Hi Friends,

Of recent there has been a lot of talk about an American or Israeli strike upon Iran.

Sometimes I get the impression that there are those who want a strike for the sake of just taking military action.

There are times when military action is necessary – but what must always be remembered is the effect conflict has upon countless people.

Humans are not born enemies.

Hostility is not a heritage given to us from God's image. It is from the selfish aspire of sin.

Any governance must ask itself what kind of a state it wants? And the consequences of that answer will follow.

Friendship equals peace, conflict equals war.

On the human scale, battle began with Cain wanting to live in a world without Abel.

Cain took action – and we have been suffering the consequences ever since.

Thank God for the grace of the Cross – where sin and death, by death, were defeated. Christ will never die, nor will God's love, patience, or grace.

He lives to redeem His creation – Halleluiah!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All!

Here is some interesting (and nice) news;

Something we all fear is the loosing of our sight. It is something that can potentially effect us all and many of us have loved ones who are potentially at risk. In the current issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology Israel has lead a study whose findings are very impressive!

In Israel, because of the practice of marrying near to kin, blindness and poor eyesight are an issue in some religious communities as well as the public in general.

But with new treatments and expanded private medical care -blindness in Israel has declined by 51 percent over the past decade! In 1999, the numbers showed that 33.8 out of every 100,000 Israelis were legally blind. That figure had fallen to 16.6. in 2008!

In many areas of medical research and development, Israel leads the way - and here too the study found declines in most of the causes of blindness.

Some of you may have heard of the new so-called bionic methods that might return sight to blind patients. These procedures are in their experimental stages.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Dear Friends,

You know – let's abandon the news that's going on here in the Middle East and consider things eternal...

I was pondering today... the fact that I am a created being – made by God who is not anything like us, yet, in order to redeem me and His creation – became like His created – like me, in order to identify with us because of His love for me.

This is what Paul and Peter and John so emphatically taught – that He became Flesh.

You see, when God created the World and everything in it He made it in such a way that it lived... it grew... it sustained...

And we know that sin altered that perfect world – which included a perfect man... and death, corruption, and a starving of the soul entered in.

Do you have a memory of when you made something as a child – and you were so proud of it, and then it got messed up or destroyed... perhaps that is one of the closest feelings we can have to what God feels when we sin.

Or perhaps you have known the pain of losing a child – perhaps that's as close as one can understand God's loss at the fall.

But praise be to God, He did not abandon what we call life which He made for His pleasure. He did not totally destroy His most cherished creation – in the flood, nor in the desert, nor at Nineveh – but rather conquered sin and death by being born as a baby in Bethlehem.

I think I now understand a little clearer what it means that an all knowing – all loving, all powerful GOD – who is nothing like me, did for us.

He became flesh and dwelt amongst men – and never sinned... and died for it.

Perhaps we may come close to knowing that felling of God if we have had to give of our life for our child's...

But like the Scripture says, all creation testifies to the glory of God – and like winter that strips things bear – Spring brings things to life.

God, the Author of everything, in the mystery of the Trinity, had to seemingly become nothing – as if the One who has no beginning had to cease for a fraction of time – from the cross to the tomb which could not hold Death - and our Savior was raised back to life – everlasting.

And that resurrection power is promised to all who simply believe in our Creator's love for His creation – you and me, expressed through Jesus Christ.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone!

Wow - it was one of those days when you wake up and it was so... nice!

There was a cool constant breeze – the birds were singing – and I counted four different birdsong. The fruits are ripe and ready for picking on our small trees – there's doves warming their eggs – it was one of those natural mornings.

Being in this unique place of Jerusalem is something I do try to share with my children.

One of my kids and I were talking about David, and his life both inside and outside of Jerusalem, the things God used him for, and the gift to us found in the Psalms.

"What gift dad?" Well, for starters – the gift of a song in one's heart!

It was in a setting much the same as what we experience here in terms of weather and nature – things God may well have used to help shape (by the Holy Spirit) David's writings for us to learn from.

I like reminding myself about what another great figure in the Bible had to say about God's Word and kids.

Moses wrote that we got to teach our kids about God and Scripture throughout our day – when we rise up, when we move on our path, when we sit down, and when we go to sleep.

My kids got the visual setting to place much of the Scripture in – but it won't do them much good unless they see the love and law of God demonstrated through their parents lives and actions.

And mine aren't perfect – but God has a wonderful way of teaching life lessons about grace – even when a parent makes a mistake.

Kids want integrity – kids want borders - kids want to know... they want to know what God expects of them, they want to know the boundaries God has said are best, and they by and large want to do what God expects of them.

Use your surroundings today – wherever you live, to encourage your child from the scriptures. My feeling is God will use that to honor His way in the life of that young person – His Word never returns back void, and as the Psalmist says – He'll place a new song in your heart.

Have a great weekend!

Brian Bush Middle East Coorespondant LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone!

Lets tell you about the extra-ordinary experience of the Chilean miner's, who spent 69 days 800 yards beneath the earth's surface, visit to the Holy Land.

Of course these men have visited the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Wailing Wall, and the Garden Tomb – all covered by mobbing press. Let's talk about their lesser covered trips to Nazareth and the Jordan River.

There is a special guest on this pilgrimage, four month old Richard Villarroel Godoy, who was born just a few days after his father, also Richard, was rescued from the mine.

