To all my fellow Christians based here in the Philippines. The Lord is blessing the nation once again as Planetshakers will return with a new worship event scheduled for February 23, 2024 at SM Seaside Cebu Concert Grounds in the island of Cebu. As of this writing, those of you who seek the Lord’s blessing through Planetshakers should start booking tickets online via SM Tickets and that means you should have your respective SM Tickets online accounts logged-in and credit cards prepared. If you live outside of Cebu province, then you will have to travel there by airplane and find a place to stay.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the official description of the Planetshakers Cebu worship event. Some parts in boldface…
Planetshakers is so excited to visit CEBU in (February) 2024!
It has always been our desire and our pursuit to run after God with the intent of seeing His glory. Just as Moses would not go anywhere unless God’s presence accompanied him we have that same heart’s cry, and this year, people from all over Asia will be coming together with that same common passion.
Show me Your Glory.
We cannot wait to encounter Him and sit back in wonder at all the incredible things that will take place. It’s going to be awe-inspiring!
According to SM Tickets’ website, the VIP ticket is priced at P2,680 each followed by Platinum at P1,300 each, Gold at P656 each, and Silver at P356 each. For your reference, posted below is the worship event’s venue plan. To buy tickets, click https://smtickets.com/Planetshakers2024
Pay close attention to the details.
In my experience, I can say I was very blessed by the Lord when I attended Planetshakers’ September 2022 event in Pasay City. I can also share with you that Planetshakers’ church co-founder and pastor Sam Evans is a true prayer powerhouse as she leads the prayer straight from her heart (filled with the Holy Spirit) and clearly leads people to come to Lord Jesus and have unwavering faith in Him. If you have time and the money to go to Cebu for Planetshakers, the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus and God the Heavenly Father, then I encourage you do so. Attending the February 2024 worship event is not merely attending for great worship music alone…it is fellowship with the Lord. Seek the Lord through Planetshakers’ leading of worship.
If you want to discover and learn more about Planetshakers, I encourage you to click here (Facebook page), here (Instagram), here (Twitter) and here (YouTube). To know more about Planetshakers itself, visit https://www.planetshakers.com/
In ending this post, posted below are recent music videos of Planetshakers from their YouTube channel.
This past November in the City of Muntinlupa, a fire broke out in Barangay Alabang which affected ten households. Local firefighters were able to put out the fire and subsequently an evacuation center was set up for affected families and other victims.
New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM), the compassion arm of New Life Philippines located inside Alabang Hills Village, sent a team to the said evacuation center to support the victims in more ways than one. NLCOM is dedicated to responding to the immediate needs of communities that got hit by disasters and the organization has a track record for all to see.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the December 6, 2023 social media post of NLCOM. Some parts in boldface…
We extended a helping hand to the resilient families impacted by the fire that razed Barangay Alabang, Muntinlupa, and affected ten households.
NLCOM visited the evacuation center on November 11, delivering not just relief bags for the 25 affected families, but also a comforting meal of lunch and heartwarming ginatasang mais. As always, we stand strong in support and compassion to communities in need.
NLCOM personnel with bags of relief goods for Barangay Alabang fire victims (photo source – NLCOM Facebook page)
NLCOM serving food to the victims. (photo source – NLCOM Facebook page)
For the newcomers reading this, I previously blogged about NLCOM back in 2020 which you can read by clicking here. As mentioned earlier, NLCOM has a history of providing relief to disaster victims and helping them rebuild their lives and communities as they recover.
As their website states, the organization is committed to organizing activities from disaster preparedness trainings, relief goods distribution, mobile kitchen feeding operations, Psychological First Aid to kids and adults traumatized by a disaster, and rebuilding of damaged houses. You can learn more by watching NLCOM’s official YouTube video below…
If you have decided to help potential disaster victims through NLCOM, be aware that New Life’s compassion arm is accepting donations. You may send your monetary donations to:
For more information about NLCOM, visit https://nlcom.org.ph/ or visit their office at 2 Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contact them at landline 88091542 extension 426.
In ending post, let me share with you a few holy scriptures that should remind you that God is our source, our provider and the blessedness of giving is absolutely true.
And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].
Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (AMPC)
Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.
Proverbs 11:25 (TPT)
He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is directly connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. The October 7, 2023 attack on Israel committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is the main cause of the state of war. No matter what the terrorists and their Leftist siblings do, nothing will stop me from supporting the Jewish state as its military campaign against Hamas continues. The Palestinian terrorists are guilty of infiltration, torture, kidnapping, murdering and damages of property in Israel.
