The situation in Israel as I’m recording this podcast, is very serious as over 3,300 rockets have been fired from Hamas Terrorists in Gaza at Israel this past week. The last time I experienced this was recorded in my short movie at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14KKAa_lmtI&t=555s

However, this weekend, Shavuot (Pentecost) will begin in the evening of Sunday, 16 May 2021. As you listen to this podcast, please cry out to the LORD God that Israel would experience a mighty move of the power of the Holy Spirit throughout her Land over this period and pray that both Israel and the Church would desire a move of the Lord God in these days.

On Friday, April 30, 2021, a tragedy happened as tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people had gathered for the annual Lag B'Omer celebrations at the Galilee tomb of Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century Rabbi, in northern Israel. Sadly, 45 people were killed, and over 150 injured. But why did this happen, and why were they there?

It is written, “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God... (Isaiah 40 v1), and for sure, it is the right thing to mourn with those who mourn, and we are deeply saddened by the tragic recent events that happened at Mount Meron in Israel. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and friends who lost their loved ones. This podcast looks at this event and asks questions with the hope of finding answers.

Here is a podcast from the heart.

In this Eagle's Eye Podcast, Episode 37 – entitled 'Hinei Ma Tov' - I look at Psalm 133. How can this short Psalm not only speak to us but bless us - if we put it into practice?

Here, I look at the human heart. The issue of black and white; Jew and Muslim, and how we respond to terrorist attacks. I also share my thoughts on an amazing statement by Peter Rollins, a Christian teacher, who once got slated for stating, "I deny the resurrection of Christ." But what was at the heart of his message? Please do not just read this description. Listen to the full podcast to the end... then comment!

David Soakell

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“Without equivocation or hesitation I fully and completely admit that I deny the resurrection of Christ. This is something that anyone who knows me could tell you, and I am not afraid to say it publicly, no matter what some people may think…

I deny the resurrection of Christ every time I do not serve at the feet of the oppressed, each day that I turn my back on the poor; I deny the resurrection of Christ when I close my ears to the cries of the downtrodden and lend my support to an unjust and corrupt system.

However there are moments when I affirm that resurrection, few and far between as they are. I affirm it when I stand up for those who are forced to live on their knees, when I speak for those who have had their tongues torn out, when I cry for those who have no more tears left to shed.” ― Peter Rollins

What is the Sovereignty of God? And can we get our heads around this huge subject? God’s sovereignty is His right and power to do all that He decides to do. Job 42:2 states: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” The sovereignty of God means the supremacy of God and the kingship of God. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is "God". So to say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Most High, doing according to His will. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is "The Governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28), setting up kingdoms, overthrowing empires, and determining the course of dynasties as pleases Him best. To say that God is sovereign is to accept that even when one doesn’t understand why, God can choose a people – the Jewish people as His own, and choose to rebirth the Jewish State of Israel – simply because HE CAN! But does this sit well with your understanding of how you see God? Find out more in Episode 36 of The Eagle's Eye Podcast

Symptoms of depression include feeling unhappy or hopeless, low self-esteem and finding no pleasure in things you usually enjoy. Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes, talking therapies and medicines. Many things can cause depression such as stressful events, personality, family issues, work, death of loved ones, and so much more. But what about people with a strong faith? Can we also suffer from depression, and if so, is there a way to deal with it?

The short interview in this podcast is courtesy of Mind. Their website is: https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Mind helplines can be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/

Music in this podcast is licensed to me, David Soakell, except for the end song which is Lauren Daigle's 'Rescue'. (Lauren Daigle/Jason Ingram/Paul Mabury. CCLI. 7117256. Song ID. 5012. Copyright. 2018.) To purchase this go to her website or click here: https://laurendaigle.lnk.to/LookUpChild

Her website is: https://laurendaigle.com/

"The International Criminal Court (ICC) refuses to investigate brutal dictatorships like Iran and Syria, who commit horrific atrocities almost daily. And yet, the ICC has ruled that its "jurisdiction" extends to territories liberated by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War, clearing the way for its chief prosecutor to open war crimes probes into Israel’s military actions in Gaza and its presence in Judea and Samaria. So why are they turning on Israel, and likewise, why do the United Nations continually throw false accusations against the only Jewish state in the world - even claiming the Temple Mount in Jerusalem has nothing to do with the Jewish people? And what effect would this have upon the worldwide church? Find out in this podcast

This is the final part (part 4) of 'Light in the Darkness'. We pick up from where we left off last week, where in Ezekiel 37, God shows the prophet a valley of dry bones. Could this really be depicting the Holocaust? And if so, what about the teaching the church applies to itself? In verse 11 we read, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is gone…” In Hebrew, Hatikvah (The Israel national anthem) means “the hope”. Can any hope come from the Holocaust?

Also, is there a connection to Holocaust Memorial Day and the festival of Tu BiShvat (New Year for Trees) which just so happened to begin in Israel on the same day - Wednesday, 27 January 2021. Tu Bi'Shvat (Hebrew: ט״ו בשבט‎) is a Jewish holiday, occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat and is mentioned in the Mishnah.

Find out more about this miracle of Israel's new life in this podcast.

This is part three of 'Light in the Darkness'. After a very successful Holocaust Memorial Day event, of which CFI put an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 - which is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/mUlpeLYCRr4, I look back at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world.

"This is what the LORD says: "Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,` declares the LORD, `because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares`" (Jeremiah 30:12, 13, 17). Among other areas of the event, I also include part of the work of CFI`s dedicated 'Forsake Them Not team' that reaches out with love and compassion to Holocaust Survivors who have suffered so much. You too can help by clicking here: https://www.cfi.org.uk/by-supporting-projects?viewproject=23

This is part two of Light in the Darkness. As we prepare for Holocaust Memorial Day, of which CFI are putting on an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 at 7pm (click here for the link to watch this on the 24th of January and after: https://youtu.be/mUlpeLYCRr4), I will be looking at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world, especially with the Covid plague still forcing lock down.

This is part one of Light in the Darkness. As we prepare for Holocaust Memorial Day, of which CFI are putting on an online event on YouTube on 24th January 2021 at 7pm - see full details here: https://www.cfi.org.uk/downloads/HMD-Flyer2021v5.pdf - I will be looking at various issues relating to this, and for the need for light to break through the darkness of today's world, especially with the Covid plague still forcing lock down.

I was reminded recently of a word Lance Lambert once brought that stated, "We need to be overcomers…. Overcoming is to so discover the grace of God and the power of God made available to you and me, that we stay on course in spite of our faults and weaknesses, even our sin - and come finally to the place where we are no longer Jacob but Israel. Overcoming is when we are still in the race at the end." So even with all these difficult issues we are facing with this Coronavirus issue, let us press on and be overcomers, and be sure we are still in the race at the end.