his most closest equivalent mainstream artist?   Maybe Sting, but in all honesty his wide covering of musical genres makes him entirely unique, his style ranges from reggae, folk, Spanish and middle eastern Jewish/Arabic music.   All his lyrics are purely in Hebrew.   I’m pretty sure he is the best selling local Israeli artist of all time.

mosh ben itunes

In Israel, his best known work is the album “Derech / דרך” (The way)   The main track on this track is a famous one worth a listen.   The other perhaps golden track on this LP is “Ben Adam” which you can listen here.

This soothing upbeat slightly reggaefied track Yesh Gal, reminds my awkward time trying to find a new job after heading back to the UK, as I was listening to this driving home in a car I went just bought, seeing as I haven’t driven in 4 years.   Looking for big beats with Arabic style horns?   Then you need this track.

Probably the biggest shame is the fact in the UK, and probably everywhere else.   No one has heard of him.   Don’t expect to find his music on Amazon or anywhere else but the most specialist shop that sells imported records from the holy land.  I have 4 out of his 7 albums.

If you are a Christian who has a varying taste in music and spending any time in Israel, do get to see local bands and try and see if Mosh is doing any concerts around the time you are around.  If like me you are a Christian interested in Jewish foundations of our faith, don’t try and looking for something of spiritual value in Mosh’s music.  Yes he makes Hebrew language sound exquisite, and there are references to Elohim in some tracks.  Why?   According to listening to two songs, Mosh hints at being something of a universalist 😦  yes sadly he mentions a bit about Allah in “Jah is one” this is a pleasant upbeat track,  but – the god of Islam is absolutely not the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, blending bits of foreign religions doesn’t work.   Actually the title of track Hineh Ho Bah (Here he comes) reminds me of Zechariah 9:9 which points towards a prophecy that the Jewish Messiah would be riding on a donkey (fulfilled in Matthew 21)

In all honesty various different pop music, artists change their religious ideas like their haircuts.   If you look at say, the Beatles, Lady Madonna hints at Catholicism and John’s Lennon’s Imagine is about Atheism.

I very nearly got to see him live.   He was doing a gig at Jerusalem’s yearly multicultural festival.   I queued up only to find the people in front got the last ticket and the places was full.    I was gutted.

Mosh, if you are reading this, you are incredible musical genius who should be better known outside your nation.   I hope you can discover the love of the Jewish Messiah Yeshua that surpasses all understanding.

http://www.moshbenari.net/
Official Youtube channel

Jan 30 2016

5th century Church discovered in Turkey has paintings of Jesus


Couldn’t find any good Google Streetmap of Nevşehir. The national park sections aren’t mapped, and the nearby city looks cloudy and a bit dull.

I’ve just booked to go to Keysuri in central Turkey.   I’ve been meaning to go to Cappadocia national park for the last year or so.

Today after I’ve bought my tickets, I was amazed to see this!

Historic church discovered in Turkey’s Nevşehir ‘could change history of Orthodoxy’

(source is a secular Turkish news site)

 

Jan 14 2016

Talitha Kumi, popular street in Jerusalem shows Jesus’ command resurrecting dead child

In the four years I volunteered in Israel, I’ve been down this street several times a week.   Its King George Street at the top of the famous Ben Yehuda Street precinct.

I’ve always wondered what this monument by the bus stop actually is, but never properly looked it up.

This year I’ve been learning the gospels, the book of Mark.   Now I know where this phrase “Talitha Kumi” comes from.

Mark 5 : 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Overhearing[c] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

talitaטליתא קומ / Talitha Koum is Aramaic, where as טליתא קומי / Talitha Kumi is Hebrew, which mean arise.

I’d love to know who built this wall with a clock and what was its purpose.   Its not that common to see phrases by Jesus himself to be actually at the sides of streets in Jerusalem.

 

Jan 11 2016

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? Theological Version

chickenThis is really funny, seen on Facebook;

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? (Theological Version)

Rick Warren: The chicken was purpose driven.

Pelagius: Because the chicken was able to.

John Piper: God decreed the event to maximize his glory. OR . . . it was an act of Christian hedonism. The chicken realized that his greatest joy would only be found on the other side.

Irenaeus: The glory of God is the chicken fully alive.

C.S. Lewis: If a chicken finds itself with a desire that nothing on this side can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that it was created for the other side.

Billy Graham: The chicken was surrendering all.

Pluralist: The chicken took one of many equally valid roads.

Universalist: All chickens cross the road.

Martin Luther: The chicken was fleeing the Antichrist who had stolen the Gospel with his papist lies.

Tim LaHaye: The chicken didn’t want to be left behind.

James White: I reject chicken centered eisegesis.

John Wesley: The chicken’s heart was strangely warmed.

Rob Bell: The chicken. Crossed the road. To get. Cool glasses.

Joel Osteen: The chicken crossed the road to maximize his personal fulfillment so they he could be all that God created him to be.

Roger Olson: The chicken recognizes no clear evangelical boundries.

Driscoll: A [bleeping] chicken crossed the road to go get a beer.

Gary Demar: The chicken was fleeing the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. That’s it.

Jim Wallis: The chicken is an organizer for Occupy Barnyard.

Emergent: For this chicken, its not the destination that’s important. Its the journey itself.

N.T. Wright: This act of the chicken, which would be unthinkable in British barnyards, reeks of that American individualism that is destructive to community.

Al Mohler: When a chicken begins to think theologically, he has no other alternative but to come over to the Calvinist side of the road.

Michael Horton: The chicken was forsaking the kingdom of this world to live solely in the Kingdom of Christ.

John Frame: The chicken had an existential need to change its situation according to a new norm.

T.F. Torrance: The inner logic of the incarnation proved an irresistible draw to the other side of the road.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: He was abandoning cheap grace for the costly discipleship of risking the dangers of crossing the road.

Karl Barth: The crossing of the road, like all true theology, was done for profoundly Christological reasons. Because Christ came as the judge to be judged, all chickens cross the road in the end.

Paul Tillich: Because he sensed that the other side of the road represented the ground of all being.

New Ager: Because he saw the light beckoning him forward.

Fundamentalist: Because his pastor told him so.

Elevation Church: Because Pastor Furtick told him to get in the line on the other side for a spontaneous baptism.