Inner Faith Travel

30/05/2016

WINTER IS HERE Jewish Penicillin - Grandma's Chicken Soup
INGREDIENTS

1. Chicken Depending on how much soup you want to make. You can use a whole chicken, or let's say 6 to 9 quarters (thigh/leg combo's).

2. Onions - 3 med to large onions. Ends cut off and peeled.

3. Carrots - 1 cup of either baby carrots (easy) or cut pieces from large carrots that you have to wash and peel.

4. Parsnip - a large one (looks like a white carrot), cut the ends off and use the peeler to clean it.

5. Celery Stalks - 3 or 4 washed and the ends trimmed.

6. Fresh Dill - 1/2 bunch

7. Fresh Parsley 1/2 bunch (curled or flat) Wash both the dill and parsley in a large bowl or sink at least 3 times with cold water. You can let it soak for a few minutes which will help any grit to fall off. There's nothing worse than grit in chicken soup so do a good job. I like to use kitchen string and I tied the dill and parsley together in a tight bundle. I cook it that way and then it's easy to take it out when the soup is done.

8. Salt - 2 teaspoons.

9. Chicken bouillon - 2 tablespoons - powdered type.

HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT:

Use a big pot that has a lid. If you don't have a lid, you can use foil when you need it.
Rinse the chicken, pull off any unnecessary fat that the butcher left on to weigh it down.
Put the rinsed chicken pieces in the bottom of the pot.
Add COLD water to cover the chicken and then some.
Toss in the 2 teaspoons of salt.
Heat on high until it begins to boil.
Turn the heat down some and stand there with it. A foamy scum will start to float. Use a slotted spoon to remove it. Repeat this until you don't see any more coming up. Now cover the pot and turn the heat to low so that it continues to simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. You'll know your chicken is done when all you have to do is touch the skin with your spoon and the skin breaks.
Now you can remove the chicken into a bowl pouring back into the pot any soup that escaped. Cover the bowl of chicken and set aside.
Now, using a hand held fine sieve (strainer) scoop through the liquid to remove any chicken pieces or debris that might have broken away during the long boil.
This is when you will stir in the two tablespoons of powdered chicken bouillon.
Gently put in the onions, carrots, parsnip, celery, and bundled dill/parsley.
Bring back to a boil, cover, lower the heat to low to keep it simmering for another 1 to 1.5 hrs.
I like to then take out the greens and drain the liquid back into the pot.
Let it cool down for a while and then put it in the fridge. You can turn the pot lid upside down to help it fit.
Tomorrow you will skim the fat, heat, and serve.
You can warm the cooked chicken right in the soup as you reheat it. Some people like chicken IN their soup. We like to eat the chicken separately and we make little egg noodles (pick your favorite) to serve in the bowl of soup.

That's it. That's all there is to it.

If you make this soup for people you care for and for the right reasons they will be able to taste the love with every spoonful.

Hint: I make huge pots of this soup and I freeze individual portions in sip lock sandwich bags on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, of course, you can put them all in a larger freezer bag and put the cookie sheet away. You'll have soup at a moments notice and you appreciate it every time.

I always make sure to leave the freezer full when I have to travel and leave my love at home so there's always a meal.

21/05/2016

Views of Israel on Saturday Extra
https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgZa75kZZ6?play=true

New voices on the situation in Israel.

20/05/2016

11 Verses for Living Free:
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgression from us." Psa. 103:11-12
“But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13

16/05/2016

GREAT VIDEO - Enjoy
Becoming Stillness
I often lose my way on this contemplatuve journey. I often forget why I am doing this. What is it unto? The message I have received all my life is "I am my thoughts." This message and my going along with it, has not served me well.

In contemplation we learn that we are not our thoughts. Our identity is hidden with Christ in God. This mystery is totally contrary to the messages I receive all day long in the media, from other people, from my upbringing, in my mind, and from my ego.

That said, I felt like I needed to be brought back to basics today, and this video from Richard Rohr on "Becoming Stillness" sure helped.

Another gem by Richard Rohr. An introduction given in Norwich Cathedral.