Unsurprisingly, there were also people of different nationalities in Israel who got negatively affected by Hamas. There were already a few of my fellow Filipinos there who lost their lives and the Philippine embassy has been working hard to ensure the safety of other Filipinos present.
Here is a bit of good news – Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss confirmed that Filipinos present in Israel are being taken care of, according to a GMA Network news report (which referred to an ANC interview).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
Amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas militants, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said Monday that Filipinos in Israel are being taken care of like family members of its citizens.
Fluss said that most of the 30,000 Filipinos in Israel “feel that they are safe” and that they wanted to stay in the Middle East country despite the fatal attacks by Hamas in Israel and vice versa.
“The Filipinos in Israel are part of us. They live with our own people… They are part of our families, they are staying in our homes. When we have to go into a sheltered room or into a bomb shelter or safety room, they come with us,” the ambassador said in an ANC interview.
“You are now joining the Israeli family which is a big family, unfortunately, of the victims of terror. And we are taking care of you as one of our big family in all different kinds of ways,” he added.
Four Filipinos were confirmed dead due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The latest casualty was an Ilongga caregiver who was one of the three Filipinos earlier reported missing.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the Philippines stands with Israel following the deadly attacks by Hamas.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be without hestitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
In relation to the news report about the state of Filipinos in Israel, we here in the Philippines should thank and bless the Israelis in return for taking care of them as the war goes on.
We live in a very divided world. Around the world, Leftist forces have been supporting evil forces like the current regime of Iran which is known for supplying and arming the Palestinian terrorists and other terrorist groups around the Middle East. Leftist forces have been supporting the Palestinian Authority and other enemies of Israel. The Leftists and terrorists always go together and their anti-Semitism is clearly obvious. Hamas is purely evil and they are being protected by not only their fellow terrorists but also by mainstream news media outlets who are linked with Leftist forces and people who hate Israel and the Jewish people. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority and other pro-Palestine groups will do anything to mislead people and undermine Israel’s war campaigns against the terrorist group Hamas.
With all that said, it is a must we pray to the Lord God in support of Israel and believe that He will guide the Israeli forces to another victory which means finishing off Hamas. Read Joshua 11:1-20 in the Holy Bible for relevance and truth.
It has been days since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a large-scale attack against Israel using tactics of infiltration, firing of multiple rockets, violating the Israel-Gaza border, kidnapping and murdering. Israel and the rest of the world were shocked by the sudden attacks and the Israeli authorities under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership have since been working hard to fight back against the terrorists, reclaim locations and rescue the hostages. The number of casualties, deaths and damaged places are rising as I write this.
Very clearly, Iran and the Palestinian terrorists formed an axis of evil that Leftists around the world are supporting. Together, the wicked forces formed an anti-Semitic group of nations that are working to destroy Israel.
Very clearly, this is no longer about Palestinians being the so-called victims of the Jewish state. The Palestinian terrorists are driven by hate and were brainwashed to destroy Israel which happens to be the most significant Jewish nation in the whole world. Hamas and its evil army have Democrats in America as supporters and it so happens that the mentally deteriorating Joe Biden is occupying the Office of the US President. The Communist Biden administration has a pretentious diplomatic relationship with Israel and to this day the Democrats still love terrorists.
Considering all the evil forces of this world and their attempts to destroy the Jewish state, I can declare out loud that my love for Israel and Jewish people remains rock solid. My love for Israel and its people is directly connected with my unwavering faith in Lord Jesus and the Word of God! That being said, I am confident that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government of Israel will defeat Hamas, bring Gaza down a certain degree, and rescue any remaining hostages. It is a matter of time before Israel’s next victory over the Palestinian terrorists happen.
Trust in the Lord because Israel is part of His plan! I stand with Israel knowing God is faithful and eventually Lord Jesus will return someday to impact the world with immense holiness!
In line with what I just stated above, I urge you all reading this to pray for the peace of Jerusalem! Be led by the Holy Spirit with the following translations of Psalm 122:6-9 below…
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
Psalm 122:6-9 (NKJV)
Pray for Jerusalem’s peace!
Prosperity to all you Jerusalem-lovers!
Friendly insiders, get along!
Hostile outsiders, keep your distance!
For the sake of my family and friends,
I say it again: live in peace!
For the sake of the house of our God, God,
I’ll do my very best for you.
