Good News from Israel

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Remembering my father Victor Alloway Rawlings

Shalom!

Every year in early November during the days leading up to Remembrance Day on the 11th; I think of my father, Victor Alloway Rawlings. He volunteered for service as a Canadian Soldier, leaving his pregnant wife and loved ones as so many hundreds of thousands of other men. She received the telegram in April 1945 announcing that at the age of 28 he died liberating Holland from the Nazi horror of World War II. His death, as that of any loved one, was sadly tragic to all who knew him; coming on 09 April 1945 He fell just three weeks before the Armistice or the Nazi surrender to the allies that was signed on 08 May 1945, marking VE Day or Victory over Europe. 

I don’t believe my Mother ever got over her loss. I was 2 months old at the time, and have an illustrated love letter that he wrote to me just weeks before he died. It is a treasure. Thankfully, I can say with assurance that he was a believer and that one day I (we) will be united with him in heavenly places. 

Through the tender mercies of our God,
with which the Dayspring.
(The Messiah) from on high has visited us;
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and under the shadow of death.
To guide our feet into the way of Peace ”
Luke 1:78-7 

Portrait: Victor Rawlings by James Christian Rawlings grandson. 

The Greek word for ‘peace’ is ‘Eirere’ in the above verse it refers to “a state of rest, quietness and calmness; an absence of strife; or tranquility.” It generally denotes a perfect sense of well being. “Eirene” includes harmonious relationships between God and man, men and men, nation and nations, family and families. Jesus as the “Prince of Peace’; gives true, lasting peace to those who call upon Him for personal salvation. My prayer is that you hold this peace very close to your heart and mind. And may you be enriched because of your loving kindness to us Rawlings living here in Israel. You cannot know how encouraging it is to receive your responses via our websites and letters. I pray you are as happy about hearing from us as we are hearing from you. I say within all sincerity. Times are not getting easier to any of us and friends have never meant more than they do right now. For those of you suffering health challenges, I want you to know that we take your words to heart and pray for you. Often the Holy Spirit will keep bringing you to mind until you are on your feet again. We are watchmen and count it a privilege. 

From the Greek word for ‘peace’, we have the lady’s name, Irene. Irene Bredlow and Meridel became best friends at age 18 when in 1960 they met and entered nurses training together at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. They were both adventurous, becoming life saviors, earning the bar to their bronze in swimming in their spare time. Both won special awards at graduation for their excellence work. Unknown upon graduation, was the calling to Israel that they both received. Today Irene lives about 1 kilometer from Tiberias in Poriyah in the Galilee. We get together when time permits, perhaps four times a year for fellowship, prayer, and fun. She and Meridel talk for hours and hours. I get to witness them laughing and giggling like girls. My job when we are together is to be their butler and chief cook. I become ‘Throck Morton’ and place a towel over my right arm as I serve their food. I enjoy it, they deserve a break, and spoil me as the butler! What fun! There are no friends like old friends! 

Irene has a beautiful ministry of serving those who love the Lord all around the Sea of Galilee. For years she volunteered as a nurse in Beersheba, and also in the Poriya General Hospital. She is also an excellent tour guide for visitors from abroad and takes them to the Biblical locations where the gospel stories unfolded. Her Bed and Breakfast ministry is known as Galilee Gardens. If any of you would like to visit the Galilee and stay with Irene; just let us know and we will make the connection. For sure, you will find “peace” in her home. 

Thanks again for your words of encouragement, and your prayers for us as a family and team. We are humbled by your own difficult circumstances and your assurance of prayers for each one of us. We will never underestimate the price you pay for your financial help. Together you make it possible for us to remain in Israel. We have one million seniors in this land who live under the poverty line. It is tragic. And we know that the LORD is watching out to keep us well and cared for. 

So we do count our blessing every day and are grateful. Only the Lord will be able to adequately reward you on that Day! 

In His Love, 

Jay Rawlings, Meridel, David, Chris, Josh and Daniel. 

Jay Rawlings, Box 84156, Mevasseret Zion, 90079097 ISRAEL
Email: jvrawlings@gmail.com www.israelvision.tv

Sketch by Josh Rawlings when in high school. 

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Jerusalem March 2018

Welcome to the 2018 Annual Feast of Tabernacles, Christian Celebration, in Jerusalem. While watching you will be able to participate in the Jerusalem March along with 6500 visitors from 100 nations. Many waved their flags while wearing their national colors and sounding their national instruments.

