Mati Shoshani and Yair Pinto: Reports From the Holy Land | Praise

November 25, 2025 | 53:45

Matt and Laurie host Mati Shoshani and Yair Pinto.

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Praise | Mati Shoshani and Yair Pinto: Reports From the Holy Land | Praise | November 25, 2025
  • Coming up tonight on praise...
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  • I would say that the most dangerous times that i felt my
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  • Life were in danger in this world was where i have to send
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  • The videos from within the
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  • Gaza strip, because there was no reception
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  • Back to our editors at the tbn, israel studios, had to go on
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  • Rooftops in gaza with my phone like this, and there was
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  • So little signal.
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  • So i had to hold the phone for, you know, 30 minutes to get
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  • Like a short video out.
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  • But it was important and god blessed it.
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  • And i shared about jesus to fellow soldiers in my unit in
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  • Gaza, because that's-- who are you talking to?
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  • The world hates us.
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  • And i said, no.
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  • There are millions of bible- believing christians around the
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  • World that are praying for you.
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  • Tonight on praise from dallas, faith leader mati shoshani and
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  • Israeli journalist yair pinto.
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  • ♪♪
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  • And now your hosts, matt and laurie crouch.
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  • First of all, we have to say happy thanksgiving.
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  • Merry thanksgiving, all the thanksgivings.
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  • And we have to explain
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  • Thanksgiving to our jewish friends.
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  • Yes. okay, mati, we have this thing that has to do with
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  • Turkeys you might have heard of.
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  • I've had some. you've had some turkey before?
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  • Very good.
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  • Laurie and i have celebrated
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  • Thanksgiving in israel many times.
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  • And so there are turkeys in israel.
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  • We have that to understand.
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  • And first of all, let us just
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  • Say we're thankful that you're here.
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  • Yes. and israel and dallas have met.
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  • We are now together.
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  • Our family in israel.
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  • Normally i look at the camera and go, this is not a set.
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  • This is actually israel.
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  • I know it looks-- but this one actually is a set.
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  • We're actually in dallas and we welcome you.
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  • And thanks for being a part.
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  • Uh, i'm sure the tv's on in the background and you're getting
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  • Dishes prepared and you're doing all that stuff early if
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  • You're doing that early. anyway, happy thanksgiving
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  • And we're thankful for the tbn family.
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  • Okay, guys.
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  • Uh, lots going on in the middle east.
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  • Yeah, we brought you guys over to give us a bit of a report.
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  • We always think it's going to slow down.
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  • So do we.
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  • Yeah. yeah.
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  • So do we.
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  • Always think, oh, thank god.
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  • Finally. you know, and then
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  • It's like, what?
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  • It's always moving. a new round.
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  • A new round.
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  • Never boring in the middle east.
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  • Uh, just give us a current update.
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  • Uh, as of right now. uh, big news, of course,
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  • Um, some of our newspapers, even i saw in the jerusalem
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  • Post, uh, celebrating the peacemaker who came, that donald
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  • Trump was really celebrated not terribly long ago.
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  • Yeah. uh, and there is a change in israel.
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  • Okay. who wants to start here?
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  • I want to start. okay.
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  • Can i? that's fine.
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  • Just this time.
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  • So i think that the big news is that the hostages that
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  • Spent two years in underground tunnels--
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  • And these are people that we know.
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  • They have small children, that have spent two years in tunnels
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  • Of hamas in the gaza strip, have been coming home there
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  • With their families.
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  • They're in rehabilitation stages, out of the hospitals
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  • And now with their loved ones
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  • After two years. this is the biggest deal.
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  • And that was the main purpose that mati and myself on
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  • October 7th put on our uniforms and went to fight to bring them
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  • Back home, and they're back.
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  • And that's a lot of it,
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  • First of all, is thanks to god for sure for doing this amazing
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  • Miracle, but also because of trump and the peace plan and
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  • The ceasefire between israel and hamas in the gaza strip.
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  • Mati, your thoughts? same thing?
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  • I think it's bigger than that.
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  • I mean, on a tactical israeli level, yes, we're
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  • Happy for the hostages.
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  • We've won this phase of the war.
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  • I mean, we won, but the war isn't truly over.
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  • But when you really zoom out, i think it's hard to comprehend
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  • How much has happened in the last two years.
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  • And since trump came into office, it's been nothing
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  • Short of amazing.
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  • And just to give people the headlines, we're looking at
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  • Syria being rebuilt.
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  • I'll start from close to home.
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  • Ceasefire in the gaza strip.
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  • Historical event that very few leaders around the world would
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  • Have been able to pull off,
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  • Definitely in that timeline, definitely to actually see it
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  • Happen and be carried through. that happens.
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  • He pulls into that deal.
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  • The egyptians, that's huge.
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  • The jordanians, that's huge.
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  • Then you have the syrian government.
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  • Ashar was just-- the syrian president was just in the
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  • Us meeting with president trump.
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  • So we're talking about rehabilitating the country
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  • After more than 50 years of being ruled by a dictator, then
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  • Lebanon being rebuilt after 40
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  • Years of civil war and internal turmoil.
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  • And it goes on and on.
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  • The qataris, the turks.
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  • So what we're looking at, and people might have trouble
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  • Grasping so much events at the same time, i do myself,
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  • We're looking at history, sped up. things that used to take 25,
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  • 30 years are now happening in a week, two weeks.
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  • And we're looking at a middle east that is on the cusp of
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  • Reshaping the power balance completely in the favor of
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  • The us and its allies.
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  • And i think that's both historical, but it's also a
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  • Significant spiritual moment that's happening.
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  • And if you're into prophecy, and i am and i think
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  • A lot of the viewers are,
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  • You can find a lot of this happening throughout the bible.
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  • This is a very unique time that we're living in.
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  • Can i just say on a personal
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  • Level, before you all get into it,
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  • Because i feel like this is all i'm going to be able to say
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  • This whole program, on october 7th,
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  • Our phones were ringing.
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  • Yeah.
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  • And mati and yair, uh, run tbn israel.
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  • They're in jerusalem.
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  • And i hear they've run home right now and are gone from
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  • Their families, and they both have little beautiful children.
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  • Um, and it was crazy.
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  • A shock. as a mother speaking,
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  • These are like sons, you know, and i just remember the feeling
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  • Of man, you know, and samuel smadja's children,
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  • You know, everybody, all of our kids were going to war,
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  • You know, and it was so personal to me
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  • That, um, they're leaving their kids.
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  • I mean, you you had a bomb hit right outside in front of his
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  • House, you know, while his wife was there by herself with the
  • 00:06:37.887 --> 00:06:40.556
  • Kids and just all that stuff.
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  • And i'm telling you, people watching right now, i know so
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  • Many of you have been praying, and we've all been praying and,
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  • Um, i just appreciate your prayers.
  • 00:06:51.367 --> 00:06:53.269
  • And so all of this of the hostages and then israel,
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  • Such a small country. i mean, what?
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  • 0.02% of the world's population are israeli.
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  • But they all know each other.
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  • And so for years we've been hearing they all know people
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  • That were taken hostage, all the funerals, all the-- i mean,
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  • It's been horrific what you guys have been been through,
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  • And then not being with your families and not being
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  • With your children.
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  • Um, i love you guys, and i'm glad you're here.
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  • And i thank you for what you've done over the
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  • Last couple of years.
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  • And tbn has gone on, and you guys have done a beautiful job
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  • With what you've done.
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  • You know, i want to touch on on that,
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  • You guys. at some point,
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  • I remember two years ago, um,
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  • Before we had a youtube channel with, you know, approaching
  • 00:07:45.121 --> 00:07:49.358
  • 2 million followers,
  • 00:07:49.358 --> 00:07:51.561
  • Um, it was i remember seeing that, you know, you were
  • 00:07:51.561 --> 00:07:58.034
  • Kind of behind a tank somewhere, and you had your,
  • 00:07:58.034 --> 00:08:01.137
  • You know, you had your cell phone and you were, you know,
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  • Doing a bit of a report kind of
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  • Like this and looking at your phone.
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  • And i remember getting this and i'm thinking, okay,
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  • I saw that guy last time in the office.
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  • Last time i saw him, we were in the office together at the,
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  • You know, in jerusalem, and now
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  • He's, you know, in full combat gear.
  • 00:08:19.522 --> 00:08:23.159
  • And i started seeing this, and i remember calling bob
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  • Fopma and i go, we need to get the guys. they're posting.
  • 00:08:28.164 --> 00:08:32.735
  • And i said, make a spot on tbn.
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  • Just just grab their social media.
  • 00:08:36.606 --> 00:08:39.542
  • I know that it's vertical frame and all that kind of stuff.
  • 00:08:39.542 --> 00:08:42.612
  • And i just grabbed their content and let's do these kind
  • 00:08:42.612 --> 00:08:47.817
  • Of news breaks, and the next thing we know, i'm
  • 00:08:47.817 --> 00:08:52.922
  • Getting calls from all over.
  • 00:08:52.922 --> 00:08:56.192
  • My goodness.
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  • Thank you for your coverage of getting the truth out from
  • 00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:01.330
  • Right in the midst of the war of what's happening.
  • 00:09:01.330 --> 00:09:03.866
  • And people are calling me from all over.
  • 00:09:03.866 --> 00:09:06.335
  • Next thing we know, our social media department jumps on this.
  • 00:09:06.335 --> 00:09:10.606
  • Uh, for those that are well informed about tbn israel
  • 00:09:10.606 --> 00:09:17.513
  • And your youtube channel and what you guys do,
  • 00:09:17.513 --> 00:09:20.449
  • Uh, boots on the ground now is a regular tv program.
  • 00:09:20.449 --> 00:09:23.519
  • We've really progressed this thing.
  • 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:25.488
  • What did the first days of what became what
  • 00:09:25.488 --> 00:09:29.625
  • We're talking about,
  • 00:09:29.625 --> 00:09:30.526
  • What did that feel like to you guys?
  • 00:09:30.526 --> 00:09:31.794
  • That's the story. yeah.
  • 00:09:31.794 --> 00:09:33.362
  • I remember when october 7th happened.
  • 00:09:33.362 --> 00:09:35.498
  • 6:20 a.m,
  • 00:09:35.498 --> 00:09:36.932
  • Rockets flying, and mati starts texting all of our workers.
  • 00:09:36.932 --> 00:09:42.271
  • Are you called up to the reserve?
  • 00:09:42.271 --> 00:09:44.106
  • All of us are being called up.
  • 00:09:44.106 --> 00:09:46.175
  • And that was the first thing that we realized is happening.
  • 00:09:46.175 --> 00:09:48.744
  • And the second thing-- right.
  • 00:09:48.744 --> 00:09:50.146
  • How many of the tbn staff-- you were checking, mati,
  • 00:09:50.146 --> 00:09:54.650
  • Because you didn't know how many of the staff-- you knew
  • 00:09:54.650 --> 00:09:56.752
  • You had been called up.
  • 00:09:56.752 --> 00:09:58.054
  • Been called in like an hour and a half.
  • 00:09:58.054 --> 00:09:59.121
  • He was the first one that was called.
  • 00:09:59.121 --> 00:10:00.790
  • Yeah, then myself, and then
  • 00:10:00.790 --> 00:10:02.291
  • Alon, another staff member of ours.
  • 00:10:02.291 --> 00:10:05.194
  • And then several others.
  • 00:10:05.194 --> 00:10:06.295
  • And a lot of our freelancers were called in too.
  • 00:10:06.295 --> 00:10:07.930
  • Yeah, quite a few.
  • 00:10:07.930 --> 00:10:08.931
  • So you're just gone.
  • 00:10:08.931 --> 00:10:10.800
  • You're in uniform and you report.
  • 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:12.668
  • I think also the timeline to
  • 00:10:12.668 --> 00:10:14.370
  • The point of the laurie was making,
  • 00:10:14.370 --> 00:10:16.305
  • It started on that day and i only came back to work almost
  • 00:10:16.305 --> 00:10:21.577
  • Eight months later. i think people don't
  • 00:10:21.577 --> 00:10:23.512
  • Understand the timeline for a lot of people.
  • 00:10:23.512 --> 00:10:25.214
  • I've been back several, several times since.
  • 00:10:25.214 --> 00:10:27.216
  • A lot of people in israel are still in reserves till this day.
  • 00:10:27.216 --> 00:10:29.952
  • They've gone back and forth 3 or 4 times at this point.