Psalm 122:6-9 (MSG)
Watch this CBN YouTube video about praying for the peace of Jerusalem…
As mentioned earlier, the next victory of Israel is just waiting to happen. It happened before and it will happen again. God also has His timing and He knows how faithful the Israelites are to Him in times of war. Hamas really will be crushed in due time. Learn from the scripture below…
And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard these things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, and to the kings who were from the north, in the mountains, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, to the Canaanites in the east and in the west, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. And when all these kings had met together, they came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
But the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” So Joshua and all the people of war with him came against them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and they attacked them. And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who defeated them and chased them to Greater Sidon, to the Brook Misrephoth, and to the Valley of Mizpah eastward; they attacked them until they left none of them remaining. So Joshua did to them as the Lord had told him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
Joshua turned back at that time and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword; for Hazor was formerly the head of all those kingdoms. And they struck all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was none left breathing. Then he burned Hazor with fire.
So all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took and struck with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded. But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only, which Joshua burned. And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the children of Israel took as booty for themselves; but they struck every man with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they left none breathing. As the Lord had commanded Moses His servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the Lord had commanded Moses.
Thus Joshua took all this land: the mountain country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, and the Jordan plain—the mountains of Israel and its lowlands, from Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings, and struck them down and killed them. Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. All the others they took in battle. For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Joshua 11:1-20 (NKJV)
Victory of Israel over Hamas is inevitable and it does not matter that pro-terrorist/pro-Palestine people around the world will react violently and spread their lies through Leftist mainstream news media outlets. What really matters are faith in the Lord, faith in His Word and His plan for the world with Israel as the beacon (model nation for all).
I should remind you all that the Palestinians have no stake in the land of Israel at all! God established His covenant with Abraham whose rightful heir has always been Isaac (the father of Jacob who was later renamed Israel). I understand that the anti-Semitic, the woke, the political correctness extremists, the LGBTQ, the Leftists, the atheists, the secularists, the idolaters and other people still under wicked influences will bash me for telling the truth and preaching His Word but I will never be stopped! Learn from the scriptures below.
God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.
I’ll make you a great nation
and bless you.
I’ll make you famous;
you’ll be a blessing.
I’ll bless those who bless you;
those who curse you I’ll curse.
All the families of the Earth
will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (MSG)
And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
Genesis 35:10-12 (NKJV)
Finally, I know the truth that vengeance belongs to the Lord. That being said, God will have His vengeance against the enemies of Israel and that means grave punishment for Hamas and all those who supported the terrorists.
Beloved, don’t be obsessed with taking revenge, but leave that to God’s righteous justice. For the Scriptures say: “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” says the Lord.
Romans 12:19 (TPT)
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense;
Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’
Deuteronomy 32:35 (NKJV)
As written in the Holy Bible, Israel is strongly connected with the Lord. God is faithful. He is in control of His Kingdom and He will intervene on behalf of Israel in this very divided and destructive world we live in. Israel will emerge victorious over Hamas and that should send a strong message to Iran’s evil regime and the Democrats of America that God and Israel are not to be messed with.
I stand with Israel! I encourage you all to stand united with Israel, learn to love and bless the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
The Manila Bulletin recently published a news article about the record-breaking number of Filipinos who visited Israel this year citing the Ministry of Tourism’s data. To be clear, more than 19,000 travelers from the Philippines made it to Israel this year and I myself am one of them! I really am thankful to the Lord for the pilgrimage tour to Israel with my local church.
On my blog, I posted several Israel 2023 feature articles that include the Dead Sea, Nazareth Village, the Pool of Siloam, as well as nice commercial joints (click here, here, here and here) that were all tourist-friendly. I have yet to write about the Western Wall, the Temple Mount and other significant sites in the Holy Land.
Going back to the topic of this post, to put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Israel Ministry of Tourism vowed to make progress on issues of awareness and connectivity as it welcomed the “record-breaking” number of Filipinos traveling to the Holy Land this year.
Sammy Yahia, the director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism office in the Philippines, said this after the number of Filipino travelers broke its “all-time high” record, with 19,300 Filipino tourists traveling to Israel during the first half of 2023.
Data from the ministry showed that the figure was a “whopping growth” of 40 percent from the number of Filipino travelers in Israel during the same period in 2019.
In a statement, Yahia said the year 2023 has been outstanding so far for Israeli tourism, as he noted that the Philippines has always been an important market to them.
“2023 has been outstanding and by far the best year for Israel tourism in the Philippines,” he said.
“It has been an important market for us, and we see huge potential in the Philippine market,” he added.
With this, the tourism official vowed that the Israel Ministry of Tourism in the Philippines “will continue to make progress on the issues of awareness and connectivity.”