You can also witness the “Israeli Guest Evening” when many Holocaust survivors enjoyed the international dancers and local Israeli music. They heard and saw the inspirational reports about the work of the host organization, The International Christian Embassy – Jerusalem. You will be blessed for sure. 

An Israel Vision production 

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

We wish you a sweet and blessed Jewish New Year!

Jerusalem Vistas                                                                                               September 2018

To our Jerusalem Vistas Partners and Friends:

We in Jerusalem are wishing you and your loved ones a sweet and blessed Jewish New Year.

We join with our Jewish family in marking this last month of Elul with sincere soul-searching accompanied with repentance. The path always seems to get narrower and steeper but blessed. 

The only hope for Israel, with Iranian forces amassing on our Northern Border in Syria, is Divine intervention. We all know that Israel’s enemies will continue to expand until they are stopped once and for all and that apparently is what the United States and Russia hope to do.  Do you believe it? I hope not. Man is only man. Our God who sits in the heavens shall laugh at the folly of men. Psalm 2. Do not for a moment be tempted to think that your prayers and support are not important! Thank you.

John Bolton, US National Security Advisor said recently in a press briefing in Jerusalem; “Putin has told Trump that he “would like to see the withdrawal of Iranian troops from Syria, but he is not able to do it himself.” As the scriptures below forecast, we are living to witness this end time military build up “from the land of the north.”

Ezekiel 38:3,5. “Thus says the LORD God, Behold I am against you O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Mehech, and Tubal. I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws, and lead you out with all your army…Persia, (Iran), Ethiopia, and Libya…they will come to a land that dwells safely to take a booty…”   (Booty-Israel has discovered one of the largest natural gas finds in the world today in their offshore gas wells)

It will be 50 years (as of Oct 2019) that we have been set as “Watchmen on the Walls of Jerusalem,” proclaiming Biblical events in the media as they have unfolded for over half of Israel’s modern lifetime. As you probably know we have been struggling financially for the last six months. We realize that many of our partners are elderly and are on fixed incomes. We are sensitive to these facts so we work to create a new support base, which is difficult because now that we are appealing to internet-based audience, people feel little compulsion to support Jerusalem Vistas.

How well I remember Dr. James Dobson, Founder of ‘Focus on the Family’ and what he did when the ministry was in dire financial need. After seeking the LORD, he wrote to his partners and said: “IF this ministry is no longer supported by its partners, I will have to close it.” 

It was just that simple, and that is exactly the situation that we at Jerusalem Vistas/Israel Vision find ourselves today.  I know that we are not afraid to change. Meridel and I feel very badly that none of our team have been paid their small salaries for the last three months. This has caused tremendous stress, piled upon the added stress of just living here. We cannot carry on in this manner. We have never shirked from ‘following hard after God’ and this crisis is absolutely no different. The truth is, the future of this work lies in your blessed hands.  If you have any way of helping us to go on, we pray that you will find a way to do so and do it immediately.

 

Here below are ways you can support our ministry. Thank you in advance for your support.
On our website, you can donate to us via PayPal.

In His Love,

Jay and Meridel and team

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Harvest in Mid-July!

We have had great weather in Israel this year. From well-needed rain coming at unexpected times to the glorious sun that we almost always have above us. This not only makes life pleasant, but it causes fruits, vegetables, and all plant life to grow and thrive.
Jay and Meridel have always planted, and planted some more, in their small garden. They utilize the borders around the yard and every little corner that a spade of earth can occupy.

The varieties of things that sprout and grow are amazing. Apart from beautiful flowers and trees, one can find bushes of herbal tea to olives, pomegranates, and clementines~there is always something to find and enjoy.

This week the grapes along the arbor and around the fence are more than ready to be harvested. The birds have already noticed and begun their own picking. Early in the morning, Jay and Meridel pulled out the ladders and clippers to began bringing in the luscious clusters of sweet, beautiful grapes to munch on and make into juice.
Enjoying the fruits of one’s labors is very satisfying. When the “harvest” takes place in the early morning, when the dew is barely dry, the air fresh and cool, it adds to the overall joy of the event. A time of laughter and joy and fellowship!

…Here it is!
The first glass of freshly pressed grape juice!
Pure, Natural Goodness from God’s Own Land!
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

The Jerusalem Vistas Online Learning Centre

Dear Friends and Partners

Last week I made some long distance phone calls to our friends and partners in Canada and the USA, HOPING to raise support.  We did have fellowship, I prayed for each one~But~I was shocked and saddened at how many were in a health crisis and in desperate need of prayer for their physical conditions. What is happening to our army of helpers?