  • 00:10:29.952 --> 00:10:32.955
  • It was a long extended season.
  • 00:10:32.955 --> 00:10:35.591
  • Yeah, but the second thing that we felt after being called
  • 00:10:35.591 --> 00:10:39.428
  • Was that the world does not understand or know what's
  • 00:10:39.428 --> 00:10:43.332
  • Happening, and, and we're part of tbn, but back then we did
  • 00:10:43.332 --> 00:10:46.869
  • Not have our own platform, our
  • 00:10:46.869 --> 00:10:48.437
  • Own show, but i have a phone.
  • 00:10:48.437 --> 00:10:51.340
  • Let's record this and just post it on youtube.
  • 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:55.177
  • And that's what we did
  • 00:10:55.177 --> 00:10:56.078
  • The first day, second day, third day.
  • 00:10:56.078 --> 00:10:59.081
  • And now we're at 700 and more than 60 programs straight
  • 00:10:59.081 --> 00:11:03.119
  • Every day sharing the truth.
  • 00:11:03.119 --> 00:11:05.087
  • And it's just an amazing testimony that what happens
  • 00:11:05.087 --> 00:11:08.290
  • When you just take one step towards god's direction of what
  • 00:11:08.290 --> 00:11:12.661
  • He wants to do with your life.
  • 00:11:12.661 --> 00:11:14.497
  • And then he really blessed us.
  • 00:11:14.497 --> 00:11:16.565
  • Sharing the truth of what's happening in israel from the
  • 00:11:16.565 --> 00:11:19.568
  • Front lines.
  • 00:11:19.568 --> 00:11:20.836
  • And it wasn't just blessing us with viewership.
  • 00:11:20.836 --> 00:11:24.373
  • It was also with favor from the
  • 00:11:24.373 --> 00:11:26.776
  • Idf spokesperson's unit and the government
  • 00:11:26.776 --> 00:11:29.378
  • Because i didn't ask for permission. i asked for
  • 00:11:29.378 --> 00:11:33.649
  • Forgiveness afterwards from the government because they
  • 00:11:33.649 --> 00:11:36.519
  • Wouldn't allow me to broadcast from within the gaza strip.
  • 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:40.923
  • But it was three months into this war that they finally
  • 00:11:40.923 --> 00:11:45.694
  • Realized there is this soldier that is reporting
  • 00:11:45.694 --> 00:11:48.564
  • From gaza next to tanks.
  • 00:11:48.564 --> 00:11:50.966
  • And then they called me and said, how dare you do this?
  • 00:11:50.966 --> 00:11:53.335
  • Did you ask permission?
  • 00:11:53.335 --> 00:11:54.770
  • But off the record, we love what you're doing and we want
  • 00:11:54.770 --> 00:11:58.574
  • To back you up for real
  • 00:11:58.574 --> 00:11:59.775
  • So you can keep doing this fully on behalf of the idf.
  • 00:11:59.775 --> 00:12:03.179
  • And i remember that day that i got this call while i was
  • 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:06.248
  • In khan yunis in the gaza strip.
  • 00:12:06.248 --> 00:12:08.184
  • And since then, we've been keep doing this.
  • 00:12:08.184 --> 00:12:10.920
  • I would say that the most dangerous times that i felt my
  • 00:12:10.920 --> 00:12:14.657
  • Life were in danger in this war was where i have to send the
  • 00:12:14.657 --> 00:12:20.029
  • Videos from within the gaza
  • 00:12:20.029 --> 00:12:21.530
  • Strip, because there was no reception
  • 00:12:21.530 --> 00:12:23.666
  • Back to our editors at the tbn israel studios.
  • 00:12:23.666 --> 00:12:26.302
  • I had to go on rooftops in gaza with my phone like this, and
  • 00:12:26.302 --> 00:12:30.472
  • There was so little signal,
  • 00:12:30.472 --> 00:12:31.841
  • So i had to hold the phone for, you know, 30 minutes to get
  • 00:12:31.841 --> 00:12:35.110
  • Like a short video out.
  • 00:12:35.110 --> 00:12:37.313
  • But it was important, and god blessed it.
  • 00:12:37.313 --> 00:12:39.748
  • And i shared about jesus to fellow soldiers in my unit in
  • 00:12:39.748 --> 00:12:44.153
  • Gaza because they asked, who are you talking to?
  • 00:12:44.153 --> 00:12:46.121
  • The world hates us.
  • 00:12:46.121 --> 00:12:47.289
  • And i said, no.
  • 00:12:47.289 --> 00:12:48.557
  • There are millions of bible- believing christians around the
  • 00:12:48.557 --> 00:12:51.060
  • World that are praying for you, for you guys right now.
  • 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:54.697
  • Isn't that beautiful? wow.
  • 00:12:54.697 --> 00:12:56.031
  • There's a there's a scripture that that talks about
  • 00:12:56.031 --> 00:12:58.701
  • Not despising the days of small beginnings.
  • 00:12:58.701 --> 00:13:01.637
  • And those were the days that you would have to climb up to
  • 00:13:01.637 --> 00:13:05.708
  • The top of a building to sneak your signal out so that we
  • 00:13:05.708 --> 00:13:09.645
  • Would have even a little bit of actual reporting from the gaza.
  • 00:13:09.645 --> 00:13:17.920
  • And what an interesting story that now,
  • 00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:22.925
  • You know, we have, uh, you guys on a, on a daily basis, uh,
  • 00:13:22.925 --> 00:13:28.397
  • Posting up to youtube mainly,
  • 00:13:28.397 --> 00:13:30.566
  • But to other social media platforms.
  • 00:13:30.566 --> 00:13:32.668
  • I remember finding you first,
  • 00:13:32.668 --> 00:13:35.537
  • I don't know what day, but you kept counting.
  • 00:13:35.537 --> 00:13:37.940
  • Day one, day two, day three.
  • 00:13:37.940 --> 00:13:39.708
  • And but it was very early.
  • 00:13:39.708 --> 00:13:41.377
  • I might have been day three or something like that, that
  • 00:13:41.377 --> 00:13:44.380
  • We started posting what you
  • 00:13:44.380 --> 00:13:46.081
  • Were doing on tbn as a, as a spot.
  • 00:13:46.081 --> 00:13:49.752
  • So look, thank you.
  • 00:13:49.752 --> 00:13:51.720
  • We're thankful for you guys.
  • 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:52.855
  • We keep saying that because it's thanksgiving week.
  • 00:13:52.855 --> 00:13:54.957
  • Do you know-- we are thankful also.
  • 00:13:54.957 --> 00:13:56.659
  • Yeah. you understand that right?
  • 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:58.160
  • Okay. um, uh, what does it look
  • 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:01.864
  • Like on the ground in israel now?
  • 00:14:01.864 --> 00:14:05.601
  • Okay. so we are in america waiting for tourism to really
  • 00:14:05.601 --> 00:14:11.273
  • Start cranking back up.
  • 00:14:11.273 --> 00:14:13.042
  • We need to get--
  • 00:14:13.042 --> 00:14:14.543
  • I'm sure they're waiting to.
  • 00:14:14.543 --> 00:14:15.811
  • --to the point where our american
  • 00:14:15.811 --> 00:14:17.713
  • Airliners are carrying the quantities.
  • 00:14:17.713 --> 00:14:21.016
  • When we start promoting a tour, we usually have a thousand or
  • 00:14:21.016 --> 00:14:24.019
  • More people, sometimes as many as, you know, 1700 people that
  • 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:28.290
  • Want to go with us to israel.
  • 00:14:28.290 --> 00:14:30.092
  • But that's only when all the airlines are working.
  • 00:14:30.092 --> 00:14:33.262
  • The american airlines are working in delta and all the
  • 00:14:33.262 --> 00:14:35.764
  • Different ones, the carriers.
  • 00:14:35.764 --> 00:14:37.666
  • So we're waiting for that
  • 00:14:37.666 --> 00:14:39.501
  • As we're sitting here today.
  • 00:14:39.501 --> 00:14:41.770
  • Um, you know, fortunately, we're looking at in the
  • 00:14:41.770 --> 00:14:45.774
  • Rearview mirror at a government shutdown that we had.
  • 00:14:45.774 --> 00:14:48.310
  • So we had other airline problems, you know, in america.
  • 00:14:48.310 --> 00:14:51.580
  • But from a, from a tourism
  • 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:53.582
  • Standpoint, is israel ready for tourism?
  • 00:14:53.582 --> 00:14:57.052
  • Does it feel like the it's normal again somewhat?
  • 00:14:57.052 --> 00:15:01.890
  • Not only that, i'd say we're not only ready, we're waiting.
  • 00:15:01.890 --> 00:15:04.727
  • Okay. i think that's the key,
  • 00:15:04.727 --> 00:15:05.995
  • The key component. these two years have reminded everyone
  • 00:15:05.995 --> 00:15:08.330
  • In israel who their true friends are around the world.
  • 00:15:08.330 --> 00:15:11.100
  • And it's the christian community especially.
  • 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:13.369
  • People are so deeply and intimately aware of the fact
  • 00:15:13.369 --> 00:15:16.805
  • That these people stand together with them, and you'll
  • 00:15:16.805 --> 00:15:19.108
  • See it when you come again. you've seen it.
  • 00:15:19.108 --> 00:15:20.876
  • You've been back to israel. you walk the streets of israel.
  • 00:15:20.876 --> 00:15:23.712
  • Uh, hebrew speakers will walk up to almost every
  • 00:15:23.712 --> 00:15:25.748
  • International that they meet and ask them why they're coming
  • 00:15:25.748 --> 00:15:28.550
  • Back to israel and thank them for coming to the country.
  • 00:15:28.550 --> 00:15:31.053
  • That's on one hand. we came over on an international
  • 00:15:31.053 --> 00:15:33.389
  • American flight.
  • 00:15:33.389 --> 00:15:33.989
  • We came over on united.
  • 00:15:33.989 --> 00:15:35.758
  • Uh, we're not sponsored
  • 00:15:35.758 --> 00:15:36.658
  • By them, but we came over on united.
  • 00:15:36.658 --> 00:15:39.428
  • And there are many more airlines that are
  • 00:15:39.428 --> 00:15:40.562
  • Picking up flights to israel.
  • 00:15:40.562 --> 00:15:42.031
  • I don't think that's going to be an issue
  • 00:15:42.031 --> 00:15:43.132
  • By the time a tour comes again.
  • 00:15:43.132 --> 00:15:44.900
  • I'd say it's safe in the country.
  • 00:15:44.900 --> 00:15:46.368
  • Listen, let me
  • 00:15:46.368 --> 00:15:47.569
  • Say, because i talked-- we hosted a group from canada
  • 00:15:47.569 --> 00:15:49.738
  • And from the united states in our studio for a podcast.
  • 00:15:49.738 --> 00:15:52.908
  • And if you ask every single member of this group, they say,
  • 00:15:52.908 --> 00:15:55.577
  • We feel a lot safer here than in detroit or in other places
  • 00:15:55.577 --> 00:15:58.947
  • Around the world because israel feels super safe.
  • 00:15:58.947 --> 00:16:02.451
  • And what you see or hear in the news is different from what
  • 00:16:02.451 --> 00:16:05.687
  • You feel on the ground.
  • 00:16:05.687 --> 00:16:07.356
  • We've said that consistently for years.
  • 00:16:07.356 --> 00:16:10.993
  • You know, tbn has been taking tours. tbn's
  • 00:16:10.993 --> 00:16:14.029
  • 53 years old, but we've been taking
  • 00:16:14.029 --> 00:16:15.964
  • Tours for at least 50 of those years.
  • 00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:19.068
  • In 1975, i think, was the first tour that tbn took before you
  • 00:16:19.068 --> 00:16:23.072
  • Guys were born, right, so--
  • 00:16:23.072 --> 00:16:24.640
  • Well before. [laughter]
  • 00:16:24.640 --> 00:16:26.041
  • So basically we've been--
  • 00:16:26.041 --> 00:16:30.079
  • Like our kids sitting here. i know.
  • 00:16:30.079 --> 00:16:31.647
  • So we basically know that to be true.
  • 00:16:31.647 --> 00:16:35.484
  • But there was an active war.
  • 00:16:35.484 --> 00:16:38.520
  • There is a peace treaty that has been signed.