Filipinos can enjoy visa-free travel to Israel for up to 59 days, while Israelis can enjoy visa-free travel to the Philippines for up to 59 days.
Israel has been attracting tourists as it is known as the Holy Land. For Christians, Israel is where they celebrate their faith by visiting the birthplace of Jesus Christ, walking where He preached, sitting, and just watching modern-day scenes roll out along the sites mentioned in the Holy Bible.
Very clearly, the Lord blessed both Israel and the Philippines in multiple ways that go beyond tourism statistics. This reminds me about how grateful I am to the Lord for sending me to Israel with my local church’s pilgrimage tour group hosted by a great and very caring Israeli partner. I brought the Holy Bible with me many times to the Holy Land sites.
For the newcomers reading this, you will get the most out of visiting Israel when you are faithful to the Lord and when you seek His presence at the Holy Land. Always read Matthew 6:33 in the Holy Bible and read the many references about Israel in both the Old and New Testaments. That being said, read the holy scriptures about our Lord and Savior Jesus who was in such places like Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Temple Mount and more.
On the aspect of travel and touring, there is so much to enjoy when it comes to shopping, dining and discovering new things and people there in Israel. I should also state that Jerusalem is the holiest city in the whole world and you will realize that when you make it there. Whatever blessings you received from God during your visit in Israel, always thank Him and honor Him.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed by all. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Raiders of the Lost Ark videos
If you are feeling nostalgic about the Indiana Jones franchise and want to revisit the very first movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, then you are not alone. The new movie Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (made by the woke Disney company and handled by the unpopular Kathleen Kennedy with James Mangold as director) turned off a lot of long-time fans and this incidentally created renewed interest about the very first movie from 1981. For the newcomers reading this, Indiana Jones is the joint creation of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and they eventually collaborated together in making four Indy movies from 1981 to 2008. To learn more about Raiders of the Lost Ark and how the movie came to be, watch the videos below…
#2 Starfield is approaching and you can prepare yourselves for it
Starfield, the epic sci-fi role-playing game (RPG) from Bethesda (Skyrim, Fallout 4), is coming out on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass with an official release date of September 6, 2023. For those of you who missed out on the recent Xbox Games Showcase, you can still catch up and learn more about the Xbox-exclusive Starfield by watching the videos below…
#3 Planetshakers’ Worthy is the Lamb music video
Recently, Planetshakers released online the music video of their worship song Worthy is the Lamb (note: Words by Noah Walker and Andy Harrison, Music by Joth Hunt). The said song is indeed holy, beautiful and will help you move closer to the Lord. Just take note that this Planetshakers worship song is not to be confused with Hillsong Worship’s song with the same title. Watch the official Planetshakers music video of Worthy is the Lamb and the story video below…
#4 Get ready for Forza Motorsport (2023) this October
It took Team Xbox and Turn 10 a long time but they finally revealed that their much-anticipated Forza Motorsport (2023) will be released on October 10, 2023 only on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. In relation to the announced release date, Turn 10 released a new trailer as well as an in-depth examination of the game. Watch the following videos of Forza Motorsport (2023) below…
#5 A look back at Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures
For those of you who are still feeling nostalgic or still craving for more Indiana Jones-related content, be aware that way back in the mid-1990s, there was an official video game of the cinematic icon – Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures. While I myself played the Super Star Wars games on the Super NES back in those days, I never got to play Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures which itself was an official adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and made with side-scrolling adventuring in mind with a few Mode 7 sections set up to prevent the game from being too repetitive. Check out the following videos below…
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my personal experiences and observations during the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined. Additional information from the official websites of a mentioned businesses is also used. This is not a sponsored article. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, readers and fellow followers of the Lord! This is the 7th chapter of my ongoing series of articles about the holy nation of Israel with recollections about the experiences and discoveries I had during the pilgrimage tour I joined with my local church (hosted by its strategic partner Behold Israel). To see my previous Israel tour articles, click here, here, here, here, here and here.
In this latest edition of my Israel 2023 series, I share with you my observations and captured images about my time at the Dead Sea area of Ein Bokek which has a huge beach and several stores, and hotels/resorts that cater to tourists. Our tour group arrived at a hotel near Ein Bokek Beach on an afternoon and we had a little over twelve hours staying time in the area.
To be very clear, there were no opportunities for me to try floating on the Dead Sea beach nearby due to the time of our arrival at the hotel and the schedule of our pilgrimage tour. After getting settled in my nice hotel bedroom, I managed to spend time at Ein Bokek Beach where I took pictures, observed the place and, for the first time ever, I touched the Dead Sea water and washed my hands before going to the nearby stores. Early the next morning, as I wanted to maximize my opportunities of discovery and learning, I revisited Ein Bokek Beach. For your reference, posted below is my YouTube video that I recorded on the morning and it should give you a glimpse of the area.
