July 8

Steve Lessler concludes his discussion about the Palestinian - Israeli conflict today.  As Steve files through his presentation notes he closes with a large group discussion weighing both sides of the conflict.

Shirlene Tong recommended a non fiction book by Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree, "An Arab, a Jew and the Heart of the Middle East"

Click to buy from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Lemon-Tree-Arab-Heart-Middle/dp/1596913436/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531617963&sr=8-1&keywords=sandy+tolan

Steve asks the group to ask themselves these questions: 

How should we as Christians watching this conflict unfold, seeing people kill each other in the name of Religion, how should we react, how should we feel?

Do we have a right to take a position? if so, what should that be?

Why have some Christian groups acted on behalf of Israel in a hostile manner toward Palestinians?

Resource:

Maps: 
https://israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000637

If Americans knew: 
https://ifamericaknew.org/

https://www.openbible.info/topics/israel_and_palestine

Bible verses to consider:

Leviticus 19:33-34

"When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.  You shall treat the trainer who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Genesis 12:1-3

Now the Lord said to Abraham, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Deuteronomy 1:8

See, I have set the land before you.  Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your Fathers, to Abraham, to Issac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them."

Ezekiel 36:24

I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land.

Watch the full presentation and group discussion by clicking the link below: 

Apologies, parts of the audio are hard to hear because participants did not have the microphone. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/QDJ4NETkHtAYjKKJ7

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"5 minutes with George"

For the sake of time, George Lai shared Leviticus as our opening prayer:

Leviticus 19:33-35

"When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.  The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.  Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  I am the Lord your God."

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The Sunday Gathering

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