  • 00:16:38.520 --> 00:16:41.457
  • It's not too far in the rear view mirror, and it looks like
  • 00:16:41.457 --> 00:16:44.526
  • The american airlines--
  • 00:16:44.526 --> 00:16:45.894
  • And we say american airlines meaning the american-owned
  • 00:16:45.894 --> 00:16:50.199
  • Airlines, uh, feel like they're starting to pick back up.
  • 00:16:50.199 --> 00:16:54.269
  • And when they get to full capacity, that's when we'll be
  • 00:16:54.269 --> 00:16:57.673
  • Able to start promoting tours.
  • 00:16:57.673 --> 00:16:59.541
  • But you're ready, right?
  • 00:16:59.541 --> 00:17:00.776
  • So the david's harp hotel is ready to receive guests, and
  • 00:17:00.776 --> 00:17:03.846
  • It's the best we've been--
  • 00:17:03.846 --> 00:17:04.880
  • We've been going ourselves to
  • 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:06.748
  • Check it out before you guys come.
  • 00:17:06.748 --> 00:17:08.517
  • And it's the best.
  • 00:17:08.517 --> 00:17:09.785
  • We were talking to a friend of ours the other day and
  • 00:17:09.785 --> 00:17:11.520
  • She goes, i'm having a big conference up in the galilee.
  • 00:17:11.520 --> 00:17:15.991
  • And she said, there's a big new
  • 00:17:15.991 --> 00:17:18.060
  • Hotel up there that has a conference--
  • 00:17:18.060 --> 00:17:21.230
  • Has a tv studio in it, too.
  • 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:22.898
  • I said, really? tell me about it, you know,
  • 00:17:22.898 --> 00:17:24.733
  • [laughter]
  • 00:17:24.733 --> 00:17:26.735
  • And she said, no, we just booked a, i think it's called
  • 00:17:26.735 --> 00:17:29.638
  • The david's harp.
  • 00:17:29.638 --> 00:17:31.006
  • And we've got a conference for later in 2026.
  • 00:17:31.006 --> 00:17:34.009
  • And i said, that's fantastic.
  • 00:17:34.009 --> 00:17:36.178
  • You know, it really is a great hotel.
  • 00:17:36.178 --> 00:17:38.914
  • We might see you there. yeah.
  • 00:17:38.914 --> 00:17:40.149
  • So, uh, we will-- you know, we're sitting here obviously
  • 00:17:40.149 --> 00:17:43.819
  • Thanksgiving week 2025.
  • 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:45.988
  • Um, and uh, if you just tuned in, uh, mati, i didn't know
  • 00:17:45.988 --> 00:17:51.460
  • Your middle name was zion, you know?
  • 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:53.295
  • So mati zion, okay, and, sair.
  • 00:17:53.295 --> 00:17:57.132
  • Uh, you guys are in from israel, and all the information
  • 00:17:57.132 --> 00:18:01.203
  • Is on the screen about your youtube channel and all that.
  • 00:18:01.203 --> 00:18:03.972
  • If you want real reporting from israel, from the guys, i mean,
  • 00:18:03.972 --> 00:18:10.345
  • You were doing it during active combat.
  • 00:18:10.345 --> 00:18:12.481
  • You guys were doing it all, and
  • 00:18:12.481 --> 00:18:14.616
  • It has really grown and taken on.
  • 00:18:14.616 --> 00:18:17.352
  • Almost 6 million followers. something like that.
  • 00:18:17.352 --> 00:18:19.888
  • And that's just on youtube.
  • 00:18:19.888 --> 00:18:21.156
  • So we feel like we've found a voice
  • 00:18:21.156 --> 00:18:26.628
  • And that our audience has, has found tb and israel.
  • 00:18:26.628 --> 00:18:30.432
  • Thank you for that.
  • 00:18:30.432 --> 00:18:31.700
  • And just to think that they were all behind the camera and
  • 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.869
  • Now look at them. okay.
  • 00:18:33.869 --> 00:18:35.671
  • You're needing to kind of, uh, give us um, the,
  • 00:18:35.671 --> 00:18:43.812
  • The biblical interpretation. give us a little bit of
  • 00:18:43.812 --> 00:18:47.416
  • The vibe going on.
  • 00:18:47.416 --> 00:18:49.551
  • Uh, both of you sitting here are jewish, right?
  • 00:18:49.551 --> 00:18:52.721
  • You're jewish guys, right? yep, yep.
  • 00:18:52.721 --> 00:18:54.022
  • Yeah. okay. you're not just kind of jewish.
  • 00:18:54.022 --> 00:18:55.924
  • You're really jewish. really jewish.
  • 00:18:55.924 --> 00:18:57.559
  • All the way we say. messianic believers.
  • 00:18:57.559 --> 00:19:00.462
  • Certified jews.
  • 00:19:00.462 --> 00:19:01.230
  • Yeah. certified jews.
  • 00:19:01.230 --> 00:19:03.031
  • Believers in jesus.
  • 00:19:03.031 --> 00:19:04.700
  • So we're getting the --
  • 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.134
  • We're getting the real stuff.
  • 00:19:06.134 --> 00:19:07.502
  • Give us the kind of the biblical side of what you feel
  • 00:19:07.502 --> 00:19:11.240
  • Is appropriate to talk about here in, uh, thanksgiving
  • 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:14.776
  • Season here in america '25.
  • 00:19:14.776 --> 00:19:16.979
  • Sure. yeah.
  • 00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:18.213
  • I can start by being that i am super thankful to god for
  • 00:19:18.213 --> 00:19:22.150
  • Everything that he did for
  • 00:19:22.150 --> 00:19:23.952
  • Israel and for my life personally
  • 00:19:23.952 --> 00:19:26.255
  • In the past two years. we had the most challenging two years
  • 00:19:26.255 --> 00:19:30.892
  • Of our lives as a nation
  • 00:19:30.892 --> 00:19:32.594
  • And me personally, as a
  • 00:19:32.594 --> 00:19:34.796
  • Husband and a father of three kids.
  • 00:19:34.796 --> 00:19:36.965
  • It was so challenging.
  • 00:19:36.965 --> 00:19:38.800
  • But god was with me every step of the way and a personal
  • 00:19:38.800 --> 00:19:43.272
  • Level, and also on a nationwide level.
  • 00:19:43.272 --> 00:19:46.875
  • I think that god has used israel the same way that he
  • 00:19:46.875 --> 00:19:50.178
  • Used israel in biblical times to show to the world that if
  • 00:19:50.178 --> 00:19:54.483
  • He's faithful to these stubborn jewish people, he will be
  • 00:19:54.483 --> 00:19:59.087
  • Faithful to each and every body of you, everybody around the
  • 00:19:59.087 --> 00:20:03.125
  • World that are watching and that are praying and that are
  • 00:20:03.125 --> 00:20:06.495
  • Struggling with whatever it is in their lives.
  • 00:20:06.495 --> 00:20:09.364
  • So he's been performing biblical-level miracles
  • 00:20:09.364 --> 00:20:13.302
  • In modern days.
  • 00:20:13.302 --> 00:20:14.670
  • It's just amazing.
  • 00:20:14.670 --> 00:20:15.804
  • So what i think god is doing is showing to the world
  • 00:20:15.804 --> 00:20:19.274
  • If you are struggling with your faith, just open the tv, open
  • 00:20:19.274 --> 00:20:22.411
  • Youtube, look at israel. it's on every major news channel
  • 00:20:22.411 --> 00:20:26.581
  • And look at my miracles coming to life in modern days.
  • 00:20:26.581 --> 00:20:31.453
  • Absolutely. and that's what i'm thankful for, that god is
  • 00:20:31.453 --> 00:20:34.289
  • Proving again and again and again that he doesn't change,
  • 00:20:34.289 --> 00:20:37.859
  • That he's faithful, and that he listens to prayers,
  • 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:40.762
  • To our personal prayers.
  • 00:20:40.762 --> 00:20:42.964
  • So i'm just thankful for the past two years.
  • 00:20:42.964 --> 00:20:46.401
  • I say this, every single jewish holiday starts and ends with
  • 00:20:46.401 --> 00:20:48.870
  • The words, they tried to kill us.
  • 00:20:48.870 --> 00:20:50.872
  • God saved us. let's eat. let's eat.
  • 00:20:50.872 --> 00:20:53.241
  • And it's a known joke in israel.
  • 00:20:53.241 --> 00:20:56.445
  • And we tell this to our kids.
  • 00:20:56.445 --> 00:20:57.612
  • I mean, the thesis of every jewish holiday is
  • 00:20:57.612 --> 00:21:00.782
  • Tell your kids what god did in those past generations, but we
  • 00:21:00.782 --> 00:21:04.386
  • Don't have to tell them what happened in the past anymore.
  • 00:21:04.386 --> 00:21:06.722
  • It's in their lifetime.
  • 00:21:06.722 --> 00:21:08.457
  • They've seen supernatural redemption time and time again.
  • 00:21:08.457 --> 00:21:11.760
  • And i try to tell my kids
  • 00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:13.028
  • It's been-- i mean to say this lightly.
  • 00:21:13.028 --> 00:21:15.130
  • It's been a rough two years for children in israel, especially
  • 00:21:15.130 --> 00:21:18.266
  • If you're at home and not, you know, actively engaging
  • 00:21:18.266 --> 00:21:21.703
  • In doing something proactive.
  • 00:21:21.703 --> 00:21:24.306
  • But what did happen is, is if you think about everything
  • 00:21:24.306 --> 00:21:26.675
  • That's been stacked against us on a biblical level, so many
  • 00:21:26.675 --> 00:21:29.578
  • Enemies at the same time, i think the iranians and from
  • 00:21:29.578 --> 00:21:32.514
  • Within hezbollah, within lebanon and gaza and all of
  • 00:21:32.514 --> 00:21:35.951
  • That that happened at the same time, and the houthis,
  • 00:21:35.951 --> 00:21:37.953
  • We're talking about seven fronts.
  • 00:21:37.953 --> 00:21:39.221
  • And then the media is the eighth front.
  • 00:21:39.221 --> 00:21:40.789
  • It's all happening at the same time.
  • 00:21:40.789 --> 00:21:42.157
  • And somehow we walk away victorious from all of that and
  • 00:21:42.157 --> 00:21:45.227
  • Get to tell the story and go back to normal life.
  • 00:21:45.227 --> 00:21:47.429
  • And in that sense, we're living in a testament,
  • 00:21:47.429 --> 00:21:49.698
  • I don't say this lightly, of absolute faithfulness of god
  • 00:21:49.698 --> 00:21:52.868
  • Time and time again.
  • 00:21:52.868 --> 00:21:54.102
  • And in retrospect, everyone likes to look back and say,
  • 00:21:54.102 --> 00:21:56.037
  • Well, of course we beat hezbollah.
  • 00:21:56.037 --> 00:21:57.706
  • Well, of course we beat the iranians.
  • 00:21:57.706 --> 00:21:59.040
  • Well, of course we beat gaza.
  • 00:21:59.040 --> 00:22:00.642
  • It's not at all obvious. if you ask any israeli, including the
  • 00:22:00.642 --> 00:22:03.478
  • Chief of staff two years ago, what the war against hezbollah
  • 00:22:03.478 --> 00:22:06.381
  • Would have looked like,
  • 00:22:06.381 --> 00:22:07.349
  • He would have not described what happened.
  • 00:22:07.349 --> 00:22:09.284
  • He would have said it would have been prolonged.
  • 00:22:09.284 --> 00:22:11.353
  • It would have been violent.
  • 00:22:11.353 --> 00:22:12.487
  • We'd have tens of thousands of casualties in israel.
  • 00:22:12.487 --> 00:22:14.456
  • We'd have so and so casualties within the army.
  • 00:22:14.456 --> 00:22:16.658
  • And we we beat them like that.
  • 00:22:16.658 --> 00:22:18.393
  • The same with the iranians.
  • 00:22:18.393 --> 00:22:19.694
  • Who would have imagined that in 12 days the israeli air force
  • 00:22:19.694 --> 00:22:22.631
  • Would be flying circles around the capital of iran, you know,
  • 00:22:22.631 --> 00:22:26.368
  • Like taking pictures and stuff like that, as if, as if we
  • 00:22:26.368 --> 00:22:28.637
  • Control the skies of an enemy country that's been the arch
  • 00:22:28.637 --> 00:22:31.206
  • Nemesis of every western country for decades?
  • 00:22:31.206 --> 00:22:34.009
  • Who would have imagined that?
  • 00:22:34.009 --> 00:22:35.243
  • And then we look back and say, oh, clearly this happened.
