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As young children we were told stories of cannibals who ate the flesh of their enemies to show their domination and attempt to assume their enemies powers. We saw pictures of these scary looking flesh eaters in National Geographic or social science books and were rightly appalled.

Last week there were pictures of one of the Syrian rebel leaders eating the flesh of one of President Assad’s officers. America is considering backing cannibals because they have not killed as many thousands, yet. It is not at all clear in Syria if there is a good guy in the fight. Both Assad and the rebel forces are ultimately our enemies. That is why the vast majority of Americans are willing to let them fight it out. The rebels in Syria, if they win, may do much more damage to the world that Assad ever conceived.

Eating human flesh; can society decay lower than that? Of all the human atrocities what could be more vulgar?

The early believers in the Roman world were vilified as cannibals. The outsiders learned that Christians had a ceremony where they ate the flesh and drank the blood of Jesus. Those saints had lots of slanderous propaganda to contend with. Just like the news spinners of today the Church’s enemies would take, “sound bites” distorting the truth.

They would say, the leader of this appalling religion has said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). Of course the uninformed society did not know the rest of Jesus teaching; “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).

 

 

To consume Jesus is to consume His Spirit, His manners, His values and practices. There is a saying, “You are what you eat.” When we ingest the Lord and His Spirit dwells inside of us we assume the power and love of the Great Friend!

May the Saints of God become the caterers of Real Food to Syria and the nations of the earth!

Be careful what you eat.

Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

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Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

 

 

I dreamed I was walking into a college football stadium and learned that I was going to be playing the last quarter of the game. They were just taking the last quarter break. I went to the locker room and a trainer told me he would get me shoes. I told him, “I’ll need shoes to helmet!” I was excited and felt I was going to play well in spite of my age.

The dream was interesting in that the day before I found a quarter on the ground and picked it up. I thought to myself, “I’m in the last quarter of my game.” I don’t know if I have 25 years left. I may have more or less but regardless, I would like to play my game so when it is over the Lord Jesus might say, “Well done!”

We just had a wonderful visit with friends from out west, from our early days. The husband is a bright, accomplished professional, entirely secure in his employment. He was looking into a job in foreign missions as a way to get more bang for his years, for the Lord.

When a team reaches the last quarter they look at the clock and scoreboard and evaluate how the game is going. Are they ahead? How will they hold the lead and increase it? Are they behind? What strategies need to be acted on to go for the win?

Are you like me, perhaps in your last quarter? How do you plan on playing “The Game” to make the most of your short life? Is it time for new strategies to make the most of the game?

“You did not choose me,

but I chose you

and appointed you

to go and bear fruit-

fruit that will last.”

(John 15:16)

Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

When I went to boarding school in the Eighth grade I brought my rifle. I kept it under my bed in the dorm and brought it out to shoot targets and tin cans with a teacher and other students. I still have that sweet little Winchester today. Never once did I think, “I could go out and kill a few people.” Even today 70 million of us who own guns have not shot somebody.

The America we grew up in thought people were valuable because they were made in the image of God. We had a sense of love and justice as well as accountability before God.

Some believe that by outlawing guns, knives or dangerous objects like baseball bats and rope we can prevent people from committing atrocious acts. We would certainly want to outlaw cars to prevent hit and runs and outlaw gasoline and matches because they are used in arson. The real solution to brutal acts is far more difficult than simple measures like removing hands to insure no one is strangled.

Getting to heart issues is so much more challenging than externals. Restoring innocence, respect for others and reverence toward God requires more intentionality than outlawing tire irons and steak knives. The simple, yet challenging solution is to train our children in the ethic of Jesus, and remind ourselves as well, that life is ever-so-valuable, a sacred gift given by a holy Creator, before Whom we must all give an account.

Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

 

George Washington’s farewell address (September 17, 1796) must be recalled.

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.

In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens.

And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.

Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

America’s founders frequently conveyed the theme that our nation could only be great if it would be good, and that America could only be good in as much as its citizens had morality conceived from a reverence of Heaven’s King.

On August 28, 1811 John Adams, our second president wrote,

“Religion and virtue are the only foundations, not only of republicanism and of all free government, but of social felicity under all governments and in all the combinations of human society.

In other words, any government system can only be successful as long as its citizens are virtuous. A selfish and corrupt population may not be successfully governed no matter how artful and fail-safe that government seems to be.”

In a letter to Thomas Jefferson December 25, 1813 Adams wrote,

“Have you ever found in history, one single example of a Nation thoroughly corrupted that was afterwards restored to virtue?

The quality of your life and mine morally and spiritually will determine the success or failure of the “The Great American Experiment.” Let’s remember the wisdom of our founders and watch our spiritual and moral P’s and Q’s.

Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

Recently we came on “Self” magazine. You have to be careful opening it or the images may bite you. I told Pam, “I wonder if there is an ‘Others Magazine”, and if there were, would anyone buy one?'”

“Self” will teach you how you can get skinny and sexy, how to dress and style your hair with fashion, how to prepare delicious meals, and of course, give pointers on relationships. The thing that concerns me is the seductive notion, “Draw a circle around your feet and find the center of the universe.”

I read a few of the articles and they were good. Sometime we need to be retold, “Exercise, sleep well, and eat right.” Some people don’t take care of themselves and need to be reminded. In some religious circles self-denial is taught so severely that to take a bath or brush your teeth is suspect.