16/05/2016

Divers Discovered a Spectacular, Ancient and Important Cargo of a Shipwreck

Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists diving in the ancient harbor in the Caesarea National Park recovered beautiful statues, thousands of coins 1,600 years old and other finds from the seabed. This is the largest assemblage of marine artifacts to be recovered in the past thirty years

The Divers will be Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the IAA and will be Invited to Tour the Storerooms of the National Treasures

At the same time as the discovery, the Rothschild Caesarea Foundation continues to fund tens of millions of shekels for extensive exposure, conservation and development work of major projects throughout the Caesarea National Park and the harbor.

A fortuitous discovery by two divers in the ancient port of Caesarea in the Caesarea National Park before the Passover holiday led to the exposure of a large, spectacular and beautiful ancient marine cargo of a merchant ship that sank during the Late Roman period 1,600 years ago.

As soon as they emerged from the water divers Ran Feinstein and Ofer Ra‘anan of Ra‘anana contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority and reported the discovery and removal of several ancient items from the sea.

A joint dive at the site together with IAA archaeologists revealed that an extensive portion of the seabed had been cleared of sand and the remains of a ship were left uncovered on the sea bottom: iron anchors, remains of wooden anchors and items that were used in the construction and running of the sailing vessel. An underwater salvage survey conducted in recent weeks with the assistance of many divers from the Israel Antiquities Authority and volunteers using advanced equipment discovered numerous items that were part of the ship’s cargo.

Many of the artifacts are bronze and in an extraordinary state of preservation: a bronze lamp depicting the image of the sun god Sol, a figurine of the moon goddess Luna, a lamp in the image of the head of an African slave, fragments of three life-size bronze cast statues, objects fashioned in the shape of animals such as a whale, a bronze faucet in the form of a wild boar with a swan on its head, etc. In addition, fragments of large jars were found that were used for carrying drinking water for the crew in the ship and for transportation at sea. One of the biggest surprises in particular was the discovery of two metallic lumps composed of thousands of coins weighing c. 20 kilograms which was in the form of the pottery vessel in which they were transported.

This discovery comes a year after the exposure of a treasure of gold Fatimid coins by divers and the Israel Antiquities Authority, which is currently on display for the public in the “Time Travel” presentations in the Caesarea harbor.

Shared with Dropbox

12/05/2016

People who travel leave home for all sorts of reasons: to take in new destinations, see from a different perspective, break from work, sample other cultures, have an adventure and, ultimately, to gain appreciation for what they have at home. Many have dreamed of enjoying specific places firsthand (the Parthenon, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Jordan River) their whole lives. They’re often professionals who have decades of work behind them and are ready to go! Deferring their dreams—no matter what is going on in the world—is not an option.

Inner Faith Travel passengers are often a particular type of traveler. They’re not focused just on destinations like Alaska, Israel Greece, Turkey or famed destinations. They want more… and achieve it by embarking on experiences while seeing the world in the company of headline faith leaders and artists.

Inner Faith Travel designs exceptional Christian travels to bring spiritual encouragement and growth for guests, enabling them to connect on a deeper level with family, friends or fellow church members with whom they may be traveling. Making new friends that “stick” after the journey finishes is also a bonus. Celebrated locations share the limelight with onboard faith celebrities, and the combination delivers memories that last a lifetime.

09/05/2016

President Rivlin welcomes Martin Luther King III, together with Unsung Hero Award recipients. President Reuven Rivlin today (Sunday), hosted at his residence Martin Luther King III, son of civil rights leader Dr. Marthin Luther King Jr. who was visiting Israel. Also attending the meeting were artist Idan Raichel, former MK Pnina Tamano-Shata (the first Ethiopian born female MK), and journalist Anat Saragusti, who were this morning at a special ceremony in Jerusalem recognized for their activism on behalf of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel, and received the 2016 Unsung Hero Award from the Drum Major Institute, a civil rights organization led by Martin Luther King III.

President Rivlin congratulated the recipients, and welcomed Martin Luther King III. He spoke of the importance of the vision and leadership of his father, and of the resonance of his dream for communities around the world. He said, "In his last speech, on 3 April 1968, one day before his assassination your dear father, Martin Luther King Junior said – and I quote, “We as a people will get to the Promised Land together!” He taught us a great and important lesson; the Promised Land is of course an actual place, but at the same time it is also a vision, a dream, and also a responsibility. It was this old dream of the Promised Land that kept the fire burning in the hearts of the Jews of Ethiopia for so many years - for centuries. It was that fire, that deep faith, that dream, that brought them to Israel, to Jerusalem."