Many of our long-term prayer partners were nearly incapacitated. This made me realize two things. First that we must keep up our morning prayer watch for these sickly saints to be made well. Second, we must reach and inspire the younger generation to partner in our faith-based media work.

For forty-nine years, Meridel, myself, our sons and co-workers have done our very best to publish the “Good News” from Zion to a worldwide audience.

Yes, we have regularly changed our format from 16mm film to various video standards to now “digital” materials on the Internet.   We must make these changes to keep current. Thank God we still have the same message.

“TO TELL THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD CONCERNING ISRAEL TODAY.

HELP US TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF BIBLE PROPHECY INTO OUR DARK WORLD.

TO ACHIEVE THIS WE HAVE CREATED THE JERUSALEM VISTAS ONLINE LEARNING CENTRE. 

Our sons are busy creating programming for the younger generation. It’s time! 

Each program will feature GEMS of Biblical truth in the background of the folly of ‘fake news’.  We will separate the facts from the fantasy. You can make it possible for our team to film on location in ISRAEL and GREECE.  These topical, snappy and easy to digest portions are for the internet and social media that aim to educate and inspire!

YOU CAN BE a part of this new venture!  What topics would you like us to highlight? You can help to sponsor us~see below for how you can join. Summer is brutally hot here in the Middle East and the crops could not survive without the dew. Likewise, we need daily, weekly, and monthly “dew” support to keep our studio up and running in this “dry season”.

The budget for this project is $50,000. We have just received a $5,000 gift toward it. Praise God!

Please take a few minutes right now to send your gift and become a JVOLC Sponsor! We Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Together we can move forward!

For out of Zion shall go forth the Teaching (Torah)

and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem…Isaiah 2:3b

Thank You, In His love, Jay and Meridel, and sons  

Here’s How You can become a Jerusalem Vistas Online Learning Centre~JVOLC Sponsor.

1) Safely donate via PayPal using the Donate button at http://israelvision.com/get-involved/donations/
 *PayPal accepts all major credit cards

2) Send a cheque (or post-dated cheques–many people choose to send 6 or12 at a time)
* Please make all Cheques Payable To:  Jerusalem Vistas
 * Our Mailing address is at the bottom of this message

3) Authorize us to debit your Credit Card either for a single gift or monthly. To do this we would need the following information:
– Your name as it appears on the card
– The card number (16 digits)
– The card expiry date (mm/yy)
  * The amount to be deducted & number of times (eg. One Time Only or a specified period)
*You may send the information to this email address ( jvistas@gmail.com ) with a statement authorized us to make the transaction; or if you prefer, send via post

*Note*
We send you the original Credit Card Transaction slip with a tax receipt. All information is confidential and only used as per your directions.

Our Postal Address is:
Jerusalem Vistas
PO Box 40101
Mevasseret Zion, 9080500, Israel

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

We need your support

Joel 2 begins with the thrilling cry, “Blow the trumpet in Zion and sound an alarm on my Holy mountain.”

The rams horn “shofar” has always been the trumpet sound around which the Jewish people have been called into action, for battle, and for holy work, and worship.

For nearly 50 years now we at Jerusalem Vistas and Israel Vision have been sounding an alarm via the media. We have made hundreds of documentary programs during half of the modern history of Israel. That is quite an achievement, but we could not have done it without the sacrificial financial help of YOU our partners.

Our programs have been designed to be interesting and topical, following current events in the light of Scripture. Our prayer for these programs has always been to awaken and inspire our viewers into action, for the Lord and of course for Israel.

Yes, we are living in prophetic times, the signs are all around us. But we are not called to be mere observers.  We can be a part of what God is doing in the earth today by our prayers, our actions and by our giving.

Here is a brief summary of some of the recent programs that we have broadcast around the globe via the internet.

http://israelvisiontv.blogspot.com/2018/05/jerusalem-vistas-summarythis-is-what-we.html

These shows represent 100’s of man-hours of work. We are glad to do this for you and of course the Lord but we require your help to pay the bills including the salaries of our team.

Over the years we have experienced that summertime is often a downtime forgiving. However, our expenses carry on regardless of the season so I am asking you to make a special sacrificial offering to us TODAY.  Thank you.

May the Lord bless you mightily as you stand with us.

“I will bless them that bless you”…Genesis 12: 1-3

Thanks for helping us to sound an alarm. Prayer and anointed action are needed in this region as never before!