If you are malnourished, afflicted with an illness or simply run down, by all means take care of yourself. But take serious warning; self-worship is a terrible dead end. Jesus gave us a caution and promise, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-26 NIV)

It seems counter intuitive but denying self and living to please our heavenly Father is the best way to take care of self. If you wish to better honor God you better optimize your health. If you seek to serve others you had best seek superior vigor.

To me the underlying question is, “Who will be the object of my worship?” Two people may pursue the optimization of their minds and bodies but do so with different motives, one to please the self -god, the other to please the living God.

I did find “Self” useful for paint papering around the bathroom window today and the note on the health qualities of olive oil was good as well. God bless the writers of “Self” and those that read their articles. May we all find the right “Center.”

Steven C Johnson

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

 

Recently I completed an audio recording of the Gospel of Luke in the New English Translation. Now you can have a FREE LUKE APP for your phone! Drink in the wisdom and power of Jesus with your FREE LUKE APP! Share it with your friends who are not acquainted with “The Son of Man”! Many have a truncated knowledge of Him; “Jesus who? Isn’t he the guy that died on a cross?” Let your friends know the most impressive historical Character ever. Give them a Biblical primer on the essence of Jesus Christ!

Listen to this most profound, but often unknown story, now!

FREE LUKE AUDIO APP HERE – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appbuilder.u160136p564091&hl=en

Freely Given,

Steven C Johnson

PS Tell us what you think of Luke

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

FIGS AND GRAPES

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Our figs and grapes are ripening together. Delicious!!! They are signs and symbols of blessing. Solomon’s reign was Israel’s golden age. From North to South everyone was living in peace and prosperity.

“During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25).

The sweetness of the fig and grape are used to illustrate romance in Song of Songs 2:13 – “The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”

When the days were dark, Micah prophesied a future of happiness and security by saying, “Every man will sit under his own vine, and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken” (Micah 4:4).

God is so much bigger than fruit trees! In one of the most powerful demonstrations of faith in Scripture, Habakkuk professes to worship the LORD, even with total crop failure. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Zechariah’s blessing for the Messianic Future hails the ultimate golden age: “‘In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,’ declares the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 3:10).

The Lord Jesus used the fig tree as a sign that the kingdom was near. You might be interested to know that the fig does not produce any visible flower. It goes straight into fruit production. Don’t look for “normal” as the Kingdom emerges.

You may or may not have vines and fig trees in your yard, but may this be your season of Messianic security and peace as you bear fruit by the Holy Spirit, fruit that remains!

https://landingstripenterprises.com/

 

 

 

 

Hadas rents us a room in Jerusalem. We have become good friends and been able to share our love for Yeshua with her on several occasions. She listens and shares with great interest! She hosted a dinner for eight people that was full of animated banter as well as serious discussion.

Since Hadas sings in choir and loves music by Bach and Handel and has sung Classical Christian music she has befriended a number of believers. She also knows many people. One of her daughters says, “Jerusalem is the center of the world and my mother is the center of Jerusalem.”

We had a lovely spread of food for dinner but the people were most interesting and the discussion was more than salt and peppered with the goodness of Yeshua.

Hadas’ friend Lilly was there from Germany and two of her young German friends, Daniela (who just received Yeshua two days before at the Wailing wall) and Lona (originally from Vietnam and also a believer).

Uri a student at Cambridge who is studying Jewish/Christian relationships was there. He has a degree in Jewish folklore and a certificate in drama therapy. He seems to be just in the door with Yeshua.

Gideon who has a PhD in economics was also with us. He is a very intelligent man. He spent 20 years in NY and a founder of the Time Bank in Israel. While in the States he had some good encounters with believers.

I wish you could have been in on the open and energetic conversation! Great food plus eye to eye communications with sincere warmth and interest. We Talked about our backgrounds, families and experiences. We talked about things we are proud of in our nations and things we felt ashamed of. We talked about the Jewish Psyche and what makes the Jewish people so unique. Both Hadas and Gideon lost grandparents in the Holocaust. Do you think that effects a race of people? Only the grace of God can help people through that! All the conversation was substantial.

We were able to talk about our experiences with the Lord and how unique He is. We talked about how the Gentile believers drifted from their Jewish roots and how the Jews became suspicious of Jesus because of the persecutions conducted by many who called themselves Christians.

The conversations were constantly friendly, genuine and thoughtful. Pam and I were learners and well as witnesses. Lilly joined also in testimony as well as our two-day-old sister, Daniela. It reminded me of a dream I had before of grapes, some of which were ripe and others were ripening. We are seeing the harvest!

Everyone left satisfied with food but wanting more sharing and interaction!

Gideon and Hadas

Lona and Daniela

Uri

Lilly

Us guys

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today we celebrated Luigi and Liam’s birthdays with the greater family. Una’s parents, aunts and uncles , brother , sister and all the grandchildren came to Netanya to play in the pool, eat and chat.

The surprise was paragliding for the birthday boys. I had been building up my courage for weeks and knew the day was near, so when Una asked if I would like to go, the rise was on. Steve decided to risk it too

The paraglider pilots are experienced and licensed. We felt very safe, there was just that moment as we neared the cliff, it felt surreal. No panic just an interesting feeling as we simply glided off the edge toward the Mediterranean. I sang, ‘Up up and away in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon, balloooon! I just looked around. Then this little song entered my sprit: “You are the Glory and the lifter of my head.”

I just praised and watched the world from a very new perspective and marveled. Life will not be the same after we return to the states, I don’t want it to, and this is just a part – from a new vantage point!

Pam

“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).