The President noted that, "For many of the community, modern Israel did not exactly fit the dream, but thankfully the Israeli community of Ethiopian origin is strong. It is a community with the power to create new dreams and visions, and picture their own new Promised Land built here in the actual Promised Land of Israel. Dear friends here today, artists, public figures and activists, you help us all see the possibilities of this new Promised Land. I would like to thank you all, in the name of the State of Israel."

Martin Luther King III thanked the President for his warm welcome and said, "It seems to me the message of Martin Luther King Jr. still resounds loudly in our nation and throughout the world and perhaps is needed even more so now today then back then. I think the world is crying out for a message of hope and healing. We are honored to be in this nation, and honored to be in this official residence."

Singer Idan Raichel, a recipient of the award thanked the President for welcoming the group, and said, "I want to thank you Mr. President for welcoming us here, and thank Mr. King for this great award. Each one of us in our own mission is trying to continue the dream of your father and your organization to create the bridges between cultures and bring hearts together."

Former MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, accompanied by her mother who had brought her to Israel as a child of just three years old, spoke of her honor at receiving the award. She said, "I believe there is an important relationship between the Jewish and African American community that we need to strengthen. We can do much together to fight discrimination and hatred. In Israel too we still have much to do to fight discrimination."

Journalist Anat Saragusti also thanked the President and said, "The strength of a society is based on its diversity and the strength of the chain is based on the weakest link. President Rivlin raised the flag of diversity, and this is very inspiring, to have a President who strengthens us in civil society, who work to make the change and promote equality in our communities to see that all men are created equal."

President Rivlin thanked all the participants and said, "Continue what you are doing, not just for us, but for all humanity."

02/05/2016

More than 130,000 Australian horses served in the Great War' In the desert sands of the Middle East, they ultimately carried their men to victory at Damascus' But they did not return home' This is their story'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtL0kFynkqw

More than 130,000 Australian horses served in the Great War' In the desert sands of the Middle East, they ultimately carried their men to victory at Damascus...

30/04/2016

SOME SAGE ADVICE

Type "Amen!" if you agree.

29/04/2016

The following words describe the heart of David as seen in his own writings:

(All verses New International Version)

Humble - Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. Psalm 62:9

Reverent - I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:3

Respectful - Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. Psalm 31:9

Trusting - The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Loving - I love you, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1

Devoted - You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. Psalm 4:7

Recognition - I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. Psalm 9:1

Faithful - Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Obedient - Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Psalm 119:34

Repentant - For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Psalm 25:11

David's example is a great road map for how we are to live our life.

Which of these areas need your greatest attention for improvement?

29/04/2016

An interview with Samuel Smadja - enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1eLK32u9pk

28/04/2016

In November 1917 the British government made a pledge with the Jewish people through the Balfour Declaration to help establish a Jewish National Home in the territory known as Palestine. Find out what happened next ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LgKJ5HzSQ0

In November 1917 the British government made a pledge with the Jewish people through the Balfour Declaration to help establish a Jewish National Home in the ...