Here are some ways you can take action to stand with and bless Jerusalem Vistas / Israel Vision:

1) Safely donate via PayPal using the Donate button on our website www.israelvision.tv
 *PayPal accepts all major credit cards

2) Send a cheque (or post-dated cheques–many people choose to send 6 or12 at a time)
* Please make all Cheques Payable To:  Jerusalem Vistas
 * Our Mailing address is at the bottom of this message

3) Authorize us to debit your Credit Card either for a single gift or monthly. To do this we would need the following information:
– Your name as it appears on the card
– The card number (16 digits)
– The card expiry date (mm/yy)
  * The amount to be deducted & number of times (eg. One Time Only or a specified period)
*You may send the information to this email address ( jvistas@gmail.com ) with a statement authorized us to make the transaction; or if you prefer, send via post

*Note*
We send you the original Credit Card Transaction slip with a tax receipt. All information is confidential and only used as per your directions.

Our Postal Address is:
Jerusalem Vistas
PO Box 40101
Mevasseret Zion, 9080500, Israel

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

From Meridel’s Desk… January 2018

Shalom
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and financial contributions. It has been put into the ‘pot’ to help keep our doors open and the work going forward. Here are some pointers to encourage you in prayer for us. The time is grave and growing ever more so… and we have to daily submit our hearts to Jesus. I told Jay, I feel like a leaf trembling on the end of a branch. But God…! We have learned to encourage ourselves in Him day after day.

Kindly join Jay and I in this prayer for our four sons all working in Media: David 48 yrs, Christian 46, Joshua 42 and Daniel 31. They have been a tremendous blessing to us over these many years, but we sense the Holy Spirit wants to loose them for even greater service. We pray: Sanctify them – purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy – by the Truth. Your Word is Truth. Just as you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” John 17:17, 18.

Ministry Goals for 2018:

Well the LORD IS ON THE MOVE! When we grow weary He brings strength from most
unexpected quarters, for which we are daily grateful.

1. Our film on Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse Change Action Nepal has been translated into German; for Germany and Switzerland, the cost donated by a Swiss friend.

2. This film has also just been synchronised into Spanish by a dear friend who gave us the best price for his work. We have given a Pastor in Guatemala our release for multiple televised showings out to his 11 million viewers. We spent years in South America in the 70’s and since then have prayed these many years for our work to go out in Spanish.

3. We have just released a video on our web sites and blog about the situation in Gaza. It is very topical with the current unrest and rocket attacks. Iran stands in the shadow of terror.

4. Our son Josh is moving up to Jerusalem from Jaffa. He and Daniel, our camera man-editor are excited to finally be setting up Israel Vision’s brand new television studio. This is a new day! Josh is a professional in many aspects of media, currently working for ‘start ups’ in Tel Aviv. I quote him: “Dad, I have made a lot of people wealthy, now I am going to devote part of each day to promote Israel Vision and Still Small Voice projects for they really count.”

5. CAN – Change Action Nepal is finally incorporated provincially and federally in Canada. Our lawyer has a special love for Nepal and is donating her expertise. She has guided us through all of the legal process and is now willing to serve on the Board.

6. This year, our team will concentrate on producing topical video updates for our viewers, right here within our own studio in Israel. We will continue to educate concerning the importance of Israel. Israel is not a political issue… it is actually a Biblical issue for ALL peoples, whether they believe the Bible or not. We are watching horrified as anti-Semitism explodes to pre WW11 levels. So to we see the onslaught against Christians globally. God is calling out: “WHO is on the LORD”S side?” Lets allow HIM to move us and lead us in 2018!

7. I, Meridel am completing my latest book entitled “Erasing Indelible Stains”… I lay bare the depths of what INIQUITY is and how this mysterious force affects our generations. I paint an in depth portrait of the horrors of sexual abuse within the frame work of so called ‘normal life’. I systematically dissect this crippling disease and do my best to tenderly and carefully walk my reader through the delicate deliverance and healing processes.

8. Jay and team are completing a film he directed and Daniel shot in December. Tracey is a British woman who rides her horses by faith. This time she rode her faithful steeds from Northern Israel up into Jerusalem and as far south as the Ramon Crater. On camera, she shares the history of Israel that she learns from locals along her route.

