I went to the Steve Bell concert last night. On the way to the concert I listened to CBC radio 1, and there was a "Palestinian" guy talking about Arafat. He talked about the plight of the Palestinian people, his solution was that Israel needs to end their military occupation. I was so mad. I just want people to give Israel a break for once. I hate hearing people constantly badmouth us. Anyway, I got to the concert, and after a few songs Steve started talking about his recent trip to the 'West Bank' of Israel. Oh no, I thought, here comes some propaganda. But although he described the pain he feels for the Palestinian people, because they're so poor and have no future, he didn't say a single word against Israel. Later on in the concert he mentioned the trip again. He said that because of what he saw in the West Bank, and other happenings in his life, he's in a position of just trusting God. He encouraged everyone to love others and be kind, because there's so little love in the world. And I realized something amazing. Both the Palestinian Arabs and the Israelis are hurting. In Sudan and Uganda people are hurting. And right here in Saskatoon people are hurting, lost, and lonely. Neither the Palestinians, nor the Israelis are the offenders in their situation. It's really the fault of the powers behind the scenes. And there's not much I can do to help any of them. But I can love everyone here in Saskatoon, and, God willing, in Eretz Israel when I'm there next.

Similarly this week I realized that politics is utterly stupid. The quest for pride and power makes the world a very painful place. I heard someone on the news comment about the rise of the "Religious Right" in America, and millions of people would think that's good, and millions of people that it's bad, but I for one simply don't care. I would probably be classified in that "Religious Right" (I was born and raised in Evangelical churches and the Reform Party of Canada), but, truth be known, I don't care if 'we' have political power or not. It's OK that George Bush is president, and it would have been OK if John Kerry became president. It doesn't matter who's president. What really matters is that Yahweh is in His heaven, and all's well with the world.

Trust Yahweh. Be strong!