27/04/2016

Street preaching group Operation 513 are crowd-funding for the trial costs of one of their preachers, George Youssef, after he was arrested on the Gold Coast while preaching in December 2015.
One of the Operation 513 street preachers in full swing.
One of the Operation 513 street preachers in full swing.
On the night of December 4 last year, a street preaching team of ten people from Operation 513 assembled in the Surfers Paradise Cavill Mall on Queensland’s Gold Coast for what team leader Ryan Hemelaar called their “usual outreach” in the mall every Friday night.
FamilyVoice, who have taken up the case and are helping to fundraise, says despite having permission to be in the Mall, a female sergeant asked the Operation 513 team to move on. The request came after Youssef mentioned a list of sins in the Bible, which included adultery, slander, theft, greed, swindling and homosexual conduct (like in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Youssef has been preaching with Operation 513 for about 18 months.
Hemelaar says the night’s disruption started when a drunk man approached the group and started yelling at Youssef, “calling him names and swearing.”
FamilyVoice reports that the female sergeant then asked the group to leave, suggesting the preaching was offending members of the public. When Youssef refused to leave, he was arrested and charged with disobeying a police direction.
“Ultimately, we won’t know the full results of our street preaching – only when we get to heaven. But our goal is to remain faithful and preach the word.”
Hemelaar says Operation 513 believe the police direction was illegal, as the group had permission to be there under the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992.
“We send notifications to police and council months in advance letting them know that we’d be there and at which times,” Hemelaar told Eternity. “They haven’t refused our notifications, so we’re protected from move-on directions [by the police].”
A similar case occurred in 2013, when a group of three men, also led by Hemelaar, were arrested in Nambour’s CBD on the Sunshine Coast while handing out Bible tracts and charged with the same offence. Charges were dropped a day before the trial, and the group maintained their right to preach on the street under the Peaceful Assembly Act.
Hemelaar, aged 26, has been a street preacher for ten years. He goes out almost every night to different public places around Brisbane and the Gold Coast. He runs his own IT business during the day which allows him enough flexibility to be able to commit his life to sharing the gospel on the street.
“Most people you see on the street will never turn up at church. It’s why I think it’s important for the church to go out to the world with the gospel,” says Hemelaar.
“And God shows the fruit of this ministry. In Brisbane City, where we have a regular Saturday night outreach, a man came up to me and said, ‘Hey, do you remember me?’ I didn’t really remember his face, but he said ‘You chatted to me last year at the Gold Coast and I’m now a Christian and go to a church near here.’ That’s really encouraging. Ultimately, we won’t know the full results of our street preaching – only when we get to heaven. But our goal is to remain faithful and preach the word.”
“The offence should be the gospel itself, because the gospel is offensive.”
In Adelaide, another group of street preachers from Street Church were banned from the CBD’s Rundle Mall after its preaching caused public anger. The ABC called the group “fire and brimstone” preachers, and showed film of the group with loudspeakers and placards and attracting protestors opposed to their views. The case was taken to the High Court, with the preachers arguing that by-laws that allowed the council to ban them from the area limited freedom of speech. The High Court found that the by-laws did not impact on freedom of speech and upheld the Council’s right to make by-laws on the proper use of roadways, including a requirement that persons seek permits to preach.
Hemelaar says Operation 513 are not “fire and brimstone preachers,” and seek to communicate the gospel in a “loving manner and not to cause unnecessary offence.”
“The offence should be the gospel itself, because the gospel is offensive. We do talk about heaven and hell, because we want people to understand the consequence of sin, but that’s not our focus. We want to give people a well-rounded message of Christianity and I think it’s important we do that in a gracious way.”
Operation 513 street preaching groups often use a sketchboard and paint while preaching to illustrate their message. “It attracts people’s attention and draws a good-sized crowd,” says Hemelaar.
George Youssef’s trial is scheduled for May 16, 2016 at Southport Magistrates Court. https://ozcrowd.com/campaign/77
- See more at: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/queensland-street-preacher-arrested-and-charged-facing-trial .44mxm19x.dpuf

Gold Coast preacher arrested for talking about sin.

24/04/2016

LEST WE FORGET
When war broke out in 1914, many Indigenous Australians who tried to enlist in the armed forces were rejected because of their race.
The story of the Indigenous people who served in the AIF has been largely ignored until now.
Trooper William Allen, who served in the 11th Light Horse Regiment, with his wife on their wedding day in 1918.

24/04/2016

A little humour from Col Stringer. David and Goliaith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV29qR1RCqY

Enjoy this sermon (800 Horseman) by Col Stringer

22/04/2016

Israel’s ninth President Shimon Peres has wished Queen Elizabeth II a happy birthday through a video message on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
Peres said: “From my own experience I can tell you that in my judgment life begin at the age of 90, and they go up better and better. It is really a blessing not just a wish, a blessing to you, to us, that you will continue to guide, to inspire, to offer a smile, to the young and the old and make our lives different, despite all the problems and wars we went through. You are a great leader for the free world; you are a great hope for the coming generations. God bless you.”
https://youtu.be/hNX1H-ZjFE8

Israel's former president Shimon Peres sends 90th birthday greetings to her Majesty The Queen

21/04/2016

Passover is nearly here: the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the celebration of our deliverance from Egypt. But not only this; "Therefore behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when they will no longer say, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,' but, 'As the LORD lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.' Then they will live on their own soil." (Jeremiah 23:7-8) We are living in these days. Israel is once more a nation before God and He continues to call His people home. Last month we saw the amazing return of Yemenite Jews to Israel, there are untold testimonies of God's faithfulness that will be celebrated this Pesach (Passover) throughout the country.