Knowing the Dead Sea
To understand the Dead Sea, it is massive body (note: a very large lake) of very salty water currently shared between Israel and Jordan. It is one of the four saltiest water bodies in the world and also the world’s lowest elevation on land estimated at around 430 meters below sea level. The Dead Sea has its very own distinct eco-system and vast sources of minerals which made it a major attraction of visitors for centuries. Apart from being a major travel destination, the Dead Sea is surrounded by places where major biblical events happened and places that have tremendous historical backgrounds.
Some interesting facts about the Dead Sea: The Dead Sea’s salinity level is over 34% and it does not pour out which is one factor why its salinity is high. The arid desert climate causes evaporation which raises the salinity. With the high salinity, no fish could exist in the Dead Sea and certainly no life could evolve in it although certain forms of bacteria and fungus could survive.
Apart from the high salinity, the water of the Dead Sea contains 26 beneficial minerals. The mineral content of both the air and the water of the area is very notable for therapeutic qualities. Even during the time of King Herod (37 to 4 BC) the Dead Sea area became a health resort. As such, the Dead Sea within Israel has many beaches where visitors can spend time not only for enjoyment but also to take advantage of the medicinal and therapeutic benefits by carefully touching the Dead Sea water and rubbing their bodies with black mud sources from the banks. With the high salinity, it is best to avoid having Dead Sea water touch your eyes, touch open wounds and touch newly shaved skin as they will cause pain and irritation. Swallowing Dead Sea water is strongly prohibited as it will negatively affect your body’s internal systems. That being said, anyone who plans to spend time at any Dead Sea beach and touch the water by means of floating – not swimming nor diving – should practice caution.
This is what Ein Bokek and the Dead Sea look like early in the morning as the sun rises.
During ancient times, there were cities located close to the Dead Sea – Zoar, Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim. Over the ages, the Dead Sea water receded and continues to do so gradually. While the Dead Sea today is physically connected with the Jordan River which itself is connected with the Sea of Galilee (AKA Lake Tiberias), its major sources of water since the 1960s are the sulfur springs and waste water along with rare drizzles and flash floods.
As little amounts of water flow in and evaporation under the harsh desert sun continue to happen, there is concern that the Dead Sea could dry up decades from now. With the decline of the Dead Sea’s water level, sinkholes have appeared in some locations which destroyed roads and even resorts.
As to how it got referred to as the Dead Sea, the very salty water makes it impossible for fish and plants to exist in it.
My time at Ein Bokek
Our pilgrimage tour group was booked at the Daniel Dead Sea Hotel in Ein Bokek and conveniently enough, it was located just a short walking distance away from the beach. The hotel room I stayed at was pretty neat and nicely equipped, its bathroom had liquid soap and shampoo with Dead Sea minerals mixed in, and I had a great view of the local area and the Dead Sea. I should state that Daniel Dead Sea Hotel also has a really nice dining area and you can see more of their facilities at https://deadsea.com/explore/where-to-stay/hotels/daniel-dead-sea-hotel/
The view from my Daniel Dead Sea Hotel window showing Ein Bokek beach, roads and other establishments during the day.
This is what the Ein Bokek area looks like at night.
Going back to what I mentioned earlier, the first thing I did after checking in was visiting the Ein Bokek beach and observing around knowing our time with the Dead Sea was limited. Walking further into the beach, I noticed crystal particles of salt on the sand. After doing a last minute check on my hands, I placed my left hand into the Dead Sea water first which you can see in the picture below.
My first time ever to touch the Dead Sea water.
After taking the photo with my smartphone, I put the device down and proceeded to wash both my hands with the very salty beach water and also used some sand and salt crystals on them. Immediately there was this rough and tingling feeling on my two hands but it was not really a problem at all. As soon as I woke up the next morning, I noticed my hands felt smoother. Most likely, the minerals of the Dead Sea water rejuvenated my hands.
Going back to the afternoon I washed my hands with Dead Sea water, I proceeded to the nearest store – the Hordus Shopping Center. Clearly established to cater to visitors as well as consumers looking Dead Sea-related products, I saw a wide section filled with soap bars and cosmetic products that had Dead Sea minerals mixed in which delighted me as our time in the area was limited and I was already looking for unique products to buy and take home. After a careful look at the products offered, I proceeded to buy some bars of Dead Sea Spa-branded soap for personal use and as gifts to my dearest friends. Within Hordus Shopping Center was a spot where customers can buy pizza, sandwiches, coffee and other food or beverages. Since dinner time was arriving and I knew that a buffet for dinner at the hotel was inevitable, it made no sense for me to order food or drinks.