9. The Heart of God at Work in Israel Today: is an in depth look at the outreaches going on to the needy from within the Messianic Community here in Israel, be they Jews, Arabs, Ethiopians Refugees. We completed the film in Dec and Jay is now helping the producers introduce it into Canada. Our mandate has always been to seek the Kingdom of God as we love to film the work for other ministries in the land as well as our own. Meridel and Daniel are in prayer about going to Dallas Texas to TD Jakes Pastors and Leaders Conference this April 17th to 21st. We don’t want to miss anything God has for us. We do understand that we need to move with the times. We hesitate only because of the expense; but it is vital for us all to be strengthened. I, Meridel would be so happy if Josh could free himself to go in my place. Mention this in your prayers please. Your caring, praying and giving to us over the coming year will enable us to continue to work to bring forth this mystery of the Kingdom of God on earth. My family joins in with heart felt thanks for your support.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven this 2018.

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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Remember the Tentifada in 2011?

“Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the one who labours with child together,A great throng shall return there. They shall come with weeping…”Jeremiah 31:8,9a.

In spite of her neighbours with their ongoing lies and continuous attacks, paradoxically, Israel IS Noah’s Arc for Jews according to the Almighty. They began to return home in the 1880’s. No nation wanted Jews. If you doubt this, do a little checking, (Canada included!) The situation only grew worse during WWII. Poor Jews returned to Biblical Zion with weeping weakened by disease and malnutrition just as the Prophets perceived and faithfully penned. This is what makes Israel absolutely unique! Oh, how we love to work to encourage any we meet, to come and take their rightful place here in history…this has always been an underlying goal of our original call, which sent us to Jewish Communities world wide.

Wanting now to focus on inside of Israel, we at Israel Vision are re-posting this production from the summer of 2011. Israelis of all ages were out in protest, locally known as the Tentifada, living in tents and trying to tell the government that they must keep their promises to their citizens. Did these protests bring significant change?Israel is not a perfect country, but it is the only Democracy in the Middle East and our people for the most part remain steadfast and loyal. However, many people, young and old alike, have reached the breaking point. Today, in 2018 is again one of those times.

Anyone who has lived in Israel can attest to the fact that the rents and cost of living are extremely high, and wages are low. Compared to the USA, we pay 23% more in our “cost of living index”.  At the same time, the wages are disgracefully low…so low in fact that a large sector of society can barely afford to rent the meanest of places. The idea of owning an apartment is now, “pie in the sky”, to say nothing of ever owning a house.

To buy a very small apartment will cost about 1.5 to 2 million shekels (between 4-5 hundred thousand dollars). The banks do not give mortgages easily. You must have at least 25% down, and an income of about 20,000 shekels per month, (US 6,000). The long and short of it is: most ordinary people barely earn above minimum wage of 5,000 shekels or US 1,500 dollars per month.

As for rentals, if you live around Jerusalem you will be lucky to find something for under 5,000 shekels (about $1,500)per month. In Israel you must also add property taxes (yes, the renter pays the taxes), building upkeep, and Insurance in addition to the on going monthly expenses of electricity, water, gas and phone/internet/cable. All this for a tiny place with no closets, cupboards, appliances and in most cases no light fixtures. Of course, there are always “good deals”but they are few and far in between and there will be dozens of people wanting them. No wonder people are up in arms. We are a hungry country with 1 in 3 children in Israel living in poverty. Can you believe that? Its a shocker!

So…in frustration and desperation people set up tents and protest. Today, almost seven years on we must ask, “are things any better?” To be honest, there have been improvements for the disabled which everyone is happy about, but the high cost of living~as in most countries~continues and more and more Israelis are falling through the cracks.

Tentifada in Israel (2011) Part I
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 by Dr. Meridel Rawlings

Revisiting Sderot on the Gaza Border

Yes, this is an old film, but, we are re-posting it for a reason. In recent weeks Iran has become even more antagonistic towards Israel. As a result, the ruling elite in the Gaza strip have begun to once again rear their heads with threats to annihilate the state of Israel.
When the IDF went into Gaza in 2009, Jay, David and Daniel drove to Sderot, a small town on the border of Gaza to see what the people were going through. They heard the explosions, spoke to the citizens and toured the spots where rockets had struck. The idea that citizens had “15 Seconds” to find shelter was sobering. How do you even teach young children to run for a bomb shelter??
During this time, Earl Cox, an international broadcaster and journalist was also in Sderot. He was there to support the people. One evening he even purchased pizzas and drinks for the soldiers of the IDF who were on active duty along the border.
Mr. Cox invited David Rawlings and the Mayor of Sderot to Washington. David was able to record the Mayor as he gave his thoughts on the situation in Israel and thanked the American people for their support.
Now, in 2018 as you watch this, please take note~time has indeed passed, but nothing has really changed~Israel’s enemies continue to surround her and threaten the annihilation of the world’s only Jewish State.
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