  • 00:22:35.243 --> 00:22:37.546
  • No, it isn't.
  • 00:22:37.546 --> 00:22:38.613
  • God carried out a miracle time and time again.
  • 00:22:38.613 --> 00:22:40.649
  • We just don't realize it until we look back and see
  • 00:22:40.649 --> 00:22:43.318
  • Events taking place.
  • 00:22:43.318 --> 00:22:44.553
  • And i'd say this one last thought on a personal level is
  • 00:22:44.553 --> 00:22:47.222
  • People like looking at these
  • 00:22:47.222 --> 00:22:48.156
  • Events as like, a negative thing.
  • 00:22:48.156 --> 00:22:49.691
  • Oh, you know, woe is me.
  • 00:22:49.691 --> 00:22:50.792
  • All these things happened to me.
  • 00:22:50.792 --> 00:22:52.394
  • Oh, we went to war and, you know, and all that.
  • 00:22:52.394 --> 00:22:54.596
  • No one changes when things are easy and no one grows and
  • 00:22:54.596 --> 00:22:57.432
  • No one comes to faith when life is business as usual.
  • 00:22:57.432 --> 00:23:01.002
  • No one thinks about changing the premise of the way they
  • 00:23:01.002 --> 00:23:03.104
  • Look at the world or their narrative when things are
  • 00:23:03.104 --> 00:23:05.106
  • Easy and smooth.
  • 00:23:05.106 --> 00:23:06.508
  • They were not smooth, and now people get to rethink of
  • 00:23:06.508 --> 00:23:08.910
  • Who we are as a people,
  • 00:23:08.910 --> 00:23:10.512
  • What's right, what's wrong,
  • 00:23:10.512 --> 00:23:11.613
  • What's worth fighting for in life.
  • 00:23:11.613 --> 00:23:13.348
  • And that is a gift that you don't often get in life.
  • 00:23:13.348 --> 00:23:16.351
  • So the two years, then you're looking slightly back in the
  • 00:23:16.351 --> 00:23:21.122
  • Rearview mirror.
  • 00:23:21.122 --> 00:23:22.557
  • It was dangerous.
  • 00:23:22.557 --> 00:23:25.260
  • It was threatening.
  • 00:23:25.260 --> 00:23:28.463
  • It was existential-level threat. yeah.
  • 00:23:28.463 --> 00:23:31.933
  • But at the same time, when you see the supernatural
  • 00:23:31.933 --> 00:23:36.571
  • Hand of god come,
  • 00:23:36.571 --> 00:23:39.407
  • You have to then-- that's a, that's a, that's a humility
  • 00:23:39.407 --> 00:23:43.078
  • Level thing that the country has to kind of
  • 00:23:43.078 --> 00:23:47.415
  • Uh, almost look up at some point.
  • 00:23:47.415 --> 00:23:50.051
  • So, you know, the old adage of when is bad really bad, and
  • 00:23:50.051 --> 00:23:54.222
  • When is good really good?
  • 00:23:54.222 --> 00:23:56.057
  • And so this challenge to your sovereignty has really produced
  • 00:23:56.057 --> 00:24:02.230
  • Some very positive things.
  • 00:24:02.230 --> 00:24:03.865
  • Absolutely. exactly.
  • 00:24:03.865 --> 00:24:04.900
  • Is that kind of what you're saying?
  • 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:06.167
  • Yes. yes, 100%.
  • 00:24:06.167 --> 00:24:07.702
  • And i think that what we felt as a nation, even those that do
  • 00:24:07.702 --> 00:24:11.273
  • Not believe in god-- or in jesus yet in israel, is that we were
  • 00:24:11.273 --> 00:24:16.811
  • At a super low point and that the only way that we could get
  • 00:24:16.811 --> 00:24:20.916
  • Out of it was with the help of god.
  • 00:24:20.916 --> 00:24:23.985
  • And i think that this is
  • 00:24:23.985 --> 00:24:24.819
  • Something that god is always doing.
  • 00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:26.621
  • He doesn't perform small miracles.
  • 00:24:26.621 --> 00:24:28.924
  • When he does a miracle,
  • 00:24:28.924 --> 00:24:30.725
  • He wants to make sure that we know it's because of him,
  • 00:24:30.725 --> 00:24:34.029
  • Not because of us.
  • 00:24:34.029 --> 00:24:35.397
  • And that's what happened in israel.
  • 00:24:35.397 --> 00:24:36.932
  • People need to remember seven different fronts at the same
  • 00:24:36.932 --> 00:24:40.835
  • Time, the houthis in yemen, hezbollah, iraqi militias
  • 00:24:40.835 --> 00:24:44.406
  • Launching attacks, hamas in judea and samaria and gaza,
  • 00:24:44.406 --> 00:24:48.410
  • And iran at the same time against tiny little israel.
  • 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:52.681
  • And we won.
  • 00:24:52.681 --> 00:24:53.815
  • We're shaping the region again, and it's all because
  • 00:24:53.815 --> 00:24:56.151
  • God was with us.
  • 00:24:56.151 --> 00:24:57.586
  • I'll be honest with you.
  • 00:24:57.586 --> 00:24:59.421
  • There was a moment, you know, i don't remember what day it was,
  • 00:24:59.421 --> 00:25:03.858
  • But i can tell you that when all of a sudden i heard a very
  • 00:25:03.858 --> 00:25:09.497
  • High level israeli commander
  • 00:25:09.497 --> 00:25:13.168
  • Realized that they were now going to start or soon going to
  • 00:25:13.168 --> 00:25:17.706
  • Be fighting in the north, i thought, yikes.
  • 00:25:17.706 --> 00:25:21.476
  • And then i heard one of you had to go to the north.
  • 00:25:21.476 --> 00:25:25.814
  • I was in the north.
  • 00:25:25.814 --> 00:25:27.082
  • Okay, so the day that you were reporting, i have to leave.
  • 00:25:27.082 --> 00:25:32.020
  • I have to go to the north,
  • 00:25:32.020 --> 00:25:33.755
  • I thought, oh, snap.
  • 00:25:33.755 --> 00:25:35.123
  • This is, this is, this is--
  • 00:25:35.123 --> 00:25:37.826
  • That might have been the low point,
  • 00:25:37.826 --> 00:25:40.295
  • Kind of a gut check
  • 00:25:40.295 --> 00:25:41.563
  • Low point for the idea that, okay, you can't fight on every--
  • 00:25:41.563 --> 00:25:47.636
  • You know, and if something really miraculous
  • 00:25:47.636 --> 00:25:50.939
  • Doesn't happen--
  • 00:25:50.939 --> 00:25:52.173
  • And like you're saying, that was probably the low point,
  • 00:25:52.173 --> 00:25:55.477
  • But it was over in a flash.
  • 00:25:55.477 --> 00:25:58.313
  • It felt like
  • 00:25:58.313 --> 00:26:00.515
  • That was an apparition almost, that that portion of the
  • 00:26:00.515 --> 00:26:04.953
  • Fight was really kind of over before it really began.
  • 00:26:04.953 --> 00:26:10.091
  • What happened?
  • 00:26:10.091 --> 00:26:12.894
  • Well, first of all, i think that there was kind of a
  • 00:26:12.894 --> 00:26:16.164
  • Communication error between hezbollah and hamas because if
  • 00:26:16.164 --> 00:26:20.068
  • They would have launched these attacks simultaneously, they
  • 00:26:20.068 --> 00:26:23.538
  • Would have conquered half of the state of israel within
  • 00:26:23.538 --> 00:26:26.374
  • The first few days.
  • 00:26:26.374 --> 00:26:28.109
  • But it didn't happen.
  • 00:26:28.109 --> 00:26:29.444
  • I mean, you're correct that it was the low point.
  • 00:26:29.444 --> 00:26:31.913
  • I remember the first few days sleeping in a sleeping bag
  • 00:26:31.913 --> 00:26:35.383
  • In the north. so many soldiers.
  • 00:26:35.383 --> 00:26:37.519
  • There was no bunkers, even for all of us.
  • 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.521
  • So we were sleeping with our bulletproof vests in the
  • 00:26:39.521 --> 00:26:43.391
  • Sleeping bag on the floor there.
  • 00:26:43.391 --> 00:26:45.193
  • There was a mess.
  • 00:26:45.193 --> 00:26:46.494
  • You can imagine rockets flying above us and at the same time,
  • 00:26:46.494 --> 00:26:50.098
  • Wars and terrorists in the gaza strip in the south.
  • 00:26:50.098 --> 00:26:52.734
  • And we're afraid that hezbollah will launch attacks of 3000
  • 00:26:52.734 --> 00:26:57.105
  • Rockets a day at israeli civilians and at us,
  • 00:26:57.105 --> 00:27:00.141
  • The soldiers there.
  • 00:27:00.141 --> 00:27:01.242
  • That was what we've been training for--
  • 00:27:01.242 --> 00:27:03.712
  • For many years.
  • 00:27:03.712 --> 00:27:04.646
  • For many years as officers in the idf.
  • 00:27:04.646 --> 00:27:07.248
  • So we were preparing for this to happen, and that would have
  • 00:27:07.248 --> 00:27:10.051
  • Been ten times worse than what
  • 00:27:10.051 --> 00:27:11.720
  • Hamas did for us on october 7th.
  • 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:14.489
  • Your low point,
  • 00:27:14.489 --> 00:27:15.523
  • What was it?
  • 00:27:15.523 --> 00:27:17.258
  • I think the first couple of weeks,
  • 00:27:17.258 --> 00:27:19.794
  • Um, going back to that, i think a lot of people in israel
  • 00:27:19.794 --> 00:27:22.597
  • Wanted to depart from the sense of fear.
  • 00:27:22.597 --> 00:27:26.167
  • And, i mean, you said it.
  • 00:27:26.167 --> 00:27:27.535
  • Existential threat.
  • 00:27:27.535 --> 00:27:28.903
  • What will happen?
  • 00:27:28.903 --> 00:27:30.271
  • Uh, those first, i think it was a couple of weeks,
  • 00:27:30.271 --> 00:27:33.475
  • I think i saw my family for the first time in like six weeks
  • 00:27:33.475 --> 00:27:35.477
  • After the war started.
  • 00:27:35.477 --> 00:27:37.245
  • And i remember thinking, like in the first couple of weeks
  • 00:27:37.245 --> 00:27:39.114
  • Of, of we don't know what's going to happen and we forget
  • 00:27:39.114 --> 00:27:42.784
  • Now, but the list of threats, you know, military intelligence
  • 00:27:42.784 --> 00:27:45.754
  • Gives you only the worst case scenario.
  • 00:27:45.754 --> 00:27:47.455
  • Yeah. it's never it's never it's probably going to be okay.
  • 00:27:47.455 --> 00:27:50.191
  • You never get that.
  • 00:27:50.191 --> 00:27:50.992
  • That's not their job.
  • 00:27:50.992 --> 00:27:52.060
  • That's not their. yeah, that's not their job.
  • 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:53.394
  • The report doesn't come in,
  • 00:27:53.394 --> 00:27:54.896
  • Don't worry, things are going to be fine.
  • 00:27:54.896 --> 00:27:56.397
  • It's every worst case scenario.
  • 00:27:56.397 --> 00:27:58.466
  • And i commanded a unit in one area.
  • 00:27:58.466 --> 00:28:00.235
  • Now i command a different unit.
  • 00:28:00.235 --> 00:28:01.970
  • And you look, you look at the list of of threats coming in.
  • 00:28:01.970 --> 00:28:05.406
  • And it's every front in the country.
  • 00:28:05.406 --> 00:28:07.609
  • It's the thought that it could
  • 00:28:07.609 --> 00:28:08.877
  • Be every home overrun, everything.
  • 00:28:08.877 --> 00:28:11.346
  • And it's this really, really scary place where, again, i had
  • 00:28:11.346 --> 00:28:13.515
  • My family was alone without, you know, without their father,
  • 00:28:13.515 --> 00:28:16.251
  • Without the husband.
  • 00:28:16.251 --> 00:28:17.685
  • Uh, many families are in the same situation in israel, and
  • 00:28:17.685 --> 00:28:20.321
  • We don't even know what's coming our way.
  • 00:28:20.321 --> 00:28:21.723
  • I mean, the threats that are on paper or, you know, awaiting us
  • 00:28:21.723 --> 00:28:25.527
  • Were very, very dramatic.