Precious Richard was baptized in the Jordan River! The ceremony was jointly led by a minister and with Jose Henriquez – one of the miners who now acts as the group's religious leader.

Richard senior said of the experience; "Now that my baby has been baptized in the name of God in the River Jordan, I feel content" as he emerged from the waters, holding the baby in his arms. It was an emotional scene as you can imagine, as the infant was immersed in the Jordan's waters... The little one was joined by many of the miners and their spouses.

All these folks are guests of the Israeli Tourism Ministry, on an eight day tour of the Land of the Bible – which wraps up tomorrow. In Nazareth, the miners visited several significant sites including the Church of the Annunciation. The group was welcomed by the Latin (Catholic) Bishop of Nazareth who led them in prayer.

He said "God saved you, and I welcome you to this holy place. You are an example to others, and a symbol of strength and courage, to all those of faith everywhere".

He encouraged them to "contemplate silently the place in which you find yourselves, open your hearts to the love of God, and be sure to take the experience home with you."

Friends – that blessing is for all who visit here in the footsteps of our Savior. LeSEa Tours has another trip coming up in June... contact www.leseatours.com to find out more on what a trip to the place Jesus knew can do for you!

Looking forward to seeing you here,

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everybody,

Here's a nice story!

Obviously the world watched as the drama unfolded involving the trapped miners who were rescued last week after spending 68 days trapped underground in the mine in Chile.

What a great relief at their freedom. Many stories have circulated about the men and their faith.

Perhaps that may continue to be a storyline as the Israeli Government has extended a gracious invitation to the 33 men.

The Ministry of Tourism has invited the miners, along with their families, to visit the Holy Land. They did so with the Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov sending out an official letter inviting them to Israel at Christmas time to see the Christian Holy places. The other interesting thing, which was pleasant to see included, was the line; "to give thanks for their rescue".

The Minister invited the miners and their spouses here for a 'spiritual journey' this Christmas. The visit is organized by several entities, but the focus will be the visits to various sites holy to Christianity. What a wonderful gift to these heroic men who have been through such a difficult time.

In his invitation, Mr. Misezhnikov wrote: "Your bravery and strength of spirit, your great faith that helped you survive so long in the bowels of the earth, was an inspiration to us all. It would be a great honor for us to welcome you as our guests in the Holy Land. This December, Christians around the world – and here in the land of Jesus, will celebrate Christmas. During that time, we welcome tens of thousands of pilgrims and we would be pleased to offer you this uplifting and extraordinary experience, as our guests."

Friends – we'd love to show you the Land of the Bible this November. If you'd like the same experience that these men will have – contact us at: www.leseatours.com

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Friends,

Today I am recalling a question put to me by a visitor on one of our LeSEA tours a few years back – "What do kids do here in Israel when schools out?"

For those who don't fly of to the States or Europe, there are a few options out there – mostly summer camps that promote some form of focus on a specific things of interest.

Depending on where one lives, the environment and facilities nearby pretty much determine the local options. For example; in Tel Aviv along the coast there are numerous sports camps, oceanography, or theater.

Here in Jerusalem, there are camps for art, archeology, and dance. Outside the cities there are kibbutz themed camps where kids experience a communal life centered around agriculture, desert life, or life in the lusher northern part of Israel.

This is also a time of year when many Jewish young people from other countries come to Israel to experience it. Buses haul them from place to place as they soak up the sun, culture, and history. Many of these programs funded – and thus are free to the participants. It's a pretty incredible deal as they are flown over, housed and feed. All have a good time, but some people believe they haven't actually seen 'the real Israel'.

But in this small country of so much cultural and physical diversity, one can find just about whatever they want if they are willing to travel for it. Call it a melting pot of people, or a microcosim of humanity – it's a special place! Come and check it out – go to leseatours.com for more info – and see you here, in the Holy Land!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone!

It was so good to see part of the LeSEA tour group walking through the Old City when they were here. I bet they are still talking about their experiences here in the land of the Bible.

The question of what makes a trip here so valuable can be answered in many ways... For some it is simply to see the same land their Savior did. For others it is to walk in the same steps as Jesus – and to somehow ponder the depth of what may have been in the mind of Christ as He did so much to let the people know who He was and how they should be living in relation to their Creator.

Some come out of curiosity, some in penance, others to identify, and still more just to see the stories of the Bible they have known for years come alive.

Friends, I have been living here 18 years now – and I walk past countless points connected to prophets, priests, and kings – and it still all hits me. It is an absolutely incredible experience – and humbling too.

Let's be frank – it is also hard... but God has a plan in all our lives – whether it seems so or not. God is for life – and He redeemed it here – in this physical geological place, for countless lives that He loves... which makes the narrative in the scriptures so precious. All over the world, men and women have been moved by God's Word... and here in the Holy Land – you can literally move right by 'that' Word...

The names of the places, the descriptions, the customs, - indeed perhaps close to everything listed in the Bible can be seen in some way... but perhaps the most precious of all – is the changed heart of a dear soul who has found it's peace in what Jesus Christ has done for them.

This is why God left His throne in heaven and came born of a woman – lived among us, was treated unjustly, and yet conquered death and hell – for the value of a soul come home...

Indeed my prayer from here in this city that has seen so much through His-Story, is that whether it is read about, or seen with the naked eye, God would continue to be faithful to His promise to save those whom He loves – and that they, like a new born baby born this day – would be born again into eternity by faith in what God actually did – right here... for me and for them.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting