From Israel To Italy

La Turca, modern day ,ancient italian toilet

Originally uploaded by Rob and Adele.

This is the one thing that amazes visitors to Italy. “What do we do? Do we stand. Do we sit .Do we face forward or do we face backwards?” Like so many things in Italy, from Government offices to shops, you are left guessing. The same with the taps when you finish and want to wash your hands. In a normal modern country, there is normally one way. You turn the tap. Not in Italy. You have to guess. Some you turn the tap, others you press a foot pedal, or a rubber hump on the floor. Then there are those that have a photoelectric cell, but where ? Above the tap ? Under the tap ? And so on .
Oh yes, we still cannot get used to the public bathroom where you have the ladies’ and gents’ toilet sharing the same hand washing area. Welcome to Italy, the land of Romance and Mystery.

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Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is
one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy
God with all thine heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

These reflections may seem out of date already as John Paul II has been dead and buried 4 months now. However, as I have only recently started blogging, I appreciate the opportunity to share my views to a wider audience.

Considering the fact that I am Italian, born-again Christian and living in Italy, I have an advantage in insight to what goes on here.
Beppe Severgnini in his book “La Testa degli Italiani (the Italian Mind) - Are you ready for the Italian jungle? ” makes some interesting comments towards the end of the book when describing Italians and religion.

“Let’s put it this way: why huge crowds besieged Saint Peter’s- first to say goodbye to John Paul II, then to welcome Benedict XVI- and the Italian churches are emptying? Enthusiasm for the Pope contrasts with the difficulties experienced by many parishes, that on Sundays resemble the Confraternity of the Gray Hairs: the youngest is 40 years old and is often there to accompany the daughter to the children’s mass. The torrid participation seen in Rome seems distant to the tepid habits of many catholics : nine out of ten Italians declare themselves believers, but the weekly attendance to the mass is declining : one out of three in 1985, one out of four today.”

Severgnini goes on and says:

“Those interested may not respond. Or they could say: one can love the Pope and not go to church. Objection: John Paul II had a “rock star quality “as they say in America, but he did not compromise on certain things. Sunday Mass for him was not an optional but an obligation.”

This is the crux of the matter. Italians especially, and I suspect, many catholics worldwide were enraptured or enamored with a person rather that with the Lord. As with Israel of old who clamoured for a visible king they want now a visible leader. The fact that John Paul II had a certain charisma, reinforced this.

Every Sunday, the national TV channels would show the Pope at Saint Peter’s Square giving his weekly benediction. Thousand upon thousands would be there. But not in church.
What really struck me and many of my saved brethren, was the unbelievable crowd that was present at his funeral. We were shocked to see this outpouring of worship and adoration towards a mere human being. The millions of Euro spent both by the Vatican and the city of Rome to host the visitors frustrated us, because this money, in part, comes from the forced religious tax imposed on Italian taxpayers. (A separate blog -Otto per mille- will deal with this).

Image courtesy of the Australian Broadcast Corporation

All this for someone who had dedicated his whole life to Maria, “the mother of Jesus”. I put it in quotation marks because we Italian born-again believers do not believe that the Maria he worshipped is truly the mother of our Lord, but a repackaged pagan goddess. His coffin had a big “M” under the cross and the wording “totus tuus” - Latin for “all yours”.

But there were two things that really struck me, and it was as if the Lord had opened my mind to understand a bit more of the end times and the Book of Revelation.

The first was how one man could, at his funeral, gather heads of state from almost every country on earth and bring religious leaders from totally different religions together. This suddenly made me understand that it will definitely be possible for one man, in the end times to do this. It was so real, being here and watching the scene played out live, like the Israeli delegation shaking hands with the Iranian delegation.

The second was the absence of any representation from Russia and China. This had such a profound prophetic significance for me. Gog and Magog and the Kings of the East, spoken of by Ezekiel and John in Revelation. We now read that these two countries are holding joint military manouevres!

My heart goes out to our Jewish friends. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob grant you grace to understand the times and turn with teshuva to Yeshua Hamashiac, before Jacob’s troubles. We are living in exciting times and we encourage each other with the glorious hope of the return of Yeshua.

Grace and shalom

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Dolomites

Originally uploaded by Rob and Adele.