This is what Ein Bokek beach and the Dead Sea looked like as the sun was setting.
This is the Ein Bokek beach parking area. On the background are hotels and other business joints.
This is the Hordus Shopping Center at the Ein Bokek beach area. Lots of nice products, food and drinks inside await visitors.
Another look at the beach on the day we arrived.
Further exploring, I proceeded to another store some meters away from our hotel which offered items similar to what I found at Hordus Shopping Center.
Later that evening at the hotel, I proceeded to the lower level where the huge dining hall and buffet were located at. Upon arriving, I was astounded to see many people around, mostly Jewish people. As it was a Friday evening, it was the night before Shabbat (Shabbat refers to the seventh day of the week for the Jews which is Saturday) and I noticed there were Jewish families and groups of Jewish people celebrating and spending quality time together. There was this atmosphere of happiness and positivity around. This was the first time I ever witnessed the Jewish celebration of the night before Shabbat and I also witnessed how Jewish family members interacted with each other passionately and their dedication to the Heavenly Father. It was a great learning experience for me personally and I thank God for it. In fact, this reminds me of what the Lord God declared long ago in the following holy scriptures below…
GOD told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you. I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (MSG)
And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”
Genesis 35:10-12 (NKJV)
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:5-6 (NKJV)
Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’
Exodus 6:6-8 (NKJV)
After getting my meal from the buffet, I finally joined our tour group at a long table that was reserved for us. Right behind me was another long table filled with Jewish guests. As I enjoyed my dinner, I also enjoyed festive atmosphere around us. This was truly a great way to have an evening in the Dead Sea area.
The dinner buffet at Daniel Dead Sea Hotel.
The next morning, I woke up early to read the Holy Bible, prayed to the Lord and revisited the beach nearby before brealfast. It was a cold morning (note: this was February 2023) that was also peaceful. I also witnessed the rise of the sun in the distance which you can see among the images posted below…
The sun rising in the far distance with the light slowly growing over the Dead Sea. I took this on Saturday early morning.
There were a lot of salt crystals at the Dead Sea beach at Ein Bokek.
A shot I took at the beach with people, the Dead Sea water, facilities and the hotels captured together.
Another morning shot I took while walking on the Ein Bokek path.
After spending some time with my tour group companions at the beach, I returned to the hotel for breakfast and proceeded to get myself ready for checking out. Upon checking out at the hotel lobby, I greeted the Jewish man behind the counter “Shabbat Shalom.” By bus, our pilgrimage tour group proceeded to the Qumran site as well as Masada and Ein Gedi. The time at Ein Bokek was not very long but I still am thankful to the Lord for the enjoyment and enlightenment I had there.
The biblical significance of the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea itself has presence in the Holy Bible. Depending on the type of bible translations, the Dead Sea is also referred to as the Salt Sea or the Sea of Salt, the eastern sea and at times by ancient names. Posted below are biblical references for your enlightenment…
All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
Genesis 14:3 (NKJV)
And it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern [Dead] Sea and half of them to the western [Mediterranean] Sea; in summer and in winter shall it be.
Zechariah 14:8 (AMPC)
Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Then he said to me, These waters pour out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah (the Jordan Valley) and on into the Dead Sea. And when they shall enter into the sea [the sea of putrid waters], the waters shall be healed and made fresh.
And wherever the double river shall go, every living creature which swarms shall live. And there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters go there that [the waters of the sea] may be healed and made fresh; and everything shall live wherever the river goes.
The fishermen shall stand on [the banks of the Dead Sea]; from En-gedi even to En-eglaim shall be a place to spread nets; their fish shall be of very many kinds, as the fish of the Great or Mediterranean Sea.
Ezekiel 47:7-10 (AMPC)
As mentioned earlier, there were ancient cities located within the Dead Sea area. Among them are the two most notable for the big events that happened – Soddom and Gommorah. That being said, the destruction of the two mentioned cities happened in close proximity to the Dead Sea and this further makes the area a significant place for today’s pilgrims and explorers to visit and organize trips to discover the places where the destruction happened. To read about the destruction of Soddom and Gommorah, read Genesis 19:1-38 in the Holy Bible.
Conclusion
This is me at Ein Bokek beach with the Dead Sea right behind me in the morning.
I thank the Lord for our stay at Ein Bokek where our tour group got to visit the Dead Sea itself. In my experience, I realized the biblical significance of the famous body of salty and mineral-rich water. As mentioned earlier, having dinner during the night before Shabbat was not just a major learning experience, it was also God’s way of helping me realize the Jewish ways of honoring Him and being families under His watch, love and care. I truly believe in standing united with Israel, loving and blessing the Jewish people and praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
Finally, I encourage you who are about to visit the Holy Land to verify with your tour group leader the inclusion of the Dead Sea in the itinerary of your group tour. Be aware that within the Dead Sea area are Qumran and Masada. Qumran is the very location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found decades ago while Masada is where the ancient fortress is located at. Also within the area is Ein Gedi, the oasis in Israel where King David himself as a young man stayed at while keeping his distance away from Saul the King.
This week has been very significant for Israel-Philippines relations. Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohenarrived here on an official visit and he had a high-level meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in Malacañang Palace which resulted in very tremendous agreements that include direct flights between Israel and the Philippines, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., with Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. (photo source: Israel in the Philippines Facebook page)
The Philippines and Israel are pushing for the direct flights between the two countries and elevating their partnership in agriculture and water sectors, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
The plan to enhance cooperation between Manila and Tel Aviv was discussed when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Monday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
Cohen told Marcos that establishing direct flights between the Philippines and Israel would boost the two nations’ tourism and economic ties.
“There’s another thing that we, both of us, took for an action item. [It] is to have a direct flight… your external sea between Israel and the Philippines,” Cohen, as quoted by the PCO, said during the meeting, referring to his earlier meeting with Filipino officials.
“And I think that we agree that both ministries will work together to have the direct flight. And this is also to bring more business people to come to invest and reach the place between us. So this is also another important action item that we will do.”
The Philippine Airlines was supposed to launch its direct flights to Tel Aviv in 2022, but the plan has been stalled because of geopolitical concerns.
The Philippines has become one of the top tourist destinations for the Israelis in the last few years, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said in November 2022.
Cohen also told Marcos about Israel’s planned closer cooperation with the Philippines to ensure food security, suggesting that the two nations may open an agricultural hub.
“I think that we can work together on the segment of agriculture. I just let you know that our land, 60 percent of our land is desert. But although 60 percent of our land is desert, we were able to provide all our water needs,” Cohen said.
“And I think that we can work together and let’s say that less import, more export for the Philippines. And I think that we can work together,” he added.
Marcos said he was glad that Cohen raised Israel’s plan, as he expressed admiration for its advancement in agriculture.
He added that agricultural development is “very important” for the Philippines,
“Because when we look at the economy as hard to just test, we said how do we fix the economy. It always comes down to agriculture first, how to fix every policy, then everything else would be great. So that’s the position that we find ourselves in,” he said. “So, the offers that you make for assistance and partnership in those two areas are very, very welcome.”
Cohen said the Philippines and Israel can also collaborate on water management, noting Tel Aviv’s vast experience in this sector.
He said Israeli experts may visit the Philippines to provide advice, noting that Israel has been reusing a large portion of its water resources because of water scarcity and it can share its experience in water management with the Philippines.
Marcos said the Philippines is looking at Israel and Singapore for best practices that the country can imitate.
The establishment of direct Israel-Philippines flights will enable more Filipinos to visit the Holy Land while potential more Israelis will visit more conveniently and boost not only Philippine tourism but also engage in business and investments. For those of you who want to visit Israel to deepen your faith in the Lord, read my Israel 2023 feature articles by clicking here, here, here, here, here and here.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed by all. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
Those who seek to strengthen their faith in the Lord and immerse themselves deeper with His Word are welcome to attend the New Life Conference 2023 which will be held simultaneously in two venues in Alabang, Muntinlupa City from August 22 to 25 (Tuesday to Friday). Pastors, leaders and members of other churches or ministries are welcome to join in by registering online.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the New Life Conference 2023 page. Some parts in boldface…
This year, for the first time ever, Pastors Conference, Worship and Creative Conference and Disrupt (formerly Life Conference) will be happening simultaneously as one big event..
The main theme of the conference will focus on mobilizing the church to take its place, be a beacon of hope and shine its light during the dark and confusing times. New Life Conference 2023: The Church for this Hour, aims to encourage, equip and empower the believer to answer the call of God through 3 streams:
And because we understand that ministry is not one-size-fits-all, attendees can pick and choose their daily sessions from each of the streams—making the conference a unique experience for everyone, tailored to fit their needs.
The place of worship inside New Life Main (Alabang Hills Village).