  • 00:28:25.527 --> 00:28:27.061
  • And more than that, i think it took a long time.
  • 00:28:27.061 --> 00:28:29.798
  • I think hezbollah was really the turning point for the
  • 00:28:29.798 --> 00:28:32.400
  • National sentiment and understanding that we were able
  • 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:35.003
  • To flip the tables on our enemies and not be responsive
  • 00:28:35.003 --> 00:28:38.139
  • But be completely preplanned in the way we carried things out.
  • 00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:41.876
  • It was sort of this really big wave.
  • 00:28:41.876 --> 00:28:43.545
  • Gaza was a sense of retribution when we're fighting through
  • 00:28:43.545 --> 00:28:46.247
  • Gaza, but really understanding that now we're not just
  • 00:28:46.247 --> 00:28:48.449
  • Fighting locally, it's strategic-- not tactical.
  • 00:28:48.449 --> 00:28:51.653
  • It's a strategic war.
  • 00:28:51.653 --> 00:28:52.921
  • And we're winning on the strategic side.
  • 00:28:52.921 --> 00:28:55.023
  • And we've recently on a recent project that hasn't aired yet,
  • 00:28:55.023 --> 00:28:59.294
  • We did a whole interview with the military intelligence
  • 00:28:59.294 --> 00:29:01.663
  • Officers that were part of the backstory of what happened
  • 00:29:01.663 --> 00:29:04.132
  • In lebanon and in iran.
  • 00:29:04.132 --> 00:29:06.501
  • And you hear those stories.
  • 00:29:06.501 --> 00:29:07.602
  • And if i had hair on my head, it would stand up.
  • 00:29:07.602 --> 00:29:09.237
  • [laughter]
  • 00:29:09.237 --> 00:29:10.338
  • Because it's it's absolutely amazing.
  • 00:29:10.338 --> 00:29:12.473
  • And you hear the human genius.
  • 00:29:12.473 --> 00:29:14.509
  • But again, it's god inspired and really meticulously over a
  • 00:29:14.509 --> 00:29:18.046
  • Decade figuring out how our enemies tick.
  • 00:29:18.046 --> 00:29:21.015
  • Sadly, not the ones in gaza, but yes, on our northern
  • 00:29:21.015 --> 00:29:23.518
  • Border, yes, in iran.
  • 00:29:23.518 --> 00:29:24.853
  • And really like, getting inside of their heads.
  • 00:29:24.853 --> 00:29:26.988
  • And when you see that, his experience in the first week or
  • 00:29:26.988 --> 00:29:29.724
  • Two of the war makes sense, because we all asked the
  • 00:29:29.724 --> 00:29:31.993
  • Question, where was hezbollah on that day?
  • 00:29:31.993 --> 00:29:34.262
  • You know, were they not as powerful as they were?
  • 00:29:34.262 --> 00:29:36.497
  • They were.
  • 00:29:36.497 --> 00:29:37.765
  • The idf responded with such speed on the first day of the
  • 00:29:37.765 --> 00:29:40.001
  • War that they didn't dare attack.
  • 00:29:40.001 --> 00:29:42.070
  • I don't want to say the numbers of the soldiers was very
  • 00:29:42.070 --> 00:29:44.005
  • Substantial force.
  • 00:29:44.005 --> 00:29:45.273
  • And then we penetrated them with intelligence so well that
  • 00:29:45.273 --> 00:29:48.543
  • They were afraid to fight us by the time we broke into lebanon.
  • 00:29:48.543 --> 00:29:51.279
  • My goodness.
  • 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.180
  • So again, in retrospect, it seems easy.
  • 00:29:52.180 --> 00:29:53.915
  • In the moment we felt fear,
  • 00:29:53.915 --> 00:29:55.183
  • And i think we needed to feel that fear.
  • 00:29:55.183 --> 00:29:57.185
  • We needed to be galvanized as people,
  • 00:29:57.185 --> 00:29:59.888
  • But but be clear on why we're here on this world.
  • 00:29:59.888 --> 00:30:02.757
  • So as you're sitting here, you're thankful.
  • 00:30:02.757 --> 00:30:05.927
  • 100%.
  • 00:30:05.927 --> 00:30:06.895
  • God was with you in--
  • 00:30:06.895 --> 00:30:09.464
  • I like what you said,
  • 00:30:09.464 --> 00:30:10.899
  • You're you're you're always commanded to tell in all the
  • 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:15.670
  • Major feasts, your children of the glory days of when god
  • 00:30:15.670 --> 00:30:19.140
  • Protected and you're you're sharing it.
  • 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.943
  • Now they got to see it firsthand that god is with you.
  • 00:30:21.943 --> 00:30:26.080
  • Exactly. beautiful.
  • 00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:27.282
  • Yeah. i have to say that i'm most thankful for my wife
  • 00:30:27.282 --> 00:30:30.919
  • During this time because you keep thinking, oh, he went to
  • 00:30:30.919 --> 00:30:35.690
  • Fight in gaza.
  • 00:30:35.690 --> 00:30:36.724
  • He took the risk.
  • 00:30:36.724 --> 00:30:37.725
  • But back then she was alone with the kids.
  • 00:30:37.725 --> 00:30:41.396
  • No school, no kindergarten, three kids.
  • 00:30:41.396 --> 00:30:43.498
  • That's hard on its own,
  • 00:30:43.498 --> 00:30:45.166
  • Harder than fighting terrorists in gaza,
  • 00:30:45.166 --> 00:30:47.602
  • Just to be honest here.
  • 00:30:47.602 --> 00:30:48.937
  • Seriously, terrorists. little ones.
  • 00:30:48.937 --> 00:30:52.240
  • Little mini terrorists.
  • 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:54.776
  • I have a dog that's a terrorist,
  • 00:30:54.776 --> 00:30:57.078
  • Little mini one.
  • 00:30:57.078 --> 00:30:58.379
  • But add to that the fact that, you've been in israel, you have
  • 00:30:58.379 --> 00:31:02.016
  • Palestinian villages just in front of our house, and what's
  • 00:31:02.016 --> 00:31:05.653
  • Stopping them from rushing in?
  • 00:31:05.653 --> 00:31:07.555
  • And there are no men in my community because all of them
  • 00:31:07.555 --> 00:31:09.924
  • Went to fight in the north or in gaza for fear of
  • 00:31:09.924 --> 00:31:13.127
  • Hezbollah or hamas.
  • 00:31:13.127 --> 00:31:14.362
  • So my wife is in her house trying to barricade the house
  • 00:31:14.362 --> 00:31:17.365
  • With locks, and she even prepared a hairspray with a
  • 00:31:17.365 --> 00:31:22.503
  • Little lighter to do a flamethrower to protect her
  • 00:31:22.503 --> 00:31:25.840
  • And the kids for real.
  • 00:31:25.840 --> 00:31:27.775
  • That was the situation.
  • 00:31:27.775 --> 00:31:29.043
  • And i have nothing to do to help her because i'm up north.
  • 00:31:29.043 --> 00:31:33.047
  • Well, i remember yael.
  • 00:31:33.047 --> 00:31:35.316
  • Um, you--
  • 00:31:35.316 --> 00:31:37.151
  • Some of the people didn't have gear.
  • 00:31:37.151 --> 00:31:39.320
  • Yeah. remember that?
  • 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:40.688
  • No one expected such, such a huge number of soldiers
  • 00:31:40.688 --> 00:31:43.091
  • To be called in.
  • 00:31:43.091 --> 00:31:44.192
  • She came through, right?
  • 00:31:44.192 --> 00:31:45.827
  • It feels like they stepped up
  • 00:31:45.827 --> 00:31:47.028
  • And brought certain kind of levels.
  • 00:31:47.028 --> 00:31:49.397
  • We're talking about the fellowship.
  • 00:31:49.397 --> 00:31:50.331
  • Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
  • 00:31:50.331 --> 00:31:51.933
  • They brought a lot of gear.
  • 00:31:51.933 --> 00:31:52.800
  • I've sent her pictures personally.
  • 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:54.068
  • Yes. like, thank you,
  • 00:31:54.068 --> 00:31:55.370
  • Because i've seen in different war rooms and equipment rooms,
  • 00:31:55.370 --> 00:31:57.872
  • Their gear with a logo,
  • 00:31:57.872 --> 00:31:58.973
  • And i said, thanks.
  • 00:31:58.973 --> 00:32:00.808
  • It shows up, like, across the country.
  • 00:32:00.808 --> 00:32:02.643
  • But it's not just them.
  • 00:32:02.643 --> 00:32:03.478
  • And i want to say this,
  • 00:32:03.478 --> 00:32:04.679
  • Who supports the fellowship?
  • 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:06.447
  • Who supports these different organizations?
  • 00:32:06.447 --> 00:32:08.416
  • Christians, many of them, i think, live here in this
  • 00:32:08.416 --> 00:32:10.752
  • Area in dallas.
  • 00:32:10.752 --> 00:32:11.986
  • And if you think about the question, i think israelis are
  • 00:32:11.986 --> 00:32:14.188
  • Acutely aware of this, who stood up and stood with israel in its
  • 00:32:14.188 --> 00:32:17.725
  • Greatest time of need?
  • 00:32:17.725 --> 00:32:19.060
  • Who was it? it was the united states and behind the
  • 00:32:19.060 --> 00:32:21.662
  • Government of the united states, the christian community
  • 00:32:21.662 --> 00:32:23.998
  • That said, these are our brothers.
  • 00:32:23.998 --> 00:32:26.034
  • Let's stop--
  • 00:32:26.034 --> 00:32:27.168
  • And i want to tell you personally, and i don't say
  • 00:32:27.168 --> 00:32:28.903
  • This lightly, the people who stood with me personally the
  • 00:32:28.903 --> 00:32:32.040
  • Most during this war were christian friends.
  • 00:32:32.040 --> 00:32:34.208
  • Some of them were people i know god sent into my life, people i
  • 00:32:34.208 --> 00:32:37.512
  • Met with maybe a couple of times before, and they just
  • 00:32:37.512 --> 00:32:39.414
  • Continuously would call and
  • 00:32:39.414 --> 00:32:41.315
  • Text and say, i'm praying for you.
  • 00:32:41.315 --> 00:32:43.284
  • I'm eventually-- you know, at
  • 00:32:43.284 --> 00:32:45.420
  • First you're like, oh, i'm fine.
  • 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:46.687
  • I was like, no, i'm actually not fine.
  • 00:32:46.687 --> 00:32:48.423
  • My family isn't fine, and my country isn't fine.
  • 00:32:48.423 --> 00:32:50.591
  • Give us all the prayer you can give us.
  • 00:32:50.591 --> 00:32:52.393
  • Give us all the help you can give us because we need it.
  • 00:32:52.393 --> 00:32:54.529
  • And it worked.
  • 00:32:54.529 --> 00:32:55.663
  • I mean, we got a huge amount of help.
  • 00:32:55.663 --> 00:32:56.964
  • I'm hugely thankful for it.
  • 00:32:56.964 --> 00:32:58.533
  • And i walk through life,
  • 00:32:58.533 --> 00:32:59.634
  • I think a lot of israelis are the same, especially
  • 00:32:59.634 --> 00:33:01.235
  • Those in the army,
  • 00:33:01.235 --> 00:33:02.470
  • We know we didn't do this on our own.
  • 00:33:02.470 --> 00:33:04.372
  • We know that god was there for us, and we know that god sent a
  • 00:33:04.372 --> 00:33:06.808
  • Lot of people who care about us to send material support and to
  • 00:33:06.808 --> 00:33:10.244
  • Pray and to shower us with
  • 00:33:10.244 --> 00:33:11.813
  • Love and friendship in the time of need.
  • 00:33:11.813 --> 00:33:13.815
  • And it really worked.
  • 00:33:13.815 --> 00:33:15.149
  • Now it's time for us to shower you with tourism.
  • 00:33:15.149 --> 00:33:18.453
  • Let's do that. amen.
  • 00:33:18.453 --> 00:33:19.554
  • That feels like it's, it's getting to that point in
  • 00:33:19.554 --> 00:33:23.891
  • Time where there's a pent up desire for us to, to get back.
  • 00:33:23.891 --> 00:33:29.897
  • And we care about the land because jesus was.
  • 00:33:29.897 --> 00:33:33.167
  • That's right.
  • 00:33:33.167 --> 00:33:34.435
  • And, you know, our bible, i mean, everybody says this, the
  • 00:33:34.435 --> 00:33:37.839
  • Bible comes alive in israel, but it's just so true.
  • 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:41.275
  • And that's what
  • 00:33:41.275 --> 00:33:43.211
  • Your love for that country, my love for that country
  • 00:33:43.211 --> 00:33:46.547
  • Is overwhelming just because of that.
  • 00:33:46.547 --> 00:33:48.649
  • And you don't want it messed up.
  • 00:33:48.649 --> 00:33:50.518
  • You don't want anybody going after any of those places
  • 00:33:50.518 --> 00:33:53.554
  • Or the beautiful--
  • 00:33:53.554 --> 00:33:55.056
  • What you-- what it is, everything it is.
  • 00:33:55.056 --> 00:33:58.326
  • Let me tell you a fun little thing.
  • 00:33:58.326 --> 00:34:00.094
  • You guys maybe don't know this, but if somebody walks up to
  • 00:34:00.094 --> 00:34:04.632
  • Laurie and i and if they're older than we are, um,
  • 00:34:04.632 --> 00:34:10.705
  • Which is-- 35.
  • 00:34:10.705 --> 00:34:12.773
  • Yeah. getting, getting, getting harder these days to find
  • 00:34:12.773 --> 00:34:16.144
  • People older than us, but, um, but at, at some point if, if,
  • 00:34:16.144 --> 00:34:22.049
  • If an old timer comes up to laurie and i and, and they say,
  • 00:34:22.049 --> 00:34:26.454
  • Hey, we've been watching tbn for all these years, blah,
  • 00:34:26.454 --> 00:34:29.023
  • Blah, blah, it is a very high percentage of those people that
  • 00:34:29.023 --> 00:34:34.562
  • Say, i went to israel with your mom and dad on a tour.
  • 00:34:34.562 --> 00:34:39.400
  • I went with them or with us.
  • 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:41.903
  • We've been to israel with you.
  • 00:34:41.903 --> 00:34:43.437
  • We've been on a tour with you.
  • 00:34:43.437 --> 00:34:47.909
  • Over all these years and the 50 years tbn's been taking tours,
  • 00:34:47.909 --> 00:34:53.781
  • It feels like we've taken, you know, tens of thousands of
  • 00:34:53.781 --> 00:34:56.684
  • People, but a very high percentage of them
  • 00:34:56.684 --> 00:34:59.587
  • That's one of the highlights is to put, as you were, a face
  • 00:34:59.587 --> 00:35:05.159
  • With a name, to put a location
  • 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:07.428
  • When you read, you know, bethlehem,
  • 00:35:07.428 --> 00:35:10.865
  • Now you're standing looking at the shepherds' fields.
  • 00:35:10.865 --> 00:35:13.801
  • You're looking at the same, you know, locations, jordan river.
  • 00:35:13.801 --> 00:35:17.338
  • It is-- yeah.
  • 00:35:17.338 --> 00:35:19.407
  • There's a lot of commercialism in israel, and
  • 00:35:19.407 --> 00:35:23.811
  • There's some things you buy tickets for and go see that
  • 00:35:23.811 --> 00:35:26.180
  • Are, you know, maybe the place, but you know, the fields of
  • 00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:31.185
  • Bethlehem, the judean hills, the jerusalem set upon a hill,
  • 00:35:31.185 --> 00:35:35.623
  • You know, the psalms come alive, you know. jerusalem,
  • 00:35:35.623 --> 00:35:39.827
  • I lift mine eyes unto the hills of jerusalem.
  • 00:35:39.827 --> 00:35:43.431
  • Well, when you're down in near the dead sea, you're looking up
  • 00:35:43.431 --> 00:35:46.767
  • At israel, you know, 4000ft above you, you know.
  • 00:35:46.767 --> 00:35:49.837
  • And so basically,
  • 00:35:49.837 --> 00:35:52.273
  • There's a way to put physical, tangible
  • 00:35:52.273 --> 00:35:57.578
  • Thought in when you go to israel.
  • 00:35:57.578 --> 00:35:59.680
  • And we're not pitching a tour right now.
  • 00:35:59.680 --> 00:36:02.149
  • We, i wish we were, but we'll get to that very
  • 00:36:02.149 --> 00:36:06.354
  • Soon for, for 2026.
  • 00:36:06.354 --> 00:36:08.456
  • Um, boots on the ground, by the way, airs on thursdays
  • 00:36:08.456 --> 00:36:13.227
  • Right here on tbn.
  • 00:36:13.227 --> 00:36:14.695
  • That is, um, at 9:30 p.m.
  • 00:36:14.695 --> 00:36:20.101
  • Eastern time, and a growing
  • 00:36:20.101 --> 00:36:22.803
  • Audience for boots on the ground.
  • 00:36:22.803 --> 00:36:25.439
  • And these guys are the boots.
  • 00:36:25.439 --> 00:36:27.875
  • So, uh, these are the boots on the ground that we're talking
  • 00:36:27.875 --> 00:36:31.612
  • About giving, uh, real time updates, date, uh, in on the
  • 00:36:31.612 --> 00:36:38.819
  • Current event in israel, and you're doing that every week.
  • 00:36:38.819 --> 00:36:42.556
  • Uh, you do that and then daily, uh, on youtube and, uh, so if,
  • 00:36:42.556 --> 00:36:49.096
  • If we are looking back,
  • 00:36:49.096 --> 00:36:53.267
  • Troubling two years, god showed himself.
  • 00:36:53.267 --> 00:36:57.672
  • So you're thankful and we're looking at, you know, tourism
  • 00:36:57.672 --> 00:37:02.143
  • Now. we're looking at, we're looking into the future.
  • 00:37:02.143 --> 00:37:05.012
  • The future is reshaping in the middle east.
  • 00:37:05.012 --> 00:37:09.350
  • If that's all the good news. what is the-- if it's not
  • 00:37:09.350 --> 00:37:14.088
  • Guns and wars and bombs from this country and all that,
  • 00:37:14.088 --> 00:37:17.525
  • What is the-- what, what is a
  • 00:37:17.525 --> 00:37:20.494
  • Concern that you might have, uh,
  • 00:37:20.494 --> 00:37:24.432
  • 2025 and beyond in regard to we were talking earlier about
  • 00:37:24.432 --> 00:37:29.103
  • Some, you know, attitudes towards israel, and give us a
  • 00:37:29.103 --> 00:37:35.443
  • Couple of minutes on that kind of your 2025 and
  • 00:37:35.443 --> 00:37:40.381
  • Beyond concerns for israel.
  • 00:37:40.381 --> 00:37:42.450
  • Yeah. so i think that the fear now is that the enemy is using
  • 00:37:42.450 --> 00:37:47.822
  • Lies and deceit to try to take people's heart away from god,
  • 00:37:47.822 --> 00:37:53.127
  • And using israel to blame all the problems of the world on.
  • 00:37:53.127 --> 00:37:58.199
  • So we see that in the past, on the left side of the political
  • 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:02.336
  • Sphere in the world, and now we see it also on extreme right
  • 00:38:02.336 --> 00:38:06.440
  • Wing influencers, especially here in the united states,
  • 00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:10.144
  • Trying to separate god from israel.
  • 00:38:10.144 --> 00:38:14.482
  • This is something very troubling.
  • 00:38:14.482 --> 00:38:16.016
  • I mean, everywhere you look in the bible, in the
  • 00:38:16.016 --> 00:38:18.452
  • New testament, you read about israel.
  • 00:38:18.452 --> 00:38:21.088
  • Jesus walked in jerusalem.
  • 00:38:21.088 --> 00:38:22.957
  • You cannot separate israel from jesus.
  • 00:38:22.957 --> 00:38:27.161
  • I mean, it's, it's unheard of.
  • 00:38:27.161 --> 00:38:28.796
  • But this is what's happening now.
  • 00:38:28.796 --> 00:38:30.030
  • It's like history is being rewritten in a very evil way.
  • 00:38:30.030 --> 00:38:34.402
  • And this is something that we need to be aware of.
  • 00:38:34.402 --> 00:38:36.470
  • We need to understand it's happening, and we need to be
  • 00:38:36.470 --> 00:38:39.006
  • Very close to our bibles to
  • 00:38:39.006 --> 00:38:41.442
  • Know what's truth and what's wrong.
  • 00:38:41.442 --> 00:38:43.978
  • And this is something i think that is very, very concerning
  • 00:38:43.978 --> 00:38:47.348
  • Towards the people of israel.
  • 00:38:47.348 --> 00:38:48.382
  • But the church at large.
  • 00:38:48.382 --> 00:38:51.118
  • I'd say, runs really deep.
  • 00:38:51.118 --> 00:38:52.887
  • There's an issue here, which is israel--
  • 00:38:52.887 --> 00:38:55.456
  • And again, if you look at this from a biblical perspective,
  • 00:38:55.456 --> 00:38:58.392
  • Israel isn't just a story. it's a statement of god's
  • 00:38:58.392 --> 00:39:02.129
  • Intent towards the earth.
  • 00:39:02.129 --> 00:39:03.831
  • He says, in this country, with these people, in this language,
  • 00:39:03.831 --> 00:39:06.700
  • In this time, i'm going to do these things.
  • 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:08.969
  • Reap-- some of them were done in 1948, some of them were done
  • 00:39:08.969 --> 00:39:11.338
  • Before, and some of them are
  • 00:39:11.338 --> 00:39:12.840
  • Done now in the country of israel.
  • 00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:15.075
  • And the way to attack that is people try to spread lies
  • 00:39:15.075 --> 00:39:17.344
  • About that topic.
  • 00:39:17.344 --> 00:39:18.579
  • And i'd say that there's a whole movement right now, not
  • 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:20.781
  • Just in the us, but also in other countries of people in a
  • 00:39:20.781 --> 00:39:23.517
  • Very subtle way, using social media, using, i think, a
  • 00:39:23.517 --> 00:39:27.154
  • Sentiment that a lot of people start with, which is positive.
  • 00:39:27.154 --> 00:39:29.757
  • They want justice, they want truth, they want a more,
  • 00:39:29.757 --> 00:39:31.692
  • A deeper story, and they're
  • 00:39:31.692 --> 00:39:33.360
  • Hijacking that into a false story.
  • 00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:35.796
  • The problem is, is when you spread a lie--
  • 00:39:35.796 --> 00:39:37.898
  • I'll give you an easy example in a second.
  • 00:39:37.898 --> 00:39:40.034
  • You spread a lie, what's the expression?
  • 00:39:40.034 --> 00:39:41.735
  • A lie has gone around the world twice before
  • 00:39:41.735 --> 00:39:43.537
  • Uh, truth is--
  • 00:39:43.537 --> 00:39:44.772
  • Truth gets its pants on.
  • 00:39:44.772 --> 00:39:46.040
  • Yeah, truth gets its pants on.
  • 00:39:46.040 --> 00:39:47.441
  • I mean, and that's, true. that's true.
  • 00:39:47.441 --> 00:39:49.176
  • And people, there's countless lies that are spread.
  • 00:39:49.176 --> 00:39:52.246
  • Uh, an example was the starvation in the gaza strip.
  • 00:39:52.246 --> 00:39:54.715
  • People spread this.
  • 00:39:54.715 --> 00:39:55.783
  • They spread these pictures.
  • 00:39:55.783 --> 00:39:56.684
  • They've all been refuted at this point.
  • 00:39:56.684 --> 00:39:58.919
  • But the problem is, once the story runs and, you know, maybe
  • 00:39:58.919 --> 00:40:02.389
  • The bbc or whoever it is, they'll retract the story
  • 00:40:02.389 --> 00:40:05.392
  • A week later.
  • 00:40:05.392 --> 00:40:06.560
  • But the headline was this big.
  • 00:40:06.560 --> 00:40:08.295
  • And then the retraction is on page 15,
  • 00:40:08.295 --> 00:40:10.698
  • We were wrong. sorry.
  • 00:40:10.698 --> 00:40:11.932
  • This isn't, this isn't up to the level of our journalism.
  • 00:40:11.932 --> 00:40:13.734
  • But there's like 18 million people that have shaped their
  • 00:40:13.734 --> 00:40:15.769
  • Worldview on this topic because of that.
  • 00:40:15.769 --> 00:40:18.305
  • Exactly. so we're fighting against a very oiled,
  • 00:40:18.305 --> 00:40:21.375
  • Well-oiled machine of deception around the world.