Dolomites, Alps and the Reformation
“Therefore, since we are justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ “ Romans 5:1
What have these three words to do with each other ? Pretty much in a strange sort of way. When we arrived in Italy 8 years ago, we went about the business of sharing our testimonies and gospel with my countrymen. After a few minutes of telling them that we were born and grew up in Africa, the first question would be “What on earth made you come to this country ?” ( As I blog more and more, you will be reading stories about Italy that will, hopefully ,give some insight into the psyche of the Italians ).
This was the perfect opening to tell them “The Lord sent us here to look after my ageing dad and to evangelise”. This often led to more in depth discussion on faith, Christianity and Catholicism. Many times we would be told “I wish I had your faith !”, My reply would be “It is only by the grace of God, but you can also have it if you receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour”
“Oh but I am Catholic and Christian “would be the counter reply.
Catch 22. You want the faith, yet you claim to be Christian already . So back to square one.
We joined Serenissima Bible Church led by Pastor Rob Krause three years ago and have been sharing many things together. Pastor Rob came to Italy, called by God , to be a missionary in Italy. We have laughed and cried a lot together. But one comment made by an Italian friend of ours has shaped the way we pray for Italy. We had been praying many months for revival in Italy. Our folks in the church had been encouraged to do the same. Until this brother said “ Why are you praying for revival if Italy has never had a Reformation !”I will elaborate on this under a different title. Our prayer strategy now is for the Lord to open they eyes and the hearts of Catholics to the truth of the Gospel. We camped out on this thought for a long time, (still are ).We dedicated ourselves to studying in greater depth the history of the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformation. Did you know that there was a pre Luther “Protestant” church in the mountains north of Torino ?.We have been told by reliable sources that there was a small group in an area not far from where we live. Sadly both were wiped out at the time of the Counter Reformation and the Council of Trent. We have learnt that , for centuries , the Roman Church has done it’s utmost to prevent any form of evangelisation in this country. This has done untold damage to the country and it’s people. In the weeks to come you will be reading stories of this.
But back to the title. I believe that the Lord helped me understand a lot through one simple dream. If your theology teaches you that God does not speak through dreams, please bear with me on this one. I am extremely careful on some things, especially dreams. But Joel ch.2:28 gives scriptural backing for them,( I must be an old man !) and it is confirmed in Acts 2:17 by Peter on the Day of Pentecost when he quoted from Joel.
The dream I had was a map of Europe. As I was looking at it from above , Europe was brown and dry. All of a sudden there was a n incredible wave of crystal clear water rolling down from the north and flowing over the Alps. I woke up and thought ,”What a great , vivid dream” , and then put it out on my mind. However, during the day it came back again and again. As I thought about it, I believe the Lord showed me that the Alps , ( hence the picture of the Dolomite mountain), have been a physical barrier for Italy. The Reformation happened north of the Alps and never crossed over. The Alps representing religious pride and man’s continuous resistance to His Truth for the sake of retaining power over people in body, soul and spirit. Nevertheless, Jesus said regarding the rich young ruler in Mat. 19:25-26 : When the disciples heard this , they were greatly astonished and said” Who the can be saved ?” BUT JESUS ( here is the BUT GOD again that I love so much) , looked at them and said to them “With men this is impossible, BUT WITH GOD, all things are possible”.
So we have faith that Hashem will send His Spirit over the spiritual Alps and many will be saved.
Let me conclude with this : watch out those of you Evangelicals and members of traditional churches that are compromising with the Roman Catholic Church. When the Lord begins to Reform Italy and priests , bishops and others begin to realize the error of their ways , reject the teachings that have held them captive for centuries; beware that you are not embarrassed and have to repent yourselves for having sided with them.
Grace and shalom

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Main Piazza, S.Stefano

Originally uploaded by Rob and Adele.

Italy is built around piazzas — or the main square of the city. It’s a place where people go to sit, talk, or meditate on anything and everything. Not much has changed over 2000 years in regard to city squares. Can you imagine the Apostle Paul entering a piazza like this one and proclaiming boldly the glory of God?
I’ll write some more on this piazza later today or tomorrow.

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It may seem a strange title seeing that I have never been to Israel and that I lived most of my life in Africa. Born and grew up in Kenya and then South Africa. But it reflects the the spiritual journey that Israel’s Messiah has mapped out for me. For a more detailed bio, read the Africa link.
It all began on the 5th of January 1975 in Cape Town , South Africa. That fateful night when the Holy Spirit convicetd me that I was a sinner and where I met the Saviour.
Born of Italian parents, baptized as a baby, christened (I still have the photos of the Bishop of Nairobi laying hands on me) and grew up as a Catholic. Like 95 % of my countrymen, I believed that I was a Christian, albeit not a good one, but as long as I went to confession & communion I would be OK. Nobody told me about repentance as a 180 degree turnaround, new birth, sanctification.I learned to blaspheme the Lord when I was 15 years old . (There is a separate blog on italy and blasphemy under Italian Culture).BUT GOD, I like this expression in the bible !BUT GOD, so loved me that He gave His only begotten Son that I should not perish but have life eternal- John 3:16. So Israel’s Messiah took hold of my life that night and 30 years later, here we are in Italy witnessing and winning souls for Him.
You may ask : Aren’t Catholics Christians? No. In the same way that belonging to a Protestant Church does not automatically make you a Christian. There is only one qualification : “you must be born again”- John 3:5. When I came to Italy 8 years ago I used to make a distinction between Protestants and Catholics. Now I realise that many Protestant denominations are sliding deeper into apostasy. Many denying the Lord Himself. Truly as Jesus said ” a dog returns to his vomit and a sow wallows in the mud “.Traditional churches that were born out of the Reformation and whose early pioneers were murdered and often burnt at the stake , now openly support homosexuality, abortion. Some leaders do not even believe in the Deity of Jesus, virgin birth and other fundamental beliefs.
So here I am, a thoroughbred Italian in the flesh, but a thoroughbred Christian in the spirit, sent of God to witness to my fellow Italians - i 2 i.

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