The Filinvest Tent in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa. There are several restaurants, food/beverage joints, stores and bank ATMs within walking distance from this venue.
The three streams specifically are Pastors & Leaders, Worship & Creative and Disrupt. Each day from August 22 to 25 (Tuesday to Friday) there will be varied church activities that will be held simultaneously at New Life Philippines’ main church inside Alabang Hills Village and at the Filinvest Tent located within Filinvest City in the Alabang area.
The New Life Conference 2023 will officially kick-off with an opening rally at the Filinvest Tent at 10AM of August 22. At 2PM of the afternoon of that same day, the Disrupt Streams will take place inside Filinvest Tent while the Pastors & Leaders Streams will be inside New Life Main. At 6PM, the Disrupt Night Rally will start inside Filinvest Tent while the NL CON Night Rally will happen inside New Life Main. To see even more activities with their respective time slots and venues per day, click https://newlife.ph/nlcon/
For each day from August 22 to 25, there will be lunch breaks and dinner breaks that last 2 hours each so that conference participants can rest and feed themselves. For those who will be attending activities at Filinvest Tent, be aware that there are lots of stores, food/beverage vendors and restaurants that are within walking distance. Commercenter Mall is a short walk away from the Filinvest Tent and inside are restaurants such as Akrotiri, Sigekiya Ramen and The Black Pig to name a few. Even closer to the Filinvest Tent are branches of McDonald’s and Jollibee, as well as the area of South Supermarket which has some restaurants on the ground floor. For those who will be inside New Life Main, there is a cafeteria within.
Whether you are a pastor/leader/member of New Life Philippines or of a different church or ministry, be encouraged to deepen your faith in the Lord and immerse yourselves deeper with the Word of God by attending the New Life Conference 2023 this coming August. People of faith who submitted themselves to Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father are always meant to be together and this conference is a golden opportunity for worship and solidifying faith in the Lord even more. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,
Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMPC)
“The Son of Man has come to give life to all who are lost. Think of it this way: If a man owns a hundred sheep and one lamb wanders away and is lost, won’t he leave the ninety-nine grazing the hillside and thoroughly search for the one lost lamb? And if he finds his lost lamb, he rejoices over it, more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. Now you should understand that it is never the desire of your heavenly Father that a single one of these little ones should be lost.”
Matthew 18:11-14 (TPT)
Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood.
If you have fully decided to get registered for New Life Conference 2023, click https://newlife.ph/nlcon/register-demo/ (note: have your credit cards prepared to ensure completion of registration). You can also register by scanning the QR code below…
Get registered by scanning the QR code on the above social media post of New Life Philippines.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! If you are into films about faith and Lord Jesus told through an American perspective, then you should check out Jesus Revolution on Blu-ray disc format which has been available in the market since April 25, 2023. It also emerged as a top-selling Blu-ray disc release and you can order it online right now!
Jesus Revolution Blu-ray cover.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the description of Jesus Revolution as well as its official trailer…
In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a JESUS REVOLUTION.
Posted below are the technical details about Jesus Revolution Blu-ray disc as sourced from the Blu-ray.com page of the movie…
Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish
Discs – Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD), DVD copy
Digital, Digital HD, Digital copy included
Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing
Playback – 2K Blu-ray: Region A
While I have not seen Jesus Revolution in the local cinemas, I myself am interested in buying the Blu-ray disc soon. I am a person with unbreakable faith in Jesus who is truly the Lord and Savior! More on the what the movie has to offer, its release is timely as America has been so divided as many people moved away from the Lord to embrace evil elements such as critical race theory, homosexuality, LGBTQ culture, transgender concepts, abortion, anti-police movements, anti-Semitism, terrorism, illegal immigration, witchcraft, Communist/socialist/Marxist ideologies, negative elements affecting churches, vandalism of places of worship, Satanic values inserted through entertainment media, and a whole lot more. Watch the related CBN News videos below…
By today’s standards, the social unrest America had during the Vietnam War era looks smaller compared to what has been going on over the past few years. People are getting divided over race, gender, social class and a whole lot more. As such, Jesus Revolution has something that viewers can reflect about.
When it comes to restoring people and societies from the damage caused by evil forces, only the Lord can provide restoration and healing. That being said, you must praise the Lord and have unwavering faith in Him no matter what happens. Being a worldly person means living with unholy elements. A lot of people may not realize it but it is clear they need Jesus in their lives and in their societies! Learn from the holy scriptures below…
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NASB)
Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”
John 8:12 (MSG)
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Author Carlo Carrasco 