Pesach is full of symbolism and remembrance. The bitterness of slavery in Egypt is represented by the bitter herbs on the Seder plate. The bricks and mortar that the Hebrews made are symbolized by the charoset. The salty water that we dip our bitter herbs into is their tears. The egg represents the holiday offering brought to the temple and the shank bone reminds us of that first Passover lamb, the blood of which was painted on the doorposts of all the Hebrew houses so that the Angel of the Lord would "pass over".

21/04/2016

Dear Friends,
Shalom from Jerusalem! I would like to take this opportunity to personally wish you a Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover)! I trust that you will enjoy this year's first edition of the Sar-El Scroll. Please feel free to share it with your family and friends.
God Bless, Will & Christine

20/04/2016

https://www.facebook.com/businessinsider/videos/10153195181519071/

20/04/2016

Sandi Patty & Friends Farewell Cruise
http://www.ift.net.au/tour/494-2/

25/03/2016

This year the Jewish feast of Purim celebrations falls on the same day as Good Friday. Purim, celebrates the saving of the Jewish people as recorded in the book of Esther. On Good Friday many remember that Jesus (Yeshua), died for our sins and rose again- the ultimate sacrifice and redemption for us and consequently celebrated on the coming Easter Sunday. As these commemorations and celebrations coincide this coming weekend, I am reminded that God’s plan for redemption of the Jewish people as told in the book of Esther, contains many similarities for God's plan for redemption for the whole world through Jesus the Messiah.

My prayer is that we will each be ready for "such a time as this", whatever that time may be and that we will recognise the hand of God at work in our own lives; His plan of redemption for each of us that has already been fulfilled in Yeshua.

On behalf of all the Inner Faith TeamTeam, We wish you a Happy Purim and a Happy Resurrection Day this coming Sunday.

With blessings,

Will, Christine and the team at Inner Faith Travel

08/10/2015

Israel President Reuven Rivlin, hosted the members of the SpaceIL venture at his residence in Jerusalem. The SpaceIL venture is an association building the first Israeli spacecraft to the Moon. The event began with a celebratory declaration that the Israeli venture had secured a place on board the American giant aerospace rocket launcher SpaceX, and consequently, the association had become a leading contestant in the competition.

08/09/2015

In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the midnight drinking bash and next day hangovers.

07/09/2015

30/08/2015

Don Francisco - Billy Graham mentions som**hing here which CS Lewis also writes about in Narnia's The Last Battle. Perhaps hope does extend beyond pat formulas. Perhaps life is less about numbers and more about faces. Perhaps the perfection of God applies to His love, and not to a fixation on morality.

25/07/2015

Oscar-winning actor George Clooney (The Descendants, The Monuments Men) is launching a new initiative to expose the people and institutions that are profiting from conflict in Africa. Named “The Sentry”, the program will join activist John Prendergast and the Enough Project in tracking, analyzing, and exposing how violence is financed throughout the continent. Through their reporting and data analysis, they hope to trace money back to the banks, businesses, and individuals who perpetrate the crimes.

23/07/2015

In the Footsteps of St Paul - ATHENS to ATHENS
Follow the Apostle's journey visiting Ephesus, Athens and Philippi. This spring cruise also sails to Delos, Patmos and Mykonos.
Departing 7 April 2016 2 nights hotel in Athens

Early Booking Offer - book by 30 Aug 2015
13 days from $3,994*pp ›

16/07/2015

Following is an excerpt from an interview, on (Wednesday, 15 July 2015), with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on NBC News regarding the "deal" with Iran.

"Iran has here two paths. One is if they keep the deal, and the other is if they cheat on the deal. They can cheat on the deal because inspections are not instantaneous, anywhere, anytime, as Foreign Minister of Iran Zarif said correctly. In fact, you don’t have inspections within 24 hours; you have 24 days before you can inspect any site that you find suspicious in Iran.

Twenty-four days. Can you imagine giving a drug dealer 24 days’ notice before you check the premises? That’s a lot of time to flush a lot of m**h down the toilet."