  • 00:40:21.375 --> 00:40:24.144
  • And i think there's, a there's an underlying issue here, which
  • 00:40:24.144 --> 00:40:26.647
  • Is people allow shallow experiences to shape the way
  • 00:40:26.647 --> 00:40:29.583
  • They look at the world.
  • 00:40:29.583 --> 00:40:31.051
  • They allow one youtube video, they allow one real on tiktok
  • 00:40:31.051 --> 00:40:34.788
  • Or instagram to shape the way they perceive reality.
  • 00:40:34.788 --> 00:40:37.958
  • They don't fact check it, they
  • 00:40:37.958 --> 00:40:39.226
  • Don't go and research it deeper.
  • 00:40:39.226 --> 00:40:41.028
  • They don't fact check on the bible.
  • 00:40:41.028 --> 00:40:43.397
  • So they're without the biblical principles to sort of
  • 00:40:43.397 --> 00:40:45.399
  • Guide them on that.
  • 00:40:45.399 --> 00:40:46.634
  • And they don't live a rich prayer life or spiritual life
  • 00:40:46.634 --> 00:40:48.969
  • To sort of help make it more holistic and all encompassing
  • 00:40:48.969 --> 00:40:52.406
  • In the way they understand the world.
  • 00:40:52.406 --> 00:40:54.141
  • And then you see people, they say, well, i feel i want a
  • 00:40:54.141 --> 00:40:56.243
  • Sense of justice.
  • 00:40:56.243 --> 00:40:57.344
  • Well, i saw that video of a kid in the gaza strip.
  • 00:40:57.344 --> 00:40:59.346
  • The idf killed the kids.
  • 00:40:59.346 --> 00:41:00.447
  • I was like, do you know that that really happened?
  • 00:41:00.447 --> 00:41:02.650
  • Was that kid maybe purposely put there by hamas terrorists
  • 00:41:02.650 --> 00:41:06.153
  • At gunpoint to be the person that takes whatever shot or
  • 00:41:06.153 --> 00:41:09.390
  • Explosive charge they put into place?
  • 00:41:09.390 --> 00:41:11.659
  • But it goes deeper than that.
  • 00:41:11.659 --> 00:41:13.394
  • People don't understand that there's a whole, uh, what's the
  • 00:41:13.394 --> 00:41:15.763
  • Expression, bait and switch that's being carried out in
  • 00:41:15.763 --> 00:41:17.932
  • Front of their eyes where they're waving this hand over
  • 00:41:17.932 --> 00:41:20.301
  • Here so you don't get to pay attention to
  • 00:41:20.301 --> 00:41:22.036
  • What's happening over here
  • 00:41:22.036 --> 00:41:23.504
  • While people are blaming israel of all these different things.
  • 00:41:23.504 --> 00:41:25.406
  • And again, israel should be held accountable.
  • 00:41:25.406 --> 00:41:27.675
  • And it is a complex story that needs to be understood.
  • 00:41:27.675 --> 00:41:30.311
  • But let's say that's on the side.
  • 00:41:30.311 --> 00:41:32.413
  • There's other things that are happening here.
  • 00:41:32.413 --> 00:41:33.948
  • No one's aware of them
  • 00:41:33.948 --> 00:41:34.882
  • And people aren't talking about them.
  • 00:41:34.882 --> 00:41:36.116
  • They're not talking about genocide or attacks against
  • 00:41:36.116 --> 00:41:37.851
  • Christians that are taking place in other countries
  • 00:41:37.851 --> 00:41:39.954
  • Around the world.
  • 00:41:39.954 --> 00:41:41.088
  • They don't have a deeper conversation and say, all of
  • 00:41:41.088 --> 00:41:43.223
  • This comes to the point where i wish--
  • 00:41:43.223 --> 00:41:45.492
  • So when we create content, i wish one of two things happens.
  • 00:41:45.492 --> 00:41:48.529
  • If someone cares about justice and truth that he at least
  • 00:41:48.529 --> 00:41:51.031
  • Feels equipped to do something more about what happened,
  • 00:41:51.031 --> 00:41:53.801
  • Share the truth. talk about it.
  • 00:41:53.801 --> 00:41:55.603
  • Educate others.
  • 00:41:55.603 --> 00:41:56.870
  • But if he's young enough to think that he knows everything
  • 00:41:56.870 --> 00:42:00.474
  • About the world from his current experience, i was
  • 00:42:00.474 --> 00:42:02.543
  • That way in my 20s, possibly into my 30s
  • 00:42:02.543 --> 00:42:05.112
  • If you ask certain people, you might remember.
  • 00:42:05.112 --> 00:42:07.982
  • Yes. anyway--
  • 00:42:07.982 --> 00:42:12.353
  • Anyway, so back to the point is, you think you know
  • 00:42:12.353 --> 00:42:15.723
  • Everything about the world.
  • 00:42:15.723 --> 00:42:16.991
  • If i can put a speck of doubt in your mind and say, please
  • 00:42:16.991 --> 00:42:19.293
  • Just think that you might need to know a little more about
  • 00:42:19.293 --> 00:42:21.562
  • What happened, maybe read a little more, maybe research a
  • 00:42:21.562 --> 00:42:24.031
  • Little more, care about what's happening,
  • 00:42:24.031 --> 00:42:26.300
  • That would be big.
  • 00:42:26.300 --> 00:42:27.401
  • So there's one more big thing.
  • 00:42:27.401 --> 00:42:29.036
  • We're not just talking about information.
  • 00:42:29.036 --> 00:42:30.638
  • We're sitting here because it's a faith network that's trying
  • 00:42:30.638 --> 00:42:34.108
  • To educate people of faith
  • 00:42:34.108 --> 00:42:35.376
  • And touch the hearts of people of faith.
  • 00:42:35.376 --> 00:42:37.411
  • There's another element here, and that element is the heart.
  • 00:42:37.411 --> 00:42:41.015
  • What do people feel and what do they care about,
  • 00:42:41.015 --> 00:42:43.217
  • They feel motivated to do?
  • 00:42:43.217 --> 00:42:44.485
  • I understand that people around the world, even people that
  • 00:42:44.485 --> 00:42:47.121
  • Don't know christ directly, many of them have compassion.
  • 00:42:47.121 --> 00:42:50.824
  • Many of them have a care for the suffering of other people,
  • 00:42:50.824 --> 00:42:53.560
  • And oftentimes it's misguided.
  • 00:42:53.560 --> 00:42:54.962
  • And to them, i'll say, you might think that everything
  • 00:42:54.962 --> 00:42:57.331
  • That happens in israel is complex.
  • 00:42:57.331 --> 00:42:59.233
  • You might think that we can only talk about the topic
  • 00:42:59.233 --> 00:43:01.101
  • From one angle.
  • 00:43:01.101 --> 00:43:01.902
  • I say, that's not true.
  • 00:43:01.902 --> 00:43:03.303
  • You should have compassion and love to every human that's
  • 00:43:03.303 --> 00:43:06.874
  • Suffering around the world, every single one of them.
  • 00:43:06.874 --> 00:43:09.076
  • Every time there's a child that suffers, you should care.
  • 00:43:09.076 --> 00:43:11.078
  • And you should be motivated to action to help them and aid
  • 00:43:11.078 --> 00:43:14.381
  • Them and stop their suffering.
  • 00:43:14.381 --> 00:43:15.916
  • The problem is, is it's not just just that
  • 00:43:15.916 --> 00:43:18.118
  • One person that's suffering.
  • 00:43:18.118 --> 00:43:19.520
  • There's a whole story behind them.
  • 00:43:19.520 --> 00:43:21.188
  • Open your mind to understand what it is, and the way you
  • 00:43:21.188 --> 00:43:23.524
  • Need to get about that is one of three things about
  • 00:43:23.524 --> 00:43:25.659
  • All of them combined.
  • 00:43:25.659 --> 00:43:27.027
  • One, read the bible to be educated about what happens
  • 00:43:27.027 --> 00:43:29.530
  • Around you in the world.
  • 00:43:29.530 --> 00:43:30.631
  • Watch tv in israel. it's a good youtube channel.
  • 00:43:30.631 --> 00:43:33.100
  • I heard it's a great show. i've heard it's a good show.
  • 00:43:33.100 --> 00:43:35.402
  • But there are other shows on tbn that help educate people.
  • 00:43:35.402 --> 00:43:37.771
  • And the third one is pray about these things.
  • 00:43:37.771 --> 00:43:39.673
  • Have a life that is both biblically based, based on
  • 00:43:39.673 --> 00:43:43.210
  • Facts, and has a moment of contemplation of what god's
  • 00:43:43.210 --> 00:43:45.946
  • Trying to say about that moment.
  • 00:43:45.946 --> 00:43:47.581
  • That should shape your worldview.
  • 00:43:47.581 --> 00:43:49.083
  • Don't, you know, don't be quick to to reaction at the response.
  • 00:43:49.083 --> 00:43:51.585
  • It's going to be very difficult to separate god from the story
  • 00:43:51.585 --> 00:43:55.589
  • Of jerusalem and israel.
  • 00:43:55.589 --> 00:43:57.858
  • And it's going to be very difficult for that narrative
  • 00:43:57.858 --> 00:44:00.260
  • To ultimately win.
  • 00:44:00.260 --> 00:44:03.063
  • The book that is proudly on display here on the set with
  • 00:44:03.063 --> 00:44:07.735
  • Us, written by jay sekulow, jerusalem, which, by the way, i
  • 00:44:07.735 --> 00:44:11.505
  • Didn't even think about that, that that book was just sitting.
  • 00:44:11.505 --> 00:44:14.374
  • That was published by trilogy publishing and, uh, the
  • 00:44:14.374 --> 00:44:18.812
  • Publishing arm of trinity, and that was written,
  • 00:44:18.812 --> 00:44:23.383
  • That book was written like jay was going to have to go to our
  • 00:44:23.383 --> 00:44:27.888
  • Supreme court and argue why
  • 00:44:27.888 --> 00:44:31.358
  • Israel has the right to the land.
  • 00:44:31.358 --> 00:44:34.194
  • And he wrote it like a supreme
  • 00:44:34.194 --> 00:44:35.929
  • Court case, which, by the way, uh,
  • 00:44:35.929 --> 00:44:39.933
  • Nobody knew i was going to do this, but that book could be
  • 00:44:39.933 --> 00:44:43.036
  • Available by going to the information's on the screen
  • 00:44:43.036 --> 00:44:46.306
  • That they're going to have to make up and put on the screen,
  • 00:44:46.306 --> 00:44:48.642
  • Because i didn't preplan that, because that that was just a
  • 00:44:48.642 --> 00:44:52.212
  • Beautiful piece that was sitting in my office that i
  • 00:44:52.212 --> 00:44:54.948
  • Brought down to put on the set.
  • 00:44:54.948 --> 00:44:57.584
  • And, um, and by the way, jay, uh, when he wrote that book, it
  • 00:44:57.584 --> 00:45:03.624
  • Was written and we got it published the same month
  • 00:45:03.624 --> 00:45:08.896
  • That the united states moved
  • 00:45:08.896 --> 00:45:12.065
  • Its embassy, uh, probably 2018.
  • 00:45:12.065 --> 00:45:15.068
  • And, uh, that is, um, you know, that was, that book was
  • 00:45:15.068 --> 00:45:21.875
  • Published and put out at that time.
  • 00:45:21.875 --> 00:45:23.911
  • Great book on jerusalem.
  • 00:45:23.911 --> 00:45:26.713
  • Um, we're largely out of time.
  • 00:45:26.713 --> 00:45:29.716
  • Want to make sure you understand
  • 00:45:29.716 --> 00:45:31.485
  • Boots on the ground airs on thursdays,
  • 00:45:31.485 --> 00:45:34.555
  • Um, at 9:30 eastern.
  • 00:45:34.555 --> 00:45:38.025
  • Youtube, uh,
  • 00:45:38.025 --> 00:45:40.928
  • Exploding, uh, rapidly growing group.
  • 00:45:40.928 --> 00:45:46.033
  • And it declares, the bible
  • 00:45:46.033 --> 00:45:48.135
  • Declares, pray for the peace of jerusalem.
  • 00:45:48.135 --> 00:45:51.939
  • And, uh, i know it looks like we're in israel here in our
  • 00:45:51.939 --> 00:45:56.043
  • Studio today, and we've done a great job kind of making the
  • 00:45:56.043 --> 00:46:00.047
  • Studio look like what it looks like when we show up at tbn,
  • 00:46:00.047 --> 00:46:05.519
  • Uh, there in jerusalem. it looks largely like this.
