In the 80’s, I had no idea of the Jewish connection to Gateshead, nor my past, nor what the future would entail. And so, there I was, in a quiet street in Gateshead and suddenly a bell went! I mean, literally… a bell started to ring. Suddenly, I felt as if I was in labour. Okay, I know, I’m a bloke… how can I know what being in labour is like. But these pains within my gut were real... I felt as if something moved within me, in the way a baby might turn in a pregnant mum-to-be. And I was so excited! Why was I so excited? It made no sense. Yet all the way home I was ‘buzzing’ with excitement. Was this a move of God within me? But hang on, I didn’t believe in God then... find out more, in episode nine of The Eagle's Eye Podcast.

The photo here is of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl who died during the Holocaust. However she left her diary which tells her story. I read her diary at a very young age of 12 years old, and it changed my life... or at least, God used it to change my life. In this podcast, I ask the question "...was God showing me something deep in my soul? Was He uncovering the dust from a dark past? Was He preparing me for a future position?" Listen as I take you on a journey - a journey to 'Life' itself.

All music in this podcast is licensed to David P Soakell.

To watch the short video I took at Yad Vashem go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtzH-vUY0xo&t=9s

or at: https://www.david-soakell.com/helen-s-story-the-holocaust

To find out about the work I have been involved with for the past 25 years plus, click here https://www.cfi.org.uk/

For those listening to these podcasts in the UK who have never been further north than the infamous ‘Watford Gap’, life in the North isn’t grim at all, and though cobbled streets might be found – as indeed they are on the Champs-Élysées in Paris - flat caps and ferrets are about as popular as top hats and tails from Dickens’ era are today in London. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that around 70 percent of the world's heather moorland is in the UK and the largest continuous expanse of moorland in England and Wales is in the North York Moors – where sheep can wander freely. With four national parks on our doorstep (The North York Moors, The Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, and the Lake District) the Lord has indeed blessed us with beautiful scenery.For sheer scenic splendour (at least in my opinion), few places in England (or indeed the world) can measure up to the outlandishly beautiful Cumbrian Lake District.

Here in England's largest National Park, I simply love climbing Helvellyn. Indeed, I've climbed this more than a dozen times. The approach via Striding Edge is of course the classic approach, and I certainly feel it is the best. Whatever the conditions – and I have been up in scorching heat to thick snow - Striding Edge is impressive and I guess I do like a bit of scrambling to enliven a climb. So join me on my journey, as I continue to look at life through the 'Eagle's Eye'...

"They say Aslan is on the move. Perhaps he has already landed," whispered the Beaver. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delightful strain of music had just floated by. And Lucy? She got that feeling when you realise it's the beginning of summer. So, deep in the land of Narnia, the children set out on the most exciting and enchanting adventure ever written..." (From CS Lewis’ book The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - (ISBN: 9780007323128).

As a child, I grew up on C.S. Lewis' stories about the land of Narnia, and how the children found this land through a magical wardrobe. I can remember thinking, as a young boy, how exciting it would be to find a magical place like this and to be able to spend eternity in this wonderful place. Well, to my surprise I did. Huh? No? Really? Well tune in to this, episode 6 of my podcast, where I ask "Is The Lion on the move"?

In this week's episode I ask the question "What is in a name?" and look at the area of Banias in Israel which is situated roughly 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee and at the foot of the long climb to Mount Hermon, Caesarea Philippi (Banias as it is known by today) is the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. Over the Hellenistic and Roman periods, many pagan temples were built at this area. St. Peter literally stood in this place and made the declaration of the status of who Jesus was. This area known as Panias however was corrupted in the Arabic language to its modern name of Banias. The reason is quite simple: Formal or Classical Arabic does not have equivalent letter P, and so, the ‘P’ became a ‘’B’.

An odd name to choose? Why? Well, find out by listening to this podcast.

'The Eagle & the Mezuzah'. Well we all know what an Eagle is... but what's the connection with this bird of prey and my family name? And what's the connection with a mezuzah? And what is a mezuzah anyway? Find out in this episode of the Eagle's Eye Podcast.

Thank you to all of you who have been listening to and following my personal new Podcasts, and I appreciate the very positive feedback I’ve received.

Episode 3 is here, and this is a special ‘Passover’ edition in which I will look at some areas of the Seder meal along with 'the meal covenant'. I hope you enjoy it.

You can also download these Podcasts in iTunes in the Podcast area.

Most of these podcasts are taken from a book I’m still trying to finish called, 'But Who Do You Say I Am?' However there is a lot of ‘ad-libbing’ that goes on too, of which I hope I won’t need to apologise for 😊.

These episodes are a journey into life itself and what that life entails for me. In many ways, it’s an autobiography, as I reflect on my life growing up in an industrial UK Northern town during the 1960's and 70s. However it is much more than that, as I try to wrestle with life; trying to come to terms with the demands of life and with the fact that like Jacob in the Scriptures, we all can wrestled with the whole issues of God.

Episode Two of my Podcast - The Eagle's Eye. In this edition we'll be entering into 'The secret place' Ohhhhhhhhhhh 🤔now where might that be? Well find out by clicking play.

David Soakell has been with a UK based and International ministry - Christian Friends of Israel (CFI) - since 1986, an Area Representative of CFI since 1995, and full-time with this ministry since 2001. Apart from his role as CFI-UK Liaison Officer, David is also part of the Media Department, writing the News Reports - Watching over Zion and is involved with the Social Media side of CFI for a worldwide audience.

In the late 1980s, David spent time with the Russian ‘Underground’ Churches in what was then the Soviet Union, and later spent over three years with Romanian Children’s Aid: helping children with AIDS in Romania. Since 1995 he has been working with Christian Friends of Israel, with what he and his family believe is God’s calling on their lives.

As a speaker/teacher, David has spoken throughout the UK and in various international Cities such as Moscow, Bucharest and Jerusalem. He blogs regular on his own Social Media Sites and has a YouTube channel along with a photographic website at david-soakell.com .

David has also authored a book compilation of songs and poems originally set to music called ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ , which try to reflect something of the horror of The Holocaust and beyond. These Podcasts are from his book, 'But Who Do You Say I Am?' It’s a journey into life itself and what that life entails for the author. In many ways, it’s an autobiography, as David reflects on his life growing up in an industrial UK Northern town during the 1960s and 70s. However it is much more than that as the author tries to wrestle with life; tries to come to terms with the demands of life and with the fact that like Jacob in the Scriptures, he too wrestled with the whole issues of God.