  • 00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:08.722
  • But we are here in dallas, and we are glad you guys are here.
  • 00:46:08.722 --> 00:46:12.860
  • But from here, let's pray for the peace of jerusalem, which
  • 00:46:12.860 --> 00:46:17.531
  • Is, uh, east of us, about 10,000 miles.
  • 00:46:17.531 --> 00:46:21.735
  • Uh, but it feels like that.
  • 00:46:21.735 --> 00:46:23.470
  • So, guys, just we'll give you--
  • 00:46:23.470 --> 00:46:25.973
  • Yeah, we'll just give you the final word in prayer.
  • 00:46:25.973 --> 00:46:28.075
  • So the other day, the last time i actually saw mati in
  • 00:46:28.075 --> 00:46:31.011
  • Jerusalem, well, in tel aviv, the last time i saw him was
  • 00:46:31.011 --> 00:46:34.448
  • Just a couple of months ago.
  • 00:46:34.448 --> 00:46:35.916
  • And a few minutes, half an hour, a little bit briefly.
  • 00:46:35.916 --> 00:46:40.187
  • Briefly. yeah.
  • 00:46:40.187 --> 00:46:41.121
  • And i remember you didn't say anything.
  • 00:46:41.121 --> 00:46:43.924
  • We get off the plane and they drive us to where we're meeting
  • 00:46:43.924 --> 00:46:47.661
  • Mati and samuel, and the place was packed in there.
  • 00:46:47.661 --> 00:46:50.931
  • I've never seen so many people in the fbo there.
  • 00:46:50.931 --> 00:46:53.567
  • And, um, matt, this one just immediately runs outside with
  • 00:46:53.567 --> 00:46:59.539
  • Samuel and i walk up to mati.
  • 00:46:59.539 --> 00:47:01.508
  • I'm like, going, what's going on?
  • 00:47:01.508 --> 00:47:03.010
  • What's going on?
  • 00:47:03.010 --> 00:47:03.944
  • Well, you guys got to get out of here.
  • 00:47:03.944 --> 00:47:07.080
  • And it was like, because i didn't know
  • 00:47:07.080 --> 00:47:09.616
  • What was happening.
  • 00:47:09.616 --> 00:47:10.884
  • It was the night before the strike in iran.
  • 00:47:10.884 --> 00:47:12.319
  • Yeah, yeah and--
  • 00:47:12.319 --> 00:47:13.887
  • Not the night before. the night of.
  • 00:47:13.887 --> 00:47:17.224
  • And i'm like-- just a few hours before the strike in iran.
  • 00:47:17.224 --> 00:47:20.093
  • Where's matt? he's out with samuel.
  • 00:47:20.093 --> 00:47:21.962
  • We got to get you guys out of here.
  • 00:47:21.962 --> 00:47:23.530
  • You know, and so he told me-- we didn't really--
  • 00:47:23.530 --> 00:47:27.267
  • I didn't know yet.
  • 00:47:27.267 --> 00:47:28.969
  • Um, but mr. huckabee, governor huckabee,
  • 00:47:28.969 --> 00:47:31.905
  • Who is now ambassador huckabee,
  • 00:47:31.905 --> 00:47:34.641
  • Was like texting matt, going, where are you?
  • 00:47:34.641 --> 00:47:38.278
  • Where are you right now?
  • 00:47:38.278 --> 00:47:39.646
  • I need to know.
  • 00:47:39.646 --> 00:47:40.547
  • Are you here? are you-- get out now.
  • 00:47:40.547 --> 00:47:43.183
  • And it was like, turn around. if you can drive to jordan,
  • 00:47:43.183 --> 00:47:46.386
  • Get out, get out, get on a plane.
  • 00:47:46.386 --> 00:47:48.922
  • He couldn't tell us why we were supposed to leave israel.
  • 00:47:48.922 --> 00:47:51.992
  • It was the night that israel was striking iran.
  • 00:47:51.992 --> 00:47:54.928
  • And so we were the last flight out.
  • 00:47:54.928 --> 00:47:57.297
  • And then they closed.
  • 00:47:57.297 --> 00:47:58.465
  • The airport, closed right behind our flight leaving.
  • 00:47:58.465 --> 00:48:00.968
  • And that was weird.
  • 00:48:00.968 --> 00:48:02.035
  • And i was talking with, uh, former
  • 00:48:02.035 --> 00:48:04.438
  • Secretary of state mike pompeo,
  • 00:48:04.438 --> 00:48:07.207
  • And i said, mike, you know, go in your mind, you know, if you
  • 00:48:07.207 --> 00:48:10.677
  • If you look at the geography, israel's here and the united
  • 00:48:10.677 --> 00:48:14.781
  • Arab emirates is down here to, to the southeast, and i
  • 00:48:14.781 --> 00:48:21.621
  • Said we took off at 1:00 in the morning, headed towards there.
  • 00:48:21.621 --> 00:48:26.593
  • And he goes, well, if you'd have been looking out your
  • 00:48:26.593 --> 00:48:29.062
  • Window of your airplane at the right time and looked up, you
  • 00:48:29.062 --> 00:48:32.165
  • Would have seen israeli air fighters going past you at a
  • 00:48:32.165 --> 00:48:35.902
  • Little bit higher altitude and a lot faster speed.
  • 00:48:35.902 --> 00:48:38.972
  • And, and so we, we got to see mati there for just a few
  • 00:48:38.972 --> 00:48:44.811
  • Minutes and we had to leave.
  • 00:48:44.811 --> 00:48:46.013
  • That was our last trip to israel.
  • 00:48:46.013 --> 00:48:47.814
  • Well, and the truth about it is, is that if we didn't have
  • 00:48:47.814 --> 00:48:50.617
  • Really important things back the next week in dallas, we
  • 00:48:50.617 --> 00:48:53.487
  • Would have just went to jerusalem and stayed.
  • 00:48:53.487 --> 00:48:55.122
  • And we'd done boots
  • 00:48:55.122 --> 00:48:56.156
  • On the ground with you for about three weeks.
  • 00:48:56.156 --> 00:48:57.891
  • Hanging with us for at least 12 days.
  • 00:48:57.891 --> 00:48:59.993
  • Hanging with you guys,
  • 00:48:59.993 --> 00:49:01.028
  • Doing tv out there somewhere.
  • 00:49:01.028 --> 00:49:02.996
  • Okay. um, guys,
  • 00:49:02.996 --> 00:49:05.132
  • Thank you for what you do.
  • 00:49:05.132 --> 00:49:07.034
  • Uh, truth coming out of israel every day and weekly
  • 00:49:07.034 --> 00:49:10.837
  • Right here on tbn.
  • 00:49:10.837 --> 00:49:12.672
  • Pray for the peace of jerusalem as we say goodbye today.
  • 00:49:12.672 --> 00:49:15.776
  • Okay. please, both of you.
  • 00:49:15.776 --> 00:49:17.611
  • [praying in hebrew]
  • 00:49:17.611 --> 00:49:20.614
  • Our father in heaven,
  • 00:49:20.614 --> 00:49:21.715
  • Thank you for everything that you are doing for us.
  • 00:49:21.715 --> 00:49:24.151
  • You told us to pray for the peace of jerusalem and you are
  • 00:49:24.151 --> 00:49:27.254
  • A personal god.
  • 00:49:27.254 --> 00:49:29.089
  • So as i pray for the peace of
  • 00:49:29.089 --> 00:49:30.257
  • Jerusalem, i want to make it personal.
  • 00:49:30.257 --> 00:49:32.626
  • I want to pray for wisdom to our leaders, to the leaders of
  • 00:49:32.626 --> 00:49:37.164
  • America, of all the viewers from wherever they're watching
  • 00:49:37.164 --> 00:49:41.234
  • For wisdom, for godly wisdom in this very complex situation.
  • 00:49:41.234 --> 00:49:46.073
  • I want to pray a personal prayer for all those lives that
  • 00:49:46.073 --> 00:49:50.644
  • Are affected by these conflicts and terrorist regimes, to have
  • 00:49:50.644 --> 00:49:54.714
  • The peace of god in their hearts, okay.
  • 00:49:54.714 --> 00:49:58.351
  • And this is the hardest prayer,
  • 00:49:58.351 --> 00:49:59.820
  • And it's the pray for our enemies.
  • 00:49:59.820 --> 00:50:02.189
  • And god placed this on my heart throughout this war, especially
  • 00:50:02.189 --> 00:50:06.460
  • When the missiles were falling over israel to pray for our
  • 00:50:06.460 --> 00:50:09.896
  • Enemies, not to succeed in launching missiles but to have
  • 00:50:09.896 --> 00:50:13.467
  • A change of heart, a supernatural love for god's
  • 00:50:13.467 --> 00:50:17.571
  • People, the people of israel,
  • 00:50:17.571 --> 00:50:19.406
  • And to receive god in their hearts.
  • 00:50:19.406 --> 00:50:21.842
  • God can make it happen.
  • 00:50:21.842 --> 00:50:23.043
  • I believe that.
  • 00:50:23.043 --> 00:50:24.311
  • I pray for the peace of jerusalem
  • 00:50:24.311 --> 00:50:26.213
  • From dallas, texas here. amen.
  • 00:50:26.213 --> 00:50:29.316
  • Amen and amen.
  • 00:50:29.316 --> 00:50:30.684
  • Abba father, in this season of thankfulness and
  • 00:50:30.684 --> 00:50:33.687
  • Gratitude, i want to thank you for once again saving the
  • 00:50:33.687 --> 00:50:37.657
  • People of israel in this season for once again revealing your
  • 00:50:37.657 --> 00:50:40.427
  • True nature of faithfulness and steadfast support of your
  • 00:50:40.427 --> 00:50:44.698
  • People in the land of israel.
  • 00:50:44.698 --> 00:50:46.700
  • And i want to also thank you for the ministry of tbn, for a
  • 00:50:46.700 --> 00:50:49.936
  • Spirit of supporting the nation of israel, the people of
  • 00:50:49.936 --> 00:50:51.872
  • Israel, and god's work in that country, and for really
  • 00:50:51.872 --> 00:50:54.674
  • Bringing people to the knowledge of god's true nature
  • 00:50:54.674 --> 00:50:58.778
  • Of the bible's true context as
  • 00:50:58.778 --> 00:51:00.280
  • It relates to the people of israel.
  • 00:51:00.280 --> 00:51:02.482
  • I want to ask for a specific blessing to all those who stood
  • 00:51:02.482 --> 00:51:05.385
  • In prayer and in support and in love of the people of israel,
  • 00:51:05.385 --> 00:51:09.422
  • And what god was doing of throughout this season that
  • 00:51:09.422 --> 00:51:11.925
  • We've been talking about today.
  • 00:51:11.925 --> 00:51:13.727
  • Bless all of those who stood with the people of israel.
  • 00:51:13.727 --> 00:51:16.663
  • Bless all of those who continue to pray, to continue to fight
  • 00:51:16.663 --> 00:51:18.932
  • For the truth, to come out.
  • 00:51:18.932 --> 00:51:22.669
  • And again, i want to thank you, lord, for this season of
  • 00:51:22.669 --> 00:51:25.772
  • Faithfulness that i've experienced in my life that the
  • 00:51:25.772 --> 00:51:27.774
  • People of israel have experienced in their life, uh,
  • 00:51:27.774 --> 00:51:31.411
  • That were truly seen it again and again, happening before
  • 00:51:31.411 --> 00:51:34.481
  • Our very eyes. amen.
  • 00:51:34.481 --> 00:51:37.017
  • Amen. we're thankful that god's hand of protection was on you,
  • 00:51:37.017 --> 00:51:40.420
  • Both your families during this season.
  • 00:51:40.420 --> 00:51:43.590
  • We're thankful for a lot of things.
  • 00:51:43.590 --> 00:51:44.925
  • We're thankful for knowing this one fact, that israel
  • 00:51:44.925 --> 00:51:48.929
  • Is certainly forever.
  • 00:51:48.929 --> 00:51:50.864
  • And we know that for sure, and we're thankful for that.
  • 00:51:50.864 --> 00:51:54.067
  • We'll see you next time, hopefully from jerusalem.
  • 00:51:54.067 --> 00:51:59.573
  • ♪♪
  • 00:51:59.573 --> 00:51:59.573